Several days later.
Hoshino Sora appeared at the train station closest to Far Moon, his expression a bit subtle as he looked at the notice in his hand.
"The initial internship location is for two people together? I completely forgot about that setting."
Patting his head, Hoshino Sora sighed softly, his gaze wandering around, hoping the person who came would be an easy one to deal with, otherwise, it would be a bit of a headache.
"Um, excuse me... It really is Hoshino-kun! That's great, I'm actually in the same group as Hoshino-kun!"
Seeing the person in front of her turn around and a familiar face appear, Tadokoro Megumi's voice was filled with strong surprise as she trotted over to his side, dragging her suitcase.
"It's you! You scared me. I was wondering if the person I'd be working with would be difficult to get along with, but if it's Xiao Hui, then I'm relieved."
Hoshino Sora also showed a surprised expression. If his partner was Tadokoro Megumi, he felt there wouldn't be much of a problem, and this period of practical training should be very enjoyable.
In a great mood, Hoshino Sora approached Tadokoro Megumi, reaching out to help her with her luggage, but his hand brushed against hers. The moment they touched, she flinched as if shocked.
"Let me help you with this."
"No need, I can manage this. And Hoshino-kun, where's your luggage?"
"Me? It's all here."
He pointed to the bag on his back. He always adhered to the principle of traveling light, never bringing unnecessary items, so his luggage was much less than that of an average person.
"You only brought this much stuff?"
Tadokoro Megumi's eyes showed a hint of surprise as she looked at Hoshino Sora's extremely minimal luggage, momentarily unsure what to say.
"Yes, this is enough. This training location is at 'Mushikuya' in the bustling downtown of Tokyo. I wonder what kind of shop it is?"
With his hands behind his head, looking at the clear blue sky, he had to admit that today was truly a beautiful day. The sky was clear, the air was fresh, and a gentle breeze blew. Now, he just hoped the Master Chef of the training shop would be easy to deal with.
----------
At noon, the two, who had taken the Shinkansen, arrived at the address specified in the notice.
"Is this it?"
"It feels... a bit run-down, and there don't seem to be many customers."
Hoshino Sora frowned as he looked at the small, dilapidated restaurant in front of him. He pulled out the notice and repeatedly compared the location, finally realizing with regret that this was indeed the practical training site.
"It's in the bustling city center where people gather, so why are there no customers?"
Tadokoro Megumi's expression was puzzled. Although it looked run-down from the outside, it was in a busy area and at mealtime, so it shouldn't be this quiet.
"There are many reasons for no customers: vicious commercial competition, unappetizing food, poor environment, bad attitude from the Master Chef or staff, etc... I wonder which one this shop is?"
"You two are the students sent by Far Moon, aren't you?"
Just as the two were discussing intensely at the entrance, a burly man inside heard voices, suddenly opened the shop door, and spoke, looking at the badges and uniforms on their chests.
"Yes, please take good care of us!"
Seeing the burly man with a fierce face, Tadokoro Megumi immediately became nervous. Her hand unconsciously gripped Hoshino Sora's sleeve, and she bowed deeply as she spoke.
"Oh, then come in first. My name is Tetsuo Mushiki. Are you hungry? Come in and see what you'd like to order. Consider it a welcome meal for you."
Looking at the frightened Tadokoro Megumi, the burly man said nothing, simply stepped aside and invited them in. Hoshino Sora did not hesitate, taking the girl's slightly trembling hand and entering.
"Don't worry, I've got this."
Although he didn't speak, the determination in Hoshino Sora's eyes reassured Tadokoro Megumi, and the warmth from his palm made her heart beat faster.
She looked up, observing the interior of the shop. To be honest, although the shop looked small and shabby from the outside, it was very neatly kept, and the interior space was quite large.
The overall layout was such that the chef's workspace was outside, where food was prepared on-site according to customer orders. There was no so-called back kitchen, and besides the owner, there were no waiters in the shop.
Indeed, if there are no customers, why would you need so many waiters?
Hoshino Sora grumbled internally, pulling Tadokoro Megumi to the counter, wanting to see the shop's dishes.
"Here's the menu."
The owner said, placing the menu in front of the two. The moment Hoshino Sora saw the menu, he suddenly understood why this shop, located in a bustling area, had no customers.
"So many... insects."
An expression of disgust inadvertently appeared on her face, but she quickly recovered for politeness. Looking at the various insect dishes on the menu, Tadokoro Megumi instantly realized the severity of the situation.
To sell these insect dishes, one needed not only superb culinary skills but also excellent persuasive rhetoric, as not everyone could accept this type of cuisine.
"The specialty of this shop is various insect dishes. Among them, the more palatable ones are fried silkworm pupae and bamboo shoot jelly. As for the others, I don't think you'd necessarily accept them."
"Then we'll have a plate of fried silkworm pupae. But is that alright? What if customers come later...?"
"Don't worry, as you can see, this shop hasn't had customers for a long time. I applied for intern dispatch from Far Moon with a 'let's give it a try' mindset."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's question, the Master Chef's face showed a bitter smile. Ever since the nearby demolition, where the old residential buildings turned into new communities and shopping malls, his shop had been deserted.
Although people would occasionally come in to inquire, those customers would run away as soon as they saw the menu, no matter how much he called out to them.
Some people were willing to try, but after seeing his cooking, they all made excuses to go to the restroom and then ran off. If there was no more business, he would have to consider closing down.
"Have you never considered changing to some normal dishes? Your shop has good foot traffic, and there are residential buildings nearby. Logically, business shouldn't be this bad."
"I'm only good at insect cuisine; I'm not proficient in other dishes, nowhere near the standard for opening a shop. So, naturally, I can't add them to the menu and ruin my reputation."
"Then we need to find a way to sell these insect dishes."
Looking at the golden-fried silkworm pupae in front of him, although knowing they were insects made him feel a bit queasy, they smelled very fragrant. He gritted his teeth, picked up a piece, and put it in his mouth.
Perhaps it was a psychological effect, but Hoshino Sora felt the taste was very peculiar, with a sense of illusory reality. The pepper salt sprinkled on the surface was very fragrant.
What was certain was that this dish was not unappetizing; on the contrary, it was very delicious, especially crispy after being fried.
As long as one could overcome that psychological barrier.
"Aren't you eating?"
"I... I'm not very hungry right now."
With an awkward smile on her face, Tadokoro Megumi's toes curled slightly. Looking at the still-living, wriggling silkworm pupae on the counter, her psychological pressure reached its peak.
"Alright, just close your eyes for a moment. It looks like there's something near your eye."
"Huh?"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Tadokoro Megumi, though puzzled, obediently closed her eyes.
Suddenly, she felt her mouth open, and then something foreign was dropped in. A warm, large hand moved on her chin, and a peculiar taste burst forth in her mouth.
"As a chef, you cannot fear food. To help this shop out of its predicament, you must start by tasting its dishes."
Looking at Tadokoro Megumi's stunned expression after she opened her eyes, Hoshino Sora said softly. This assessment required them to achieve significant results at the internship site, and helping this shop regain its vitality was the test Far Moon had given them.
If even the staff were afraid of the shop's dishes, how could customers feel confident eating them?!
"Mmm..."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Tadokoro Megumi subtly puffed out her cheeks, turning her head away without speaking. She, of course, knew this principle, but wasn't it a bit hard to accept?
However, there was no problem with the taste.
"Master Chef, are you willing to accept reforms? Provided the dishes served are still insect-based cuisine."
The practical training assessment period was one week. To achieve results within this time and attract customers was the main priority. Tomorrow, no, tonight, they had to start!
"Have you thought of a way? As long as the culinary characteristics aren't changed, I'm willing to accept reforms."
Tetsuo Mushiki's expression was slightly surprised. Should he say, as expected of a Far Moon student? In less than an hour of arriving, he had already thought of a way to get his shop out of its predicament.
Unlike his fierce appearance, Tetsuo Mushiki was a very simple and honest man. Since childhood, he had enjoyed catching insects and cooking them in various ways after catching them.
Over time, he became an expert in cooking insect dishes.
"Firstly..."
Inside the room, Hoshino Sora extended his finger and began to speak fluently.
If you want to preserve the specialty without scaring off customers, the best way is to...
Play with words!
----------
"Mushikuya, welcome."
Holding freshly printed flyers, Tadokoro Megumi handed one to everyone she saw, working up a sweat. Meanwhile, Hoshino Sora was also busy.
While rewriting the menu names, he also had to figure out how to make the dishes more appetizing. But before that, one thing had to be done: cover the kitchen with a cloth.
After all this, Hoshino Sora came to the shop entrance and, together with Tadokoro Megumi, started soliciting customers. However, because the shop was small and run-down, hardly anyone paid attention.
Even though they were shouting very hard.
Time slowly passed, the golden glow in the sky gradually faded, and the surrounding streetlights began to illuminate. There were many more pedestrians than during the day, and the air was filled with the aroma of various food stalls. The prosperity of the night market was perfectly displayed at this moment.
"Make a pot of Golden Crispy Pupa right now! Dinner time is almost here. Whether we succeed or not depends on this."
Rushing into the kitchen, Hoshino Sora shouted to Tetsuo Mushiki inside, his expression serious. The previous efforts didn't matter much; the crucial part was now, as this was the best time to attract customers!
"Alright!"
Infected by Hoshino Sora's previous initiative and understanding that he genuinely wanted to help him and his shop, Tetsuo Mushiki was now very obedient to him.
As they spoke, Tetsuo Mushiki quickly fried the processed silkworm pupae in cool oil, then removed them from the pot and put them into cold water. After draining, he coated them in egg wash and breadcrumbs before refrying them.
In the world of cuisine, there is only one rule: delicious food conquers all! As long as you can make delicious dishes, even if you know the raw ingredients are insects, it doesn't matter.
Of course, this doesn't mean you can start by telling customers, "This is made from insects, but don't worry, it tastes great! You just need to overcome your psychological fear."
No one would listen to you that way.
"Don't miss out, folks, on the wonderful Golden Crispy Pupa! Today, everything in the shop is 20% off, and there are free samples at the entrance. If it's not delicious, you don't pay!"
A rich aroma wafted from the kitchen. Hoshino Sora brought a plate of golden, crispy pupae to the entrance. However, while the aroma of the dish was very strong in the kitchen, it became faint in the larger environment.
"Can I take the lead in cooking?"
As soon as Hoshino Sora brought out the dish, he noticed this problem. Such a dish would definitely not attract customers. In thought, he carried the plate to the back kitchen and asked Tetsuo Mushiki.
"Please."
Swallowing, Tetsuo Mushiki immediately stepped aside upon hearing Hoshino Sora wanted to take the lead. The other party was a student from the prestigious Far Moon Academy; when it came to cooking skills, dozens of him couldn't compare.
After all, he was just a self-taught cook...
Back to Hoshino Sora.
Standing in front of the counter, he didn't choose to act immediately. Instead, he pinched his chin, repeatedly contemplating the ingredients on the stove. Finally, he even pulled out a recipe encyclopedia.
After ten minutes of repeated experimentation, running dozens of operational procedures through his mind, and simply combining the existing seasonings in the kitchen, Hoshino Sora made his move.
He skillfully processed the live silkworm pupae, blanched them in cold water, added cooking wine, boiled them for a few minutes, then transferred them to ice water to cool. After draining, he sprinkled them with salt and cornstarch before frying them.
He slowly fried them in cool oil until golden, then coated them in a mixture of cornstarch and egg white, and fried them again until golden and crispy.
Next...
He quickly prepared various chilies and stir-fried Sichuan peppercorns until fragrant, cooking them in the style of Sichuan Cuisine. To maximize the dispersion of the aroma, Hoshino Sora worked very meticulously.
"I've made a slight improvement. Try the taste."
Placing the freshly cooked Golden Crispy Pupa on the counter, Hoshino Sora gestured to Tetsuo Mushiki, indicating for him to try. To launch a new dish, the first step was to gain the Master Chef's approval.
Turning his head, he noticed an expression of admiration on the other's face. It was hard to imagine such an expression appearing on a burly, middle-aged man with a fierce face.
"Spicy, fragrant, crispy, tender, and an endless aftertaste! Is this the skill of a Far Moon student?"
Picking up a silkworm pupa with his chopsticks and savoring it, Tetsuo Mushiki's eyes suddenly widened. His chopsticks couldn't stop reaching for the plate, and he exclaimed as he ate.
"This dish simply adds some chili to your original recipe. Relatively speaking, the flavor is stronger. I've written down the specific method here. If you think the taste is suitable, you can appropriately refine the dish."
Hoshino Sora said, and without waiting for a reply, he directly handed the freshly written recipe to Tetsuo Mushiki. Then, he carried the remaining Golden Crispy Pupa to the entrance and began to loudly solicit customers.
This time, the rich aroma quickly attracted customers.
"It smells so good! Can I try this?"
"Please do."
Handing over the chopsticks and plate, Hoshino Sora smiled gently. His handsome appearance made the woman who asked him feel her heart race a bit; she had been noticing this boy for a long time.
"What is this made of?"
Looking at the golden, crispy, oval-shaped particles in front of her, the dry-fried Golden Crispy Pupa emitted a rich, spicy aroma. The person couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Trade secret. You'll know once you try it. It definitely won't disappoint you."
Facing the woman's question, Hoshino Sora smiled mysteriously.
"You're so naughty, keeping me in suspense."
The young man's sunny smile made the woman's face flush. She chided him playfully, picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a pupa, and gently put it into her mouth.
On the other side, Tadokoro Megumi nervously watched the woman, afraid that she might show an unpleasant expression.
"Delicious! This texture is fried pupa, right? I haven't had it in so long, and the spicy seasoning is also excellent. I never thought there would be such an amazing restaurant here!"
Closing her eyes to savor it, a look of enjoyment appeared on her face. Feeling the familiar yet strange taste in her mouth, the woman suddenly opened her eyes and exclaimed.
"Then shall we go to this amazing place for dinner?"
"Why not?"
Looking at the young man's earnest smile, the woman smiled happily and then walked into the shop.
"Xiao Hui, you go inside and greet the customers. I'll handle things out here."
"Okay."
Glancing at the situation outside, Hoshino Sora quickly assigned tasks. Because Tetsuo Mushiki looked rather intimidating, he decided to let the honest and delicate Tadokoro Megumi greet the customers.
With the first customer, the rest became much easier.
"Please come in, please come in."
Soon, the second and third customers arrived together. After tasting Hoshino Sora's dishes, they were amazed and immediately decided to enter the shop to enjoy the food. Then came the fourth, fifth, sixth...
The shop gradually became lively. Seeing the customers enjoying the dishes with smiles on their faces, Tetsuo Mushiki's face showed emotion.
The menu Hoshino Sora gave him was nailed to the cabinet. Recalling the steps of Hoshino Sora's cooking, the man worked even harder on his dishes.
Time slowly passed, and soon it was nine in the evening. Some restaurants outside had already closed due to lack of customers, but "Mushikuiya" was bustling with activity, filled with laughter and joy. Clearly, everyone was very satisfied with the Golden Crispy Pupa.
Leaning against the shop door, Hoshino Sora showed a satisfied smile looking at the scene inside. At this point, the shop no longer needed him to attract customers. Passersby, seeing so many people inside, would involuntarily stop.
"Two bottles of beer."
"Another serving of Golden Crispy Pupa, I never thought fried pupa could be so delicious. If you hadn't told me, I really wouldn't have known I was eating pupa."
"How are the other dishes? Boss, give me a serving of this 'Lush Greenery.' The name is so poetic."
— — — — — — — — — —
At ten o'clock, with the departure of the last customer, the shop closed.
"As expected of Far Moon students! You two really worked hard today. I never thought that just by simply changing the name of a dish, a previously unnoticed dish could sell so well."
"Your innovation, little brother, is also excellent, much tastier than what I blindly experimented with!"
Looking at the exhausted Tadokoro Megumi and the composed Hoshino Sora, Tetsuo Mushiki couldn't help but praise them. In just one day, his small, unnoticed shop had become completely packed.
And all of this was thanks to the man in front of him!
"It's a small matter. We'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay, shall I give you a ride?"
"No need. Please tidy up the shop and prepare more ingredients. Tomorrow's customers will definitely be several times more than today. Besides us, you should also hire some more servers."
"Got it."
Hoshino Sora said and left "Mushikuiya." After a simple farewell, he walked with Tadokoro Megumi on the way to the Far Moon Academy's assigned hotel.
"Ah! It's finally over. I feel like I'm back to those busy years."
Lazily stretching his limbs, even though it was past ten o'clock, there were still people on the streets, as if tireless. This was a scene only found in lively areas.
In the area where he ran his restaurant, the streets were already empty at ten o'clock.
"There's a place selling sugar cakes over there. Let's go buy some to try."
"Xiao Hui, do you want some takoyaki?"
Pointing to a shop not far away, Hoshino Sora asked eagerly.
"No, thanks."
"That looks so delicious. Do you want a serving?"
"No, thank you."
"Xiao Hui, what's wrong? You look a bit unhappy…"
Seeing Tadokoro Megumi, who seemed a bit down, Hoshino Sora came in front of her and asked, his eyes full of confusion. Since leaving the shop, she had been wearing a long face.
"I just feel that Hoshino Sora is so amazing, so amazing. Compared to him, I feel like I haven't been of any use…"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's question, Tadokoro Megumi was silent for two seconds before slowly speaking her mind. Today, besides promoting at the shop entrance, she had only greeted customers inside the shop.
She had only done so little…
But Hoshino Sora? He not only brought a dying shop back to life in one day, but his improved dishes also received praise from the Master Chef of the shop. Compared to him, she felt like she was just there to make up the numbers.
"You can't say that. Xiao Hui also played a big role. Without Xiao Hui, so many customers couldn't have been served at all."
"But my job can be replaced by any waiter!"
Looking at Hoshino Sora's face, Tadokoro Megumi bit her lower lip slightly, not feeling particularly good. It felt so difficult to achieve obvious results in the practical training…
"Don't worry, there's still a week left. There will definitely be a place where you'll be needed. Don't keep that string in your heart too taut, or it will break!"
He raised his hand and patted Tadokoro Megumi's back hard. This was only the first day, alright? He had only made that shop operational again. There was still a long way to go to make it big and strong.
"I promise, in the coming week, there will definitely be a place where Tadokoro Megumi will be needed! Now, cheer up! A long face won't make the food taste delicious!"
He tried his best to encourage Tadokoro Megumi. Perhaps due to the lack of Shinomiya Master Chef's rigorous training, this young girl, though she had improved a lot compared to before, still lacked confidence.
If she didn't have confidence, Tadokoro Megumi would never become a good chef!
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