Food Wars!: Delicious Food of the Heavens

It was early morning, before the sky was fully bright.

Lin Yu had a headache from last night's hangover. He went downstairs to get some water but found the kitchen light was on.

"Aunt Fumio?"

Lin Yu walked into the kitchen and found Isshiki Satoshi standing there, dressed neatly, seemingly having been there for quite some time.

"Isshiki-senpai? What are you doing standing here so early in the morning?"

"Actually, I've been waiting for you, Lin Yujun."

"wait for me?"

"Yes, I'll wait for you. After all, I can't possibly ignore what you said last night."

Isshiki Satoshi stepped back a few steps, and Lin Yu followed his movements to see that the stove was piled with all kinds of ingredients.

"Lin Yujun, these are the ingredients I bought this morning."

"Last night, after returning to my room, I thought about it all night, but I still couldn't convince myself."

"I'm so curious about your cooking, so could you satisfy my curiosity?"

Lin Yu raised an eyebrow. "Is this considered a competition?"

"No, just treat it as a request from your senior."

Satoshi Isshiki stroked each ingredient in turn. "In my opinion, a good chef's dishes will definitely bear the chef's own mark. By tasting a chef's food, you can often feel many things that are invisible to the naked eye."

"So, Lin Yujun, consider it a favor I owe you. Let me see your cooking."

"Why should I agree...?"

"Don't rush to refuse, Lin Yujun."

Isshiki Satoshi suddenly interrupted Lin Yu.

"Let me reintroduce myself. I am Isshiki Satoshi, the seventh seat of the Elite Ten!"

"Lin Yujun, didn't you say you were someone who hated trouble?"

"In Totsuki, the Elite Ten hold the highest status, and the favor of an Elite Ten member can help you solve a lot of trouble."

"So? Are you going to say yes?"

After a night's rest, Lin Yu was in much better shape. Looking at Isshiki Satoshi's eyes, he felt less resistant and even a little eager to try.

Moreover, he had to admit that Isshiki Satoshi was right.

At Totsuki Academy, a favor from one of the Elite Ten is truly invaluable.

"Okay, I agree."

"After all, if I don't agree, I'll probably be harassed by that weirdo senior with an exhibitionist fetish forever."

"That's such an outrageous comment!"

Lin Qi washed his hands clean, stood in front of the control panel, took a deep breath, rolled up his sleeves, and his demeanor suddenly changed.

Satoshi Isshiki, standing behind her, looked surprised.

Compared to the lazy, sleepy cat from before, Lin Yujun now looks like a tiger on the hunt!

The "God of Cookery Recipes" was opened, and countless recipes fluttered past Lin Qi's eyes. He stretched out two fingers and picked out one of them.

Salmon in white sauce

[Source: Porco Rosso]

Ingredient: Salmon

[Grade: One Star]

"bring it on!"

The walls of Polaris Lodge turned to dust before his eyes, and the forest surrounding Polaris Lodge vanished, transforming into a vast sea with a quiet little town on its shore.

In the distant horizon where the sea meets the sky, a red airplane cuts through the clouds and slowly flies towards the small town.

At this moment, Lin Yu was strolling on the beach, and amidst the sounds of waves and seagulls, he entered a small seaside restaurant.

Before Lin Yu could speak, a charming and beautiful woman came forward to greet him warmly, pulled out a seat for him, served him an aperitif, and lit the candles on the candlestick.

"Please enjoy your salmon in white sauce."

......

The original recipe called for salmon, but Satoshi Isshiki bought mackerel that they had used the night before.

Like salmon, mackerel has thick skin and is also suitable for pan-frying.

Heat a pan and add olive oil.

Marinate the mackerel fillets lightly with salt and pepper, then place them skin-side down in the oil pan.

The fish skin gradually developed charred marks under the heat of the oil, but Lin Yu did not flip it over. Instead, he kept scooping up hot oil with a spoon and pouring it over the fish.

The fish began to change color as hot oil was poured over it.

Lin Yu gently pressed the fish meat with a spoon, feeling its firmness, and showed a satisfied expression.

Using this method, even after the fish is fully cooked, the inside can still remain extremely tender and juicy.

The other pot wasn't idle either.

Lin Yu added butter, then added chopped onions, carrots, and leeks, slowly sautéing until fragrant. He then poured in a cup of white wine and continued to sauté.

As the aroma intensifies, Lin Yu adds fresh cream, simmering and stirring constantly to give the thick sauce a silky smooth texture, while also adding spices for flavor.

Lin Yu kept a close eye on the oil pan frying the fish. When the crispiness of the fish skin and the tenderness of the fish meat reached the perfect balance, Lin Yu quickly removed the fish meat.

The bottom of the plate is lined with boiled potatoes and carrots, then topped with pan-fried mackerel that is crispy and tempting, and finally drizzled with a creamy white sauce that has been simmered until smooth and thick.

"Pan-fried mackerel in white sauce, please enjoy."

When the serving bell rang, Lin Yu brought the dishes to Isshiki Satoshi.

Isshiki Satoshi inhaled the fragrance in the air, his eyes revealing an undisguised shock.

"This smell is amazing!"

Isshiki Satoshi gently placed a piece of fish, coated in thick sauce, into his mouth.

"Ah~"

The moment it enters your mouth, the crispy fish skin bursts with a powerful impact, and the aroma swirls around in your mouth, even making Isshiki Satoshi exclaim in surprise.

The tender and juicy fish meat presents a light and dreamy texture on Isshiki's tongue.

Isshiki Satoshi put the second piece of fish into his mouth, his expression becoming increasingly blissful.

Despite the delicate texture of the fish, when coated in the white sauce, the rich umami flavor washes over Isshiki Satoshi's taste buds like waves, again and again.

If the delicate texture of fish is like the white clouds in the sky, then the crispy and fragrant fish skin is like the solid coastline.

That thick, silky white sauce is like ocean waves, continuously releasing its umami flavor.

At this moment, Isshiki Satoshi stood between the sea and the sky, feeling as if his soul was about to escape from his body, carried away by the fresh waves and drifting into the distance!

"Gurgle—"

A strange noise startled Isshiki Satoshi from his dream.

Isshiki Satoshi looked in the direction of the sound and saw the members of the Polar Star Dormitory hunched over the kitchen door, swallowing hard and staring longingly at the plates in front of them.

That strange noise was someone's stomach protesting.

Isshiki Satoshi smiled. "Everyone got up really early today!"

"The aroma from the kitchen is wafting upstairs, how can I possibly sleep, Isshiki-senpai!"

"Isshiki-senpai, what new dish are you researching now? It looks delicious!"

Isshiki Satoshi explained, "I didn't make this. I went out this morning to buy the materials, and then Lin Yujun made it."

"Hey!"

The crowd gasped in surprise.

"Lin Yu, are you having a cooking showdown with Isshiki-senpai?" Soma Yukihira asked curiously.

"It's not really a duel."

Satoshi Isshiki explained, "I was simply curious about Lin Yujun's cooking skills and wanted to try what his dishes tasted like."

Yoshino Yuuki, whose mouth was already watering, was the first to jump out and ask, "How does it taste? Is it good?"

"Yuuki, you're probably not asking how I feel, but rather you want to eat it yourself."

"Hehe, I can't help it, it just smells so good. By the way, can I drink it?"

"Of course you can. Since you're roommates living under the same roof, it's quite necessary to get to know your roommates' abilities."

Isshiki Satoshi looked at Lin Yu and asked, "Is everything alright, Lin Yu-kun?"

Lin Yu waved his hand, "Please make yourself at home."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony!"

Yoshino Yuuki was the first to rush over, picked up a large piece of mackerel, dipped it in the rich sauce, and put it in her mouth. Then she stood there, stunned, her face full of blissful ecstasy.

"What is this? This is so wonderful!"

Upon seeing Yoshino Yuuki's appearance, everyone rushed forward, afraid that if they were even a second too slow, the fish would be snatched up by others.

"tasty!"

"The fish skin is crispy and fragrant, so satisfying!"

"The fish is so tender! It melts in your mouth with just a touch of your tongue."

"What a light and airy texture!"

"tasty!"

"This sauce is truly amazing!"

Amidst the gasps of amazement, Soma Yukihira's expression remained unusually grave, as if he had discovered something astonishing.

Yoshino Yuuki dipped the last piece of potato in sauce and put it in her mouth, letting out a satisfied sigh. Turning around, she noticed Yukihira Soma's expression.

"Yukihira-kun, what's wrong? You look strange."

"Actually, last night, senior student Iroha also made us a dish of Sichuan peppercorn roasted mackerel."

Soma Yukihira said uncertainly, "But this pan-fried mackerel in white sauce seems... even better than the dish that Isshiki-senpai made last night."

"What?!"

"Yukihira-kun, are you kidding me?"

"No! I'm not kidding."

The usually taciturn Ibuzaki Shun spoke up, "I also ate the dish that Isshiki-senpai made last night."

"Ibu-kun, could it be that Lin Yu-kun's dish is really even better than Isshiki-senpai's?"

Although it was somewhat unbelievable, Hayao Ibusaki nodded.

"Compared to the Sichuan peppercorn-roasted mackerel from last night, I think this pan-fried salmon in white sauce is much tastier."

"Lin Yu!"

Soma Yukihira looked at Lin Yu with excitement, "Doesn't this mean you're even better than Isshiki-senpai?!"

"That's awesome! Hahaha! That's awesome!"

For some unknown reason, Soma Yukihira let out a mesmerizing laugh.

"So I'm surrounded by such a formidable group of guys. Lin Yu, I challenge you!"

"You're dreaming."

Unable to bear Yukihira Soma's outrageous statement any longer, Lin Yu chose to interrupt him with a flick on the forehead.

"I don't know exactly how strong Isshiki-senpai is, but I'm sure that last night when he made that grilled mackerel, he didn't even use his full strength."

"Isshiki-senpai is one of the Elite Ten of Totsuki Academy, how could he possibly be at the same level as a freshman like you! Use your brain!"

"Aren't you a freshman too?"

Soma Yukihira rubbed his head and looked at Satoshi Isshiki. "Isshiki-senpai, is this true?"

Isshiki Satoshi nodded. "Yukihira-kun, you've only just joined Totsuki Academy, so you may not fully understand the meaning of the Elite Ten yet. You will understand in the future."

"Alright everyone, once you've finished eating, hurry back to your rooms to wash up. We have to attend the opening ceremony later."

"Oh no! I completely forgot, I need to go back and comb my hair."

The group left in a panic.

Isshiki Satoshi looked at Lin Yu and Yukihira Soma, "Yukihira-kun, Lin Yu-kun, as rare transfer students, you should be giving speeches on stage later. Have you prepared your speeches?"

"It doesn't matter."

Lin Qi resumed his languid posture, and his voice became weak and listless.

"I'm not planning to give a long speech; I'll just go up and say a couple of sentences."

"And what about Yukihira-kun?"

"Eh? I have to give a speech on stage? Then I'd better prepare properly."

Yukihira rubbed his nose. "After all, I've never been lucky enough to win awards since I was little. This is a rare opportunity, so I'm determined to surprise everyone! Hehe!"

After saying that, Soma Yukihira ran back to his room with great enthusiasm, vowing to polish a speech that would surprise the entire school.

Watching the departing figure, Lin Yu shook his head. "I hope he wasn't frightened."

"Lin Yujun, this pan-fried mackerel in white sauce is delicious, thank you."

Lin Yu waved his hand, "You're welcome. After all, Senior Iroha promised to owe me a favor."

"Lin Yujun, may I ask you a question?"

"What?"

"You... you didn't use your full strength for this pan-fried mackerel in white sauce, did you?"

Isshiki Satoshi's face showed a thoughtful, savoring expression. "The sense of ease and leisure I tasted from the food must be genuine."

Lin Yu chuckled. "Otherwise what?"

"Isshiki-senpai isn't some kind of enemy I have a deep-seated grudge against, so why should I use my full strength? If I scare him, then it's my fault as a junior."

"That's a truly chilling statement..."

Isshiki Satoshi sighed and then left.

However, he left a message before he left.

"I'm very curious, Lin Yujun."

"What a sight it would be if one day, facing an enemy you must defeat, you were inspired to fight with 100% of your fighting spirit!"

Lin Yu stood there, pondering this question for a long time.

"Although I don't think that day will ever come, to be honest, I'm actually looking forward to it..."