Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma (食戟のソーマ)

The Totsuki Fine Dining Academy:

This institution is known for producing a number of famous chefs,

as well as providing a chosen few with unlimited power and resources.

The prowess of these ten individuals is without equal.

They are Totsuki's Council of Ten!

Hey, Soma?

Soma!

Oh, what's up, Megumi?

Well, it's just, um... It's kind of dangerous

to get lost in thought when you're driving, so...

Sorry, yeah, you're right.

It would be pretty lame for me to get in a wreck

after I'd barely bought this thing, huh?

I know what's bothering you.

The Council of Ten again, huh?

Yeah, I guess so.

It's understandable.

After all, it was only yesterday

that those of us who got through the Fall Selection had the honor of meeting them.

The greatest chefs currently at Totsuki Academy:

the Council of Ten.

Presenting the Totsuki Academy Council of Ten!

And then...

In front of all these wildly talented upperclassmen,

you had to go and be your self.

So, uh, I'd prefer to join the Ten, like, right now.

Would one of you guys be interested in doing a Food War with me?

Soma, come on!

Yeah, but still, every single one of 'em said no.

Talk about a letdown!

Yeah, but you just about gave me a heart attack!

Maybe I should've had them warm up to me a bit first before that.

I don't really think that's the issue here!

Even now, just thinking about it makes me want to curl up into a ball.

Those members of the Ten were incredible!

The cake that Seat # 4, Chef Momo Akanegakubo made for us was just...

Yeah, that really was something else.

I got to see firsthand just how awesome the Ten really are.

Do you finally understand now?

The difference in skill between the average chef

and those of the Ten is undeniable.

That's the shape of things! So better get used to it!

I'm getting the feeling the nuance kinda sorta got through to you.

You guys, totally, for real, no joke,

you're not even a blip on our radar, speck of dust.

That bein' said, just for grins, let me say this:

If any of you newbies have even one thing you think could possibly beat me,

I might consider a Food War with ya. Their height.

We're talking about food, you ignorant swine beast!

It's cool Chef Kuga said

he'd be game to do a Food War with us.

But coming up with something that's actually good enough to beat him will be tough.

We don't even have a proper place where we can battle him.

Yeah, you're right.

And we hardly ever have cooking classes

together with the second-years.

What? I thought you were against me

challenging the Ten to a Food War, Megumi.

Um, well, of course I don't want you to end up getting expelled from school or anything.

But I mean, you're an amazing chef, Soma.

I thought, "Even if he is our senior, that must have stung to be talked down to like that."

Oh, I see. Thank you.

That's a really big truck.

They gonna build something again?

Well, yeah! It's about time for prep work to get under way.

"Prep work"? Yeah!

There's an event every year around this time.

It's so we can mark the end of fall.

It's Totsuki Academy's school festival!

School festival?!

Yup! It's called "The Lunar Feast"!

Whoever enters gets to open up a mock restaurant,

either individually or as a group-

Soma, what is it?

That's it, Megumi!

What?

What are you gonna do for lunch?

GIRL 2] Uh, I don't know...

The Lunar Feast runs for five days.

Total sales of all restaurants are supposed to be announced daily, huh?

This is looking like just the thing! Huh?!

Ho! Well, hey there, Erina!

Huh? Hello, Soma.

What a surprise!

What sorta class did you just come from?

I've told you repeatedly not to engage me in casual conversation!

I can't believe Hisako's not here at a time like this...

By the way, are you gonna do one of these things as well?

I take it you mean the Lunar Feast?

Well, of course.

Each year, the members of the Ten who open up food shops

draw throngs of people.

Huh? Well, you don't say?

In that case, Chef Kuga is sure to open one up too.

Yeah, that is perfect!

Oh God, don't tell me...

Yup! You can count me in too!

If I can get more sales than Chef Kuga at the festival,

I'm sure he'll see fit to accept my challenge.

Not to brag,

but back home when we'd work the summer festivals,

I was kind of a big deal, you know!

This is delicious! What'd ypu put in here?!

Of course, I'll be going up against your restaurant too!

Let us both do our best!

See ya, Erina!

He honestly thinks he can challenge Kuga?

Does he even know what the Lunar Feast is about?

He's such a dummy.

Okay, one more!

Oh, really?

I should have known you'd be opening up a stall.

You bet! I figured this was my only shot.

So, Megumi, you happen to know what kinda food Chef Kuga cooks?

If I don't know that, I can't come up with a plan of attack.

Let's see... I believe Kuga's area of specialty is perhaps Chinese cuisine.

Oh, Chinese, huh?

Uh...

Hmm?

Boom!

She's so cool!

That girl's got some bounce!

Huh?

You wanna beat the #8 Seat, Terunori Kuga?!

Well, you are the same idiot who challenged Chef Kojiro.

You sure do like running your mouth.

Hojo was also stationed in B Block with me during the Fall Selection.

And her specialty is Chinese cooking too.

Yeah? You don't say?

But unlike Kuga, whose focus is mainly Sichuan,

I've trained in a variety of different Chinese styles.

So, how many people have you recruited for your staff?

What staff?

It'll just be me.

Whaaaat?!

Yeah, it's just a stall at some school festival.

Uh, yeah, about that...

Are you by chance free after school? Huh?

I'm scheduled to attend a study group on regional dishes after school today.

I guess Soma alone will have to do.

You'll understand once you've seen it for yourself.

I'll be taking you somewhere:

the Chinese Cuisine Research Society,

Terunori Kuga's stronghold!

Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

This is nuts.

They're training to flip uncooked rice in a wok?

There are so many of them!

But they're all moving perfectly in sync!

Are these guys cyborgs or something?

Okay! One, two! One and two!

Yeah, good, that's it! Keep it up everyone!

Hey, baldy! You're falling behind!

What are you doing?!

I-I'm so sorry, Master!

No! That won't be good enough for you to properly do your job!

And you all share responsibility, so give me thirty more sets.

Now, go!

Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

What's up, Miyo?! Whatch' doin' up in here?

You finally decided to come and join our group?

Not a chance.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, but still,

you know that you're always welcome any time.

And here we have, um...

Soma, if I remember correctly.

What brings you here?

Well, I was just curious what you were doing

to get ready for the upcoming school festival.

"School festival"?

I was thinking about doing a restaurant too.

I was just about to start coming up with recipes.

If I rack up more sales than you,

would you accept my Food Wars challenge?

Oh, so that's it? Of course I will.

I always like to keep my promises.

I'm glad to hear it, man!

So, for now, you mind telling me what you'll be serving?

This is supposed to be covert recon!

Do you have any idea what you're doing?!

You sure are a funny kid, aren't you, Soma?

But well, I'm still going over what I want to make for the festival,

but I'd have to say my top seller is always mapo tofu.

Mapo tofu?

I used to do a killer mapo tofu set menu back home.

The folks really loved that stuff!

Huh? So your place served up set menus, did it? Hmpf!

Ten of you, line up!

Make the mapo tofu we're all SO proud of for Little Soma here.

Yes, sir!

Hey, Soma, have you ever heard of this famous Chinese saying? What?

It was coined by the people in Sichuan province

as well as neighboring Hunan and Guizhou.

"Sichuan people don't fear spiciness."

"Hunan fear no level of spiciness,"

"and Guizhou people fear that which isn't spicy."

In other words, it sounds like they freaking love spicy foods.

It's not only that they love their food spicy.

It's that it's such a part of the regional cuisine that it led to this phrase.

It's been that way for hundreds of years.