Food Wars, my food not only glows!

　Looking at the crystal-clear little cake in front of her, Momo Akane couldn't help but praise it. Then she used a spoon to scoop out a small piece of the edge and began to taste it.

　"tasty!"

　The next moment, the girl closed her eyes and began to savor the flavor with her tongue.

　The cake base is light and fluffy, with a subtle almond aroma and just the right amount of sweetness.

　The infusion of coffee syrup adds a rich coffee aroma to the cake, along with a hint of sweetness and liqueur, making the cake more layered.

　The rich, smooth chocolate sauce complements the aroma of the coffee syrup perfectly, adding a touch of rich chocolate flavor to the cake.

　Its delicate texture melts in your mouth, creating a striking contrast with the lightness of the cake base, allowing you to experience the richness and sweetness of the chocolate.

　The next layer of coffee buttercream is the essence of the entire cake. It combines the smoothness of butter with the rich aroma of coffee, resulting in a rich and delicate taste.

　With every bite, you can feel the creamy butter and the rich aroma of coffee intertwining in your mouth.

　The final layer of cocoa powder glaze gives the cake an enticing chocolate-black hue. Its subtle bitterness and cocoa aroma create a perfect balance with the cake's internal layers!

　"This is not only a first-class dessert, but also the best of the best. You have undoubtedly passed this test. A very good opera cake."

　After finishing the opera cake in front of her, Momo Akane opened her eyes and looked at Liu Yu with a hint of appreciation in her eyes.

　"May I go up to the second floor?"

　Liu Yu spoke up; she had come specifically to witness the top-tier level of Totsuki Culinary Arts' confectionery skills, of course, if...

　It would be even better if we could see the highest level.

　"Okay, come with me."

　Putting down the spoon in her hand, Akane Momo gave Liu Yu a deep look, and then led her and Huang Mei upstairs.

　Huang Mei passed her test last time and is now a member of the second level, but she hasn't come back since...

　Chapter 203 The Semifinals Begin, A Deadly Move Hidden in the Calm

　"Da da da."

　The sleek little leather shoes made a crisp sound as they stepped on the wooden floor. Liu Yu and Huang Mei, led by Qian Jiubo Momo, arrived on the second floor.

　The second floor is much smaller than the first floor. There are five cooking counters on it, with stoves, ovens, mixers and other equipment needed to make desserts. Various ingredients are piled up around it.

　At this moment, four people are making desserts at the kitchen counter. Judging from the sweet aroma emanating from the dishes, it is easy to tell that these desserts have reached the first-class level!

　"President!"

　"The president is back! Come and try my newly developed pine cone chocolate dessert, it tastes amazing!"

　A dessert that looks like a pine cone but is actually made of fried potato chips and chocolate sauce is presented to Momo Akanekubo.

　A girl with short, light purple hair and a rather spirited appearance spoke to her, her big eyes filled with anticipation.

　"And my Forest Tree, compared to last time I added crushed Brazil nuts..."

　Another girl stepped forward. She was wearing black stockings, had a tall figure, and was carrying a plate containing a section of dead tree trunk.

　More accurately, it is a withered tree trunk made of cake and cream, its surface covered with roasted nut crumbs, exuding an incredibly pure aroma.

　"Let the chairman rest. The food can be enjoyed anytime; there's no rush."

　A girl dressed in loungewear and wearing black-rimmed glasses spoke up, bringing a glass of wheat tea with ice to Momo Akanekubo's side.

　Momoko Akane, however, had a knowing look on her face. She took the barley tea from the girl's hand, gulped it down in one go, and a satisfied expression appeared on her face.

　Add a little honey to barley tea and top it with ice cubes for the best cold drink in summer!

　"By the way, who are these two?"

　When the last girl spoke, everyone else turned their attention to Liu Yu and Huang Mei behind Akane Momo.

　"This is a new member, and next to her is her friend. They came today to visit the dessert research club and then decide whether or not to join."

　Be yourself as you always are, and show your true self as much as possible...

　After finishing her speech, Momoko Akane tasted each of the Pine Cone Chocolate and Forest Tree desserts, offering her evaluations and suggestions for improvement. She then returned to her cooking station to continue preparing the desserts she hadn't finished the day before, which was her ultimate weapon for the team's food battle!

　"You two are welcome to look around. The second floor is smaller than the first floor; it's a place for focused research, where everyone can help each other and solve problems together."

　Standing in front of the kitchen counter, looking at the two people who were standing there dumbfounded, Momo Akanekubo spoke to them.

　"okay..."

　"I must say, there's a huge variety of ingredients here!"

　As they talked, Liu Yu and Huang Mei strolled around the scene. What attracted their attention most on the second floor were the ingredients piled up all around.

　Fresh milk, whole milk, light cream, condensed milk, yogurt, coconut milk, cheese, and other cheeses are neatly arranged on the table as a category.

　Next to it are sugar ingredients used for flavoring, such as white sugar, brown sugar, black sugar, powdered sugar, and honey.

　In addition to flour and starches, oils, almost any ingredient they can think of that can be used to make desserts, this place has it all.

　Liu Yu and Huang Mei watched all this with curiosity, occasionally reaching out to touch and feel it.

　Liu Yu, in particular, suddenly felt her mind open up, and the rudiments of cooking gradually began to appear in her previously chaotic mind.

　"Tell me, your purpose in coming to the Dessert Research Club must be more than just a visit, right?"

　Akane Momo's voice rang out. She didn't believe that Liu Yu had come all this way just to visit the dessert shop; there must be a deeper reason.

　"I want to stay here and learn how to make desserts for three days."

　Liu Yu spent a long time refining her words, and finally it all boiled down to this sentence.

　Instead of testing the waters back and forth and repeating the same things over and over, it's better to state your request directly and move the other person with sincerity.

　She wanted to stay here and learn advanced dessert-making techniques from Momo Akane!

　"Your cooking is good, to be honest, I quite like it, but you can't learn the dessert club's techniques unconditionally unless you join the dessert club."

　Looking at the sweet-looking girl in front of her, she already knew that the other party had come with an ulterior motive, and Akane Momo stated her conditions.

　By joining the dessert club and becoming a part of it, you can naturally learn techniques from her.

　This is essentially an exchange of interests.

　What do I need to do to join the dessert club?

　"Come at least once a week."

　Then came the joint food battle between the dessert club and the ramen club after participating in the Summer Selection.

　In response to Liu Yu's question, Akane Momo pondered for a moment before speaking.

　"Do I have to come at least once a week? That's not unacceptable. It just so happens that desserts are my weak point, so I can take this opportunity to make up for it."

　Hearing Akane Momo's words, Liu Yu fell into deep thought, her heart filled with turmoil. Because no matter how you looked at it, joining the dessert research club could only bring her benefits.

　As for the team food battle that Momoko Akane mentioned, she knew a little about it.

　Simply put, she'll lend a hand to increase the dessert club's chances of winning; it's just a small favor for her.

　"I agree to your terms."

　Thinking of this, Liu Yu immediately nodded.

　"Welcome to the team. I'll have someone bring up your cooking station this afternoon."

　Upon hearing Liu Yu's words, Momo Akane smiled and stepped forward to extend her hand, shaking it tightly.

　·

　·

　Polaris Dormitory, Kitchen.

　Several desserts were laid out in front of Soma Yukihira, and the air was filled with a sweet aroma. However, the cloying sweetness did not ease his furrowed brows.

　"Original desserts, that's a broad topic..."

　Sitting cross-legged in a chair, looking at the desserts laid out on the counter, Soma Yukihira fell into deep thought.

　These desserts tasted good, but only good; they fell far short of the competition standards, and he didn't think they would help him win.

　"Soma, have you also encountered difficulties?"

　Seeing Yukihira Soma's troubled expression and the way he was scratching his head, Tadokoro Megumi sighed softly and then focused her gaze on the taro in front of her.

　The theme she drew this time was "taro dishes," a subject she rarely tries.

　"Hmm, I'm a bit clueless."

　Soma Yukihira untied the bandage from his forehead and rewrap it around his arm, letting out a long sigh of relief, his eyes filled with confusion.

　"I don't really have a clue either. There are quite a few taro dishes, but not many that use taro as the main ingredient."

　Tadokoro Megumi also looked disappointed. She had originally planned to find some dishes related to taro, but after searching for a long time, she could only find a few in the recipe book.

　In these dishes, taro is just one of the ingredients. If you want to highlight the deliciousness of taro, this kind of cooking is definitely not feasible.

　"I'm going to go out and see what's going on; you can't get good results by working behind closed doors."

　Soma Yukihira stood up from his chair and spoke to Megumi Tadokoro.

　Since you can't seem to cook a dish that satisfies you no matter what you do, why not go out for a walk and clear your head? You might even get some inspiration.

　“Sōshin-kun is right. It’s not good to sit here without thinking of a dish. We should go out for a walk.”

　Watching Soma Yukihira's departing figure, Megumi Tadokoro stood rooted to the spot for a moment, then suddenly realized what was going on when she saw the remaining dirt on the taro.

　Instead of wasting time in the kitchen, why not take a trip to the countryside? It's taro season now, and you might even witness a bountiful harvest!

　The grandparents who farm in the countryside have spent their whole lives with taro, so they are probably the people who know taro best. Maybe they can offer her some ideas.

　·

　·

　"Speaking of taro, the most famous is the Lipu taro from China. It takes three days to airlift it from China. Think about what kind of dish you want to make."

　Erina Nakiri's house.

　Erina Nakiri and Hisako Shinoto, dressed in chef's uniforms, stood in front of the kitchen counter, with various kinds of taro laid out in front of them.

　Red taro, white taro, betel nut taro, nine-head taro, Longdong early taro, and Lipu taro were all simply steamed in a pot, with a dish of white sugar placed on the side.

　The reason is simple: only in this way can you taste its most essential flavor. Understanding the flavor of the ingredients themselves before cooking is very important.

　"Delicious!"

　Holding a piece of Lipu taro, Hisako Shinto took a bite, and a satisfied expression appeared on her face.

　Once cooked, the taro from Lipu has a very delicate texture that almost melts in your mouth, creating an endless delicious sensation on your tongue.

　"Lipu taro itself has the characteristics of being soft, glutinous and sweet. The sweetness of white sugar further enhances the sweetness of the taro, making the overall taste fuller and richer."

　Beside her, Erina Nakiri also took a bite, her face equally filled with happiness.

　God Tongue, who usually finds everything she eats ordinary, is now enjoying simple steamed taro. Dipping it in white sugar makes the deliciousness even more intense!

　"Speaking of which, taro is actually a kind of Chinese medicine. It has the effects of strengthening the spleen and replenishing deficiency, dispersing nodules and detoxifying. It can be said to be the best material for making medicinal cuisine!"

　After finishing the entire large taro in her hand, not even letting go of the remaining crumbs, Hisako Shinto quietly began to explain things to Erina Nakiri.

　They tasted every type of taro here, and both agreed that the Lipu taro was the best and suitable as the main ingredient for the semi-finals.

　"This is your advantageous game, but you can't be careless against Xiaohui. She is good at local cuisine. Taro grows in farmland and is not a rare ingredient. It is also her comfort zone."

　The imported Lipu taro from the market will be delivered later; you can use those to practice.

　Looking at Hisako Shinomiya, who was talking non-stop with bright, sparkling eyes, Erina Nakiri reached out and touched her face, reminding her to be careful.

　"it is good."

　Feeling the warmth on her cheek, Hisako Shinoto replied somewhat shyly.

　As always, it felt like going back to the past.

　·

　·

　Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

　now.

　Between the moon and the sky.