Friction and Elite is the 15th chapter of the Shokugeki no Soma series.
Plot Summary[]
As the Polar Star residents have arrived in the Friendship and Rapport Training Lodging, they are surprised to see a hotel while Sōma has expected it. Shun starts explaining that Tōtsuki is the parent organization of all the hotels and ryokan of the area. Furthermore, a dozens of inns are managed by Tōtsuki Resort, and a lot of the academy's graduates find employment there. In this season, they don't accept guests, and they're used for the training camp.
To Sōma and Yūki's surprise, Shun says about hearing that normal days and one night costs 80, 000 yen. Yūki is excited to stay in the hotel, but Shun says only if they survive today's assignment. She's upset at him for ruining the mood, but Shun clarifies himself being a realist before they gather in the hall soon.
When the Polar Star residents enter the hall, Sōma feels the silence being unpleasant, but he sees Ikumi and greets her with her nickname Nikumi. As Yūki questions Sōma for calling Ikumi using her nickname, he says he has her consent, but Ikumi denies it. Suddenly, Ikumi sees many students glaring at Sōma with resentment as she tells him to be careful.
Roland is in the stage, explaining that the Friendship and Rapport Training Lodging is scheduled in 5 nights and 6 days where the students will be given cooking assignments. 980 students will be separated into 20 groups on the first day. If the lecturers' evaluation for those are below, they'll be expelled. As for the judging, the lecturers have arrived, the Tōtsuki Academy Alumni.
One of the Alumni calls out for Sōma, but he quickly goes for another student next to Sōma, saying he's expelled for using a hairdresser product with a citrus smell that will overshadow the food's aroma. The student protests, but the alumnus silences the student by telling him that he can lose customers because of the scent and asks if he wants to shut down his shop before returning to the stage.
The alumnus is recognized as Kojirō Shinomiya, the first Japanese who won the French Pluspol medal, by the students, and they also recognize Fuyumi Mizuhara and Hitoshi Sekimori. Megumi notices them on magazines almost every month. Suddenly, one of them named Donato Gotōda approaches Megumi and holds her hand, saying he might be born to meet her, and asks if they can talk all night in his auberge. However, another alumnus named Hinako Inui tells Donato to let go of Megumi. When Hinako apologizes to Megumi, she becomes fond of her being cute, but Donato warns Hinako that Roland is glaring. Before heading back to the stage, Hinako tells Megumi to come by her restaurant who still flusters.
Finally, the students see Gin Dōjima, the chef who manages all of Tōtsuki Resort's cooking. Zenji feels moved to see the alumni. Gin welcomes the students and says that the alumni are gathered to treat them as their employees at their shops. And those whose work don't satisfy them are fired. In other words, the students will leave immediately depending on the lecturers discretion, and Gin wishes them luck. As Gin finishes, he tells the students to start moving, and Sōma tells the Polar Star residents to have a card tournament in Zenji's room tonight, leading Zenji to disapprove.
The next day in class, Hinako assigns the students to be in pairs like back in Roland's class, much to Megumi's gladness as she gets to be on pairs with Sōma again. However, Sōma gets called out by a student who immediately steps on his shoe. As Sōma assumes it's on purpose, the student finally gets to meet Sōma and vows to crush him while his partner is with him, leaving Megumi terrified.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Sōma Yukihira
- Yūki Yoshino
- Shun Ibusaki
- Megumi Tadokoro
- Ryōko Sakaki
- Ikumi Mito
- Roland Chapelle
- Fuyumi Mizuhara (Debut)
- Hinako Inui (Debut)
- Hitoshi Sekimori (Debut)
- Donato Gotōda (Debut)
- Kojirō Shinomiya (Debut)
- Gin Dōjima (Debut)
- Zenji Marui
- Takumi Aldini (Debut)
- Isami Aldini (Debut)