The day of the Moon Feast Festival.
Across from the Chinese Cuisine Research Society, a small stall was waiting to open, and next to it was a exquisitely decorated boutique shop. This was urgently built by Alice through her connections. Although it couldn't compare to the luxurious tall building, it was barely sufficient.
Only...
Unexpectedly, business was dismal...
Looking at the Chinese Cuisine Research Society, which was full of guests, filled with laughter, and had a long queue stretching out the door, Hoshino Sora's mood was heavy.
Thanks to the influence of the Chinese Cuisine Research Society, his original customers, upon hearing that there was a Totsuki Ten Elite-run shop nearby, preferred to queue up for a long time rather than patronize his shop.
Even though he was the Autumn Elections champion.
Yukihira Soma was also experiencing the same fate as him.
However, Yukihira Soma was alone, while he was surrounded by beautiful girls. At this moment, Alice Nakiri was cursing, "These fools, Sora-kun's cooking is clearly better than Kuga-senpai's, yet not a single person is willing to try it!"
Looking at the deserted scene in front of his own shop, Hoshino Sora felt annoyed. His mind raced, but he couldn't immediately think of a good solution.
"Manager."
"Sora."
"Sora~"
Clear voices came from the entrance of the store.
Hoshino Sora looked over after hearing the voices, then saw Asaka-nee and Rika-nee rushing towards him, and behind them, Kitagawa and Yuigahama.
"Hmm…"
He opened his arms to catch the two who pounced on him, and a soft sensation immediately came from his chest.
"Are these the women he has outside? Tsk…"
Looking at the girls who entered the store, Alice clicked her tongue in displeasure, then crossed her arms and scrutinized Ya Xiang and Rika who were clinging to Hoshino Sora, as well as Kitagawa and Yuigahama behind them.
Because there were so many people, Alice was initially shocked when she heard that Hoshino Sora had four girlfriends before enrolling.
However, she eventually accepted it.
One reason was that those girls had been dating Hoshino Sora earlier than her, but a bigger reason was that she found that even with Xiao Hui, she wasn't a match for Hoshino Sora.
That night, Alice specifically invited Tadokoro Megumi to her house as a guest, put on her winning lingerie, and prepared to teach Hoshino Sora a good lesson, who would start talking nonsense every night after she lost her combat strength.
Unexpectedly, this guy was like a bull that never got tired.
Their fields were almost ruined from cultivation, but that guy acted as if nothing had happened.
Too bad.
But, it was really awesome!
Hoshino Sora was bold and uninhibited, always unlocking many new moves.
She had never thought before that doing such things could be so comfortable.
So much so that she now looked forward to it every day.
Thinking of this, Alice's cheeks visibly reddened.
And while Alice and Tadokoro Megumi were observing Kitagawa and the others, Kitagawa and the others were also observing them.
The one who reacted the least when learning that Hoshino Sora had many girlfriends was Kitagawa, and the most excited was also Kitagawa.
Because she had played too many harem games, she had no resistance to harems at all.
As a result, she had a smile on her face ever since she arrived here, especially when she saw Alice.
Wasn't that fair skin, red eyes, and that incredibly white hair very similar to an elf princess in a certain 18+ game?!
Yuigahama's expression next to her was a bit complicated, but she didn't say much, not knowing what she was thinking.
Although Ya Xiang and Rika didn't particularly like it, they could accept it and were willing to get along peacefully with these girls, for Hoshino Sora was their most beloved younger brother.
However, if he were to be deceived by a bad woman, they would absolutely not tolerate it.
Therefore, before they truly accepted these girls, a strict assessment must be carried out first!
Although it was called an assessment, it was actually a judgment made through observation over time.
Time reveals a person's true character, and excellent performance in daily life is what truly matters.
"You've worked hard.
Why did you bring so much luggage?
I have everything here, and there's also a special market in the school."
Releasing Asaka-nee and Rika-nee from his embrace, Hoshino Sora noticed Kitagawa Marin behind them.
Her mouth was almost reaching her ears, and she was carrying a huge backpack.
"These are the staff uniforms I custom-ordered for our store.
I rushed and rushed, and finally finished them this morning."
Upon hearing this, Kitagawa put down the bag behind her, speaking while stretching her shoulders.
Hoshino Sora also stepped forward at this moment and opened the backpack.
"No wonder you asked me how many people were in the store!
So it was for this.
But half the people here are chefs, so we might not need so many pieces.
And custom-making these must be expensive, right?
Can your wallet handle it?
Quickly send me your bank account, I'll transfer the money to you."
Looking at the finely crafted maid outfits in the backpack, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but complain.
The main reason he called Kitagawa and the others over was a shortage of staff, and secondly, to have the harem meet for the first time.
This was something he had been doing all along, gradually arranging for them to meet separately and informing each other of their existence, which is why everything was so harmonious now.
If there had been no psychological preparation, and he had suddenly arranged for several people to meet, this place would probably have turned into the most tragic Shura field in the world right now.
"Pfft, don't worry, there's plenty of money in the card.
I've also been working as a model for fashion magazines and earned some manuscript fees.
And Furei-jie sold these clothes to me at a discounted price, so they're not expensive.
Consider it my gift to celebrate your store opening; you don't need to pay me extra."
With a proud expression, Kitagawa Marin rejected Hoshino Sora's request to transfer money.
This was her small gesture of goodwill, and if she took money, it would become a transaction.
"Alright, thank you."
Nodding, Hoshino Sora understood Kitagawa's meaning and didn't press further, a faint warmth filling his heart.
"Well, no need to thank me.
This is what I should do.
Manager, you're a bit too serious."
Patting Hoshino Sora's shoulder, Kitagawa Marin said with a smile, "But in this situation, it feels like we're back to that holiday, a bit like a dream…"
"Welcome to our team."
Hearing this, Alice proactively stepped forward to greet them.
This was the first direct confrontation between the new and old harems.
Kitagawa, seeing this, also extended her hand to shake, and some changes occurred within her.
So soft, her hands don't feel rough at all, even though she's a chef.
How does she maintain them normally…
"Um… excuse me, can I order here?"
"Welcome, little Hayama, little Yui, Rika, go change into your clothes in the changing room.
Leave this customer to me."
A voice from the doorway broke the small talk between the group.
Ya Xiang immediately extended her hand and spoke, then quickly and deftly stepped forward to attend to the customer.
Rika, Kitagawa, and Yuigahama, seeing this, immediately grabbed the clothes from their backpacks and rushed to the changing room to change.
"One customer.
What would you like to order?"
"Emmm, what is this Guo Ba Rou Pian (Sizzling Rice Crust with Pork Slices)?
I'll have a portion to try."
Because he couldn't stand the super long queue at the Chinese Cuisine Research Society, he secretly snuck away from his friends and came here.
As soon as he entered, he saw the chefs inside flirting with a lot of beautiful girls.
Damn it, what's with this incredibly envious feeling?!
"Guo Ba Rou Pian (Sizzling Rice Crust with Pork Slices) is an exquisite dish formed by pouring carefully cooked ingredients over golden crispy rice crust.
Please wait a moment."
Seeing a customer arrive, Hoshino Sora also showed an excited expression.
As he spoke, he stepped into the kitchen, concentrating and activating his cooking mode.
He was going to make a name for himself with this dish!
The store's door was open, and after the customer was seated, Ya Xiang also went to the changing room to change her clothes.
Afterward, the two came to the entrance, acting as greeters.
Yuigahama and Kitagawa entertained customers in the hall, and when there were no customers, they stood together chatting.
The two had met many times in private and had a fairly good relationship.
"Pass by, don't miss it."
"Very delicious Sichuan Cuisine, Sichuan dishes that aren't spicy!"
"Hand-cooked by the Far Moon Academy First Year Autumn Elections champion, extremely high quality!"
Having prior experience, Ya Xiang and Rika quickly got into their rhythm.
And with the appearance of this twin star duo, more and more people turned their attention to Hoshino Sora's store.
"I'll have one Snowflake Chicken Paste."
Extending his finger and making a 'one' gesture, Yukihira Soma said this.
"Soma Yukihira, why are you here?
Don't you have a stall too?"
Hearing a familiar voice, Hoshino Sora walked out of the kitchen and then saw Yukihira Soma walking into the store, with Yui Yuigahama stepping forward to greet him.
"Ah, there are no customers at all, so I thought about it and came over to your place.
Let me try your dishes."
Yukihira Soma's expression was a bit helpless.
As he spoke, he took a seat under Yui Yuigahama's guidance, then cast his gaze towards the somewhat restless customer next to him.
To be precise, it was the dish on his table.
"This must be the so-called Guo Ba Rou Pian (Sizzling Rice Crust with Pork Slices).
The rice crust is cut into small pieces and fried until golden, then hot ingredients are poured over it.
It smells so good!
Please bring me a portion of this too, and also that Camphor Tea Sesame Duck Fillet.
But your store's dishes are so expensive, even more expensive than Kuga-senpai's."
Gazing at the Guo Ba Rou Pian (Sizzling Rice Crust with Pork Slices) emitting a rich aroma, Yukihira Soma's expression was subtle.
Just one look made his mouth water uncontrollably, so he decided to add more dishes.
Looking at the menu on the wall, Guo Ba Rou Pian (Sizzling Rice Crust with Pork Slices) cost 4 bamboo tickets, Camphor Tea Sesame Duck Fillet 3 bamboo tickets, and Snowflake Chicken Paste required 5 bamboo tickets, already reaching the highest price in the Central Area.
Even Kuga Terunori's special Mapo Tofu only cost 3 bamboo tickets per serving, and other dishes hovered around 3 bamboo tickets.
(Note: Plum tickets are worth 500 yen, bamboo tickets are worth 1000 yen, song tickets are worth 10000 yen)
"How else can we close the gap if not by being expensive?
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.
And Sora-kun's cooking should be worth this price.
You'll know the specifics once you taste it, Soma Yukihira.
By the way, if you choose all three dishes, it only costs one song ticket, which is much cheaper than ordering them separately.
Don't you feel like you've gotten a great deal, Soma Yukihira?"
Before Hoshino Sora could speak, Alice started talking from the side.
As she spoke, she extended her hand and waved it from side to side, clearly asking for money from Yukihira Soma.
Yukihira Soma immediately pulled a few bamboo tickets from his pocket upon seeing this.
One hour after opening, he had earned three bamboo tickets; business was predictably dismal.
"Sorry, it seems I only have these.
Otherwise, let's remove the Snowflake Chicken Paste and Guo Ba Rou Pian (Sizzling Rice Crust with Pork Slices)."
Awkwardly scratching his head, Yukihira Soma handed over all his tickets, but no one took them.
Hoshino Sora stopped Alice, who was about to reach out.
"Don't be polite, take your tickets back.
This meal is on me."
Hoshino Sora said gently, walking towards the kitchen as he spoke.
At this moment, only he, Alice, and Tadokoro Megumi were in the kitchen; Mito Ikumi had been called to help at the Cover Research Society.
Shiina Mahiru, Shiina Mashiro, and Yumeko Jabami were resting in the dormitory; Hoshino Sora told them to come tomorrow.
The reason was simple: his store didn't need so many hands for now.
He would call others to help when customers increased; this was his strategy and idea.
"One Camphor Tea Sesame Duck Fillet."
Kitagawa's passionate call came from outside the store, and Tadokoro Megumi immediately sprang into action.
The three of them each had their roles in the kitchen: Hoshino Sora was responsible for the Guo Ba Rou Pian (Sizzling Rice Crust with Pork Slices), Alice for the Snowflake Chicken Paste, and Tadokoro Megumi for the Camphor Tea Sesame Duck Fillet.
So far, everything was going smoothly.
However, the number of customers in the store never exceeded ten, and many of them just came in, took a look at the dishes, and left.
It seemed his dish prices were indeed on the higher side.
"Welcome to taste."
"Tasting is completely free~"
With a snap of his fingers, a rich aroma of cooking bloomed in the kitchen.
Hoshino Sora had Ya Xiang and Rika carry the dishes to the store entrance, and their calls attracted a crowd of customers.
Although located next to the Chinese Cuisine Research Society, due to the continuous aroma wafting from outside the store, customers gradually gathered here.
Who doesn't like free samples?
"Manager, we're here."
"Where's the Manager? Long time no see.
I heard you won the Autumn Elections.
Everyone discussed coming to see you together and try your cooking."
"What an impressive store, but the prices are so expensive.
Is this Far Moon's pricing?
Today, it's all about supporting the Manager!
Give me one of everything."
Suddenly, a burst of noisy shouts came from inside the store.
Hoshino Sora immediately left the kitchen to check and then saw a group of familiar faces.
"Everyone, you've all come…"
Looking at the touring group in front of him, Hoshino Sora suddenly felt a touch of emotion in his heart.
Alice and Tadokoro Megumi also walked out of the kitchen upon hearing the noise, but their expressions seemed a bit bewildered, somewhat unsure of what was happening.
However, one thing was certain: they were about to get busy.
"Little Hayama, little Yui, help me with something.
There should be those signs you can hold up and an oil-based pen in the storage room.
Go write 'Grand Opening Special, 50% Off Everything' on them."
Hearing someone complain about the high prices, Hoshino Sora immediately instructed Kitagawa and Yuigahama to take action.
For no other reason than for these loyal customers who had come a long way, he had to lower the prices.
"Eat your fill, everyone.
Let me show you my progress during this time."
Rolling up his sleeves, Hoshino Sora's face showed a confident expression, and his eyes were filled with tenderness.
This feeling of being remembered was unexpectedly good.
"Alright, then I'll have to look forward to it.
My old lady has been mentioning your cooking constantly these days."
"Me too!
Without the Manager's food, I feel like I have no energy for work."
"I'm so hungry, Manager, food, food~"
"Don't worry, I definitely won't disappoint you."
Hoshino Sora promised softly, as if speaking to himself, then turned and returned to the kitchen.
The next moment, an incredibly enticing aroma wafted from the kitchen.
"Wow, that's the smell!
It's so fragrant, I feel like my mouth is watering uncontrollably."
"I feel like the Manager's cooking skills are even better than before.
His previous dishes never made me tremble all over just from smelling them!"
"Of course!
The Manager has been studying at Far Moon for half a year.
If he were still the same as before, wouldn't he be regressing?"
For a time, the store was filled with the discussions of diners, and as the
"Half Price Entire Store" sign was placed at the entrance, the lively atmosphere combined with affordable prices attracted many customers to the store.
The situation gradually improved, and soon all the remaining seats in the store were filled, and the kitchen became busy.
"How impressive, to be able to open a restaurant under the Chinese Cuisine Research Society and even steal so many customers from me.
It seems I need to work harder too."
Watching customers walk past his stall with his arms crossed, Yukihira Soma lowered his head and thought desperately.
He now lacked an impact, a dish with impact that could pull customers away from Kuga Terunori!
"Ah, you've really worked hard.
You've sold so many dishes in just one morning.
It seems Xingping-kun also has some customers."
Counting the few bamboo tickets in Yukihira Soma's cash box, although he was saying encouraging words, Kuga Terunori's face showed a mocking expression, seemingly ridiculing the other party's incompetence.
In response, Yukihira Soma did not speak back, but only looked at the other party with indifferent eyes, revealing a hint of coldness.
He knew that he currently had no capital to refute the other party.
But, he would soon have the strength to slap the other party's face!
"Someone actually managed to open a restaurant under the Chinese Research Society and even stole so many customers from me.
Unforgivable!"
As he spoke, Kuga Terunori turned his gaze to Hoshino Sora's small shop. Although the number of customers was not yet very large, there was a clear upward trend, which made him somewhat puzzled.
"Spicy Sichuan Cuisine that isn't spicy? What an idiot! While there are indeed non-spicy dishes in Sichuan Cuisine, Sichuan Cuisine is known for its 'numbing' and 'spicy' flavors. Choosing non-spicy Sichuan Cuisine is completely putting the cart before the horse!"
Looking at the name of the small shop, "Spicy Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant," Kuga Terunori's face showed a mocking expression. In his opinion, giving up the 'numbing' and 'spicy' flavors of Sichuan Cuisine for non-spicy Sichuan Cuisine was a complete waste of effort.
It was a complete act of putting the cart before the horse.
"I suggest that Kuga Senior try it. Non-spicy Sichuan Cuisine is not as simple as you think."
Recalling the impact he experienced at Spicy Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant, Yukihira Soma kindly reminded him.
"I won't eat that kind of counterproductive dish. I'm going back."
Rejecting Soma Yukihira's suggestion with a cold expression, Kuga Terunori leisurely returned to his 'fortress.'
Looking at the long line of customers outside his shop, his heart was filled with confidence.
"That's truly a shame."
Soma Yukihira murmured softly.
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