Opportunity

Chapter 314: Opportunity

Xu Yue did not know how to make Nine Vegetable French Jelly.

Even the space had begun trying to sell him "convenience services," but he ignored them.

With nine vegetables mixed and paired together, his taste perception and copying ability would let him learn it from Yukihira Soma nearby.

Besides…

For Shinomiya Kojiro, this was an opportunity for a Food Wars! match where he could farm a favorable evaluation!

This time, Xu Yue had practically finished the dish alongside Yukihira Soma.

He had not tampered with it or drugged it either. He had properly completed a passable dish, then stood to one side and waited.

Waited for the country girl, Tadokoro Megumi, to appear!

"Tadokoro Megumi, expelled."

After tasting Tadokoro Megumi’s dish, Shinomiya Kojiro casually delivered that judgment.

"Then this is the last dish. Students being expelled, gather in the hall and wait for the bus back to school. That’s all."

Having given his final evaluation, Shinomiya Kojiro rose directly to his feet, ignoring Tadokoro Megumi’s stiff expression.

Before Tadokoro Megumi could react, Xu Yue stepped forward first and voiced his objection.

"Chef Shinomiya, I think there is a problem with your evaluation this time."

Xu Yue’s easygoing smile made Shinomiya Kojiro pause, before he found it rather amusing.

"It has been a long time since anyone dared question me in my own kitchen. You should understand that I am the head chef."

Yet Xu Yue completely ignored Shinomiya Kojiro’s words and merely sniffed the air.

"The only flaw in this dish should be that she failed to get fresh cauliflower. But Tadokoro Megumi used red wine vinegar, using it to bleach the oxidized cauliflower and give it a more beautiful color. At the same time, she paired the vegetables’ sweetness with the vinegar’s faint tartness, creating a perfect balance."

Xu Yue laid out the dish’s strengths and weaknesses as though reciting familiar treasures, making Shinomiya Kojiro, who had been about to do something, freeze for a moment.

He could discover the issue after tasting it because he had designed the dish himself. He was already intimately familiar with it, and no variation could escape his judgment.

This girl had handled the problem quite well. The only thing he disliked was that she had altered his recipe without permission!

Yet this student had not even tasted it. He had merely taken a sniff and already understood every detail of the dish!

This guy’s talent…

"Oh? No wonder you dared question me. You do have some skill."

Shinomiya Kojiro adjusted his glasses, an intrigued smile appearing on his face.

This strange confrontation filled all the nearby students, including the two Reincarnators, with fear.

Someone actually dared defy this demon king of a chef? He was practically courting death!

And yet, this demon king did not seem particularly angry. He even appeared to acknowledge the other party somewhat.

Did that mean everything he had said earlier was correct?

He had not even tasted the dish, yet he could make such an accurate judgment. So the rumors that he possessed the God Tongue were true!

Another God Tongue!

This was absolutely earth-shaking news for the culinary world!

The world was about to change.

No wonder this transfer student was so formidable.

Yukihira Soma, who had also been watching, and Tadokoro Megumi, one of the people involved, were both filled with worry for Xu Yue.

Who knew what decision this unreasonable teacher might make!

"So, Chef Shinomiya, did you expel her because she altered your dish without permission?"

Before Shinomiya Kojiro could explain himself, Xu Yue stated his reason for him.

"That’s right. An assistant must have the awareness of an assistant. As the head chef, how could I allow a mere assistant to alter my recipe without permission?"

The smile on Shinomiya Kojiro’s face vanished, replaced by cold indifference. His lofty, condescending attitude was on full display.

"Since you have some talent, I will forgive you this time. But if you dare defy me again, I will use my authority as head chef to throw you out as well."

As soon as he said that, Tadokoro Megumi rushed up from behind and hugged Xu Yue, clamping a hand tightly over his mouth. Though tears filled her eyes as she faced expulsion, she refused to let go.

"Enough, Lord Yue, don’t say anything more!"

"No, Lord Yue will get expelled too… right? You don’t need to say anything else. It’s fine now, hehe, I’m fine… You don’t need to worry about me anymore."

Tadokoro Megumi had Elite Ten-level potential, and the greatest reason was that she always considered others. No matter what kind of diner she faced, she would think for them and attend to every detail concerning them.

Even now, when she herself was being expelled, even as tears of sorrow ran down her face, she still worried that Xu Yue would be expelled because of her and stepped in to stop him.

Xu Yue turned to look at Tadokoro Megumi’s tearful smile, but his eyes remained cold and indifferent.

Sorry, country girl. I cannot really understand how you feel right now, nor do I understand what you people call bonds and companions.

I am merely pursuing my own goal. No matter the process, as long as I can achieve the result I want…

Then…

There is no problem…

For a moment, a blond back clad in a Miko Robe flashed unbidden through Xu Yue’s mind, only to disperse completely afterward and turn back into a stagnant pool.

As Tadokoro Megumi held onto Xu Yue, Yukihira Soma, who was not restrained, stepped forward as well.

One was a friend, and one was a roommate. He could not just watch them get expelled.

"Excuse me, Senior Shinomiya, but I have one more question."

"Oh? Yukihira, do you have a question too?"

Shinomiya Kojiro’s bright, handsome smile returned to his face.

"Does that rule also apply to graduates? The one about Food Wars!…"

"…If we defeat you in a Food Wars! match, can that expulsion order be withdrawn?"

Yukihira Soma had made exactly the same move as Xu Yue. The difference was that Xu Yue acted entirely for the sake of his ultimate objective, while Yukihira Soma acted without considering the consequences at all.

Yet strangely, these two people, whose personalities and methods were entirely different, had made nearly the same choice at this moment, like a circle returning to its starting point.

That was rather ironic…

"Food Wars!? It has been so long since I heard that term."

Shinomiya Kojiro’s face was full of nostalgia.

The other students, upon hearing Yukihira Soma’s words, were rendered speechless.

What day was this? Why were people popping up one after another to challenge the head chef?

Did they know who Shinomiya Kojiro was?!

He had once held the First Seat of the Elite Ten Council, the reigning king of cuisine!

Having been tempered by reality, his culinary skills would only have become more refined.

A Food Wars! match between a transfer student and a graduate?

How had he even come up with that?

Even so, they all admired the courage of these people.

Of course, along with that admiration came mockery of their stupidity.

"But why should I accept? I have no obligation to play house with you."

Shinomiya Kojiro raised a hand and waved it dismissively.

He flatly rejected Yukihira Soma’s proposal.

At that moment, Xu Yue removed Tadokoro Megumi’s hand. She had been somewhat dazed, unsure whom she should cover next. He spoke softly.

"Senior Shinomiya’s SHINO’S is about to open, isn’t it?"

"Hm? What are you trying to say?"

At the mention of his restaurant, Shinomiya Kojiro could not help frowning.

"Oh, nothing. I have followed Senior Shinomiya for a long time. During your first round of financing, my company happened to acquire 5.25% of the shares. How about we use that stake as the wager for this Food Wars! match?"

Xu Yue wore a warm, brilliant smile as he straightened the collar Tadokoro Megumi had pulled crooked.

"Allow me to introduce myself again. My name is Xu Yue. I am a real estate developer. Well, the unscrupulous kind…"