"Is this an amusement park?"
Crowds of people came and went. Erina Nakiri looked at this scene with excitement. She looked up, and what met her eyes were towering Ferris wheels, thrilling roller coasters, and swaying pirate ships.
She looked down and saw carousels filled with children, bumper cars overflowing with people, haunted houses with long queues for exploration, and various amusement facilities packed with people.
Of course, besides these, there were also restaurants scattered in the corners of the amusement park, but because it wasn't mealtime, the restaurants' business was relatively slow.
"What do you want to play first?"
Turning to look at the two, whose eyes were captivated by the dazzling array of amusement facilities, Hoshino Sora asked curiously.
"Carousel." * 2
Erina and Alice said in unison. After speaking, they looked at each other, both seeing surprise in the other's eyes. Hoshino Sora was also surprised.
Unexpectedly a little childish...
"Emmm, then let's start with the carousel. Let's go queue up. Today's goal is to try all the entertainment facilities in the amusement park!"
"Oh oh!" * 2
Hoshino Sora raised his arms high, deliberately showing a very excited look. Although he didn't really want to ride the carousel, the main point was companionship!
The carousel opens up the atmosphere.
Bumper cars cultivate breaking through awkwardness and anxiety.
The pirate ship requires close clinging so as not to fall.
Screaming loudly on the roller coaster, releasing the soul.
Three people go into the haunted house, with Hoshino Sora as the backbone.
And many, many more...
"That was so much fun! Although it was terrifying while on it, I started to reminisce once I was on the ground."
"Exactly! Let's ride the roller coaster again next time."
"Mm!"
After one round, Erina and Alice gradually opened up, chatting idly while sitting on the Ferris wheel. Now Hoshino Sora became the outsider.
However, he didn't feel disappointed. Instead, he watched the two people in front of him with a smile on his face, his eyes full of affection.
"You've been staring at us since just now."
"Exactly, what? Do you want to sit between us?"
Patting the space between her and Erina, Alice asked with a smile.
"It's not impossible."
Hoshino Sora said jokingly. Who knew that Alice, upon hearing his words, immediately shifted her butt, leaving a space wide enough for one person. Erina, seeing this, also leaned to the side, not refusing.
However, Hoshino Sora didn't actually squeeze in, remaining in his own seat.
"The sunset is so beautiful!"
Through the Ferris wheel window, one could perfectly see the sunset on the horizon. Hoshino Sora's voice was filled with emotion. How long had it been since he had calmly watched a sunset like this…
"Indeed, it's golden and so warm."
Alice filled her eyes with the evening glow on the horizon and genuinely exclaimed.
Although Erina Nakiri didn't speak, she also looked out the window, her eyes sparkling with light, and her hands slightly rested on the armrests, clearly also healed by the scene before her.
"The setting sun and lonely wild goose fly together; the autumn waters and the vast sky are of one color."
When the Ferris wheel reached its highest point, through the window, one could overlook the entire Tokyo.
Wang Bo's poem involuntarily flowed from Hoshino Sora's mouth: The setting sun and lonely wild geese fly together, and the autumn river water and the vast sky merge into one, a seamless expanse of color.
It was truly beautiful!
"What are you saying?"
"Just a little emotional, that's all."
Because these two sentences were in Chinese, Erina and Alice couldn't understand what he was saying. Hoshino Sora was too lazy to explain and just smiled and brushed it off.
"Next, let's go watch a movie. The newly released 'Cooking King'. After that, we'll go to a high-end restaurant for dinner, to conclude our day's itinerary."
"Agreed."
"I have no problem."
Looking at the Ferris wheel slowly descending after reaching its peak, Hoshino Sora suddenly suggested. Alice immediately raised her hand in agreement. Erina looked at the scenery outside and 'reluctantly' agreed.
However, what Erina herself didn't notice was that after she agreed to the invitation, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.
"Then, next stop, the cinema!"
——————
Such peaceful days continued for a week. Compared to other members who entered the semifinals who were busy developing new dishes, Hoshino Sora's side seemed very relaxed.
But he wasn't completely slacking off. He made several tofu dishes every day because he didn't want his thinking to be limited to the small Mapo Tofu.
He had tried all kinds of tofu dishes, such as Pot-Stuck Tofu, Pan-Fried Tofu, and Scallion-Braised Tofu.
This was also to further understand the characteristics of tofu. He couldn't just learn one Mapo Tofu and be done with it just because the theme of the dish was tofu.
However, after many experiments, Hoshino Sora still felt that Mapo Tofu tasted the best, perhaps because it was the only dish taught to him by a true inheritor of Sichuan Cuisine.
Cooking during the day and playing card games at night, occasionally going out to play and relax, made their days very fulfilling, with endless things to do every day.
Of course, Hoshino Sora wasn't the only one busy researching cuisine. Alice and Erina, after relaxing for a few days at the beginning, successively devoted themselves to researching new dishes.
Especially Alice Nakiri, who lost on the first day of the competition. Although she seemed fine on the surface, with a smile on her face, no one knew what she was thinking inside.
What was certain was that after her defeat, Alice Nakiri worked even harder than before.
Erina, on the other hand, felt a sense of crisis because Hoshino Sora had caught up to her, so she increased her practice time and also wondered if she should decline some of her Elite Ten work.
After all, among the Elite Ten, the third-year seniors were all busy with graduation matters, which led to all pending matters piling up on them, the first-year students and second-year seniors.
Under the interference of a large number of trivial matters, Erina Nakiri, who became an Elite Ten member, even had less time to practice cooking than when she was in Far Moon Middle School.
Although her progress was faster than before.
"Tomorrow is the semifinals, you're not allowed to lose!"
Alice poked Hoshino Sora's shoulder lightly to cheer him on, pouting. Yumeko Jabami defeated Feng Xuanya, and she was defeated by Feng Xuanya.
If Hoshino Sora could defeat Yumeko Jabami, it would prove that he was stronger than Feng Xuanya.
Although Hoshino Sora being stronger than Feng Xuanya essentially had nothing to do with her, he was her Alice Nakiri's boyfriend, after all! The joy and pride of victory would be passed on!
"Don't worry, don't you know my strength?"
"Your opponent is not weak either. Underestimating them might lead to a very ugly loss."
Erina Nakiri kindly reminded him. Yumeko Jabami's ability to defeat Feng Xuanya was enough to prove her strength. Erina was deeply impressed by that girl who could fight her to a draw a year ago.
Although her current self and her self from a year ago were completely different levels, the God Tongue ability was fully awakened after that battle, and her strength grew exponentially.
"I've done everything I can. If I still can't win, then there's nothing more I can do."
Hoshino Sora smiled nonchalantly. During these seven days, he repeatedly researched and cooked hundreds of dishes to further improve the taste of Mapo Tofu.
All because of a single sentence from Erina Nakiri.
The deliciousness created by a small restaurant should be felt as delicious on the "third bite" after being put into the mouth. Everyone agrees that such seasoning is the best, allowing customers to frequent daily without getting tired of it.
In contrast, the seasoning of a high-end restaurant needs to make people feel delicious on the "first bite," leaving a deep impression with its strong flavor.
However, Mapo Tofu is not a dish exclusive to high-end restaurants; on the contrary, it is more commonly found in small restaurants.
For dishes that appear in both types of restaurants...
After repeated seasoning research, Hoshino Sora finally decided to introduce a brand-new model, allowing Mapo Tofu to reach its optimal flavor on the "second bite."
There are two reasons for this: firstly, high-end restaurants serve small portions, so if the first bite isn't delicious, the meal will be over before the diner feels satisfied, diminishing the dining experience.
Small restaurants serve large portions, so if the initial taste is too strong and overwhelming, it's easy to get tired of it by the end.
And because Mapo Tofu needs to consider its characteristic as a rice accompaniment, neither too much nor too little is suitable, so Hoshino Sora defined it as a medium-sized dish.
"No more card games tonight. Let's go to bed early."
"Okay." * 2
Hoshino Sora said, then began to clean up the kitchen waste. He had already done everything he needed to do. All that was left was a good night's sleep. He wanted to face the challenge in his best state.
[Trigger Stage Mission ④]: Semifinal Clash, A Fated Duel!
[Mission Description]: Since your encounter at the beginning of the school year, you have been challenged multiple times by Yumeko Jabami, but you have refused all but the first. Is it fear? Is it dread? All answers will be revealed in the semifinals of the Autumn Elections!
[Mission Requirement]: Defeat Yumeko Jabami with your cooking.
[Mission Reward]: Talent: Infinite Charm
[Infinite Charm]: Generates an extremely strong personal charm, increasing attractiveness to the opposite sex by 200%, and to the same sex by 50%. General requests made to the opposite sex are less likely to be refused.
— — — — — — — — — —
"Swish—"
The sound of a knife being sharpened echoed in the dark room, and a red glow flickered in the girl's eyes.
"Hoshino-kun, tomorrow, we will determine the victor!"
A gentle breeze blew, lifting the curtains high. Moonlight streamed through the window into the room, reflecting on the incredibly sharp Master Chef knife and also revealing the girl's face.
Yumeko Jabami.
And that exaggerated, extreme smile. Clearly, she had been anticipating this moment for a very, very long time.
— — — — — — — — — —
The next day.
"Semifinals, first match, Hoshino Sora versus Yumeko Jabami."
"Cooking, start!"
By the semifinals, the judges on site had been replaced by five active Master Chefs, led by Dojima Gin. They were also excellent graduates of Far Moon, having once been contestants in the Autumn Elections.
As Dojima Gin raised his large hand and waved it, a roaring sound like angry thunder erupted from his throat, his imposing presence no less than that of Eri Nai's old man. This couldn't help but make people wonder if they were from the same lineage?
With a gong, the entire venue erupted in enthusiastic cheers. Hoshino Sora and Yumeko Jabami wasted no time, heading to their cooking stations and beginning to cook with all their might.
Meanwhile, the Far Moon graduates sitting in the judges' seats also began to discuss.
They were:
80th term, Second Seat, Inui Hinako, who runs the Japanese restaurant "Kiri." She has brown hair and is one of the lodging study teachers.
81st term, Second Seat, Sakurai Yuri, who runs the traditional Japanese confectionery shop "Sakuraya." She has cherry-colored hair and is also one of the lodging training teachers.
88th term, Second Seat, Kakizaki Taki, who runs the Spanish restaurant "Taki Amarillo." She has purple hair and is flat-chested.
"The theme is tofu? That's quite a challenging theme," Kakizaki Taki said, looking at the word "Tofu" displayed prominently on the large screen, her expression subtle.
89th term, Second Seat, Kikuchi Sonoka, who runs the Western cuisine specialty shop "Haruka-tei." She has pink hair and is busty, forming a stark contrast with Kakizaki Taki and Sakurai Yuri, and is 'resented' by Kakizaki Taki.
"It's alright, but it's certainly not easy to make an outstanding tofu dish," Kikuchi Sonoka said with a smile, her chest jiggling with surprising elasticity as she spoke. When Kakizaki Taki saw this, she immediately clenched her fists, her face full of resentment.
And finally, 69th term, First Seat, Dojima Gin, the Master Chef of Yuanyue Resort.
"It still depends on the contestants' performance. Who knows, they might bring us some surprises?"
At this moment, he stood at the very front of the judges' panel, watching the two cooking with excellent eyesight. The time limit for this competition was one hour, meaning no particularly complex dishes could be made.
"This guy isn't trying to make Mapo Tofu, is he? Wouldn't serving Mapo Tofu in this kind of setting be a bit too ordinary?
I remember there's a Chinese dish called Wensi Tofu. Making Wensi Tofu would be better than this widely known Mapo Tofu. My anticipation has dropped significantly. Did this guy not think before deciding on the dish?"
Noticing Hoshino Sora's action of roasting Sichuan peppercorns and the pile of chilies in front of him, Kakizaki Taki immediately guessed the dish he was going to make; it was simply too easy to understand.
"Mapo Tofu, a classic Sichuan Cuisine dish. Although widely known, it's not easy to make well. There are countless details to pay attention to. I think it's still worth looking forward to."
Sakurai Yuri said with a gentle smile. Hoshino Sora had left quite an impression on her during the lodging training.
"What other flavors can Mapo Tofu have? Numbing, spicy, fresh, hot. I used to be quite obsessed with it, but then I ate it too much and stopped liking it."
"It's not too late to draw conclusions after tasting the dish."
Dojima Gin finally stepped in to mediate. No matter what kind of dish it was, the taste was the core. A good taste could overcome all obstacles.
This was the so-called Way of Food!
The competition continued. Hoshino Sora and Yumeko Jabami paid no attention to the judges' intense discussion. They were both focused on their cooking, undisturbed by the outside world.
"This guy, he didn't even bother to call me before he left."
Alice Nakiri, her cheeks puffed out, chose a seat at the back of the venue and sat down, complaining. She had accidentally overslept and had only been woken up by Erina.
"Does Mapo Tofu's aroma have such a wide reach?"
As soon as she sat down, a familiar yet unfamiliar voice came to her ears. She looked over and saw Feng Xuanya's back. The other party was actually sitting in front of her!?
Truly, enemies cross paths!
"However, Hoshino Sora is clearly a Neon person, so why is he so skilled in Sichuan Cuisine? There must be a formidable Sichuan Cuisine teacher behind him."
Feng Xuanya speculated to herself. Chinese cuisine is not difficult, but to master it, one must have a Master Chef to guide them. It's difficult to make a highly complete dish by just figuring it out on your own.
Time passed bit by bit. Hoshino Sora meticulously refined the proportions of the seasonings. For Mapo Tofu, this was the most crucial aspect, and the cooking time itself was not long.
"The competition has entered its final stage of completion. The first to finish is, Yumeko Jabami!"
In the competition venue, everyone held their breath. Yumeko Jabami's crisp footsteps were like hammers striking the heartstrings of the crowd, firm and powerful, making everyone's hearts tense up.
Their gazes followed the serving tray in her hand.
"Steamed Tofu Stuffed with a Hundred Flowers, please enjoy."
Placing the plate in front of the judges, Yumeko Jabami spoke softly, then prepared to not help them open it, calmly walking to the side to stand and wait.
"Steamed Tofu Stuffed with a Hundred Flowers? What kind of dish is this…"
Kakizaki Taki's expression was puzzled. Being young, she didn't have much experience. For such an oddly named niche dish, she had never heard or seen it before.
"Steaming tofu with flowers?"
Kikuchi Sonoka shared the same confusion. She had only graduated in the previous term and had not yet embarked on her culinary journey into the world.
"I just saw shrimp and water chestnuts being used. This is a local Cantonese dish from China. Minced meat is called 'hundred flowers,' and water chestnuts are added to enhance the texture, then it's put into hollowed-out tofu…"
Inui Hinako explained softly. As she spoke, she lifted the lid of the plate in front of her. An extremely fresh aroma wafted out first, followed by the rich, savory scent of the sauce settled at the bottom.
There must have been stock used to enhance the flavor, and the method of preparing the sauce was also well thought out: cilantro, green peppers, and soy sauce cooked together, then pepper, sesame oil, steamed fish soy sauce, stock…
Only then did this intensely fragrant tofu sauce come into being.
"Is it shrimp meat? Pure white and clean, complementing the tofu like a beautiful winter scene. It doesn't fall off when picked up, is that because a layer of cornstarch was sprinkled on the tofu…"
Picking up a piece of the Hundred Flowers Stuffed Tofu with chopsticks, the shrimp filling, though stuffed inside, remained cohesive. This could be achieved by applying a thin layer of cornstarch during steaming.
"That's right, I washed the shrimp with sugar, salt, white vinegar, and flour to increase its stickiness. Then I added water chestnut filling and minced pork fat, which allows the ingredients and the tofu flavors to blend even more, achieving a wonderful harmony."
Yumeko Jabami extended her hand and explained softly. This was also the result of her multiple attempts and research.
The Steamed Tofu Stuffed with a Hundred Flowers is steamed for five minutes, topped with chopped green onions when taken out, drizzled with hot oil, and the sauce is poured from the edge of the plate. This completes the dish.
"So fresh! The shrimp paste is tender and fresh, the tofu is even more tender, and the water chestnuts are slightly crisp. The texture is amazing! From the initial sweetness to the final savory freshness, the aftertaste is endless!"
Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Kikuchi Sonoka, her exaggerated chest trembling, her face flushed with excitement, found the dish in front of her absolutely wonderful!
"Is it that exaggerated?" Looking enviously at Kikuchi Sonoka's extremely exaggerated chest, Kakizaki Taki turned her gaze to the dish in front of her, picked up her chopsticks, and took a piece.
Steamed tofu, the taste should be very light…
The moment she ate the dish, her eyes widened abruptly, and her fair face turned red. Complex flavors exploded in her mouth: the savory freshness of the sauce, the clear freshness of the shrimp, the bean freshness of the tofu—all kinds of fresh flavors layered together, finally forming this shrimp-stuffed tofu!
This feeling, layer upon layer, like the closest physical contact, a human pyramid!
The illusion in her mind pulled her back to her childhood, and Dojima Gin and the others were also pulled into the illusion, stacking layer upon layer, they stacked together, mutually clinging to each other.
This feeling was very strange. The time of youth is one's most precious youth. To reappear in such a way was truly moving.
"Thank you for waiting, this is my Mapo Tofu! Please enjoy."
Immersed in the illusion and unable to extricate themselves, it wasn't until a strong, clear voice rang in their ears that they awoke from the layered illusion.
Hoshino Sora lifted the lid, then stood beside Yumeko Jabami. Seeing her staring at him, he smiled nonchalantly and then nudged her with his shoulder.
"Let me try your dish later, okay?"
Hoshino Sora whispered.
"Of course, and similarly, I'd like to try Hoshino-kun's dish as well."
Yumeko Jabami suppressed her inner excitement, smiling as she spoke. She naturally wouldn't refuse Hoshino Sora's request.
"I specifically made a portion for you; the taste is absolutely beyond words!"
"Mine isn't bad either."
One sentence after another, neither of them paid attention to the judges, but the audience present was different. They watched the five judges, who, without saying a word, began to feast with their spoons.
Their expressions were bewildered.
What was going on? The rich, numbing and spicy aroma permeated the entire venue. None of the five judges were willing to stop their hands to explain; they just kept eating large mouthfuls of the dish with rice.
"Another serving!"
Saying nothing yet seemingly saying everything, as Dojima Gin's voice fell, Hoshino Sora returned to his cooking station. To handle this situation, he had simultaneously started five pots of Mapo Tofu.
He wasn't afraid of wasting it if they didn't finish, as there were so many spectators present. At that time, if he asked who wanted to taste it, it would surely be snatched up in minutes. However, judging by the judges' expressions, it might not even be the audience's turn to snatch it up.
"Numbing, spicy, hot, fresh, this is the inherent impression of Mapo Tofu for laymen, and even some chefs.
In reality, Mapo Tofu has eight flavors: numbing, spicy, hot, fragrant, crispy, tender, fresh, and lively—eight flavors in one!
This dish perfectly embodies all the flavors of Mapo Tofu, and it has also been appropriately improved, in terms of proportion, but the overall flavor profile remains unchanged. You must have put a lot of effort into it."
Having finished the dish in front of him, Dojima Gin, his muscles bulging and eyes gleaming, said that the completeness of this dish was so high that it made the judges forget to comment.
They just kept eating, savoring this ultimate Mapo Tofu!