Garlic Breath

Atsui

A full tummy of packet-fregola porridge later and he's off.

It is not that difficult to find Atsui. All he has to do is follow the trail of third years until he catches sight of the largest group. In the centre, is where he'll find her.

Of the many students that attempt to shokugeki for the First Seat, the third years make up a huge majority of the ones that go home. Not because of any expertise on the lower years parts, but purely because of the ambition of the third years.

Unlike the first and second years who don't want to risk it all for a loss so early in their school career, the third years are more willing to put everything on the line for the greater goal. The First Seat.

In saying this, so many of them have gone home trying. It is just as much tradition for the rest of the third years now, on the morning of the expulsion shokugeki, to do what Takumi does all night with Souma. Be it offering an ingredient or a seemingly important piece of advice, they all chip in to help whoever it is that has put their position in the school to represent them.

So when he notices a large group of the vermin loitering aimlessly near the entrance of the citrus conservatory, Takumi knows he's found her.

Squeezing through, he finds Satoshi at the very head, standing between the door and the rest of the third years.

"No entry, Takkun," Satoshi sings, blessedly dressed for the morning. "Tsui-chan said she needed some time to hear her thoughts, and has requested for everyone to leave her alone."

Takumi tries to move past anyway, but Satoshi holds fast.

"Can't let you do that." He smiles in explanation, when Takumi glares at him. "I just told you why."

Takumi pauses for a moment to study him. "Aren't you a sweet little helper?"

"Okay?" Satoshi raises a thick brow, his smile widening. "Is this not the pot calling the kettle black? Because if I were to ask you what you were doing all night..."

Takumi's countenance grows dark, suddenly reminded of what he'd thought he'd been doing last night, before it turned out he wasn't.

"Move aside. I need to talk to her—No, no, no," Takumi tuts, pointing a finger. "Don't start with me, Satoshi-san."

Satoshi closes a fist around his finger. "Tell me, why are you always like this?"

His eyes dare Satoshi to deny it. "You think I don't know what you meant with your little stunt?"

"Hmmm? Are you referring to the vinegar prank, or the salt and sugar switcheroo this morning?" At Takumi's glower, Satoshi clears his throat sheepishly, but his eyes laugh still. "That was a joke. I did not do that."

"I should have known all of you third years were the same."

"Don't group me with them, if you mean that to be derogatory." Satoshi winks. "I'm a Polar Star Dorm member first, before I'm a third year student."

"Yeah? Souma came to you for help, and you gave him a joke."

"And we laughed about it." Satoshi's smile wavers. "Because that's what you do with jokes, you know. You take them and you laugh."

Takumi doesn't miss the sarcastic jab. "Unintentional or not, it was sabotage."

Satoshi's eyes wrinkle with confusion. "Did he try fixing it or something?"

"He wouldn't have even thought about it, if you hadn't given him!" Takumi splutters. "How could you waste his time like that?"

"Okay, Takumi." Satoshi put his hands on his hips, sighing. "Can you calm down, and just tell me what's wrong? You're making it seem like I did something nefarious, like I gave him that recipe to mess with him or something?"