The strongest anime shop owner

"It's nothing," Erina shook her head and said. Knowing her personality, she wouldn't tell anyone about something so embarrassing! Although it's possible that others already know about it, since more than one person overheard Su Luo saying it.

"By the way, Hisako, what has Mito been up to lately?" Erina asked Hisako, feeling much better.

“Isn’t Lady Erina planning an expansion? That’s why Mito went to acquire land recently,” Hisako said.

"Oh! Then call her over here, I have something to tell her," Erina said after thinking for a moment.

"Oh! Okay, I'll go right away." Hisako replied and went out.

Time always flies, and a new day soon arrived. After breakfast, everyone went about their own business. Tadokoro and Soma stood together at the bulletin board, looking at the information posted there. Naturally, Su Luo, who was just passing by, also came along. Of course, Sakaki Ryoko followed behind her, seemingly already clinging to Su Luo and impossible to get rid of, so they just let her be.

"A research association?" Soma asked, puzzled.

“Well, there are many research clubs in Totsuki Academy that study different dishes. After school, everyone gets together to develop new dishes and participate in cooking competitions outside the academy... It’s similar to club activities in regular schools!” When he said this, Tadokoro paused and said, “I joined the Local Cuisine Research Club.”

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Chapter Sixty: Rice Bowl Research Society

"Oh!" After hearing Tadokoro's explanation, Soma immediately understood. Looking at the flyers in front of him, he suddenly noticed something and said, "Huh? There's even a Sumo Hot Pot Research Club here?"

"It's that research group I defeated with a food battle. If you want to go, I think you should forget it. With your physique, it's probably impossible for you." At this moment, Su Luo spoke up from the side. Originally, Su Luo didn't want to come. To hell with clinging to the protagonist's coattails!

Unfortunately, the mission was issued again: "Mission: Intervene. Next, the Soma Society will protect the Rice Bowl Research Club. Please make sure to intervene in the three-person battle and win. This mission is a bit special (incomplete)."

Task Reward: One Special Lottery Draw

Su Luo couldn't help but complain about this setup. Seriously, is this mission really that special? It's just two missions combined together! Do you really think I'm stupid? Can't you even see that?

However, Su Luo was very excited about this reward.

Actually, Su Luo really wanted to complain about these tasks: 'System, why do you always steal the protagonist's monsters? How are the protagonists supposed to survive if you keep stealing their monsters?'

"Oh!" Soma looked at his physique and seemed to understand something. Then he continued to look at the brochures on the bulletin board. Soon, a brochure for the Gaijiao Research Association caught Su Luo's attention.

Moreover, Soma stroked his chin, remembering that he was currently researching rice bowls, so he decided to go and take a look.

At this moment, QQ's voice rang out again: "Task: Join a research club. Is a high school student who hasn't joined a research club even considered a high school student? Hurry up and join a research club you like! Of course, as someone with lofty ambitions, you can also create your own research club (incomplete)."

Task Reward: 10 points

Seeing Su Luo staring blankly at the contents, Sakaki Ryoko assumed he didn't know which research group to join! So she squatted down and said, "Little brother, would you like to join my research group?"

What met her eyes was a vast expanse of white, and Su Luo's face instantly turned red. She turned her head away and said haughtily, "Whatever!"

Since someone offered her a timely help, Su Luo naturally agreed! It didn't matter which research society she joined anyway.

"That's great! From now on, you're mine!" Sakaki Ryoko excitedly hugged Su Luo, her soft breasts pressing against Su Luo's neck as she said with a grin.

Feeling those two soft mounds, Su Luo's already flushed face turned even redder. She couldn't take it anymore and immediately tried to push Sakaki Ryoko away, but no matter how she struggled, it seemed to be useless. She said angrily, "Quick... let me go!"

At this moment, the system's voice rang out: "Task: Join a research club. Is a high school student who hasn't joined a research club even considered a high school student? Hurry up and join a research club you like! Of course, as someone with lofty ambitions, you can also create your own research club. (Incomplete)"

Task Reward: 10 points

Su Luo was speechless at this task. "System, are you sure there were no programming errors or anything? Are you sure this task is done like this? It's way too easy! It's like it's being given away for free."

"Huh? Ryoko Sakaki, you actually have your own research club? You founded it yourself? Is that okay?" Soma, who had been planning to do something, asked curiously after hearing Ryoko Sakaki and Su Luo's conversation.

"Huh? Soma, don't you know? As long as you meet the criteria for establishment, you can establish a research society." Ryoko Sakaki looked at Soma with a puzzled expression and said.

"Oh! I see." Soma nodded, immediately understanding, and then said, "I'm planning to go check out the Kashiwagi Research Association, do you want to come?"

"Of course! There's plenty of time, isn't there?" Su Luo blurted out before anyone else could speak. What a joke! How could they complete the mission if they didn't come along?!

“Since my little brother has said so, let’s go take a look together.” Ryoko Sakaki naturally had no objection to this decision and agreed.

As for Tadokoro, seeing that everyone agreed, it would feel strange if she didn't go, so she had no choice but to agree as well.

The group quickly arrived at the location of the Gaijiao Research Association and went inside. The room was not very big, with some books scattered on the floor. A man sat listlessly in a chair with an exaggerated pompadour hairstyle.

Konishi Hiroichi

A second-year student at Totsuki Academy's high school division, and the captain of the Rice Bowl Research Club.

Konishi Hiroichi lowered his head and said dejectedly, "Sorry, please go back... The Rice Bowl Research Association has already..." He couldn't continue, his eyes dimmed, and he looked listless, like grass wilted by the sun.

Finally, he finished saying, "The company is already facing the fate of being shut down..."

Sigh~

"Su Luo, Tadokoro, Sakaki Ryoko, and Soma, is that right? I am the commander here." Out of politeness, Konishi Kanichi still said this.

"Are you alright, senior? You look so dejected." Tadokoro said, looking at Konishi Hiroichi's dejected appearance.

Konishi Kanichi was already in a bad mood, and when he saw them come, he thought they were there to laugh at him, so he said self-deprecatingly, "Hehehe...you can laugh all you want! Mock me for being someone who insists on eating rice with toppings..."

"Is this... a recipe book?" Tadokoro picked up a book from the ground, looked at it, and said uncertainly, "It looks like a recipe book that came up with by the Rice Bowl Research Association."

"Let me see." Seeing Tadokoro say this, everyone was curious and took a look.

After looking at this cookbook, everyone felt that every dish, from classic to light and simple, was a delightful surprise...

“Every kind of rice bowl is so interesting! Why did the Rice Bowl Research Club have to be disbanded?” Soma said, flipping through the book.

"You can understand... So you can understand... Soma!" Upon hearing Soma's words, Konishi Kanichi's previously drooping hair immediately stood up. He cried and laughed at the same time, excitedly grabbing Soma's shoulder and saying excitedly and proudly, "Rice bowls... always have a kind of refreshing beauty of being [quick, delicious, and cheap]. It's like condensing masculinity into a bowl. It's a manly dish for men to fight for. As a man... I won't die until I've perfected the art of rice bowls."

"I feel like this person is really amazing..." Tadokoro said cautiously.

"That's not right... isn't this a bit too much of a hot-blooded act?" Soma said.

"Damn! What the hell is going on?" Su Luo was speechless as she looked at the man who was acting like a madman, as if she had wandered into a mental hospital.

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Chapter Sixty-One: Mito Ikumi

"Damn it... my rice bowl research club... as long as Erina Nakiri isn't around..." Konishi Hiroshi said this with a deep sigh, clearly unwilling to accept it.

“Nakiri!?” Upon hearing this familiar name, Soma immediately thought of it.

At this point, Konishi Kanichi explained, "Nakiri's methods are like this... She proposes in meetings to cut the budgets of clubs she doesn't like, or to reduce the activity rooms of these clubs... and forces the proposal to pass. In the end, her increasingly desperate opponents can only pin their hopes on the Food Wars, which can turn the tide in an instant. While accepting the Food Wars, Nakiri adds some unreasonable conditions to make everything work in her favor, thus expanding her territory."

"After learning that their opponent was Nakiri's henchman... all the members of the Rice Bowl Research Club ran away..." As he said this, Konishi Kanichi's pompadour drooped again, and he spoke weakly.

"So... who exactly is your opponent?" Soma asked, arms crossed.

"That is..." Just as Koichi Konishi was about to speak, the sound of the door being pushed open rang out.

At this moment, many staff members entered from outside, and the leader was a young girl with wheat-colored skin, wearing a shirt tied in a knot at the chest and a plaid skirt.

Mito Ikumi, a first-year high school student.

After looking around, one of the staff members said to Mito Ikumi, "Indeed, it's faster to completely tear it down and rebuild than to renovate it."

With her hands on her hips, Mito Ikumi said, "Is that so? Then let's do it that way!"

"What...what are you doing! Mito!" Upon seeing this, Konishi Kanichi immediately shouted, his emotions running high.

"What for? Just checking out the construction site beforehand!" Mito Ikumi said matter-of-factly, adding as a final jab, "The result is obvious without even comparing them—"

Mito walked towards Konishi Hirokazu, who kept backing away until he leaned against the wall. Mito Ikumi slammed her fist into the wall, startling Konishi Hirokazu so much that cold sweat broke out on his forehead. She said provocatively, "If you're confident you can beat me, then that's a different story. What do you say, Commander?"

"No... hehehehehe..." After being told that by Mito Ikumi, Konishi Hiroshi immediately deflated and gave an awkward laugh.

"Tsk... What a spineless man. It's because of your character that your club members ran away." Looking at Konishi Kanichi's spineless appearance, Mito Ikumi curled her lip and casually made a sarcastic remark.

"You [Flesh Demon]..." Upon hearing Mito Ikumi's words, Konishi Kanichi's face immediately showed a furrowed brow as he gritted his teeth and said.

Just then, a flash of light appeared on the airplane's nose, and a section of hair was immediately cut off, which terrified Konishi Hiroshi so much that he broke out in a cold sweat.

Mito Ikumi held a kitchen knife in her hand, her eyes filled with murderous intent, and said in a menacing tone, "If you dare say that again, I'll dismantle you."

She absolutely hates it when people secretly call her "Meat Demon".

"Could she be the opponent?" everyone wondered.

Mito Ikumi – She is known as the "Meat Master" chef. Her grades in junior high school have always been among the top, especially in meat cooking classes. She has never received a grade other than "A", which shows that her skills are quite superb. Her expertise in meat is among the best in the school.

"Hey! You're getting in our way while we're investigating the scene. Can you leave? Come back in an hour!" Mito Ikumi said to Konishi Hirokazu, finding his presence in the way.

"What?" Upon hearing this, he knew things were going badly and immediately retorted, hoping to buy some time: "The outcome...the battle is not yet decided!"

"Didn't I already say the outcome was obvious?" Mito Ikumi waved her hand, looking arrogant.

Mito Ikumi pointed at Konishi Kanichi, as if it were all destined, and said, "No matter what kind of dish you make, you can never beat my super-grade meat!"

At this moment, Soma seemed unable to bear it any longer, so he walked up, put a hand on Konishi Kanichi's shoulder, and said seriously, "Senpai...can I take on this food battle?"

Mito Ikumi, holding a kitchen knife, didn't even look at the person who came and instinctively said, "...Who are you? If you're not a member, get out of my way..."

Just then, when Mito Ikumi saw who it was, she immediately recognized Soma and exclaimed in surprise, "You are... a transfer student!? The one from the ceremony..."

“I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a while!” As she said this, Mito Ikumi immediately revealed a meaningful smile. At the same time, she was surprised that someone would actually come out to help her, and said, “You actually want to help someone else in a food battle. It seems you are very confident in your abilities.”

“If possible, let’s have a showdown using meat, which you’re good at. I’ll win anyway.” Soma said without even thinking, whether he had real skill or was just an idiot.

"So, what if you lose..." Mito Ikumi narrowed her eyes, then countered, "Then you'll get out of Totsuki?"

Seeing that Soma remained silent, Mito Ikumi said provocatively, "If you don't even have this much courage, then go ahead and spout nonsense..."

“Okay! Let’s do it this way.” Soma agreed without even thinking. Of course, he wasn’t stupid either, and said, “Let me think… On the contrary, what if I win…”

"what?"

"You should join the Rice Bowl Research Club," Soma said, pointing to the spot.

"Huh?" Mito Ikumi felt like her brain had short-circuited for a moment, and she thought she had misheard!

"Huh?" The others didn't have time to react either.

"Joining the Rice Bowl Research Association is my way of contributing to the development of rice bowl culture. Consider it an apology for causing trouble for others." Soma explained as if it were the most natural thing in the world, looking serious and seemingly very confident.

"Do you really... think you can beat me?" Soma's confident attitude was utterly incomprehensible.

"Let's leave for today, everyone!" No matter what Soma said, Mito Ikumi was not afraid. Since this decision had been made, she decided not to deal with it for the time being and said to the staff.

"Then I'll give you a handicap on the question!" Since the other party had chosen ingredients that Mito Ikumi was best at, she naturally wouldn't try to gain an advantage in the question, so she said this to avoid feeling it was unfair.

"The main ingredient is meat... and the theme of the cooking is rice bowl!" Since he wanted to revive the Rice Bowl Research Club, Soma naturally chose rice bowl as the title.

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Chapter Sixty-Two: Intervening

"The start of the war will proceed as planned—three days from now." After saying this, Mito Ikumi walked towards the door. Suddenly, a glint flashed in her eyes, as if she had seen something. She stopped and turned around.

Seeing that Mito Ikumi had turned around again, I thought something was wrong. She walked towards Su Luo and said, "You must be Su Luo, the one Lady Erina mentioned!"