Food Wars!: Delicious Food of the Heavens

Chapter 124 The establishment of Shiji

Staring into Lin Yu's deep-set eyes, for some reason, Shinomiya Kojiro suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

What happened?

Am I just imagining things?!

Kojiro Shinomiya's breathing became erratic for a moment, which Lin Yu keenly noticed.

"Chef Shinomiya, are you scared?"

"hehe!"

Upon hearing Lin Yu's words, Shinomiya Kojiro let out a disdainful sneer, as if he had heard a joke.

"Kid, you don't actually think such a clumsy attempt to provoke me will work, do you?"

"You think I'm afraid of losing to you? What a joke!"

Lin Yu smiled and shook his head. "No! Chef Shinomiya, you're not afraid of me."

"You're afraid of... yourself!"

Kojiro Shinomiya frowned slightly and said, "Lin Yu, at a time like this, you don't expect to sway me with a bunch of nonsense, do you?"

"Regarding your beautiful hands, I can answer you very seriously." Wei Yu maintained a calm and composed expression. "Chef Shinomiya, I am not lying."

"joke!"

Kojiro Shinomiya's tone was somewhat urgent as he growled in a low voice, "What do you, a first-year student, have to be afraid of me?"

Lin Yu took a few steps forward, staring directly at Shinomiya Kojiro. "I told you, Chef Shinomiya, you're not afraid of me, you're afraid of yourself!"

At this moment, the two stood almost face to face. Lin Yu lowered his voice and said, "Chef Shinomiya, you actually know what I mean by what I'm saying!"

"Tch! Nonsense! Talking nonsense! Pretentious..."

'

Kojiro Shinomiya was still being stubborn, but even he didn't notice that his voice was inevitably trembling slightly as he spoke.

"Wow! Looks like I've stumbled upon a good show!"

A deep voice suddenly came from the classroom doorway.

Shinomiya Kojiro looked in the direction from which the sound came, his pupils shrinking sharply!

"Dojima-senpai!?"

Shinomiya Kojiro was both surprised and puzzled.

"Why are you here? Didn't you just call?"

'

"That's not the point!" Dojima Gin laughed heartily. "The point is, I saw something really interesting with you, Shinomiya!"

"Food battles are a very common event at Totsuki Academy, but it's unusual for current students to initiate a food battle against graduating students..."

'

Dojima Gin stroked his chin, his eyes filled with intense curiosity. "Just hearing about it sounds like a huge contrast! It's sure to be very interesting!"

"Tch! Don't misunderstand, Dojima-senpai." Shinomiya Kojiro pointed at Lin Yu with a displeased expression, "I..."

"I'm not prepared to accept this kid's food battle challenge!"

"Shinomiya, don't rush into a decision!"

Dojima Gin stepped forward and slapped Shinomiya Kojiro on the shoulder with such force that Shinomiya Kojiro winced in pain. "Things have developed into an interesting situation now, haven't they?"

Dojima Gin's gaze darted back and forth between Lin Yu and Shinomiya Kojiro, his eyes sparkling with interest and excitement.

He gently patted Lin Yu on the shoulder and chuckled, "Lin Yu, you've got guts! Daring to challenge Shinomiya to a food battle? I don't even know whether I should praise your youthful vigor..."

"Thank you for your compliment, Dojima-senpai."

Lin Yu patted his chest, a confident and smug smile on his face.

"But I'm young, after all. If I'm not hot-blooded, what kind of young person am I?"

"Haha! Well said!"

"Young people should be spirited! If they weren't, wouldn't they look like old men?"

Dojima Gin laughed heartily, clearly very satisfied with Lin Yu's answer and the attitude he displayed.

"In that case, shall I preside over this informal meal preparation?"

Upon hearing Dojima Gin's words, Shinomiya Kojiro was immediately confused. "Wait a minute! Dojima-senpai, I never agreed to a food battle with this brat, did I?"

Kojiro Shinomiya forcefully broke free of Gin Dojima's hand from his shoulder, protesting with displeasure.

Why should I get involved in this boring and childish farce?

"Oh? A boring farce?"

Dojima Gin turned to look at Shinomiya Kojiro, his gaze sharp as a knife, his eyes terrifying, and his entire body exuding a dreadful sense of oppression.

Kojiro Shinomiya felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively took two steps back.

"Shinomiya, say yes!" Dojima Gin said.

"Huh? Why....."

'

"The Four Palaces!"

Dojima Gin let out a low shout, his expression turning serious, and the oppressive aura emanating from him became even more terrifying, almost solidifying in the air.

I said... say yes!

Shinomiya Kojiro let out a guilty sigh, his voice lacking confidence: "Is this a request? Or an order?"

"It's both a request and a command; you can interpret it either way."

Dojima Gin withdrew the terrifying aura emanating from his body, but when he spoke, his calm tone still revealed an undeniable sense of authority.

"Furthermore, although the joint residential training program gives the instructors a great deal of autonomy, how could a first-year student dare to challenge a well-established graduate to a food battle?"

Dojima Gin gave a gentle smile. "Just for the sake of his courage, don't you think it wouldn't be a bad idea to give him a chance?"

"After all, even jade needs to be polished."

Although he had already somewhat compromised internally, Kojiro Shinomiya was still putting on a brave face verbally.

"No! I don't think so, not at all."

"As for his courage... what does that have to do with me?"

Looking at Shinomiya Kojiro, who was still stubbornly refusing to admit his mistake, Dojima Gin gave a somewhat helpless, bitter smile.

That guy Shinomiya... he's way too stubborn!

After thinking for a few seconds, he decided to use a rather unethical method.

Dojima Gin looked at Shinomiya Kojiro, "Furthermore, if you don't accept the challenge, aren't you afraid that rumors like 'Shinomiya Kojiro is afraid of food battles' will spread?"

Kojiro Shinomiya looked at Gin Dojima with suspicion, his face full of disbelief.

"Dojima-senpai, you...would do something so pointless? And how could anyone believe such a rumor?"

"Haha! Of course I wouldn't do something so boring."

Dojima Gin straightened his clothes, looked at Shinomiya Kojiro, and smiled slyly.

"But I think... if Hinako knew about this, given her personality, she would be very happy to see rumors about you spread everywhere, wouldn't she?"

"How did she know? Wait..."

'

Kojiro Shinomiya muttered something unconsciously, but then realized what he meant.

He looked at Dojima Gin, his brows furrowed, his gaze unfriendly.

"Senior Dojima, is this considered a threat?"

The so-called "Shinomiya Kojiro fears to engage in a food battle with a student".

If this news were to circulate naturally, even if someone overheard it by chance, it would most likely only spread among a small group of people, and very few people would believe it.

But if we include Hinako Inui....

If a mentor personally participates in spreading rumors, it's tantamount to endorsing the message.

As a mentor, would Hinako Inui really do something like personally spreading rumors?

Based on what Shinomiya Kojiro knows, other mentors might not be this boring, but Hinako Inui... who knows!

Do not!

It's not "maybe", it's "definitely"!

If given the chance, that annoying woman would be happy to spread rumors about me! To tarnish my image!

The thought of countless people gossiping about him behind his back in the coming days, in places he didn't know, sent a chill down Kojiro's spine.

"Senior Dojima!"

"You're so despicable!"

Shinomiya Kojiro stared intently at Dojima Gin, gritting his teeth as he said, "As the person in charge of this joint training camp, how could you resort to such underhanded methods!"

"Hey! Stop! Stop!"

Dojima Gin immediately put on a wronged look, "Shinomiya, how could you say that to me? I already said, this is something only Hinako would do!"

Despite saying that, Dojima Gin didn't seem to have any intention of hiding the mischievous smile on his face.

Isn't that obvious?

If you don't tell Hinako, she won't know about this. So what are you going to use to spread rumors?

Take her empty head!

"Ugh, so annoying!"

"What a hassle!"

Feeling increasingly frustrated and powerless, Shinomiya Kojiro let out a roar, pressed his hands to his head, and irritably ruffled his carefully styled hair.

Finally, resigned to his fate, Shinomiya Kojiro looked up to the sky and sighed.

"Okay, I get it! I just can't do anything with you."

Shinomiya Kojiro looked at Lin Yu, his tone unfriendly, his expression still arrogant.

"Let's get this straight, kid."

"The reason I accepted your food battle challenge was simply because I couldn't resist Dojima-senpai's stubbornness; it doesn't mean my opinion of you has changed in any way."

Shinomiya Kojiro stared fiercely at Lin Yu.

"If you win, I agree to overturn the decision to expel Tadokoro Megumi from school."

"But if you lose, you and she get out of here!"

"Even if Dojima-senpai pleads for you, it won't save you, understand, kid!"

"Bang!"

Shinomiya Kojiro uttered harsh words, slammed the door, and left.

"Haha, it seems both sides have agreed."

"Then I declare: The Food Wars are here!"

Watching Shinomiya Kojiro slam the door and leave, Dojima Gin wasn't annoyed at all, and instead looked at Lin Yu with a smile.

"Lin Yu, may I make one small request regarding this food battle?"

Lin Yu nodded. "Please go ahead!"

After hesitating for a few seconds, Dojima Gin finally spoke slowly: "I hope that Tadokoro Megumi will be the one to participate in this food battle."

Lin Yu was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this. "What's the reason?"

"Isn't the reason obvious?"

"This food battle wasn't supposed to happen... I forced it into becoming a reality!"

Dojima Gin looked solemnly at Lin Yu, then at Tadokoro Megumi behind Lin Yu, and said in a low voice with deep concern, "Lin Yu, if Tadokoro Megumi relies on your victory today, she might be able to survive for the time being."

"But what's the point?"

"As long as her gentle nature doesn't change, it's only a matter of time before she's eliminated in the next round, or the round after that, isn't it?"

"You're not a god! You can't possibly help her every time, can you?"

"You can't possibly challenge the instructor to a food battle every time, can you?"

Hearing Dojima Gin's words, Lin Yu remained silent for a while, and finally shook his head.

"You see, you clearly knew..."

'

Dojima Gin continued to persuade him earnestly.

"At Totsuki Academy, the most brutal competition is the defining characteristic of this academy."

"If you want to stay here, you have to prove your worth."

"Only I can decide whether or not I can stay in Totsuki!"

Dojima Gin looked at Lin Yu, put a hand on his shoulder, and pressed it firmly.

"After all that I've said, do you understand now?"

Lin Yu sighed. He knew Dojima Gin had a point, but...

Lin Yu turned around and looked at Tadokoro Megumi, who was hiding behind him.

"Lin Yu-jun...it's alright, Senior Dojima...you're right..."

Tadokoro Megumi tried her best to give Lin Yu a smile.

Beneath her gentle smile lay the girl's inner fear and unease.

Standing behind Lin Yu and listening in, Tadokoro Megumi witnessed Lin Yu taking the initiative to challenge Shinomiya Kojiro to a food battle for her sake, and also heard Dojima Gin's earnest advice.

Of course, she also knew that if she didn't change her weak personality and the fact that her mind would go blank when she was nervous, even if she survived this time, she would be ruthlessly eliminated sooner or later in the fiercely competitive Totsuki.

Despite knowing this, when it came time for her to step forward, Tadokoro Megumi still felt uncontrollably panicked, her breathing became rapid, and even her vision began to blur.

What should I do?

That's Shinomiya-senpai!

I... I'm the kind of person who could never do that, right?

Am I really going to have to drop out of school today?

But I'll really miss everyone...

Yuuki, Ryoko, and everyone from Polar Star Dormitory...

And... Lin Yujun...

Goodbye!

"Xiao Hui!"

A gentle voice rang in her ear, and warm, moist breath brushed against her earlobe, making Tadokoro Megumi tremble involuntarily.

Tadokoro Megumi opened her eyes and looked at the face so close to hers.

A warm smile, like sunshine, graced his handsome face.

"Don't worry! I'm here!"

The voice in my ear was gentle, like a spring breeze on my face, carrying a reassuring power.

Unbeknownst to her, Tadokoro Megumi had actually calmed down.

Lin Yu tidied Tadokoro Megumi's hair behind her ear, nodded to her, and then turned to look at Dojima Gin with a firm gaze.

"I'm sorry, Dojima-senpai... I refuse!"

Dojima Gin wasn't annoyed or angry; he simply shrugged, seemingly expecting Lin Yu's answer.

"Why? What's the reason?"

"First, it's myself."

Lin Yu slowly revealed his inner thoughts.

"Chef Shinomiya's actions today really annoyed me. If I don't teach him a lesson myself, I'm afraid this anger will linger in my heart and never dissipate."

"In other words, I won't be at peace unless I defeat him myself!"

Dojima Gin raised an eyebrow, revealing an expression of interest, with undisguised admiration and approval in his eyes.

"Oh? Such a confident statement! Or rather... heh, arrogant?"