"Delicious! This pickled fish and chicken rice ball is absolutely amazing!"
"This honey garlic cured meat is also good."
"Mine is seaweed bacon!"
"Xiao Hui, your cooking skills are really getting better and better!"
As the basket containing the rice balls was opened and the aroma wafted out, several people working in the garden gathered around. Aoki Daigo and Sato Shoji were among the first, pushing each other as if falling behind would mean losing.
Afterward, the remaining members of Polar Star Dormitory who were working in the farmland also gathered around and then discovered Hoshino Sora, who was turned sideways, eating a rice ball with a joyful expression.
"Hoshino... Hoshino Sora!?"
Yoshino Yuki pointed at Hoshino Sora, her expression somewhat surprised. She seemed not to have expected him to come here, and because of his current great fame, her voice carried a hint of incredulity.
"Good morning."
Hearing someone call his name, Hoshino Sora smiled and raised his hand in greeting, followed by a round of pleasantries. After explaining the purpose of his visit, Tadokoro Megumi volunteered to take him there.
"The plant seeds are stored in my room. I'll take you there."
Looking at the handsome Hoshino Sora, Tadokoro Megumi's cheeks couldn't help but blush, and her heart inexplicably sped up. Was he always this handsome?
After speaking, Tadokoro Megumi walked ahead of Hoshino Sora. Seeing this, Hoshino Sora immediately quickened his pace to follow her. Soon, the two left the vegetable garden and entered Polar Star Dormitory, arriving at Tadokoro Megumi's room.
"Xiao Hui's room is unexpectedly simple."
The room had very little decoration and looked exceptionally tidy. The only thing that stood out was probably the photo of Tadokoro Megumi and her family from her hometown on the nightstand.
"I'm sorry, I made you laugh."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Tadokoro Megumi immediately touched her head with an embarrassed expression in response.
"Not at all. I just think that sometimes the style of a room can reflect a person's inner self. Xiao Hui's room both surprised me and felt perfectly reasonable."
Shaking his head, Hoshino Sora said truthfully. Wasn't simplicity and gentleness precisely Tadokoro Megumi's strengths?
"The seeds are up there. I'll get them for you."
Tadokoro Megumi was a bit shy from his words. As they talked, she pulled a chair from beside the desk and moved it in front of the storage cabinet. Besides seeds, various seasonings were also stored here, so many that it was like a small treasure trove of spices.
After putting down the chair, Tadokoro Megumi instinctively stood on it, tiptoeing and reaching out to try and grab the package of seeds on top.
"Eh..."
Because she couldn't reach the seeds after two attempts to stretch, Tadokoro Megumi's face showed a troubled expression. Seeing this, Hoshino Sora didn't stand idle. He wrapped his arms around Tadokoro Megumi's legs and solidly lifted her up.
Now looking at Tadokoro Megumi.
The sudden warmth on her thighs made her tremble all over, and she almost sat on Hoshino Sora's head. Fortunately, she was light, and her hand quickly grabbed the storage cabinet to maintain balance, otherwise she would have fallen.
"Don't worry, I'm holding you from below, you won't fall. Just reach out and grab it."
A slight upward glance would reveal the most beautiful view beneath her skirt, but Hoshino Sora didn't do that. For this simple girl, he showed due respect.
His gaze remained level, and besides holding Tadokoro Megumi's legs tightly with both hands, he made no other movements.
"Mm..."
Suppressing the shame in her heart, Tadokoro Megumi bit her lower lip and responded. This time, she easily reached out and took the seeds from above. Hoshino Sora also gently lowered her the moment her hand touched the seeds.
For some reason, as the feeling of restraint and warmth on her legs disappeared, Tadokoro Megumi suddenly felt a little empty inside. This feeling was very subtle, and even she didn't know why she felt it.
"Thank you~"
Taking the large bags of vegetable seeds, Hoshino Sora took some out and wrapped them in a white cloth, then returned the remaining seeds. Once Tadokoro Megumi put the seeds away, the two left together.
"See you next time then."
"Mm."
Standing at the entrance of Polar Star Dormitory, Hoshino Sora waved goodbye to Tadokoro Megumi. However, before he could take two steps, an urgent shout came from behind him.
"Wait!"
Yukihira Soma rushed back to Polar Star Dormitory, panting, holding his chef's knife set, and stood in front of Hoshino Sora.
"We haven't had our match yet!"
"Ah, you're right, I almost forgot. Then let's choose the Polar Star Dormitory kitchen as the competition venue. The theme, how about the fruits and vegetables from this garden? As for the judges..."
He looked at Isshiki Satoshi, who was walking towards them with a hoe on his shoulder, then looked at Tadokoro Megumi behind him.
"In that case, there are only two people..."
"I'll take the remaining judge's spot."
"Fumio Grandmother."
Seeing Fumio Grandmother appearing at the entrance of Polar Star Dormitory, Tadokoro Megumi greeted her with enthusiasm, her face beaming with a smile.
"I'm also very curious about the dish of the Autumn Elections' first place winner, old woman."
Fumio Grandmother said, walking in front of Hoshino Sora and Yukihira Soma, her face showing interest. She couldn't possibly not be curious about the man who won the Autumn Elections.
"Then let's go to the vegetable garden to pick vegetables first, and gather in the kitchen an hour later."
"Okay!"
Yukihira Soma responded with a face full of fighting spirit. After losing in the quarterfinals, he had been training himself within Polar Star Dormitory, and he was now very different from a while ago!
"Xiao Hui, are you coming with me? I'm a little unfamiliar with this vegetable garden."
"Okay."
He turned his head and called out to Tadokoro Megumi, as he was very unfamiliar with this vegetable garden and needed someone to lead him. After she came to his side, the two proceeded together.
Before long, Hoshino Sora, led by Tadokoro Megumi, quickly toured the vegetable garden. Tadokoro Megumi also introduced him to the various vegetables in the ground. The variety was very rich, and they were very fresh!
"Tomatoes, chives, cucumbers, carrots, celery... I know what I want to make!"
Touching the red and yellow bell peppers in front of him, and recalling all the vegetables in the garden, a dish suddenly flashed through Hoshino Sora's mind, like a sudden inspiration.
"Ow..."
Tadokoro Megumi's moan made him turn his head.
"Persimmons? Do you also grow persimmons in your garden? This tree looks quite old, doesn't it?"
Looking at the huge persimmon tree in the corner of the garden, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but ask. The fiery red persimmons looked fully ripe, yet no one was picking them.
"Yes, we usually just pick some when we want to eat them. This tree is also over ten years old, and it bears a lot of fruit every year. Even if we eat them every day, there will still be quite a bit left over.
These persimmons are a bit overripe now, and they're sticking all over my hair."
Her face showed a helpless expression. The fallen persimmons landed on the ground from her hair. There were also many overripe persimmons on the ground, sticky and uncomfortable.
"Then you should go back and take a shower first. You've worked hard."
Looking at Tadokoro Megumi, whose hair was covered in persimmon pulp, Hoshino Sora suppressed his laughter. This little girl was too unlucky, truly a case of standing under a tree and trouble falling from the sky.
Newton discovered gravity when an apple fell on his head; what would Tadokoro Megumi discover if a persimmon fell on her head?
I'm starting to look forward to it.
"Hmm, what's with that big smile on your face?"
Looking at Hoshino Sora's smiling face, Tadokoro Megumi couldn't help but pout and complain.
"Is it that obvious...?"
"Your mouth is practically splitting your face, how could it not be obvious?"
"Sorry, sorry, I couldn't hold it in. Go take a bath quickly, I'll treat you to something delicious later."
Waving his hand with an embarrassed smile, Hoshino Sora patted Tadokoro Megumi's shoulder. This state wouldn't do for wandering around outside; the best solution was to go back and take a bath.
"Sigh, fine. Can you find the vegetables you need?"
"Don't worry, no problem. I've already memorized the location of all the vegetables."
"Then I'll head back first. Call me if you have any problems."
Sighing softly, Tadokoro Megumi looked at the persimmon pulp she had just brushed from her hair. After getting Hoshino Sora's answer, she quickly ran towards Polar Star Dormitory.
Hoshino Sora also began searching in the vegetable garden after she left.
Since he was making a home-cooked dish, the vegetables in the garden were more than enough. In just over ten minutes, he arrived at the Polar Star Dormitory kitchen with a basket of vegetables.
Soon after he entered the kitchen, Yukihira Soma followed closely behind him.
"You're even faster than me! Tomatoes, red and yellow bell peppers, celery... Hoshino, what dish are you planning to make?"
Looking at Hoshino Sora, who was already in the kitchen, with some surprise, Yukihira Soma slowly walked over to him, his eyes filled with curiosity as he asked.
"A very ordinary home-cooked dish. You'll know soon."
Facing Yukihira Soma's question, Hoshino Sora didn't answer directly. He simply dumped all the ingredients he had found in the vegetable garden onto the cutting board and began to operate with sharp knife skills.
Seeing this, Yukihira Soma stopped pressing him, took his own ingredients to the cooking counter, and both quickly got into the zone. The kitchen was immediately filled with only the sound of knives meeting the cutting board.
Not long after, Fumio Grandmother appeared at the kitchen doorway, looking at the two cooking and couldn't help but exclaim, "They've already started cooking!"
"What a fragrant smell! Is that king oyster mushroom?"
Looking at the ingredients Yukihira Soma was cooking, Fumio Grandmother showed an intoxicated expression. The aroma of king oyster mushroom was truly irresistible.
"This is..."
Her gaze shifted to Hoshino Sora on the other side. Her nose twitched, detecting onion, celery, yellow bell pepper, red bell pepper, eggplant, tomato, cucumber, green cucumber. This setup... is he making Ratatouille?
It's indeed a very classic and authentic French home-cooked dish.
"Have they already started? It seems I'm late."
The second person to enter was Isshiki Satoshi. By this time, both of their dishes were in the final stages. The moment Tadokoro Megumi finished showering and drying her hair and entered the kitchen, Yukihira Soma completed his dish first.
"Autumn Special, Soma Yukihira Style · Flavored King Oyster Mushroom!"
As the dish was placed on the dining table, a rich aroma immediately spread. The flavor of the king oyster mushroom perfectly combined with the sauce, releasing its fragrance when heated. The pine nut crumbs and bell pepper crumbs sprinkled on top of the king oyster mushroom also had their flavors fully activated by the heat.
"Gulp."
Looking at the dish in front of them, the sound of swallowing echoed in the kitchen. Tadokoro Megumi also sat beside Fumio Grandmother. At first glance, this looked like an ordinary teriyaki king oyster mushroom, but in reality...
Fumio Grandmother used her chopsticks to pick up a piece of king oyster mushroom, cross-cut with many incisions. The rich aroma reached its peak the moment the king oyster mushroom neared her nostrils.
"The taste is simply savory. The king oyster mushroom is cooked to perfection, with a thin layer of char on the outside, allowing more sauce to cling to it.
The unique aroma of pine nuts mixes and complements the raw bell peppers, working together on the king oyster mushroom to further enhance its flavor."
"Not only that, the decorative cuts on top are also well-thought-out, allowing the flavor to penetrate deeply. The king oyster mushroom is also cut into single-serving portions."
Closing her eyes, a mountain forest seemed to appear before her. The charm of seasonal vegetables was perfectly embodied at this moment. This theme is somewhat similar to the theme of the Autumn Elections finals.
Both involve cooking with seasonal ingredients.
"Delicious! The aroma of the dish lingers in the mouth for a long time."
With a blissful expression on her face, Tadokoro Megumi commented. This was a very simple yet incredibly delicious dish. The tenderness of the king oyster mushroom, the crispness of the pine nuts, and the sweetness of the bell peppers were a perfect match!
"Sorry for the wait, Ratatouille. Please enjoy."
"It is Ratatouille, but your stew shouldn't be made in the most common way, right?"
Looking at the Ratatouille, whose sauce color was clearly a bit off, and smelling a significant difference from what she had eaten before, she couldn't pinpoint what was wrong for a moment.
"You'll know after you taste it."
"Hmph, young people nowadays really love to keep you guessing."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Fumio Grandmother snorted, then turned her gaze to the Ratatouille in front of her. She picked up a set of vegetables with her chopsticks, dipped them in sauce, and put them in her mouth.
"This dish has an unprecedented freshness. The mellow sweetness makes the entire dish's flavor even more mysterious. This mysterious taste is..."
Her gaze turned to the cutting board, where several ripe persimmons were placed. This rich and mellow taste was undoubtedly from persimmons, but how exactly was it made?
A question arose in Fumio Grandmother's mind.
"Persimmons. Overripe persimmons are at their peak sugar accumulation. Mash them into a paste, then add tomatoes, roasted bell pepper paste, and parsley, ultimately forming this uniquely flavored sauce."
After tasting a spoonful of the sauce, Isshiki Satoshi extended his finger and eloquently explained the principle. Because overripe persimmons were added, the entire dish's flavor had changed.
"To come up with such a creative dish in less than an hour, the first place in the Autumn Elections is well-deserved!"
His narrowed eyes opened a slit. Looking at the relaxed Hoshino Sora, Isshiki Satoshi commented.
Creating a completely new dish in a short time is not difficult, but making it delicious is very challenging.
Hoshino Sora knew his shortcomings and opted for a less difficult route: transforming a classic dish by replacing a certain ingredient to make it even more delicious. This is relatively less difficult but still severely tests a chef's skill.
"Let me try it too."
Hearing Isshiki Satoshi's evaluation, Yukihira Soma quickly said, picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a few pieces of roasted, charred vegetable slices, dipped them in sauce, and put them into his mouth. A rich flavor immediately exploded in his mouth.
If his dish was a small forest, then Hoshino Sora's dish was a super luxurious large farm. Every bite offered a different taste. The crispness of the vegetables was perfectly embodied in this dish, paired with this delicious sauce, it was simply... unstoppable!
Illusions seemed to appear before his eyes: a field full of fruits and vegetables, and himself completely liberated. That was the taste of freedom, the taste of nature!
Holding hands, they joyfully spun in circles in the field, and smiles of immense happiness appeared on their faces.
"Hoshino-kun's... dish."
Looking at the three people immersed in their happy illusions, Tadokoro Megumi, with a slight blush, picked up her chopsticks and brought the dish to her mouth. The rich aroma made her lose her composure, and she took a large bite.
Seeing this, Hoshino Sora also took a bite after her. Closing his eyes, he saw a vast and boundless pastoral landscape, and a feeling of happiness sprouted from the depths of his heart. The corners of his mouth couldn't stop curving upwards.
It seems the improvement was not a failure. The Recipe Encyclopedia is truly a good thing!
"Although Soma Yukihira's dish has a unique aroma, and the combination of pine nuts and king oyster mushroom is unexpectedly harmonious, Hoshino's dish clearly tastes better. Not only does it perfectly harmonize the flavors of various vegetables, but it also incorporates his own innovation."
Exchanging glances, Isshiki Satoshi announced the final result.
Yukihira Soma was too focused on creation, and it's difficult to create a truly delicious dish that stands up to scrutiny in such a short time. Although the final product wasn't bad, it was clearly inferior to Hoshino Sora's improved Ratatouille.
Even though there was only one improvement.
"Speaking of which, Isshiki-senpai, is there an event for first-years during this period? It's called 'Stagiaire,' when does that start?"
Not caring about his victory, Hoshino Sora, with his Recipe Encyclopedia, had an absolute advantage in the stability of his dishes.
It was like having a very fast-thinking person constantly giving him the optimal solution, so even if Yukihira Soma kept thinking, he would never catch up to him.
"The word 'Stagiaire' originally means 'intern' in French. Simply put, it means sending first-year high school students to external kitchens for practical training. The internship locations range from high-end restaurants to food manufacturers, and even public institutions, covering everything imaginable.
It's a part of the official curriculum designed to familiarize students with real-world combat environments."
Closing his eyes again, Isshiki Satoshi explained in a gentle voice. The so-called Stagiaire (practical training) is similar to an internship, but with significant differences compared to a regular internship.
"So, it's just going to work as a shop assistant for a while?"
Pinching his chin, not minding the failure, Yukihira Soma naturally interjected after hearing their conversation.
"It's not that simple. All internship locations only accept interns because they trust Far Moon Academy's capabilities. If anything happens that harms Far Moon's reputation, it's not surprising to be immediately expelled."
"Expelled..."
Hearing Isshiki Satoshi's words, Tadokoro Megumi's little face, sitting nearby, instantly turned pale with fright. She almost forgot that this was a culinary academy with an extremely high elimination rate...
"Sending students out for practical training means they can see the outside world, right?"
"So, if we just faithfully follow the boss's instructions, we can successfully pass the practical training?"
"The passing standard is whether you can leave 'visible achievements' during your internship period. Simply put, it's about changing something for that shop. Just following the rules won't cut it."
Hearing Yukihira Soma and Tadokoro Megumi's words, Isshiki Satoshi further explained. The so-called achievement isn't just working diligently, but actively improving the participating shop.
"Simply put, it's about changing the shop and making it develop upwards."
He succinctly stated the crux of the matter. In fact, in the original work, Yukihira Soma also passed the assessment this way, although he had forgotten the specific details.
"The practical training starts in two days. You can prepare in advance. Relax, the difficulty of this assessment is relatively low; anyone who puts in effort can pass."
"Okay, then I've bothered you enough for today. I'll take my leave now."
After politely nodding, he stood up. The competition was over, and he had gotten the information he wanted. Hoshino Sora decided to leave; there was nothing else to do by staying here.
"I'm so hungry... Huh? What's going on?"
Rubbing her eyes sleepily as she entered the kitchen, a pleasant aroma reached her nose. Yukihira Ichika, with her hair disheveled, looked at the scene before her, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Eh! You're that rude big brother!"
After staring for a long time, Yukihira Ichika suddenly recognized Hoshino Sora and pointed at his face, exclaiming in surprise.
Hoshino Sora also looked over when he heard the voice and realized it was the little girl he had defeated in the street cooking competition a few months ago. This girl also came to Far Moon, and even became a resident of Polar Star Dormitory.
How youthful!
"What do you mean 'rude big brother'? Just 'big brother' is fine. But I really didn't expect to see you here."
Looking at the childish face of Yukihira Ichika, Hoshino Sora said with a smile. As the heir to the century-old restaurant "Green Pine," her appearance at this culinary academy seemed reasonable enough.
"Hoshino-kun, Ichika, you two know each other?"
"Yes, Tadokoro-senpai, we competed once before in a street cooking competition."
Hearing Tadokoro Megumi's surprised words, Yukihira Ichika truthfully said. Although she suffered a crushing defeat in the end, it was a valuable experience for her.
"Ichika, you competed with Hoshino-kun before? That's amazing!"
"Well, those are old stories. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now."
Hoshino Sora said, turning to leave, but Yukihira Ichika reached out and grabbed his clothes.
"Wait, can we compete again? I've become much stronger now!"
"Sure, this time I'll make you lose convinced."
"Who wins and who loses is not yet certain!"
Looking down at Yukihira Ichika's spirited little face, Hoshino Sora said with a smile. If it was a cooking competition, no matter how many times it happened, he would not back down.
Of course, he wouldn't go easy just because she was a child.
And so...
One hour later.
Feeling the absolute difference in strength, Yukihira Ichika sank to the ground in despair, but she didn't give up. Instead, she bit her lower lip and stared intently at Hoshino Sora, like a wolf.
"One day, I will defeat you with my own hands!"
"Practice more. I'm waiting."
Waving his hand, Hoshino Sora left the Polar Star Dormitory kitchen with a flourish, and then left Polar Star Dormitory.
Practical training, huh?
It should be very interesting.