I said you are all war criminals

"So there's a music store outside Shimokitazawa..."

"Welcome!" A middle-aged man with an afro poked his head out from behind the counter and greeted them warmly, "What are you three looking for?"

"We want to see the bass effects pedal!" Hong Xia said impatiently.

"No problem, come with me." The uncle said with a smile, and took the three of them to a shelf filled with various effects pedals.

Next, it was Hong Xia's turn to perform. Like a child, she excitedly circled the shelves, picking up various effects pedals to study.

Bai Ye looked at the excited Hong Xia and couldn't help but smile fondly. It seemed that the content of the simulation didn't hurt her too much. Then he would find another time to simulate it.

Finally, after trying countless effects pedals, Hongxia finally chose a classic bass effects pedal set for Baiye.

"This effects pedal has a great tone and comprehensive functions. It can definitely meet your needs!" Hong Xia said confidently.

"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you." Bai Ye said with a smile. He knew nothing about these devices, just like his understanding of mechanical keyboards in his previous life - as long as it can be used, it's fine.

"Next is the keyboard!" Hong Xia turned her gaze to Xiangzi again, "Even though you said you already have equipment, I still want to see if there is anything more suitable for you!"

Xiangzi originally wanted to refuse, but when he saw Hongxia's eyes full of expectation, he finally nodded.

"I'll pay for it. I have saved some money." Hong Xia walked in front and said this proactively.

"What are you talking about? Xiangzi is my band member, so of course I should pay." Bai Ye took Xiangzi's hand and walked towards the keyboard area.

Xiangzi was slightly stunned and subconsciously tried to break free, but Bai Ye's hand held her tightly like an iron clamp, almost dragging Xiangzi over.

Arriving at the keyboard area, Xiangzi's eyes swept over the dazzling array of keyboards, and finally stopped at an electronic piano with a simple design and relatively affordable price.

"Let's take this one." Xiangzi said, pointing to the electronic keyboard.

"Eh? Isn't this one a bit too ordinary?" Hong Xia was a little surprised. "Would you like to take a look at something else? There are many more powerful ones here..."

"No, this one is fine." Xiangzi shook his head, his tone firm, "It's enough. There's no need to pursue too many fancy functions."

"Xiangzi, you are not trying to save money for me, are you?" Bai Ye saw through Xiangzi's thoughts at a glance.

Xiangzi didn't say anything, but just turned his head slightly.

Obviously, this is the case.

Hakuno sighed slightly. It seemed that Xiangzi still had a lot of self-esteem...

"How about this, Xiangzi, please pick out a keyboard for the 'future keyboardist'. The instruments my band members want to use don't necessarily have to be the most expensive, but they must be the best - I hope you can help me find the best keyboard, okay?"

Hakuno rephrased his words.

Xiangzi's eyes flashed for a moment. She knew that Bai Ye's words were just an excuse, but these words also well protected Xiangzi's self-esteem which did not want to be given charity.

Her gaze moved quietly and fell upon a fairly expensive keyboard.

"Then let's go with this one." Xiangzi seemed to have made a great decision, with a barely perceptible tremor in his tone.

Hakuno smiled and said nothing more, calling the clerk over to pay with a card. Seeing Xiangzi holding the keyboard, his face showing an unconcealable joy, Hakuno also felt happy.

In fact, he is a very simple person, a good man who is happy for others.

The three of them walked out of the music store and were immediately attracted by a burst of noise.

"There's a food battle over there, come and see!"

The crowd surged like a tide and ran towards the direction where the sound came from.

"...Shokugeki?" Hongxia repeated the word curiously. She felt like she was hearing this term for the first time.

In contrast, Xiangzi's eyes suddenly lit up.

"There's a food battle here! Let's go check it out!"

She took the initiative to take a step forward, seemingly without considering whether Bai Ye and Hong Xia would follow.

Hongxia and Baiye looked at each other and both took a step forward.

What is this "food battle" all about?

PS: If this week's click list can enter the top five, I will add two more chapters

Chapter 50: Encountering Food Wars

Food Wars.

This is a traditional cooking competition designed to resolve disputes between chefs. The competition requires: 1. A notary public who can certify that this is a formal competition; 2. An odd number of referees; 3. Competition conditions that must be agreed upon by both parties.

As long as the above three points are met, both parties in the competition shall not have any complaints about the results of the competition.

"...This doesn't seem like a law that would appear in Japan."

Hong Xia, who had just done some research on her phone, couldn't help but complain.

She flipped through her memories and found that there seemed to be such a thing as food battles... However, in her future memories, food battles disappeared without a trace.

It's understandable. After all, this is a trick chefs use to boost their reputation, and there won't be many chefs left in the future.

"I don't know these things either, but it seems that Xiangzi knows a lot about them." Bai Ye followed Xiangzi and walked all the way over.

The crowd was bustling like a pot of boiling dumplings. Bai Ye walked to the front and forced the two girls into the inner circle. Suddenly, the scene opened up. A makeshift competition stage made of white cloth stood in front of him. On both sides were various kitchen utensils and fresh ingredients. It looked like a fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered, waiting for the chef's "favor".

Two chefs were busy at their respective chopping boards. One was a little older, around fifty years old, with his gray hair combed meticulously. His chef's uniform was spotless and without a wrinkle. His every move revealed the rigor of an old-school craftsman. The other was much younger, only in his early twenties. He was dressed fashionably, with a flamboyant red hair that was particularly eye-catching. He had a somewhat rebellious smile on his face, and his movements in handling the ingredients were smooth and fluid, with the courage of a newborn calf that is not afraid of a tiger.

"This old man is the head chef at Kashiwa-ya. I heard that everyone who has eaten his kaiseki cuisine says it gives you a taste of life's full flavors!"

"That red-haired boy is no ordinary guy either. I heard he's one of the Ten Greatest Ones of Totsuki!"

Hakuno narrowed his eyes as the surrounding discussions reached his ears. This red-haired man was not Soma Yukihira... He wondered if he was a character who didn't appear in the original work, or if this world didn't have the original plot?

Well, let’s go back and investigate.

Before yesterday, Hakuno was certain that there was no Totsuki in the world, and no Shokugeki Shokugeki either... It seemed that the simulator's worldview was accurately reflected.

But let’s watch the game first.

The theme of the food battle is egg fried rice. This is really... down to earth.

Hakuno watched the two chefs. The older chef's movements were textbook-like, tossing the wok, stirring, and controlling the heat in one seamless motion, without a single wasted movement. The rice in the pot tumbled and danced under the intense heat, like golden waves, emitting an alluring aroma. The younger chef, on the other hand, had a completely different style. He whipped eggs into a fine foam, heated them with a blowtorch, and then added a variety of exotic spices, as if conducting some kind of chemistry experiment.

"Hakuno, Hakuno! Who do you think will win?" Xiangzi asked excitedly, her eyes sparkling like a kitten that had found a new toy. She seemed really interested in food battles, and this had already turned her back to her Hakuxiang form.

...No, if you like food battles so much, why don’t you be a chef instead of being a band girl?

"It's hard to say." Bai Ye stroked his chin, pretending to be inscrutable. "Although the old chefs have more solid basic skills, the creativity of young chefs should not be underestimated."

"Do you know anything about food battles?" Hong Xia asked, tilting her head.

"No, but it's generally like this. The old ones have solid basic skills, and the new ones prioritize creativity - how many times have you seen the other way around?"

As they were talking, the duel was over.

The two chefs stopped their work almost simultaneously. The old chef's egg fried rice was golden and fragrant, each grain distinct and shimmering in the light, as if each grain was imbued with the chef's passion. The young chef's egg fried rice, on the other hand, was a strange lavender, dotted with unknown spices, exuding a strange and indescribable fragrance, like some exotic incense or some strange potion.

"This...is this thing edible?" Hong Xia looked at the purple fried rice and couldn't help but frowning. An ominous premonition came to her heart.

"Of course!" Xiangzi's eyes sparkled. "Ah, this chef is so talented! I really want to..."

Bai Ye was also a little surprised. The color of the fried rice was indeed too strange, but he was more curious about the peculiar fragrance. It couldn't be said to be pleasant, nor could it be said to be unpleasant, but it was... very strange.

The three judges, all dressed in suits and ties, looked like successful people. They began to taste two servings of egg fried rice. They first tried the old chef's egg fried rice, closing their eyes and savoring it carefully, with expressions of enjoyment on their faces.

"The heat is controlled just right, and the aroma of rice and eggs blends perfectly. He is worthy of being the chef of a time-honored restaurant. This is real egg fried rice!" a judge exclaimed.

"It melts in your mouth and leaves a lasting aftertaste. It's simply the epitome of egg fried rice!" Another judge also praised it generously.

Then, they began to taste the young chef's purple egg fried rice. As soon as they took a bite, the three judges' faces became colorful.

"This, this, this...how can this be so delicious?"

The three judges looked at each other, disbelief written all over their faces.

"What...what's this smell?" One of the judges broke the silence first, his eyebrows knitted into a knot. "Why...why is there a..." He seemed to be struggling to find the right adjective, "a...strange fragrance exploding in my mouth?"

"Explosion?" another judge repeated in disbelief. "Explosion... that's the right word! It feels like my taste buds experienced a massive earthquake, and the aftershocks are still lingering."

The last judge, who looked the oldest, closed his eyes and savored the taste carefully. Finally, he said slowly, "It's like the embers left by a raging fire, yet with a hint of sweetness like a clear spring. It's truly... delicious!"

Hong Xia was stunned watching from the side. She couldn't believe her ears. This plate of purple fried rice, which looked like a dark dish, actually received such high praise from the judges. She couldn't help but secretly tug at Bai Ye's clothes and whispered, "Hey, Bai Ye, are you sure they're not acting? Is this really delicious?"

"Who knows." Hakuno shrugged. "Maybe it's just art, but I definitely won't eat it."

Xiangzi clapped his hands excitedly, wishing he could rush over and learn from the master right away: "Amazing! Amazing! This chef is a genius! I also want to make such delicious egg fried rice! I really want to try it!"

After a heated discussion, the three judges finally agreed that the young chef's purple fried rice was better.

"Congratulations, young man! Your creativity and courage are truly admirable," the older judge announced. "Your use of spices is truly masterful. This egg fried rice is the most extraordinary I've ever had!"

The young chef smiled generously. "Thank you, thank you all for your recognition, judges. Actually, I collected these spices from near the 'Golden God Water Vein' in India. They've been specially cultivated and processed, which is why the flavor is so special."

"Golden God Water Vein?" Upon hearing this word, Hong Xia's pupils suddenly shrank.

And on the food battle stage, the chef continued to talk.

"The so-called Golden God Water Vein is a special water vein discovered in India hundreds of years ago. Its source is a huge special metal. This metal affects the water quality, making it rich in minerals. The spices cultivated using this water vein also have a flavor that is different from ordinary spices."

Bai Ye quietly turned his head and looked at Hong Xia.

She bit her lips tightly, her face serious.

...Well, it seems the simulation needs some further preparation.

Hakuno thought happily, it seems that good things can happen when you come to Shibuya.

Chapter 51: New Life

Hongxia, out!

After learning about the Golden God Water Vein, Yidizhi Hongxia made a comment and flashed away. However, considering Xingge's condition wasn't good, she probably didn't flash directly to India.

After Ijichi Nikka disappeared, Hakuno and Shoko were the only ones left. Shoko unconsciously hugged the keyboard she'd bought, stole a glance at Hakuno, and sighed in relief when she realized he wasn't looking. She was a little afraid Hakuno would laugh at "Toyokawa Shoko, who loves shokugeki."

After the initial enthusiasm, Shoko is now somewhat shy about her interest. As the eldest daughter of the Toyokawa family, although she was very interested in shokugeki, she was not allowed to participate in such a menial job as "cooking"... After being kicked out of the house, she was busy with customer service and had little time to watch shokugeki.

It was today that she finally got to watch a food battle up close.

“…It’s wonderful.”

Xiangzi couldn't help talking to himself.

"Is it more beautiful than music?" Bai Ye asked.

Shoko was startled, realizing Hakuno had unknowingly moved closer. She quickly stepped back before saying, "Shokugeki is a hobby, but music is my... my job."

"So, you still prefer being a chef?"

Bai Ye broke into Xiangzi's private space without any boundaries. After Hong Xia's death, Xiangzi realized that Bai Ye really had no sense of boundaries.

“…This is my personal matter.”

Xiangzi said with a cold face.

Compared to Hakuno, Xiangzi hopes that Hongxia will stay, after all, they are girls of the same age... However, since he has already taken on the job of support keyboard player, Xiangzi will still complete it as perfectly as possible.

"We are members of the band, Wildfire. It's my job as the captain to know what the other members are thinking."

Hakuno didn't move closer, but took the initiative to walk over. "Oh, I'm hungry after watching that food battle. What do you want to eat?"

"I……"

As Xiangzi started to speak, Bai Ye raised his hand with his back to her and shook his arm.

"Let's go, I know a great ramen restaurant, I guarantee you'll like it." Hakuno walked forward on his own, not giving Xiangzi any chance to refuse.

Xiangzi looked at Bai Ye's back and felt a little dissatisfied. How could this person be like this? He didn't know how to respect other people's opinions at all!

Although she secretly complained, Xiangzi still followed him obediently. After all, she was just a hired keyboard player and didn't have the airs of a rich young lady.

Hakuno led Xiangzi out of the mall and, after a series of twists and turns, they arrived at a secluded alley. Deep in the alley, Xiangzi saw an unassuming ramen shop. The shop was small and poorly decorated, with only the sunny doll hanging at the door adding a touch of charm.

"This is it?" Xiangzi frowned and looked at the store suspiciously. "Are you sure you're not taking the wrong path?"

"Don't worry, don't you trust my judgment?" Hakuno said, pulling open the curtain of the ramen shop. "Boss, two bowls of our signature tonkotsu ramen, please!"

Xiangzi was stunned for a moment by the strong aroma in the store. She sat down opposite Baiye with some reluctance, but secretly looked forward to it.

As a girl who loves food battles, she doesn't have the same prejudice against "ramen" as other girls. If the ramen here is really good, then... when she has money, she can come and eat it too.