The Heat of the Kitchen, the Fire of Rivalry

The moment hands-on training was announced at Totsuki, it sent ripples through the academy.

For many students, it would be just another assignment.

But for Nakiri Alice, this was something more.

A challenge.

A new frontier.

And perhaps… a confrontation.

That morning, Alice arrived at the administrative office earlier than most. Her eyes sparkled with determination as she accepted her internship dispatch letter—stamped with the emblem of the prestigious tavern now making waves among Japan's culinary elite.

She didn't rush back to pack. Instead, she sat in the hallway, poring over the materials provided.

Staff composition. Tavern floor layout. Customer volume estimates. Special dishes of note.

One name kept reappearing in the notes: Zane.

Her red eyes narrowed.

This wasn't just hands-on training.

This was a battlefield.

A test of her culinary skills.

A test of her resolve.

And, perhaps… a test of her emotions.

Arrival: A Rival in WhiteAs she stepped off the tram, her suitcase bumping against the sidewalk, Alice found herself brimming with anticipation.

She imagined the scent of sizzling ingredients in the air. The rapid clatter of kitchen tools. The heat of the flames.

Would Zane immediately put her on the chopping block? Would she be trusted with high-level dishes? Or worse—assigned prep duty?

She rounded the last corner—

Only to halt.

Standing outside the tavern's doors in a crisp, white chef's uniform, her arms crossed and gaze sharp, was someone veryfamiliar.

"…Erina?"

Alice blinked. "You got here before me?"

Erina turned slowly, a small smirk playing on her lips.

Her uniform was simple. Gone was the noble, refined air she usually carried. There were no gold buttons or embroidery—just a pure white jacket and a look of solemnity in her amber eyes.

It made her look… almost approachable.

Almost.

"Hmph," Erina sniffed. "So, you're my fellow intern."

"You came prepared," Alice muttered, sizing her cousin up. "Guess you're planning to show off."

"I came ready to contribute," Erina said evenly. "This internship is more than a formality. It's a rare chance to learn the operations of a professional tavern."

Alice crossed her arms. "I'll admit, I didn't expect you to take this so seriously."

Erina looked her dead in the eye. "We're cousins. For the next two weeks, let's… at least try not to sabotage each other."

"…Hah?" Alice narrowed her eyes. "That sounds like a challenge."

"It's not," Erina said quietly. "It's a request."

Unspoken Things Between ThemAlice's heart stirred with something far more complicated than rivalry.

Truthfully, she admired Erina's strength.

But admiration had always lived beside resentment.

That damn God Tongue. That divine palate that set Erina apart from the world. A blessing—and a curse.

Alice wanted to surpass her cousin. Wanted to prove molecular gastronomy had its place.

But also… part of her wanted to understand Erina's burden. The pressure. The loneliness.

When Ryoko had defeated Hisako in the Autumn Selection, Alice had secretly felt a strange thrill. A crack in Erina's perfect world.

But when she later saw how Erina had withdrawn after Hisako's departure, how the girl who stood tall now looked like she might fall… Alice had felt something she didn't expect.

Guilt.

And pain.

Entrance: Zane AppearsThe tavern door creaked open.

A familiar, relaxed voice broke the tense air between them.

"Hey, it's only dusk. The tavern opens in two hours. What are you both doing here so early?"

Zane stepped out, towel around his neck, eyebrows raised in amusement.

Alice's face flushed as she reflexively stepped forward and gave a small bow.

"Zane, I'll be interning here for the next half month. I may still be immature in certain areas—even if I won the Autumn Selection—but I'm ready to learn from you. Please guide me well."

Zane blinked.

"…When did you become so polite?"

Alice shot upright, eyes fiery. "I've always been polite! Don't act like I'm a brat!"

Zane chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Alright, alright. I'm the boss, you're the interns. Just do your jobs and don't blow up my kitchen. Deal?"

Alice and Erina exchanged a brief look—and silently followed him inside.

Upstairs: Memories and GratitudeErina dropped her luggage in the third-floor room beside Zane's.

She looked around slowly.

The room was warmly lit, with stacks of manga and light novels arranged neatly on the shelf. It had Zane's scent—a faint trace of citrus and spice.

Her eyes softened.

She remembered that stormy night.

Thunder cracking outside. Her fear swallowing her pride. And how she had ended up in Zane's arms, trembling, but safe.

She bit her lip and turned away.

She knocked gently on his door.

"It's open," Zane called.

She entered slowly.

"Zane… I just wanted to say… thank you."

Zane blinked, then coughed awkwardly. "Are you sick again?"

"No," she mumbled, her cheeks blooming red. "I wanted to thank you… for Hisako."

Zane's face softened.

"She was always by my side," Erina continued. "When she left… I felt like I lost a part of myself. But knowing she's with someone like you… helped me sleep better."

Zane sighed.

"She didn't leave because of you," he said gently. "She just couldn't deal with the loss. But she'll return. You'll see."

He sat on the sofa and patted the cushion beside him.

"Sit, Erina."

"I… I only came to say thank you…"

Still, after a pause, she walked over—and sat down.

A very careful distance away.

Close enough to be intimate.

Far enough to pretend it wasn't.

Zane smiled and leaned back.

7:00 PM — Service BeginsIn the kitchen, the sounds of knives slicing, pans clattering, and orders flying in filled the space.

"Zane! Table 1 wants two Rising Dragon Dumplings! Table 4 needs a Norwegian Fruit Pudding!"

"On it!" Zane barked.

Alice opened the fridge, pulled out the frozen pudding, and passed it to Hisako.

"Here! Table 4!"

"Thanks!" Hisako dashed past.

Erina, meanwhile, had just finished slicing bamboo shoots.

"Zane! Ready!"

"Great. Hand them over."

He tossed them into a hot pan, mixing with tofu and beef liver. A heady, complex aroma filled the kitchen.

Erina inhaled deeply. "That smells amazing. What dish is that?"

"No questions. Focus. Mince the beef. Chop scallions. Now."

"Yes, Chef!"

At the Bar: Orie and Rindō ObserveFrom a quiet corner, Orie sipped a fragrant tea.

It started bitter.

But it finished sweet.

Just like hard work.

Rindō, munching a spicy mapo tofu dish, eyed her curiously. "Aren't you going to help them?"

Orie smiled.

"Those three can handle it. This is hands-on training. They need to understand the tavern through action, not observation."

She placed her chin in her hand, her gaze drifting to Zane.

"And besides, Zane has a way of drawing people in."

Rindō smirked. "You're not wrong."

Totsuki's FutureAs the steam rose in the kitchen and orders flew fast, one truth remained:

Graduation loomed.

Soon, the Elite Ten—Eishi, Rindō, Momo, Tosuke, Satoshi—would be gone.

And in their place…

New names would rise.

Nakiri Alice. Nakiri Erina. Arato Hisako. Yukihira Soma. Tadokoro Megumi.

What they did now, in the fires of this small tavern, would shape the legacy they left behind.

And Zane?

He was unknowingly becoming the forge.