Taking a sip of juice, Yukihira Soma seemed to suddenly remember something.
Turning his head to look at everyone, he asked with some curiosity.
“That… I say, what exactly is Elite Ten?”
Hearing the inquiry, everyone fell silent for a moment.
Sakaki Ryoko snapped out of it and looked at Yukihira Soma strangely.
“Eh! You really want to hear?”
“I say, you! You really came to Totsuki without knowing anything at all.”
Yoshino Yuki couldn’t help but complain.
Now she finally understood why Yukihira Soma dared to say something like’standing above everyone else’ before.
So Yoshino Yuki turned her head to Marui Zenji and instructed.
“Marui, you should be the one to explain it.”
“Why me!”
Marui Zenji frowned, looking reluctant.
Does such a common-sense question even need an explanation?
“Don’t complain, just think of it as taking care of the newcomer.”
Sakaki Ryoko persuaded him in a gentle tone.
Looking at the others helplessly, Marui Zenji pushed up his glasses and sighed as if resigned to his fate.
“I really can’t do anything with you guys…”
Clearing his throat, he slowly began to speak.
“Listen up, the so-called Tōtsuki Elite Ten Council is a committee composed of the top ten students in the entire school.”
“Many affairs at Totsuki are left to student self-governance…”
“It can be said to be the highest decision-making body of Totsuki Academy…”
Listening to Marui Zenji’s introduction, a strong fighting spirit suddenly surged in Yukihira Soma’s heart.
In other words, if he wants to stand above everyone at Totsuki, he must take the first seat of Elite Ten?
…While they were chatting, a sudden sound of footsteps came from outside the door.
Soon, Isshiki Satoshi pushed open the door and walked in, a signature gentle smile on his face.
Behind him followed Sato Shoji and Steven.
“Haruto-kun, Yukihira Soma-kun.”
Isshiki Satoshi stepped forward and reached out his hand to the two of them, his smile as warm as the spring sun.
“Welcome to Polar Star Dormitory, I am second-year Isshiki Satoshi, you can just call me Isshiki-senpai.”
“Then please take care of us from now on, Isshiki-senpai.”
Haruto reached out and shook hands with Isshiki Satoshi.
Then Yukihira Soma also followed suit and shook hands with Isshiki Satoshi.
Isshiki Satoshi withdrew his hand, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his eyes full of sincere smiles.
“There are two more companions to share these golden years with.”
“There is nothing more worth being happy about than this.”
“Everyone, young people living under the same roof, eating from the same pot—this is youth, this is being a student.”
“It’s because I longed for such a life that I moved into the dormitory.”
As he spoke, Isshiki Satoshi opened his arms wide.
“Come! Let us collectively sing the praises of our brilliant dormitory life ahead.”
Listening to Isshiki Satoshi’s enthusiastic speech, Haruto couldn’t help but complain wildly in his heart.
What longing for youth?
Isshiki Satoshi clearly just wants to let himself loose here!
Aside from Polar Star Dormitory, one probably couldn’t find a second place that would tolerate a student crawling around the ceiling all day or wearing only a fundoshi or an apron.
“Setting that aside for now.”
Sato Shoji rubbed his brow and couldn’t help but speak up to complain.
“Senpai, could you please stop calling us from the ceiling in the future?”
He still remembered to this day when he was first addressed by Isshiki Satoshi suddenly popping out of the ceiling; he almost died of fright.
Haruto nodded silently from the side, expressing strong agreement.
Although his perception was very sensitive, it didn’t mean he was willing to see a person drill out from above his head!
But wanting Isshiki Satoshi to change this habit was basically impossible.
“Eh? That won’t do?”
Isshiki Satoshi tilted his head, his gaze falling on the speaking tube in the corner of the wall, lost in thought.
“Then how about using this for the boys too in the future?”
“If you use that, Tadokoro will come every time.”
Hearing Isshiki Satoshi say that, Tadokoro Megumi explained with a dejected face.
“B-Because…”
“If I don’t hurry over to check, Senpai will use that speaking tube to call me every few minutes…”
Listening to Tadokoro Megumi’s explanation, Steven was quite speechless.
Just thinking about that scene made his scalp tingle.
“Being constantly addressed like that is indeed very annoying!”
Sato Shoji weighed the options and decisively surrendered.
“It seems calling people from the ceiling is better after all.”
At least they were used to it now; it was better than being bombarded by the speaking tube.
Yukihira Soma looked at the others, then at the calm Haruto, and couldn’t help but remark.
“How do I feel… like this dormitory is full of weirdos?”
Clearly, Haruto had behaved very normally before.
At this moment, Yukihira Soma suddenly began to worry a bit about his future dormitory life.
“As for Soma-kun, you should be able to fit in with everyone very quickly.”
Tadokoro Megumi looked at Yukihira Soma and couldn’t help but comment internally.
“Alright, alright, everyone has their drinks, right?”
Isshiki Satoshi clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention back.
Then he raised the cup in his hand and said with a bright smile.
“Then, to welcome Haruto and Yukihira Soma to Polar Star Dormitory,”
“And for the glory of Polar Star Dormitory—Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
Everyone’s voices rang out together… the atmosphere began to heat up, and even the initially reluctant Marui Zenji fully blended in.
“Hahaha! Sakaki Ryoko’s fermented juice is really good! Give me another cup!”
Haruto raised the cup in his hand, his eyes full of smiles.
This kind of atmosphere is really nice.
Young, vigorous, and full of vitality…
“Food! There’s not enough food! Hahaha!”
Yukihira Soma slapped the floor, having also completely integrated into this lively scene.
“I’ll go get the things I smoked today.”
Ibusaki Shun, who had been silently drinking his beverage, stood up and said calmly.
He then quickly walked out of the room and returned before long, holding an exquisite wooden tray.
“Smoked Cheese, and three flavors of beef jerky.”
Haruto picked up a piece of beef jerky and put it in his mouth.
The rich smoky aroma instantly spread across the tip of his tongue; the meat was firm and chewy, getting more fragrant the more he chewed.
The salty fragrance of the cheese paired with the smoky aroma was also very good.
“This taste is really good.”
Haruto felt that he could learn about smoking from Ibusaki Shun later.
Then he could try to make smoked Jewel Meat.
Steven was not to be outdone and soon brought over some Mixed Vegetable Tempura and placed them before everyone.
“Eat up, these are fresh vegetables just picked from the field in the back, made into Mixed Vegetable Tempura. Guaranteed to be delicious!”
“Absolutely delicious!”
Yukihira Soma was the first to pick up a large piece and stuff it into his mouth, feasting greedily.
“Hahaha! It’s good, right? Right!”
Steven puffed out his chest proudly.
“Although the fried shrimp I made last week was much better than this.”
Sato Shoji calmly retorted while eating the Mixed Vegetable Tempura.
“Hmm?”
Steven instantly looked at Sato Shoji, sparks flying in his eyes… the room suddenly became even more lively.