The Proof of Existence is the 23rd chapter of the Shokugeki no Soma series.
Plot Summary[]
Shocked after hearing Gin saying Megumi will be the lead chef and Sōma will only support her, Sōma tells him that he's the one who made the challenge for the Shokugeki. However, Gin has made the conditions for him to accept because letting Sōma win won't change anything if Megumi fails another assignment or rely on Sōma. Furthermore, she has to prove her worth with her own skills.
With Kojirō's having decided a dish to prepare, he sarcastically feels for Sōma because his expulsion depends on Megumi. Irritated, Hinako begins asking the other alumni about the way Kojirō speaks, so Donato points out why he doesn't have a long lasting relationship as Fuyumi bluntly tells Kojirō he has a bad personality, leading him to angrily tells them to be quiet. Hinako cheers for Megumi, Kojirō tells her to be quiet again. However, Megumi starts to tremble. Sōma tries to help her, but Gin prevents him because he's only sous-chef. Gin tells Sōma that he can step down from the kitchen if he doesn't believe in Megumi's cooking skills, yet Sōma refuses to leave.
Megumi trembles with doubt, but Sōma tells her to put her hands together, and he claps them with the alumni watching. A trick Sōma learned from his home, but the difficulty is that no can do it alone. Although it stings, Megumi stops trembling. As she's concerned about the dish Kojirō is making, Sōma reminds Megumi of his father's words that "Cooking is putting is all you have on top of a dish." He also mentioned the onigiri she made at the dorm that were delicious, so Sōma tells Megumi to make a dish that suits her. Upon hearing this, Megumi remembers cooking with her mother.
As Kojirō is waiting for his dish to finish, he's sarcastically surprised at Sōma not preparing the food. Before he makes any insults against Megumi, Sōma puts Kojirō to halt after he'll taste her dish. When hearing the kind of dish Megumi wants to make, Sōma starts to support her, saying "Restaurant Tadokoro" opens, with Gin watching them.