The beginning is only when you become a chef

Chapter 157 Arrival at Totsuki Academy (6K)

"Everyone, thank you for waiting. Now... the first round of the autumn trials elimination match."

"Alice Nakiri versus Subaru Misaku."

"Officially begin!"

In the school hall called "Moon Sky No Ma".

Two uncovered open kitchens are set opposite each other, separated by a stage where the judges are seated.

If you look at it from the perspective of a spectator in the high stands.

On the site, the two kitchens looked like a strict military formation.

Tensions.

The momentum is confronting each other from a distance.

As for the judges, there were many familiar faces to the teachers and students of Totsuki.

The school commander-in-chief, Nakiri Senzaemon, is wearing a samurai uniform and has a scar running through his right eye on his majestic face.

At this moment, the first round of the duel has begun. Old man Senzaemon is supporting his face with one hand and resting his elbow on the armrest of the luxurious guest seat.

The old man was a little absent-minded.

The focus is not on the current elimination campaign.

he was thinking.

Gin and Joichiro…

Have you received the call from Boss Xia?

Well.

Thinking of this famous person in Shenzhou who is the one who reproduced the luminous secrets in this world.

Officially landed on Neon Island today.

Nakiri Senzaemon became more and more excited.

Tonight, the Nakiri family has prepared a banquet to solemnly welcome this distinguished guest.

of course.

What Senzaemon really wanted was not some delicacies from land and sea, but for Boss Xia to cook those ancient dishes with stories behind them.

"The theme of this round is "bento"!"

In the stands, a group of people from Polaris Dormitory watched the game together.

Different from the original trajectory.

Medicine King Soma Yukihira did not appear in this round, so he is now sitting in the stands, discussing the battle situation with his friends.

"correct."

"Yukihira-kun, didn't your father tell you that this Nakiri Alice is also Boss Xia's apprentice?"

After everyone discussed for a while, Tanosuke Hui suddenly spoke weakly.

And somewhere in the stands.

Many of this year's top ten members appeared here quietly.

Even the first seat, "White Knight of the Table" Eiji Sasaki, came.

Kobayashi Ryodan, who was sitting in the second seat, was also there.

The fourth seat is Akane Kubo Momo.

The sixth seat is Ningning from Jiguo.

The seventh seat is the wisdom of one color.

The eighth seat is Kuga Teruki.

And there is Erina Nakiri who is in the tenth seat.

"I heard... Miss Nakiri is also a disciple of a famous chef?" Kobayashi Ryodan asked with interest.

Hearing this, Erina Nakiri frowned slightly and subconsciously looked at Isshiki Hui.

She knew that "Shura" Caibajo Ichiro had returned to Polaris Dormitory and stayed there for a week.

Then, the relevant information was most likely spread from the members of the Polar Star Dormitory.

cough cough.

Isshiki Hui immediately said:
"I'm not a big mouth. I won't spread this kind of thing all over the school."

Ningning from Ki no Kuni, a girl with glasses and a literary air, is indeed Isshiki Hui's childhood sweetheart. Seeing this, she interrupted and said:
"Many people in the academy know that Professor Shiomi Jun went to Shenzhou to participate in the show."

“Even if you didn’t know about it before, you must have seen relevant information on campus forums and social platforms.”

"Look-"

As she spoke, Kinokununi Nene showed the mobile phone interface to Erina Nakiri.

On the campus forum.

In the post.

An anonymous poster shared several slightly blurry screenshots of the video.

Sisters Erina and Alice are on the same screen in the picture.

Busy around a food night market stall.

There was a huge crowd of diners around.

"So you've found Shenzhou Douyin?"

Erina Nakiri suddenly realized.

She and Alice often appear in Master's Douyin videos.

And as her master's fame on the Internet grew.

This is a master-disciple relationship.

I believe it will soon become known to everyone in the Japanese food world.

"I am very interested in the ancient dishes of China that have stories and backgrounds."

Kobayashi Ryodan's eyes were bright, staring straight at Erina Nakiri.

"Can you tell me what I should do to eat the dishes of that famous chef?"

This statement is quite consistent with the character of Kobayashi Ryudou, one of the Ten Greatest Talents.

She is a third-year senior.

Always carry snacks with you...

Just like now.

While speaking, he was chewing a snack similar to instant noodles, oblivious to the people around him, making the devilish "crunch, crunch" sound of a hamster eating.

Long burgundy hair and golden eyes.

There are also sharp teeth that are inadvertently exposed when smiling.

This third-year senior is shrouded in a unique feminine charm.

It can be said that Kobayashi Ryodo’s appearance is not inferior to Erina, and both of them are among the top ten female beauties of this year.

"Well, actually, Master has already received the invitation. He has probably landed on Neon Island and is heading towards Totsuki Academy."

After saying this, Erina Nakiri checked the time on her phone.

"Should it be time?"

"Missed the flight?"

"Or was there something else that delayed you?"

The last two sentences sound more like the girl's distressed mumbling to herself as she can't wait for the man she wants.

But her words fell into the ears of the Ten Elite members.

what?
That famous chef is coming to Totsuki Academy soon?

……

Time passed quietly.

Nearly an hour and a half had passed since the start of this round of confrontation.
Suddenly, there was a commotion among the teachers and students of Totsuki in the guest seats area on the lower level stands.

The live broadcast screen happened to capture a scene:
Two legendary graduates, Gin Dojima and Shiroichiro Saiba, led a man and a woman they didn't know to sit in the empty seats in the guest seats.

"Hey...Boss Xia!"

The stands where the members of Pole Star Dormitory gathered.

Soma Yukihira pointed at the broadcast screen above the stadium in surprise.

"Is it finally here?"

The top ten members are all very busy people, and it was rare to see so many of them gathered in the stands before.

Now, with the rest of the people gone, the only ones left in this area are Isshiki Satoshi, Nakiri Erina, and the ninth seat's "alchemist" Eiyama Ezuya.

The three of them represent the top ten evaluation body and coordinate the operational affairs of this autumn selection competition.

Erina Nakiri looked happy and hurried towards the guest seats.

Isshiki Hui and Eizunzhizuya were left alone, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Even Nakiri Senzaemon, the chief judge, was present at the judging panel.

Hearing the commotion.

I couldn't help but cast my eyes towards the guest seats near the stage.

then.

One old and one young.

The two people's eyes finally met for the first time.

Nakiri Senzaemon did not hide the praise and appreciation in his eyes at all.

In front of many broadcasting cameras, he nodded solemnly and respectfully to the foreign guest who was personally invited by the school's head coach.

The school commander's behavior was naturally equivalent to guiding the live camera to focus on the man who had just arrived in the guest seats.

When the camera zooms in, the man appears on the live broadcast screen for a long time.

The commotion at the "Between the Moon and the Sky" venue became even louder.

"This face... seems familiar to me?"

"I just watched the YouTube live broadcast last night. It was that Boss Xia from Shenzhou!"

"Masaka!"

"Is it the ancient food expert who was on the same show as Professor Shiomi Jun?"

The commotion that echoed throughout the stadium certainly affected the players on the field.

in the kitchen.

Alice Nakiri was stunned and looked up at the broadcast screen above her head.

The next moment, the white-haired, red-eyed girl smiled:

"Master is here!"

"Just in time, my 'bento dish', the answer to this round of competition, is also complete!"

The focus of the venue is on Xia An who has just arrived.

Until Alice pushed the food cart onto the stage and the judges' seats.

People's attention was drawn back again.

Alice smiled brightly and brought a stainless steel tray to each judge in the judging panel.

And on the tray.

It is a transparent glass spherical cover.

At this moment, there was mist inside the lid.

At first glance.

They are shaped like delicate mist crystal balls.

In the guest area of ​​the stands, Xia An saw this and said with a tut-tut sound:
"That's Alice's usual trick. This girl always likes to do something fancy."

Kyonina commented with a look of surprise:

"People are visual animals. I think she did a good job."

"In addition to the taste of the dishes, which can immediately arouse appetite, the appearance and visuals of the dishes are also very important to arouse the interest and curiosity of diners."

Pause.

Jing Nina was confused and guessing.

"And logically speaking, ordinary dishes wouldn't emit so much mist, could it be..."

Xia An smiled and said, "I guess Alice must have injected 'liquid nitrogen' into that crystal transparent lid."

"Liquid nitrogen? Isn't this a molecular gastronomy technique?"

“Alice is a genius in the field of molecular gastronomy.”

"I see."

So, when the judges opened the lid, Alice's "Temari Sushi Bento Box" was also unveiled in the eyes of Totsuki's teachers and students.

The exquisite and high-end bento box has three horizontal and four vertical compartments, with a total of 12 small compartments for placing delicious and beautiful sushi.

The lights in the venue came on.

The whole lunch box is shining.

It has the feel of a jewellery box.

Xia An said in his heart, "As expected."

The matchup has changed.

Alice's opponent becomes Subaru Misaki.

But Alice's answer to the duel theme of "bento" is still the Temari sushi bento box, which has a sense of destiny.

"It's still Temari Sushi."

"But how come it looks more high-end and sophisticated than what I remember from the original novel?"

Alice explains her Temari sushi in detail to the judges.

There are 12 pieces of sushi in the box.

Each one has a different flavor, showing the splendor of molecular cuisine.

such as.

One of the ingredients on the sushi is "molecular mousse".

But after putting it in their mouths, the judges discovered that their mouths were filled with the delicious taste of the broth.

It turned out that Alice had beaten the kelp broth into foam and dotted it on the sushi, disguising it as mousse Temari sushi.

There are many similar molecular cooking techniques.

Centrifuge, refrigerated crusher…

A series of precision instruments have given molecular cuisine a gorgeous and advanced cooking method.

Eat them in the order Alice instructs.

The judges began to look dazed.

He looked down at the empty lunch box in front of him.

I could vaguely see a Japanese garden with high-end Kaiseki cuisine.

They were in the garden.

Alice was wearing a cherry blossom kimono, with her eyebrows lowered and her face gentle.

Just like the female master of Kaiseki cuisine, she served them a feast.

“The small bento box and the common sushi made us taste gorgeous and high-end!”

Several judges looked at each other in surprise.

Click!

At this time.

The close-up falls on Senzaemon Nakiri.

The school commander-in-chief, in front of all the teachers, students and off-campus guests.

He performed his signature moves of "tearing clothes" and "exposing chest".

The samurai uniform had fallen off at some point.

Revealing the old man's perfect upper body which is still strong and even sturdy.

"Tsk, the clothes are torn."

"I just came to Totsuki and I saw this famous scene. This wave is really good."

Xia An couldn't help but grin.

Jing Nina was surprised: "The clothes are torn?"

"Yes, this is the legend of Totsuki Academy, or the legend of the neon gourmet world."

"Nakiri Senzaemon, the 'food demon king', will show his clothes ripped whenever he gets a good meal."

next to.

When Cai Bo Cheng Yilang heard Xia Ansi's speech as an insider of Yuanyue, he immediately gave a thumbs up:

"Boss Xia, it seems you have done enough homework."

"Yes, that's it."

“When the commander-in-chief shows that his clothes are torn, it is enough to show the quality of the dishes and the cooking skills of the chef!”

When old man Senzaemon put his clothes back on.

While Alice was clearing the dishes, Subaru Misaki handed in his answer sheet before the two-hour cooking time was up.

Somewhere in the venue.

Eizan Ezuya watched Mimasaka Subaru serve his meal, but turned away coldly and ruthlessly, not even bothering to take another look.

As the "master behind Misaku Subaru".

He naturally knew that when all means of tracking, spying and spying failed.

Hunters are no longer able to use their hunting skills and are no longer in a dominant position.

So, if Subaru Misaki, a male student known as the "Perfect Pursuer", were to compete in culinary skills, he would definitely not be able to win over a genius like Alice Nakiri.

"Hey, Eizan."

Isshiki Hui, with narrowed eyes, still had her signature sunny smile:

"You also know that Subaru Misaki's so-called 'perfect copy' skill has great limitations."

"Like you and me."

"If only Mimasaka Subaru could replicate a dish of the top ten level in you and me, and add his own improvements."

"Then can you still be so high and mighty, treating him as a tool and not worrying about the master being devoured?"

Eishan Ezu also paused, then quickened his pace.

then.

The first round of the autumn qualifiers' 8 to 4 elimination match ended with Alice's victory.

The host then announced the results.

The teachers and students haven't even left their seats yet.

Alice hurried back to the kitchen, picked up a unique lunch box, and headed straight to the guest area stands on the sidelines.

"Master, Master!"

The girl's voice is particularly energetic.

Like offering a treasure, he placed the lunch box in front of Xia An very attentively:
"I left a box of Temari sushi just for you."

"You can also try it as the sixth judge outside the venue."

"Give me some comments after you finish eating."

At this moment, Alice noticed Kyonina next to her and her expression froze slightly.

she?
The talented North American female chef who challenged her master on the show?

Xia An would never refuse his disciple's filial piety.

He savored each piece of sushi.

I thought:

"It seems that Alice's training at the Shenzhou Night Market stall was very useful."

In the original work, Alice lost to the "Yukihira School Evolved Nori Bento" of Medicine King Soma Yukihira.

Gorgeous molecular cuisine.

Lost to the seemingly inconspicuous seaweed bento.

Alice lost in her understanding of "bento" and also in the temperature of the "bento".

And now.

What Xia An ate.

This is definitely not a hollow version of the original "Temari Sushi Bento".

It’s not just about using technology to turn ingredients into food and then filling up lunch boxes.

In addition to being delicious, there is also an indescribable "warmth"!
"Can the bustling atmosphere of the night market be so nourishing?" Xia An muttered to himself.

Subsequently.

In front of Alice who was wringing her hands nervously.

Xia An gave a thumbs up:
"great progress!"

"What I eat is no longer cold molecular cuisine, but a warm taste warmed by the chef's heart!"

Alice was so pleased with the compliment that she seemed even happier than when she won the knockout match from the top 8 to the top 4.

The girl couldn't help but wave her fist and shout "Yeah".

……

Subaru Mimasaka was tidying up his kitchen, packing his personal kitchen utensils into storage boxes.

A voice suddenly sounded from behind him:
"do you know."

"In the world of Shenzhou cuisine, there is a talent called [Super Vision]."

"A chef with this talent can perfectly replicate the same dish as his opponent and add his own improvements."

Upon hearing this, Subaru Misaki, a burly boy with black hair and dreadlocks, was suddenly stunned.

【Super Vision】?
Mimasaka Subaru muttered twice, and then asked like a demon:
"Any opponent can copy it?"

“No longer subject to various restrictions?”

The person coming is Xia An.

On a whim, he decided to give Misaku Subaru a few words of advice before the show was over.

After all, Subaru Misaku is not a bad guy. In the original work, he later became a member of Soma Yukihira's "harem" and helped Soma Yukihira in the Food Wars arc.

Of course, Xia An pointed out the essential reason why Mei Zuo Subaru was wrong.

It was Subaru Misaki, the "template" of Totsuki students, who aroused his interest.

If what he remembered is correct.

When Subaru Misaki was very young, he was able to perfectly make dishes exactly as described in the recipes while helping out in his father's shop.

Therefore, Subaru Misaki's talent for "copying" can be said to be innate.

It would be a pure waste if it is not developed and cultivated.

"Of course not every opponent can replicate this. Even if it's a chef far superior to you, you still can't do anything."

"But at least you won't be bothered by the target chef's private and exclusive techniques."

“If the target chef uses some kind of ancient trick in his cooking.”

"You can even replicate it exactly."

Subaru Misaki's pupils dilated and he froze in a daze, not coming back to his senses for a long time.

……

The teachers and students of Totsuki have almost all dispersed.

A group of friends in Polar Star Dormitory, led by the brave Soma Yukihira, chose to stay behind and came over to say hello.

"Dad!"

Soma Yukihira first called out to Saiba Joichiro, and then quickly walked towards Xia An:
"Boss Xia, I've heard of your great name for a long time!"

Xia An deliberately asked Saiba Chengyilang: "Your son?"

Saiba Joichiro smiled and patted Yukihira Soma on the shoulder: "This kid has been talking about you every other sentence recently. His admiration for you is almost surpassing that of me, his father."

Yukihira Hajime said earnestly:
"Worship? I don't worship anyone!"

As expected of the Medicine King, he rolled up his sleeves and said, full of energy:

"Boss Xia, please give me some advice. Let's have a cooking showdown..."

The words trailed off.

Soma Yukihira was pulled to the back of the team by Isshiki Hui, whose narrow eyes exuded a terrifying aura:

"Yukihira-kun, you can't do this."

"Be respectful to the special class visiting Totsuki."

At this time, Nakiri Senzaemon walked over from the stage with four other judges.

The four guest judges were very enthusiastic and came up to shake hands with Xia An and get to know him.

Soma Yukihira and other friends from Polar Star Dormitory.

I was secretly shocked by what I saw.

These judges are like jinxes in the eyes of students. Students have to be polite when serving dishes, for fear that they will make trouble for them.

But now these top celebrities in society are very attentive, even a little fanatical, and they wish they could stick their hands to Boss Xia and not let go.

Nakiri Senzaemon said to Xia An with a pleasant expression:

"The family dinner is already being prepared."

"You can go back to the room that has been arranged for you at the home and have a rest."

Xia An smiled, understanding the burning feeling in the old man's eyes.

What kind of dinner party?

Don’t you just want to eat ancient food?
He glanced at his fellow students in Polaris Dormitory.

I don't mind taking this group of protagonists along.

"Commander-in-Chief, since this guy is Mr. Caibo's son, is it okay for you to take care of him and his roommates and classmates?"

Hear the words.

Everyone in Polar Star Dormitory was pleasantly surprised.

Even Isshiki Hui, who had squinted his eyes, was stunned for a moment, and then he couldn't hide the ecstasy on his face.

hiss~
Take us with you to the family dinner?
That is to say...

Boss Ruoxia showed off her cooking skills at a family dinner.

So we have a chance to eat paleo food?!

Think about this.

Isshiki Hui felt his breath was very hot.

Even he, the head of the dormitory, couldn't stand it, let alone the other members of Polaris Dormitory.

"Eh?"

Students such as Tadokoro Megumi and Yoshino Yuuki were all stunned by the surprise of the pie that fell from the sky.

Xia An smiled and glanced at Jing Nina who was standing next to him with a helpless and speechless look on her face.

I have some fun adding:
Anyway, the entire bill has already been paid in advance by this young lady and old man Senzaemon.

Sudden.

Dojima Gin and Saiba Joichiro looked at each other.

The good friends who had known each other for decades immediately understood what each other meant.

They were both eager to try.

"Boss Xia, could you please demonstrate your 'food ethics' at the dinner?" Dojima Gin said in a deep voice.

"I watched the show last night and I still can't believe that the new special grade mastered a kind of 'food ethics'." Saiba Shiroichiro used a joking tone to hide his disbelief.

Xia An has received the panel prompt sound.

Hospitality mode is triggered once again.

Therefore, in order to achieve the banquet goal, he had to cook ancient dishes no matter what.

Then there’s nothing wrong in making some high-end food products.

what.

Xia An's thoughts turned.

Thinking of these two legendary graduate friends, they are senior special-grade students.

He smiled and said, "You must have already created your own "life menu", right?"

Dojima Gin and Saiba Joichiro looked at each other in surprise.

"You just got promoted, and you know the "Life Menu"?"

Saiba Shiroichiro was even more straightforward, holding up three fingers: "I have already filled in three of the eight recipes in the "Life Menu" column."

Hearing this, Xia An's eyes narrowed slightly.

The answers to the three life menus correspond to the special category, which means three recipes that 3% perfectly utilize gold-grade ingredients or above!

"I have three and a half answers." Dojima Gin showed a healthy and refreshing smile. "As for the extra half compared to Shiroichiro, it is still under research. It will take a year at the slowest, three months or half a year at the fastest to reach perfection."

Jing Nina naturally listened to the conversation and her expression gradually became solemn.

In the premium field.

You can study and compile multiple perfect "answer" recipes.

That means they have the opportunity to choose from multiple gourmet cell routes, and they can take their time until they determine which route is perfect for them.

Xia An smiled slightly and made a suggestion about the dinner party at the Nakiri family residence:
“I demonstrate my cooking skills and prepare ancient dishes that contain the meaning of food.”

"Then please show your cooking skills and present the dishes on your "menu of life"."

Dojima Gin rubbed his bald head and said, "Three and a half answers, are you going to show them all?"

"Correct."

"One dish in exchange for three and a half answer dishes? This deal is a big loss. After all, the ingredients of the 'answer dishes' are of extraordinary value."

"So are you going to do it or not?" Xia An laughed.

"Done!"

"Add me in!" Saiba Joichiro said seriously.

(End of this chapter)