Everyday Life Starting with Food Wars

However, even Alice Nakiri has started visiting the Polar Star Dormitory recently, bringing Ryo Kurokiba with her.

"Hey you guys! Why are you coming to our Polaris Dormitory every day?"

Yoshino Yuuki stood in the middle of the living room with her hands on her hips, looking at the three women lying on the sofa with a helpless expression; "Especially you! Alice, don't you have your own molecular gastronomy research institute? Why do you still come here every day?"

Alice Nakiri was lying on the sofa reading a molecular gastronomy journal. Without looking up, she replied, "Oh, it wasn't my idea to come. It's just that Ryo wanted to have a cooking competition with Hoshino and Soma."

"What!? I didn't..."

Just as Kurokiba Ryo was about to say something, Alice glared at him and stopped him from speaking.

Opposite her, Mito Ikumi stood up. She had been bringing her own ingredients to the Polar Star Dormitory these past few days.

She got up, went into the kitchen, and stood at the counter next to Soma Yukihira.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Hojo Miyoko was asking Chen Yuxing questions about Hunan cuisine.

"Ah Xing, how long does it take for the chopped chili peppers you used in the competition to ferment? I tried it at home a few times, but the taste just didn't feel right."

"You should use Erjingtiao chili peppers for chopped chili, but they're probably hard to find in Japan. You could try Qingyang chili peppers instead," Chen Yuxing replied while cooking.

“I see.” Miyoko Hojo nodded thoughtfully.

"Hojo, you're a little too obsessed with Chinese food."

Mito Ikumi looked at her with some confusion: "Your family's Hojo House is already quite famous, isn't it?"

“It’s famous, but it’s still far from authentic Chinese cuisine,” Miyoko Hojo explained. “Ever since I came back from my trip to Guangzhou, I’ve discovered that many of the recipes at Hojo-ro have been modified to cater to Japanese tastes. I want to try making authentic Chinese food.”

Just then, there was another knock on the door of the Polar Star Dormitory.

Grandma Wenxu was visibly startled when she opened the door and saw who it was. Then she turned around and called out towards the kitchen, "Ah Xing, someone's here to see you!"

Hearing the sound, Chen Yuxing wiped his hands and came out, showing a surprised expression when he saw the person at the door.

It's Akira Hayama.

At this moment, Hayama Akira was standing at the door wearing a trench coat and carrying a large bag in his hand.

"Yayama-kun?" Chen Yuxing asked, somewhat surprised. "What brings you here?"

"I guess I was just passing by," Ye Shanliang replied simply.

Soma Yukihira poked his head out of the kitchen and perked up when he saw Akira Hayama: "Oh! Does that mean the four of us from the Autumn Election are all together again? Come on, come on!"

"..." Ye Shanliang glanced at him speechlessly and walked in.

Chen Yuxing poured Ye Shanliang a cup of tea. Ye Shanliang then put down the bag he was carrying and said to Chen Yuxing, "This is something Run asked me to bring for you."

"This contains saffron and some other spices, as well as some hybrid spices that she cultivated. She wanted you to try it out and see how it works."

Chen Yuxing picked up the spices and examined them; they were all in excellent condition.

"Please thank Professor Shiomi Jun for me." Chen Yuxing put away the bag.

Ye Shanliang nodded and prepared to leave.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait..."

Soma Yukihira rushed out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of fried rice: "Since you're here, have lunch before you leave."

"No, Run is still waiting for me..."

However, before Ye Shanliang could finish speaking, his stomach rumbled.

"Oh, don't be shy. Just take a copy back to the professor later."

Soma Yukihira gave a bright smile and handed the plate directly to Akira Hayama: "Besides, this is fried rice that I made with a new recipe. You can give me your feedback after you finish eating."

Unable to resist Soma's enthusiasm, Hayama Akira finally sat down and tried it.

"You put too much soy sauce in here, and what's this taste like?"

"Huh? Is there too much soy sauce? I think it's just right."

"As for the flavor you tasted, it was probably the oyster sauce and mushroom sauce I added."

"Overall it's not bad, just use less soy sauce."

"What? My soy sauce is definitely fine!"

"They definitely put in too much!"

Everyone in the living room laughed when they saw Soma Yukihira and Akira Hayama arguing about this.

Grandma Wenxu shook her head at the noisy scene and turned back to the kitchen to prepare some other dishes for everyone to enjoy.

……

This short week of rest passed quickly.

After the holiday, Totsuki Academy's courses resumed normally.

However, the same new pressures soon followed.

On-site training.

“The field training, simply put, means you’ll be cooking in a formal restaurant,” a teacher explained to the students from the podium. “The training will last for one week.”

"During this week, you will be sent to restaurants or food manufacturers that have partnerships with Totsuki for testing. Your final results will be determined based on the evaluation of your internship unit."

To put it more bluntly, you must achieve something noticeable before leaving the restaurant that selected you.

"Professor, what would happen if nothing changed before you left?" a student asked, extending his hand.

"That's simple. If you don't improve before the end of your field training, your grades will be failing." The professor replied with a smile. "As for the consequences of failing, as you all know, it means expulsion."

Upon hearing this, the entire classroom instantly fell silent.

Chen Yuxing sat in the back row, seemingly unconcerned. He didn't feel any pressure about the field training, after all, his experience from his previous life hadn't been wasted.

In fact, to be honest, he knows more about the operation of the restaurant's kitchen than most of the graduates from Totsuki Academy.

However, the other first-year students weren't so calm; they were all frantically taking notes.

"I heard that last year, a senior was assigned to a pig farm," Daigo Aoki whispered as he leaned closer.

"What can you learn at a pig farm?" Shoji Sato chimed in, seemingly eager to join the conversation.

“If the school has this place for us to go, then they must have their reasons!” Marui also joined in to chat with the others.

"Oh well, never mind! I'll just go wherever I'm assigned!" Soma Yukihira wasn't nervous at all; on the contrary, he looked excited.

"To be honest, I can't wait to go and make a big splash!"

……

Three days later, all the training assignment sheets were distributed to the students.

Chen Yuxing opened the envelope and pulled out the paper inside.

Internship Location: Ristorante F, Setagaya Ward

"Chef: Mizuhara Fuyumi"

The address above is very detailed, and the nearest transportation route is also marked.

But the head chef is actually Fuyumi Mizuhara.

I had some interaction with her when I was a graduate of the 79th class of Totsuki Academy and did residential training there.

"Ah Xing, how did you end up in the Italian restaurant?" Soma Yukihira peeked out from behind him. "Mizuhara Fuyumi... that name sounds familiar..."

"It's that short, green-haired head chef from the residential training program." Chen Yuxing returned the envelope.

At this moment, Isshiki Satoshi, who was in the living room, put down his teacup and said with a smile, "I actually know some inside information about this..."

"What? Isshiki-senpai, stop keeping me in suspense."

"It's because Mizuhara-senpai has been trying to push forward with the new reforms of Ristorante F, and it seems like the older folks in the kitchen are starting to oppose her now."

"That's why she needs the Autumn Tournament champion this time. Ah Xing, you should go and help her out."

"I see." Chen Yuxing stretched. "But the on-site training will only last a week, right? You can do it in a week."

"I think if it's you, Ah Xing, there's a high chance it's possible."

"Is Shiki-senpai really that confident in me? Looks like I need to work harder."

Isshiki Satoshi smiled but didn't say anything.

Two days later, the field training officially began.

Chen Yuxing changed into a clean black chef's uniform, packed his knife case, and set off.

Fuyumi Mizuhara's restaurant is near Yoyogi Park, and you'll need to transfer trains if you're coming from Totsuki Park.

At 9:30 a.m. sharp, Chen Yuxing stood at the entrance of Ristorante F.

The shop is very unassuming from the outside, with a faded wooden sign hanging on the threshold with some Italian writing on it.

The flowerbed at the entrance was also very well maintained, with purple flowers and spices planted inside.

"Excuse me—"

Chen Yuxing knocked on the door and went in: "I'm the intern who's here to report for duty today."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of hurried footsteps came from inside.

Immediately afterwards, a burly man wearing a chef's uniform and with a knife scar on his face came out.

"Oh? An intern?"

The burly man sized Chen Yuxing up and down, his eyes filled with obvious disdain. "Are you the autumn tournament champion sent by Totsuki Academy? You don't quite look like it..."

"Shut up, Kimura."

At that moment, Mizuhara Fuyumi's voice came from behind the burly man: "Who's the boss here, you or me? Now that he's here, give him a task instead of just standing there like an idiot."

The burly man glanced back at Mizuhara Fuyumi, opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he shut up and turned back to the kitchen.

Mizuhara Fuyumi walked up to Chen Yuxing and looked him over.

"You've changed quite a bit since your residential training program."

There was a hint of surprise in her eyes: "I've watched all the videos of the fall selection competition, and your dishes are all very interesting."

"I hope you can perform at your best in a real kitchen as well."

"I will do my best."

Chen Yuxing nodded.

"We have a lot of reservations for lunch, and it's getting close to mealtime, so we need to start preparing now."

"You should know how to make a full set of appetizers, main courses, and side dishes, right?"

"clear."