The Imperial Universities were the top nineprehensive national universities located in central cities within Japan and its colonies, symbolizing the nation''s highest honor and characterized by strong imperialist and militarist tendencies, implementing higher education and engaging in scientific research.


    At that time, students of the Imperial Universities were respectfully called Imperial University students, and the Japanese Government also had special regtions on many aspects such as their daily attire, imbuing the name with a strong sense of national pride influenced by militarism.


    Until the Taisho era, the Emperor of Japan would attend the annual graduation ceremonies of the Imperial Universities, personally awarding outstanding graduates with silver watches.


    After World War II, in the spirit of eliminating militarist ideology, the official names of the nine Imperial Universities were stripped of the word "Imperial," yet they remain the highest educational institutions in their respective countries, regions, or areas in Japan to this day.


    These nine Imperial Universities include The University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Nagoya University, Osaka University, Kyushu University, Tohoku University, Hokkaido University located on the Japanese maind, as well as Seoul National University in South Korea and Taiwan University.


    While Japanese militarism brought severe disasters to Asian countries, the academic achievements of these nine Imperial Universities cannot be overlooked.


    They have garnered more than half of Asia''s Nobel Prizeureates and hold considerable influence worldwide. Beyond research in science and technology, they are also Japan''s top representatives in the fields of medicine and social sciences.


    Among these nine universities, The University of Tokyo, located in the Bunkyo district in Tokyo, is the foremost of the old Imperial Universities. It was Japan''s first nationalprehensive university and one of the earliest Western-style universities in Asia. As a direct product of the capitalist civilization''s onught, The University of Tokyo holds a significant historical status in Japanese society.


    However, like all universities, even The University of Tokyo with its splendid history, is surrounded by many small restaurants, and after sses, many students would patronize them.


    Chen Yu, Inomata Naoki, and Kohinata Kaori also left their footprints here during their time at The University of Tokyo.


    In an inconspicuous little shop, Inomata Naoki sat in his familiar ce, asionally ncing at his watch, waiting for Chen Yu and Kohinata Kaori to arrive, just as he always had been the first to arrive and wait for them in the past.


    Fortunately, Chen Yu and Kohinata Kaori weren''t slow ining and didn''t keep him waiting for too long.


    "Kaori! Brother Yu! Over here!" Seeing the two enter from the door, Inomata Naoki immediately waved at them, inviting them to sit down in the old spot.


    Kohinata Kaori skillfully slipped off her shoes and hopped onto the tatami-matted seat. She always sat in this spot when they were studying here, and now, revisiting the old ce, she reminisced about her youthful days and longed even more for the barbecue of this little restaurant.


    "Sorry to keep you waiting, Naoki. The hospital was so busy today, we''ve only just managed to get away," Chen Yu was not as eager as Kohinata Kaori and, after sitting down, he exined to Inomata Naoki the reason for their dy.


    "It''s fine, Brother Yu. I can imagine how busy you two must''ve been today," Inomata Naoki didn''t mind at all; instead, heughed and took out his phone to show Chen Yu, "My phone is full of news about sister-inw and you, Brother Yu. I nearly thought you wouldn''t make it today."


    Chen Yu nodded slightly and, with the familiarity of an old hand, took three clean sses from a nearby cab and ced them on the table. Then, he fetched a pot of tea and poured it before sipping and speaking, "I almost didn''t make it indeed, the hospital was surrounded byyers of reporters. Whether you''re a doctor or not, if youe out of the hospital, you''ll be stopped for an interview. We really had to struggle to squeeze out of there.


    "My sister-inw was also nning toe, but as the head of a research project, she had too much to deal with today. She really couldn''t get away, so it will have to be next time."


    "Brother Yu, I''m already surprised that you coulde. A nominee for the Nobel Prize! Didn''t the reporters stop you?" Inomata Naoki asked curiously. With Chen Yu''s current fame, even though Jounouchi Hiromi was the main news story of the day, it shouldn''t have been easy for him to get away.


    Before Chen Yu could answer Inomata Naoki''s question, Kohinata Kaori eagerly blurted out the answer, "The senior brother escaped from the hospital by dressing up as a patient and covering his face with a mask, hahaha!"


    For Kohinata Kaori, seeing Chen Yu having to escape the hospital in such an embarrassing manner was undeniably amusing.


    "Alright, let''s eat first! We can talk while we eat. Naoki, did you order?" Chen Yu tapped Kohinata Kaori and turned his head to ask Inomata Naoki.


    "I''ve ordered already, the usual stuff." Speaking of the order, Inomata Naokiughed, recalling the days when they''de here together in the past.


    Back when they used to dine here, Inomata Naoki, always the first to finish ss, was in charge of ordering, so he naturally remembered Chen Yu and Kohinata Kaori''s preferences.


    As past memories came up, Chen Yu couldn''t help but look around the little restaurant. Its decor remained as it had been in the past; the quaint, old furniture and the shop itself only seemed more antique and worn with time.


    This little restaurant had been here since they entered The University of Tokyo. ording to the owner, the ce was operated by his ancestors from the time the university was established. Now in its fifth generation, it boasted a history of over a hundred years.


    This was one of the reasons why the trio likeding here. The small restaurant, with its history spanning over a century, offered guests a secret sauce passed down for over a hundred years. It was this sauce, with historical depth, that had been the cornerstone of the restaurant''s century-long endurance.


    "Sorry for the wait, here''s your barbecue set for three!" It was the familiar owner bringing out their meal, still the same familiar dish, arge te of various fresh slices of meat.


    "Long time no see, boss!" Chen Yu greeted the owner warmly. Having been regrs, they were quite acquainted with the owner.


    The owner recognized Chen Yu as well, and with a smile, he said, "So it''s Mr. Chen Yu! You haven''t visited in a long time. I''ve been seeing you on TV quite often recently. They say you''ll be the tenth Nobel Prizeureate from The University of Tokyo! I''ve been wondering when you''lle by. If you wait until you actually win the award, it might be toote to ask for your autograph."


    "Haha, that''s an overstatement. Although I have a nomination, winning is still a long way off." Chen Yu shook his head and, instead of showing pride at the owner''s praise, he turned to Inomata Naoki and said, "But if you, Naoki, coulde back to help me, perhaps I really might have a chance of winning?"