Food Wars: Taste Reversal

"Finally, I would like to introduce you to two transfer students from the high school..."

The student presiding over the opening ceremony called Soma Yukihira's name according to the plan, and then saw a person in civilian clothes with a hangdog expression walking up from below.

Shiraki also saw Soma Yukihira's actions on stage. If nothing else, he would start to attract attention next. Shiraki shook his head. In other words, he wouldn't have done such a troublesome thing. He had been made to feel difficult by the students around him all day long, and even the female students who accosted him would naturally lose interest. It was really a headache to deal with, and the emotional intelligence of this guy seemed to be completely inversely proportional to his cooking skills.

As a result, just as he was thinking this, a system prompt appeared.

[Ding, Trigger Task: High-profile debut. Task Description: As a man destined to reign at Totsuki, how can you be cold for the first time? Let everyone remember you. The higher the completion of the task, the richer the reward!]

Task reward: 200-2000 points, random lottery X1-10 times (depending on the completion of the task).

Failure penalty: none.

Shiraki: "..."

Mother F... Just say that I wouldn't be as high-profile as Soma Yukihira, but now I've got a task like this? Can this slap in the face come so quickly? Now I can't keep a low profile. As for that... Because I don't want to be high-profile, should I just give up this task? ...That's impossible. Not to mention a high-profile debut. As long as I can quickly improve my strength, even if I point at all the students below and say they're all spicy chicken, I can do it without changing my face. Even if Soma Yukihira can still mix in at Totsuki after provoking all the students, not to mention me?

As he walked backstage, Shiraki saw Erina sitting on a chair.

Erina also saw him at the same time, and suddenly, without knowing why, she looked away.

"Why are you here?" Hisako immediately stood up from behind, blocking the space between Erina and Shiraki. However, her expression didn't look as vigilant as it had the last time they met. For some reason, when Shiraki took a step forward, Hisako Arato subconsciously took a step back.

"Y-you're going up to speak, are you?"

Erina, behind Hisako Arato, took a deep breath, stood up, and said to Shiraki. As for Soma Yukihira on the stage, she had basically ignored him. After all, last time, when she ate Shiraki's food during the transfer exam, she had run out of the classroom in shame, which led to Erina never eating Soma Yukihira's food at all. So, now, she basically had no impression of him and thought he was someone who passed the assessment from the other examiners.

However, looking at her awkward and arrogant appearance, Shiraki suddenly said casually, "That's right. You said that if I asked Miss Erina Nakiri to be my girlfriend in front of all the students, what would their reaction be?"

"W-What?!"

Not only Erina but even Hisako Arato screamed in fright after hearing this. The faces of both seemed to have been instantly steamed, especially Erina, who pointed at Shiraki with trembling fingers, unable to maintain the image of the proud lady she always showed in front of people.

"You, you, you, don't mess around! I will never agree!"

Erina's face was full of confusion, and for the first time, she felt unable to speak because it happened so suddenly. Her heart had subconsciously begun to entangle. If Shiraki really said that kind of thing when he came to power, would he have promised...? Or should she just say yes?

...Or should she just say yes?!

Why is there only one answer?

Erina, who had fallen into complete confusion, couldn't even think of a negative answer and only had two words in her head. She hid behind Hisako Arato, lowering her head to hide the panic in her heart.

"Well, yes." Seeing the reactions of Erina and Hisako, Shiraki decided it was better not to tease them further. He said hello to the two and continued walking toward the stage.

However, Erina and Hisako, who had fallen into their own world, didn't notice that Shiraki had left. The two were still struggling with the answers in their minds.

---