Food Wars: Taste Reversal

In the back lobby of the hotel, which had been renovated into Cooking Room No. 3, Shiraki and Megumi were assigned to this room. Alongside him were several familiar faces, including Soma Yukihira, Takumi, and Isami.

As soon as Shiraki entered the classroom, he felt a burning gaze. Needless to say, it was Takumi. After failing in his last attempt to provoke Shiraki, Takumi had learned his lesson and was now determined to challenge him again. However, his efforts were thwarted by Soma Yukihira, sent by Shiraki as a diversion. In this regard, Shiraki's tactics proved to be quite effective.

"Everyone's here."

At this moment, Hinako Inui, the lecturer of this cooking room, spoke into a microphone. Smiling as she surveyed the room, she said, "I will divide you into pairs based on the groups from Lecturer Chapelle's class. Please proceed to your designated cooking stations."

Upon hearing her words, the students quickly partnered up according to their previous groupings in Chapelle's class. Those who were unpaired soon found someone to team up with.

Shiraki remained in the same group as Megumi, while Soma Yukihira was paired with the "little fat man" he had partnered with in the previous class. Takumi, on the other hand, teamed up with Isami.

"Great, I'm in a group with Shiraki-kun…" Megumi Todokoro said with relief, patting her chest.

"It's okay, don't be nervous. The topic for this assessment will likely involve creating a dish using the local ingredients here," Shiraki said, pointing to the natural scenery outside the window.

"Local ingredients?" Megumi Tasho looked out the window in confusion, seeing only a stream and the lush mountain landscape. The cooking room indeed appeared to lack any visible ingredients. Would they really have to source their own materials?

As they pondered, the other students began asking Hinako Inui about the assessment's details.

"Hm… The topic is to create a main dish in Japanese cuisine using ingredients from this area," Hinako announced, gesturing toward the courtyard with a smile.

"The ingredients here?"

"But there's nothing here…"

The students stared blankly at the empty cooking room.

"Yes," Hinako continued, gesturing toward the outdoors. "The clear streams and abundant nature here provide a treasure trove of excellent ingredients. This area, including this building, has been part of Far Moon School Park's private property for ages. However, crossing the marked railings will result in disqualification. As long as you gather your ingredients within the designated area and prepare a dish that satisfies me, you'll pass!"

"The tools and fishing rods in the warehouse are at your disposal, as are the available seasonings. You have a two-hour time limit. Let's begin!"

Hinako clapped her hands, signaling the start.

"Really… we're using local materials?" Megumi Tasho was momentarily stunned. She couldn't help but admire Shiraki's foresight in predicting the exam question.

"Let's go fishing," Shiraki decided. He recalled the A-grade cooking card he had drawn—salt-baked grilled fish—which would be sufficient to pass. Without hesitation, he pulled Megumi along.

Just then, a system notification popped up:

[Ding! First task of the serial task: Pass Hinako Inui's assessment. Time limit: 2 hours. Reward: 600 points, random draw x1.]

"Hey, transfer student! Let's settle things with a competition!" Takumi's voice rang out behind them.

Focused on the system's prompt, Shiraki instinctively grabbed the confused Soma Yukihira nearby and declared, "Okay, no problem! Soma accepts your challenge. You two go for it!"

Before anyone could react, Shiraki and Megumi left the cooking room.

"Wait, Shiraki… Forget it. I don't even know what's happening, but I guess we're doing this?" Soma shrugged, now standing face-to-face with Takumi.

"Who said I wanted to challenge you, last-place loser!" Takumi snapped, glaring in the direction Shiraki had gone. Isami, standing behind him, laughed mercilessly.

"Ignored again, huh, brother? This is so embarrassing…"

"Shut up, Isami! Are you siding with him now?" Takumi shouted, red-faced.

Isami's laughter only grew louder. Meanwhile, outside by the river, Shiraki and Megumi found themselves surrounded by other students, each vying for a good fishing spot.

Although Shiraki's choice to fish seemed conventional, Takumi couldn't help but think that Shiraki must have some sort of strategy. With a two-hour time limit and limited resources, every student was scrambling for fish, which only increased the difficulty of both fishing and standing out.

"Brother, why are you standing here? Aren't we going up the mountain?" Isami's voice snapped Takumi out of his thoughts.

Taking one last look at the river, Takumi made his decision. He wouldn't lose to Shiraki this time, no matter what.

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