"Woohoo! Snow, look, it's snow!"
Spreading his arms, he plunged into the snow. The icy sensation instantly enveloped him. Hoshino Sora desperately shook his head, and the surrounding snow splattered in all directions.
As a true southerner in his previous life, Hoshino Sora had never really seen snow. It rarely snowed in Tokyo during winter, and even if it did, it would only be a little.
To see such vast, white snow that left footprints, Hoshino Sora was seeing it for the first time, so it was understandable that he was a bit overly excited for a moment.
"What's so special about this stuff?"
Looking at the excited Hoshino Sora, Kurokiba Ryo asked in confusion. Because snow was very common where he was from, he didn't understand why the other person had that expression.
"Sora has never seen so much snow, so it's normal for him to be curious. Ryo-kun, you can't always look at things from a God's perspective."
"Indeed, for us, snow is quite common."
Looking at Kurokiba Ryo walking over from not far away, Alice Nakiri couldn't help but explain, while Tadokoro Megumi smoothed things over from the side.
"Oh."
To this, Kurokiba Ryo simply replied coldly, with nothing further to add.
"Take this!"
"You dared to hit me with a snowball, you bastard!"
Seeing the snowball flying towards him, Kurokiba Ryo froze for a moment and was hit directly. Then he saw Hoshino Sora smiling at him from not far away, and immediately picked up a snowball from the ground to retaliate.
"Like a child."
Looking at the two playing around, Alice Nakiri couldn't help but smile, then secretly molded a snowball and hid it behind her back.
And the surrounding boys, seeing the two having so much fun, joined in one after another, throwing snowballs at each other.
Suddenly, the atmosphere became incredibly lively. Only Eri Nai Erina's expression was helpless, somewhat not understanding why they had to engage in such a barbaric activity.
But she soon understood.
"Eh..."
Not far away, a snowball flew directly towards her back. Unprepared, she was hit squarely.
Turning her head, she saw Alice Nakiri's smiling face. Instantly, a surge of anger rushed to her heart, and her fists unconsciously tightened. That girl actually launched a sneak attack!
Without any hesitation, she quickly grabbed a snowball from the snow under her feet and threw it with force. Missed. A second one, still missed. A third one, still missed.
At this point, the nature of the situation changed.
Looking at Alice Nakiri, who was moving agilely in front of her, Erina squatted down. Her arm was like a machine gun, throwing snowballs very quickly, determined to make her suffer the punishment she deserved.
However, how could Alice, who possessed Gourmet Cell, be hit so easily? No matter how Eri Nai Erina moved, her attacks would be skillfully dodged.
But, humans have their limits!
After all, they were strong individuals of similar power. As Eri Nai Erina simultaneously launched ten snowballs, Alice was finally hit. A snowball directly struck her ample chest.
"H! Erina, you're so mean, aiming right here."
Standing beside Hoshino Sora, pointing at her wet chest, Alice Nakiri directly acted coy with him, while also cleaning the snow off her body as she spoke.
That continuous jiggling made Hoshino Sora swallow a mouthful of saliva. Sure enough, this was her real intention!
"Ah! How cunning!"
Looking at Alice Nakiri posing in front of Hoshino Sora, Erina finally understood her purpose. She immediately ran forward and started playfully wrestling with her.
Hoshino Sora, seeing this, did not join the fight. He just watched the two with a smile on his face. He loved watching girls fight, and it was even more interesting if the reason for the fight was him.
"Ahem, everyone, stop playing down there. Get on the bus quickly. We need to reach the competition venue before nightfall."
Looking at the students playing in the snow, the teachers waiting below the bus couldn't help but urge them. Soon, under the teachers' guidance, all the students boarded the transfer bus.
"To the first-year high school students of Far Moon Academy, welcome to Hokkaido. This promotion exam is also known as the Northern Circuit, a name symbolizing the harsh northern land.
Students who fail will be directly taken to the airport by the bus on your right, forcibly repatriated to Tokyo, and will fail the promotion exam immediately, requiring them to repeat the year."
The bus broadcasted pre-recorded rules, but compared to direct expulsion in previous years, repeating a year this year was clearly much more lenient, which also made the atmosphere less tense.
Everyone knew this was Eri Nai Erina's contribution, so their gazes towards her held a bit more respect. However, what they didn't know was that the real mastermind was actually Hoshino Sora.
After all, with Eri Nai Erina's personality, anyone who failed the promotion exam was useless trash and had no value in staying at Far Moon, so it was impossible for her to set such a rule.
It was Hoshino Sora who had sweet-talked her for a long time, and then made various guarantees to maintain the academy's elite status and not disgrace Far Moon, which finally made her reluctantly agree.
"Everyone, thank you for waiting. We have now arrived at the venue for the first exam."
The broadcast continued, but this time it resonated from within a high-rise hotel, which was also the location for the first round of assessments for Far Moon first-year students.
"The first group's challenge seems to be a team battle conducted in different rooms."
Softly reading the rule sheet provided by the venue, Hoshino Sora's face showed an interested expression.
"Five people cooperating to cook one dish?"
Tadokoro Megumi murmured.
"If you fail, all five people need to enter the waiting hall to re-form teams. The second team formation can be free, with a flexible number of people, as long as the specified dish can be completed.
If the second round of team formation also fails, you will directly face repeating the year. This rule is too friendly to students."
The third rule was spoken by Alice Nakiri. With this rule, the student retention rate would definitely greatly increase, allowing for the maximum possible selection of excellent students.
"Grouping is decided by drawing lots, but five people need to cook one dish together. This assessment method sounds quite interesting, I just wonder who my teammates are..."
"Hoshino-kun, we're in the same group."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Eri Nai Erina said with a smile, shaking her phone. Her lottery number was Group 1.
"Did you tamper with the draw?"
He hadn't even started drawing lots yet, and she was already saying they were in the same group. Clearly, Erina had tampered with the draw to put them all together.
"The academy's general director always has to exercise her rights, otherwise she'd be too useless."
"This is the first time I've seen someone so righteously abuse power, but never mind. It's good to be with Erina, it avoids awkwardness with strangers."
Hearing Eri Nai Erina's remark, Hoshino Sora's face showed a helpless expression. But this was also good; everyone being in the same group would make communication more convenient.
"Erina, how cunning! What about me? What about me?"
Hearing the conversation between Hoshino Sora and Eri Nai Erina, Alice Nakiri ran over, puffing her cheeks, to argue with her.
"I knew you'd have an opinion. You and Megumi are also in our group. Is that okay now?"
Looking at Alice Nakiri making a fuss in front of her, Erina said, having already prepared for this.
"Hmph, you're quite perceptive~"
Hearing Eri Nai Erina's words, Alice's face finally showed a satisfied smile. Then she gave her a 'you know what's good for you' look and happily entered the competition room.
The competition venue was a large hall filled with cooking stations, with a layout very similar to the Hell Camp, instantly bringing back unpleasant memories for the surrounding students.
"It's over, I'm thinking of the Hell Camp again. I barely made it through last time, so now it's going to be even worse!"
"Gulp, I'm so nervous!"
"I wonder who will be in a group with Hoshino. If you're with him, this competition is definitely in the bag."
As more and more students arrived, the discussions grew louder. Everyone pulled out their phones to check their draw numbers, then began searching for their partners in the room.
Soon, students formed groups of three or five, many having already found their teams, but many others were still fumbling.
"From left to right, these are Group One to Group Six. Please quickly find your respective teams."
However, with the arrival of the teacher, the students who had previously been unable to find their teams suddenly had direction.
"First, let me introduce myself. My name is Matsumoto, a teacher at this academy.
The theme is 'cod'. The passing condition is to make a dish that satisfies my tongue. The rest doesn't matter. The time limit is until sunset."
Looking at the students who were gradually taking their places, the male teacher named Matsumoto pushed up his glasses and spoke in a calm voice.
Using cod as an ingredient is not difficult, and many dishes can be made from it, making it a very popular theme.
"Let's finish quickly and go back to rest. What does everyone want to make? You can all share your opinions and ideas."
Watching the staff carry boxes of refrigerated cod into the assessment room, Hoshino Sora looked at the few people slacking off behind them, intending to quickly complete the task and leave.
"For cod, it really needs to be paired with lemon."
Pinching her chin and thinking for a few seconds, Alice Nakiri was the first to offer a suggestion.
"Indeed, cod without lemon always feels like something is missing."
Hisako Arato nodded in agreement. If you're talking about ingredients to pair with cod, lemon is a very traditional and common choice nowadays.
"How about pan-frying it?" Tadokoro Megumi quietly suggested from the side.
"That's a good idea."
"What about Erina, do you have any thoughts?" After praising her, Hoshino Sora looked at Eri Nai Nakiri behind him, only to find her somewhat distracted.
"Aren't two ideas enough? For this level of exam, you can just do it yourselves."
"Goodness, you're trying to slack off."
"Hmph, I just want to admire everyone's cooking up close. Otherwise, with my status, I wouldn't have to come at all."
Hearing the reply, Hoshino Sora complained helplessly, and Eri Nai Nakiri naturally couldn't admit it.
But he was right. Cooking just one dish really didn't require the labor of five people. The first round of the competition felt like a freebie.
"Megumi, after the cod thaws, pat it dry with kitchen paper, sprinkle with salt and black pepper, drizzle with olive oil, mix well, and marinate for about twenty minutes."
"Okay."
"Alice, after the cod is prepared, pan-fry it lightly until all four sides are golden brown. Once fried, place the cod on aluminum foil and let it rest for ten minutes.
Hisako, don't wash the pan after frying the cod. Add onion, garlic, and thyme to it, then add a knob of butter. Stir until the texture is thick, then add lemon juice and sea salt to season. At this point, turn off the heat; the residual heat is enough to warm it.
After you two finish this, the rest is up to me for plating."
"Received." *2
"Alright, I'm here to accompany you."
Looking at the diligent trio, Hoshino Sora nodded, then pulled up a chair and sat next to Eri Nai Nakiri, crossing his legs after he plopped down.
"You said I was slacking off, but aren't you here too?"
"Mainly, one dish really doesn't need this many people. I don't understand what you guys are thinking? They actually require five people per group."
"It's always been like this, and I can't change it. Maybe it's to let everyone have an appetizer first, but if you ask me, five people should make a full course meal."
"Then I can't really comment. If it's all like this later, then the value of this promotion exam feels a bit low."
"It will get harder later, that's also the usual practice. But with your skill, no matter what exam it is, the value probably won't be high, my dear Ten Elite First Seat, Hoshino Sora~"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's complaint, Eri Nai Nakiri deliberately spoke in a strange tone.
"Indeed. Then I'll go check on how the other contestants are doing first."
"Keep your voice down, we're still in an exam."
Hoshino Sora nodded, then stood up and walked around. The nearby contestants became nervous when they saw him approach, feeling like the top student in the school was coming to check their test papers.
It felt inexplicably shameful!
"The steaming time is a bit short."
"Ah… yes, sir!"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's guidance, the student who received the guidance was initially a bit shy, but thinking that the other party was helping him, he immediately shouted very seriously, and then extended the steaming time of the dish.
"You have too much lemon juice here, if you're only cooking this much fish."
"Understood, thank you, First Seat."
"Your fish is overcooked here."
"And yours…"
He moved around the assessment venue, observing for a while when passing by contestants, then offering some advice. After doing all this and returning to their own cooking station, the dish of the few people was also at its final step.
Take out the cod that had been resting in aluminum foil for ten minutes, break it open in the middle with chopsticks, add the prepared sauce, and finally, place a small sprig of rosemary on the plate as a garnish. Thus, a perfect-looking creamy lemon cod was complete~
The "cream" refers to the snow-white fish body. The sourness and aroma of lemon juice are very suitable for this white meat, giving it a refreshing taste.
"Group One has finished." Hoshino Sora carried the dish to Matsumoto.
"Please enjoy~" Alice Nakiri suddenly darted forward from behind him, saying what Hoshino Sora hadn't.
Placing the finished dish on the dining table, the group of five waited behind, while Matsumoto merely glanced at them before picking up his knife and fork to taste it.
"Rich, tender."
It was like being hit on the head by a giant cod, then dancing on the super soft cod meat!
He evaluated the dish in his mind as he chewed.
"The high-quality fat brings a numbing sensation of comfort to the tongue, and the warm sauce wrapped around the meat has a gentle mellow aroma, within which is contained the flavor of lemon."
Closing his eyes, he felt the magical charm of the dish before him. That feeling was like a fish leaping out of the water under the moonlight, full of vitality. The flavor of the top-grade sturgeon burst forth completely after simple cooking!
"How is it, Judge? Did our dish pass your assessment?"
Looking at Matsumoto, who was immersed in the deliciousness of the dish with a smiling face, Hoshino Sora already had the answer in his heart from his blissful expression.
Although the dish they made was simple, it was also not simple.
Not only did it require excellent control over the ingredients and cooking temperature, but the chosen ingredients also had to be the highest quality cod. In fact, Hoshino Sora had already swapped out the cod provided by Far Moon.
He used the highest quality cod from Gourmet Manor. This quality of cod, even without much processing, would be absolutely delicious when steamed, so there was no way they could lose.
Furthermore, there was the sauce preparation. For a pan-fried cod, the sauce is its soul. A good sauce can often double the taste of a dish!
"First round of examination, passed."
"It was a pleasure to serve you!"
Yukihira Soma's signature move flashed in his mind, and Hoshino Sora imitated it at that moment.
That confident smile, and the beautiful women behind him, truly made the surrounding people envious. If only they had such powerful strength.
"Can we leave after the exam?"
"You can, but I suggest you don't go too far. Just rest outside. After the sun sets and you've had dinner, you'll board the train and depart."
"I see, understood. Thank you for the reminder."
Hearing Matsumoto's words, Hoshino Sora nodded. Since there wasn't much time, he would go check out the nearby examination halls and see the level of this year's first-year students.
"I'm going to check out other examination halls. Do you want to come with me or go back and rest?"
"I'll go with you. We can say it's an inspection, that sounds more legitimate, doesn't it?" Eri Nai Nakiri said coldly, sweeping her hair back with a hand.
"Anyway, there's nothing else to do, I want to go too! As long as I can be with Sora!" Alice quickly raised her hand, stating her situation and also preparing to join.
"I'll come along too." Seeing this, Tadokoro Megumi naturally couldn't fall behind.
Hisako was tied to Eri Nai Nakiri, so even if she didn't want to go, she would. So, everyone was present.
"Then let's depart."
Hearing Eri Nai Nakiri's words, Hoshino Sora nodded, then left the room first. The others behind him immediately followed, preparing to accompany him to check out the nearby examination halls.
To see the overall level of this year's first-years!
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