Chapter 52: Part 3 — The Michelin Star Massacre & Fourth Wall tingling.
[Sunny Midoriya POV]
The stadium was no longer a sports field. It was a cathedral of high-tension culinary judgment. Smoke drifted from the workstations, smelling of saffron, charcoal, and Bakugo's shattered dreams.
I sat at the long, stainless-steel judging table, centered between Uncle Nokotan (who was currently using a magnifying glass to check for "clumpy rice") and Erina Nakiri (who looked like she was reconsidering her life choices).
The camera drones hovered inches from my face. I reached out, my white-gloved hand wrapping around a glass of cold, white milk. I took a slow, methodical sip, my "Sunny Ramsay" persona radiating a terrifying aura of professional coldness. To the 100,000 people in the stands, it was just milk—a palate cleanser. To me, it was a high-resolution, KingChris-style aesthetic flex.
"ALRIGHT!" I roared, slamming the milk glass down. [THUD.] "Bring out the fodder! Let's see if the rest of you 'heroes' can cook, or if I should just turn this stadium into a giant trash compactor!"
The Tasting: The Gauntlet of Mediocrity
Team Monoma (Class 1-B) was the first to approach. Monoma was wearing a chef's hat that was twice the legal height, looking smug as six arms (copied from Shoji) presented three silver platters.
Appetizer: Smoked Salmon Tartare with 1-B "Superiority" Sauce.
Main: Duck à l'Orange (cooked in under 4 minutes).
Dessert: A Crème Brûlée with a sugar crust shaped like the Class 1-A logo being smashed.
I took a bite of the duck. I stared at Monoma. The silence lasted ten years.
"Monoma," I whispered.
"Yes, Judge Sunny? Superior, isn't it?"
"The duck is so undercooked it's currently trying to tell me that Class 1-B is better than 1-A!" I screamed, tossing the plate into the air. [YOINK!] A deer jumped out of nowhere and caught it in its mouth. "IT'S RUBBERY! IT'S TASTELESS! AND THIS SAUCE?! IT TASTES LIKE DESPERATION AND PLAGIARISM! GET OUT!"
"Haiyaa," Nokotan sighed, poking the Crème Brûlée. "Sugar too thick. Why you use blowtorch? Use the sun! You have fire students! And where is the MSG? Fuiyoh! Uncle Nokotan give you 3 out of 10. Your ancestors are turning in their graves, and they aren't even dead yet!"
Team Todoroki was next. Shoto presented his meal with the emotional range of a stone gargoyle.
Appetizer: Chilled Soba with "Ice-Wall" dipping sauce.
Main: Seared Wagyu Beef (One half frozen, one half charred).
Dessert: A Strawberry Parfait served inside a hollowed-out ice sculpture of his own face.
Erina took a bite of the Wagyu. Her eyes widened. A faint pink glow began to radiate from her skin.
"The temperature contrast..." she gasped, her "God Tongue" trembling. "It's a violent collision of seasons... it's... it's..."
[RIP!]
Her left sleeve exploded into rose petals.
"It's acceptable!" she yelled, her face red. "But the plating is utilitarian! It has no passion! It's like eating a textbook written by a blizzard!"
"Todoroki-kun," I said, leaning in. "This steak is like your father's personality. It's bitter, it's hard to swallow, and it makes me want to call child services! 4 out of 10!"
The Heavy Hitters: The Chaos Crew's Final Stand
Finally, the big three teams stepped forward. The music shifted to a frantic, orchestral remix of Hell's Kitchen and Food Wars.
Team Bakugo presented first. Bakugo didn't walk; he stomped. He slammed three plates onto the table.
Appetizer: "Howitzer Impact" Spicy Shrimp.
Main: Mapo Tofu with "Explosive" Sichuan Peppercorns.
Dessert: Dark Chocolate Chili Lava Cake (literally smoking).
I took a bite of the Mapo Tofu. My eyes turned into two red sirens. Smoke began to pour out of my ears. [WHOOO-WHOOO!]
"BAKUGO!" I screamed, my voice cracking. "THIS TOFU IS SO SPICY IT JUST DECLARED WAR ON MY GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT! IT'S NOT FOOD! IT'S A WAR CRIME! I ASKED FOR COMFORT, NOT A REASON TO VISIT THE ICU!"
"EAT IT AND LIKE IT, YOU GAG-SKELETON!" Bakugo roared.
Nokotan took a bite and immediately turned blue. "Haiyaa! Bakugo-kun! You try to kill Uncle Nokotan? I survived a forest fire, and this tofu is hotter! But... the wok-hei is strong. Fuiyoh. 6 out of 10. You get 1 bonus point for not using a microwave."
Team Chaos (Momo & The Wildcards) presented next. Momo looked exhausted. Aqua was still crying. Toga was licking a spoon.
Appetizer: "Ocean's Prayer" Scallop Carpaccio.
Main: "Mystery Meat" Surprise (It was vibrating).
Dessert: "Stardust" Macarons.
Erina tasted a Macaron. She froze.
[BOOM!]
Her entire uniform vanished in a pillar of golden light. She stood there, wrapped in a shimmering aura of "Flavor-Gasm" energy. "THE SWEETNESS! IT'S LIKE BEING HUGGED BY THE CONCEPT OF CREATION ITSELF! MOMO-SAN, YOUR MOLECULAR STRUCTURE IS DIVINE!"
"Wait," I said, poking the Main Course. "The meat just growled at me. Momo... what is this?"
"Aqua-san 'blessed' the beef," Momo whispered. "And then Toga-san... added 'red sprinkles.'"
I looked at the meat. I looked at the girls. "This isn't comfort food. This is an SCP. 0 out of 10 for the main course, 11 out of 10 for Erina's reaction."
Finally, Team Izuku stepped up.
Appetizer: "Dream of a Hero" Miso Soup.
Main: "Katsudon of the Void" (Sparkling with green lightning).
Dessert: "All Might" Honey Toast with whipped cream hair.
I took a sip of the milk, then a bite of the Katsudon.
Suddenly, the stadium disappeared. I was in a warm kitchen. My mother, Inko, was there. She was smiling. The food tasted like home. It tasted like the narrative of a boy who worked too hard.
"It's... it's perfect," I said, a single cartoon tear rolling down my cheek. [PLIP.]
"Haiyaa," Nokotan whispered, wiping her eyes with her MSG bag. "Uncle Nokotan feel the love. This rice... it's washed perfectly. Fuiyoh! 10 out of 10! You win the Golden Spatula!"
[Sunny Midoriya POV]
"THE WINNER! TEAM IZUKU!" I announced, as the "10 Million Points" graphic exploded across the stadium screens.
The crowd went wild. I drank the rest of my milk, feeling smooth and untouchable. But as the teams headed backstage to prepare for the final event, my "Fourth Wall Sense" started tingling.