"It's simply too beautiful! The last time I saw such a beautiful dish was during the previous Autumn Elections, although I don't know why that girl didn't show up for the finals.
But, that beautiful dish is enough to be remembered for a lifetime!"
Inserting the straw into the Fruit Ice Qilin in front of him, a rich fruity aroma mixed with ice shards exploded in his mouth. The tender and juicy fruit flavor was not damaged in the slightest, and with one sip, he could taste congealed bits that were like fruit pulp yet not quite.
It was a very strange and addicting sensation. Nakitiri Senzaemon's eyes suddenly widened.
The clothes he had just put on instantly burst open, and even his pants showed signs of tearing. Cracks appeared in the fabric, and if he hadn't gritted his teeth and held on at the last moment, he would have truly embarrassed himself in public.
"What a terrifying drink, to make me react like this with just one cup, you're the first!"
He took one sip and dared not continue, even though he desperately wanted to taste the deeper deliciousness within, but if he kept going, he might not even keep his loincloth. If it were in private, that would be one thing, but this was a public place, with nearly ten thousand men and women. If his loincloth burst here, where would he put his old face!
"This is a very good fruit beverage. Firstly, the moment the lid is opened, it creates a huge visual impact. He also considers the experience the dish brings to the diner as a major important factor, closely following current culinary trends. From the fact that all the audience members couldn't help but lean forward, attracted by his dish, it seems his plan achieved perfect success.
Then there's the aroma. While typical beverage dishes also have fruit aromas, I've never seen such a widespread diffusion before. Although I don't know the principle, it's amazing. The moment the drink enters the mouth, all sorts of flavors sweep over you. It should be an incredibly chaotic taste, but it's orderly..."
Here she goes again. Watching Leonora Nakiri, who was like a holy goddess chanting, all the audience members listened with great interest. It had to be said, this person's professional knowledge was truly strong.
"Phew..."
With Alice's support, Erina struggled to stand up. Her legs felt a bit shaky, and her skirt was already a mess underneath, but she couldn't say anything. She could only pretend to be fine and stood up, then glared fiercely at Hoshino Sora, who had given her such a dish.
This guy... he's really getting more and more terrifying!
Her gaze once again fell upon the autumn fruit drink in front of her. Erina Nakiri swallowed, then picked up the straw and took another sip. This time, because she was prepared, she seemed largely unaffected.
But only Erina knew the changes happening within her body.
It was too embarrassing! At this moment, she wished she could immediately go home and take a bath. Fortunately, the skirt she wore today was long enough...
"So there were these things hidden inside the drink..."
Having learned from Erina's lesson, Alice took a small sip of the juice from the Jade Qilin and immediately discovered its hidden depths.
She slightly stuck out her small, lilac-colored tongue, which was covered in bursting pearls and various other forms of Molecular Cuisine. The texture was somewhat similar to the various toppings in milk tea, but upon closer taste, it was vastly different.
With a slight press of her tongue, she could taste a fine, snow-like fruit juice slushie. Yes, this was Molecular Slush hidden within the icy fruit juice, greatly enhancing the layers of flavor in the juice!
There were many more such small surprises, many of which could only be achieved through Molecular Cuisine's unique details. Each sip brought a different surprise, like an underground ruin with endless treasures.
Her body felt tingly, as if she had been electrocuted. Alice, her face flushed, leaned against the wall behind her, which prevented her from falling to the ground as clumsily as Erina.
"How could this be..."
Lei Yuxing also had a shocked expression. Looking at the flashy dish, he had originally thought he had victory in his grasp, but the reactions of the audience and judges made him a little flustered.
This wasn't normal!
Even if this fruit juice had its brilliant points, it was still just a fruit juice, a sidekick to complement a main dish. Even slightly high-end restaurants wouldn't serve fruit juice as a beverage.
However, a drink that could produce such a rich fruity aroma was no simple feat.
Much thought is not as good as tasting it personally, Lei Yuxing thought so. However, serving a beverage in a cooking duel, this guy was truly reckless, and he even spent time on the presentation.
Drinking the incredibly cold beverage, feeling the complex and diverse textures within, Lei Yuxing's face showed an expression of enjoyment, and even his hair seemed to move without wind.
Closing his eyes, he carefully savored the richness of the drink. Various autumn fruit flavors gathered into clusters, condensing into one bursting pearl after another. No matter which one he bit open, it would be a brand new combination, and the bursting juice acting within the beverage in his mouth was enough to bring a completely new experience.
"Delicious!"
Without many words, Lei Yuxing uttered two words, his expression full of shock. Although it was only two words, it was an extremely high evaluation for Hoshino Sora.
Next, it was time for the real decisive moment!
Looking at the judges who were deep in thought, Hoshino Sora was uncharacteristically nervous. He had done everything he could; if he still couldn't defeat his opponent, he would have no regrets!
As for using the small tools given by the system to win this competition? Come on, he still had some principles, after all. Except for battles he absolutely had to win, he still wanted to rely on his own strength for other competitions.
Relying too much on external forces would prevent him from making progress.
"Both contestants have received extremely high praise from the judges. Who will ultimately win?"
"So nervous, even though I'm not competing myself, it's more nerve-wracking than being there. With so many eyes on him, Hoshino-kun must be under a lot of pressure."
"Ah, I don't know who to support anymore, it's truly a difficult choice!"
Discussions continued in the audience, everyone's faces filled with excitement. Had it finally come down to the wire? Who would have the last laugh? All eyes were on the judges.
Thinking, hesitating, looking at the two dishes in front of them, the three judges truly found it difficult to decide, because both dishes were excellent in taste and texture, and comparing a drink and a dish was inherently challenging.
But, if they truly had to choose between them...
"This time, I'll concede. When you come to Huaxia, we'll have another match in private."
Suddenly, Lei Yuxing, having recovered from the dish, said carelessly in broken Japanese. He didn't care about this first place; there were no luxurious rewards, and he even felt that taking first place upon arriving in Neon might attract too much attention.
Since that was the case, it would be better to do Hoshino Sora a favor and make a friend. Perhaps he could use him in the future, which was far more cost-effective than taking first place.
The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. Being second was enough to prove his strength and wouldn't put him in the spotlight, allowing him to bide his time and grow stronger.
"Judges, announce the results. I concede!"
Before Nakitiri Senzaemon could utter the final words, Lei Yuxing shouted loudly, his voice clear enough for the entire venue to hear. Then he stepped forward to Hoshino Sora.
"You are strong, but I am not bad either. The stage of Neon is too small to contain you, just as shallow water cannot hold a true dragon. I hope one day we will meet again in Huaxia."
Lei Yuxing spoke these words in authentic Huaxia, and he had a good impression of Hoshino Sora, who was handsome, charming, and acted with integrity. The charisma of a protagonist was truly irresistible!
Looking at Hoshino Sora's handsome face, Lei Yuxing couldn't help but think to himself.
Even as a man, he found that face attractive. If someone was only slightly more handsome than him, he would be jealous, but when someone's certain quality far surpassed another's, the latter was left with only admiration.
"Okay, we'll meet again someday. I'll have improved by then too!"
"You say that as if I won't make any progress."
As they spoke, the two smiled at each other, forming a not-so-deep friendship.
"The review is now concluded!"
"This was a clash of personalities worthy of a final. Both of you displayed your unique characteristics and showcased your abilities, which was astonishing."
Standing up, arms crossed, Nakitiri Senzaemon loudly announced the end of the competition, his gaze sweeping across the audience. He took a deep breath and then continued.
"Firstly, in terms of cooking technique, both of you created dishes that ordinary people could simply not imagine. If someone else were to make them, they would only be Dark Cuisine. These are dishes that only you two could create."
"As for taste, although it's difficult to evaluate drinks and fried rice due to their different types of cuisine, in my opinion, their deliciousness is on par!"
"The key to winning a dish lies in whether one can feel the chef's spirit from the dish."
"This old man is really long-winded, just like our dean. Is it true that people get like this when they get old? He could have just determined the winner in one sentence."
Listening to Nakitiri Senzaemon's words from above, Lei Yuxing couldn't help but quietly complain to Hoshino Sora. It was just a small competition, why make it as serious as a world chef championship?
"Hoshino-kun has the ability to realize his wild imagination, and Lei-kun's incredibly solid fried rice foundation, being able to make fruit fried rice, these are the best manifestations of a chef's skill!"
"A truly excellent dish allows one to know its creator just by tasting it. This is undoubtedly an affirmation for the chef," Leonora Nakiri commented from the side.
"The judge who just spoke is so beautiful, with such fair and tender skin. I heard her name might be Leonora? I wonder if she's married…"
Once the floodgates of conversation opened, Lei Yuxing's words became a continuous stream, and Hoshino Sora honestly didn't know how to respond.
He couldn't possibly tell the other party that the object of his fantasy was already married and was his mother-in-law, could he? In this situation, it was best to clear his mind and wait for the final result.
"The flavors of both contestants' dishes are equally matched. Due to the different types of cuisine, choosing a winner is quite difficult. After careful consideration by the judging panel and multiple comparisons, a result has been reached.
This match announces Hoshino Sora as the Autumn Elections champion!"
The taste of the dishes made it hard to decide the winner, but upon careful consideration, Hoshino Sora's flavor was clearly superior. His dish was full of surprises, whereas Lei Yuxing's dish felt somewhat empty in comparison.
With the answer, Nakitiri Senzaemon directly announced the final match result. As for Lei Yuxing's earlier words, he completely ignored them.
After all, it was a formal competition; how could it be treated so frivolously?
As Nakitiri Senzaemon's voice fell, Hoshino Sora's name appeared on the large screen above, and the venue erupted in enthusiastic cheers. The young man's victory was well-deserved!
[Mission Complete]: Autumn Elections
[Stage Mission ⑤ Complete]: Finals! We Are the Champions!
[Mission Requirement]: Defeat Lei Yuxing with your cooking.
[Mission Reward]: Gourmet Manor (Can be upgraded with Prestige Points)
[Gourmet Manor]: A spatial treasure, an inner world, totaling one hundred square meters of space, divided into a farm and a ranch, allowing for agricultural planting and livestock development.
The moment Nakitiri Senzaemon announced his victory, a system prompt also sounded in Hoshino Sora's mind, and a look of ecstasy immediately appeared on his face.
Gourmet Manor, he would have to study it thoroughly tonight.
Perhaps this was his opportunity to create a Gold-tier dish! Good ingredients make more delicious dishes—this was a very basic common sense.
"That's great! Sora-kun, you won the championship!"
Alice ran down from behind the judges' table, her eyes filled with emotion as she looked at Hoshino Sora, who had won the championship. In the final moments, she had truly held her breath for him, and thankfully, the ending was perfect.
"Phew…"
Looking at the girl who, oblivious to the surrounding gazes, suddenly threw herself into his arms, Hoshino Sora let out a soft sigh, then, in front of everyone, wrapped his arm around her waist, confirming their relationship.
"Oh my."
Covering her mouth and chuckling as she watched Alice Nakiri and Hoshino Sora, who had embraced and then separated shortly after, Leonora Nakiri couldn't help but laugh. It seemed her daughter had succeeded.
She wondered when she could hold a grandchild. Would this age be a bit too young? Perhaps in another two years…
"I really envy you being able to be so uninhibited in front of everyone."
Looking at the smiling Alice, who had separated after their embrace, Erina, who was behind the judges' table, hugged her arms and whispered enviously. At least, she could never do such a thing.
"Let's have a celebration party tonight to celebrate your championship, and also for using my Molecular Cuisine."
"Mm, thanks to you for lending me those devices. If possible, let's hold the party at Yōbi Dormitory."
He raised his hand to greet everyone from Yōbi Dormitory in the stands. This competition also owed much to their support, especially Shiina Mashiro. Being able to taste her cooking before the match was a huge help!
However, he wondered if it was just his imagination, but Hoshino Sora felt that some of the girls looked at him with flushed faces and complex expressions. Was it because he had just hugged Alice?
"I have no problem with that. Let's invite Erina. It's quite pitiful to see her staying home alone."
"Definitely. Even if she doesn't want to come, I'll drag her over. That tsundere idiot never knows how to take the initiative."
With Hisako away, Erina must be very lonely by herself. Although she didn't say it, he could feel it.
Well, the main reason for saying all this was to get Erina to interact more with people. That girl really had no friends besides Hisako. As for him and Alice… barely, he supposed?
——————
"I already said I'm not going."
Squashed in the back seat of the car by Hoshino Sora and Alice, her eyes revealed a hint of helplessness. Although she said she didn't want to go, her body showed no signs of resistance.
"Erina is really not honest, is she?"
"Exactly! When I won the championship, you stared at me for a long time. I noticed it, you know. Aren't you happy that I won the Autumn Elections championship?"
Hoshino Sora tilted his head and asked, feigning confusion.
"What does you winning the championship have to do with me…"
Erina Nakiri's voice was a bit soft, and her eyes couldn't help but look elsewhere, clearly indicating that these weren't her true feelings.
"Tsk, you're really cold, aren't you? Aren't we friends? It's normal for friends to gather, you know. Tsundere is outdated; it's much better to accept things openly."
Noticing Erina's change in mood, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but complain.
"Alright! I get it! In any case, let go of my hand, you two idiots!"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Erina said indignantly, truly unable to resist these two. They were so self-absorbed, and she just wanted to go home and take a shower first.
"The one who calls others idiots is the idiot, Erina the idiot!"
Hearing herself being insulted, Alice puffed out her cheeks and said discontentedly.
"Huh? Who was it that dragged someone out of their home?"
"Hmph~ Anyway, you have nothing to do at home by yourself. The Autumn Elections are over, so you should be quite free for a while."
"I was originally planning to get some good rest."
Hearing Alice's words, Erina Nakiri pouted and said.
"Do you want me to send you back now?"
Tilting her head and putting her hand to her mouth, Alice said teasingly.
"We're already here; it's too much trouble to go back now."
"We're almost there."
Hearing Erina's slightly flushed words, Hoshino Sora pointed to the Yōbi Dormitory, whose corner was already visible in the distance, and said with a smile.
"Kobayashi-senpai and Akikubo-senpai seem to be in this dorm too, right? I didn't bring any gifts; that's too rude…"
"I don't know if they're back yet, but I prepared gifts for you. They're in the car's trunk. How about that? Am I thoughtful?"
Hoshino Sora said with a smile. He had already thought about gifts. Japanese people usually give common small gifts when visiting someone for the first time.
They could be cheap, but out of courtesy, they had to be given.
"This feels like visiting my in-laws for the first time; I'm starting to get a little nervous."
Feeling her heart rate pick up slightly and the building getting closer, even though she had been here many times, Alice had only actually gone inside once, right at the beginning.
That time when she was forced to be Hoshino Sora's maid, then called to the dorm early in the morning, and unexpectedly sprained her ankle. The feeling back then was completely different from now.
She wouldn't have felt nervous then.
"We're here…"
"Welcome back, Hoshino-kun, and Alice… Erina?!"
Knocking on the door, Shiina Mahiru came out to greet them. Seeing Hoshino Sora standing in front, she naturally greeted him, then saw Alice behind him, and… Erina Nakiri?!
Why would that young lady grace their dormitory with her presence? What was this inexplicable feeling of being flattered?
"Excuse my intrusion."
Holding a gift, Erina bowed politely and then handed over the gift. She was completely different from when she first visited Hoshino Sora's house.
She wondered if she had matured during this time, or if she was angry because her grandfather had forcibly dragged her away from work back then.
"Welcome, welcome! Please come in!"
After a brief moment of Stunned, Shiina Mahiru quickly took the gift and stepped aside. Erina also entered Yōbi Dormitory with a slight nervousness. The air was still filled with the aroma of cooking.
"E-Erina-sama?!"
Looking at Erina Nakiri who appeared at the door, Mito Ikumi, who came out from behind, swallowed, her eyes filled with disbelief. Her beloved Erina-sama had actually appeared here.
"Hmm… long time no see, Mito-san."
Seeing Mito Ikumi, Erina Nakiri paused, but quickly greeted her, then raised her hand to brush back her golden hair, swiftly entering her queen-like state.
However, this state was quickly broken by Alice, who pushed her from behind.
"Hurry up! I'm starving."
"Don't push, Alice!"
"It's because you're blocking the way and not moving."
"Aren't I greeting someone?"
"You can greet them while moving."
Alice said with puffed cheeks, then started bickering with Erina.
"Ah, the food is already prepared. For the dishes, we'll adopt the method of each person cooking one dish."
Hearing Alice's words, Shiina Mahiru quickly said, swallowing at the same time. Could she taste Erina's cooking today?!
"Then we can taste the champion's dish today."
"I'll just make two simple Sichuan Cuisine dishes."
"I need to check what ingredients are in the kitchen first."
Erina pondered, pinching her chin.
"Everyone looks very motivated!"
"Kobayashi-senpai! You're back."
Looking at Kobayashi Rindo who came out of the living room, Hoshino Sora said with a pleasant surprise.
"That's right, we even watched your match. But we were in the last row, and there were so many people, so we weren't noticed at all."
"Sorry."
"Why are you apologizing? This isn't something to apologize for. Hoshino-kun is really stiff."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's subconscious apology, Kobayashi Rindo smiled and lightly tapped his head.
"Where's Akikubo-senpai?"
Since Kobayashi Rindo was back, Akikubo Momo should be back too, right? But she was nowhere to be seen…
"She's preparing dessert after dinner. After hearing that Hoshino-kun won the Autumn Elections championship, she's full of fighting spirit."
Thinking of Akikubo Momo, who had rushed into the kitchen the moment she returned to Yōbi Dormitory, Kobayashi Rindo couldn't help but smile. She was eagerly trying to prove her strength to her junior.
Speaking of which, Akikubo Momo seemed quite interested in this junior. Is she a fan of younger men? Speaking of which, Hoshino Sora was indeed quite handsome, and even more so after some time.
Her gaze fixed on Hoshino Sora's face, Kobayashi Rindo suddenly felt her heart quicken. What was going on? Was this guy always this handsome? She hadn't really noticed before.
"Kobayashi-senpai."
Looking at Kobayashi Rindo in front of her, Erina Nakiri politely bowed and greeted her.
"Oh, it's Erina. Long time no see."
Looking at Erina Nakiri, who appeared at the door and greeted her politely, Kobayashi Rindo's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, but she still smiled and stepped forward to greet her.