"You're challenging little Mashiro?"
With a hint of disbelief in her voice, Akikubo Momo looked at Yumeko Jabami with a subtle expression. She opened her mouth several times but ultimately did not speak.
"Is that okay, Mashiro-senpai?"
Staring earnestly at Shiina Mashiro in front of her, Yumeko Jabami spoke as if joking, yet seriously. The girl's innocent appearance made it truly difficult to associate her with a strong person.
However, Shiina Mashiro was indeed a second-year student at Far Moon.
This meant she was a survivor, a king, who had endured brutal selections, so her strength was naturally beyond doubt.
Although she always kept a low profile, no one doubted her strength, including Yumeko Jabami. At this moment, fighting spirit burned in her eyes, and her red pupils emitted a captivating glow.
"Alright, when will it be?"
"Right now is fine."
"Okay."
And so, the battle between the transfer student and the original resident began once more. Only this time, the opponent changed from Shinohiru to Mashiro, from the small one to the big one (crossed out).
"Can we let the only boy here, Hoshino-kun, decide the theme?"
Turning her head to look at Hoshino Sora, who was observing from the side, Yumeko Jabami suggested. Everyone here was more or less connected to Shiina Mashiro and knew what she was good at and what she wasn't. Letting Hoshino-kun, also a new student, decide the theme was undoubtedly the fairest.
"Huh? Let me decide the theme…"
"If we start now, there probably isn't much time to prepare the ingredients for a specific theme, right? In that case, let's make the theme 'leftover ingredients.' Make a dish using the ingredients left in the kitchen.
It's getting late, and everyone must be a bit tired. Let's set the time limit to thirty minutes."
Seeing everyone's gaze turn to him, Hoshino Sora paused, then stroked his chin, pondering for a moment before suggesting the most feasible plan for the current situation.
With various ingredients incomplete, forcibly setting a theme would not allow the two contestants to fully showcase their skills. In this situation, letting them improvise was undoubtedly the best choice.
"Using leftover ingredients? That's a good decision."
Having made up their minds, Yumeko Jabami and Shiina Mashiro both entered the kitchen to prepare. Hoshino Sora followed them in; he was very interested in Mashiro's cooking skills.
How would this genius from Sakurasou perform at Yōbi Dormitory?
He was very curious!
However, Shiina Mashiro's subsequent performance left him somewhat speechless. What was this girl preparing to make? A simple drink? Although it counted as cooking, it wasn't quite what he had in mind!
He saw a row of cups on a table not far away. Shiina Mashiro was holding the leftover fruits from the kitchen and began to operate. After watching for several minutes, it felt like the actions of a staff member in a regular fruit tea shop outside; there was nothing special about it.
Could something like this truly compare to Yumeko Jabami's cooking?
As he pondered, Hoshino Sora looked at Yumeko Jabami. She had chosen a dish with wheat flour as the main ingredient. Given the 30-minute time limit, was she opting for relatively simple pancakes?
Her technique was truly beautiful!
Sifting wheat flour, adding four spoonfuls of sugar, two spoonfuls of baking powder, a small half spoonful of vanilla, one spoonful of cinnamon powder, half a spoonful of salt, mixing evenly, then adding two beaten eggs.
Continuing to stir, she added chopped lemon zest and milk, stirring until it became a batter.
Throughout the entire process, Yumeko Jabami performed with extreme proficiency, as if she had practiced countless times, without a single wasted movement. Watching her was like watching a work of art.
After finishing, she took three green apples, peeled them, and diced them into pieces the size of a pinky finger, adding them to the batter. This would both enhance the texture of the pancakes and add apple flavor, a bold innovation.
Hoshino Sora nodded in praise. Pancakes made this way would have a unique texture, adding another flavor compared to traditionally made pancakes. If well-integrated, it would be a bonus point.
Heating oil in a pan, she poured in the pancake batter, frying until both sides were golden brown, repeating this several times. Then, she stacked the fried pancakes from largest to smallest into a pagoda shape, drizzling good quality amber wild honey on top.
A sweet aroma permeated the air, mixed with the unique fragrance of the pancakes. The green apple pieces were fried until golden-brown, also emitting a fruity scent.
Yumeko Jabami's technique was sharp. At this point, there were still more than ten minutes left until the end of the match. She had already completed her dish and carried the pancakes out. As she passed Hoshino Sora, she gave him a slight smile.
In that brief encounter, Hoshino Sora saw her desire for victory in Yumeko Jabami's eyes. As she walked past, his gaze also turned to the other chef in the kitchen, Shiina Mashiro.
With the addition of butterfly pea flower, the drink in front of the girl revealed its full appearance: a deep azure sea. Blueberries formed the base, lemon adorned the rim for flavor, and the cup was mixed with various colors. Amidst this clear blue, like swimming fish, like coral, it was breathtakingly beautiful, as if it were not a drink but a vivid painting!
"Want to try?"
"May I? But I feel like yours is more suited for viewing. Drinking it feels like it would destroy its beauty; that would be too cruel."
Indeed, Mashiro was still Mashiro. Even making a drink was so breathtakingly beautiful, like a work of art. But as food, how would something like this taste?
"It should taste pretty good, are you sure you don't want to try some?"
"Then I'll just have a little."
Watching the girl in front of him tilt her head in confusion, Hoshino Sora picked up the glass in front of him and gently swirled it. The 'Undersea World' immediately began to churn.
He held it in front of him, gazing for a few seconds, the scene in the glass reflected in his eyes. Only when the drink slowly returned to stillness did Hoshino Sora bring it to his lips.
"Gulp."
He swallowed it in one go. First, he tasted the slight sourness of lemon, then the sweetness of sparkling water, the spiciness of rosemary, the sweet and sourness of strawberry, the refreshing taste of blueberry—all kinds of flavors intertwined.
This wasn't the most magical part; the most magical part was that every sip offered a different sensation. The closer to the bottom, the more intense the feeling. It was clearly one drink, yet he tasted countless flavors!
After his Gourmet Cell evolved, Hoshino Sora's taste buds had significantly improved. He could clearly perceive the changes in flavor. If it were an ordinary person, they definitely wouldn't be able to taste these subtle variations.
For them, it was just a delicious drink.
But if one could taste these subtle changes, the sensation would be completely different. The core of it was the ratio, the ratio of the fruits.
A bit too much was excessive, a bit too little was insufficient. Only when it was just right could it conquer his tongue. To achieve such a level with just a drink, he had to admit, this guy was truly amazing!
"What's this drink called?"
"Undersea World. Can you help me take it out?"
Blinking, Shiina Mashiro saw the surprise on Hoshino Sora's face and smiled softly. Then she moved half a step to the left, revealing the other drinks on the table.
Each glass was uniquely beautiful, but the main color was blue.
It certainly matched the diverse characteristics of the Undersea World, after all, where is the undersea world ever completely stable!
"Leave it to me."
Looking at the adorable way the girl in front of him stared at him blankly, Hoshino Sora smiled with relief. Then he stepped forward and picked up the wooden tray filled with drinks.
[Analysis of Dish]: Undersea World
[Quality]: Silver (Superior)
[Analysis 32%]: The ingredients for this dish include soda water, lemon, rosemary, blueberries...
The voice in Hoshino Sora's mind made him somewhat silent. Should he say it was worthy of Mashiro? She didn't make a move often, but when she did, it was astonishing. It was clear she hadn't used her full strength yet.
No wonder Kobayashi-senpai and Akikubo-senpai had those expressions when they heard Yumeko was going to challenge Mashiro. A Silver (Superior) level dish had already reached the level of the top five of the Elite Ten.
When he battled Mimasaka Subaru, he utilized the properties of magical spices, which made his Chunyang Noodle approach the Elite Ten in aroma, leading to Eizan Etsuya's misjudgment. However, because the noodle's texture and everything else were very ordinary, the final system grade wasn't high.
"Everyone, come and try it."
Carrying the drinks to the living room, everyone was waiting there. They were all somewhat curious about the outcome of the two masters' duel, especially Mito Ikumi, who had never seen Mashiro-senpai cook before!
Honey Pancakes versus Undersea World.
"Where's Miyu?"
Hoshino Sora scanned the living room but didn't find Shiina Mahiru. He couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Did that girl get depressed after losing once?"
"I don't know, she seems to have gone back to her room."
"I'll go check."
Mito Ikumi, who was closest, heard the question and casually replied. Hoshino Sora nodded after hearing her, put down the tray, and took a drink from it.
He already had the answer to the outcome of this competition in his heart.
He went upstairs to room 308, holding the drink, and knocked on the door, waiting outside.
"Please come in."
One second later, a response came from inside the room. Hoshino Sora pushed open the door and saw that the room was completely dark. He turned on the light and found that Shiina Mahiru had already changed into her pajamas and seemed somewhat surprised by his arrival.
"Is something wrong?"
"Nothing, just came to see if you were secretly crying under your blanket. Looks like you're doing fine now. This is a drink Mashiro-senpai made, try it."
He walked forward, casually sat on the edge of the bed, and handed the Undersea World he was holding to Shiina Mahiru. At this moment, her lips were slightly pressed, and her eyebrows were lowered, indicating she wasn't in a very good mood.
Of course, it's impossible to feel happy after losing a competition.
"You're the one who secretly cries! I'm not that fragile.
Actually, it's nothing. There's always a loser in a competition, and this time it just happened to be me. Yumeko won by her strength, there's nothing to say about that."
"But looking at your expression, you don't seem relieved at all."
"There's nothing I can do about it. The gap in skill can't be bridged in a short time. Although it's just one competition, I can see that the difference between me and her is huge."
"Do you want to undergo special training? My taste is superior to ordinary people, though not as good as the God Tongue, it's not bad. I can provide you with some useful advice. You wouldn't want to always be inferior to others, would you?"
Thinking of his superior taste, Hoshino Sora invited her. Gourmet Cell needs to consume a lot of gourmet food to evolve, and high-level gourmet food is a shortcut.
After all, high-level gourmet food can't be encountered every day, but for a large quantity of gourmet food, doesn't he have natural labor force around him? They provide him with gourmet food, and he provides them with advice—a typical win-win situation.
Of course, whether this plan can ultimately succeed depends on his persuasive skills. Inviting someone when they are feeling frustrated will significantly increase the chances of success.
This is exactly such a situation.
"There's no need to rush your decision. Anyway, we'll be spending a lot of time in the dormitory in the future. I just came over to say something. Winning or losing isn't important; what's important is your attitude towards winning and losing."
Seeing Shiina Mahiru's hesitation, Hoshino Sora didn't continue to persuade her but let her consider it herself.
To be honest, her cooking wasn't outstanding; it only reached Far Moon's intermediate level. This is a level ordinary chefs can achieve with effort, still very far from the highest tier.
If things continued this way, even if Shiina Mahiru managed to survive until her second year, she would definitely be cruelly eliminated in her third year. Perhaps saying this is a bit arbitrary, but that uncharacteristic dish conveyed such information to him.
"I'm leaving now. In half a month, I have a competition in Starry Sky. If you're interested, you can come and watch. To be honest, my opponent is quite strong, and I don't have absolute confidence in winning.
Of course, I also don't intend to give up. Sigh, never mind, I don't quite know what I want to say. In short, don't be dejected if you lose, just face it positively."
He awkwardly scratched his neck. From his position, saying these things to Shiina Mahiru was honestly not very appropriate, but he just couldn't help but say it. Even if it felt awkward coming from him, he didn't want to see such a good, hardworking girl be expelled from Far Moon.
So, even if it only had a small effect, he had to say it.
"It's okay, thank you."
Hearing the concern in Hoshino Sora's words, Shiina Mahiru felt a warmth in her heart. Although this guy's words were a bit clumsy, she could indeed feel what he was trying to express.
Perhaps all boys are like this, not good with words but good with actions.
Although she didn't know why he cared about her so much, was it the kindness between dorm mates? It was quite thoughtful.
Watching Hoshino Sora's silent departure, Shiina Mahiru took a sip of the Undersea World he brought her and immediately understood the gap between herself and Mashiro-nee.
The juice she had painstakingly researched for a long time, both in taste and texture, was inferior to this drink, which was developed in less than thirty minutes.
Biting her lower lip slightly, her fists clenched, Shiina Mahiru's face was filled with unwillingness. Why was she so weak? She had worked so hard, insisting on cooking until dawn every day in junior high...
She was responsible for everyone's breakfast, was very serious in class, and practiced a lot every day.
"Damn it!"
She punched the bed forcefully, Shiina Mahiru cursed resentfully. She didn't understand why, no matter how hard she tried, she could never catch up to those few people.
Leaving aside the upperclassmen for now, she seemed very weak even among her own year...
On the other side, Hoshino Sora, who had just left Shiina Mahiru's room and was going upstairs, saw Yumeko Jabami about to enter her room. At this moment, she had her head lowered, holding the doorknob, her face full of excitement, and her eyes sparkling.
"What's wrong with you? How was the competition?"
Although he knew the result, Hoshino Sora still asked out of curiosity.
"I lost. Although I guessed Mashiro-senpai's strength was formidable, I didn't expect such a crushing defeat. It's truly exhilarating, Hoshino-kun, this school is indeed full of strong individuals everywhere!"
She looked up, revealing a very happy smile. Facing failure, Yumeko Jabami showed no sign of dejection, but rather was full of fighting spirit. This loss was for the sake of the next win!
"Indeed, being able to duel with strong opponents anytime, anywhere, just thinking about it makes one's blood boil!"
Hoshino Sora smiled, expressing his understanding. His experiences during this period made him realize that there are always people stronger than you, and with each cooking Food War, he learned many new things.
"Good night, see you tomorrow."
"Good night. When can we have another match? I heard you won against Alice Nakiri, the girl said to be the closest to the Elite Ten."
"We'll see when there's a chance. I can't guarantee a win against you right now, but within a year, I will definitely challenge you again. Be prepared to lose!"
"Then I'll look forward to it."
Facing Yumeko Jabami, who could casually produce Silver (Intermediate) level dishes, Hoshino Sora didn't have absolute confidence in winning. However, there would be a chance eventually, as long as her progress was slower than his.
After closing the door, Hoshino Sora didn't rush to rest. Instead, he went to his desk and picked up a pen to make notes in his notebook.
The first thing he wrote was his cooking insights from today, which simply meant writing down all the details about the cooking. Then came the training plan for Alice Nakiri.
After this period of understanding, Hoshino Sora found that this girl had an amazing imagination, always able to create various novel cooking combinations, and the flavors of various ingredients were very harmonious.
This was mainly because Alice Nakiri had an astonishing knowledge base, truly a culinary academic, and also understood the characteristics of ingredients very well, which was her advantage.
However, relying solely on various advanced equipment for cooking was not enough to maximize this advantage. In other words, she needed some hands-on experience, because there were many things machines couldn't accomplish.
Only by combining Molecular Cuisine and traditional cooking could she reach the pinnacle and create her own path.
This was Hoshino Sora's idea. If she only stuck to ordinary Molecular Cuisine, Alice Nakiri's path wouldn't be long. Even if she managed to graduate smoothly, she wouldn't achieve much in the culinary industry.
So he wanted to change her. Regardless of the final outcome, mastering the fundamentals was definitely the right thing to do.
[Ding——]
After finishing his notebook, Hoshino Sora was about to go to bed when his phone rang. He saw a message from Kitagawa Marin.
He glanced at the time on his phone, 9 PM. She often messaged him around this time for the past half month, chatting about nothing much, just interesting things that happened throughout the day.
She would also attach a recent photo, for example, today she sent a cat girl cosplay, wearing a low-cut top, leaning forward towards the camera. That large expanse of white skin, her sunny smile, and her signature peace sign made his heart beat a little faster.
This girl, the photos she sent him were getting bolder and bolder!
Perhaps it was because he always praised her so strongly.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/TripleCrown07
If you guys wanna check it out.