They were a group of people who exuded an unparalleled aura of confidence from head to toe.
It was as if they lived in a completely different world from the students present.
They were the alumni of Totsuki Academy.
True geniuses who had emerged from the cutthroat competition of Totsuki.
In today's culinary world, they were the supreme kings, the absolute elite!
"So those are the alumni..."
"The geniuses who survived a selection process with a single-digit graduation rate?!"
"They definitely don't look like ordinary people!"
The previously somber atmosphere of the Totsuki Enkyu seemed to liven up with the appearance of these graduates.
The students' voices were filled with excitement, and their eyes shone with passion.
Because these people represented the goals they dreamed of, the future they aspired to reach!
However, the moment the group stepped onto the stage, a handsome man at the front with pink hair and glasses sniffed the air and suddenly pointed a finger at a student in the crowd.
"You, the boy with the scar between your eyebrows. You're expelled. You can go home now."
What?
Those nonchalant words made the atmosphere in the hall turn heavy once again.
All the noise vanished in an instant.
The student pointed out wore a look of utter disbelief.
"Wh—why?"
Just as the student was about to ask, the man interrupted him.
"Your hairspray has a citrus scent. That will interfere with the aroma of the cuisine. While grooming is necessary—since a disheveled chef makes the food look dull—next time, use an unscented spray."
The man walked up to the student and explained calmly.
His name was Kojiro Shinomiya.
He was the first seat of the Elite Ten for the 79th graduating class of Totsuki Academy.
He was also currently the owner of a famous French restaurant chain.
He was well-known throughout the culinary world.
"Wait... just for a reason like that?" The student clearly wasn't ready to accept it.
"'Just for a reason like that?'" Kojiro Shinomiya repeated. A moment later, he leaned down slightly to look the boy in the eye. "A reason like that could drive away a customer... Brat, are you trying to ruin my restaurant?"
Under that gaze and overwhelming aura, the student's hard-won courage instantly evaporated. He lowered his head, forced to accept the reality.
After all, during this Training Camp from Hell, these alumni acting as guest instructors were the absolute authority. There was no room for resistance.
Clearly, this student had been made an example of, a warning to everyone else about the severity of the training camp.
"Good work, kid." Kojiro Shinomiya waved dismissively and turned to leave.
But in the next second, his footsteps came to a sudden halt.
"What do you think you're doing?" Kojiro Shinomiya looked back at the figure who had placed a hand on his shoulder, his words cold.
"Lexon-kun!" Yuki Yoshino and Megumi Tadokoro cried out in concern simultaneously.
Having witnessed Lexon's shocking statements the previous night, they were terrified he would pull something similar now.
"Nothing much. I just saw an idol and wanted to touch him to fulfill a wish," Lexon replied with a smile, withdrawing his hand.
"..." Kojiro Shinomiya stared at the exceptionally handsome student for a moment before turning away, heading back toward the stage without another word.
Once Kojiro was back on stage, the residents of the Polar Star Dormitory rushed to Lexon's side.
"You scared the life out of me! I thought you were going to say something terrifying like you did to Senior Isshiki yesterday!" Yuki Yoshino grumbled to Lexon.
"I was scared too... my heart nearly jumped out of my chest..." the plain and timid Megumi Tadokoro added with lingering fear.
"Don't worry. I know my cooking skills aren't on his level yet," Lexon replied gently.
"Does that mean if you thought you were better, you would've provoked him?!" Yuki Yoshino caught the implication immediately.
Lexon just smiled without a word.
"Eh? Did something happen between Lexon-kun and Senior Isshiki yesterday?" Having overheard the conversation, Ryoko Sakaki asked what the rest of the Polar Star residents were wondering.
"Ah..." The scatterbrained Yuki realized she'd let it slip and looked at Lexon. "Can I tell them?"
"I don't mind." Lexon had no intention of keeping it a secret.
After all, they would find out anyway once Satoshi Isshiki helped him arrange a match against the Elite Ten.
Better for them to be shocked now than later.
After getting the okay, Yuki Yoshino whispered the story of what happened the night before to the group.
"What? Senior Isshiki lost to Lexon-kun in a private Shokugeki?"
"Arranging a match with the Elite Ten for Lexon-kun?"
"How did that even happen?"
"That's incredible!"
Unsurprisingly, every single person from Polar Star was beyond shocked.
Senior Isshiki was the seventh seat of the Elite Ten... for him to lose to Lexon... didn't that mean Lexon had the strength of an Elite Ten member?
Maybe Senior Isshiki held back...
The fact was so astounding that they could only rationalize it that way.
"Lexon, you're amazing. I'm going to challenge Senior Isshiki later too. I want to take on the Elite Ten as well." Only Soma Yukihira would speak so carefree.
The excessive noise from their group seemed to catch the attention of those on stage.
Consequently, they quieted down a bit.
The speaker on stage had changed to Gin Dojima, the specially appointed Head Chef of the Totsuki Resort and the highest-scoring graduate in the academy's history.
An even more heavyweight figure than Kojiro Shinomiya.
'Since I've already checked in with Kojiro Shinomiya today, I can't check in with Gin Dojima...'
Ignoring the notification of ["The Absolute Magic of Vegetables"] appearing in his vision, Lexon thought while staring calmly at the tall man in a suit with a buzz cut speaking on stage.
"Now then! Each group! Move out!"
As the words fell, students assigned to different groups began heading toward their respective examination venues.
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