Chapter 1005

"I made some rice balls, would everyone like to have some?"

The training camp location was at the Totsuki Resort near Mount Fuji, which was still nearly a three-hour bus ride from the Totsuki Academy main campus in Tokyo; after the vehicle had traveled for two hours, Tadokoro Megumi suddenly remembered the bento she had made this morning and spoke to the person beside her.

But as soon as she finished speaking, the girl realized that the person she was addressing was one of the Elite Ten, Nakiri Erina, and this young lady, propping her chin, opened her eyes from her rest and looked at the braided girl beside her with a slightly scrutinizing gaze.

"If you don't want to eat, it's fine————"

Tadokoro Megumi hurriedly added.

"Rice balls, what kind of rice balls?"

Nakiri Erina was actually a bit hungry; she usually didn't eat much for breakfast, and at this time normally she would be in her own cooking room developing or practicing cooking, so she wouldn't get hungry at all.

"Ah, I made three flavors of rice balls: Salted Green Onion Chicken Breast Rice Ball, Braised Kelp Cheese Rice Ball, and Honey Garlic Marinated Pork Rice Ball."

Hearing Nakiri Erina's question, Tadokoro Megumi hurriedly answered, and incidentally opened the double-layer insulated lunch box in her hand, revealing the three differently colored rice balls inside.

"This is called a rice ball, but it's more like sushi, isn't it?"

Hisako Arato, sitting in the back, also caught sight of the contents of Tadokoro Megumi's insulated lunch box through the gap in the seats, and subconsciously gave her evaluation.

"Indeed, I made them small on purpose, because it's not a proper meal; it was originally meant to just tide us over on the road."

Tadokoro Megumi nodded in explanation.

"Do you have chopsticks?"

Nakiri Erina asked.

", Erina-sama, you want to eat?"

In the back, Hisako Arato was somewhat taken aback.

"The bento's appearance looks pretty good; tasting a little wouldn't be out of the question."

Erina said, but actually it was because she had just said she was easy to get along with.

However, specifically how to get along with others, Nakiri Erina actually didn't have much practical experience.

Normally, the relationships around her rarely had equals; more were superior-subordinate, like the situation with Mito Ikumi and her.

Or the relationship between appraiser and appraised, like those chefs who came visiting, asking her to appraise their cooking.

And for ordinary classmates to truly want to converse with her, they needed to pass the gate of her childhood friend secretary, Hisako Arato.

It could be said that normally, it was all Hisako Arato handling interpersonal relationships for her; Nakiri Erina didn't need to worry about it herself at all.

But now it was different; having just said she was easy to get along with, she couldn't very well turn around and hand the interpersonal relations handling back to Hisako Arato.

So, Nakiri Erina could only operate using her only theoretical experience of getting along with people, which came from comic books.

【In this kind of plot similar to a school trip, when classmates share food, you definitely have to taste some; that's the only way to show you fit in with the group.】

Nakiri Erina thought in her heart; not to mention her stomach really was a bit hungry, even if she weren't hungry she would still have to eat, to maintain the easy-to-get-along-with persona she had just established.

"Uh, Nakiri-san, you won't evaluate my rice ball cooking with an appraiser's method, will you?"

Hearing Erina really intended to eat, Tadokoro Megumi instead became nervous; among Totsuki Academy students, not every one has the courage to let the God Tongue evaluate their own cooking.

"This————"

Nakiri Erina originally wanted to say she would, but considering this was just a normal situation of classmates sharing food, making a big deal out of a cooking appraisal would be a bit much, so she changed her words: "Naturally not."

"That's good."

Tadokoro Megumi relaxed.

"However, I didn't bring chopsticks, only disposable gloves."

Of course, if it weren't for considering this was eating on the bus, not too convenient to wash hands, perhaps even gloves wouldn't need to be prepared.

"I don't need them————"

Everyone was given a pair of disposable gloves; Mito Ikumi originally wanted to refuse.

"Don't be polite, I made plenty of rice balls."

However, Tadokoro Megumi was very enthusiastic.

【Could it be she wants to use her own cooking, in front of me, to prove her own strength?】

Mito Ikumi thought so, and didn't firmly refuse.

【Fine, then let me see your strength as a chef; books all say, to capture a man's heart you must capture his stomach; if your cooking skill is inferior to mine, don't blame me for snatching Broly away from your side————】

Tadokoro Megumi held the insulated lunch box, letting each person take one flavor of rice ball they liked; when it came to Mito Ikumi's turn, she discovered this person was looking at her with a fiery gaze, which left this braided girl completely bewildered.

"The chicken breast in this rice ball has very tender meat shreds, yet still retains a bit of chewiness; you used chicken soup to briefly blanch the chicken breast, then shredded it and mixed it with salted green onion sauce to top the rice ball?"

Nakiri Erina's first bite was the Salted Green Onion Chicken Breast Rice Ball; the small rice ball had just entered her mouth when she tasted something different, and directly asked, but calling it a question is less accurate than saying she directly deduced the rice ball's preparation method.

"Mm, chicken soup preserves the original flavor, shredding it allows better absorption of the salted green onion sauce."

"Hmm, chicken soup can preserve the original flavor, and shredding it into silk allows it to better absorb the salt-onion sauce."

"Low-temperature slow cooking could also produce this tenderness, but to have the flavor penetrate, this method retaining a certain fibrous texture is indeed better."

Hisako Arato, after tasting, also gave an agreeing opinion.

After tasting, Hisako Arato also gave her agreeing opinion.

Broly was already eating his second piece.

"Worthy of Komekko; as long as she's not nervous and performs at her normal level, the rice balls she makes are this delicious."

Yoshino Yuuki was also chewing the small rice ball in her mouth with a face full of satisfaction, not stingy with her praise.

【The taste indeed has nothing to nitpick, but more important is this rice————】

Nakiri Erina looked at the small rice ball in her hand; the rice grains were distinct, and the chewing elasticity was even stronger.

It was very obvious this wasn't made with a rice cooker, but rather a wooden bucket was selected, the rice soaked first then steamed.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to control the moisture this well.

Nakiri Erina quickly finished the chicken breast rice ball in her hand, then took a second flavor.

Nakiri Erina quickly ate the chicken breast rice ball in her hand, then took a second flavor.

【Using both Mozzarella Cheese and Parmesan Cheese, the cheese flavor is rich but not excessive; the umami sweetness provided by the kelp is fused just right————】

Immediately following is the third type.

【Part of the lard was removed from the pork belly, after long-time stewing it was taken out to air-dry, then marinated with miso, garlic paste,

honey, and sake; this degree of flavor penetration, it was marinated at least overnight; in the morning hot rice was used to wrap the diced meat pieces, the solidified fat melted again and seeped into the rice————

Even Nakiri Erina's God Tongue actually found the taste of this Honey Garlic Marinated Pork Rice Ball great, acknowledging it had skill.

【Tadokoro Megumi, not a Transfer Student, but never heard this name before; originally thought she was a character with ordinary cooking capability, yet unexpectedly her cooking level is actually pretty good————】

"Did you make all this by yourself?"

After tasting the three flavors of small rice balls, Nakiri Erina thought for a moment then asked the twisted-braid girl beside her.

"Uh, cough cough, I made it by myself."

Tadokoro Megumi was nearly choked, coughed twice, then answered her question.

"Quite meticulous, took quite a bit of effort, right?"

"It's fine, didn't take that much effort either."

"At most just the pork marination needs to be done in advance, the rice needs controlled soaking time, when simmering the mixed cheese kelp sauce you need to pay attention to the heat and so on————"

"Are you interested in joining my Sixth Cooking Building?"

"?"

Nakiri Erina's sudden invitation not only surprised Tadokoro Megumi, even the others were surprised.

"Erina-sama, inviting her to join the Sixth Cooking Building, isn't that a bit excessive?"

Mito Ikumi was the first to jump out and express doubt.

"How so, do you think she lacks the qualification to join?"

Nakiri Erina turned back and asked her.

"No, I just think, to join your Sixth Cooking Building, one's grades in the academy should be sufficiently excellent no matter what."

"True, but paper grades aren't the only standard; right now I've eaten her cooking, acknowledged her skill, that's enough."

From the details one can see a chef's degree of meticulousness toward cooking; many ordinary chefs always feel cooking with taste about the same is fine.

Little do they know, before her God Tongue, a tiny bit of cutting corners in handling the cooking is the dividing line of a chef's capability level.

The girl beside her cooking talent is hard to say for now, but as a chef, this kind of serious attitude toward cooking, in Nakiri Erina's eyes already counts as qualified.

"How about it, what's your reply?"

Nakiri Erina looked at Tadokoro Megumi.

"Ah, Nakiri-san, ve-very happy my skill could obtain your acknowledgment, but, I've already joined the Local Cuisine Research Society."

Tadokoro Megumi came back to her senses, then answered in a trembling voice.

"That's simple, you just withdraw from the club, come join my Sixth Cooking Building, I can promise, whatever resources you had in your original club, the Sixth Cooking Building side can give you double."

Nakiri Erina spoke lavishly; although the Local Cuisine Research Society also counts as a comparatively strong academy club, compared to the Sixth Cooking Building led by her, it still falls a bit short in appeal; at least, in terms of giving people resources, few in the academy can compare to her.

"No, it's not a resource matter, just the Sixth Cooking Building mainly researches French cuisine, while what I like is local cuisine."

"Oh, is that so, then there's no way."

"Uh, Nakiri-san, you won't make things difficult for me and make me drop out just because I refused you, right?"

Seeing her calm expression, Tadokoro Megumi felt somewhat worried inside, couldn't help but ask.

"Haha, you're overthinking; cooking preference can't be forced; although I'm good at all cuisine systems, in the local cuisine aspect I also don't feel I'm necessarily stronger than those guys in the Local Cuisine Research Society; since there's no advantage over the Local Cuisine Research Society, and it's impossible to have too much time to personally guide you, naturally I won't make things difficult for you and force you to join the Sixth Cooking Building."

"Phew, then I'm relieved————"

Tadokoro Megumi let out a long exhale.

"Speaking of which, is the impression I give you really that petty?"

Nakiri Erina raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Ah, no, you're very generous————"

Tadokoro Megumi hurriedly waved her hand.

"For————"

Kitsune Yuhime wanted to say something, but the Sakaki Ryouko beside her covered her mouth with quick eyes and fast hands.

"What do you want to say?"

Nakiri Erina turned her head back and asked.

"Nothing, she just got choked by a rice ball."

Sakaki Ryouko answered in place of the gold-haired bun-head girl.

"I see, Hisako, didn't you bring tea? Pour her a cup then."

"Okay, Erina-sama."

Hisako Arato obeyed and poured a cup for Kitsune Yuhime.

"Why didn't you let me speak?"

Kitsune Yuhime finished the tea, then leaned close to Sakaki Ryouko's ear and asked in a low voice.

【Soma's matter, we knowing is enough; you directly preparing to ride in their face and output like this, do you really want the other party to give Megumi the cold shoulder?】

Sakaki Ryouko didn't speak, instead typed on her own phone, showing it to the gold-haired bun-head girl.

"Uh————"

Kitsune Yuhime only felt this reasoning was very sound, completely unable to refute.

【Damn, truly a formidable rival!】

On the other side, Mito Ikumi had already unilaterally established a rival relationship with Tadokoro Megumi.

One hour later, the luxury bus fleet arrived at the Totsuki Resort near Mount Fuji; the conical snowy mountain scenery came into the students' view through the windows.

A luxury building erected deep in the mountains, along with its accompanying array of restaurants — this is a genuine, bona fide culinary-themed resort sanctuary.

"Reportedly, staying here for one night starts at a minimum of eighty thousand yen————"

"Haha, it's just eighty thousand yen."

If it were Soma Yukihira before he ran the night market stall, he would definitely have been shocked by this.

As for now, the savings in his hand could barely afford one night's consumption.

"So many restaurants."

Broly swallowed his saliva.

"You want to eat?"

Erina glanced at him and asked.

"Mhm, I've already tasted the cooking of Totsuki Academy's enrolled students, it was very delicious, so naturally I have expectations for these shops operated with graduate involvement."

Broly spoke the honest truth.

"Expectations are fine, but if you want to eat to your heart's content here, you'd better feel your own wallet and see if it's bulging."

"What do you mean?"

"The meaning is, consumption here isn't low; if you didn't bring enough money, you might not even be able to eat through one street's worth of restaurant cooking."

Hisako answered in Erina's place.

"Don't worry, Broly, if you don't have enough money, I can treat you."

Ikumi Mito, who had gotten out of the car behind them and followed along, inserted herself into the conversation.

The Japanese culinary world, from the family of the leading beef supplier — yet Ikumi Mito is a genuine, bona fide rich woman who spends lavishly.

Hearing this, Broly's eyes brightened; just as he was about to say something, he heard Nakiri Erina let out a cold snort: "Let's not talk about eating cooking first; don't forget we're here to do cooking."

"Then after we finish cooking, we go eat?"

Broly replied readily.

"All you know is eating; first help us carry our luggage to the rooms, then we'll talk."

Nakiri Erina said unpleasantly.

"Okay."

Broly agreed readily, obligingly helping to pick up the luggage.

Of course, not only carrying Nakiri Erina and the others', but also carrying Tadokoro Megumi and the others'.

The luggage of six girls, he stacked steadily and securely, walking with it easily balanced in his hands.

The Stagiaire students, the staff of the Totsuki Resort Grand Hotel — all without exception cast admiring glances at him.

After putting down the luggage, the group of seven went downstairs again.

Nearly a thousand first-year high school students of Totsuki Academy gathered in the resort hotel's grand hall.

"Good morning, everyone; from now on, I will briefly introduce the content of this Stagiaire————

Teacher Roland stepped onto the lectern, quieting the somewhat restless students.

"Six days five nights is the time you will stay here; during this period, you will be divided into multiple groups, consecutively handling cooking-related assignments every day.

Students ranked lower in the instructors' evaluations will directly lose Stagiaire qualifications; in other words, they will face the academy's forced repatriation and be expelled.

Regarding the assignments' review, we invited multiple Guest Instructors; for this Stagiaire, they tore themselves away from busy schedules to come — Totsuki Academy graduates————"

The side door opened, a group of young men and women wearing white chef uniforms filed in, and they are the ones who formally graduated from Totsuki Academy with its single-digit graduation rate.

Each one has their own restaurant, serving as both boss and head chef; some culinary magazines frequently feature their news — they belong to true Michelin Star Chefs, successful people!

When their news arrives, it will belong to a true Michelin Star Chef, a successful person!