Akanegakubo Momo: "What!?"
Regarding the sudden outcome, Akanegakubo Momo didn't understand the situation at all. As someone who had consistently excelled at creating cute dishes, Akanegakubo Momo's skill in cooking was definitely not something ordinary people could compare to. It was precisely because of this that she had been able to practice her cooking along this path, unknowingly reaching the third seat.
It wasn't that she couldn't accept failure, but simply that she sneered at this particular defeat. In the end, she didn't even know how she had lost this showdown.
Therefore, in addition to being unconvinced, Akanegakubo Momo felt more of a sense of bewilderment.
Why was the man before her able to reject her cooking?
However, even if she couldn't provide her own answer, the taste conveyed by the dish was absolute. If she was unconvinced...
Hachiman gently presented the dish he had prepared. Although it didn't look particularly outstanding, the soufflé was constantly emitting a fascinating aroma.
"Please have a taste."
If you gently bit into it, the egg yolk would slowly burst out. This captivating flavor was completely released at this moment, and Akanegakubo Momo's taste buds were completely captivated. Perhaps for her, the answer was revealed the moment she tasted this flavor. This was an area that she had been unable to explore until now, an unknown territory. Even though she could maintain the cute characteristics of her cooking, its internal characteristics were completely defeated.
Hoshino Ai: "I told you, he's amazing, isn't he!"
Eriri: "I must say, such a stunning creation is truly rare. When I saw his movements, I thought it was just an ordinary dish."
Sakurajima Mai: "I have to admit, I thought so too just now, but... after tasting this dish, that thought disappeared. I didn't expect that even though she's the third seat, this match was such a crushing defeat."
Yukino's mother showed a slight smile. Yukino, who was next to her, quickly noticed her mother's face. Unexpectedly, she didn't take back that faint smile. After wiping her mouth with a towel, she said softly:
"Really, it's been a long time since I've tasted such a delicious dish."
Akanegakubo Momo lost fair and square. After tasting her opponent's dish, this feeling of inner frustration instantly rose within Akanegakubo Momo. Even if others couldn't know, she still couldn't deceive her own heart. As a chef, perhaps the path she needed to take was still long and arduous.
As Kawashima Urara announced the result, Hikigaya Hachiman undoubtedly evened the score amidst the cheers of the audience.
"That guy actually won, and it was a landslide victory. At this rate, maybe there's still something to see!"
"I doubt it. There are still so many of the Elite Ten who haven't fought yet. Do you think this is a situation that one person can turn around?"
"However, this is indeed a good start!"
"This is so exciting!"
After leaving the stage, Akanegakubo Momo didn't say another word, but her eyes were fixed on Hikigaya on the stage.
Erina looked at him, who had won again, and felt somewhat emotional:
"He's really amazing. He's only been learning to cook for a short time, but he has already touched the third seat. And... it seems like I feel that his limit isn't here."
Yukino listened to Erina's words. In comparison, she was much calmer:
"Before the Autumn Elections, he had a showdown with Shinomiya Kojiro, the former first seat. Although it was a joint effort, I know that I was just a burden to him."
"Are you talking about? That matter?"
"That's right."
At the time, Erina had misunderstood the two of them, but now, looking back, perhaps Hikigaya Hachiman had already displayed his terrifying cooking skills long ago.
Yukino: "All we can do now is entrust everything to him."
Erina: "Yes, maybe he can really create a miracle in the culinary world."
On the stage, Hikigaya Hachiman will welcome his next opponent. It was Etsuya, who had fought him before. As the ninth seat, he originally possessed very strong cooking skills, but in the previous Food Wars, he lost miserably. This time, it was to avenge his previous defeat.
But... that's impossible.
Even if the previous time he had judges who were totally on Etsuya's side, he still completely lost to Hachiman. This kind of overwhelming strength couldn't be fought with cheating. And this time, it was even more so.
To be honest, Etsuya, who had a strong aura just now, lost his determination the moment he stepped onto the stage and felt the pressure of Hikigaya's terrifying gaze.
"The match, begins!"
The theme is, soy sauce.
A very unpopular theme, even if it's called a seasoning, it's not an exaggeration. As Etsuya, who is known as the alchemist of cooking, is proficient in the use of every kind of ingredient, there might still be a chance after drawing such a theme.
After all, ordinary people wouldn't cook with such a theme. But Etsuya is different. His vast knowledge naturally gave him an advantage.
But...
This time, his opponent is Hikigaya Hachiman.
Because he himself has a terrifying amount of knowledge and is excellent at cooking instantly, it is even more impossible for Etsuya to have any room to exploit.
Moreover, this time Hachiman doesn't need to use his own cooking at all. After all, he has been studying hard during this time.
Under the intense collision between the two people, the sound of kitchen utensils colliding constantly came from the stage. Etsuya raced against time, trying to defeat the Hachiman in front of him with the first move. On the other hand, Hachiman still maintained a constant speed, completing his cooking without being affected at all.
Sure enough, after two hours, Etsuya was the first to finish cooking. Under the gaze of everyone, he handed the five judges a dish of marinated shrimp with soy sauce, called:
"Central Cuisine Modified Soy Sauce Marinated Shrimp."
It must be said that the ninth seat of Etsuya is definitely not for nothing, and this dish completely shows his characteristics. Under a simple theme, it simultaneously showcases dozens of ingredients, achieving a reversal through the combination of various ingredients.
Whether it's in terms of taste or appearance, it can be said to be impeccable.
But...
It has also lost its characteristics.
After tasting Etsuya's dish, Hachiman's dish was reflected in everyone's eyes. Unlike Etsuya's, in everyone's eyes, Hikigaya Hachiman's dish always felt a little familiar.
Hachiman: "Hikigaya-style Modified Central Cuisine Soy Sauce Rice!"
That's right, this is the central cuisine that has always been taught in the central course. After all, it is taught in an open form, so Hachiman doesn't resist it at all. During this time, he basically takes time to attend classes every day. Although it is the opponent's move, understanding the opponent is also a task, isn't it?
And in front of the students, they were all a little dumbfounded for a while.
Because, this is not ordinary central cuisine, but central cuisine that has been modified by Hikigaya Hachiman himself. While stealing the other party's skills, it also makes appropriate adjustments to make the taste a higher-level leap in the already rich situation.
As an excellent flavor entered the tip of the tongue, the unique mellow aroma from the soy sauce seemed to punish everyone who tried to escape them. No matter how you look at it, this cannot be called an ordinary dish.
Being defeated by the other party, and being defeated by the other party with the cuisine you learned, this is the most humiliating thing. Under the announcement of Kawashima Urara, Hikigaya Hachiman won again. This is a solid two-game winning streak, and the Elite Ten have also been drastically reduced to five players.
The continuous defeats have not made the Elite Ten worry at all. Not to mention that Tsukasa, the first seat, is not in a hurry to play, and they also have real trump cards. Although for most of the audience, this is just an evenly matched duel, perhaps this duel has been a crushing situation from the beginning.
Even after winning two games in a row, Hachiman's stamina doesn't seem to have been consumed much. Perhaps because he has been a chef for a while, he has gradually become accustomed to this pressure. On the stage, he is just silently waiting for the next player.
Yukino's mother: "I'm really looking forward to what kind of cuisine he can offer."
Hoshino Ai: "It's rare to hear you say such words!"
Sakurajima Mai: "Indeed, but to be honest, such a chef is a popular existence wherever he is. Even from these two dishes, I seem to have seen a taste that surpasses that of the first seat."
Togawa Sachiko: "In the past ten years, even though I have participated in many programs, it is indeed the first time I have tasted such a delicacy. It is really unforgettable. If possible, I still hope that he can join my band as an assistant."
Eriri: "Hey? Don't steal him from me!"
The repeated victories have also boosted the morale of the rebels. Both Erina's and Yukino's faces showed a faint smile. After all, now it is three to five.
Although Yukinoshita Yukino still has a hint of panic in her heart when she sees her sister, but... from here, she must overcome everything. If she wants to find her own path, then such a choice is absolute.
On the stage, Hikigaya finally waited for his third player.
Mimasaka Subaru, the absolute stalker.
It is said that he can copy his opponent's cooking from beginning to end, and such tracking is done through his understanding, proceeding step by step.
And the current theme is, sushi.
As the drums sounded, the movements of the two were almost the same. Although Mimasaka Subaru had tracked Hachiman and had a certain understanding of his cooking, conversely, with Hachiman's anti-tracking ability, he also understood Mimasaka Subaru to a certain extent.
However, he didn't resist at all, just letting Mimasaka Subaru understand him like this.
The movements of the two are the same at this moment, and even the speed and movements are no different, which makes everyone on the stage a little worried for a while.
Yoshino: "Will everything be okay..."
Ryoko: "Don't worry, that's Hikigaya."
Ibusaki: "Tracking may be useful for anyone, but it has no effect on Hikigaya alone."
Ibusaki didn't say this because of Hikigaya's strength, but because of his amazing cooking style. Most chefs keep their recipes firmly in their brains and replicate them with their hands, but Hachiman is not. When he is cooking, he basically relies on his brain to repeat it, which makes his cooking full of surprises.
Although Hachiman's actions don't seem fast, simply completing the processing of the ingredients has already made Mimasaka Subaru sweat profusely, and the real cooking has just begun.
Mimasaka Subaru has always relied on tracking and therefore creating an advantage to distance himself from his opponents, but what Hachiman is good at is more than just that.
No one can understand a person's heart from simple observation. Hachiman has always believed in this. Even if they spend day and night together, they may not be able to understand each other's thoughts. If they want to copy their own cooking based on this alone, it is no different from daydreaming.
Since even Hachiman's thoughts cannot be seen through, then this cooking will naturally not be able to do as Hachiman wants.
Just halfway through the cooking, Mimasaka Subaru made a huge mistake, and the movements of the whole person fell behind by a large margin. The more anxious he was to make up for the time difference caused by this mistake, the more people would find loopholes.
From some point on, Hachiman's already delicate movements in cooking had added ingredients that did not originally belong to this cuisine. Under that delicate knife skill, he even completed the flower cutting technique in an instant.
Without his own cooking, and without copying the other person's cooking well, it is only natural to lose in this match.
Time passed quietly, the cooking time ended, and the two had already presented their dishes at the same time. From the outside, there was indeed no difference.
Hachiman: "Do you want to continue competing?"
Mimasaka Subaru: "Of course."
Hachiman: "I don't think I'm that persistent, but since you said so."
"Please enjoy, Hikigaya-style Modified Seared Crab Sushi."
At this moment, the two said such words almost in unison.
Looking at the same two dishes in front of them, the five judges decided to start with the counterfeit first.
Since it is the same dish, what needs to be compared is naturally which one has a more amazing taste...
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