Five delicate small plates were distributed in front of the five judges. Each plate contained equal portions of the dishes prepared by Chinatsu and Shido.
As the judges simultaneously lifted the plastic covers from the small plates
—
"Buzz
—"
There was no actual golden light, but an invisible aura seemed to explode!
Chinatsu's dish, with its extreme color contrast, precise composition, and subtle, cold aroma, was like a visual shockwave, instantly causing the judges to hold their breath.
Shido's dish, with its plump shape, warm color, and the immediate scent of roasted sesame mixed with mandarin orange, was like a warm torrent, directly washing over everyone's primal appetite.
"It's starting! It's starting!"
"Just looking at them is..."
"What will they taste like?!"
Without hesitation, the five judges almost simultaneously picked up their specialized pointed chopsticks, and first, by mutual unspoken agreement, reached for Phoenix-in Chinatsu's portion.
The moment the food entered their mouths
—
The teacher's eyes widened sharply, as if she had witnessed something incredible!
The ice-cold sensation of the melting sea bream sashimi, the extreme crispness of the shredded daikon, the salty ocean wave brought by the bursting salmon roe, and the finishing touch: the sour, light lemon foam and the subtle vanilla powder... All the flavors exploded distinctly in the mouth, like a symphony calculated with the utmost precision!
"Ah... Th-This is... The flavor is so clear! So clean! It's like putting an entire pristine bay and a morning vegetable garden into my mouth!" She covered her face, a blush of happiness spreading across it, as if she had been purified.
Master Origami's chewing motion paused slightly, her pupils contracting for a moment.
The unparalleled precision in seasoning and texture control made her brain feel as if she were receiving a series of flawless data streams.
"...Taste sensors overloaded. Flavor parameter peak exceeds standard threshold." She murmured softly, but her face remained expressionless; only the fingers holding the chopsticks tightened slightly.
Murasame Reine savored it slowly, then nodded slightly, her dark circles seeming to lighten a bit.
"...Stimulation efficiency of taste receptors maximized. Every flavor molecule is perceived in a preset sequence... Perfect logical consistency." Her tone carried the admiration of a researcher who had discovered a perfect sample.
As for our poor Maji Washikuwa Trio, they could only share one portion.
Yamabuki Ai: "Ah ah ah! It's so delicious I can't speak! My tongue is going to get pregnant!"
Yozakura Mai ate while trying to analyze: "The taste balance coefficient is extremely high! The complexity of the textural layers defies comprehension!"
Fujibakama Mii: "Majikku! Taste breakdown!" The three hugged each other, as if they had just survived a tsunami of flavor.
Next, the judges, still carrying the lingering shock from Chinatsu's dish, directed their chopsticks toward Itsuka Shido's dish.
When that heartfelt food entered their mouths, a completely different kind of storm swept over their taste buds!
The teacher looked happy after eating; the sweet and sour warmth of the mandarin orange sauce instantly enveloped her tongue, and the rich aroma of roasted sesame bloomed in her nasal cavity.
The thick, elastic fish slices and the crisp, straw-raincoat-cut cucumber provided a rich chewing sensation... Everything merged, no longer a precise musical note, but a warm, soul-soothing folk song.
"Ugh... This flavor... It's so warm... So happy... It's like coming home after a hard day's work and eating a dinner lovingly prepared by family..." Tears of emotion even welled up in the corners of her eyes; this was a comfort that reached deep into her heart.
The moment Tobiichi Origami tasted Shido's dish, an extremely subtle change appeared on her perpetually icy face! Her earlobes turned faintly red.
(Internal monologue: This is... Shido made this... It is Shido's flavor... It is filled with Shido's heart...)
That warm flavor seemed not to pass through her taste buds, but to directly strike one of her core programs. An indescribable feeling of satisfaction and... possessive affirmation (towards Shido) naturally arose.
She even unconsciously pressed her legs together. (This warmth... I want more...)
Murasame Reine tasted it, then calmly assessed: "...The flavor integration is very high, producing a synergistic effect where 1+1 is greater than 2. The Emotional Comfort Index... cannot be quantified, but it definitely exists."
Compared to Chinatsu's absolute rationality, Shido's dish brought a "comfort" that her database struggled to analyze, yet she could intuitively feel.
As for our trio... Yamabuki Ai: "Wow! It's Shido-kun's usual deliciousness! So reassuring and satisfying!"
Yozakura Mai: "A familiar flavor, strong emotional resonance. But the innovation level is lower than the Phoenix Court Contestant's."
Fujibakama Mii: "Antei no Aji! (A reassuring flavor)" They displayed satisfaction with the familiar deliciousness, but the impact seemed less than the novel shock brought by Chinatsu.
Tasting concluded, they moved into the tense voting segment.
Tobiichi Origami cast her vote for Itsuka Shido without hesitation, almost at the exact moment Reine announced the start of voting.
Her gaze was resolute, as if she were defending something important. (Shido's dish is the best. It contains his heart... I want to monopolize it.)
The teacher wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, a warm smile on her face:
"Both dishes were too outstanding! But... Classmate Itsuka's dish made me feel a special warmth and happiness... Therefore, I vote for Classmate Itsuka." She chose the comforting flavor that touched her heartstrings.
Murasame Reine calmly cast her vote for Phoenix-in Chinatsu.
"...From the perspective of technical completion and the precision of flavor control, Phoenix-in Chinatsu's dish represents a higher degree of perfection."
The Trio (sharing one vote) After a brief (and noisy) discussion, although Shido's dish was very delicious, the unprecedented shock and novel experience brought by Chinatsu's dish ultimately led them to cast their vote for Phoenix-in Chinatsu.
"We vote for Classmate Hōōin! This is truly a flavor from the future!"
Now, the score was 2:2. Everyone's eyes focused on the last judge
—Tonomachi Hiroto.
Tonomachi Hiroto looked at the two dishes before him, then glanced at a hopeful Shido and a still-aloof Chinatsu, an extremely conflicted expression on his face.
He first took a bite of Shido's dish and nodded vigorously: "Shido! You bastard! You're amazing, as expected! This flavor is beyond words! It's the cooking of my best friend, the one I know best!"
Then, he took a deep breath, and with an expression as if he were facing execution, he took a bite of Chinatsu's dish.
Instantly, his expression froze, as if he had seen the door to a new world. He closed his eyes, seemingly savoring the extreme flavor.
Finally, he opened his eyes, a look of guilt but immense determination on his face, and sharply pointed at Chinatsu:
"I'm sorry, Shido! Even though your dish was superb! But
—"
"Younger Sister Chinatsu's dish! It's a miracle! It's a flavor that lets people see the starry sky! It's a deliciousness that transcends my meager imagination! I... I vote for Phoenix-in Chinatsu!"
Round One, the Battle of 'Knife Skills and Freshness'
—Winner: Phoenix-in Chinatsu! The score (Shido: Chinatsu) changes to 0:1!
The entire venue erupted in an uproar! Although Shido felt some regret, he still gave Chinatsu an admiring smile. Chinatsu, in turn, gave a slight nod. (Internal monologue: Plan accomplished. The first round was secured, showcasing my ability while also leaving sufficient "flaws.")
But the real contest had only just begun. The theme of Round Two
—'Heat Control and Umami'
—would be even more intense!