The Rival Team Appears!

Chapter 2 — “The Rival Team Appears!”

The next morning, the smell of fried eggs filled the air — and so did the sound of Mina’s triumphant shouting.

“YES! I flipped it! And it didn’t land on the ceiling this time!”

Kenta groaned, rubbing his temples. “That’s not something to celebrate, you maniac.”

Rin clapped cheerfully. “Yay~! Ceiling-free breakfast! You’re getting better, Mina-chan!”

Takumi stirred his coffee, unamused. “A competent fry-up is hardly an achievement worth yelling about at 7 a.m.”

Mina puffed up her cheeks. “Hey, progress is progress!”

---

Later that day, the class was buzzing with excitement.

A large poster hung on the board in glittery red letters:

> 🍱 SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENT!

Sakuraba Culinary Academy: Team Cook-Off Tournament!

Prize: A golden chef’s knife and one week of free lunch!

The entire room went silent for two seconds before exploding in chaos.

Kenta slammed his fist on the counter. “A tournament?! Finally! I can prove I’m the strongest chef here!”

Rin gasped. “Ooooh~ free lunch for a week?! That’s, like, heaven!”

Mina’s eyes sparkled like twin frying pans. “We’re totally joining!”

Takumi sighed. “Of course we are.”

---

As the team signed up, a voice interrupted them — smooth, confident, and a little too smug.

“Well, well… if it isn’t Team Chaos.”

The group turned around to see three students in pristine white uniforms.

Leading them was Reina Kisaragi, the top student in class — graceful, elegant, and terrifyingly calm.

She smirked. “I heard your last cooking session involved… fire alarms?”

Mina laughed awkwardly. “Heh, just a tiny fire alarm…”

Reina flipped her long hair. “I hope you’ve improved. Because in the cook-off, you’ll be facing us.”

Behind her stood Sota, her silent sous-chef with knives sharper than his words, and Emi, a nervous girl holding a tray like a shield.

Kenta’s grin widened. “Perfect. A real fight.”

Takumi corrected, “A cooking competition, not a duel.”

Kenta ignored him. “Same thing.”

---

The next day — competition day.

Crowds of students filled the gym-turned-kitchen-arena.

Each team had one hour to prepare a meal that impressed the judges.

Mina cracked her knuckles. “Okay, team! We’re making fried rice with flair!”

Rin saluted. “Hai~! I’ll handle decorations!”

Kenta flexed his knife hand. “I’ll chop faster than light!”

Takumi adjusted his glasses. “And I’ll make sure none of you destroy the school.”

Across the room, Reina and her team were perfectly synchronized, slicing, stirring, and plating.

Their movements looked like ballet.

Meanwhile, Mina’s team looked like… an earthquake with utensils.

---

“Ah! The rice is sticking!” Mina cried.

“That’s because you added too much oil!” Takumi scolded.

Rin accidentally dropped a flower-shaped carrot on the floor. “Oopsies~”

Kenta was arguing with the blender. “You think you can beat me, machine?! Bring it!”

Reina smirked as her team plated their dish flawlessly.

Mina clenched her fists. “We can still win! Cooking isn’t just about skill… It’s about the heart!”

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