Food Wars!: Delicious Food of the Heavens

Chapter 123 Food War Challenge

Kojiro Shinomiya raised his hand and pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose, a faint cold light reflecting off the back of the lenses.

"The finishing touch to this dish, 【French Nine Treasures Vegetable Jelly】, is that the sweet and fragrant flavors of the nine vegetables come together to create a harmonious taste."

"That's why this dish requires a high degree of freshness from the vegetables."

"At the same time, because different processing methods and cooking temperatures are required for nine kinds of vegetables, the cooking process is very complicated, which places very high demands on the chef's operating techniques and basic culinary skills."

"Did you think of that?"

In response to Lin Yu's question, Shinomiya Kojiro nodded nonchalantly. "I've got it!"

Lin Yu looked at Shinomiya Kojiro, his tone half puzzled and half complaining: "Since the dish itself is already very difficult, Chef Shinomiya, why did you artificially create difficulty?"

"And they used a method that involved deliberately mixing in inferior ingredients... which is really tasteless."

'

Shinomiya Kojiro chuckled lightly, "It's precisely because it's challenging enough that I specifically chose this recipe."

"Those idiots who lose their composure, whose judgment is clouded, and who can't even tell if vegetables are stale! And those slow-moving, incapable, and lukewarm types! They don't deserve to pass my test!"

"Why keep people like this around if they're not eliminated?"

Lin Yu's face was somewhat gloomy, and he lowered his voice: "Please forgive me for not being able to agree:"

'

"If you can't agree, then shut up! Why should I care about your agreement?" Lin Yu's repeated remarks finally made Shinomiya Kojiro impatient, and a surge of anger rose in his heart.

Kojiro Shinomiya patted his chest. "I'm the head chef! In this kitchen, what I say goes!"

"He's just a lowly handyman, yet he's talked back to me time and time again..."

"Kid, what do you think you're doing?!"

Just as Lin Yu was about to say something in response, he suddenly felt a pulling force on his arm.

Lin Yu looked back and saw Tadokoro Megumi reaching out and grabbing his sleeve.

Seeing Lin Yu turn his head to look at her, Tadokoro Megumi shook her head slightly.

"Listen up, you menial worker."

Kojiro Shinomiya pointed at Lin Yu, his face so dark it seemed like it could drip water. "If you dare to talk back to me, I'll use my authority as a professor to disqualify you and expel you!"

As Shinomiya Kojiro finished speaking, Lin Yu still maintained his indignant expression, but Tadokoro Megumi, who was standing to the side, was terrified.

"How could this be..."

'

Tadokoro Megumi suddenly felt extremely wronged for Lin Yu. She looked at Shinomiya Kojiro, mustered her courage, and said, "Chef Shinomiya, you clearly judged Lin Yu to have passed just now, how could you...?"

"

"Oh?"

Kojiro Shinomiya let out a soft laugh, a laugh tinged with coldness and a hint of disdain, as if he had heard some great joke.

"First!"

Kojiro Shinomiya held up one finger. "Even if I agreed just now, I can rescind my previous judgment now."

"second!"

Kojiro Shinomiya held up two fingers, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

"Did I say this kid was qualified? I don't recall saying anything like that."

"You!"

Upon hearing Shinomiya Kojiro's words, Tadokoro Megumi froze on the spot, a deep sense of grievance welling up inside her.

"Chef Shinomiya, you clearly said that just now... but now you're saying this..."

'

"Isn't that going a bit too far?"

Faced with Tadokoro Megumi, who was almost crying from grievance, Shinomiya Kojiro remained unmoved, his aura still exuding that of aloof superiority.

"Ha, do I really need to repeat the kitchen rules now?"

"I'm the head chef, I'm in charge in the kitchen, and my word is law! Rules are meant to be followed, not challenged!"

"A bunch of handymen... The head chef is the heart of the kitchen! If everyone talks back to the head chef like you, how can the kitchen be managed? How can the restaurant operate like this?"

At this moment, Shinomiya Kojiro was exuding a terrifying aura, and his series of fierce shouts almost made Tadokoro Megumi cry.

"Chef Shinomiya...you! That's going way too far!"

But Kojiro Shinomiya didn't think his words were excessive at all, and just snorted coldly.

"Little brat, remember this: the kitchen is the battlefield!"

"The only real thing on the battlefield is the brutal killing! There's no room for sentimentality here!"

"You're still very inexperienced in this area!"

After venting his emotions on Tadokoro Megumi, Shinomiya Kojiro turned to Lin Yu and said mockingly, "Because you recklessly showed off, you lost the hard-earned qualification spot... I wonder what you think about that?"

"How about it, kid? Still want to show off in the future?"

Lin Yu stared intently at Shinomiya Kojiro, gritting his teeth as he spat out, "Chef Shinomiya, you really are... fucking despicable!"

Seemingly taken aback by Lin Yu's words, Shinomiya Kojiro's expression changed. "What did you say?!"

"Didn't you hear me?"

Lin Yu chuckled a few times, took a few steps forward, almost bumping into Shinomiya Kojiro, his calm expression masking a raging fire of anger.

"No wonder... I suppose the reason you've always been so arrogant is because you've been hard of hearing since childhood, so you've never heard anyone say that you're annoying, right?"

Kojiro Shinomiya shuddered. "You brat, I'll teach you a lesson..."

'

"Lin Yujun!"

With a loud shout, Tadokoro Megumi threw herself into Lin Yu's arms, hugging him tightly and pushing him back several steps.

Lin Yu looked at the trembling girl in his arms, "Xiao Hui?"

"Lin Yujun, no!"

Tadokoro Megumi looked up at Lin Yu, shook her head, and her eyes were full of tears.

"Please, no! Please..." Tadokoro Megumi pleaded humbly, nestled in Lin Yu's arms.

"Xiao Hui, what are you saying..." Lin Yu frowned, "Isn't this the right time to say things like this?"

"No, I can't let Lin Yujun drop out of school with me."

Tadokoro Megumi wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, managing only a weak smile despite her best efforts. "It's okay, Lin Yu-jun, I'm alright now..."

Tadokoro Megumi released Lin Yu and turned to look at Shinomiya Kojiro.

"Chef Shinomiya, I can accept expulsion, but please don't revoke Lin Yujun's passing grade!"

Tadokoro Megumi bowed deeply to Shinomiya Kojiro, humbly pleading, "Please!"

But looking at the girl in front of him who had buried her upper body deep in her arms, Shinomiya Kojiro pondered for a few seconds and did not answer Tadokoro directly.

Hui's words.

Looking at Lin Yu, who dared to look directly at him and rebuke him, and Tadokoro Megumi, who dared not get up at this moment, Shinomiya Kojiro revealed an interesting expression, and an idea formed in his mind.

"Your name is Tadokoro Megumi, right?"

"Alright, I can give you a chance."

"Really?"

Megumi Tadokoro straightened up, tears of joy streaming down her face, and bowed deeply to Kojiro Shinomiya, saying, "Chef Shinomiya, thank you so much!"

But looking at Shinomiya Kojiro's eerie smile, Lin Yu had a bad feeling.

"Don't thank me yet, let me finish."

"Okay, go ahead!"

"Although my original words were 'no assistance allowed,' it now seems that you are the one receiving assistance."

Kojiro Shinomiya's words had an eerie quality to them.

"In a way, you've stepped on the edge of the rules."

Whether it's against the rules or not is entirely up to me, as the mentor.

Do you know what I mean?

As Shinomiya Kojiro said this, a strange light flickered in his eyes, as if he had no recollection of the two students he had kicked out of the classroom at the beginning of the lesson.

Hearing Kojiro Shinomiya's seemingly meaningful words, Megumi Tadokoro felt a sense of foreboding. "Excuse me, Chef Shinomiya, what do you mean?"

"It's very simple!"

Kojiro Shinomiya spread his hands and smiled.

"Tadokoro Megumi, tell me, who provided you with that half-cauliflower?"

Kojiro Shinomiya's voice was light and airy, yet full of allure, "If you can identify that person, I'll let you pass the assignment, if?"

Tadokoro Megumi swallowed nervously, her voice trembling as she asked, "Then...where is that person?"

"Of course, I'd drop out!"

Kojiro Shinomiya pushed up his glasses and said with an air of matter-of-fact composure.

"How is it?"

Kojiro Shinomiya whispered enticingly to Megumi Tadokoro, "Sacrifice an unrelated outsider in exchange for your own survival and victory."

"This is a very good deal, isn't it?"

Kojiro Shinomiya looked at Megumi Tadokoro and, as he spoke, subconsciously pushed up his glasses again, revealing his signature, cruel smile.

"Tadokoro Megumi, what's your answer?"

Feeling the cold light emanating from behind Kojiro Shinomiya's glasses, Megumi Tadokoro felt a stinging sensation all over her body.

No! I absolutely cannot betray Lin Yujun!

He deserves this qualified spot; he's more talented than me, and he should stick with this path!

If it were Lin Yujun... she would definitely be able to reach places I could never reach, right?

So, I'm sorry, Lin Yujun, I have to say goodbye to you here...

Please apologize to everyone in Polaris Dormitory for me. We all promised to stay together...

Waaah, Lin Yujun, take care!

Memories drifted through Tadokoro Megumi's mind like autumn leaves, only to be carried away by the wind.

After a long silence, Tadokoro Megumi let out a long sigh, shook her head firmly, and said tremblingly, "Chef Shinomiya, I...I don't know what you're talking about."

'

For this usually gentle girl, those words almost drained all her strength and courage.

"Eh~~"

"What a hassle!"

Kojiro Shinomiya sighed, clearly displeased that things had not turned out as he had expected.

"In that case, Megumi Tadokoro, I hereby declare that you have failed this assignment."

"You're expelled!"

Even though Tadokoro Megumi had anticipated it, the two short words "drop out of school" struck her like a bolt from the blue, almost shattering her soul.

Is this how it ends...?

Seeing the distraught Tadokoro Megumi, Lin Yu's heart tightened.

"Damn it!"

Lin Yu cursed inwardly. He knew that he couldn't possibly stand by and watch Tadokoro Megumi so distraught!

Lin Yu looked at Shinomiya Kojiro's departing figure, gritted his teeth, and rushed over.

"Chef Shinomiya, please wait a moment, I have one last thing to say."

Upon hearing the sound, Shinomiya Kojiro turned around with a rather amused expression.

"Oh, Lin Yu? Do you have any other complaints?"

"Or perhaps you're thinking of pleading for that slow-paced, stupid girl?"

Lin Yu shook his head, took a deep breath, and tried to control his tone.

"It's less of a complaint and more of a problem, and I hope Chef Shinomiya can enlighten me."

Shinomiya Kojiro yawned, then nodded. "Alright, I'm all ears."

Lin Yu stared directly at the nonchalant Shinomiya Kojiro, his voice steady without a single tremor.

"Chef Shinomiya, I'd like to ask you a question. Does Totsuki Academy's rule still apply to students who have already graduated?"

Shinomiya Kojiro was taken aback. "What do you mean?!"

The next second, a thought that Shinomiya Kojiro couldn't believe arose in his mind.

"Food Wars!"

Lin Yu gave the final answer.

"If I beat you in the food battle, then Chef Shinomiya, please rescind Megumi's decision to drop out of school!"

Upon hearing Lin Yu's words, Shinomiya Kojiro stood frozen in place for a long time before finally recovering. A nostalgic expression appeared on his face, and he said in a very emotional tone, "Food Wars?"

"Ah, those are truly nostalgic words~"

Kojiro Shinomiya pushed up his glasses.

"Indeed, there are precedents for food battles with non-students. But... I remember that food battles require mutual consent, right?"

Shinomiya Kojiro looked at Lin Yu, a smile curving his lips.

"So, here's the question, Lin Yu: why did I agree to have a food battle with you?"

Lin Yu clenched his fists immediately.

"Hahaha!"

Seeing the change in Lin Yu's expression, Shinomiya Kojiro burst into unrestrained laughter.

"Lin Yu, I know you probably spent a long time preparing before you mustered the courage to come up with this ridiculous plan."

"But I'm sorry!" Kojiro Shinomiya's face was full of a smug, mocking grin.

"I have absolutely no interest in a food battle with a first-year student, so I don't intend to accept your food battle challenge."

"No matter what you do, Tadokoro Megumi's decision to drop out of school is a done deal."

"In fact."

'

Kojiro Shinomiya pointed a finger at Lin Yu's chest and tapped it a few times, adopting a condescending posture as he said to Lin Yu, "Don't forget, kid!"

"The fact that you're standing here talking to me, instead of being eliminated, is already because someone pleaded for you!"

Shinomiya Kojiro's gaze was like a knife, and he let out a hoarse growl: "I advise you, don't be ungrateful!"

Kojiro Shinomiya pressed his finger firmly against Lin Yu's chest.

But Lin Yu stood ramrod straight, his body not flinching in the slightest, his resolute gaze not wavering even a little, staring straight at Shinomiya Kojiro with a deep look, as if trying to see through the man in front of him through those glasses.

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