[ Fraxinus Bridge Perspective ]
Through the high-definition screen, Kotori took in the brief interaction that had just occurred in the ingredients section. She chewed on the stick of her precious jewel, her brow slightly furrowed.
(That Chinatsu... was that action and tone just now an attempt to... seduce Shido? Although the method was clumsy, the intention was clear.)
"Tch... This Phoenix-in Chinatsu..." she muttered under her breath. "She's resorting to this trick? Exploiting Shido's sympathy and... (She glanced at Shido's slightly flushed profile.)"
On the screen, Chinatsu's figure outlined by sweat, her slight gasps, and the deliberately manufactured vulnerability when she whispered to Shido, were, in Kotori's view, undoubtedly a strategy of winning by any means necessary.
A complex feeling surged in Kotori's heart. On one hand, she felt a trace of displeasure and wariness toward this attempt to influence her Older Brother with "underhanded tactics." But on the other hand... (...She's willing to go this far? Just to win a cooking competition? No... For her, this is probably more than just a competition.)
(This concerns whether she can continue to hide safely. She is using every method she can think of, including exploiting her physical appearance, to secure a chance at survival...)
"Although the methods are a bit... but to go this far just to survive..." A complexity flashed in Kotori's eyes; there was disapproval of the method, but more significantly, there was a sense of Understanding for Chinatsu's predicament, and even a hint of respect.
"She truly is a formidable and terrifying opponent... To dedicate herself to her 'role' to this extent?"
Thinking this, the displeasure in Kotori's eyes was gradually replaced by a heavy sense of Understanding, and even a hint of admiration.
(Although the method is questionable... this posture of fighting with everything she has for survival... is, to some extent, worthy of respect.)
She watched her Older Brother on the screen, completely unfazed and instead looking even more determined. She let out a small sigh of relief, and a smile returned to the corner of her mouth.
(Well... Idiot Older Brother is unexpectedly reliable this time! He wasn't fooled at all! It seems he has truly made up his mind... Very good! Keep this momentum, and use your cooking and sincerity to break through all her disguises and worries!)
"All personnel, continue close monitoring! Focus on observing whether Phoenix-in Chinatsu shows any abnormal energy fluctuations in her ingredient selection and preparation!" Kotori issued the command, her gaze turning sharp once more.
---
On the stage, the ingredient selection phase was drawing to a close amidst this strange atmosphere, where one party was sprinting and the other was "strolling leisurely."
Shido had already returned to his cooking station with a pile of carefully selected ingredients and began the preliminary preparations.
Chinatsu watched as Shido finished selecting almost all his ingredients before she unhurriedly picked up the beef brisket she needed, a bottle of good quality dry red wine, onions, carrots, a few cloves of garlic, and a bunch of fresh thyme.
Her movements still carried a hint of well-timed "slowness," as if her stamina truly were running low.
Both of them returned to their respective stations, holding their selected ingredients. The showdown, themed "Heat Control and Umami," filled with misunderstanding, performance, and true determination, officially entered the cooking phase.
In the air, one could almost foresee the intense sparks that the richness of red wine and the sweetness of soy sauce were about to ignite.
The true competition of the second round was about to unfold at the stove, undergoing the baptism of flame and time.
Itsuka Shido returned to his cooking station, took a deep breath, and cast aside all distracting thoughts. His gaze was focused and calm, as if the entire world consisted only of the ingredients before him and the stove fire.
He chose a Japanese-style beef stewed in red wine, emphasizing warmth, richness, and a soul-satisfying feeling.
He first cut the premium beef brisket into uniform cubes. His movements were not fast, but every cut was precise and powerful, ensuring the meat fibers were not overly damaged.
He cut the onions and carrots into rough chunks, and lightly crushed the garlic. The preparation work was orderly, and his countertop remained clean throughout.
He heated a little oil in a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven. Once the oil was hot, he placed the beef cubes in batches, patiently searing every side to an enticing golden-brown.
He was not hasty in turning them, but instead listened carefully to the pleasant "sizzle" sound of the fat contacting the meat, observing the slight caramelization on the edges of the cubes, ensuring the "Maillard reaction" fully occurred to lock in the juices while building a rich base flavor.
He performed this process meticulously; fine beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead, but he paid them no mind, his eyes constantly fixed on the changes in the pot.
After removing the beef, he utilized the precious fat remaining in the pot, adding the onions, carrots, and garlic, slowly sautéing them over medium-low heat until they softened and released their sweetness.
Next, he poured in an entire bottle of high-quality red wine, gently scraping up the brown sediment (fond) at the bottom of the pot with a wooden spatula, allowing all the flavors to merge.
After boiling to evaporate the alcohol for a moment, he returned the seared beef to the pot, added enough beef stock to cover the ingredients, and included bay leaves and a small bunch of thyme.
He then reduced the heat to the lowest setting, maintaining a gentle simmer, and covered the pot. What followed was a long period of stewing.
Shido did not leave the station. He occasionally lifted the lid to skim off any small amounts of foam that might have formed; sometimes, he gently nudged the ingredients with a spoon to prevent sticking; more often, he would scoop up a little broth, carefully cool it, taste it, and attentively sense the changes in flavor, considering whether minor adjustments were needed.
His figure at the stove looked exceptionally dependable. His focused expression suggested he wasn't just cooking a dish, but meticulously carving a piece of art, slowly infusing his "feelings" into the warm, bubbling mixture.
The rich aroma of red wine, beef, and herbs began to permeate the air, growing increasingly intense.
As for Phoenix-in Chinatsu, she decided to control her "sabotage" at the most precise level—only making extremely subtle adjustments to the flavor balance.
All visual and basic textural aspects, however, had to remain flawlessly perfect. Only then would it be impossible for anyone to realize she was "throwing the match."
Her movements while preparing the beef brisket were still elegant, and her knife skills were impeccable, but her speed was noticeably slower than in the first round. After cutting, she even lightly shook her wrist, as if fatigued.
When preparing the vegetables, she also seemed more "picky" than Shido, trimming away seemingly imperfect edges, subtly wasting time.
Heating the pan, adding oil, and placing the beef. Her heat control appeared effortless; the surface of every beef cube was seared to an even and beautiful golden-brown crust, the color depth perfectly uniform, with no signs of localized charring. Visually, it looked more balanced and perfect than Shido's portion.
Sautéing the vegetables, pouring in the red wine to reduce, adding stock and spices. She chose the classic bay leaf, thyme, and a small piece of orange peel.
The entire process flowed smoothly, demonstrating top-tier skill in both time management and technique. She covered the pot and reduced the heat for a slow simmer.
During this time, she even had the leisure to use the leftover carrot trimmings to carve several small, exquisite carrot flowers for the final plating garnish, appearing completely unhurried.