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StraightMan: Next to Alice.
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* EvenVillainsHaveStandards: Despite how jaded he has become, even he is uncomfortable with Ashitaro's antics in regards to Nao.
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* EvenVillainsHaveStandards: EvenEvilHasStandards: Despite how jaded he has become, even he is uncomfortable with Ashitaro's antics in regards to Nao.
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* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: She is a simple, clumsy girl who was barely managing to keep herself from getting expelled at the beginning. Come the Intercontinental Shokugeki and [[spoiler:Megumi outright saves the Elite Ten from a hostage situation by taking out Shouko by herself. Not bad for a "No Seat".
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* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: She is a simple, clumsy girl who was barely managing to keep herself from getting expelled at the beginning. Come the Intercontinental Shokugeki and [[spoiler:Megumi outright saves the Elite Ten from a hostage situation by taking out Shouko by herself. Not bad for a "No Seat".]]
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* BadassBookworm: He is brilliant. [[spoiler:He managed to score a mutual elimination during a duel where draws couldn't happen against an opponent far superior to him. That is smart.]
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* BadassBookworm: He is brilliant. [[spoiler:He managed to score a mutual elimination during a duel where draws couldn't happen against an opponent far superior to him. That is smart.]]]
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* TheChessmaster: His primary talent. Soma and Erina manage to outplay him however. [[spoiler:Julius on the other hand...]
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* TheChessmaster: His primary talent. Soma and Erina manage to outplay him however. [[spoiler:Julius on the other hand...]]]
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* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: She is this to Erina, of all people. [[spoiler:Manages to be the first character to ever defeat Erina in a duel, and becomes someone Erina outright dreads having to duel again.]
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* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: She is this to Erina, of all people. [[spoiler:Manages to be the first character to ever defeat Erina in a duel, and becomes someone Erina outright dreads having to duel again.]]]
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[[folder:Ryou Kurokiba]
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[[folder:Ryou Kurokiba]Kurokiba]]
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[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0009_16.jpeg]]
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[[folder:Takumi Aldini]
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[[folder:Takumi Aldini]Aldini]]
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[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0009_16.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"Five-to-nothing, that's how this is going to end."]]
The Ninth Seat and a 92nd Generation student, who is Alice's aide, and later, boyfriend. He is forced into the Shokugeki between Erina and Akira as Akira's aide, before he later assists Soma in getting readmitted into Tootsuki. Later on, he forms part of the Elite Ten during their struggles to keep Tootsuki Academy open during the Intercontinental Shokugeki.
----
* AnimalMotifs: A dog, due to his aggressive nature on the battlefield and fierce loyalty out of it.
* BadassesWearBandanas: His personality changes radically once he puts the bandana on, giving him a fierce look and aggressive character.
* BeleagueredAssistant: Ryou is shown to be more reasonable and mature than Alice, but he still goes along with every whim of hers, even when it transpired that he's a much better cook than his employer.
* TheComicallySerious: Whenever he is with Alice and without his bandana, he tends to clarify details to her and take her whining with a neutral face.
* DefeatMeansRespect: How he met Alice in the first place. As kids, she was way above his level.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Usually referred to by his last name Kurokiba. Only Alice calls him Ryou most of the time.
* HappilyAdopted: To Alice's parents, Soe and Leonora. He genuinely adores them, and almost slips up and refers to the latter as "mom" in front of Erina, much to the girl's playful delight.
* HypercompetentSidekick: On one hand, he essentially acts as Alice's butler and valet; on the other hand he is also implied to be better at cooking than Alice. [[spoiler:Used against Alice by Gautier by noting how her aide was superior to his Lady.]]
* MadeOfIron: [[spoiler:He was forced to go into three duels in a row, and even then he barely lost the third round. That's effectively six hours of non-stop cooking against fresh opponents on a global scale. Even Tootsuki's opponents couldn't help but marvel at him.]]
* MistressAndServantBoy: Ryou treats Alice as "milady" and does many chores for her. Even after they are a couple.
* RunningGag: The shortcut he shows Soma to enter the Nakiri Mansion from his room gets taken advantage of many times.
* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: Without his bandana, he's the savvy guy to Alice.
StraightMan: Next to Alice.
* TallDarkAndHandsome: He is imposing, stern, mysterious, and very good looking.
* TranquilFury: For as "tranquil" as he can be. [[spoiler:During his match against the Nigerian Keelan, Ryou was very laser-focused in ensuring his defeat after the latter made one to many comments about Alice. It resulted in the best dish served up until that time in the event as a whole.]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"Five-to-nothing, that's how this is going to end."]]
The Ninth Seat and a 92nd Generation student, who is Alice's aide, and later, boyfriend. He is forced into the Shokugeki between Erina and Akira as Akira's aide, before he later assists Soma in getting readmitted into Tootsuki. Later on, he forms part of the Elite Ten during their struggles to keep Tootsuki Academy open during the Intercontinental Shokugeki.
----
* AnimalMotifs: A dog, due to his aggressive nature on the battlefield and fierce loyalty out of it.
* BadassesWearBandanas: His personality changes radically once he puts the bandana on, giving him a fierce look and aggressive character.
* BeleagueredAssistant: Ryou is shown to be more reasonable and mature than Alice, but he still goes along with every whim of hers, even when it transpired that he's a much better cook than his employer.
* TheComicallySerious: Whenever he is with Alice and without his bandana, he tends to clarify details to her and take her whining with a neutral face.
* DefeatMeansRespect: How he met Alice in the first place. As kids, she was way above his level.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Usually referred to by his last name Kurokiba. Only Alice calls him Ryou most of the time.
* HappilyAdopted: To Alice's parents, Soe and Leonora. He genuinely adores them, and almost slips up and refers to the latter as "mom" in front of Erina, much to the girl's playful delight.
* HypercompetentSidekick: On one hand, he essentially acts as Alice's butler and valet; on the other hand he is also implied to be better at cooking than Alice. [[spoiler:Used against Alice by Gautier by noting how her aide was superior to his Lady.]]
* MadeOfIron: [[spoiler:He was forced to go into three duels in a row, and even then he barely lost the third round. That's effectively six hours of non-stop cooking against fresh opponents on a global scale. Even Tootsuki's opponents couldn't help but marvel at him.]]
* MistressAndServantBoy: Ryou treats Alice as "milady" and does many chores for her. Even after they are a couple.
* RunningGag: The shortcut he shows Soma to enter the Nakiri Mansion from his room gets taken advantage of many times.
* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: Without his bandana, he's the savvy guy to Alice.
StraightMan: Next to Alice.
* TallDarkAndHandsome: He is imposing, stern, mysterious, and very good looking.
* TranquilFury: For as "tranquil" as he can be. [[spoiler:During his match against the Nigerian Keelan, Ryou was very laser-focused in ensuring his defeat after the latter made one to many comments about Alice. It resulted in the best dish served up until that time in the event as a whole.]]
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[[spoiler:
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!!Takumi Aldini
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0007.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"I couldn't even dream of being the Tenth Seat, if I couldn't do at least this much."]]
The Tenth Seat and a 92nd Generation student, Takumi is the eldest son of a Japanese chef from Florence-based ''Trattoria Aldini''. He was involved with Erina's team during her Shokugeki against Akira, latter became a mayor player in helping Soma return to Tootsuki Academy. During the events of Classique, he finds himself a member of the Elite Ten, assisting in defending his school during the Intercontinental Shokugeki.
----
* AwesomenessByAnalysis: [[spoiler:During his duel against Lucrezia, he is able to use Alice's molecular gastronomy equipment incredibly well despite only having ever seen her use it.]]
* BadassBoast: His page quote, stated to Lucrezia, who looked down on his for being "merely" the Tenth Seat.
* BigBrotherInstinct: Very much has this in regards to Isami.
* BigDamnHeroes: He and Hisako come to Megumi's aid in exposing Subaru's antics, which is what begins Soma's true return to Tootsuki.
* ButNotTooForeign: The Aldini twins are half-Japanese, but grew up in Italy.
* ChickMagnet: He is shown to have a fanclub in Tootsuki, and Hisako becomes outright smitten by him.
* FriendlyRivalry: What he has with Soma. The two often argue a lot, but deep down, they know they can depend on each other.
* GloveSlap: Accidentally, against Eishi. It still gets the point across however.
* HonorBeforeReason: Takumi stated he would ''hate'' the idea of Soma getting expelled before they compete officially. This is also the reason why he refuses to accept his Mezzaluna from Soma, wanting to legitimately earn it back in a duel. Notably all of this was shown in Nouvelle first before it was also established in canon.
* NervesOfSteel: [[spoiler:Being face-to-face with the strongest of the Italian Team only makes him grip his Mezzaluna tighter.]]
* NiceGuy: Despite how brash he tends to be, deep down, he is a very nice dude.
* PrettyBoy: His good looks have earned him a fan club. Soma even jokingly tells Erina that Takumi is the prettiest blonde he knows, even more-so than her.
* TookALevelInBadass: Don't let his Tenth Seat fool you, his prowess is leagues above what many in the Intercontinental Shokugeki can manage. [[spoiler:It takes the judge Decora outright cheating to get him eliminated.]]
* WrongGenreSavvy: He still behaves like he's in an action / comedy anime, not realizing his in a romance / drama fanfiction.
[[/folder]]
!!The Neo-Noirs
[[folder:Asahi Saiba]]
!!Asahi Saiba
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0003.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"...Then I'm all you need to out cook Soma Yukihira..."]]
TheAntagonist. The leader of the Noirs who an orphan who Jouichiro took under his wing as his disciple 10 years prior, and who is revealed to be Azami's son and Erina's older half-brother. Unseen during the events of Nouvelle, Asahi joins his father in his Neo-Noirs to challenge Tootsuki, even if his true goals seem to be different than what his father wishes.
----
* AbusiveParents: He never knew his [[DisappearedDad dad]] and his mom was an extremely abusive alcoholic.
* TheAce: Of the villains side. He is considered the best of the Noirs for a reason.
* AdaptationalHeroism: Very much so. [[spoiler: While still aiming to conquer the culinary world, this version of Asahi knows Erina is his sister from the start, has zero intentions of forcing anyone to marry him, and most of his plans would actually work better if he tried to outright harm people as opposed to being careful not to hurt Erina or Dove too much.]]
* AffablyEvil: He barely ever takes anything seriously. Even in heated moments he'll crack a joke at the absurdity of it all.
* AllYourPowersCombined: Subverted. This Asahi very much does not possess any superpowers, even mocking the very concept of it. It, however, does not make him any less dangerous.
* ArrogantKungFuGuy: He has a massive ego; so much so that [[spoiler:he is utterly shocked when he realizes Dove in indeed just as good as he is, and that Julius and Ashitaro are probably too.]]
* BastardBastard: He was born after his [[OneNightStandPregnancy mother had a one night stand]] with Azami. He uses this as blackmail to get into the Intercontinental Shokugeki.
* BigBadDuumvirate: What he, Azami and Dove are for Classique.
* TheCharmer: Surprisingly he is a very romantic individual, able to charm the very averse to romance Dove rather smoothly. [[spoiler:Then he ruined it.]]
* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: To Eizan. One was a rich cheater who pretended to be a force of good for Tootsuki and who avoided directly engaging against Soma until he had no choice, while the other is a poor orphan who has incredible skills and took aim for Soma from the start.
* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler:During their first duel Soma stands no chance against him. Earlier than that, he defeats Mea Yanai by having a little girl follow his instructions and cook for him.]]
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Asahi had an abusive childhood and was later taken in an orphanage.
* TheDreaded: For Soma.
* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Just like his father.
* FatalFlaw: Pride. [[spoiler:Not only in his cooking, but in never rethinking his own goals. His ambitions lead him to destroy the two best relationships he had built (Erina and Dove), which leaves him too rattled to be able to win against Soma, who in turn is risking it all to help Erina.]]
* FlatCharacter: [[spoiler:Purposely subverted. This Asahi is a more fleshed out character, with his own goals and a bigger emphasis on his relationship with his sister, and his doomed romance with Dove.]]
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: [[spoiler:In the end he can't bring himself to hurt Dove after she reveals her actual relationship with "Baby" Ruth, costing him his one true victory in the process. He doesn't even hold it against her at any point.]]
* KnowWhenToFoldEm: [[spoiler:After losing to Soma in the Finals, he gracefully bows out, and even helps Erina secure the win against Ashitaro with nobody by Azami realizing it.]]
* LadykillerInLove: He was quite a charmer before, until he fell for Dove. Hard.
* MoralityPet: Non-Romantic example. His genuine sibling bond with Erina makes him question a lot of his motives and actively stops him from doing worse things.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:Destroying his relationships with both Erina and Dove does leave him positively torn inside.]]
* RedBaron: The King of the Noirs. He had very much earned that title.
* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: The Savvy to Dove's Energetic.
* SmugSuper: He knows he's one of, if not the best chef of his generation, and is not afraid to flaunt it.
* SupremeChef: One of the best, [[spoiler:becoming the only character that Soma becomes outright afraid of clashing against, as he simply couldn't envision himself defeating Asahi.]]
* TallDarkAndSnarky: How this version of Asahi is shown, never taking anything seriously and always having a jab on hand to annoy someone.
* UnderestimatingBadassery: In regards to his fellow Neo-Noirs. [[spoiler:And, of course, Soma.]]
* WildCard: What he becomes to both Tootsuki Academy and the Neo-Noirs. Nobody knows what he is planning half the time.
* WorthyOpponent: [[spoiler:At the end of it all, Soma and Asahi reluctantly view each other as this.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Dove Dillinger]]
!!Dove Dillinger
[[quoteright:851:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/00040_5.png]]
[[caption-width-right:851:"...how utterly disappointing it is that I alone eclipse every single one of you."]]
The Leader of the Neo-Noirs and Azami's protégé who was trained to be able to counter Erina and her God's Tongue. A very playful and enigmatic young woman, Dove leads the antagonistic force against Tootsuki Academy during the events of the Intercontinental Shokugeki.
----
* TheAce: Dove is amongst the best chefs shown in the stories.
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: She is this to Erina, of all people. [[spoiler:Manages to be the first character to ever defeat Erina in a duel, and becomes someone Erina outright dreads having to duel again.]
* BewareTheSillyOnes: She is very playful most of the time, but when she gets serious, she is unstoppable.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: She cares about her family (her mom, Ruth, Loren, and Azami), and nobody else. She has no qualms about making others miserable just so she can keep those she cares about safe and happy.
* BloodKnight: Can become very deadly if pushed far enough.
* BuxomBeautyStandard: Has a very notable figure.
* BrokenAce: In a way. [[spoiler:Her ordeal of her monstrous ex-boyfriend alongside Azami's manipulation and training have made her into a very conflicted individual.]]
* CoolBigSis: One of her genuinely positive traits is how much she cares for her little brother Loren.
* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler: Every single Shokugeki of hers is this, with the exception of the grand finale against Erina.]]
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Which she keeps very secret until very near the end of the story.
* DarkMistress: With Asahi.
* TheDitz: Subverted. She ''acts'' silly it is [[ObfuscatingStupidity not]] ''[[ObfuscatingStupidity nearly]]'' [[ObfuscatingStupidity the truth.]]
* TheDreaded: Very much so for Erina.
* FriendlyEnemy: She still acts nicely towards the Elite Ten during most of their interactions. Even when she meets Rindou all she does is compliment her.
* GenkiGirl: She's incredibly playful, curious and energetic.
* GoodBadGirl: A genuine fun and playful girl who just happens to also be ''very'' frank and comfortable with her sexuality.
* ItsAllAboutMe: She thinks about no one else as long as she comes out on top.
* MasterOfAll: What Dove seems to be. Even reheated leftovers of what she makes are able to fully outclass any of Tootsuki's First Years.
* MysteriousPast: For the longest time her past and what she "owed" Azami was only hinted at. [[spoiler:She tells all the details to Asahi late in the story, after having accidentally admitted to part of it before, about how her ex-boyfriend took advantage of her while she was still underaged, left her pregnant, threatened her, and Azami was the one who found her and put a stop to that... permanently.]]
* RedBaron: The God Slayer. [[spoiler:Also, The Queen of Noirs.]]
* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: The Energetic to Asahi's Savvy.
* ShamelessFanserviceGirl: Modesty rules are of very little concern to her. [[spoiler:Which then makes it clear she's falling for Asahi when she begins to get flustered around him.]]
* SmugSmiler: She often has a smug smile on her face, especially if she's taunting Erina.
* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Dove's the only girl of the Neo-Noirs.
* SupremeChef: Even amongst this world, she still stands at the top of the food chain.
* UndyingLoyalty: To Azami. Anything he wants she will deliver, no matter who she has destroy to achieve it.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Julius Bedlam]]
!!Julius Bedlam
A member of the Neo-Noirs and Eizan Senior's former culinary hitman, who was superior to Etsuya in every way possible. Strict and stoic, Julius witnesses Soma and Erina destroying Eizan's schemes, which leads him to be forced to join the Neo-Noirs in their attempts against Tootsuki Academy during the events of the Intercontinental Shokugeki.
----
* TheAce: Julius is highly skilled, to the point Eizan believed him to be simply unbeatable.
* ArchEnemy: Eizan becomes this to him near the end.
* BastardBoyfriend: To Yukichiko. [[spoiler:He outright abandoned her when she thought she was pregnant, then just dumped her when it was revealed she wasn't. This broke her hard, and it was the one thing Eizan couldn't overlook and ended up pushing him to genuinely challenge Julius.]]
* BerserkButton: [[spoiler:Eizan reprimanding him for his treatment of Yukichiko sets him off in a rather uncharacteristically.]]
* TheBigGuy: While not that tall, he is clearly the most physically imposing of the Neo-Noirs.
* ChildProdigy: He got recruited by Fukuzawa Eizan very early on, and even when Etsuya was already admitted into Tootsuki, he was no match for Julius.
* CurbStompBattle: A given, and every single match he participates in he wins. [[spoiler:Eizan had to force his Shokugeki against Julius into an unofficial draw just to get him eliminated as he saw no way to actually defeat him.]]
* TheDreaded: At the very least Eizan thinks so, noting he was basically a young Senzaemon in terms of prowess.
* EvenVillainsHaveStandards: Despite how jaded he has become, even he is uncomfortable with Ashitaro's antics in regards to Nao.
* MartialPacifist: He has no interest in battles, though [[LetsGetDangerous he will fight if necessary]].
* PerpetualFrowner: He rarely ever changes his expression. The most would be a smirk.
* RedBaron: The Godfather.
* TheStoic: He always has a serious and downright bored look on his face.
* StraightMan: To pretty much everyone else in his team.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Ashitaro Sadatsuka]]
!!Ashitaro Sadatsuka
A member of the Neo-Noirs and Nao's highly abusive older brother. Wild and repugnant, Ashitaro is handpicked by Azami to join his team, which leads him to be forced into the Neo-Noirs in their attempts against Tootsuki Academy during the events of the Intercontinental Shokugeki.
----
* AbusiveParents: His father specifically.
* TheAce: Nao certainly thinks he is, and given his record, she's not wrong.
* ArchEnemy: Isshiki. [[spoiler:He also views anyone who tries to help Nao this way as well, especially Soma or Loren.]]
* BelievingTheirOwnLies: He claims Nao was responsible for their mother dying while giving birth to her, and downplays all the abuse he gives her as nothing.
* BigBrotherBully: An extreme case of this, given his history with Nao.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Lost his mother as a child and his father is very abusive.
* DirtyCoward: For all his talk, when he's confronted by another man and not a helpless girl he's very quick to change his tune, as shown during his confrontations with Isshiki or Asahi.
* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: He genuine loved his mother, and despite everything [[spoiler:cares a lot for his adoptive mother Riko as well.]]
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: He is utterly flabbergasted as to why so many are standing up for his little sister.
* EvilCounterpart: To Isshiki. Both are older brothers who were child geniuses pushed by their parents to be the best, only that Isshiki found comfort in others and is a genuine nice person, while Ashitaro took out his frustrations on his innocent little sister and spiraled further under his own mental illness.
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: Even the Neo-Noirs hate him.
* ItAmusedMe: His raison d'etre, or so he claims.
* LackOfEmpathy: To put it mildly.
* MadArtist: Very depraved yet very, very talented.
* RedBaron: Warlock Supreme.
* UsedToBeASweetKid: From what is shown, Ashitaro, even after his mother's passing, was a good older brother to Nao and she genuinely adored him. It wasn't until his mental illness was left untreated thanks to his father worried over the family image that he got worse and worse...
* VileVillainSaccharineShow: While the stories have other horrendous antagonists in it, nobody has as much prominence as Ashitaro. He is the absolute worst, and lacks any of the noble qualities his fellow Neo-Noirs posses, with him being so revolting in his actions even they hate him.
* WouldHitAGirl: And a lot worse than that if he's allowed.
* WorthyOpponent: Despite how much he hates him, Ashitaro still views Isshiki this way. Isshiki admits he wishes Ashitaro was a better person so he could likewise marvel at his genuine skills.
[[/folder]]
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Changed line(s) 10 (click to see context) from:
TheProtagonist. Still hailing from family-run local restaurant Yukihira, Soma is outright the most carefree and rebellious member of the 92nd Generation; who ends up forced to work under his biggest antagonistic rival Erina thanks to his loss at the Autumn Elections at the hands of Akira. During Nouvelle, this begins a series of spiraling circumstances where the two argue, make-up, bond, develop romantic feelings, and end up challenging Tootsuki Academy's very laws to set right what went wrong. During Classique, set in his second year, Soma attains the Elite Ten's Seventh Seat and is involved in the Intercontinental Shokugeki,
to:
TheProtagonist. Still hailing from family-run local restaurant Yukihira, Soma is outright the most carefree and rebellious member of the 92nd Generation; who ends up forced to work under his biggest antagonistic rival Erina thanks to his loss at the Autumn Elections at the hands of Akira. During Nouvelle, this begins a series of spiraling circumstances where the two argue, make-up, bond, develop romantic feelings, and end up challenging Tootsuki Academy's very laws to set right what went wrong. During Classique, set in his second year, Soma attains the Elite Ten's Seventh Seat and is involved in the Intercontinental Shokugeki, [[spoiler:where not only does he have to content with Azami and Asahi both attempting to use or abuse Erina for a shot at the culinary throne, he also has to deal with protecting his classmate Nao from her very unstable older brother Ashitaro.]]
Changed line(s) 12,13 (click to see context) from:
* AdaptationDyeJob:
** Her hair is black in the game, while she's a brunette in the animated short.
** Her hair is black in the game, while she's a brunette in the animated short.
to:
* AdaptationDyeJob:
** Her hairTheAce: Wouldn't be Soma without this. Despite his more modest upbringing compared to the others, Soma is black still considered one of the best chefs in the game, stories, capable of insane feats and being quick to think of solutions to problems most of the other students have never had to even consider, [[spoiler:such as having to win a Shokugeki with his own aide trying to sabotage him.]]
* AlmightyJanitor: During Nouvelle Soma was able to impress and gain the support of all the Elite Ten members thanks to his tenacity and skill, becoming the first and only Tootsuki student to ever get expelled and then readmitted into the school, requiring the Academy to have to create a new law just to accommodate him. Downplayed during Classique, where he becomes the Seventh Seat, but still applicable in the case of [[spoiler:Soma managing to stay in the competition until the finals, being the only student to take out two of the challengers' Team Leaders (the duo of Van and Bridgette, and Asahi), and defeating a Neo-Noir (Asahi) in a landslide victory of five-to-nothing, something even Erina was unable to do.]]
* AlwaysSecondBest: What starts the series off, with Soma losing the Autumn Elections finals against Akira. This is played with during the stories, as while insanely capable, most consider Erina to still be the superior chef of her year.
* ArchEnemy: Soma has two, depending on the story. The first is Eizan, and the feeling is mutual for most of the story. The second one is Asahi, and while initially Asahi didn't much care, circumstances made him reconsider.
* BadassBoast:
---> '''Soma:''' "Twenty. If my dad could take out fifty opponents, what's a measly twenty then?!"
* BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame: He has a pretty good knack for this.
** Against Eizan, Soma manages to gain enough support from the Elite Ten to overrule whatever Eizan could try to us to disqualify him from participating in the latter's Expo tournament, and then used that very victory to force Eizan to duel him in order to get himself back into Tootsuki Academy.
**[[spoiler:Against Loren, despite their back and forth of trying to salvage / ruin the dish respectively, Soma is able to use Loren's attempts to ruin his dish as inspiration to push it into an even better degree, while also managing to flip Loren's own mind games against the kid to make him falter in his devotion to Azami.]]
* BerserkButton:
** Anyone insulting his family restaurant of his late mother Tamako. Not even Erina can get away with doing the latter (even if unintentionally to her credit).
** Abuse of any kind will set him off, as shown in his protectiveness over Erina or Nao.
* BigDamnHeroes: Tends to show up just at the right moment before things go from bad to unsalvageable.
* BookDumb: Excellent chef, barely scrapping average in any non-culinary class.
* BreakThemByTalking: [[spoiler:How Soma finally manages to "defeat" Loren, by making the boy confront the truth that helping to destroy Tootsuki, it would lead him to directly being responsible for the harm that would befall Nao.]]
* BrutalHonesty: [[spoiler:Is the first character to outright denounce what Azami and Mana on being AbusiveParents, to the media no less, in what begins their eventual downfall and all the online support Erina recieves under the #ProtectErina movement.]]
* CatchPhrase: "It wasn't much!"
* ChallengeSeeker: His excitement over facing off against the Elite Ten, the other schools, or even each of the Neo-Noirs stem from this.
* CharacterDevelopment: Not as much as Erina, but still present. In Nouvelle, he has to learn to accept the help of others and that it's okay to need said help to begin with. In Classique, [[spoiler: Soma's forgiving attitude is put to the test when he finds himself utterly afraid of Asahi and unwilling to give the latter a chance after he did so to Subaru, Eizan, and even Loren. It is Erina that convinces him that, no, he didn't draw the line before, it is not right to draw it now.]]
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: More-so in Nouvelle than in Classique, as in the latter story he has quite the reputation thanks to all the events that transpired in the former.
* Determinator: Soma's greatest strength still remains his refusal to give up, even against a vastly superior opponent. The fact that he didn't try to argue his initial expulsion is what clues his friends in that Soma was not in the best state of mind.
* DistressedDude: During the events of Nouvelle, Soma ends up needing the assistance of all his friends, both in and out of Tootsuki, for the chance to challenge the system and get himself readmitted.
* FamedInStory: As the only Tootsuki student to be expelled and then readmitted.
* FriendlyRivalry: It's almost impossible to make enemies with Soma, as every opponent he has he manages to befriend to a certain extent or the other. [[spoiler:Even the likes of Asahi and Dove find him too genuine to outright hate him.]]
* FriendToAllChildren: As Kanon or Aisha can attest.
* TheHero: He's the protagonist of Nouvelle, and the deuteragonist of Classique. And he will not stop helping anyone as long as he is able.
* HeroicBSOD: Goes through a massive one after his expulsion from Tootsuki during Nouvelle. It takes Isshiki reaching out to him, and Erina supporting him for him to realize this and break out of it.
* HopeBringer: To Erina, as despite how cold and ruthless she was to him, he always remained her strongest emotional pillar.
* HumbleHero: For all his cocky tendencies, Sōma doesn't gloat over his rivals. He is quick to recognize talent in other students and doesn't make the mistake of underestimating them.
* IgnoreTheFanservice: Soma still genuinely doesn't care (or even notice) all the blatant MaleGaze around him, [[spoiler:with the sole exception being Erina herself.]]
* ItsPersonal: His clashes against Eizan, Azami and Asahi all boil down to this, as the former almost ruined his academic career while the latter two have been making Erina's life a living hell.
* LetsGetDangerous: When the chips are down, he's perfectly willing to duel against all the odds.
* LethalChef: He's still Soma after all, as Erina can attest.
* LikeBrotherAndSister: Soma's relationship with Megumi. At times he has shown more concern for her wellbeing than even Erina's.
* MrFanservice: If him playing basketball while shirtless was any indication. Erina certainly thought so.
* NiceGuy: Soma's biggest virtue as a person remains is his friendly nature.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: [[spoiler:Him achieving his goal of being readmitted at Tootsuki is what allows Azami enough leeway to spring his plan into action, resulting in all the events that follow and almost destroy both Erina and Tootsuki Academy as a whole.]]
* OfficialCouple: With Erina.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: What clues Isshiki in that Soma's expulsion had to have had something nefarious to it, as the boy who never backed down from a challenge left the Academy without much of a fight.
* ObliviousToLove: Subverted. Nouvelle is a Romance story after all. Him realizing his feelings for Erina and the drama that follows them becoming and being a couple is what drives the plot of the stories.
* ThePowerOfFriendship: [[spoiler:He weaponizes it during his final battle against Asahi, using tricks from all the other Elite Ten members, as well as from Nao and even Loren, to utterly crush the King of Noirs.]]
* RedheadsAreRavishing: At the very least Erina seems to think so, even if she won't admit it.
* SecondPlaceIsForLosers: What he firmly believes, being the StubbornLoser that he is.
* ShowerOfAwkward: [[spoiler:Hiding from Mana in Erina's shower results in this between him and Erina.]]
* ShowyInvincibleHero: Deconstructed. Soma begins the story losing, and unlike canon, here his defeats tend to have consequences, although when he does succeed, it is quite the show.
* SupremeChef: Of course. [[spoiler:He is the only Elite Ten student to receive a standing ovation from the crowd after his disqualification in the Finals of the Intercontinental Shokugeki. Also, unlike canon, he is able to get Erina to say "It's delicious!".]]
* TranquilFury: While normally very casual and laidback, if your name is Eizan, Asahi or Azami, he won't be that nice to you.
* UnderstandingBoyfriend: With Erina. Try as she might, Soma is not someone who will brush off her concerns or hold a grudge against her past actions, something she herself notes she probably doesn't deserve.
* UndyingLoyalty: To Yukihira's at first, then to all of Tootsuki when it is challenged by Azami's Intercontinental Shokugeki.
* VitriolicBestBuds: Soma and Takumi.
* WeDoTheImpossible: No student had ever been readmitted to Tootsuki Academy. No such rule even existed. Soma was readmitted.
* WildCard: As Asahi himself notes, he had never seen a chef who flipflops between magnificent and mediocre as much as Soma did.
* WorthyOpponent: He becomes this for a lot of characters, and most of the time the feeling is mutual. [[spoiler:Despite his dislike for the Neo-Noirs, he can't help but admire their skills and wishes to have a chance to duel with all four of them.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Erina Nakiri]]
!!Erina Nakiri
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0002.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"I want to scream."]]
TheHeart. Still the most talented chef to ever enroll at Tootsuki, Erina is the current heir of the main house of the wealthy Nakiri family, being the granddaughter of Headmaster Senzaemon as well as the daughter of Azami and Mana. Erina initially wants nothing to do with Soma, but is forced by Akira to have him as her aide in a challenge that ends up spiraling both of their lives out of control. Erina then sets out to help Soma return to Tootsuki, slowly falling in love with him as they cook together and challenge the system that had outright made her. A year later, [[spoiler:Erina is part of the Elite Ten when Tootsuki is challenged in the Intercontinental Shokugeki, and finds her life spiraling even further out of control when her grandfather is on a leave due to an emergency and not only do both of her parents return, but she also learns of an older half-brother she never knew and his father's new student specifically trained to take her out.]]
----
* AcademicAlphaBitch: She is the best, and she knows it. After her CharacterDevelopment settles in, she becomes a LovableAlphaBitch.
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: She is seen as this by many, including powerhouses like Soma, Akira, or Alice. [[spoiler:She is on the receiving end of this for the first time in her life when Dove is brought into the picture.]]
* AntiHero: At first. She slowly learns from her haughty ways and becomes more outright heroic and nice as the story progresses. She still has her moments though.
* ArchEnemy: Dove Dillinger is this for Erina. And the hatred is mutual.
* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: [[spoiler:Essentially what her side of the fake sibling relationship she has with Asahi is. She is well aware it was too good to be true, but she still appreciates how nice it feel to have a caring older brother.]]
* BlessedWithSuck: [[spoiler:Once her anxiety hits an all-time high, her God's Tongue outright becomes her own worst enemy.]]
* BrokenAce: Seen a bit in Nouvelle, explored to depth in Classique. Erina comes from a very broken home and emotionally abusive past, and many of her negative traits stem from that.
* BrokenTears: [[spoiler:When she asks her Aunt Leonora when will she ever be good enough for her mother.]]
* CallingTheOldManOut: [[spoiler:Does so to both Senzaemon and Azami, the latter in live television no less.]]
* CharacterDevelopment: The most out of any character. She starts as a vain and selfish girl who relishes in tormenting Soma just because he was carefree and "unworthy" of Tootsuki Academy, during which she is later forced to accept his help, help him in turn, and is made to swallow a huge serving of humble pie when [[spoiler:Azami, Mana, Asahi and Dove enter the picture and make her life a living hell. Near the end, Erina, while still proud and slightly arrogant, is a genuinely nice person willing to go out of her way and put herself at risk to save someone she hates like Dove, something younger Erina would never.]]
* TheComicallySerious: Has elements of this.
* CovertPervert: She takes her time to check Soma out on occasions, and is [[spoiler:the one who initiates their FirstTime when she basically strips in front of him.]]
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Mana abandoning her and Azami emotionally abusing and manipulating her scarred her for life.
* DamselInDistress: In a way. Much of the plot of Classique is not outright saving her, but helping Erina stand her ground and helping her save Tootsuki.
* DefrostingIceQueen: Basically what her initial phase with Soma is, as he has to slowly get to know her and work his way into her good graces. She falls in love with him kicking and screaming.
* EndearinglyDorky: Still a fan of Shoujo Manga, Erina has also read Dragon Ball, is an expert in Mario Kart, and adores playing all types of card games.
* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: Nao is still very much enamored with her, which she finds conflicting at best.
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: [[spoiler:She has her hair cut to shoulder-length bangs all to stop resembling her mother so much near the end of Classique.]]
* FirstGirlWins: She is the first girl to be shown interacting with Soma in these stories, and the are of course the OfficialCouple.
* FishOutOfWater: Played for laughs when she has no idea what "Fast Food" even is.
* FreakOut: [[spoiler:Bumping into both her mother and father in the same day leads to the poor girl falling asleep in tears, very much suffering from a nervous breakdown.]]
* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: It takes a while to show, but despite everything she is a nice girl willing to do whatever it takes to do the right thing.
* HerosMuse: What she is to Soma. Figuring out his father's unspoken advice on his own, Erina becomes that "special person" he wishes to cook every dish for.
* TheHighQueen: She is the undisputed Queen of the culinary world, and everyone always treats her as such. [[spoiler:The Queen of the culinary underworld however...]]
* HumblePie: [[spoiler:Her defeat at Dove's hands was certainly an eye-opening experience.]]
* InvincibleHero: [[spoiler:Subverted. Unlike canon, Erina downright loses in Classique; first to Dove, then to Ekaterina. Even her rematch against Dove leaves both girls as effectively even.]]
* ItRunsInTheFamily: [[spoiler:As she tells Asahi, they both seem to take out their grievances on those who are genuinely nice to them as opposed to the people actually tormenting them because the lack the nerve to do so.]]
* JerkassRealization: She first realizes how awful she had been to Soma when even Hisako calls her out on it, and then [[spoiler:apologizes to him after her comments come off as if she's comparing her mother (who abandoned her) to Soma's own (who passes away), with her noting she was severely out of line.]]
* TheLeader: Despite being the Fourth Seat during the events of the Intercontinental Shokugeki, Erina is still seen by all as the de facto leader of the Tootsuki students. She herself claims that as long as she stands, Tootsuki has not fallen.
* LonelyAtTheTop: Her life at first, but her relationships improve greatly once she starts letting people into her life.
* LonelyRichKid: She doesn't have many friends at first.
* LongLostRelative: Asahi Saiba is her elder brother.
* MsFanservice: The only girl Soma ever notices in abrunette romantic way, and he even compares her to an actual goddess.
* NotAfraidOfYouAnymore: [[spoiler:She manages to do this to Azami, Mana, Asahi and Dove in different points of the story near the end, finally standing up for herself and her found family.]]
* TheObstructiveLoveInterest: Downplayed, but getting together with her was not an easy feat for Soma in theanimated short.slightest.
* ParentalAbandonment: What Mana did to her.
* PickyEater: Wouldn't be Erina if she wasn't.
* TheProudElite: Erina looks down on everyone she considers to have lower social status or cooking talent, which makes Soma the main target of her disdain at first and why she tries so hard to get him to quit.
* RankUp: Goes through the most assigned seats in the story, starting at the Tenth, climbing up to the Ninth, and is currently the Fourth Seat.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: [[spoiler:Gives a harrowing one to Ashitaro at the climax of the Intercontinental Shokugeki.]]
* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: When her dream of Soma getting expelled comes true, she had already grown close to him, and learning the method used to expel him was dubious at best, she resorts to help him get readmitted at Tootsuki, for as impossible as that should be. She succeeds.
* ShutUpHannibal: [[spoiler:Against her father, multiple times near the end.]]
* SupremeChef: One of her generation's best. She is effectively undefeated [[spoiler:until she meets Dove.]]
* TookALevelInKindness: Her relationship and romance with Soma helps her take several levels, going from a genuine nasty person into a caring, thoughtful friend with something of a large ego.
* TraumaButton: Her father and her mother.
* Tsundere: Very much so. Most of the early parts of the story is her falling in love with Soma and refusing to admit it.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Alice, at least at first. The two become a lot closer as the story progresses.
[[/folder]]
!!The New Elite 10
[[folder:Nene Kinokuni]]
!!Nene Kinokuni
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0019.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"After all, we are... Tootsuki Strong!"]]
The First Seat of the Elite Ten and a 91st Generation student, who is a childhood... acquaintance of Isshiki's. She's a prim and proper young lady, who is initially uninterested in Soma's ordeals but ends up getting roped into it regardless thanks to Isshiki interfering. During the events of the Intercontinental Shokugeki, Nene leads the charge of the Elite Ten against the challenging schools, all while trying to make sense of her relationship with her Second Seat Isshiki.
----
* AlwaysSecondBest: Despite being the First Seat, both she and most of the students still consider Isshiki to be above her skill wise.
* ChildhoodFriends: With Isshiki. She doesn't agree that they were "friends". It does eventually turn into a ChildhoodFriendRomance.
* DeadpanSnarker: Very cold and blunt when putting down someone, especially her little "fanclub".
* FirstGirlWins: Was the first girl his own age Isshiki was friends with, later on became his girlfriend.
* FirstNameBasis: With all her fellow 91st Generation Elite Ten Members, calling them Satoshi, Terunori and Etsuya respectively.
* GracefulLoser: [[spoiler:She takes her lost against Linda rather well, focusing more on why it could have been a landslide victory rather than getting overwhelmed by her loss. This is what allows her to realize what could have happened and she ends up saving Kuga in turn from a similar fate.]]
* NotSoAboveItAll: She is a massive One Piece fan and will take any opportunity to talk about it or reference it.
* TheStrategist: Ultimately what she becomes to the Elite Ten, as while Erina or Isshiki could be considered better chefs, Nene's prowess in plotting is what keeps Tootsuki in the running for so long.
* TheWorfEffect: [[spoiler:Her loss during the very first duel in the very first round of the Intercontinental Shokugeki was this, but...]]
* WorfHadTheFlu: [[spoiler:...Nene only lost thanks to Shouko tampering with her tools beforehand, and realizing this allows Nene to protect Isshiki and Kuga from suffering a similar loss.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Satoshi Isshiki]]
!!Satoshi Isshiki
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0020.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"If a genius I am, then I have to hold myself to even higher standards than they do."]]
The Second Seat and a 91st Generation student, who is also a resident of the Polar Star Dorms and one of Soma's closest friends at Tootsuki. He is effectively everyone's older brother figure, [[spoiler:especially with Nao as her relationship with her abusive older brother comes to light, making Isshiki one of her biggest defenders in the story.]]
----
* TheAce: Even more so that canon. Isshiki is downright considered one of the, if not the best chef at the academy. Even Erina herself is not that quick to deny that claim. [[spoiler:Ashitaro even notes that, if Isshiki falls, Tootsuki would as well.]]
* ArchEnemy: Ashitaro Sadatsuka is his, and the feeling is very much mutual.
* BerserkButton: Making his friends miserable is a good way to earn his wrath, as Eizan soon learned. [[spoiler:Abusing someone gets you even more, as Ashitaro is so far the only character Isshiki has outright threatened in the entire story.]]
* BigBrotherInstinct: A quality he has, and as a result, many look up to him, mostly his friends back at the Polar Star Dorms. Soma himself admired Isshiki greatly.
* BrilliantButLazy: A part of his laidback style, but [[spoiler:when circumstances become so dire he can't keep doing this, the results of his actively putting in the effort makes him almost unstoppable.]]
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Don't let his cheerful attitude or his naked apron antics fool you, Isshiki is amongst the best chefs of his generation.
* ChekhovsSkill: His genius and how easily he can learn something. [[spoiler:He is able to master the style of all ten of his ironically named Elite Ten peers in a matter of days!]]
* ChildhoodFriends: With Nene. It does eventually turn into a ChildhoodFriendRomance.
* CoolBigBro: [[spoiler:Eventually what Nao views him as. It is not unwarranted.]]
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: When he stops holding back, even the judges of the WGO are at awe of what he can do.
* DeathGlare: [[spoiler:Probably the only way he can even look at Ashitaro after the incident with Nao.]]
* HomeNudist: It's on brand at this point.
* HyperAwareness: Is the first to notice something was wrong with Soma after his expulsion, especially with how hesitant he had become. Not even Erina, who was staying with Soma, had noticed.
* InstantExpert: He weaponizes it.
* LargeHam: He loves being the center of attention, and to his credit, he is a very likeable fellow.
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Career-wise, what Nene is to him. Had he not met her, and seen with what passion she cooked, he would have likely never found his own passion for the craft.
* MrFanservice: Naked aprons, speedos, or even downright nude, Isshiki is a treat for the eyes.
* NiceGuy: One of the best chefs of his generations, also one of the kindest individuals you could ever meet.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Uses his authority to reach out to Soma and help him get back to Tootsuki. The wave that he and Erina start is what ultimately convinces the other Elite Ten members to vote in favor of Soma's return.
* ShamelessFanserviceGuy: He will even cook on national television without a shirt on, much to the delight of a whole lot of people watching.
* SupremeChef: Even in this context, as possibly even more-so than canon. Isshiki here is so talented that even Erina admits he is probably better suited than she is for the event, and the likes of [[spoiler:Asahi and Dove are very wary of his prowess.]]
* TranquilFury:
---> [[spoiler:'''Isshiki (to Ashitaro):''' "Fight back? No, I am going to destroy you..."]]
* WorthyOpponent: Despite how much he loathes the young man, Ashitaro is this to him. The feeling is definitely mutual.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Terunori Kuga]]
!!Terunori Kuga
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0021.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"Of course it's me..."]]
The Third Seat and a 91st Generation student, who is a loud, boisterous student with a very outgoing personality. Kuga first helps Soma return to Tootsuki by giving him his vote, then becomes involved in the Intercontinental Shokugeki that follows.
----
* AnimeHair: And do not insult it.
* BerserkButton: His height. Do not insult it either.
* GracefulLoser: [[spoiler:Takes his loss in stride, even noticing what the opposing team was doing and giving Soma and Takumi pointers on how to avoid the same traps that were used against him.]]
* HiddenHeartOfGold: Very haughty all things considered, but he does value his friendships with Isshiki and Nene greatly. [[spoiler:He also joins the two of them in reaching out to Eizan after his fallout with Shouko, showing his bond with the delinquent as well.]]
* HotBlooded: Very much so, even more-so than Soma.
* OutOfFocus: Out of all the Elite Ten members, he gets the least amount of screentime, but is nonetheless very present in most of the duels and activities.
* TheWorfEffect: [[spoiler: Not to the same extent as Nene, but his loss against the Italian Team could also be seen as a way to hype of the others from said opposing team.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Akira Hayama]]
!!Akira Hayama
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0005_8.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"...I never did say "lackey"."]]
The Fourth Seat and a 92nd Generation student, who is an assistant and adopted son of Jun. Akira is the one who sets the story in motion by defeating Soma in the Autumn Election finals and challenging Erina to a Shokugeki for her Seat, forcing Soma to work under her in the process. Afterwards, he is involved in the Intercontinental Shokugeki.
----
* TheAce: Starts the story defeating Soma. Can't give a better first impression than that.
* AmbiguousSituation: Did he say "lackey" or not?
* BadassBoast: Prone to dishing these out. Very notable during the Intercontinental Shokugeki, as most of his duels contain at least one.
* DefeatMeansFriendship: Erina finally settling the score and defeating him is what motivates him to fully assist in their efforts to help Soma return to Tootsuki.
* EveryoneHasStandards: Elitist as he may be, he very much did not want Soma to get expelled or for Erina to be hurt. He cooks to his limits to make sure to correct these wrongs.
* HappilyAdopted: To his mother Jun. It is unambiguous he adores her and strives to make her proud for taking him in when he had nothing.
* InsufferableGenius: Has this tendency. Is a very hard fellow to get along with, something Soma notes early on.
* TheNoseKnows: [[spoiler:Used against him by Hakeem (the Nigerian's Team Leader) when the intoxicating aroma of the latter's cooking almost made Akira faint. He managed to power through and achieve victory despite it however.]]
* NotSoStoic: Just one trip with Erina, Soma, Megumi, Alice and Ryou is enough to drive the usually calm guy almost insane.
* TheRival: To both Soma and Erina. It's what kickstarts the whole plot!
* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: What his relationship with Megumi turns out to be.
* StraightMan: To the rest of the Elite Ten. Even the more serious chefs like Nene or Erina have their quirks, and usually Akira is the one trying to keep them all behaving professionally.
* TookALevelInBadass: His improvement between Nouvelle and Classique is noteworthy, with even Hisako noting how unfair it was that he kept getting that good.
* TookALevelInKindness: Initially very business focused, Akira mellows out and becomes a genuine friend to his fellow peers. His relationship with Megumi alone shows him being far sweeter than he had ever been to anyone.
* WorthyOpponent: He sees Erina as one, which kickstarts the plot. Later on [[spoiler:Hakeem becomes one as well.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Megumi Tadokoro]]
!!Megumi Tadokoro
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0006.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"Get off my seat."]]
The Sixth Seat and a 92nd Generation student, who is Soma's best friend and a very sweet natured girl. Megumi ends up being recruited by Akira to help him take on Erina, which surprises her greatly, but she ends up accepting. Later on she goes above and beyond to help Soma get readmitted to Tootsuki, and while initially not a seated member during the beginning of the Intercontinental Shokugeki, events later on allow her to assist greatly.
----
* AdaptationalBadass: Even more-so than even the anime. [[spoiler:Megumi outright destroys Shouko during their duel, someone who had scored higher marks than even Soma himself genuinely, and becomes seated higher than any of her classmates excluding Erina and Akira. At the end of the Intercontinental Shokugeki, only three students receive two awards rather than one, them being Urara for her hosting and participation, and Erina and Megumi for being effectively undefeated.]]
* ArchEnemy: Shouko Kaburagi is this to her. The feeling slowly becomes mutual.
* AwesomenessByAnalysis: [[spoiler:Her biggest strength, using her observation skills to cook comfort foods that her opponent would enjoy, as Shouko is shocked to learn.]]
* BadassAdorable: She may suck at taunting, but when she gets serious, she gets serious. And she looks utterly adorable.
* BestFriend: She and Soma are downright inseparable.
* BoringButPractical: Her dishes, most of the time. They are not as flashy as the others, but they get the job done.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: She is a simple, clumsy girl who was barely managing to keep herself from getting expelled at the beginning. Come the Intercontinental Shokugeki and [[spoiler:Megumi outright saves the Elite Ten from a hostage situation by taking out Shouko by herself. Not bad for a "No Seat".
* CuteClumsyGirl: She very much is.
* GirlNextDoor: Compared to the rest of the cast, she has a much more normal and down to earth personality and background as the daughter of a family that runs an inn.
* GrewASpine: [[spoiler:From dead last to taking on the Sixth Seat.]]
* HeartIsAnAwesomePower: Her comfort foods style sound very basic, but she can do wonders with it.
* LetsGetDangerous: [[spoiler:A drunk Megumi is a dangerous Megumi.]]
* NiceGirl: Pretty much the nicest girl you could ever hope to meet.
* OddFriendship: With Erina. They go from virtually not knowing each other to being extremely close despite being polar opposites in every which way.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: [[spoiler:Subverted. She overshadows everyone else in the stories. She's effectively the only major character not to lose at all, something even Erina can't boast.]]
* ShipTease: With Akira during the early parts of Nouvelle. The two become an OfficialCouple during the events of Classique.
* ShutUpHannibal: [[spoiler:To Shouko, after the latter had tried to use Erina's own circumstances to garner pity points for herself.]]
* SilkHidingSteel: [[spoiler:Do not hurt her friends or she will destroy you, and probably apologize afterwards.]]
* TookALevelInBadass: Probably the most out of the entire cast. She goes from a "No Seat" to the "Sixth Seat", and is respected by a ton of chefs. [[spoiler:Even Dove is utterly confused by her and curious about just how actually dangerous an opponent she could be.]]
* TranquilFury: [[spoiler:The latter portion of her Shokugeki with Shouko has Megumi the most livid she's ever been, although she remains calm and composed, even speaking politely despite her anger.]]
* UnderestimatingBadassery: [[spoiler:What Shouko does, which she later regrets.]]
* UndyingLoyalty: To Soma and Erina. If they need help, she will do everything she can to assist them.
* WorthyOpponent: [[spoiler:Ultimately what Shouko sees her as.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Etsuya Eizan]]
!!Etsuya Eizan
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0022.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"You know how much I hate predictable stories."]]
The Other Sixth Seat and a 91st Generation student, Eizan is the BigBad from Nouvelle who's plot against Soma and Erina gets the former expelled. An arrogant and spiteful young man, after he is bested by Soma at his own Expo, Eizan remains in the shadows as Tootsuki is attacked by the other schools during the events of the Intercontinental Shokugeki.
----
* AdaptationalBadass: [[spoiler:In canon his plans to alter the judges taste to win a duel backfired, while in Classique this very trick nabs him a mutual loss in what effectively is a technicality. Given how Julius, his opponent, was a chef Eizan had no way of defeating, that was certainly the best outcome he could have gotten.]]
* ArchEnemy: Initially Soma is this to him, but as the story progresses Julius Beldam becomes this instead.
* BerserkButton: Anything to do with Soma. [[spoiler:After CharacterDevelopment hits, insulting or hurting his older sister Yukichiko is the one sure way to earn his wrath unlike anything else.]]
* BadassBookworm: He is brilliant. [[spoiler:He managed to score a mutual elimination during a duel where draws couldn't happen against an opponent far superior to him. That is smart.]
* BreakTheHaughty: He doesn't take getting absolutely wrecked by Soma and Erina too well.
* TheChessmaster: His primary talent. Soma and Erina manage to outplay him however. [[spoiler:Julius on the other hand...]
* CombatPragmatist: He will do whatever underhanded tactic he can muster to win, no matter how foul it is.
* DeadpanSnarker: Very much so, and he is one of the few characters that can get under Soma's skin almost effortlessly.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: [[spoiler:He is quite uncomfortable with outright abuse or neglect, such as what Julius did to Yukichiko, how Ashitaro treats Nao, or what Azami had done to Erina.]]
* FourEyesZeroSoul: He's not heartless, per say, but very damn well close to it.
* HairTriggerTemper: He is quick to lose his temper when he's being ignored, insulted or when thing aren't going the way he wants them to.
* HeelFaceTurn: The BigBad of Nouvelle, [[spoiler:TheSixthRanger in Classique.]]
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Him focusing so much on getting Soma expelled is what puts him on Soma's radar and gets Soma involved in his schemes directly. This ends with Soma readmitted into Tootsuki and Eizan outed of the Elite Ten.
* HumiliationConga: His defeat at the hands of Soma and Erina during the Expo was not a great experience for the guy.
* ItsPersonal: [[spoiler:Despite how much he actively avoided getting involved in the Intercontinental Shokugeki, Julius abandonment of Yukichiko was too much that he ended up having to personally throw down with Julius.]]
* LoopholeAbuse: [[spoiler:Weaponizes it during his Shokugeki against Julius.]]
* TheManBehindTheMan: Responsible for most of the grief Soma goes under during the events of Nouvelle.
* OhCrap: [[spoiler:When Julius sees through even his most desperate gambit, Eizan is momentarily completely out of it.]]
* RageBreakingPoint: [[spoiler:Against Julius during the duel.]]
* ThrowTheDogABone: [[spoiler:After all the stunts he pulled, and all the karma he got as a result, his actual good deeds earn him genuine good results, such as reestablishing his romance with Shouko, fixing his relationship with his sister, and taking over his father's business with his father forced to now work under him.]]
* TokenEvilTeammate: For the Elite Ten during the events of Classique.
* VillainousBreakdown: Soma managing to cook a soup that was similar to the one Yukichiko had made for him when he was a kid and sick utterly broke him. He ends up declaring Soma the winner before even the judges do.
* WeCanRuleTogether: [[spoiler:His relationship with Shouko, at least how he saw it. Her being willing to backstab him outright broke his heart and made him turn in favor of the Elite Ten. The relationship does get better after Shouko laments what she did and apologizes however.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Alice Nakiri]]
!!Alice Nakiri
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0010.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"And my priority will always be to... Protect Erina!"]]
The Eight Seat and a 92nd Generation student, who is Erina's half-Danish cousin. Alice is a playful, albiet arrogant, master chef and a very naughty girl, who despite everything still has the best intentions in mind. She forms part of Akira's team during his challenge against Erina, and is later part of the Elite Ten forces protecting Tootsuki Academy during the Intercontinental Shokugeki.
----
* AlwaysSecondBest: To Erina. [[spoiler:During the Intercontinental Shokugeki she herself acknowledges this, but declares she's ten times as much proud of what Erina is.]]
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: Truth be told, Alice loves Erina very, very much. The feeling is very mutual.
* BreakTheHaughty: [[spoiler:What Gautier, the French Team Leader, attempts to do during their Shokugeki. He does succeed to an extent, but Alice is able to focus on protecting Erina and Tootsuki and reverse the tables on him.]]
* CharacterDevelopment: Initially presented as willing to do anything to crush Erina, later on [[spoiler:goes above and beyond to help keep her safe, even declaring herself an enemy of her uncle Azami and aunt Mana in the process.]]
* DidntThinkThisThrough: [[spoiler:Cooking a very complex hors d'oeuvres was not the best idea when your team has to follow upon it in a Five Dish Course.]]
* FirstGirlWins: She met Ryou as children, and they are still going strong to this day.
* ManicPixieDreamGirl: In a sense. She saved Ryou from the streets, and in his own words, she is his "sunshine".
* MistressAndServantBoy: Her relationship with Ryou, somewhat. He works as her aide, is technically adopted by her parents, and later on becomes her boyfriend. It is a very complex, yet endearing relationship.
* RichInDollarsPoorInSense: Not to the extent of Erina, but she had her moments.
* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: With Ryou (when he's not wearing his bandana). She's clearly the more outgoing, emotional and childish of the two.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Ryou Kurokiba]
!!Ryou Kurokiba
[[/folder]]
[[spoiler:
** Her hair
* AlmightyJanitor: During Nouvelle Soma was able to impress and gain the support of all the Elite Ten members thanks to his tenacity and skill, becoming the first and only Tootsuki student to ever get expelled and then readmitted into the school, requiring the Academy to have to create a new law just to accommodate him. Downplayed during Classique, where he becomes the Seventh Seat, but still applicable in the case of [[spoiler:Soma managing to stay in the competition until the finals, being the only student to take out two of the challengers' Team Leaders (the duo of Van and Bridgette, and Asahi), and defeating a Neo-Noir (Asahi) in a landslide victory of five-to-nothing, something even Erina was unable to do.]]
* AlwaysSecondBest: What starts the series off, with Soma losing the Autumn Elections finals against Akira. This is played with during the stories, as while insanely capable, most consider Erina to still be the superior chef of her year.
* ArchEnemy: Soma has two, depending on the story. The first is Eizan, and the feeling is mutual for most of the story. The second one is Asahi, and while initially Asahi didn't much care, circumstances made him reconsider.
* BadassBoast:
---> '''Soma:''' "Twenty. If my dad could take out fifty opponents, what's a measly twenty then?!"
* BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame: He has a pretty good knack for this.
** Against Eizan, Soma manages to gain enough support from the Elite Ten to overrule whatever Eizan could try to us to disqualify him from participating in the latter's Expo tournament, and then used that very victory to force Eizan to duel him in order to get himself back into Tootsuki Academy.
**[[spoiler:Against Loren, despite their back and forth of trying to salvage / ruin the dish respectively, Soma is able to use Loren's attempts to ruin his dish as inspiration to push it into an even better degree, while also managing to flip Loren's own mind games against the kid to make him falter in his devotion to Azami.]]
* BerserkButton:
** Anyone insulting his family restaurant of his late mother Tamako. Not even Erina can get away with doing the latter (even if unintentionally to her credit).
** Abuse of any kind will set him off, as shown in his protectiveness over Erina or Nao.
* BigDamnHeroes: Tends to show up just at the right moment before things go from bad to unsalvageable.
* BookDumb: Excellent chef, barely scrapping average in any non-culinary class.
* BreakThemByTalking: [[spoiler:How Soma finally manages to "defeat" Loren, by making the boy confront the truth that helping to destroy Tootsuki, it would lead him to directly being responsible for the harm that would befall Nao.]]
* BrutalHonesty: [[spoiler:Is the first character to outright denounce what Azami and Mana on being AbusiveParents, to the media no less, in what begins their eventual downfall and all the online support Erina recieves under the #ProtectErina movement.]]
* CatchPhrase: "It wasn't much!"
* ChallengeSeeker: His excitement over facing off against the Elite Ten, the other schools, or even each of the Neo-Noirs stem from this.
* CharacterDevelopment: Not as much as Erina, but still present. In Nouvelle, he has to learn to accept the help of others and that it's okay to need said help to begin with. In Classique, [[spoiler: Soma's forgiving attitude is put to the test when he finds himself utterly afraid of Asahi and unwilling to give the latter a chance after he did so to Subaru, Eizan, and even Loren. It is Erina that convinces him that, no, he didn't draw the line before, it is not right to draw it now.]]
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: More-so in Nouvelle than in Classique, as in the latter story he has quite the reputation thanks to all the events that transpired in the former.
* Determinator: Soma's greatest strength still remains his refusal to give up, even against a vastly superior opponent. The fact that he didn't try to argue his initial expulsion is what clues his friends in that Soma was not in the best state of mind.
* DistressedDude: During the events of Nouvelle, Soma ends up needing the assistance of all his friends, both in and out of Tootsuki, for the chance to challenge the system and get himself readmitted.
* FamedInStory: As the only Tootsuki student to be expelled and then readmitted.
* FriendlyRivalry: It's almost impossible to make enemies with Soma, as every opponent he has he manages to befriend to a certain extent or the other. [[spoiler:Even the likes of Asahi and Dove find him too genuine to outright hate him.]]
* FriendToAllChildren: As Kanon or Aisha can attest.
* TheHero: He's the protagonist of Nouvelle, and the deuteragonist of Classique. And he will not stop helping anyone as long as he is able.
* HeroicBSOD: Goes through a massive one after his expulsion from Tootsuki during Nouvelle. It takes Isshiki reaching out to him, and Erina supporting him for him to realize this and break out of it.
* HopeBringer: To Erina, as despite how cold and ruthless she was to him, he always remained her strongest emotional pillar.
* HumbleHero: For all his cocky tendencies, Sōma doesn't gloat over his rivals. He is quick to recognize talent in other students and doesn't make the mistake of underestimating them.
* IgnoreTheFanservice: Soma still genuinely doesn't care (or even notice) all the blatant MaleGaze around him, [[spoiler:with the sole exception being Erina herself.]]
* ItsPersonal: His clashes against Eizan, Azami and Asahi all boil down to this, as the former almost ruined his academic career while the latter two have been making Erina's life a living hell.
* LetsGetDangerous: When the chips are down, he's perfectly willing to duel against all the odds.
* LethalChef: He's still Soma after all, as Erina can attest.
* LikeBrotherAndSister: Soma's relationship with Megumi. At times he has shown more concern for her wellbeing than even Erina's.
* MrFanservice: If him playing basketball while shirtless was any indication. Erina certainly thought so.
* NiceGuy: Soma's biggest virtue as a person remains is his friendly nature.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: [[spoiler:Him achieving his goal of being readmitted at Tootsuki is what allows Azami enough leeway to spring his plan into action, resulting in all the events that follow and almost destroy both Erina and Tootsuki Academy as a whole.]]
* OfficialCouple: With Erina.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: What clues Isshiki in that Soma's expulsion had to have had something nefarious to it, as the boy who never backed down from a challenge left the Academy without much of a fight.
* ObliviousToLove: Subverted. Nouvelle is a Romance story after all. Him realizing his feelings for Erina and the drama that follows them becoming and being a couple is what drives the plot of the stories.
* ThePowerOfFriendship: [[spoiler:He weaponizes it during his final battle against Asahi, using tricks from all the other Elite Ten members, as well as from Nao and even Loren, to utterly crush the King of Noirs.]]
* RedheadsAreRavishing: At the very least Erina seems to think so, even if she won't admit it.
* SecondPlaceIsForLosers: What he firmly believes, being the StubbornLoser that he is.
* ShowerOfAwkward: [[spoiler:Hiding from Mana in Erina's shower results in this between him and Erina.]]
* ShowyInvincibleHero: Deconstructed. Soma begins the story losing, and unlike canon, here his defeats tend to have consequences, although when he does succeed, it is quite the show.
* SupremeChef: Of course. [[spoiler:He is the only Elite Ten student to receive a standing ovation from the crowd after his disqualification in the Finals of the Intercontinental Shokugeki. Also, unlike canon, he is able to get Erina to say "It's delicious!".]]
* TranquilFury: While normally very casual and laidback, if your name is Eizan, Asahi or Azami, he won't be that nice to you.
* UnderstandingBoyfriend: With Erina. Try as she might, Soma is not someone who will brush off her concerns or hold a grudge against her past actions, something she herself notes she probably doesn't deserve.
* UndyingLoyalty: To Yukihira's at first, then to all of Tootsuki when it is challenged by Azami's Intercontinental Shokugeki.
* VitriolicBestBuds: Soma and Takumi.
* WeDoTheImpossible: No student had ever been readmitted to Tootsuki Academy. No such rule even existed. Soma was readmitted.
* WildCard: As Asahi himself notes, he had never seen a chef who flipflops between magnificent and mediocre as much as Soma did.
* WorthyOpponent: He becomes this for a lot of characters, and most of the time the feeling is mutual. [[spoiler:Despite his dislike for the Neo-Noirs, he can't help but admire their skills and wishes to have a chance to duel with all four of them.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Erina Nakiri]]
!!Erina Nakiri
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0002.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"I want to scream."]]
TheHeart. Still the most talented chef to ever enroll at Tootsuki, Erina is the current heir of the main house of the wealthy Nakiri family, being the granddaughter of Headmaster Senzaemon as well as the daughter of Azami and Mana. Erina initially wants nothing to do with Soma, but is forced by Akira to have him as her aide in a challenge that ends up spiraling both of their lives out of control. Erina then sets out to help Soma return to Tootsuki, slowly falling in love with him as they cook together and challenge the system that had outright made her. A year later, [[spoiler:Erina is part of the Elite Ten when Tootsuki is challenged in the Intercontinental Shokugeki, and finds her life spiraling even further out of control when her grandfather is on a leave due to an emergency and not only do both of her parents return, but she also learns of an older half-brother she never knew and his father's new student specifically trained to take her out.]]
----
* AcademicAlphaBitch: She is the best, and she knows it. After her CharacterDevelopment settles in, she becomes a LovableAlphaBitch.
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: She is seen as this by many, including powerhouses like Soma, Akira, or Alice. [[spoiler:She is on the receiving end of this for the first time in her life when Dove is brought into the picture.]]
* AntiHero: At first. She slowly learns from her haughty ways and becomes more outright heroic and nice as the story progresses. She still has her moments though.
* ArchEnemy: Dove Dillinger is this for Erina. And the hatred is mutual.
* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: [[spoiler:Essentially what her side of the fake sibling relationship she has with Asahi is. She is well aware it was too good to be true, but she still appreciates how nice it feel to have a caring older brother.]]
* BlessedWithSuck: [[spoiler:Once her anxiety hits an all-time high, her God's Tongue outright becomes her own worst enemy.]]
* BrokenAce: Seen a bit in Nouvelle, explored to depth in Classique. Erina comes from a very broken home and emotionally abusive past, and many of her negative traits stem from that.
* BrokenTears: [[spoiler:When she asks her Aunt Leonora when will she ever be good enough for her mother.]]
* CallingTheOldManOut: [[spoiler:Does so to both Senzaemon and Azami, the latter in live television no less.]]
* CharacterDevelopment: The most out of any character. She starts as a vain and selfish girl who relishes in tormenting Soma just because he was carefree and "unworthy" of Tootsuki Academy, during which she is later forced to accept his help, help him in turn, and is made to swallow a huge serving of humble pie when [[spoiler:Azami, Mana, Asahi and Dove enter the picture and make her life a living hell. Near the end, Erina, while still proud and slightly arrogant, is a genuinely nice person willing to go out of her way and put herself at risk to save someone she hates like Dove, something younger Erina would never.]]
* TheComicallySerious: Has elements of this.
* CovertPervert: She takes her time to check Soma out on occasions, and is [[spoiler:the one who initiates their FirstTime when she basically strips in front of him.]]
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Mana abandoning her and Azami emotionally abusing and manipulating her scarred her for life.
* DamselInDistress: In a way. Much of the plot of Classique is not outright saving her, but helping Erina stand her ground and helping her save Tootsuki.
* DefrostingIceQueen: Basically what her initial phase with Soma is, as he has to slowly get to know her and work his way into her good graces. She falls in love with him kicking and screaming.
* EndearinglyDorky: Still a fan of Shoujo Manga, Erina has also read Dragon Ball, is an expert in Mario Kart, and adores playing all types of card games.
* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: Nao is still very much enamored with her, which she finds conflicting at best.
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: [[spoiler:She has her hair cut to shoulder-length bangs all to stop resembling her mother so much near the end of Classique.]]
* FirstGirlWins: She is the first girl to be shown interacting with Soma in these stories, and the are of course the OfficialCouple.
* FishOutOfWater: Played for laughs when she has no idea what "Fast Food" even is.
* FreakOut: [[spoiler:Bumping into both her mother and father in the same day leads to the poor girl falling asleep in tears, very much suffering from a nervous breakdown.]]
* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: It takes a while to show, but despite everything she is a nice girl willing to do whatever it takes to do the right thing.
* HerosMuse: What she is to Soma. Figuring out his father's unspoken advice on his own, Erina becomes that "special person" he wishes to cook every dish for.
* TheHighQueen: She is the undisputed Queen of the culinary world, and everyone always treats her as such. [[spoiler:The Queen of the culinary underworld however...]]
* HumblePie: [[spoiler:Her defeat at Dove's hands was certainly an eye-opening experience.]]
* InvincibleHero: [[spoiler:Subverted. Unlike canon, Erina downright loses in Classique; first to Dove, then to Ekaterina. Even her rematch against Dove leaves both girls as effectively even.]]
* ItRunsInTheFamily: [[spoiler:As she tells Asahi, they both seem to take out their grievances on those who are genuinely nice to them as opposed to the people actually tormenting them because the lack the nerve to do so.]]
* JerkassRealization: She first realizes how awful she had been to Soma when even Hisako calls her out on it, and then [[spoiler:apologizes to him after her comments come off as if she's comparing her mother (who abandoned her) to Soma's own (who passes away), with her noting she was severely out of line.]]
* TheLeader: Despite being the Fourth Seat during the events of the Intercontinental Shokugeki, Erina is still seen by all as the de facto leader of the Tootsuki students. She herself claims that as long as she stands, Tootsuki has not fallen.
* LonelyAtTheTop: Her life at first, but her relationships improve greatly once she starts letting people into her life.
* LonelyRichKid: She doesn't have many friends at first.
* LongLostRelative: Asahi Saiba is her elder brother.
* MsFanservice: The only girl Soma ever notices in a
* NotAfraidOfYouAnymore: [[spoiler:She manages to do this to Azami, Mana, Asahi and Dove in different points of the story near the end, finally standing up for herself and her found family.]]
* TheObstructiveLoveInterest: Downplayed, but getting together with her was not an easy feat for Soma in the
* ParentalAbandonment: What Mana did to her.
* PickyEater: Wouldn't be Erina if she wasn't.
* TheProudElite: Erina looks down on everyone she considers to have lower social status or cooking talent, which makes Soma the main target of her disdain at first and why she tries so hard to get him to quit.
* RankUp: Goes through the most assigned seats in the story, starting at the Tenth, climbing up to the Ninth, and is currently the Fourth Seat.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: [[spoiler:Gives a harrowing one to Ashitaro at the climax of the Intercontinental Shokugeki.]]
* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: When her dream of Soma getting expelled comes true, she had already grown close to him, and learning the method used to expel him was dubious at best, she resorts to help him get readmitted at Tootsuki, for as impossible as that should be. She succeeds.
* ShutUpHannibal: [[spoiler:Against her father, multiple times near the end.]]
* SupremeChef: One of her generation's best. She is effectively undefeated [[spoiler:until she meets Dove.]]
* TookALevelInKindness: Her relationship and romance with Soma helps her take several levels, going from a genuine nasty person into a caring, thoughtful friend with something of a large ego.
* TraumaButton: Her father and her mother.
* Tsundere: Very much so. Most of the early parts of the story is her falling in love with Soma and refusing to admit it.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Alice, at least at first. The two become a lot closer as the story progresses.
[[/folder]]
!!The New Elite 10
[[folder:Nene Kinokuni]]
!!Nene Kinokuni
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0019.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"After all, we are... Tootsuki Strong!"]]
The First Seat of the Elite Ten and a 91st Generation student, who is a childhood... acquaintance of Isshiki's. She's a prim and proper young lady, who is initially uninterested in Soma's ordeals but ends up getting roped into it regardless thanks to Isshiki interfering. During the events of the Intercontinental Shokugeki, Nene leads the charge of the Elite Ten against the challenging schools, all while trying to make sense of her relationship with her Second Seat Isshiki.
----
* AlwaysSecondBest: Despite being the First Seat, both she and most of the students still consider Isshiki to be above her skill wise.
* ChildhoodFriends: With Isshiki. She doesn't agree that they were "friends". It does eventually turn into a ChildhoodFriendRomance.
* DeadpanSnarker: Very cold and blunt when putting down someone, especially her little "fanclub".
* FirstGirlWins: Was the first girl his own age Isshiki was friends with, later on became his girlfriend.
* FirstNameBasis: With all her fellow 91st Generation Elite Ten Members, calling them Satoshi, Terunori and Etsuya respectively.
* GracefulLoser: [[spoiler:She takes her lost against Linda rather well, focusing more on why it could have been a landslide victory rather than getting overwhelmed by her loss. This is what allows her to realize what could have happened and she ends up saving Kuga in turn from a similar fate.]]
* NotSoAboveItAll: She is a massive One Piece fan and will take any opportunity to talk about it or reference it.
* TheStrategist: Ultimately what she becomes to the Elite Ten, as while Erina or Isshiki could be considered better chefs, Nene's prowess in plotting is what keeps Tootsuki in the running for so long.
* TheWorfEffect: [[spoiler:Her loss during the very first duel in the very first round of the Intercontinental Shokugeki was this, but...]]
* WorfHadTheFlu: [[spoiler:...Nene only lost thanks to Shouko tampering with her tools beforehand, and realizing this allows Nene to protect Isshiki and Kuga from suffering a similar loss.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Satoshi Isshiki]]
!!Satoshi Isshiki
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0020.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"If a genius I am, then I have to hold myself to even higher standards than they do."]]
The Second Seat and a 91st Generation student, who is also a resident of the Polar Star Dorms and one of Soma's closest friends at Tootsuki. He is effectively everyone's older brother figure, [[spoiler:especially with Nao as her relationship with her abusive older brother comes to light, making Isshiki one of her biggest defenders in the story.]]
----
* TheAce: Even more so that canon. Isshiki is downright considered one of the, if not the best chef at the academy. Even Erina herself is not that quick to deny that claim. [[spoiler:Ashitaro even notes that, if Isshiki falls, Tootsuki would as well.]]
* ArchEnemy: Ashitaro Sadatsuka is his, and the feeling is very much mutual.
* BerserkButton: Making his friends miserable is a good way to earn his wrath, as Eizan soon learned. [[spoiler:Abusing someone gets you even more, as Ashitaro is so far the only character Isshiki has outright threatened in the entire story.]]
* BigBrotherInstinct: A quality he has, and as a result, many look up to him, mostly his friends back at the Polar Star Dorms. Soma himself admired Isshiki greatly.
* BrilliantButLazy: A part of his laidback style, but [[spoiler:when circumstances become so dire he can't keep doing this, the results of his actively putting in the effort makes him almost unstoppable.]]
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Don't let his cheerful attitude or his naked apron antics fool you, Isshiki is amongst the best chefs of his generation.
* ChekhovsSkill: His genius and how easily he can learn something. [[spoiler:He is able to master the style of all ten of his ironically named Elite Ten peers in a matter of days!]]
* ChildhoodFriends: With Nene. It does eventually turn into a ChildhoodFriendRomance.
* CoolBigBro: [[spoiler:Eventually what Nao views him as. It is not unwarranted.]]
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: When he stops holding back, even the judges of the WGO are at awe of what he can do.
* DeathGlare: [[spoiler:Probably the only way he can even look at Ashitaro after the incident with Nao.]]
* HomeNudist: It's on brand at this point.
* HyperAwareness: Is the first to notice something was wrong with Soma after his expulsion, especially with how hesitant he had become. Not even Erina, who was staying with Soma, had noticed.
* InstantExpert: He weaponizes it.
* LargeHam: He loves being the center of attention, and to his credit, he is a very likeable fellow.
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Career-wise, what Nene is to him. Had he not met her, and seen with what passion she cooked, he would have likely never found his own passion for the craft.
* MrFanservice: Naked aprons, speedos, or even downright nude, Isshiki is a treat for the eyes.
* NiceGuy: One of the best chefs of his generations, also one of the kindest individuals you could ever meet.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Uses his authority to reach out to Soma and help him get back to Tootsuki. The wave that he and Erina start is what ultimately convinces the other Elite Ten members to vote in favor of Soma's return.
* ShamelessFanserviceGuy: He will even cook on national television without a shirt on, much to the delight of a whole lot of people watching.
* SupremeChef: Even in this context, as possibly even more-so than canon. Isshiki here is so talented that even Erina admits he is probably better suited than she is for the event, and the likes of [[spoiler:Asahi and Dove are very wary of his prowess.]]
* TranquilFury:
---> [[spoiler:'''Isshiki (to Ashitaro):''' "Fight back? No, I am going to destroy you..."]]
* WorthyOpponent: Despite how much he loathes the young man, Ashitaro is this to him. The feeling is definitely mutual.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Terunori Kuga]]
!!Terunori Kuga
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0021.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"Of course it's me..."]]
The Third Seat and a 91st Generation student, who is a loud, boisterous student with a very outgoing personality. Kuga first helps Soma return to Tootsuki by giving him his vote, then becomes involved in the Intercontinental Shokugeki that follows.
----
* AnimeHair: And do not insult it.
* BerserkButton: His height. Do not insult it either.
* GracefulLoser: [[spoiler:Takes his loss in stride, even noticing what the opposing team was doing and giving Soma and Takumi pointers on how to avoid the same traps that were used against him.]]
* HiddenHeartOfGold: Very haughty all things considered, but he does value his friendships with Isshiki and Nene greatly. [[spoiler:He also joins the two of them in reaching out to Eizan after his fallout with Shouko, showing his bond with the delinquent as well.]]
* HotBlooded: Very much so, even more-so than Soma.
* OutOfFocus: Out of all the Elite Ten members, he gets the least amount of screentime, but is nonetheless very present in most of the duels and activities.
* TheWorfEffect: [[spoiler: Not to the same extent as Nene, but his loss against the Italian Team could also be seen as a way to hype of the others from said opposing team.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Akira Hayama]]
!!Akira Hayama
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0005_8.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"...I never did say "lackey"."]]
The Fourth Seat and a 92nd Generation student, who is an assistant and adopted son of Jun. Akira is the one who sets the story in motion by defeating Soma in the Autumn Election finals and challenging Erina to a Shokugeki for her Seat, forcing Soma to work under her in the process. Afterwards, he is involved in the Intercontinental Shokugeki.
----
* TheAce: Starts the story defeating Soma. Can't give a better first impression than that.
* AmbiguousSituation: Did he say "lackey" or not?
* BadassBoast: Prone to dishing these out. Very notable during the Intercontinental Shokugeki, as most of his duels contain at least one.
* DefeatMeansFriendship: Erina finally settling the score and defeating him is what motivates him to fully assist in their efforts to help Soma return to Tootsuki.
* EveryoneHasStandards: Elitist as he may be, he very much did not want Soma to get expelled or for Erina to be hurt. He cooks to his limits to make sure to correct these wrongs.
* HappilyAdopted: To his mother Jun. It is unambiguous he adores her and strives to make her proud for taking him in when he had nothing.
* InsufferableGenius: Has this tendency. Is a very hard fellow to get along with, something Soma notes early on.
* TheNoseKnows: [[spoiler:Used against him by Hakeem (the Nigerian's Team Leader) when the intoxicating aroma of the latter's cooking almost made Akira faint. He managed to power through and achieve victory despite it however.]]
* NotSoStoic: Just one trip with Erina, Soma, Megumi, Alice and Ryou is enough to drive the usually calm guy almost insane.
* TheRival: To both Soma and Erina. It's what kickstarts the whole plot!
* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: What his relationship with Megumi turns out to be.
* StraightMan: To the rest of the Elite Ten. Even the more serious chefs like Nene or Erina have their quirks, and usually Akira is the one trying to keep them all behaving professionally.
* TookALevelInBadass: His improvement between Nouvelle and Classique is noteworthy, with even Hisako noting how unfair it was that he kept getting that good.
* TookALevelInKindness: Initially very business focused, Akira mellows out and becomes a genuine friend to his fellow peers. His relationship with Megumi alone shows him being far sweeter than he had ever been to anyone.
* WorthyOpponent: He sees Erina as one, which kickstarts the plot. Later on [[spoiler:Hakeem becomes one as well.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Megumi Tadokoro]]
!!Megumi Tadokoro
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0006.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"Get off my seat."]]
The Sixth Seat and a 92nd Generation student, who is Soma's best friend and a very sweet natured girl. Megumi ends up being recruited by Akira to help him take on Erina, which surprises her greatly, but she ends up accepting. Later on she goes above and beyond to help Soma get readmitted to Tootsuki, and while initially not a seated member during the beginning of the Intercontinental Shokugeki, events later on allow her to assist greatly.
----
* AdaptationalBadass: Even more-so than even the anime. [[spoiler:Megumi outright destroys Shouko during their duel, someone who had scored higher marks than even Soma himself genuinely, and becomes seated higher than any of her classmates excluding Erina and Akira. At the end of the Intercontinental Shokugeki, only three students receive two awards rather than one, them being Urara for her hosting and participation, and Erina and Megumi for being effectively undefeated.]]
* ArchEnemy: Shouko Kaburagi is this to her. The feeling slowly becomes mutual.
* AwesomenessByAnalysis: [[spoiler:Her biggest strength, using her observation skills to cook comfort foods that her opponent would enjoy, as Shouko is shocked to learn.]]
* BadassAdorable: She may suck at taunting, but when she gets serious, she gets serious. And she looks utterly adorable.
* BestFriend: She and Soma are downright inseparable.
* BoringButPractical: Her dishes, most of the time. They are not as flashy as the others, but they get the job done.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: She is a simple, clumsy girl who was barely managing to keep herself from getting expelled at the beginning. Come the Intercontinental Shokugeki and [[spoiler:Megumi outright saves the Elite Ten from a hostage situation by taking out Shouko by herself. Not bad for a "No Seat".
* CuteClumsyGirl: She very much is.
* GirlNextDoor: Compared to the rest of the cast, she has a much more normal and down to earth personality and background as the daughter of a family that runs an inn.
* GrewASpine: [[spoiler:From dead last to taking on the Sixth Seat.]]
* HeartIsAnAwesomePower: Her comfort foods style sound very basic, but she can do wonders with it.
* LetsGetDangerous: [[spoiler:A drunk Megumi is a dangerous Megumi.]]
* NiceGirl: Pretty much the nicest girl you could ever hope to meet.
* OddFriendship: With Erina. They go from virtually not knowing each other to being extremely close despite being polar opposites in every which way.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: [[spoiler:Subverted. She overshadows everyone else in the stories. She's effectively the only major character not to lose at all, something even Erina can't boast.]]
* ShipTease: With Akira during the early parts of Nouvelle. The two become an OfficialCouple during the events of Classique.
* ShutUpHannibal: [[spoiler:To Shouko, after the latter had tried to use Erina's own circumstances to garner pity points for herself.]]
* SilkHidingSteel: [[spoiler:Do not hurt her friends or she will destroy you, and probably apologize afterwards.]]
* TookALevelInBadass: Probably the most out of the entire cast. She goes from a "No Seat" to the "Sixth Seat", and is respected by a ton of chefs. [[spoiler:Even Dove is utterly confused by her and curious about just how actually dangerous an opponent she could be.]]
* TranquilFury: [[spoiler:The latter portion of her Shokugeki with Shouko has Megumi the most livid she's ever been, although she remains calm and composed, even speaking politely despite her anger.]]
* UnderestimatingBadassery: [[spoiler:What Shouko does, which she later regrets.]]
* UndyingLoyalty: To Soma and Erina. If they need help, she will do everything she can to assist them.
* WorthyOpponent: [[spoiler:Ultimately what Shouko sees her as.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Etsuya Eizan]]
!!Etsuya Eizan
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0022.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"You know how much I hate predictable stories."]]
The Other Sixth Seat and a 91st Generation student, Eizan is the BigBad from Nouvelle who's plot against Soma and Erina gets the former expelled. An arrogant and spiteful young man, after he is bested by Soma at his own Expo, Eizan remains in the shadows as Tootsuki is attacked by the other schools during the events of the Intercontinental Shokugeki.
----
* AdaptationalBadass: [[spoiler:In canon his plans to alter the judges taste to win a duel backfired, while in Classique this very trick nabs him a mutual loss in what effectively is a technicality. Given how Julius, his opponent, was a chef Eizan had no way of defeating, that was certainly the best outcome he could have gotten.]]
* ArchEnemy: Initially Soma is this to him, but as the story progresses Julius Beldam becomes this instead.
* BerserkButton: Anything to do with Soma. [[spoiler:After CharacterDevelopment hits, insulting or hurting his older sister Yukichiko is the one sure way to earn his wrath unlike anything else.]]
* BadassBookworm: He is brilliant. [[spoiler:He managed to score a mutual elimination during a duel where draws couldn't happen against an opponent far superior to him. That is smart.]
* BreakTheHaughty: He doesn't take getting absolutely wrecked by Soma and Erina too well.
* TheChessmaster: His primary talent. Soma and Erina manage to outplay him however. [[spoiler:Julius on the other hand...]
* CombatPragmatist: He will do whatever underhanded tactic he can muster to win, no matter how foul it is.
* DeadpanSnarker: Very much so, and he is one of the few characters that can get under Soma's skin almost effortlessly.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: [[spoiler:He is quite uncomfortable with outright abuse or neglect, such as what Julius did to Yukichiko, how Ashitaro treats Nao, or what Azami had done to Erina.]]
* FourEyesZeroSoul: He's not heartless, per say, but very damn well close to it.
* HairTriggerTemper: He is quick to lose his temper when he's being ignored, insulted or when thing aren't going the way he wants them to.
* HeelFaceTurn: The BigBad of Nouvelle, [[spoiler:TheSixthRanger in Classique.]]
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Him focusing so much on getting Soma expelled is what puts him on Soma's radar and gets Soma involved in his schemes directly. This ends with Soma readmitted into Tootsuki and Eizan outed of the Elite Ten.
* HumiliationConga: His defeat at the hands of Soma and Erina during the Expo was not a great experience for the guy.
* ItsPersonal: [[spoiler:Despite how much he actively avoided getting involved in the Intercontinental Shokugeki, Julius abandonment of Yukichiko was too much that he ended up having to personally throw down with Julius.]]
* LoopholeAbuse: [[spoiler:Weaponizes it during his Shokugeki against Julius.]]
* TheManBehindTheMan: Responsible for most of the grief Soma goes under during the events of Nouvelle.
* OhCrap: [[spoiler:When Julius sees through even his most desperate gambit, Eizan is momentarily completely out of it.]]
* RageBreakingPoint: [[spoiler:Against Julius during the duel.]]
* ThrowTheDogABone: [[spoiler:After all the stunts he pulled, and all the karma he got as a result, his actual good deeds earn him genuine good results, such as reestablishing his romance with Shouko, fixing his relationship with his sister, and taking over his father's business with his father forced to now work under him.]]
* TokenEvilTeammate: For the Elite Ten during the events of Classique.
* VillainousBreakdown: Soma managing to cook a soup that was similar to the one Yukichiko had made for him when he was a kid and sick utterly broke him. He ends up declaring Soma the winner before even the judges do.
* WeCanRuleTogether: [[spoiler:His relationship with Shouko, at least how he saw it. Her being willing to backstab him outright broke his heart and made him turn in favor of the Elite Ten. The relationship does get better after Shouko laments what she did and apologizes however.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Alice Nakiri]]
!!Alice Nakiri
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0010.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"And my priority will always be to... Protect Erina!"]]
The Eight Seat and a 92nd Generation student, who is Erina's half-Danish cousin. Alice is a playful, albiet arrogant, master chef and a very naughty girl, who despite everything still has the best intentions in mind. She forms part of Akira's team during his challenge against Erina, and is later part of the Elite Ten forces protecting Tootsuki Academy during the Intercontinental Shokugeki.
----
* AlwaysSecondBest: To Erina. [[spoiler:During the Intercontinental Shokugeki she herself acknowledges this, but declares she's ten times as much proud of what Erina is.]]
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: Truth be told, Alice loves Erina very, very much. The feeling is very mutual.
* BreakTheHaughty: [[spoiler:What Gautier, the French Team Leader, attempts to do during their Shokugeki. He does succeed to an extent, but Alice is able to focus on protecting Erina and Tootsuki and reverse the tables on him.]]
* CharacterDevelopment: Initially presented as willing to do anything to crush Erina, later on [[spoiler:goes above and beyond to help keep her safe, even declaring herself an enemy of her uncle Azami and aunt Mana in the process.]]
* DidntThinkThisThrough: [[spoiler:Cooking a very complex hors d'oeuvres was not the best idea when your team has to follow upon it in a Five Dish Course.]]
* FirstGirlWins: She met Ryou as children, and they are still going strong to this day.
* ManicPixieDreamGirl: In a sense. She saved Ryou from the streets, and in his own words, she is his "sunshine".
* MistressAndServantBoy: Her relationship with Ryou, somewhat. He works as her aide, is technically adopted by her parents, and later on becomes her boyfriend. It is a very complex, yet endearing relationship.
* RichInDollarsPoorInSense: Not to the extent of Erina, but she had her moments.
* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: With Ryou (when he's not wearing his bandana). She's clearly the more outgoing, emotional and childish of the two.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Ryou Kurokiba]
!!Ryou Kurokiba
[[/folder]]
[[spoiler:
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Added DiffLines:
This is a list of characters featured in the fanfictions Nouvelle and Classique, based on the manga series ''Manga/FoodWars''. '''Beware of unmarked spoilers for Nouvelle'''. It's recommended you read at least Nouvelle before coming to this section. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned!
[[foldercontrol]]
!!The Couple
[[folder:Soma Yukihira]]
!!Soma Yukihira
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0001.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"How can Nakiri cook just like mom?"]]
TheProtagonist. Still hailing from family-run local restaurant Yukihira, Soma is outright the most carefree and rebellious member of the 92nd Generation; who ends up forced to work under his biggest antagonistic rival Erina thanks to his loss at the Autumn Elections at the hands of Akira. During Nouvelle, this begins a series of spiraling circumstances where the two argue, make-up, bond, develop romantic feelings, and end up challenging Tootsuki Academy's very laws to set right what went wrong. During Classique, set in his second year, Soma attains the Elite Ten's Seventh Seat and is involved in the Intercontinental Shokugeki,
----
* AdaptationDyeJob:
** Her hair is black in the game, while she's a brunette in the animated short.
[[foldercontrol]]
!!The Couple
[[folder:Soma Yukihira]]
!!Soma Yukihira
[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0001.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:"How can Nakiri cook just like mom?"]]
TheProtagonist. Still hailing from family-run local restaurant Yukihira, Soma is outright the most carefree and rebellious member of the 92nd Generation; who ends up forced to work under his biggest antagonistic rival Erina thanks to his loss at the Autumn Elections at the hands of Akira. During Nouvelle, this begins a series of spiraling circumstances where the two argue, make-up, bond, develop romantic feelings, and end up challenging Tootsuki Academy's very laws to set right what went wrong. During Classique, set in his second year, Soma attains the Elite Ten's Seventh Seat and is involved in the Intercontinental Shokugeki,
----
* AdaptationDyeJob:
** Her hair is black in the game, while she's a brunette in the animated short.
