Shredded beef and pepper stir fry that Shines

"Green Pepper Shredded Beef That Shines"

"Gabriel and Slightly, upon hearing about the delicious food being served at Toyogasaki High School Food Department, became interested and decided to try it for themselves. As soon as they arrived, Ishikawa Iwa presented them with a plate of his renowned green pepper shredded beef.

"Is this really free to taste?" Slightly, who hadn't eaten lunch yet, couldn't help but salivate at the sight of the dish, asking with excitement.

"Indeed, you can enjoy it for free. All I ask is for you to provide an accurate score and review of my dish afterwards," Ishikawa Iwa replied, sporting a gentle smile.

Ishikawa Iwa cast a glance at Tetsuya, who was still busy in the kitchen, and a self-assured smile formed on his face. Over the years, he had become extremely proficient in making green pepper shredded beef. This dish had played a significant role in establishing his own restaurant and gaining recognition before joining the Food Department at Toyogasaki High School.

In his opinion, when it came to preparing this particular dish, he surpassed Tetsuya and Yuuki Asuna in culinary skill.

"Gabriel, I thought the food at the school cafeteria or other restaurants would be better, but I'm pleasantly surprised to find delicious food here, and it's free!" Slightly exclaimed with delight.

"Absolutely, it's been a while since I've had some beef," Gabriel replied, her eyes gleaming with anticipation as she licked her lips.

Upon hearing their conversation, Ishikawa Iwa rolled his eyes, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment. If this weren't the Food Department, he would have already expelled Gabriel and Slightly!

What makes the Food Department superior to a regular restaurant? That fair-haired girl might be attractive, but she shouldn't go as far as to call me "uncle." I'm only 30 years old! Can't she address me properly?

"Uncle, are you feeling unwell? Your complexion looks rather red," Gabriel innocently inquired, not understanding Ishikawa Iwa's reaction.

Suppressing his anger, Ishikawa Iwa forced a smile and extended an invitation to Gabriel and Slightly. "Please, take your time and savor the green pepper shredded beef before it cools. It's absolutely delicious."

"I understand. Thank you, Uncle. I will savor it and provide a favorable review," Gabriel said, clasping her hands together.

"I'll start," Slightly added, picking up her chopsticks and carefully taking a bite. As she swallowed the first morsel, her eyes lit up, and she applauded Ishikawa Iwa. "Uncle, the green pepper shredded beef you've made is on par with some of the most delectable dishes I've ever tasted. Keep up the great work!"

Gabriel, also pleased with the dish, nodded in agreement. "Yes, it's comparable to some of the top-tier dishes I've had. Well done, Uncle!"

Ishikawa Iwa's face twitched, and he forced a laugh, attempting to gauge their opinions. "Can't it be rated any higher?"

"It's already excellent," Gabriel innocently responded, looking at Ishikawa Iwa. "Uncle, based on our standards, we've given it the highest score. Didn't you request an accurate rating?"

Feeling exasperated, Ishikawa Iwa realized that these two students possessed refined palates and were accustomed to gourmet cuisine. It dawned on him that if his dish received only 60 points, they might not appreciate anything else.

Glancing at Tetsuya, who was still busy in the kitchen, Ishikawa Iwa couldn't help but think, "Since you're here, Tetsuya, I wonder if you'll even pass their standards."

At that moment, Tetsuya finished preparing the green pepper shredded beef and emerged from the kitchen with Yuuki Asuna. He presented the dish to Gabriel and Slightly, placing it on the table.

"Schoolmate Tetsuya, are you the chef here?" Slightly recognized Tetsuya from their shared class. She had noticed him before, always engrossed in his cellphone, and had wanted to help him out. She hadn't realized that he was actually the chef in the school's Food Department.

"Yes, it's me and Yuuki-san managing the Food Department," Tetsuya replied casually, wasting no time on introductions. He removed the cover from the plate, revealing a dish that emitted a stunning golden glow. It was so dazzling that it left everyone awestruck, unable to open their eyes.

"Can ingredients actually emit such a radiant light?" Ishikawa Iwa exclaimed in disbelief.

_______________________________

"Ingredients that illuminate?"

Yuuki Asuna was also taken aback by the golden glow a moment ago. As someone who enjoyed cooking, she had come across information about Tōtsuki Academy, a prestigious culinary school in Tokyo. Tōtsuki Academy for short, is a famous culinary school located in Tokyo, Japan. Tōtsuki boasts the best and harshest culinary education in the world.

It was said that students who graduated from Tōtsuki Academy achieved great fame and popularity in the culinary world due to its rigorous graduation requirements. There were even rumors of ingredients that possessed the power to emit illumination.

Yuuki Asuna glanced at Tetsuya, her expression becoming curious. She had noticed that ever since Tetsuya joined the Food Department, he consistently impressed them with his exceptional cooking skills.

Could it be that Tetsuya was previously a student at the renowned Tōtsuki Academy? It was said that only those who could not become professional chefs in major restaurants ended up in the Food Department at Toyogasaki High School. How did Tetsuya end up here?

Doubts filled Yuuki Asuna's mind.

"Green pepper shredded beef, 90 points! The perfect appearance and the radiant flavor create a pinnacle of delicacy, captivating the hearts of beautiful young girls. A top-tier dish."

As Tetsuya uncovered the dinner plate, he received a prompt from the System about the green pepper shredded beef. His heart was filled with joy. This was the first time he had created an illuminating ingredient. As a third-level cook, he could select fresh, high-quality beef meat and use primary recipes to create illuminating ingredients.

Additionally, the cost and difficulty of the green pepper shredded beef, combined with the prompt from the System, indicated that it could be sold for over 6,000 Japanese Yen, equivalent to approximately 388 Chinese Yuan.

However, in a school environment, such an expensive ingredient would likely not be purchased by many students. Not everyone could afford it, unlike the wealthy and beautiful Yuuki Asuna.

But if he were to open his own restaurant, which his financially-challenged father couldn't afford, the illuminating "green pepper shredded beef" could become a signature dish.

Tetsuya glanced at Ishikawa Iwa's green pepper shredded beef, and the System prompted him with [55, a score that may be considered a good dish by ordinary standards but falls short of popularity among higher-level ingredients].

Upon hearing the prompt, Tetsuya couldn't help but smile. His illuminating green pepper shredded beef had received a score of 90, surpassing Ishikawa Iwa's 55. It was an inevitable victory.

It seemed that the System possessed remarkable culinary appraisal abilities, allowing him to assess his own dishes.

These thoughts flashed through Tetsuya's mind. But rather than focusing on evaluating other people's dishes, he preferred to create dishes that he himself enjoyed, embracing the leisurely life of the Food Department at school.

...

A salted fish cannot learn to come ashore because being happy is all that matters. It's unnecessary to worry about the rest.

"It smells so good..."

Gabriel and Slightly, with their refined senses, took a deep breath and closed their eyes in surprise. The green pepper shredded beef that Tetsuya prepared did not emit the usual pungent aroma of green peppers, but instead had a completely unique fragrance.

The aroma alone was enough to whet anyone's appetite.

"I'll start!"

After thanking Tetsuya, Gabriel and Slightly picked up their chopsticks and tasted the shredded beef. As soon as the beef entered their mouths, a delightful fragrance filled their palates, accompanied by a subtle sweetness. The fusion of flavors was perfect.

Instantly, Gabriel and Slightly found themselves captivated by the dish. "This is the most delicious green pepper shredded beef I've ever tasted!"

Gabriel's eyes gleamed with excitement. She felt as if she had transformed into an angel with pure white wings, softly releasing feathers that drifted with the breeze. Her radiant glow brought happiness to everyone she encountered.

"It's an amazing feeling." Gabriel and Slightly were immersed in the illusion created by Tetsuya's food.

"It's too delicious! Your dishes, Tetsuya, are the most delicious I have ever eaten," Gabriel exclaimed with genuine admiration.

"Yes," Slightly agreed, taking her time to savor the green peppers and bamboo shoots. With a serious expression, she added, "According to Gabriel and me, your dishes deserve a score of over 90 points!"

Upon hearing their evaluations, Yuuki Asuna's eyes sparkled with excitement. This confirmed that Tetsuya's green pepper shredded beef surpassed Ishikawa Iwa's dish. As per their agreement, she could continue managing the Food Department...

"Please enjoy your meal," Tetsuya said with a smile as he pushed the plate of green pepper shredded beef toward Gabriel and Slightly. The two thanked him once again, promising to visit the Food Department in the future, and left with satisfied expressions.

"Mr. Ishikawa, as per our agreement, we cannot accept your proposal for a merger."

After they had left, Tetsuya turned to Ishikawa Iwa.

"This... This is impossible! I refuse to accept it!" Ishikawa Iwa's heart brimmed with unwillingness as he gritted his teeth in anger. How could he, a far superior chef who had learned the green pepper shredded beef from a former student of Totsuki Academy, lose to a mere cook in the school's Food Department?

That's right! This guy must have tampered with the dish from the beginning, turning it into an illuminating ingredient.

Those two students who came earlier seemed to be his classmates. He must have intentionally conspired against me, knowing that the competition was unfair!

Ishikawa Iwa examined the dinner plate, but after several minutes, he couldn't find any mechanism that could cause the food to illuminate. As he picked up a few remaining shreds of beef with his chopsticks and placed them in his mouth, his taste buds were stunned.

In an instant, as the flavors of the green pepper shredded beef enveloped his tongue, Ishikawa Iwa's attitude underwent a complete reversal. When he looked at Tetsuya, his eyes were filled with respect, and he asked, "Tetsuya... No, Mr. Tetsuya, did you also graduate from Totsuki Academy?"