Chapter 84.
The atmosphere inside the luxury car was heavy, suffocating under a thick blanket of awkward silence.
Shijun wasn't one for small talk.
He wanted to break the ice and ease the tension, but the right words completely eluded him.
Beside him, Erina was trapped in her own head. Memories of her recent encounters with Shijun flashed through her mind in agonizing detail: the humiliating loss of control when she first tasted his food, witnessing his unapologetic affection for Rindo Kobayashi, her utter defeat in their Shokugeki, and now, being forced to chauffer him around like a subordinate.
The sheer indignity of it all sent a flush of heat creeping up her neck.
Catching the sudden shift in her complexion, Shijun frowned slightly.
"Why is your face turning red?"
Erina stiffened, keeping her gaze glued to the window.
"Who's blushing? Don't be ridiculous."
"If you say so. But your ears are completely red."
He pointed out matter-of-factly.
"You—!"
Erina whipped her head around, glaring at him with blazing eyes. Her lips were pressed in a tight, indignant line, and her flushed cheeks made her look less like an icy queen and more like an angry, puffed-up frog.
"Pfft—"
Shijun couldn't hold it back. He burst out laughing.
A sudden, fierce wave of grievance washed over Erina, burning the back of her eyes. She had never been so thoroughly humiliated in her entire life.
In the driver's seat, Hisako caught the exchange in the rearview mirror, her hands tightening on the steering wheel in sheer confusion.
These two had never spoken cordially before. Since when did they have this bizarre, almost casual dynamic? She couldn't shake the feeling that Erina-sama was hiding something significant from her.
Seeing the genuine distress swimming in Erina's eyes, Shijun sighed, his amusement fading into resignation.
"Alright, fine. I won't make you do menial chores when we get back."
He assumed she was still spiraling over his earlier threat.
Erina, desperate to prevent Hisako from noticing her near-breakdown, swallowed her pride and changed the subject with the grace of a sledgehammer.
"I heard the Elite Ten Council is convening soon." she stated stiffly.
Shijun blinked, slightly derailed by the sudden pivot. He knew he had claimed the eighth seat from Terunori Kuga, but he had never actually set foot inside the Council chambers.
"Why the sudden meeting?"
"Because of the Autumn Election."
Erina replied, her composure slowly knitting back together.
"Autumn Election? Sounds familiar."
"It's the most prestigious culinary tournament for first-year students." she explained, slipping back into her natural, authoritative tone. "The elite of the freshman class are chosen to compete before a panel of industry titans, academy sponsors, and culinary authorities. The Council is meeting to finalize the roster of participants."
Her blush completely faded, replaced by a mocking smirk. "As a member of the Elite Ten, shouldn't you know this?"
Shijun shrugged, entirely unfazed. He hadn't bothered to learn the bureaucratic details of his new title. But the mention of the Council suddenly sparked a different thought. A wide grin spread across his face.
Erina eyed him suspiciously.
"What are you smiling about?"
"It means Rindo-senpai is coming back soon."
He said, stating it as an obvious fact.
Erina scoffed, easily reading his thoughts.
"It seems you don't know your girlfriend's habits at all. Attendance isn't mandatory unless a majority vote is required. Knowing Kobayashi-senpai's personality, she will almost certainly use that as an excuse to skip it and stay away."
Shijun's smile vanished.
What? Now I'm just annoyed.
But he brushed it off. He could always just text Rindo tonight and demand the truth.
With the ice finally broken, they briefly discussed the logistics of the Autumn Election, the suffocating awkwardness fading as Hisako smoothly drove them back to Totsuki Academy.
Meanwhile, at the Polar Star Dormitory.
"Congratulations on surviving, everyone!"
Satoshi Isshiki stood in the doorway, beaming cheerfully while wearing absolutely nothing but his signature naked apron.
"Isshiki-senpai! It was terrifying!"
Yuki Yoshino wailed, crying exaggerated tears of relief.
"Oh, stop being dramatic." Ryoko Sakaki sighed with a fond smile. "Megumi was the one actually facing expulsion, and you don't see her crying."
Isshiki blinked, his curiosity instantly piqued.
"Expulsion? What happened?"
As everyone filed inside, Yuki enthusiastically recounted the nightmare of the residential training, culminating in the unofficial Shokugeki against Kojiro Shinomiya. Isshiki listened with growing amazement.
"Incredible." Isshiki murmured, a rare look of absolute seriousness crossing his face. "To force Chef Shinomiya into a corner... Shijun's strength is genuinely terrifying."
"Maybe Chef Shinomiya just wasn't using his true skills."
Soma Yukihira muttered, crossing his arms with a slight pout.
"That's not true."
The dorm fell silent.
Everyone turned to look at Megumi. Usually timid and eager to avoid conflict, she now stood perfectly straight, her hands clenched into fists. She hadn't planned on bragging about the Shokugeki, but hearing Soma underestimate the boy who had fought to save her ignited a rare spark of defiance.
"Chef Dojima said it himself." Megumi said clearly, her voice trembling but firm. "Shijun has already mastered culinary Mood."
"Culinary Mood?" A deep, resonant voice suddenly echoed from the kitchen. "Did you just say a first-year student has mastered culinary Mood?"
A tall man with long, tied-back reddish hair stepped into the hallway, casually holding a plate of food.
Soma's jaw dropped.
"Dad?! What the hell are you doing here?"
Before Soma could process the shock, Fumio Daimido stepped out of her office, a nostalgic smile on her face.
"Soma, it seems you really don't know anything about your father's past. This is Joichiro Saiba—the former Second Seat of the 69th Elite Ten Council, and an old resident of the Polar Star Dormitory."
"Wait, Second Seat?!"
"He was in the same generation as Chef Dojima?!"
"But if he's Soma's dad, why is his last name Saiba?"
The dorm erupted into chaotic exclamations.
Joichiro ignored the noise. His usual laid-back demeanor vanished, replaced by an intense, overwhelming focus. He walked straight toward Megumi, his eyes sharp.
"Little girl." Joichiro said, his voice low and vibrating with excitement. "Are you absolutely sure about what you heard?"
Megumi nodded stiffly, completely intimidated by the legendary aura suddenly rolling off the man.
Joichiro threw his head back and laughed, a deep, resonant sound full of absolute thrill. He looked back down at Megumi, his expression turning startlingly sincere.
"Do me a favor." he said quietly, an undeniable edge of pleading in his tone. "Invite him here. I need to meet this classmate of yours."