The next day, in one of Tōtsuki's larger shokugeki arenas.
It couldn't compare to the "Between Moon and Sky" Hall, but it was still among the academy's finest; many major tournaments and duels had left their marks here over the years.
The audience turnout was strong—this was the second shokugeki for a Ten Masters seat since term began.
A heavy tension hung over the venue.
Erina's opponent was the captain of the Fermentation Research Society—Kajiyama Shigeharu.
Kajiyama Shigeharu: even setting aside his captaincy, there were only a handful who could grind their way to third year. His strength needed no gloss.
The fermenting crocks and petri dishes he brought gave off a complex, heady bouquet of cultures—living proof of his depth in fermentation.
The theme was "Fermentation," very much Shigeharu's home turf.
Hearing that Erina's condition had been poor recently only inflated his confidence. He intended to seize this chance to topple Tōtsuki's queen and claim a Ten Masters seat.
"Heh… luck's with me this time. That seat's as good as mine," Shigeharu said, brimming with self-belief.
But when Erina walked into the hall, not only Shigeharu—everyone present felt a jolt of surprise.
Her steps were steady, chin slightly lifted; her eyes were sharp and sure.
No trace of the rumored slump—if anything, she looked better than ever.
Her assistant Hisako followed close behind, cradling a sleek, temperature-controlled ingredient case in both arms.
Shun stood quietly among the spectators, watching.
The shokugeki began.
Shigeharu moved first, tending to his prized, years-old mother starters, his specialty mold-cured tofu, and his house koji.
His seasoned technique drew approving nods from the judges.
Erina, unhurried, unveiled the special ingredients Shun had provided:
From the Toriko world—hyperactive "Protean Yeast" and several fermentation bases brimming with life energy.
It had cost Shun more than 80 points to redeem them.
But if they helped Erina take the match, he'd pocket the special item and net the +200 point reward—well worth it.
At the station, Erina's movements stayed as gorgeous as they were precise. Faced with such high-grade ingredients, she didn't show the slightest fluster.
Thanks to Shun's coaching last night, she had grasped every subtle phase shift of the Protean Yeast during fermentation, and caught the exact windows when flavors transformed.
Her choice: a dish that looked simple but was brutally demanding—puff-pastry bread.
She paired it with a quick-ripened cultured cheese sauce made using a special mold and a vegetable consommé brought to brightness through an instant lactic fermentation with tailored bacteria.
Yes—deceptively simple.
When the food was served, the aroma wasn't a nose-blasting punch, but a tiered, rising sequence—layer upon layer, as if alive, dancing in the sinuses.
Shigeharu's fermented fare was exquisite—deep, mellow, the peak of traditional practice.
But Erina's cuisine displayed a living art of fermentation.
The crumb of the puff bread showed impossibly even alveoli; the bite was light as cloud, yet carried an ineffable maltiness with a hint of lactic tang.
The cheese sauce was satin-smooth, its flavor complexity far beyond what "short fermentation" should achieve.
And the clear vegetable broth was the stroke of genius—limpid yet inexhaustibly savory, with a pinpoint acidity that woke every taste bud.
The contrast was obvious.
The judges' reactions said everything.
Shigeharu's dish earned nods and praise; Erina's, however, drew stunned silence, entrancement, disbelief—then, when the last bite was gone, faces suffused with bliss.
The difference was plain; the result, inevitable.
Erina won by a landslide.
Shigeharu stood ashen, unable to fathom how he'd lost to an Erina rumored to be "off her game."
At the very moment the duel ended, a chime rang in Shun's mind.
Ding. Task [The God Tongue's Plea] completed.
Reward: [Lesser Gourmet-Cell Activator]; Energy +200.
He opened the reward at once.
[Lesser Gourmet-Cell Activator]
Type: Single-use Item / Quest Drop / Not sold in Shop
Description: A basic derivative born from gourmet-cell technology. Gently stimulates latent activity in the user's cells, slightly improving base physical attributes (strength, speed, endurance, recovery, and five-sense acuity).
Also initiates preliminary remodeling of metabolism and absorption pathways, enabling efficient uptake of nutrient essence from high-energy ingredients sourced from the Toriko world, reducing waste. This is a prerequisite for obtaining full "Gourmet Cells."
Note: Effective only for individuals who do not possess gourmet cells or comparable systems. After use, continued intake of high-energy cuisine is required to consolidate effects.
Reading the entry, Shun first lit up—and then frowned.
Just as he'd suspected: this was the key to bridging two power systems. Its value far surpassed ordinary points or ingredients.
But a problem arrived with it—there was only one dose.
And it could only be obtained via system quests, not purchased. Luck as much as effort.
That afternoon, Shun asked Erina and Miyoko Hōjō to meet.
Before that, he'd told Miyoko about accepting Erina—and about sharing the secret.
...
Tōtsuki Tea House, a quiet tatami room.
Fragrant steam curled from the cups, yet it couldn't entirely dispel the subtle tension in the air.
Shun sat at the head. Erina and Miyoko faced each other to either side.
"What are you two nervous about?"
Shun smiled at them both, easing the mood. "We're here not because there's a problem we can't solve. It's the opposite—because we trust each other, we can share one secret and face one choice together, right?"
At that, Erina and Miyoko traded a look—and each found a bit of calm in the other's eyes.
Shun didn't waste words. With a thought, a crystal-clear vial suffused with a gentle blue glow—[Lesser Gourmet-Cell Activator]—appeared in his hand. He set it lightly on the low table.
Instantly, both pairs of eyes were drawn to it.
The transparent body of the vial and the liquid within, sparkling with blue motes, radiated an aura that needed no explanation.
(End of Chapter)
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