Food Wars!: Delicious Food of the Heavens

"Disgusting!"

Totsuki Academy: Entrance exam for transfer students.

Erina Nakiri, the examiner, slammed her chopsticks on the table and shouted, "Disgusting! Disgusting! You audacious commoner, how dare you pollute my taste buds with such crude and shoddy fare! I'm failing you!"

Across from Erina Nakiri, the red-haired boy who had been looking confident suddenly couldn't hold back anymore.

"I protest! Your expression just now clearly showed that you thought it tasted delicious."

Erina Nakiri remained unfazed. "I am the examiner. Protests are invalid!"

Soma Yukihira scratched his head. "This doesn't make sense. This 'Yukihira-ryu Transformation Egg Rice Bowl' is a secret menu item at my family's restaurant, and it's incredibly popular. By the way, Examiner, you should at least give a reason for elimination. Was there something wrong with it?"

"You may have some cleverness, but that's all you have."

Erina Nakiri tossed her hair arrogantly. "Listen up, commoner! My tongue is the great tongue of God!"

"Since I can remember, every dish my tongue has tasted has been prepared by top chefs using the finest ingredients, employing complex and intricate cooking techniques and processes, and pouring in unimaginable effort to ultimately present a perfect work of art!"

"That sounds amazing!"

Soma Yukihira looked shocked, but then his expression turned to confusion. "I still don't understand."

"you!"

"What an ignorant fool."

Erina Nakiri immediately lost her temper and angrily pointed at Soma Yukihira's nose.

"In other words, your choice of ingredients is mediocre, and your cooking techniques are far too rough and rudimentary. How can this kind of commoner's cooking possibly compare to truly high-class cuisine!"

Erina Nakiri resumed her haughty demeanor, tucking a strand of golden hair behind her ear. "This kind of garbage that doesn't conform to my culinary aesthetics is undeniably substandard, isn't that obvious?"

Upon hearing this, Soma Yukihira felt as if he'd been struck by lightning. "What! I didn't pass? I'm doomed! My bastard dad is definitely going to laugh at me mercilessly!"

"It's all my dad's fault. Why did he have to make me come to this lousy culinary school? And now I have this weird examiner."

"Hey! I can't ignore your insults to Totsuki! I'll call security and get you..."

"Excuse me, may I interrupt?"

"Excuse me, is this the entrance exam for transfer students at Totsuki Academy?"

A lazy voice suddenly rang out, breaking the tense atmosphere in the room.

Erina Nakiri looked towards the doorway. "Who are you?"

The boy standing at the door yawned, held up the documents in the book and waved them. "I'm here to take the transfer student entrance exam, but I accidentally overslept this morning. Sorry."

"Speaking of which, isn't the exam still going on? Why are there only three people here?" the boy asked, looking at the empty room.

"snort!"

Erina Nakiri let out a cold snort. "A person who has no sense of time is not qualified to join Totsuki Culinary Academy!"

"I don't want to ask your name either. Now I announce that you, the latecomer, and this commoner who can only cook simple, ordinary food, plus that group of cowards who didn't even dare to take the exam before."

"You are all unqualified!"

After saying that, Erina Nakiri let out a long sigh of relief, looking as relaxed as if she had swept away a pile of garbage.

Lin Yu sighed, revealing an expression of disgust.

"I only lingered in bed for a few minutes, did it have to be so complicated...?"

"Brother, move aside." Lin Yu patted Yukihira Soma on the shoulder, pushed him aside, and looked at Nakiri Erina.

"Putting aside the fact that the exam time on the application form has not yet ended, your school is the most famous culinary academy in Japan. For such an important matter as the entrance examination, the examiner made a subjective judgment and determined that everyone was unqualified without even tasting the candidates' dishes."

"Such a hasty approach is hardly befitting of your esteemed institution's stature and magnanimity. Are you utterly indifferent to the potential reputational damage your institution might suffer as a result?"

"Huh?" Erina Nakiri frowned.

"Besides, I heard what you just said at the door, so please forgive me for not being able to ignore it."

"In my opinion, the essence of cooking is deliciousness, and deliciousness is the decisive factor. To dismiss it simply because of the simplicity of the ingredients or cooking methods is, Your Excellency, far too narrow-minded!"

"How dare you speak so disrespectfully to Erina!"

"Hisa sand!"

Hisako Shinoto, who had been standing behind Erina Nakiri, heard this and angrily tried to rush forward, but Erina Nakiri stopped her in time.

She looked at Lin Yu with her usual haughty gaze, "No matter what you say, I don't think I need to change my mind because of what an eliminated person says."

Lin Yu gave a helpless smile and sighed, "That's true. Real chefs are usually guys with convictions. They won't change their minds because of a few words from others."

Suddenly, Lin Yu strode up to Erina Nakiri and looked her straight in the eye. "However, since words aren't working, let's communicate in the most direct way between chefs."

"Use cooking!"

The moment he finished speaking, Lin Yu's languid aura vanished completely.

Erina Nakiri felt that those eyes, so close to her, were frighteningly sharp, like a tiger awakening from its slumber.

Erina Nakiri wasn't short to begin with, but when Lin Yu straightened up, she realized he was half a head taller than her, forcing her to look up at him. Even so, the imposing aura he exuded made her nervous.

"If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes!"

Lin Yu strode toward the control panel, and the sudden relaxation made Erina Nakiri instinctively take a deep breath.

Standing in front of the control panel, Lin Yu slowly rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands, and dried them with a towel.

"The theme is eggs, right?"

"Yes, do you need any other materials?"

"Don't worry, my cooking is very simple."

Lin Yu took out a wallet from his pocket. As the zipper was unzipped, countless cards unfolded through the bottom roller, like an open fan.

"Alright, who will we draw this time...? You're the one!"

Lin Yu's fingers flew among the cards, and finally he drew one out.

Bacon and Eggs

[Source: Howl's Moving Castle]

Ingredients: Bacon, Eggs

[Grade: One Star]

In the scene visible only to Lin Yu, the once modern cooking classroom had been transformed into an ancient castle, and the gleaming gas stove had become an uneasy flame, in which a pair of eyes watched him curiously.

"Calcifer, be good."

The bacon sizzles in the oil, its edges quickly curling into waves. When the egg is cracked open, the yolk flows into the pan and solidifies rapidly.

The flames beneath the pot opened their mouths wide, swallowing the eggshell Lin Yu threw in. The flames instantly surged, illuminating Lin Yu's face bright red.

This is a magical realm that only Lin Yu can experience.

······

Watching Lin Yu's busy figure, Hisako Shinoto leaned close to Erina Nakiri and whispered, "Erina-sama, that wouldn't be...?"

Erina Nakiri nodded. "That's right, it's bacon and eggs."

"That's right! It's bacon and eggs!"

Faced with Lin Yu's sudden appearance, the secretary immediately shielded Erina Nakiri behind her as if facing a formidable enemy.

Why were you eavesdropping on our conversation?

"What do you mean by eavesdropping? My cooking is finished."

"Is it finished?"

"Yeah, how much longer do you want your bacon and eggs?"

"You idiot, do you even understand the situation? The person standing in front of you is Lady Erina Nakiri, the great God Tongue! And you bring out this kind of dish that can be made in minutes, a completely unskilled dish..."

"Ding!"

Lin Yu pressed the built-in serving bell, and the crisp sound interrupted Hisako Shinto's words.

"This secretary is not someone I can convince with words; the examiner and I have reached a consensus on that. So, I'll let my cooking speak for me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Yu lifted the lid, and a rich and alluring aroma of oil spread through the air.

This smells amazing!

Hisako Shinoto swallowed her rapidly secreting saliva and insisted in a weak voice, "Even so..."

"Alright, Hisako."

Erina Nakiri gestured for her assistant to step back.

"I really dislike this rude guy, but I have to admit he said one thing."

"I am the chief examiner for this transfer student entrance exam. My actions represent Totsuki Academy, and I will never allow myself to do anything that could damage the academy's reputation."

"Now that the candidate has prepared the dish, I must fulfill my duty as the examiner, taste it, and make sure that the candidate is convinced of their defeat."

"please--"

Lin Yu used high-quality, thick-cut bacon provided by the academy. Under the combined action of flame and oil, the bacon surface underwent a thorough Maillard reaction, resulting in an extremely tempting amber-colored charred mark. The fried egg had a slightly charred bottom but a perfectly runny yolk on top, shimmering with a golden sheen as it trembled slightly.

Erina Nakiri couldn't help but breathe more heavily, the rich fragrance filling her nostrils, and the saliva she secreted stimulating her tongue.

Erina Nakiri was somewhat surprised, as she found that her usually discerning palate seemed to be anticipating the dish in front of her.

"Let's begin the tasting. Just so you know, don't expect me to lower my standards just because I'm a student taking an exam."

The blade landed on the bacon with almost no force, just a light slice, and the bacon and fried egg were cut apart.

"So soft!"

Erina Nakiri forked a piece of bacon and egg and put it in her mouth.

The moment it enters your mouth, the rich aroma of meat and fat collide in your mouth, creating a powerful impact.

As your teeth gently slide down, you first experience the crispy, caramelized surface of the bacon, followed by a rich yet soft texture.

As you chew, the mellow egg flavor takes over, gently enveloping all the tastes, and then intertwining with your tongue.

As you swallow, the smoky aroma of the aftertaste lingers in your throat, leaving only a faint, delicate fragrance on your tongue.

It was this subtle aftertaste that made Erina Nakiri subconsciously cut off a second piece of bacon and put it in her mouth, chewing it slowly.

"It's such a simple seasoning, and it was just casually pan-fried, so why, why, why is it so...warm?"

The aroma, texture, and deliciousness blended together in her mouth, teasing her delicate tongue and stirring her heartstrings.

As the fragrance spread, Erina Nakiri's thoughts wandered, and she felt as if she were in a castle floating in the sky.

A gentle breeze blew, rippling the calm lake surface and stirring the castle in the sky.

The building, which was clearly incredibly heavy, was now like a feather, gently swaying in the sky with the breeze.

Just like the bacon and egg dish, it has a solid and heavy texture, yet it presents such a soft and light flavor.

The azure sky was filled with white clouds, and the warm sunshine shone on her. Erina Nakiri leaned against the window of the castle, looking at the distant meadows and lakes, feeling no worries in her heart.

The languid blonde girl stretched, a gentle breeze brushing her face, and the faint scent of smoky wood wafting from the fireplace behind her...

"Bang!"

The sound of knives and forks clattering against plates startled Erina Nakiri awake. She then realized that she had finished the entire plate of bacon and eggs, and a blush immediately rose to her cheeks.

Lin Yu looked at Erina Nakiri and smiled, "How is it?"

"Your seasoning is very simple, with onions, rosemary, black pepper, butter, and..."

Lost in thought, Erina Nakiri unconsciously stuck out her tongue and licked the grease from her lips.

"It's honey and lemon, right?"

Erina Nakiri looked at Lin Yu confidently.

Lin Yu smiled in response, "Correct answer!"

"Honey and lemon not only tenderize the meat, but are also key to eliminating greasiness and creating a light flavor."

"The bacon has a nice caramelized flavor, and it's oily but not greasy, which means it was thoroughly cooked. But why is the texture so tender?" Erina Nakiri asked again. "You can't achieve that just by using honey and lemon to tenderize the meat, can you?"

"You mean the outside is crispy, but the inside is light and soft, right?"

Erina Nakiri nodded.

"This isn't difficult. Before frying, I steamed the bacon and lemon together."

"The steam allows the lemon's aroma to penetrate the bacon while also forcing out some of the bacon's internal fat, thus maintaining its refreshing flavor and allowing the bacon to fully expand."

"Adding a layer of honey before frying and increasing the heat during frying will allow the bacon to develop a beautiful amber color on the surface, while remaining soft inside and crispy on the outside, creating a harmonious blend of two distinct textures."

Erina Nakiri was somewhat surprised. "That's all?"

"Of course, it's a very simple method, isn't it?"

Erina Nakiri lowered her head and remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.

Lin Yu smiled and said, "I know this might not suit your taste in elaborate cuisine. But it's quite delicious, isn't it?"

Erina Nakiri didn't speak, but the hesitant expression on her face revealed her inner turmoil.

Lin Yu continued, "I won't ask you to change your beliefs; that would be far too unreasonable."

"I made this dish simply to convey some of my ideas. Whether the cooking method is simple or complex, whether the final dish is rustic or elaborate, as long as you put your heart into it, you can achieve fantastic results, can't you?"

"But......"

Erina Nakiri seemed somewhat moved, but she still couldn't convince herself.

"But wouldn't this be... too low-class?"

"But that doesn't affect the essence of the dish at all!"

"nature?"

Lin Yu pointed a finger at the ceiling. "In my philosophy, there's only one word that can unlock the essence of cooking and lead to the pinnacle of the culinary world: delicious!"

Lin Yu's voice rose, "Moreover, it's the kind of deliciousness that makes you feel happy while chewing!"

"That's such an abstract explanation!" Erina Nakiri said, her voice trembling with panic. "It's really hard to understand."

"How could it be hard to understand?"

Lin Yu was now a completely different person from his initial languid demeanor; his eyes even blazed with a fanatical fire. He approached Erina Nakiri and looked her directly into her eyes.

"I firmly believe that if a chef puts his heart into his cooking, the food will respond to the chef and convey his heart to the person tasting it."

"I said I wouldn't force you to change your mind, but I hope that by tasting my food, you can feel my sincerity."

Feeling the burning gaze before her, Erina Nakiri's emotions seemed to be stirred, and she couldn't help but want to follow Lin Yu's words. However, the inertia created by her long-term experiences was like a series of chains, pulling her back and forth.

This contradiction and anxiety made her feel uncomfortable, and her cheeks and ear tips turned an unusual blush.

"No...don't do this..."

Lin Yu heard Erina Nakiri's soft murmur and noticed that something was wrong with her.

"Feel sorry."

Lin Yu took two steps back. "I seem to have been a little carried away... My apologies."

"These are just some of my own shallow thoughts. If they have caused you any trouble, including my previous less-than-polite remarks about Totsuki, I apologize again."

Lin Yu's extremely serious expression amused Erina Nakiri. "You're about the same age as me, so why do you talk like an old man?"

Lin Yu shrugged. "Maybe I'm just mentally immature?"

Erina Nakiri's lips curled into a smile, and she let out a soft hum.

"Smooth-talking..."