Chapter 106.
"No... wait. If this dish only had those standard ingredients, the depth and complexity of this monkfish curry hotpot wouldn't automatically surpass the first two dishes that scored 95!"
Sendawara Orie raised a sleek, elegant brow, her expression narrowing with sharp, discerning determination. Though she wasn't a professional chef, she possessed a world-class palate capable of deconstructing the most intricate global cuisines. At that exact moment, she recognized that Megumi's dish had decisively outperformed the preceding high-scoring entries.
She just needed to pinpoint the exact variable that elevated it.
"Indeed."
Kita Shuji agreed, his eyes slightly out of focus, a faint, nostalgic film of moisture gathering over them.
"Aside from the rich monkfish skin and liver paste, there is an extraordinarily distinct undertone woven into the spice blend. It doesn't just comfort the palate—it instantly transports me back to my childhood, recalling the warmest memories I shared with my parents."
"Is that... wild chrysanthemum?" Ando Shingo blinked, a soft smile breaking across his features. "No. It's specifically the wild chrysanthemum native to the Fukushima region. That unmistakable, natural, crisp fragrance can't be replicated anywhere else."
"More than that!" Orie chimed in, sudden realization dawning on her. "Chuanbei and honey! I see it now. She incorporated those elements directly into the liver while pan-frying it!"
(Wtf is chuanbei? I don't know the exact word for this, so I put it as it is)
"When the monkfish liver was ground into a fine, velvety powder and blended with the primary spices, the floral aroma of the wild chrysanthemum, the soothing touch of Chuanbei, and the gentle sweetness of honey were completely locked inside the matrix of the spices!"
"Through the traditional hotpot reduction, every single aromatic compound fully bloomed!"
"All those disparate notes converged to wrap the diner in a profound, incomparable wave of home-cooked warmth—"
What an absolute masterstroke of culinary intuition!
Sendawara Orie didn't hesitate, publicly awarding a staggering score of 19 points.
The stadium instantly erupted into absolute, deafening chaos.
Down in the contestant area, Nakiri Alice froze, staring at Megumi in the center of the arena with an expression of pure, unadulterated disbelief.
Up in the VIP seating, a proud, satisfied smile bloomed across Shijun's face.
Well done, my little secretary. You did brilliantly.
"Oh my god~ Did I hear that right? Miss Sendawara just gave a 19?!"
"Mr. Ando also scored 19!"
"Teacher Kita awarded an 18!"
"20, 20... Look at the rest of the panel—two perfect scores?!"
"96 points... Oh holy mother of god, that's the highest score of the entire tournament so far!"
"This is completely insane..."
The crowd was utterly electrified. Spectators craned their necks, desperately trying to catch a glimpse of the girl who had just shattered the preliminary leaderboards.
In a quiet corner of the grandstands, a tight-knit group of plainly dressed villagers from Megumi's hometown were crying and cheering openly, their chests swelling with immense pride. Shijun watched them with mild curiosity until Maria quietly leaned over and explained that they were locals from the snowy northern town who had traveled all the way to Tokyo just to support her.
"I actually lost? To Shijun's little follower?!"
Alice stared blankly at the massive jumbo-tron, her mind struggling to process the math. Two seemingly ordinary students pulled directly from Shijun's private research society had stepped onto the grand stage and completely dominated the block without breaking a sweat. One had tied with her for first place, and the other had outright surpassed her.
In the elite tiers of Totsuki, once you crossed the 90-point threshold, every single fraction of a point represented a vast, almost insurmountable chasm of technique and flavor. Megumi's phenomenal 96 meant that the five merciless judges had been almost universally, emotionally conquered by her dish.
Alice slowly dragged her gaze away from the scoreboard, her pale red eyes locking onto the tall, composed man sitting in the VIP section.
She had always known Shijun was an absolute monster. But she had never imagined his ability to teach and forge talent was equally terrifying.
Suddenly, a bold, lightning-fast ambition sparked in Alice's chest.
If I find a way to join Shijun's research society... would I finally have the tools to decisively surpass Erina?
The mere thought made her heart race. Was there any greater joy in this world than utterly crushing Nakiri Erina?
Obviously not.
"Shijun, just you wait!"
Alice muttered to herself, instantly shaking off the frustration of losing the top spot in Group B. She suddenly had a much more important objective to pursue.
Down in the center of the arena, standing before a sea of thousands of staring eyes, Megumi felt a fresh wave of nervous tension wash over her. But beneath the anxiety, an intoxicating rush of excitement surged through her veins.
Hearing the tearful, unfiltered cheers of her hometown supporters echoing from the stands, the dam finally broke, and tears of pure joy spilled down her cheeks.
Why had she chosen monkfish—an ingredient notoriously punishing and labor-intensive to prepare? Why put herself through the grueling agony of the traditional hanging cut?
The answer was simple.
This was her family's legacy.
Nine years ago, her family's modest hot spring inn, Shougetsuen, only featured twelve rooms. To draw in travelers and create an unforgettable experience, her grandfather would perform the daring, dramatic art of hanging and dismantling an monkfish every single day.
Eventually, as the inn grew and time marched on, the performance was quietly phased out. But seven-year-old Megumi had secretly poured her heart into learning the brutal knife technique, desperately wanting to keep that family tradition alive.
For Megumi, the expectations of her family were her entire world. Her mother had sent her to Totsuki Academy so she could learn, grow, and bring honor back home. In this Autumn Election, she hadn't come chasing a flashy ranking or a trophy.
She just wanted to prove to her mother, her grandfather, and her hometown that she hadn't let them down.
Think of the glaring, humiliating 'E' stamped on your practical exam transcripts—
Think of holding back your sobs while lying to your mother on the phone, forcing a smile to tell her everything at school was going great—
Think of standing alone in the dorm kitchen late at night, wiping away tears of frustration as your dishes failed repeatedly—
And then... think of the day you met him.
At that exact moment, Megumi's vision blurred completely with tears. Her face wet with crying, she abandoned all hesitation and lifted her gaze directly toward the front row, locking eyes with Shijun.
A torrent of turbulent emotions and thousands of memories rushed through her mind.
The very first time she cooked alongside Shijun, earning an unprecedented, earth-shattering 'S' grade;
The gradual, heartwarming days of living and working together after he absorbed the Chinese Cuisine Research Society;
The grueling residential training camp, and the unforgettable sight of his tall, broad back stepping protectively in front of her when she was threatened with expulsion;
Time and time again—
Megumi lost count of how many times he had saved her. Without Shijun, she almost certainly would have packed her bags and fled Totsuki in tears during her first semester.
"President Shijun... thank you!"
Megumi finally screamed the words aloud, her voice cracking with raw emotion over the stadium's acoustics.
She was naturally timid, perpetually hiding in the shadows. But at this moment, standing at the absolute apex of her culinary life, she poured every ounce of her soul into that single expression of gratitude.
Up in the VIP seating, a warm, genuine smile broke across Shijun's face. He raised his right hand and gave her a solid, affirming thumbs-up.
He knew better than anyone how agonizingly hard this silly, hardworking girl trained behind closed doors. Seeing her finally blossom and claim her rightful victory on this massive stage brought him deep, heartfelt satisfaction.
First place in Block B!
Nobody had predicted this outcome. Frankly, even Shijun hadn't expected her to pull off a complete upset until the moment she served the hotpot. But the second her dish hit the judges' palates, he knew victory was locked in stone.
As the preliminaries officially wrapped up, Megumi walked off the arena floor, her heart lighter than it had ever been.
There was a secret she could never voice aloud. Because Shijun already had a fiercely protective, stunning girlfriend waiting for him in the wings, those three words would have to remain safely buried at the very bottom of her heart.
Shijun... I like you.
I think... I've always liked you.