Food Wars: Taste Reversal

After the first assessment, the students returned to the hotel by bus. At the entrance, those from different cooking rooms gathered. Yūki Yoshino waved excitedly at Megumi Tadokoro and the others as they disembarked.

"Sōma, Shiraki, are you all right?" Yūki called out.

Megumi, upon seeing Yūki, rushed over and embraced her, tears of relief welling up. "Thanks to Shiraki-kun, we passed safely. Sōma-kun's group also made it through."

"Ryōko and I aced the assessment too!" Yūki beamed, patting Megumi's shoulder. "Really, Megumi, you're the last person we need to worry about."

"Yes, yes... By the way, where is everyone else?" Megumi glanced around, noticing only a few familiar faces.

"I just confirmed by phone; everyone from Polar Star Dormitory survived the first day safely," Jun Ibusaki reported, lowering his phone and giving a reassuring nod.

Megumi and Yūki sighed in relief. "That's great news..."

"Marui... did he survive like this?" Sōma observed Zenji Marui, who lay on the ground, appearing utterly drained.

"Leave him be! Now we can finally relax—dinner, hot springs... and luxury rooms!" Yūki's eyes sparkled with excitement. "This hotel costs 80,000 yen per night! Megumi-chan, Ryōko, let's go! I can't wait to roll around on a soft, comfortable bed... I'm exhausted from today! We need to make up for it!"

As Yūki fantasized about the upcoming relaxation, a group of muscular men with a commanding presence appeared at the hotel's entrance.

Chef Hitoshi Sekimori, dressed in a traditional kimono, led the group of bodybuilders to the front of the students. He surveyed the weary candidates and announced, "Everyone who passed the first day of training is here. Now, let's commence the second assessment of the day. Considering your fatigue, you'll only need to prepare dinner for our guests; afterward, you're free to relax."

He gestured toward the hungry bodybuilders behind him. The students stared in shock at the imposing figures.

"Who are they?!" a student exclaimed, eyes wide.

"They are members of the bodybuilding club from Upper Arm University, currently training nearby. Members of the football and wrestling teams will also arrive shortly," Sekimori explained.

"Fifty servings?!" another student gasped. "Is this a joke?"

"I'm exhausted!" a voice wailed from the crowd.

Sekimori's expression remained stern. "During this training camp, the academy will not provide your meals. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are your responsibility. Be prepared. As for today's second assessment, anyone who fails to complete fifty servings within sixty minutes will be expelled immediately."

The weight of his words sank in, and panic spread among the students.

"Ingredients and cooking stations are prepared in the kitchen. If you understand the assessment, proceed to your stations immediately!" Sekimori commanded.

The students, despite their fatigue, rushed to the kitchen, eager to begin and avoid losing precious time.

Shiraki lingered momentarily, observing the demonstration dish—a beef set meal—presented by Sekimori. The meal included rice, beef, salad, soup, and a side dish, fitting the 'set meal' criteria. Utilizing his Insight, Shiraki assessed the dish's quality: Grade C.

Considering the students who had endured the morning's assessment, a Grade C dish was manageable. The real challenge lay in producing fifty servings within an hour. Shiraki pondered the possibility of adding his own twist to the 'beef-themed package,' but recalling a previous mishap with 'egg fried rice,' he decided to adhere strictly to the recipe.

"Let's hope nothing goes wrong this time," Shiraki muttered, entering the kitchen.

Inside, hundreds of students were already bustling about. Each cooking station was connected to a window, allowing diners to receive freshly prepared meals directly. The muscular guests hovered near the windows, eagerly awaiting their food.

Shiraki found an unoccupied station, reviewed the posted recipe, and began preparing the ingredients. With the experience gained from his time at Polar Star Dormitory, he worked methodically, processing the beef and side dishes before moving on to cooking.

Soon, his first beef rice set was ready. Unlike his previous meticulous approach, Shiraki followed the recipe with moderate precision, ensuring the dish matched the demonstration in appearance. However, recalling the 'egg fried rice' incident, he used his Insight to evaluate the meal before serving.

"Please, no surprises this time," he silently pleaded.

To his relief, the system displayed the dish's grade without issue. However, the result was unexpected:

Chemical and Biological Weapon

Palate: ? Grade

Taste: ? Grade

Effect: ???

Special Effect: ???

Overall Rating: ???

Evaluation: Appears to be a beef set meal but is, in fact, a biochemical weapon with lethal potential, capable of causing immediate and severe gastric distress.

"What?!" Shiraki's eyes widened in disbelief.

Despite following the recipe closely, the system's assessment was alarming. The dish looked and smelled like a standard beef set meal, but the evaluation suggested otherwise. Shiraki's mind raced as he considered the implications. Serving such a dish could have dire consequences, not only for the diners but also for his standing in the academy.