"Me too! Senior Isshiki, sorry!" Yuki Yoshino shouted loudly.
"Oh my... I actually lost, did I?" Satoshi Isshiki showed no signs of disappointment. Instead, he reached out a friendly hand toward Lexon with a rueful smile.
Lexon shook his hand briefly before letting go. "Then I'll have to ask you to arrange a Shokugeki with a member of the Elite Ten for me, Senior."
"No problem," Satoshi Isshiki nodded, though curiosity piqued his voice. "Lexon, can you tell me why you're so intent on becoming one of the Elite Ten? Is it really just to reach the summit of Totsuki as fast as possible? With your talent, there's no need to rush..."
"It's just that simple," Lexon replied.
"Is that so..." Satoshi Isshiki mused, sinking into thought.
"Next, it's Lexon-kun's turn to taste my cooking!" Yuki Yoshino chimed in, recalling Lexon's earlier promise.
"Alright," Lexon gave a slight nod.
"Great! I'm going to get the ingredients ready!" Yuki Yoshino rolled up her sleeves, looking like she was about to give it her all.
Judging by her expression, it was obvious the chickens, ducks, and other livestock she raised were about to suffer a grim fate.
"I'll go get mine ready too..." Megumi Tadokoro added. "I need to pick some vegetables from the garden..."
The two girls hurried off one after the other.
"I'm heading out for a bit as well. Senior Isshiki, if you want to try my dish, there's another serving under the counter," Lexon said, waving as he headed toward the lobby.
"Okay," Isshiki replied.
Lexon then left the room.
Taking his eyes off the departing figure, Satoshi Isshiki walked over to Lexon's station, pulled out the hidden dish, and opened the lid. He began to eat.
Before he knew it, the bowl was empty, the ramen and broth completely gone.
'It's so similar to my own style...'
'But it's far more delicious than mine...'
'It feels as if something else is pushing every ingredient's flavor to its absolute limit...'
Satoshi Isshiki stared at the bottom of the bowl, his mind racing.
'Is it the spices?'
He suddenly recalled the research society Lexon had recently joined.
'Not only has his cooking reached this level in such a short time...'
'But he's mastering entirely unfamiliar fields at a staggering pace...'
'This level of talent is...'
"Satoshi, did you lose?" A raspy, aged voice cut through the air.
It was Lady Fumio, the dormitory manager of Polar Star.
"Yes," Isshiki nodded.
"Did you go easy on him?" Lady Fumio asked.
"No, I gave it everything I had." Isshiki stared at the counter, his tone heavy with realization.
...
The day of Hell Camp had finally arrived.
This was Totsuki Academy's most significant annual event.
It was also the event that haunted the dreams of the first-year students.
Historically, every Hell Camp resulted in the elimination of at least half of the freshman class.
The sheer brutality of it...
...turned what should have been a fun trip into an inescapable hell in an instant.
Nearly a thousand freshmen boarded the buses bound for the Totsuki Resort, their expressions grim and heavy.
It looked less like a school trip and more like a procession to a final feast.
After a long, agonizing journey, the massive crowd of students arrived at the legendary Totsuki Resort.
Situated at the base of Mount Fuji, the resort offered a breathtaking panoramic view of the peak. A dozen opulent hotels were linked together in a grand, harmonious sprawl.
As a premier tourist destination, the scenery was naturally stunning, characterized by lush greenery and pristine waters.
If the camp didn't involve a series of high-stakes tests that could lead to expulsion, the Totsuki Resort would have been an paradise for the students.
But reality was rarely so kind.
"A luxury hotel with a full view of Mount Fuji... I heard even the cheapest room is eighty thousand yen a night..." Ryoko Sakaki marveled at the sight after stepping off the bus.
"Eighty thousand? That's my rent for a whole month!" Yuki Yoshino gasped.
"I'm not impressed by this at all!" Soma Yukihira shouted stubbornly, though his eyes were wide with shock.
Yuki's shock quickly turned back into excitement. "Since we're staying here... I'm actually really looking forward to this! I'm so hyped!!"
Her eyes were practically sparkling.
"We'll be expelled if we fail the tests..." Megumi Tadokoro muttered, her voice trembling, devoid of any excitement.
"Oh... right..." Yuki's enthusiasm instantly deflated.
Silence fell over the group as they followed the tide of students into the magnificent hotel lobby.
Totsuki Enkyu.
That was the name of this place.
Inside the hall, students stood with faces pale from anxiety.
Despite the thousand-plus people present, the room was oppressively quiet.
Under these circumstances, Roland Chapelle, a veteran foreign teacher with golden hair, stepped onto the podium.
"Attention, students. I will now outline the details of this camp. The itinerary spans six days and five nights. You will be divided into specific groups. Each day will present different challenges. Those who pass may proceed. Any student who fails to meet the criteria set by the instructors will be disqualified immediately, placed on a bus, and expelled from the academy..."
The moment he finished, Megumi Tadokoro, who was already on edge, began to shake.
"Lexon-kun helped you iron out your mistakes yesterday... didn't he?" Yuki whispered, trying to soothe her friend.
"Yeah..." Megumi murmured, though she remained visibly terrified.
"To serve as judges for these challenges, we have invited several Totsuki alumni who have taken time out of their busy schedules to join us..."
As Roland Chapelle finished his sentence, the doors beside the podium swung open, and a group of figures stepped into the light.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]