Food Wars!: Delicious Food of the Heavens

When Erina Nakiri said, "Your breathing is too loud and it's disturbing me," Lin Yu interrupted her.

"Young Miss, are you... deliberately picking a fight?"

Seeing Lin Yu's unfriendly gaze, Erina Nakiri was not afraid at all. Instead, she moved closer to him and met his gaze with a mixture of provocation and arrogance.

"So what if it is? So what if it isn't?"

"Great, that's wonderful."

Lin Yu said "okay" but his face grew increasingly dark.

"Looks like there's no room for negotiation?"

"Otherwise what? When have I ever needed to accommodate others? It's already an honor for you to be my assistant."

"Then I'm afraid I won't serve you!"

"Hmph! A menial worker, acting like he's so important. Hisako, come here! Let this guy see what a good support looks like!"

"Yes, Lady Erina!"

Upon hearing the order, Hisako Shinto immediately ran to Erina Nakiri's side, her expression serious, standing ramrod straight, and even giving Lin Yu a defiant glare.

Roland Chappell, standing on the podium, noticed the argument in the corner of the classroom. He was inclined to reprimand the woman, but considering that the arrogant young lady was the daughter of the academy's headmaster, he could only sigh in the end.

Lin Yu arrived at the control panel where Tadokoro Megumi was.

"I'm sorry, Tadokoro-kun, but it seems we'll be working together from now on."

Lin Yu looked at the control panel. "How far did you and that assistant get?"

"Shinoto-kun just picked out the ingredients. I'm clumsy, so Shinoto-kun... didn't let me help..."

Lin Yu examined the selected ingredients and had to admit that Hisako Aragaki's basic skills were quite solid, considering she was taken in as an assistant by an arrogant young lady like Erina Nakiri.

Lin Yu couldn't find any fault with either the quality of the beef and vegetables or the type of seasoning.

"What? Still standing there in a daze?"

Erina Nakiri's voice came from the side.

"That guy behind you obviously can't help. Since you're all alone, if you don't start quickly, you might miss your deadline!"

Are you trying to provoke me?

"Ha, dream on, you're not worthy."

Erina Nakiri lifted a strand of golden hair and gently combed it behind her ear.

When a girl makes this gesture, she either appears gentle or elegant.

But when Erina made this gesture, she exuded an indescribable arrogance.

Lin Yu frowned. "Do you always have to be so rude? Or is it that you can't speak properly unless you're being sarcastic?"

Erina Nakiri gave a disdainful smile. "I am a person standing on clouds; do you think I need to consider the feelings of a bunch of small fry beneath my feet when I speak?"

"If you're not convinced, then come and challenge me. I'm always ready, but I'm already prepared to laugh at you."

"Hehe, haha."

Lin Yu was so angry he laughed.

He realized something.

It turns out that people can actually laugh when they're extremely speechless.

Lin Yu slammed his hand on the control panel. "Just because I'm not showing my teeth doesn't mean I'm some kind of pushover! Bring it on!"

At the point where their eyes met, an invisible flame called "Battle Will" was burning fiercely.

"Tadokoro-kun, I'll be the head chef from now on, and you'll assist me."

"No! No!"

Behind Lin Yu, Tadokoro Megumi was huddled in a corner, trembling. "Nakiri-kun's eyes are so scary! She's right, Lin Yu-kun, I'm so clumsy, I'll definitely drag you down!"

"Tadokoro-kun, please stand up."

No matter how Lin Yu tried to persuade her, the thin girl kept shrinking back.

"Tasho!"

Lin Yu roared, and Tadokoro Megumi seemed to be startled and stood there stunned. Lin Yu simply reached out and forcibly pulled her up from her squatting position.

"Look at me."

"What?"

"You're watching me!"

Lin Yu cupped Tadokoro Megumi's face, forcing her to look him in the eye.

"To be honest, I could handle this lesson's topic on my own, and I wouldn't mind sharing my results with you."

"But what about next time? Didn't you say you'd be expelled if you got another E? I can help you this time, but what will you do next time if no one helps you?"

"If it really comes to that... I might as well just accept being expelled from school."

Megumi Tadokoro has given up on herself.

"Perhaps someone with my timid and clumsy personality is really not suited for an elite academy like Totsuki Academy..."

"What kind of elite academy is this!" Lin Yu interrupted her. "Don't scare yourself, okay?"

"Hey! I heard you!"

Erina Nakiri, who had been secretly watching from the side, voiced her dissatisfaction, knowing that she could always be proud of Totsuki.

"Just do your thing!"

Lin Yu was in a fit of anger and turned to glare at her.

Erina was speechless under Lin Yu's fierce glare. When she looked again, Lin Yu had already turned away. Frustrated, she imitated Lin Yu's earlier action and slammed her fist hard on the control panel.

But the metal workbench was so hard that Erina's eyes welled up with tears from the pain.

"Ouch~ That hurts!"

"Damn it, wait till I beat you, then I'll laugh at you."

Lin Yu also realized that his emotions were a bit off. He exhaled and forced himself to calm down.

"Tadokoro-kun, I don't know why you came to Totsuki Academy, but now that you're here, how can you accept being expelled?"

"I heard Isshiki-senpai say that the entrance exams at Totsuki High School have an incredibly high dropout rate for every grade. The fact that you were able to smoothly transition from junior high to senior high—doesn't that prove your ability?"

"But I... but I was the last one to be promoted, which is no different from being eliminated."

"I......"

Lin Yu was so angry he laughed again.

"Okay, I'll ask you another question."

Lin Yu pointed to himself, "Tadokoro-kun, what do you think of my skills?"

"Lin Yujun? Of course, he's extremely powerful!"

"I also tried the pan-fried mackerel with white sauce that Lin Yujun made this morning. Both the texture of the fish and the seasoning of the sauce were absolutely divine!"

Megumi Tadokoro recalled with a look of rapture, "Even though the sauce was so rich, the fish felt as light as a cloud."

"Tasting Lin Yujun's cooking is like being immersed in seawater, cool and comfortable. Lin Yujun is the most amazing chef I have ever seen."

Lin Yu smiled.

"In that case, Tadokoro-kun, please trust me, okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"You don't believe in yourself, you think you're clumsy, no problem, then you'll follow my instructions completely."

"You don't need to have your own ideas; you're just my second pair of hands."

"You're a good girl, and I believe you'll do very well."

Lin Yu gently placed his palm on Tadokoro Megumi's head and stroked the girl's hair.

Tadokoro Eitoku calmed down, and the touch on her head made her feel a sense of security she had never felt before.

"As long as you're willing to give yourself completely to me, I'll guide you through this lesson, and by the way..."

Lin Yu pointed behind him without turning his head.

"How about I help you defeat that arrogant young lady?"

Looking into Lin Yu's eyes, Tadokoro Megumi felt as if a warm ray of sunshine had entered the depths of her heart, dispelling the darkness that had been suppressing her.

This was the first time someone had told her, "I believe you will do very well."

"Um!"

Megumi Tadokoro nodded vigorously, tears welling up and sliding down her cheeks.

Lin Yu took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away her tears.

"Very good, now for the first order: go wash your hands."

"Yes, Chef!"