The air in the Polar Star Dormitory was thick with a mixture of dread and restless energy. Soma Yukihira leaned against the wall of the common room, tossing a kitchen knife into the air and catching it by the handle with rhythmic precision. Opposite him, Megumi Tadokoro sat hunched over a guidebook, her hands trembling so violently that the pages rustled like dry leaves in a storm.
"Your task is simple," the chef barked. "Create a dish using only the ingredients found within a five-mile radius of this resort. You have two hours. If your dish does not make me lose my composure, you are expelled immediately."
"Training Camp from Hell," Megumi whispered, her voice barely audible. "Soma-kun, did you see the statistics? Over half of the first-year students are expelled every year." Shokugeki no Souma Episode 8
Which should Soma and Megumi find in the forest?
The following morning, a fleet of luxury buses whisked the students away to a sprawling resort nestled deep within the jagged peaks. As the doors opened, the students were met not by hospitable hosts, but by the cold, calculating stares of the Tōtsuki alumni—legendary chefs who had survived this very gauntlet years ago. The air in the Polar Star Dormitory was
The room erupted into a frenzy. Students scrambled toward the exits, desperate to scavenge for herbs, wild game, or river fish. Megumi stood frozen for a moment before Soma tapped her on the shoulder.
Should they encounter a (like Takumi Aldini) while foraging? What dish do you want Soma to present to the judge? "Your task is simple," the chef barked
Their conversation was interrupted by Satoshi Isshiki, who entered the room wearing nothing but his usual fundoshi and an apron. His expression was uncharacteristically grave. "This isn't just a trip, Soma. The Totsuki Friendship and Rapport Training Camp is where the academy begins to prune the weak. It’s the first real step toward the Fall Selections. If you can't survive the next few days, you aren't worthy of the Tōtsuki name."