Food Wars!: Delicious Food of the Heavens

Chapter 104 Lunch Box

Lin Yu looked up at Erina Nakiri, raised an eyebrow, and asked a question.

But Erina Kiri only returned his smile with a provocative tone.

Guess for yourself!

Erina Nakiri's lips moved silently twice, and Lin Yu understood her meaning, smiling gently.

"If I'm not mistaken... the lingering aftertaste you left behind, hidden in the afterglow of the dish."

Uncertain, Lin Yu picked up another piece of steak, dipped it in plenty of red wine sauce, and then put it in his mouth.

This time he tasted it very carefully, his face thoughtful and serious, his brows furrowed.

The aftertaste of the steak is...

...kiwifruit?

Lin Yu raised an eyebrow, his eyes lit up, and an interesting expression appeared on his face.

"The aftertaste of the sauce is... apple!?"

Lin Yu's eyes widened in surprise.

"Not only that... there's more!"

Lin Yu shouted excitedly.

"Just one last ingredient!"

Countless flavors flowed on Lin Yu's tongue, and images of countless ingredients flashed rapidly through Lin Yu's mind, finally settling on a round, plump little fruit.

"Longan!?"

Lin Yu gave an answer, his tone carrying a hint of disbelief that even he himself found hard to believe.

Lin Yu looked at Erina Nakiri with a playful expression. "What's wrong?"

Erina Nakiri felt a little uncomfortable under Lin Yu's gaze.

"Come on!" Lin Yu rolled his eyes at Nakiri Erina. "Don't play dumb with me, you know what I'm going to say."

Knowing she couldn't hide it any longer, Erina Nakiri could only purse her lips and say, "I heard it from Hisako before..."

She said that Chef Kikuchi had used these fruits in his project, so I thought, why don't I try adding some, just to give it a go...

Erina Nakiri was a little embarrassed, and her voice grew weaker and weaker as she spoke.

"What are you looking at!" Erina Nakiri glared at Lin Yu, who was staring at her. "This can't be patented, can it?"

Seeing Erina Nakiri's anxious look, Lin Yu laughed, "Go ahead and use it, I didn't say anything, why are you so anxious?"

"Who's getting impatient!?"

"Whoever's blushing is the one who's getting angry!"

"You... shameless!"

Erina Kiri broke down instantly, swinging her small fists and frantically punching Lin Yu.

"You can use a little more force, thank you!"

Lin Yu treated the punch landing on his back as a massage, looking completely relaxed. He even added a sarcastic remark, which made Kiri Erina even angrier.

"You care about me that much?"

Hearing Lin Yu's words, Kiri Erina was startled and took two steps back.

"What...do you mean? I don't know what you're talking about?"

Lin Yu ruthlessly exposed Kirie Erina's deception.

"Come on! Hisako isn't a chatterbox, nor is she the type to take the initiative. Would she say these things if you didn't ask?"

Erina Kiri, still unconvinced, crossed her arms and retorted, "Nonsense! You're just being delusional! This is clearly just your side of the story!"

Lin Yu chuckled and waved his hand. "Don't worry, I'm too lazy to pry."

"That's fine... No, I mean, this was all just your imagination... Yes, that's right!"

Looking at Erina Kiri's stubborn expression, Lin Yu found it somewhat amusing.

"Hehe~"

Lin Yu let out a disdainful sneer, putting on an expression that said, "Guess whether I believe it or not."

Erina Nakiri was so enraged by Lin Yu's cold laugh that she almost rushed up and threw her wild punches again, but Lin Yu easily suppressed her with one hand.

Lin Yu looked at Guan Shouping, "Chef Guan Shouping, does that mean our project for tonight has been approved?"

"certainly!"

"Lin Yu, fifty dishes, acceptable!"

"Nakiri Erina, fifty dishes, passed!"

Guan Shouping smiled and waved to them.

"Go and rest!"

"Okay, see you tomorrow, Chef Guan Shouping!"

After saying goodbye to Guan Shouping, Lin Yu did not leave immediately, but instead pulled Kirie Erina to his stove.

"What are you doing?"

Erina Kiri watched as Lin Yu crawled into the cabinet under the stove, seemingly searching for something, and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"You've had dinner, but Hisako is probably still hungry. I don't think you left any extra portions."

Lin Yu rummaged through the depths of the cupboard and found several stainless steel lunch boxes, handing one of them to Kirie Erina.

"Give!"

Erina Nakiri leaned closer to the lunchbox in Lin Yu's hand, sniffed it gently, and a familiar fragrance wafted to her nose.

Erina Nakiri was somewhat surprised. "This is... the steak set meal you just made?"

"yes!

Lin Yu nodded and explained, "I hadn't had dinner when I came to the auditorium."

"I originally thought I could just use the leftovers to make a work lunch during my spare time while working on the project."

"But then I suddenly realized that my roommates in the Polaris Dormitory probably hadn't had dinner yet, so I just grabbed a few extra portions when I was picking out ingredients and cooked them according to the same recipe."

"Although the food will definitely not taste as good as freshly made after being sealed and stored in an insulated lunchbox for a period of time, it is still very comforting for everyone who has worked hard all day to have a hot meal."

As he spoke, Lin Yu handed the lunchbox in his hand forward.

"Take this! I have several more here. Take one back for Hisako."

Erina Kiri took the lunchbox and discovered that it was warm, still radiating a faint warmth.

Erina Nakiri weighed the heavy lunchbox in her hand and asked, "I took one, is there enough for your roommate? After all, these bento boxes are definitely made according to the number of people, right?"

"Don't worry! It's enough." Lin Yu smiled and said, "The portion you have in your hand was originally meant for myself."

"But since I ate the food you made, Erina, I might as well give you mine."

"It seems you haven't remembered this either, so please accept it and give it to Hisako to take back."

"We were partners this afternoon, after all. I can't just watch that guy go hungry."

Erina Nakiri nodded. "Alright, since your suggestion was pretty good, I'll thank you on behalf of Hisako!"

"Okay, I'm leaving then."

Lin Yu packed up several lunchboxes, put them into a bag, and turned to leave when he suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, right!"

Lin Yu glanced around warily, then suddenly moved close to Erina, shielding the two of them with his hand, and whispered, "You absolutely mustn't tell anyone about this!"

Seeing Lin Yu suddenly lean in so close, Kiri Erina froze on the spot.

Lin Yu smiled sheepishly.

"After all, it was made with whole ingredients... and it wasn't just one serving for myself, it was several servings."

Erina finally snapped out of her daze, took two steps back in a fluster, and said with feigned composure, "Don't worry, I'm not... that clueless!"

Having regained her composure, Erina Kiri scoffed, "Hmph! Besides, this is the Totsuki Resort. A little bit of food is nothing compared to what you think. Totsuki isn't as stingy as you might think!"

Hearing Erina Kiri's words, Lin Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

"I see..."

"Anyway, thank you anyway, Erina."

Lin Yu gave a friendly smile and then waved the bag in his hand.

"I'll be going now!"

"See you tomorrow!"

Lin Yu waved goodbye, then turned and left.

Watching Lin Yu's departing figure and feeling the warmth emanating from the lunchbox in her hand, Kiri Erina suddenly remembered Lin Yu's instructions to Hisako Shinto before he left.

For some reason, Erina Nakiri felt a sense of displeasure.

When she realized this emotion, even Erina Kiri herself was taken aback.

Even she herself felt that this uncomfortable feeling in her heart... appeared inexplicably.

"What...?"

Erina Nakiri pouted, put away her lunchbox, and glanced at Hisako Shinoto, who was still busy in the distance.

"Never mind, I'll give it to her later."

After saying that, Erina Nakiri turned and left.

Watching Lin Yu and Kiri Erina's departing figures from afar, Guan Shouping's face revealed a meaningful expression. He let out a long sigh and couldn't help but utter a sigh of regret.

"It seems like two incredible monsters have joined this year's residential training camp!"

"What? Someone performed exceptionally well?"

A cheerful voice came from behind.

At the same time, a large hand suddenly slapped Guan Shouping on the shoulder from behind.

Because the incident happened so suddenly, even the usually serious and composed Guan Shouping was taken aback.

"Senior Dojima!"

Guan Shouping uttered a sound of dissatisfaction, turned around, and looked at the tall man who had suddenly appeared, his face full of resentment.

"Don't suddenly tap someone on the shoulder from behind! It can easily scare them!"

"Haha! Sorry, sorry, it was my fault."

Dojima Gin readily apologized.

"I originally planned to go to the public bathhouse to wash up, but I passed by the kitchen and thought I'd just pop in and take a look."

"I did it instinctively after hearing you sighing there."

"Dojima Gin looked at the bustling kitchen and glanced around.

Watching the students moving about in the kitchen with high spirits, Dojima Gin couldn't help but nod and show a satisfied smile.

"Everyone's fighting spirit is really good!"

Dojima Gin gave a compliment, then looked at Seki Morihei.

"From what you just said, there are some promising young talents this year?"

"yes!"

Guan Shouping nodded, a lingering fear on his face, and uttered softly, "Terrifyingly strong..."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing Seki Shouping's words, Dojima Gin immediately became interested.

"I see that some of the stoves are now empty." Dojima Gin raised his hand and pointed to a stove that had clearly been used but was now vacant.

"Has that [God Tongue] been completed?" Dojima Gin looked around, but didn't see Kirie Erina, so he made a judgment in his mind.

Guan Shouping nodded. "Yes, she just left a little while ago. If you had come a minute earlier, you might have run into her."

"Haha! It's nothing!"

Dojima Gin-fa let out a carefree laugh and waved his hand dismissively.

"For mediocre students, boarding and joint training is a veritable hell."

"But for truly outstanding students, it's just a boring game."

Even Dojima Gin couldn't help but sigh as he spoke.

"This [God Tongue] is the granddaughter of the Supreme Commander. It's no surprise that she'll stay."

"Today is only the first day of the joint training program. There are still several days to go. I'm sure I'll see this young lady again. It's okay to save the anticipation for next time."

Just as Seki Shouping was inwardly agreeing with this statement, Dojima Gin suddenly changed the subject.

"However... even though that's what I say..."

Dojima Gin raised his hand, glanced at the watch on his wrist, and was filled with indescribable shock.

"At this hour, fifty dinners have already been served..." Dojima Gin murmured to himself.

"This topic appears in almost every year's residential training program, but this student's speed is probably the fastest among all students in the past years, right?"

Dojima Gin let out a long sigh and said with a wry tone, "I must say... no wonder he has the bloodline of the Kiri family. And he even possesses the legendary 'God Tongue'." As Dojima Gin was sighing, he suddenly noticed that Sekimori Ping was looking at him strangely.

That look in his eyes, which seemed to be one of concern for mentally challenged children, made Dojima Gin feel extremely uncomfortable and shivered.

"What's wrong?!" Dojima Gin frowned, suppressing his doubts and asking.

"It's nothing!"

Seeing Dojima Gin's bewildered expression and recalling his serious remarks just now, Seki Shouping suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

But realizing that Dojima Gin was staring straight at him, he could only forcefully suppress the urge to laugh.

But this "forced laughter" expression only amplified the mockery in Dojima Gin's eyes.

"What's wrong?" Dojima Gin asked, puzzled. "Your expression doesn't look like anything good!"

Guan Shouping suppressed a laugh and waved his hands repeatedly, "It's nothing! It's nothing!"

Dojima Gin clearly didn't believe him, grabbing his arm. "The more you say that, the more it proves something's up!"

"Really, it's nothing! It's just... I suddenly thought of something interesting..."

"Pfft! Haha!"

The more eager Dojima Gin was to know what had happened, the more interesting Sekimori Hirai found it, and in the end he almost couldn't hold back his laughter.

Seeing Guan Shouping's inexplicable actions, Dojima Gin became increasingly annoyed and finally decided to use his trump card.

"If you keep trying to bluff me, I'll remove you from your mentor position and put you in charge of logistics!"

Guan Shouping froze instantly. "Ah, this..."

Seeing the stunned Seki Shouping, Dojima Gin revealed a smug smile.

"Still not going to tell?"

Dojima Gin chuckled, "If you still don't talk, I'll transfer you to guard the food warehouse!"

Seeing Guan Shouping hesitate, Dojima Gin took a few steps closer and said softly;

"Many graduates from your year have come to this joint training program with accommodation."

"Everyone else is becoming mentors, but you're just watching the warehouse."

Dojima Gin paused deliberately for a few seconds before slowly speaking, "If people find out about this, hehe... you wouldn't want to be laughed at by your peers like Shinomiya, Hinako, Mizuhara, and Donato, would you?"