Saiba, Asahi
Seiyuu / Dub
Summary
Asahi Saiba is a handsome man in his early twenties with a slim build and messy dark hair. He typically wears a striped dress shirt under a sweater vest, but dons a dark chief uniform, bandana, and newsboy cap while cooking. It is revealed that he is the leader of the Noir, who joined Tootsuki Culinary Academy as a lecturer named Suzuki to challenge Yukihira Souma, the First Seat of the Elite Ten, to mock shokugeki. After defeating Souma, Saiba reveals he does not want Souma’s seat but the right to claim he defeated the First Seat, allowing him to proceed to his true goal of marrying Erina Nakiri. Saiba possesses a laid-back demeanor, often treating lectures like parties, and is considered charming and charismatic, making him popular with women and earning the loyalty of several skilled Noir chefs. However, he is also arrogant about his cooking skills, believing he is the only one capable of satisfying the God Tongue of Erina and her mother, Mana. He frequently taunts opponents into wagering their prized knives, which he adds to his collection. Saiba possesses a unique talent called Cross Knives, which is described as ten times more powerful, efficient, and effective than Subaru Mimasaka’s Perfect Trace. This technique activates when he touches a chef’s knife, allowing him to perceive that chef’s emotions, struggles, trials, and experiences. Since Cross Knives come in pairs, Saiba can combine the skills of multiple chefs by using stolen knives to create unique dishes that satisfy the God Tongue without causing boredom. While he can use unlimited combinations to produce varied dishes, the technique’s major disadvantage is that it lacks his own originality and self-creativity. Because the food relies on others' efforts, it lacks his 'self-ness,' a flaw detectable by the God Tongue that causes inconvenience. Saiba and his Noir members were invited by BLUE to participate in a competition where Yukihira Souma, Nakiri Erina, Tadokoro Megumi, and Takumi Aldini faced students from other Culinary Academies, including Saiba and his fellow Noir members.
