Everyday Life Starting with Food Wars

He looked at his hands, which had imitated countless dishes and won, his eyes filled with confusion as he couldn't understand why he had lost.

Takmi walked up to him and looked down at him.

"Return all ninety-nine kitchen knives that you won before."

"And you better remember this: never again use your dirty tricks to taint the chef's soul."

After saying that, Takmi turned and left.

Chen Yuxing also stood up and stretched, looking at the final eight-team list on the screen.

Group A: Chen Yuxing, Hayama Ryo, Yukihira Soma, Kurokiba Ryo.

Group B: Alice Nakiri, Hisako Shinoto, Megumi Tadokoro, Takumi Aldini.

"Both Group A and B are monsters! I'm getting more and more curious about what the semi-finals and finals will be like."

"I have high hopes for those two in Group A. Whether it's the transfer student or Hayama Akira, their strength seems to be much more exaggerated compared to the others."

"Is the quarterfinals a random draw? I'm starting to wonder how the groups are drawn."

The audience members gradually left the venue while discussing the conversation.

The people from Polar Star Dormitory also left the stands and came outside.

As soon as they came out, they saw Isami pounce on Takmi.

“Brother! That’s great! I thought in the end it would be…” Isami couldn’t finish his sentence.

Takumi patted Isami on the shoulder, his expression softening: "What nonsense are you talking about? I'm the eldest son of the Aldini family, how could I possibly lose to someone like that?"

"Not bad, Takumi."

Soma Yukihira and everyone from the Polar Star Dormitory also came up.

“Of course, my cooking is perfect.” Takumi looked at Yukihira Soma with a proud expression: “I will definitely beat you and Chen Yuxing in this autumn selection tournament.”

Chen Yuxing didn't say anything, but simply gave Takmi a thumbs up.

"By the way, what happened to that bastard in the end?" Daigo Aoki walked to the side and looked into the players' tunnel. "Is he still kneeling over there?"

"Why do you care about him?" Shoji Sato rolled his eyes at him. "That kind of guy doesn't deserve any sympathy even if he just kneels there."

"Speaking of which, when Takumi won the match just now, several spectators in the stands suddenly burst into tears. I guess those people were the students whose cooking utensils were taken away by Mimasaka Subaru earlier," Marui Zenji said from the side.

Ryoko Sakaki nodded: "Right, it must feel terrible to have your beloved kitchenware taken away as a trophy, but now it's all over."

“Yes, yes, Takumi not only won the game, but also helped the victims get their kitchen utensils back,” Tadokoro Megumi added from the side.

"So this kind of person is just a bully who picks on the weak and fears the strong!" Yoshino Yuuki waved her fist. "They'll show their true colors when they encounter a really strong opponent!"

Just as everyone was chatting animatedly, a voice suddenly came from behind them.

"Oh my, everyone seems to be having a good time."

Satoshi Isshiki walked over at some point, wearing the uniform of the Elite Ten and holding a notebook in his hand.

"Isshiki-senpai? Didn't you say you had a meeting today?"

“That was originally the plan, but there are other arrangements now.” Isshiki Satoshi pointed at Chen Yuxing and the other two and said, “Alright, Yuxing, Soma, and Megumi, the three of you come with me.”

"Oh, right, Takumi, you'd also like to come with me."

"Huh? What are we going to do?" Soma Yukihira scratched his head in confusion.

"Don't worry about that, just come with me."

After finishing his sentence, Isshiki Satoshi turned and left without giving the three of them a chance to ask further questions.

The four people who were called looked at each other, all bewildered by what Isshiki Satoshi had said, but they still quickly followed.

"Hey, Isshiki-senpai, just tell us what you're taking us to do!" Soma Yukihira quickly ran up and asked.

"It's the group assignments and questions for the main competition of the Autumn Selection Tournament." Isshiki Satoshi explained without turning his head: "Originally, the questions and group assignments were supposed to be sent to you after the draw, but since the tiebreakers just ended today and you guys were all here, we just drew the lots on the spot."

"Oh, I see..." Soma Yukihira suddenly realized, then walked excitedly to the front. "Then what are we waiting for! Let's go, let's go!"

"Hehe, I really hope I can face one of you two in the semifinals and then the other in the finals!" Takumi also looked very eager to fight.

Tadokoro Megumi seemed a little nervous when she heard about the on-the-spot lottery. She followed behind Chen Yuxing and tugged at his sleeve: "Yuxing-kun, if we draw lots... will I be matched against you and Soshin-kun...?"

"It's highly likely. The group stage will probably be between Group A and Group B to determine the top four. But Xiaohui, don't worry. You performed so well in the preliminaries. You have a chance of beating anyone in our Group A. You have to believe in yourself." Chen Yuxing turned his head and looked at Xiaohui seriously.

Megumi Tadokoro took a deep breath and then nodded to indicate that she understood.

Chapter 72 Draw, Main Event

The group followed Isshiki Satoshi to a rest room behind the Moonlight Palace.

Pushing open the door, I found quite a few people already seated inside.

Hayama Akira leaned against the window, still fiddling with a cinnamon stick in his hand, his eyes closed as if trying to discern the scent in the air; Kurokiba Ryo wasn't wearing his flame-patterned headband, so he was sprawled on the sofa as if he hadn't woken up properly; Shinoto Hisako sat opposite Kurokiba Ryo, intently looking at the notebook in her hand; Nakiri Alice was pouring water into a glass.

"Oh dear, everyone's finally here."

Alice put down her cup and looked up at her: "Chen Yuxing, it's a pity we weren't in the same division during the preliminary rounds, so I didn't have a chance to compete with you."

"The quarterfinals of the main competition are decided by drawing lots, and I hope I can be drawn against you."

"I hope so, but if I draw you, I won't hold back." Chen Yuxing said as he sat down.

"You!" Alice was taken aback by his nonchalant attitude. She was a little angry and wanted to say something, but she quickly regained her elegance, took a sip of water, and said, "If we were in the same group, I would show you the true power of molecular gastronomy."

Tadokoro Megumi also sat down next to Chen Yuxing, with her hands on her knees and a very serious demeanor, which was a stark contrast to the other contestants around her.

Soma Yukihira then sat down next to Takumi.

"Is everyone here?" Soma Yukihira checked the number of people.

"Yes, everyone is here."

Isshiki Satoshi walked to the center of the room, placed the things he was carrying on the table, clapped his hands, and said, "Let's begin."

He reached out and pushed the two boxes to the center of the table, then looked around at everyone present.

"The eight contestants present here will be the main participants in this autumn selection competition."

"First of all, let me congratulate you. Being able to stand here after making it out of so many people in the preliminaries proves your strength."

Isshiki Satoshi pointed to the box on the left.

"This box contains everyone's names; it's used to draw lots to determine your group assignments for the competition."

"The rules are also very simple. The first round of the main competition is a quarter-final elimination tournament, which is a one-on-one match. In this elimination tournament, players from the same preliminary round will not meet. That is to say, in this quarter-final, all four matches will be between players from Group A and players from Group B."

Upon hearing this rule, Tadokoro Megumi became a little nervous again.

She came from Group B, so she only had four opponents: Chen Yuxing, Hayama Ryo, Yukihira Soma, and Kurokiba Ryo. No matter which one it was, it would put her under a lot of pressure.

Satoshi Isshiki patted the box on his right and continued, "This box contains the questions for each match. There are four questions in total, corresponding to the four semi-final matches."

"We'll have to wait until the groups are drawn, then we'll draw the questions one by one in order."

Alice raised her hand and asked, "So, the first contestant from Group A to be drawn will compete against the first contestant from Group B to be drawn, and then the questions for the competition will be drawn, right? So, do we draw them ourselves or will you, senior, draw them? And how is the order of drawing the questions determined?"

“That’s how it is. As for the subsequent drawing, I will draw them. The order of the questions will be arranged in the order they are drawn. Does anyone else have any questions?” Isshiki Satoshi explained and then looked at everyone.

Everyone shook their heads to indicate that there were no problems, and Isshiki Satoshi nodded.

"Okay, then I'll draw the group assignments for the competition first."

Isshiki Satoshi reached into the box on the left and stirred it around for a while, then took out two slips of paper of different colors.

He opened the first note, and the name on it was Chen Yuxing.

Chen Yuxing didn't react when he saw his name being drawn; he just sat there in a daze.

Satoshi Isshiki then opened the second slip of paper, which bore the name—Alice Nakiri.

"Then the first match of the quarterfinals will be between Chen Yuxing and Nakiri Alice."

“Then there’s the question selection—” Isshiki Satoshi said, reaching into another box, pulling out a slip of paper, and opening it to read: “Oh? It’s a very interesting question.”

"convenient."

"convenient?"

Everyone present was a little stunned. This question was really simple, since everyone has eaten a bento box before. But it was also difficult, since bento boxes need to consider flavor, nutritional balance, appearance, and overall portability. There are some requirements.

"It's a bento box..." Soma Yukihira stroked his chin, thinking, "This seems like a challenge for Hoshino."

"Looks like my luck is pretty good." Alice didn't react much. She took a sip of water, then interlaced her fingers in front of her and looked at Chen Yuxing.

“Chen Yuxing, it seems we’ll be facing off in the very first round. What are your thoughts?” Alice said with a smile. “I’m really curious to see what the result will be when your Chinese cuisine meets my molecular gastronomy.”

Chen Yuxing rubbed his temples.

"Ah...it seems so."

"Then please take care of me, Alice."

“You’ll be amazed by my molecular gastronomy when the time comes,” Alice declared, arms crossed. “My only target is Erina. I will not lose to anyone before I defeat her, not even you.”

Chen Yuxing didn't say anything more, just gave her a nod and continued looking at Isshiki Satoshi.

Isshiki Satoshi continued to draw the second set of slips of paper.

"Group A - Akira Hayama".

When Hayama Akira saw that he had been chosen, he finally turned around.

"Group B - Megumi Tadokoro".

"The second match of the quarterfinals is between Ryo Hayama and Megumi Tadokoro."

Isshiki Satoshi took out the question and continued, "The question is: Home-style cooking."

Xiao Hui trembled the moment she heard her name called.

Ryo Hayama, the guy who tied for first place with Chen Yuxing in the Group A preliminary round with 96 points.

Moreover, his divine sense of smell and control over spices had already been demonstrated before.

Xiao Hui had been worried about what would happen if she drew Ye Shanliang or Chen Yuxing, and now that she actually did, it was exactly what she feared.

She turned her head and glanced at Chen Yuxing, who at that moment also turned his head to look at her.

Chen Yuxing didn't offer any inspirational platitudes; he simply said two words: "Keep going."

But for Xiaohui, it was like a reassurance. She calmed down, nodded, and then looked back at the long table.

Satoshi Isshiki had already taken out the third set of slips of paper.

"Group A - Ryo Kurokiba".

Kurokiba Ryo, who had been seemingly asleep, opened his eyes when he heard his name called.

"Group B - Hisako Shinto".

Hisako Shirato sat up straight instinctively when her name was called.

She turned to look at Kurokiba Ryo and found that he was also staring at her.

"Erina's little follower and my follower..." Alice was also a little surprised. "How interesting."

“The last two don’t need to draw lots.” Isshiki Satoshi pushed the white box aside. “Yukihira Soma and Takumi Aldini, you two will automatically become the fourth group to participate in the competition.”

"Hahaha! Soma Yukihira! It seems Lady Luck is still on my side!"

Takumi suddenly stood up and walked up to Soma Yukihira, staring at him with eyes full of fighting spirit: "My opponent in the end is still you!"

Soma Yukihira also stood up and stared at Takumi; the air was thick with the acrid smell of their gazes meeting.

“Ha! You’re right!” Soma Yukihira said, extending his hand to Takumi. “I’d like to see who’s stronger between us.”

“I’m the one who should say that!” Takumi retorted, shaking Yukihira Soma’s hand in return.

"Alright, that concludes the lottery draw."

"There is still about a week and a half until the fall selection competition. Everyone can go back and rest well or prepare now."

Isshiki Satoshi clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention and then announced.

……

A week and a half passed quickly, and before we knew it, it was time for the competition.