"Egg dishes, huh—has everyone decided what they'll make?"
When the theme was announced as egg, Ryoko Sakaki asked.
"I've got a rough idea, but I'll need to test it. I bet a lot of people won't sleep tonight."
Zenji Marui glanced around at the students who were starting to panic.
For those who were confident, the assessment didn't begin until six in the morning, but for the less prepared, the test had already started in their heads.
Not everyone can immediately lock in a dish. Many students would choose to stay up and experiment all night to make sure nothing goes wrong tomorrow.
"Then why don't we each make the dish we plan to serve tomorrow now, and let everyone taste?" Alice Nakiri suggested.
The idea was met with instant approval.
They headed to the kitchen, which had been opened fully to the students—same for the ingredient vault, though anything taken had to be logged, and waste was forbidden.
Kael already knew what he wanted to make: the Golden Ratio shumai from the world of Chuuka Ichiban. A shumai that uses eggs and fit the theme perfectly. Its appearance alone would attract customers, and with Kael's current reputation he needn't worry about a lack of guests.
It wasn't just Kael. Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri also carried clout; once people knew their dishes were being served, a crowd would follow.
Kael's Golden Ratio shumai wasn't on the same technical level as Juro's, but in terms of ingredient proportions it outclassed him.
Kael had Divine Touch and Divine Sight, Combining those senses let him divide the filling into the perfect proportions. Kneading dough and rolling wrappers were easy for him; Divine Touch especially suited pastry work. Although not a primary pastry chef, he was extremely skilled.
Before long everyone had finished their tasting dishes. Kael's plate drew the most attention.
"Kael, is this shumai? Why does it look so strange?"
Alice asked, staring at the unusual shape. Shumai was common street breakfast fare, but the Golden Ratio shumai's look was undeniably eye-catching.
"It's called Golden Ratio Shumai. As the name implies, the filling's four components are balanced in the optimal ratio so each ingredient's flavor peaks." Kael gave a brief explanation.
Everyone was surprised—who'd expect so much complexity from a shumai?
Even the name and presentation were enough to draw customers, and with Kael's reputation success would be easy.
"It's tasty. The ham's saltiness isn't greasy with the greens, and the shrimp plus scrambled egg add richness."
"The four ingredients—ham's salt, egg's aroma, greens' tenderness, shrimp's umami—blend perfectly. Each is distinct yet melds perfectly in the mouth."
"Compared to this, our dishes don't stand a chance. Looks like Kael will dominate tomorrow again."
Everyone marveled. Even Alice's molecular dish, odd as it was, paled beside Kael's shumai.
"Soma, there's a problem with your dish."
After tasting Kael's and Alice's, Megumi Tadokoro noticed something about Soma Yukihira's plate. All eyes turned to him.
"What? Is there something wrong with mine?"
Soma asked, puzzled, he thought his dish was fine.
"There's a big problem. Soma, did you forget this is a self-serve breakfast test tomorrow?"
Zenji Marui adjusted his glasses and asked.
"Self-serve? I remember, but so what?" Soma still didn't see the issue.
"Think about it. Self-serve means your dish might sit a while. Your mini soufflé omelet is perfect straight from the pan, but if it sits a bit it'll collapse. Its texture and appearance will suffer."
Hearing that, a cold sweat broke out on Soma's forehead. If his dish was left unattended it would deform—presentation is vital in a buffet-style test. A poor-looking dish might be ignored.
Soma pictured the consequences of putting that omelet out and shuddered. He remembered the warnings from his Polar Star Dorm mates: residential training camp wasn't only about cooking skill; things can go wrong in unexpected ways.
Back then he'd thought it wouldn't happen to him, but now it had.
"No, I have to change dishes!" Soma wiped his brow and declared.
"You don't have to change." Kael looked at Soma's dish. The room's attention snapped to him.
"Don't change? Why not? That omelet will fail the buffet test!" Yuki asked.
"You can't pre-make it and leave it out, but you can prepare it to be finished live. The flavor's fine, the issue is how to draw customers. There are many ways: boost aroma, perform live cooking with flair…"
"Like street performers—the flashier the act, the more eyes you get."
Kael suggested live-cooking as a method. In the original story, Soma resorted to live cooking because he couldn't redesign the dish in time. By juggling multiple pans and putting on a show, he guaranteed attention. Once customers were drawn in, Soma's skills would ensure a passing result.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Soma brightened.
Kael smiled, this method was a last resort, used when time or ingredients were limited. If Soma had the time, changing dishes would be best, but his instincts favored live cooking.
"Soma, be careful next time. If no one warned you, you could have gotten into serious trouble, maybe even expulsion." Shun Ibusaki chipped in—Soma had been warned before but hadn't taken it seriously. Now he'd nearly crashed.
"I get it. Thanks for the reminder. I'll be careful."
Soma's reply this time was different—genuine. Back at Polar Star Dorm he often gave perfunctory promises, but this time his face showed he meant it. Soma learns by getting burned: he'll own his mistakes and use them to improve.
That kind of person is dangerous, failure fuels their growth.
With Soma's issue resolved, everyone drifted off to rest or continued refining their dishes. Many students, though technically prepared, stayed up out of nerves.
The test was also a confidence exam: those secure in their skills wouldn't panic.
Before they knew it, dawn approached, just after five in the morning everyone was up and preparing.
Kael had only staged enough ingredients for five hundred shumai—not because he couldn't make more. His physical conditioning had improved thanks to medicinal baths; his muscles packed explosive strength without bulk.
With his current physique and Four Divine Senses, given enough ingredients he could produce thousands of shumai in two hours.
But if he did, most people would stay and wait the entire two hours; other students with the ability to pass might be crowded out. So Kael prepared enough for five hundred. The Golden Ratio shumai were not tiny, and in a breakfast setting single small portions would suffice.
"Isn't that Iron-Fisted Miyoko Hojo? Didn't expect to run into her here."
When Kael reached venue C, he saw a familiar figure not far off—Miyoko Hojo. She noticed Kael too and walked straight over.
"Hi, Kael. I'm Miyoko Hojo. I specialise in Chinese cuisine as well."
Miyoko introduced herself—she approached because Kael was now Totsuki's face for Chinese cooking.
Although she excelled at Chinese dishes, she wasn't on Kael's level; Kael had beaten Terunori Kuga and was the lead of the Chinese Cuisine Research Society.
Miyoko had her doubts about Kuga's philosophy, but she admitted his skills were formidable. Still, Kuga lost to Kael, so she wanted to meet him. Now she had her chance.
"I know you—Kuga told me about you."
Kael recognized Miyoko and couldn't resist mentioning Kuga as an excuse. It was no surprise Kuga had spoken of Kael, Kuga had invited Miyoko many times and she'd always turned him down.
"Let's not talk about him—his ideas are problematic."
Miyoko said. She wasn't Kuga's match, but that didn't stop her from criticizing his philosophy.
"That's true. I'm reforming the Chinese Cuisine Research Society. I won't stop his ideology, but he won't be spreading it recklessly anymore."
Kael explained: he wouldn't interfere with Kuga's personal views, but Kuga shouldn't keep spreading them unchecked.
Kuga agreed, after all, Kael's cooking surpassed his, and Kael's Divine Hearing could help him improve. If you can't beat someone and need their help, you listen.
"You actually got that stubborn guy to cooperate?"
Miyoko was skeptical; she didn't believe one defeat would change Kuga.
"He needed something from me, so he listened." Kael smiled.
"He needed you? You mean because you help people improve with Divine Hearing?"
Miyoko guessed the reason: she knew several members of the research society and had heard Kael guiding people with his Divine Hearing.
The two of them continued talking as morning edged closer, preparations humming all around them.