Food Wars: Taste Reversal

After a morning spent working in the vegetable field, everyone finally finished gathering the produce. Carrying baskets full of fresh vegetables, they returned to the dormitory with smiles on their faces, looking forward to the afternoon's activities.

However, as everyone settled back, Isshiki Satoshi suddenly took out an official-looking letter from Tōtsuki Academy. He unfolded it to reveal a flyer announcing the upcoming Residential Training.

"It's finally here..."

Yoshino Yuki, who had been in high spirits just moments earlier, froze at the sight of the flyer. Her face fell as if she were staring at a dangerous object that needed to be handled with utmost caution.

"It was delivered to Polar Star Dormitory early this morning," added Ibusaki Shun calmly from behind her.

Curious, Soma Yukihira pinched his chin and leaned in to examine the flyer. The paper featured a cartoonish chef drawn in a chibi style. "What's this about?" he asked.

"It's like going on a group trip," Shiraki replied nonchalantly. But as he turned to check on Megumi Tadokoro, he noticed she was completely petrified. Concerned, he approached her from behind to offer support, but the sudden movement startled her so much that she flinched. Her body trembled before gradually calming down.

"Huh… Does Tōtsuki have activities like this?" Soma asked, still inspecting the flyer.

Yuki let out a sigh before responding. "Soma, Shiraki, you both just joined, so you don't know yet. This so-called Residential Training... is actually the first 'hell' that first-year students face!" She lowered her voice for dramatic effect.

She continued, "During the training, all first-year students are taken to a remote facility in the mountains where they must complete grueling cooking trials every day. If you fail to meet the passing grade, you'll be immediately expelled. It's not an exaggeration to call it a survival challenge. But..." Yuki's eyes darted toward Shiraki. "If it's you, Shiraki, it probably won't be any harder than a vacation."

Her tone betrayed a mix of envy and admiration. Among first-year students, Shiraki had earned the nickname The Great Demon King. His skill was so well-known that even the strictest training wouldn't faze him.

"I hope I get paired with Shiraki for the training..." Yuki muttered, slumping into her seat with a defeated expression.

"Alright, alright," Isshiki said, clapping his hands to redirect the conversation. "This is just how Tōtsuki operates. The competition here is intense, but as long as we keep a positive attitude, we'll be fine. Cheer up! We leave tomorrow, so let's focus on preparing."

"Speaking of which," Soma interjected, "Isshiki-senpai, you've been through this training before, right?"

The others perked up at the reminder. Isshiki was their senior, after all, and a veteran of Tōtsuki's infamous training camp. They eagerly gathered around him, hoping for insight.

"Yes, I've experienced it," Isshiki replied, stroking his chin as he reminisced. "I remember it clearly—days of relentless challenges. Dozens of students were sent back to the academy and expelled. The training is no joke."

"Exactly," Ibusaki added in his usual deadpan tone. "A few years ago, one class had its numbers reduced by more than half."

The weight of his words caused Megumi to stagger. She swayed for a moment before falling straight into Shiraki's arms.

"Megumi?"

Everyone turned their attention to her. Before anyone could help, Megumi jumped up as if electrified, scrambling to her feet with a panicked expression.

"I-I'm sorry, Shiraki-kun!" she stammered, bowing repeatedly. "I didn't mean to fall like that. I must have been too nervous..."

Shiraki waved his hand dismissively. "It's fine, but are you sure you're okay? You don't seem like yourself."

"I'm fine, really!" Megumi insisted, though her trembling voice and flushed face suggested otherwise.

Trying to reassure her, Shiraki placed a gentle hand on her head. "Don't stress too much. Even if half the students get eliminated, we just need to aim for the middle of the pack. Think of it like a classroom test—you only need to pass."

Megumi froze at his touch, but after a moment, she nodded. "Y-Yes, I understand. Thank you, Shiraki-kun."

Isshiki chimed in, his cheerful tone lifting the mood. "That's the spirit! I'm confident that all of us from Polar Star Dormitory will return here with smiles on our faces. Mrs. Fumio and I will be waiting to celebrate your success, so let's give it our all!"

"Yeah!"

The group erupted with newfound energy. Even Megumi, though still nervous, seemed more determined. Yuki clenched her fists and shouted, "After all, we're the unstoppable Polar Star force!"

"That's the attitude!" Isshiki encouraged with a laugh.

Only Ibusaki remained as calm as ever. Watching the others, he wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and muttered, "Unstoppable, huh? Well, let's hope that enthusiasm holds up."

Later, as everyone prepared for the trip, Soma sat casually flipping through the training manual. "It says we can bring playing cards and chess," he remarked, "but handheld consoles aren't allowed."

"Wait, no handhelds?" Shiraki asked in mock disbelief.

Soma looked puzzled. "Huh… I don't see it written here, but it's probably not allowed, right?"

"What about mahjong?" Shiraki continued. "Or board games? Maybe we could even bring a portable grill, a generator, or a telescope for stargazing?"

Soma chuckled and began flipping through the manual again. "Let me check..."

Their lighthearted conversation drew exasperated glances from the others. Yuki, in particular, shook her head. "Are you two even taking this seriously? It's like you're planning a picnic!"

Despite her protest, the banter eased the tension in the room. By the time the group finished packing, they were all in high spirits. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they were ready to face them together.