How could Tadokoro Megumi accept such a reason?
She quickly explained, "Those vegetables weren't fresh at all, some were even old. I did this to eliminate these flaws and make the dish more delicious."
Kojiro Shinomiya held up the recipe and said coldly, "This recipe was meticulously crafted by me. It never said it could be changed at will."
"Moreover, what you made can already be considered a different dish. Do you still expect to pass with a dish that doesn't meet the requirements of the test?"
Kojiro Shinomiya looked at Tadokoro Megumi indifferently, "Are you convinced now?"
Outside the examination room, Liu Ming glanced at Gin Dojima, "Now, what do you say? Don't tell me this is also reasonable."
Gin Dojima's face was a bit grim. He had just said that Kojiro Shinomiya wouldn't mess around, and then he was slapped in the face.
...
"How can I be convinced when you say that? And this was simply unavoidable."
Tadokoro Megumi continued to explain, "The ingredients you provided were not fresh at all. If I didn't process them this way, there would be no way to cook a delicious meal."
Kojiro Shinomiya, however, didn't listen at all, his tone still cold, "You still don't seem to understand. Those unfresh ingredients were intentionally mixed in by me to limit the number of qualifiers, and you, unfortunately, became one of them."
"If you understand, go back and pack your bags. Don't linger here."
"Wait, I have one more question." Tadokoro Megumi stepped forward to block Kojiro Shinomiya, who was about to leave.
"Still not giving up?" Kojiro Shinomiya looked down at Tadokoro Megumi from above.
Tadokoro Megumi met Kojiro Shinomiya's gaze without fear. She asked solemnly, "Was my dish not delicious?"
Kojiro Shinomiya's expression immediately froze.
This question was really hard to answer.
Seeing everyone's eyes in the examination room focused on him, Kojiro Shinomiya felt a burst of irritation.
"Didn't I say that the dish you made doesn't meet the test requirements? There's no need to evaluate it."
"I'm asking you if the dish I made was delicious. Don't evade the question."
Tadokoro Megumi pressed on firmly. This was a major matter concerning her expulsion, so how could she back down now?
Moreover, she had long promised Liu Ming that she would achieve an Elite Ten position.
Now, not only had she not obtained an Elite Ten position, but she was also facing expulsion. How could she face her master, who had such high hopes for her?
Yukihira Soma looked at Tadokoro Megumi in surprise. Was this really the Tadokoro Megumi he used to know? She had changed quite a bit.
"That's not important at all, because the outcome won't change because of it."
"Of course it's important! My master said that cooking is about bringing happiness to people. As long as the dish I make is delicious enough, it proves I'm right," Tadokoro Megumi said seriously.
Kojiro Shinomiya's expression changed again, then he sneered, "Your master? Probably some third-rate chef, huh? You actually believe what he says."
Tadokoro Megumi's expression instantly turned very angry. She shouted furiously, "Don't you dare speak ill of my master!"
"Heh heh, angry, are we? Is it because I hit the mark, so you're flying into a rage?" Kojiro Shinomiya became even more smug.
"You~" Tadokoro Megumi trembled with anger, pointing furiously at Kojiro Shinomiya.
Suddenly, a warm hand was placed on her head, gently rubbing it.
A familiar feeling, a familiar warmth.
Tadokoro Megumi's expression instantly turned from anger to joy.
Liu Ming shielded Tadokoro Megumi behind him, facing Kojiro Shinomiya directly. He said, "Kojiro Shinomiya, aren't you ashamed, a grown man like you bullying a young girl like this?"
Kojiro Shinomiya frowned and said, "Mr. Liu, this is my examination room. It's none of your business. Please leave."
Liu Ming calmly shook his head, "That won't do, because I am her master, the very third-rate chef you just mentioned."
"Master." Tadokoro Megumi looked at Liu Ming, who stood in front of her like a mountain, and her heart suddenly felt a bit sore.
With someone to rely on, she could no longer control the grievance in her heart, and tears flowed.
"You made my adorable disciple cry! Can you afford to compensate for that?!" Liu Ming gently wiped away Tadokoro Megumi's tears, his eyes looking coldly at Kojiro Shinomiya.
"Mr. Liu, don't rush. I'll handle this." At this moment, Gin Dojima also walked in. He stood between the two and spoke to soothe Liu Ming.
The reason he was a step behind Liu Ming was that he first needed to dismiss the other students in the examination room, as such a matter getting out would not be good for anyone.
"What's there to say about someone who abuses their authority?" Liu Ming said coldly.
"What did you say? Who abused their authority?" Kojiro Shinomiya's expression changed instantly.
Looking at the two clashing, Gin Dojima was a bit troubled.
Are all so-called geniuses this difficult to deal with?
Liu Ming wouldn't humor him, saying mockingly, "What do you take students for? To intentionally bring out unfresh ingredients to make things difficult for them? I think you treat them like toys, to play with however you want!"
"I've already said, this is to limit the number of qualifiers!" A furious vein bulged on Kojiro Shinomiya's forehead.
"Nonsense!" Liu Ming directly interrupted him, "Does Totsuki Academy want chefs or athletes? To come up with such a childish challenge."
Liu Ming pointed at Tadokoro Megumi beside him, his tone both explanatory and questioning, "She is a girl. She is inherently weaker than boys in strength, and she definitely can't compete with those boys when choosing ingredients."
"You didn't even consider this aspect and came up with such a topic. It's simply a joke."
"She's not the only girl here, so why were the other girls able to get it?" Kojiro Shinomiya retorted.
"You don't seem to understand the main point of the problem. Your elimination rule has nothing to do with chefs. I really want to know, if Erina were here, would you still have such a restriction?"
"She's pampered. I don't believe she could get it. What would you say then? Or do you think Megumi has no backing, so you can just play with her? Answer me!"
"Can you two stop arguing? This isn't solving anything." Gin Dojima had to step in again to mediate.
Liu Ming glanced at Gin Dojima. He scanned his surroundings and quickly found the dish Tadokoro Megumi had just made.
He walked over and took a bite.
After tasting it, the smile on his face grew wider.
Liu Ming picked up the dish and brought it to Gin Dojima, motioning for him to try a bite as well.
Seeing Liu Ming's actions, Kojiro Shinomiya's expression changed.
Liu Ming looked at Kojiro Shinomiya and asked mockingly, "It seems you haven't answered the question Megumi asked you earlier. Is this dish not good?"
Kojiro Shinomiya's entire face darkened.
After tasting it, Gin Dojima looked at Kojiro Shinomiya with a complex expression.
If someone who could make such a dish couldn't pass, then Totsuki Academy probably wouldn't have many people left.