The train continued north. After that, Hoshino Sora and his group underwent several assessments in different cities, finally arriving at the isolated island. They would reach the station and disembark in about half an hour.
"Let's have a cooking duel! Hoshino-kun."
A voice came from not far away. With burning eyes, Yumeko Jabami walked up to Hoshino Sora, who was eating dinner, and challenged him, her reddish eyes filled with seriousness.
"A cooking duel? It's been a long time since you challenged me to a match."
Dipping the mushroom dish wrapped in pastry into the accompanying sauce and putting it into his mouth, Hoshino Sora looked up at Yumeko Jabami, whose face was full of fighting spirit, and spoke in a teasing tone.
"Because I've been diligently training."
To this, Yumeko Jabami gave a serious answer.
"So you've been through arduous training, then let's fight! Give it your all, let's have a duel neither of us will regret!"
Nodding, seeing the girl's seriousness, Hoshino Sora also put away his playful expression and assumed a serious posture. If she wanted to fight, then he would accept the challenge!
"If you win against me this time, I'll give you a special reward."
Looking at Hoshino Sora's heroic and extraordinary face, a hint of shyness suddenly appeared on Yumeko Jabami's face, though it quickly dissipated. However, the observant Hoshino Sora still noticed it.
Immediately, some inappropriate, restricted-rated scenes flashed in his mind, which made the corners of his mouth uncontrollably curl upwards. Finally, had he finally waited for this!?
"Then it's a deal."
Hoshino Sora said with a smile, feeling no sense of ease in his heart. Yumeko Jabami's sudden challenge today meant she must have made thorough preparations.
"When do we start?"
Upon hearing Hoshino Sora's agreement, Yumeko Jabami let out a long sigh of relief, her body feeling a bit lighter. She was truly afraid he wouldn't accept the challenge, which would mean all her efforts during this period would have been in vain.
Hoshino Sora, the Ten Elite First Seat, is currently the strongest at Far Moon Academy. If she could defeat him, even just once, it would mean her strength stood at the pinnacle of Far Moon, which was her long-cherished dream.
"You can start whenever you want. At times like this, I still need to show some gentlemanly spirit," Hoshino Sora said kindly.
"Then let's do it in five days. By then, the promotion exam will have ended, and we'll be back at Yōbi Dormitory. Plus, you'll need time to prepare.
The theme will be duck. You'll make a dish using duck, but you're not allowed to use your own ingredients. You must use the ingredients I provide."
Considering the exceptionally high quality of Hoshino Sora's own ingredients, and to avoid being unconsciously outmatched, Yumeko Jabami proposed this restriction, which Hoshino Sora did not refuse.
Having high-quality ingredients was his unique advantage. Using it to interfere with the competition would be somewhat unfair to Yumeko Jabami. When dueling with his own people, Hoshino Sora was very lenient.
"No problem, I agree to everything you've said. But as long as it's something from the duck's body, any ingredient should be acceptable, right?"
"That's right, any ingredient is fine, as long as it's from the duck's body."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Yumeko Jabami nodded solemnly. Apart from restricting his self-provided ingredients, she had no intention of interfering with anything else.
After all, too much interference wouldn't make it a fair duel.
Even if she won that way, she wouldn't feel happy!
"That makes it easy then. I'm really looking forward to the competition in ten days."
"I'm looking forward to it too, but if you think you can easily win against me, you're gravely mistaken!"
There was a hint of sharpness in Yumeko Jabami's voice, as she detected a trace of nonchalance in his words.
"I've never thought I could easily win against you. Likewise, in our duel, I will give my all and crush you head-on!
Speaking of which, you haven't had dinner yet, have you? Do you want to sit down and eat together? You haven't been with us for a long time, and I thought something might have happened to you."
"Sorry, I've been a bit busy lately."
As she spoke, Yumeko Jabami pulled out a chair and sat down, while Hoshino Sora called the train attendant to add another dish, preparing to dine with her.
"It's fine, I can understand that. Everyone's been working hard through the assessments, but all the assessments will be over tomorrow, and everything will be done then.
This kind of life is truly beautiful, peaceful development, without so much scheming and backstabbing."
Looking at the scenery outside the window with deep eyes, the road was covered in silver, and white snow, Hoshino Sora nodded slightly in agreement with Yumeko Jabami's explanation.
Not just her, he had also been very busy lately because of the assessments. It wasn't that this assessment was particularly difficult, but mainly that Erina Nakiri had been constantly increasing the intensity for him.
For example, during this trip to the island, under Erina Nakiri's arrangement, there was a theme: make fifty dishes using 'pork' within a twelve-hour limit.
Because as students of Far Moon, to advance to the second year, a solid foundation is essential. Only by accumulating enough knowledge can new things be created.
Simply put, theory must be able to support practice.
"Unexpected... huh?"
Noticing the word Hoshino Sora used, Yumeko Jabami repeated his earlier remark, her expression seeming a mix of confusion and understanding.
"All in all, this trip to Hokkaido was quite enjoyable. Nothing unexpected happened, I ate a lot of unique Hokkaido delicacies, had a snowball fight, saw beautiful scenery, took photos, and did everything I wanted to do."
Looking at the scenery outside the window, Hoshino Sora genuinely sighed with emotion. Yumeko Jabami, hearing his words, remained silent, but her mind replayed her own experiences during this period.
She was like a sponge, squeezed by the graduates and by herself during this promotion exam, desperately striving to meet the Chef's requirements, only then passing the assessment and standing here.
Compared to that, while she felt a subtle emotion, there was also a sense of imbalance.
Why did she have to work so hard in a cramped kitchen to improve herself, while Hoshino Sora was having so much fun?
Sigh, never mind. Since Hoshino Sora was just playing around here while she was diligently improving, this push and pull undoubtedly brought the two of them closer.
Thinking of this, the imbalance in her heart instantly dissipated, replaced by a hint of secret joy. Hoshino Sora's slacking off added another possibility for her to defeat him.
"Yumeko, what have you been doing this whole time?"
Withdrawing his gaze from the window, Hoshino Sora asked kindly, his eyes filled with curiosity, looking at Yumeko Jabami, who seemed a bit dazed.
"Nothing much. Most of the time, I was practicing cooking on the train, or buying ingredients. After all, there's a dedicated kitchen here, and the equipment is quite complete."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's question, Yumeko Jabami's face couldn't help but show a hint of awkwardness. Frankly, her trip to Hokkaido this time had no resemblance to a vacation at all.
If it was culinary training, she could practice anywhere. Why waste such beautiful travel time specifically for that? Looking at the relaxed Hoshino Sora, Yumeko Jabami couldn't help but have such thoughts.
No, no, no, it was precisely because of this period of practice that she became so strong and had the courage to challenge Hoshino Sora, so her efforts during this time were not in vain!
Since culinary practice can be done at any time, travel is also the same. Life lasts for over a hundred years; if one can't even travel through this small Japan, wouldn't it be too ridiculous?
Thinking of this, Yumeko Jabami strengthened her resolve.
"We've arrived at the station. Get ready to face our final challenge, Yumeko."
With a sudden braking, the train slowly came to a stop. Hoshino Sora timely extended his hand to Yumeko Jabami, his face showing a hint of invitation.
"Okay, let's work hard together."
Yumeko Jabami did not refuse, generously taking his hand, because in her heart, she already considered herself half of Hoshino Sora's person, regardless of the outcome of that final match.
All she needed was an opportunity.
An opportunity to openly throw herself into Hoshino Sora's arms. After all, she was a young girl, and she was somewhat shy in this regard, unable to be as proactive as others.
But long-term loneliness also made her feel incredibly empty. A Far Moon life centered only on cooking was not what she wanted, even though she deeply loved cooking.
"Thump—"
"Thump—"
The sound of footsteps grew louder as they both exited the train. Before them was a scene of heavy snowfall, the air permeated with cold. A breath of turbid air turned into visible white mist and dissipated into the air.
"Let's go to the final assessment location."
"Mm."
After getting off the train, Hoshino Sora's hand did not let go. He still held Yumeko Jabami's hand tightly, changing from a simple hand-hold to fingers intertwined, which made her a bit shy.
The surrounding students got off the train one after another, and seeing this sight, they didn't complain. This was already the most common sight at the academy. No matter who Hoshino Sora held hands with, they wouldn't find it strange.
Because Hoshino Sora had monopolized several of the most beautiful girls at Far Moon. All those girls, without exception, had not escaped his 'clutches'.
And these girls were not only beautiful, but their culinary talent was also first-rate. Sometimes they were truly envious, not just of Hoshino Sora, but also of these girls.
Soon, the students arrived one after another at the hotel operated by the Far Moon Resort on the island. After putting away their luggage, all students gathered in the grand hall. The final promotion assessment was about to conclude.
"First, congratulations to everyone for passing through numerous assessments and finally arriving at the island, the final stop of this promotion assessment, and also the place that will determine whether everyone advances to the second year!
The content of this exam is to prepare fifty qualified pork dishes. The assessment time totals twelve hours, from 8 AM to 8 PM. Those who do not produce enough dishes or whose dishes are not up to standard will be judged as failing the assessment!
Tonight, everyone should rest well, so no additional assignments will be given. Tomorrow, please show your determination. Far Moon does not need incapable chefs!"
Erina Nakiri stood on the podium, holding a microphone, exuding an aura of authority. This was something she had cultivated since childhood by being in a high position.
This aura was subtle; it wasn't something one could acquire by being in a high position for just a day or two. Only those who had been in positions of power for a long time, living in luxury and leading others, would possess this kind of aura.
This was one of the reasons Hoshino Sora insisted on Erina Nakiri becoming the academy's general director. Another reason was that she was the heir to the Nakitiri Family, making her appointment as general director legitimate.
"Fifty pork dishes? Looks like I'll have to think hard tonight. Twelve hours is ample time, but to ensure both quantity and sufficient quality!? This is too difficult!"
"I think they just want me to repeat a year! Fifty pork dishes, why don't they just kill me?! Do they really need to make it this hard for me?!"
"Isn't this easy? I think this is to let everyone pass the assessment smoothly. Fifty pork dishes, isn't that just a matter of having hands? Surely no one can't do it, hahaha."
"Don't celebrate too early. You have to meet the taste requirements. If the taste isn't good, no matter how many types of dishes you make, it's impossible to pass."
Hearing Erina Nakiri's words, the scene immediately erupted in discussion, but most people seemed excited, because although the final challenge sounded tiring, it wasn't actually difficult to execute.
However, some people were pessimistic. Most of them were underperformers whose strength was not up to par, and reaching this point was already their limit.
It could be said that Erina Nakiri's challenge could precisely eliminate many students who had lucky made it this far, further ensuring the quality of the students advancing to the second year.
"Alright, the meeting is adjourned. Everyone, go back and rest. Tomorrow, face this challenge with your best spirit!"
Looking at the noisy crowd below, Erina Nakiri lightly coughed twice, then spoke with a serious expression, a faint air of authority on her face.
"Looks like I'll be practicing overtime tonight."
"Come on, tomorrow is a twelve-hour continuous assessment. If you don't rest well tonight, you'll probably be useless tomorrow. I'm going to sleep now."
"That's right, it's better to wash up and go to bed early."
"No, I'm still not at ease. Fifty pork dishes, and every single one must satisfy the judges' taste. This is not a simple assessment."
Waves of discussion came from all around. Hoshino Sora followed the crowd, parted ways with Yumeko Jabami in the hallway, and quickly returned to his room.
Fifty pork dishes, that's not difficult to make. As a Chef skilled in Chinese cuisine, if he couldn't even make fifty dishes using pork, that would be too useless.
As for making the judges find them delicious, that was even less of an issue for him. If he didn't even have that level of skill, the Ten Elite First Seat would be a joke.
In other words, this final challenge for them was simply a relaxed assessment, and one that could be used to show off their skills.
[Task Triggered]: Final Assessment Before Second Year
[Task Description]: After the host has stayed at Far Moon for one year and passed the promotion assessment, the host will enter the ranks of second-year students, becoming a true pillar of Far Moon.
[Task Requirement]: Pass the assessment with the first-place ranking
[Task Reward]: Self-selected Slaves * 100 (Lower Class)
As Hoshino Sora returned to his room, the system's prompt sound immediately echoed in his mind. Hearing the sound, his expression first froze, then revealed a look of ecstatic joy.
One hundred slaves, this was simply a qualitative change for the Gourmet Manor! It was good news!
Although the Forest Elves worked very hard, their numbers were simply too small. Each person had to manage a very large area of land, which led to some plants and animals lacking care.
This was bound to happen.
Furthermore, the Gourmet Manor would continue to expand in the future, and ten people would be even more insufficient then. So, this system reward could be said to be a godsend for him!
"Can I come in?"
While Hoshino Sora was deep in thought in his room, a knock suddenly came from the door, accompanied by Alice Nakiri's voice.
However, even though it was a question, she didn't wait for the person inside to agree, pushing the door open and walking straight in.
"What's the difference between asking and not asking?"
"Doesn't this make me seem more polite?"
Wearing a sexy nurse uniform, with black stockings and beautiful legs exposed to the air, Alice Nakiri twisted her slender waist and walked towards Hoshino Sora, her voice carrying a hint of playfulness.
"You sure know how to be polite."
He very naturally embraced Alice Nakiri as she sat on his lap, his gaze fixed on her black-stockinged feet, which had been stewing inside her leather boots for who knew how long. His entire body immediately felt a surge of blood.
"How is it? I spent a lot of money on this outfit; they didn't even want to sell it to me at first."
Seeing Hoshino Sora's gaze, Alice Nakiri was both happy and a little disappointed. Happy because her charm had captivated him, and disappointed because he only paid attention to her feet.
Although for tonight's date, she had indeed deliberately worn boots all day, causing her feet to have a strong scent now.
But, the fact that he only noticed her feet felt like he was saying her other parts weren't attractive.
"Gulp, Alice, you are truly so charming like this!"
Hearing Alice Nakiri's words and seeing her stand up, Hoshino Sora finally noticed her current attire.
Alice Nakiri was wearing a nurse uniform she had somehow acquired. This nurse uniform looked ill-fitting, a bit tight, making her figure bulge.
"Can I tear it?"
Pinching his chin and pondering for a moment, Hoshino Sora suddenly asked a crucial question. Such tight clothing gave one a strong desire to destroy it!
"Since I'm already here, of course you can take your pick. And clothes are just things; if they're ruined, you can just buy new ones. This outfit doesn't have any special meaning."
Watching Hoshino Sora's gaze gradually grow heated, Alice lightly stuck out her red tongue, then licked around her lips, before walking with a cat-like stride towards the young man.
"Take off your shoes."
"I knew you had a thing for this, so I specially saved it for you. I've been wearing these boots all day; don't faint later."
Looking at Hoshino Sora's slightly eager gaze, Alice Nakiri preemptively warned him. Her small feet inside the boots couldn't help but curl with embarrassment, her shy emotions clearly evident.
"How could I? I just love this kind of vibe. Come here!"
At this moment, a sudden clap of thunder outside, and it began to rain.
Winter was passing, and spring was in full bloom.
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