After deciding to enter Totsuki Academy, Haruto began systematically studying culinary arts.
The income from selling Regal Mammoth meat was quite substantial, which made Haruto’s studies much easier.
First, he purchased a large number of professional culinary reference books, ranging from basic ingredient handling manuals to Molecular Gastronomy and classic recipes from various national cuisines…
Not only that, Haruto also hired three private culinary tutors.
Thus, in the days that followed, the crisp sound of clashing cutlery, the sizzling of ingredients hitting the pot, and the gurgling of boiling stock intertwined to form a daily symphony.
And with his body strengthened by Gourmet Cells, Haruto’s current memory far surpassed that of ordinary people.
Those complicated formula ratios and the strict key points for fire control were memorized after just one reading.
His practical skills also improved at an astonishing rate.
The force required for tossing and turning a pan, the precision of his knife cuts—he could often grasp the knack after only a slight hint from his tutors, even extrapolating from one example to others.
With professional guidance supplemented by his innate talent, Haruto’s culinary skills could be said to be rapidly improving every day.
In just one month, Haruto had acquired the demeanor of a professional chef.
In addition to studying, Haruto also did not forget to savor fine cuisine.
From small, family-style shops hidden in alleyways to high-end restaurants perched atop skyscrapers, Haruto’s presence had been noted.
Thanks to the taste buds enhanced by his Gourmet Cells, Haruto could keenly capture the ingenuity behind every dish.
The dash of umami-boosting kelp added when simmering the stock, the perfectly proportioned lemon juice when marinating the roast meat, the hint of salty savoriness hidden within the sweet dessert Mousse.
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Every chew was a deconstruction and reconstruction of taste.
Every tasting deepened his understanding of cuisine…
Time quietly slipped away amidst such fulfilling study and tasting.
Finally, the day of the Totsuki Academy Transfer Student Exam arrived.
In the early morning, after finishing breakfast, Haruto took a ride to the outside of Totsuki Academy.
Quite a few Examinees had already arrived by then.
These Examinees were elegantly dressed, carrying an air of arrogance, and were accompanied by butlers and bodyguards.
This made Haruto, who was alone, seem out of place.
Haruto paid this no mind.
He calmly walked toward the main gate of Totsuki Academy.
At the main gate of Totsuki Academy, Yukihira Soma was tilting his head back, staring wide-eyed and bewildered at the academy before him.
He never imagined that the academy his father told him to take the Transfer Student Exam at was a luxurious establishment that occupied an entire mountain.
The Examinees coming and going were all impeccably dressed, looking like they were either wealthy or noble.
This made Yukihira Soma seriously doubt if this was truly a culinary academy.
To confirm this, he even called his father.
Thinking about having to study in an academy like this from now on!
Yukihira Soma felt an inexplicable sense of anticipation.
Just then, Yukihira Soma suddenly spotted Haruto approaching.
His eyes instantly lit up, and he immediately broke into a smile, waving and shouting toward Haruto.
“It’s you! The little boss who sells Barbecue!”
Seeing a familiar face made Yukihira Soma feel much more relaxed…
Yukihira Soma’s voice attracted the attention of quite a few people.
However, these people only glanced at the two of them before turning their heads away.
Haruto looked helplessly at Yukihira Soma, who was waving.
“Hello, Yukihira-san, we meet again.”
“However, if possible, please don’t call me the little boss who sells Barbecue anymore.”
“My name is Haruto; Jiang from Jiangshan, Yan from Yanhuang (China).”
Regardless, they would be classmates from now on.
He didn’t want to be called ‘the little boss who sells Barbecue’ the next time they met.
“Jiang… Yan… this name…”
Yukihira Soma mumbled the name, showing a hint of confusion.
Seeing Yukihira Soma confused, Haruto said calmly.
“That’s right, I am from China (China).”
“Eh—so that’s it!”
Yukihira Soma displayed an expression of sudden understanding.
Immediately afterward, he couldn’t help but exclaim!
“I can’t believe there are foreigners participating in the Totsuki Academy Transfer Student Exam!”
This statement left Haruto momentarily speechless.
He couldn’t very well say that he had been inexplicably’smuggled’ here and thus had no choice but to study at Totsuki.
“I plan to go in first to familiarize myself with the campus environment. Yukihira-san, would you like to join me?”
Haruto abruptly changed the subject.
“Sure, sure!”
Yukihira Soma immediately nodded upon hearing this, a smile spreading across his face.
“I was just wondering where to go!”
The scale of Totsuki Academy was far greater than imagined.
Culinary classrooms of vastly different styles were dotted along the tree-lined paths…
Yukihira Soma was dazzled, clicking his tongue in wonder.
Haruto appeared much calmer, only occasionally pausing to examine the nameplates on the culinary classrooms, a look of understanding in his eyes…
Before they knew it, the time for the Transfer Student Exam arrived.
The two followed the crowd into the examination venue.
It was an astonishingly spacious hall, already set up with dozens of cooking stations, the countertops fully equipped with all necessary culinary tools.
Examinees entered one after another, found their spots, and then began whispering amongst themselves.
Clearly, they were all curious about the upcoming Transfer Student Exam.
Until two figures walked in from the entrance at the back of the hall.
Instantly, the entire hall fell silent.
Nakiri Erina, walking in front, was wearing the Totsuki Academy uniform; her golden long hair cascaded over her shoulders like silk, and an air of nobility permeated her features.
Her gaze swept across the room with an almost critical scrutiny, causing every examinee who met her eyes to subconsciously hold their breath.
Following behind Nakiri Erina was a girl with short, purplish-pink hair, holding a thick stack of documents.
It was Nakiri Erina’s secretary, Arato Hisako.
“Miss Nakiri Erina!”
“It’s actually her who is responsible for reviewing the Transfer Student Exam?”
“It’s over, it’s over, this is troublesome…”
“…”
Low murmurs of surprise spread among the Examinees, casting a shadow over their faces.
Haruto remained composed; he had come prepared.
As for Yukihira Soma next to Haruto, he looked utterly bewildered.
He scratched his head and quietly asked Haruto.
“Who is that? She looks really formidable.”
Haruto glanced at Yukihira Soma and said calmly.
“Nakiri Erina, a student at Totsuki Academy, and naturally, the chief Examiner for this exam.”
Yukihira Soma nodded vaguely.
But having a student serve as the chief Examiner—that was something Yukihira Soma really couldn’t quite comprehend.