Extra 4: The New Year's Bell

The second Shokugeki has ended.

Although Ryo Hayama did not win the match, his actions earned everyone's approval.

Nene Kinokuni's soba noodles are impeccably excellent, but she has never thought of making a point of considering such things for others.

She only gets absorbed in her own world, making what she thinks is the best food, but she neglects the fact that it is always people who eat, not machines.

People's tastes vary greatly, and those who only focus on cooking for themselves will never reach the true pinnacle.

Undeniably, her soba noodles are superior to Ryo Hayama's pancakes, but on the path of a chef, she has fallen behind.

After giving Ryo Hayama a deep look, Nene Kinokuni walked out of the venue with mixed feelings and returned to the lounge.

Meanwhile, Ryo Hayama returned to the lounge and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I lost."

Everyone gave him a friendly smile, but the children, of course, didn't give him a warm welcome.

"Dishonest and untrustworthy..."

Ryo Hayama walked over and squatted down in front of them, smiling as he said, "I'm sorry, how about I cook something delicious for you tonight? What would you like to eat?"

"Don't think you can be bribed like this..."

"Curry beef rice!"

"Hey! Jack, don't sabotage me!"

Children's joy is always simple; they instantly forgot what had just happened and started discussing what they wanted to eat.

Yuxian them, Yu Xian said to Ryo Kurokiba, "It's up to you tomorrow."

Ryo Kurokiba wrapped a headscarf around his neck and strode aggressively towards the door.

Alice Nakiri hurriedly called out from behind, "Ryo, don't pretend to give up your chance to draw a question!"

Ryo Kurokiba raised his hand and casually waved to indicate that he understood.

Ryo Hayama gave a helpless, bitter smile; he had been caught in the crossfire.

"Two intense and exciting Shokugeki have already taken place, and the score is now 1-1."

"Next, we invite the contestants from the third Shokugeki to come up and draw the topic for tomorrow's competition."

In the host's voice, the voice of the host

"As your senior, I should have given you the chance to draw a question."

Soma Saito said, "But the competition has already begun, and drawing questions is part of it."

"Huh?" Ryo Kurokiba's aura was in no way inferior. "You think I'm afraid of you? Bring it on!"

Mora.

The two locked eyes, and intense sparks seemed to fly through the air, like two warriors about to duel.

Kurokiba Ryo won the Ryo Kurokiba game and earned the chance to draw a question.

Ryo Kurokiba walked over and scooped up a piece of paper with a heavy scoop, then flipped it over and looked at it in front of his eyes.

He stood there stunned for a few seconds.

"Cut!"

Ryo Kurokiba tossed the note to Soma Saito and turned to leave.

Chapter 499, Extra Chapter 4: The New Year's Bell

Chaldea, in the Master's room.

It was already late at night.

Yuxian leisurely leaned against the bed, crossed his legs, hummed a song, and flipped through the comic book in his hand.

"Master, Master, today is the last day of the year, tomorrow is the New Year!"

The children rushed in and started talking to him.

Yuxian knew, of course, that tomorrow was the New Year, but he was used to celebrating the Spring Festival and had no concept of the New Year.

"It's so late, you should go to bed early."

Yuxian said to them, "It'll be New Year's Day when we wake up tomorrow, so it's the same."

"No way, of course we have to countdown to the New Year!" The children pulled Yuxian out of bed.

"Let's go to the shrine to pray for good fortune and listen to the New Year's bells!"

Yuxian asked, "Where did Chaldea get its shrine?"

The children, their faces beaming with anticipation, exclaimed, "Come with us and you'll find out!"

"Master, hurry up!"

Yuxian, wanting to see what these little ones were up to, set off with them.

The children, with Yuxian, suddenly found themselves in a dimly lit passageway. If it weren't for the oil lamps illuminating the way on both sides, it would have been a completely dark place.

"Where is this? Is there a shrine inside?"

Yuxian asked with some skepticism, "You're not planning to play a prank, are you?"

"Master, please be patient, we'll be there soon."

The children, with Yuxian, wandered around, occasionally climbing a long flight of stairs.

It seemed to be a building where people were slowly walking up to the top.

"Go out from here, and you'll be there soon."

Yuxian followed the children out of a door, and sure enough, the view suddenly opened up before them.

A huge garden appeared before Yuxian's eyes. "This is..."

The scene was very familiar, Yuxian roughly knew where he was, but the children were still urging him on, so he didn't think about it too much.

As we walked, we came to a wide square, and there really was a Japanese shrine in front of us.

"Migu!"

Tamamo no Mae, dressed as a shrine maiden, stood in front of the shrine and said with a smile, "Master, you've come to pray for blessings, right? This way, please."

The shrine was surrounded by blooming flowers, which was unusual for this season.

Yuxian blinked, thinking to himself, "These children are quite well prepared; they even managed to persuade Tamamo no Mae and Merlin to come."

Since I was already Yuxian, I followed suit and put my hands together in front of the shrine, closed my eyes, and silently made a New Year's wish.

After making a wish, she shook the pair of golden bells hanging in front of her.

Hmm... these bells look familiar too.

Yuxian said, "Now that the prayer is complete, shouldn't we go back?"

"No, it's almost midnight, we need to start the countdown!"

Little Jeanne produced a timer from somewhere, with time ticking on it.

Yuxian saw that it was indeed very close to midnight, so he didn't refuse and slowly began to wait.

The New Year is fast approaching.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, Happy New Year!"

The children joined him in shouting "Happy New Year!"

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!...

The distant chimes rang out.

Yuxian was taken aback; there really was a bell ringing.

But the sound of that bell has a chilling quality to it... Could it be...?

If it's true, then it's not a surprise, it's a shock!

But considering Grandpa's personality, these children might actually be able to persuade him.

"Master, Happy New Year!"

Suddenly the scenery around them changed, as if an invisible curtain had been drawn back, and many people appeared around the shrine.

Almost everyone in Chaldea was here, and they all wished Yuxian a Happy New Year.

Happy New Year everyone!

Yuxian was startled by this sudden scene, but he quickly smiled and returned the greeting to everyone.

It turns out this was a surprise that everyone had planned for him.

He was secretly delighted.

"Master, Master, look!" the children exclaimed, pointing into the distance. "Sunrise!"

Sure enough, following the direction the children pointed, a red sun slowly rose.

"Who says the sun rises right after midnight?" Yuxian said with a sullen laugh. "Whoever planned this deserves zero points!"

He then addressed everyone, saying, "Thank you, everyone! Since we're all here, let's celebrate the New Year together!"

"Quickly, bring Karna over here too."

As soon as he finished speaking, it was as if an invisible curtain was suddenly drawn open in the open space in front of him.

Tables of dishes were already prepared, and you could even see the steam rising from them.

Emiya smiled and said, "I knew Master would say that; we were prepared."

It turns out that the food that Emiya and the others had prepared was hidden in Merlin's illusion. He had said that the smell of flowers was a bit off, as it had a meaty smell.

"Great hero, set off Fireworks! Great hero, set off Fireworks!"

The children started making noise, urging Arash; they wanted to see the Fireworks.

Arash laughed and said, "You guys are really..."

"Why can't we let someone else put it out? Why does it have to be me?"

He shook his head helplessly, placed the Fireworks he had prepared some distance away, and gently lit them.

Whoosh whoosh!

Colorful Fireworks appeared in the sky, making the night sky exceptionally beautiful.

Finally, all the Fireworks combined to form the words "Happy New Year" in the sky, which was very special.

The children cheered with joy.

"Does Master like it? It's made by Da Vinci Workshop!"

Da Vinci walked up to Yuxian at some point, seemingly to show off her skills.

"Thank you! Happy New Year, Da Vinci-chan! You worked hard last year," Yuxian said to Da Vinci with a smile.

Da Vinci smiled sweetly. With her Master's words, she felt that her hard work over the past year had not been in vain.

"Please keep up the good work this year."

Upon hearing Yuxian's words, Da Vinci, who had just been deeply moved, rolled his eyes and said irritably, "Give me back my gratitude!"

It was already late at night, but the place was unusually lively.

Those who enjoy drinking have already started, shouting and playing drinking games.

Everyone else was enjoying the food and chatting happily.

Children ran around, their laughter echoing, as if it were Chinese New Year... Oh, today is indeed Chinese New Year.

Everyone's face was beaming with joy.