Shirou, You're a Good Person

With this bonus, I'll have enough for food and gas for my car this year, and I can use the money I save to spend on in-game purchases! When Saber's limited-time gacha pool comes out, I'm definitely going to get her this time!

"I'll be counting on you, young man, then." The team leader patted the young Shizuka Hiratsuka on the shoulder, smiled, and left.

'Ah, they gave in, they gave in to the lure of profit...'

'A carrot and a stick approach; this team leader is definitely not a simple character.'

Shirou and Erina watched the team leader leave, thinking to themselves.

The Paris Branch School seemed to take this proposal very seriously, as they efficiently called in construction workers to set up tents on the school's spacious green space. Of course, there were also platforms for performances, and bright red carpets were laid on the ground.

Dozens of meters below the platform, on an open ground, there was a cooking station set up for easy preparation of dishes. All kinds of ingredients were available, and there were appliances such as an electric oven behind it, which were connected to the school's power supply via extension cords.

The necessary ingredients can be retrieved from the food warehouse using handcarts. As expected of a school with the Culinary Department, it has its own cold storage, which stores all kinds of ingredients.

Each table was covered with a white tablecloth, and set with plates and cutlery for self-service. A vase of fresh flowers sat on each table, with a few drops of water sprayed onto the petals to make them look even more vibrant.

To give the teachers and students here a taste test, Shirou and Erina will be holding a tasting event today to show everyone just how good they are.

If you're going to do it, do it properly. So Shirou, dressed in a professional white chef's uniform, walked over with Erina.

Shirou wore a white hat, a red scarf around his collar, and a red apron around his waist. He truly lived up to his reputation as the man who looked best in an apron; just standing there gave people a warm feeling as if they were back home.

Erina tied her long, shiny blonde hair back, and her fitted white chef's uniform looked like a battle suit on her, showing off her stunning figure while also appearing clean and pure.

Because the two of them were dressed so perfectly in their chef's uniforms, people who didn't know better might have thought they were filming some kind of idol drama. So when the two of them walked up to the kitchen counter to make their appearance, they were greeted with enthusiastic applause from their classmates.

"Oh, oh, oh!" a student asked, egging them on.

"Erina, is that your boyfriend?" a girl from the Culinary Department who was familiar with Erina asked gossipily.

"No way! Mind your own business!" Erina said, glaring at them.

"Tch..." The girl pouted in disappointment.

With his teacher's translation, Shirou introduced himself.

The students sitting below the stage, with their black, brown, and blond hair, greeted the boy warmly.

"Welcome, Shirou! The clothes suit you very well."

"Bonjour, Shirou ~!"

"Thank you, hello." Shirou nodded in response.

At this point, the team leader continued in French, "Now, our Chiba Branch School Shirou and Erina will demonstrate their culinary skills as a warm-up for tomorrow's food festival."

"Oh, oh, we're looking forward to it, Erina ~!" The Culinary Department students seemed to have high hopes for Erina, cheering her on.

"Hmph, you'll all be conquered by my delicious food. And Shirou, don't you really want to have a competition right now? There's even the Culinary Department instructor here, so we're not short of judges." Erina then looked at the boy and said.

Shirou shook his head and refused, saying, "No, let's focus on making a delicious and enjoyable dish this time. If we're going to have a competition, let's at least wait until next time with limited-edition dishes."

After all, the purpose of this event is to create dishes that guests will genuinely enjoy, so our focus is on serving them and finding out the flavors that each guest prefers most. If we were to limit the ingredients for the competition, it would be meaningless.

"Is that so? Then let's leave it for next time." Erina nodded, accepting the suggestion, but still pointed at the boy and said, "However! Even so, I'll still make a dish that tastes even better and gets more praise than yours!"

"Is that so? Then I'll look forward to it," Shirou replied with a light laugh.

Chapter 183 Shirou, you're a good person

Inside the makeshift shed, various seasonings and utensils were displayed, and baskets were filled with fresh ingredients.

Erina took out the prepared ingredients and bowls of noodle sauce from the small freezer that had been pushed over. Then she took out a large piece of bacon, her fair, jade-like hand gripping the meat cleaver, her thumb pressing on the handle. With a flash of light, strips of red and pale white glistening meat were piled on the plate.

Meanwhile, Shirou, amidst the flashing blades of his knife, sliced the washed onions, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, and garlic into uniform, attractive pieces on the cutting board. After a series of sharp, shimmering cuts, the purple, red, white, and green hues of the ingredients were finally transformed into neat, uniform pieces and placed into their respective bowls.

Long, slender fingers picked up the eggs one by one and tapped them lightly on the two round bowls, as if striking a musical note.

The eggshell cracks open; separate it with your other fingers, and the orange yolk falls out. Then, pour the remaining egg white liquid into another bowl.

The two performers left the men and women at the Paris Branch School speechless, marveling at their performance.

"Oh my, Erina's cooking skills are already beyond what her peers could imagine, and now this new guy, judging from his knife skills, is no ordinary person. Is he also an apprentice of some famous chef, or a descendant of a culinary family?"

"No, I've seen his file. Actually, he came here to demonstrate archery."

"Are all those high school students who work as chefs over there monsters?"

The reason for choosing this location for live cooking is to attract attention and increase customers' anticipation of the taste, such as more common teppanyaki and hand-rolled sushi.

Some upscale restaurants with renowned chefs have dedicated kitchens without partitions, allowing guests to watch chefs demonstrate their culinary skills honed over many years while waiting for their food, witnessing the transformation of ingredients into delicious dishes.

The skill of making noodles, like dragon beard noodles, is like a person dancing. The noodles in their hands multiply, from a single ring to countless strands. At first, they can be used to jump rope, and in the end, they are so thin that they can be threaded through a needle.

For example, a knife skill demonstration shows that a Chinese cleaver can be used to cut, slice, chop, dig, and shave; even a single knife can be used to create a variety of dishes.

Skills honed through practice result in harmonious and natural movements. Because there are no superfluous actions, they appear fluid. The speed of mastery also creates a stimulating visual experience, akin to acrobatics.

Shirou and Erina will both prepare the best dishes under the supervision of all the guests.

Because the event was announced in advance, both of them had already completed the more time-consuming preparations beforehand, so cooking was relatively quick.

Erina was the first to prepare the first dish. She placed small, pretty, round plates of delicious food on a tray on the long white table in front of her.

The students immediately crowded around and asked, "Is Erina ready to eat yet?"

"Please use this, it's an 'Egg Benedict'!"

The top layer is a poached egg, below which is a slice of premium bacon with a reddish-yellow gradient. Between the two layers is a layer of fine, golden-yellow mullet roe powder, and at the bottom is an orange-yellow pancake. Finally, a yolk-colored Netherlands sauce is drizzled on top.

Under the illumination of the countertop lights, the dishes shone brightly, Gil like jewels on the pristine white plates.

This is a Western-style dish that young girls excel at, both visually appealing and deliciously prepared.

"Delicious! The half-cooked poached egg, with its tender, pink juice oozing out, is so wonderful to eat with the pancake."

"As expected of Erina, it's delicious."

"Hmph, that's only natural," Erina replied confidently.

"Done!" At this moment, Shirou had also chopped and prepared all the ingredients, and then started working on various kitchen utensils.

On the sizzling hot iron plate, take out the prepared batter, scoop it up with a ladle, and press it onto the plate to form a disc shape. It immediately makes a sizzling sound. Then, gently lift it with a flat spatula and flip it over. The formed dough is a nice dark yellow color, and the center is filled with fillings such as black beans, red bean paste, pork floss, and jam.

The soft and sweet dorayaki is now complete. If I were to draw a gacha now, I might be able to get the Grand Class Robot Blue Fatty.

"Oh, there are so many kinds over there."

"Please make yourself at home," Shirou said.

"Mmm, whew, it's so hot, but it's delicious~!" The girl took a bite of the dorayaki that had just been placed on the plate and said with her eyes narrowed.

"What? They actually stole my customer?" Erina glanced at the boy with displeasure.

At this moment, Shirou had already begun making the next dish—takoyaki.

Pour the prepared batter into a special round groove, add the chopped octopus pieces, sprinkle with spices and chopped green onions, then find the right angle and use a steel skewer to flip it over. The now beautiful golden spheres will emerge from the groove.

Finally, drizzle with sauce, or ketchup, salad dressing, seaweed, or bonito flakes—the choice is yours.

"You're really good! I won't lose either!" Erina's fighting spirit was ignited, and she began preparing the next dish.

At that moment, the female principal of the Paris Branch School walked over. She was a woman with dark brown hair, her long hair tied up at the back of her head, wearing glasses, and possessing a gentle and intellectual demeanor.

"Mmm!!!" The female principal with her dark brown hair styled in a bun widened her eyes, which sparkled with light. She opened her arms wide and exclaimed, "Shiro, it's delicious~!"

Shirou was caught off guard and was hugged by the France headmistress. He only smelled a unique and pleasant perfume before his cheek was pressed against hers with a loud "pop" sound. Then she pressed his cheek against hers again with another "pop" sound.

Then the blonde girl wearing a white chef's hat next to her received the same treatment, kiss!

"Erina, your cooking is so delicious!"

The female principal praised her enthusiastically.

"Mmm--!!" The students all wore expressions of rapture.

Erina's side offers exquisite and beautifully presented dishes, providing guests with a double enjoyment of sight and taste, while Shirou's side features a wide variety of snack stalls, aiming to satisfy everyone's needs.

After that, with the strong support of the school, everyone was mobilized, and they fully demonstrated the enthusiasm and sociability of the France, promoting the food festival to all their acquaintances. Some even delivered the flyers to patients in the hospital who were tormented by nightmares.

Thus, the food festival officially began.

Early that morning, a man with severe dark circles under his eyes walked over. He was a university student from the neighborhood and a victim of the recent outbreak of the unknown illness in Paris. Although he wasn't in a coma like the others, he was having terrible nightmares.

In his dream, he inexplicably transformed into a strange man outside a cactus, thrown into a dark world, where he was forced to fight a group of monsters; if he didn't kill them, he would be killed by them.

He was a cactus monster whose face and body were covered with sharp thorns from head to toe, so as long as someone crashed into him, even if he couldn't beat them, he could at least escape.

But in the end, he was either sawed in half with a chainsaw or chopped in half with an axe. Although it was a dream, the terrible and oppressive despair, the nauseating bloodshed, always woke him up with his whole body convulsing and his clothes soaked with cold sweat.

Even now, he still experiences a phantom pain, as if his body is being torn apart, from time to time. It's as if his body has actually been broken apart, causing him chills and pain.

Because of this, he had been holding on for more than forty hours without sleep, knowing that once he fell asleep, that same world of fierce battles would be waiting for him again.

At that moment, the landlord handed him a flyer.

What? Food that satisfies both body and mind, heals the soul, and helps you overcome nightmares.

He would never have believed such dubious propaganda before, and would have thrown it away long ago, but when he saw the phrase "defeat nightmares," he hesitated.

Since he couldn't sleep anyway and was quite bored, he came here early in the morning without having breakfast.

He noticed that the performance on the stage hadn't started yet, and there were two tents. One tent had a sign that said "Preparing," while the other had a young Asian man dressed in a chef's uniform with a red apron. Without thinking twice, he walked over.

"Do you have Toast Sandwich?" the man asked in a hoarse, deep voice.

"What flavor do you like? You can adjust the amount of meat and vegetables to your liking," Shirou asked, having already memorized the lip movements through his Magic Eye and now able to speak some French.

"Oh, so you can customize the flavors here? I actually like it spicy, and I'll stuff as much meat as I can!" said the man with acne.

"Understood." Shirou flipped the tortilla, added three more slices of hamburger patty, fried them until golden brown, sandwiched them on top of the tortilla along with lettuce, sprinkled on some toasted sesame seeds, added chili sauce, and then served it on a plate.

"Thank you," the man said, taking the fried toast sandwich. He opened his mouth as wide as he could, then stuffed the five-layered bread into his mouth and took a bite. The aroma of meat and wheat immediately filled his mouth—it was so satisfying.

"That's it! Oh, this is the taste I've always wanted! It's so delicious! I'll have another one!" The man nodded excitedly, having always dreamed of eating such a satisfying dish.

Unfortunately, it's not available outside. Back when we were at home, I could ask my mom to make him a meal.

He's currently busy with his studies and part-time job. He has a very independent personality and doesn't get along with his roommates, so he moved out and has to work to pay rent. Therefore, unless it's Christmas, he rarely has the chance to go back home.

"Okay, please wait a moment." Shirou followed the same procedure and made another pan-fried toast sandwich hamburger, which he then handed over.

After eating two extra-large portions, the man felt his stomach was full, and the emptiness in his heart seemed to lessen.

"You can donate whatever you think is best," Shirou said, pointing to a large money box in front of him.

The ingredients were all provided by the school, so they cannot use the money for profit. Instead, the money will be donated in the name of the Paris Branch School to support the city in overcoming this strange disease.

"Hmm." The man took out his wallet and stuffed all the loose change in, except for the large bills.

"Hey, you're really hot-blooded," Shirou said, looking at the man with dark circles under his eyes in surprise.

"No, I only paid what I thought was the price for the meal. Thank you, friend. I feel so much more relaxed and warm inside. I'll recommend this place to my friends." The man said, waving goodbye as he left.

Within the dream world, one of the hands of the pairs of transparent phantoms projected from the sky loosened at this moment. Merlin, who had been observing this moment from the edge of the dream world, sensed this change and nodded approvingly.

"Hmm? My shoulders feel so much lighter, haha, I feel like I can finally get a good night's sleep now." The man stretched his shoulders in confusion, yawned, and walked back to his lodgings.

Because Erina's dishes are all about fancy presentation, they take more time to prepare, while Shirou's stall is the most down-to-earth kind of food stall, where he can cook and prepare at the same time.

Soon more guests arrived.

"I actually want a slightly sweet and sour flavor, that's the unique taste I only get back home," said a shy girl with a southern French accent, wearing a cotton hat and glasses.

"If you can, please tell me what that snack looks like and how it's made. I can try to recreate the flavor for you." Shirou nodded. So this girl was far from home, studying in a big city, and now she missed the taste of her hometown snacks.

The girl tried to describe the local snacks from her hometown.

"Asparagus and lemon juice? I think I know what those are. Leave it to me!" Shirou agreed, taking the washed ingredients and chopping them on the cutting board, then seasoning them according to the girl's instructions.

"Mmm, this is the taste! I miss it so much. It would be perfect if it were a little sweeter. Please make three servings for me," the girl pleaded.

"Okay." Shirou quickly and efficiently prepared the snacks, put them into a plastic bowl, and handed them to the girl.

The girl took the food, a happy smile on her face, and said, "Thank you! This should make my boyfriend feel a bit more energetic."

"Huh? Isn't this what you wanted to eat?" Shirou asked, puzzled.

"Actually, we're from the same hometown, but my boyfriend likes this. I heard you're a chef who's good at making all kinds of snacks, and I was worried you wouldn't want to help, so I dressed up like this." As she spoke, the girl took off her black-rimmed glasses, completely losing her previous honest and shy demeanor. She pulled out a bill, stuffed it into the suitcase, turned around, and ran away. As she ran further away, she waved and called out.

"Thank you so much, Chef! You're a kind person. I'll help spread the word!"

"Wow, is this what they call a girl in love?" Shirou sighed and shook his head.

At this moment, Erina also took down the "Preparing" sign. It was past nine o'clock, and the sun was high in the blue sky, shining brightly on the earth and bringing warmth to the people. The food festival officially began.