Chapter 117: Don't Be So Silent

"I feel like I've returned to my youth, brimming with endless energy!" Senzaemon flexed his muscles and spoke in a deep, resonant voice.

"Indeed, I can feel the vitality of youth surging within me. It's as though I've become that innocent boy, happily walking the path of cooking once again," Chapelle said, caressing his cheek with a look of intoxication.

"We are young, passionate, and full of vigor!" Senzaemon, Dojima, and Chapelle declared dramatically as they struck bold poses.

The entire audience fell into a stunned silence.

Everyone was dumbfounded by this incredibly awkward spectacle.

Erina felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment, as if she could melt from the secondhand shame.

Even Sui was a bit taken aback. 'The Stir-Fried Pork was supposed to restore physical energy', he thought, 'but isn't this a little too much?'

It seemed the dish had caused these three older men to hallucinate, making them believe they were teenagers once again... Though Dojima wasn't exactly 'old', just in his prime. Still, he was certainly at the 'uncle' stage of life.

"All right, contestant Subaru, please present your dish!" Kawashima Rei, clearly unnerved, snapped out of her shock and hurriedly directed the competition forward.

However, Subaru seemed frozen in place, gripping his dish of Stir-Fried Pork with pale, trembling hands. He made no move to serve it.

"You're hesitating to let the judges taste it, aren't you?" Sui said with a calm, knowing smile.

"What... what are you talking about?" Subaru's expression shifted, though he tried to hide his unease.

"You managed to mimic my movements, but there were too many errors. Your dish isn't perfect," Sui replied coldly. "Far from improving upon it, your execution didn't even meet basic standards. That's why you're afraid to let the judges taste it, right?"

"You—!" Subaru's eyes widened in fear. He hadn't expected Sui to read his thoughts so easily.

All along, Subaru had relied on his flawless replication skills to defeat his opponents, but this time, from the very start of the battle, Sui had led him by the nose.

"Contestant Subaru, please have the judges taste your dish," Kawashima Rei urged again.

"What's going on? Why isn't Subaru serving his food?"

"Yeah, why the hesitation?" The students in the audience started whispering amongst themselves, confused by the delay.

Finally, Subaru reluctantly served his dish to the judges. 

After tasting it, Senzaemon, Dojima, and Chapelle made their decision.

"Compared to Sui's dish, this one falls short in several key aspects. The winner of this battle is Sui!" they declared.

"Damn!" Subaru dropped to his knees, his face twisted in defeat.

He had simulated Sui's cooking process countless times, but during the actual battle, he had been utterly outmatched in speed and strength. He couldn't keep up with Sui's movements, and the realization hit him hard.

This defeat was too much for him to bear.

"The Perfect Tracer has been completely defeated!"

"The infamous Subaru, who could copy any dish, couldn't replicate the transfer student's food!"

"Incredible!" The students, shocked by the outcome, couldn't believe that Subaru had been brought down by such a straightforward strategy.

"Well done, Sui! You won!" Megumi, Yoshino, and the others rushed over, cheering with joy.

Of course, the best part for them was knowing that Subaru wouldn't be lurking around Polaris Dormitory anymore.

"I'm so relieved," Ryoko sighed, feeling as though she had narrowly escaped disaster.

"I lost," Subaru admitted with a wry smile as he approached Sui. "As per our agreement, I'll be your subordinate from now on."

Sui nodded. "Where's Miyoko's knife?"

"I'll return it, of course," Subaru assured him. "If you ever need help, just let me know."

"By the way, was Eizan the one who sent you after me?" Sui asked.

"No, not exactly. I was already interested in your knife, and Eizan -senpai just gave me some assistance. He provided information about you and supplied the Kagoshima black pork," Subaru explained.

"That guy never gives up," Miyoko scoffed. "But you need to change your ways, stop stealing from others."

"I understand. I'll be more careful from now on," Subaru replied, smiling bitterly.

At that moment, Rindō and Kuga came running over.

"Sui! Sui! Can I have some of your pork?" Kuga asked excitedly.

"Hey, Sui, you had these amazing ingredients and didn't share them with me?" Rindō pouted in mock annoyance. "We should celebrate your victory tonight with a big feast at Polaris Dormitory!"

"Yeah, let's do it!" Yoshino, Sōma, and the others chimed in enthusiastically.

Sui rolled his eyes. 'They just want free food and they aren't even being subtle about it', he thought.

Meanwhile, in the corner of the room, Eizan turned and left with a sour expression, muttering, "That damned brat..."

---

Later that night.

"Wait, didn't you agree to join the celebration at Polaris Dormitory?" Erina asked in surprise as she noticed Sui had returned.

"Oh, that," Sui shrugged. "I sent someone in my place."

"Sent someone?" Erina blinked in confusion.

---

At Polaris Dormitory.

"I am Sui! Sui is me!" Subaru, now dressed in the same clothes as Sui, beamed as he presented a large plate of steaming Stir-Fried Pork to the group. "Here, enjoy the Stir-Fried Pork I made!"

The atmosphere in the room instantly turned grim. Even Kuga and Rindō, who had come for the food, wore expressions of despair.

Everyone who had been excited about the celebration now looked utterly defeated.

"Where's the real Sui?" Rindō grumbled through clenched teeth. "Wasn't he supposed to join us?"

"And what about the milk and Chansey eggs he promised?!" Yoshino added, clearly upset.

"Come on, what are you talking about? I am Sui! Sui is me!" Subaru mimicked Sui's mannerisms perfectly, a faint smile on his face. "Come on, everyone, don't be so quiet! Let's enjoy ourselves!"