The main screen on the bridge was clearly divided into two views: on one side, Shido was gently and intently stirring the mousse mixture; on the other, Chinatsu was sifting cocoa powder with the precision of a fine machine.
The low hum of operating equipment and the clear reports from the operators echoed in the air.
Shiizaki's fingers slid quickly across the control panel, pulling up the energy monitoring curve, his tone steady and professional:
"Report! Continuous monitoring of target Chinatsu. Her surface spiritual power fluctuations are stable, remaining below the baseline threshold. Operating precision parameters are consistently at peak levels. No abnormal energy intervention or structural phenomena detected. Repeat: No signs of Authority usage found."
His report temporarily set the tone for this showdown as a "pure technical competition."
Kanmoto pushed up his glasses, staring intently at the physiological data panel for Shido, his voice carrying a hint of imperceptible approval:
"Comparative data update. After Shido added the special syrup, his Heart Rate Variability (HRV) shows the optimal balance point between focus and relaxation, and his Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) displays characteristic waveforms associated with pleasant emotions."
"Emotional fluctuation readings show a significant synchronization rate of 87% with the current cooking process—especially the critical step of flavor fusion." The data vividly reflected the genuine commitment and joy Shido felt while immersed in cooking.
Kannazuki, having left his seat unnoticed, knelt slightly on one knee, hand over his chest, gazing up at the main screen. A sacred and intoxicated blush spread across his face as he exclaimed in an operatic voice:
"Ah! This soul-stirring final stage! This culinary symphony interwoven with the radiance of souls! Behold! Our Holy Child is transforming his boundless compassion for the mortal world into that sweet warmth that touches the heart!"
"And that Ice Artist is carving a perfect crystal with absolute rationality! On one side, heartwarming compassion; on the other, the spirit of the craftsman pursuing the ultimate! This is no longer merely a cooking showdown; it is a magnificent dance between the light of humanity and the pinnacle of skill! How wonderful! How... Urk!"
His lyrical aria was once again interrupted by a precisely thrown object from the Commander's seat.
Kotori maintained her throwing posture, the stick of her precious jewel dangling precariously as she kept her sharp gaze fixed on the main screen:
"Shut up, pervert! Get back to your post!" After reprimanding Kannazuki, she scanned back and forth between Shido's gentle face and Chinatsu's expressionless profile, muttering to herself, sounding like both analysis and encouragement:
"Good, Shido, that's the feeling, maintain your rhythm and that sentiment... As for that Chinatsu..." She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"...She truly is skilled. This near-inhuman perfect precision, achieved purely through her own technique without relying on any supernatural power... She's like a precise cooking machine. But..."
The corner of her mouth curved into a knowing smile, "The more absolutely rational and flawless she appears, the more it highlights how precious that clumsy yet sincere'sentiment' from the contestant's seat truly is."
"Continue strict monitoring, don't miss any details! I want to see which side truly moves people's hearts when 'perfection' meets'sincerity'."
The atmosphere in the bridge, interwoven with professional monitoring, dramatic performance, and strategic analysis, closely followed the dessert showdown reaching its climax on the ground.
---
While waiting for the mousse to set, Shido began making chocolate curls for decoration. He skillfully spread melted chocolate onto the marble slab and used a scraper to roll it into beautiful curves.
As Chinatsu sifted the cocoa powder for the final touch, she deliberately adjusted the frequency of the sieve's shaking, causing the powder to fall in an extremely uniform and delicate snow-like effect. Her precision once again drew soft gasps from the audience.
Although the two did not speak directly, every action and every adjustment they made seemed to be a silent response to their previous argument in the ingredient area.
— Shido used his warmth and "uniqueness" to prove the value of "sentiment," while Chinatsu used her flawlessness to defend the dignity of "technique."
On the cooking stage, the symphony of ice and fire was approaching its finale.
Two distinct yet equally tempting aromas mingled in the air, signaling the imminent intense clash of the final tasting round.
As the countdown decreased second by second, the anticipation of the entire audience and the judges climbed to its peak.
Ninety minutes of creation time flew by. When the clock chimed zero, Shido and Chinatsu stopped their movements almost simultaneously.
Shido carefully removed the perfectly set mousse from the refrigerator.
The dark brown chocolate shell was smooth as a mirror, reflecting the stage lights.
He unmolded it and placed it in the center of a pre-chilled pure white porcelain plate, the top adorned with a few bright red raspberries and a small, vibrant green mint leaf.
Finally, he used melted white chocolate to draw simple yet elegant spiral lines on the side of the plate.
His ["Flowing Sentiment" Raspberry Chocolate Mousse] was complete. The overall presentation was warm and elegant, exuding a comforting sweetness.
Chinatsu's creation, upon being taken from the refrigerator, instantly elicited a collective gasp.
It was the ["Data Perfect" Tiramisu] presented in a clear glass cup.
The layers were distinct, like geological strata, and the top layer of cocoa powder was uniform as fresh snow. A touch of edible gold leaf shimmered with a cold brilliance under the lights.
She needed no further decoration; its very existence was a perfect work of art—exquisite, coolly stunning, and flawless.
The two desserts, vastly different in style, were brought to the judges' table, creating an extremely strong visual contrast.
The five judges (including the trio) picked up their delicate dessert spoons with unprecedented anticipation, choosing to taste Shido's mousse first.
The spoon easily cracked through the smooth chocolate shell and sank into the silky mousse inside.
Upon entering the mouth, there was first the rich bitterness of dark chocolate, immediately followed by the fresh and lively tartness of the raspberry jam; the two blended perfectly.
What was most impressive was the underlying warmth provided by the special citrus honey syrup—it wasn't just a simple sweetness, but a complex, mellow richness carrying the scent of sunshine and gentle floral notes.
It cleverly balanced the heaviness of the chocolate and the tartness of the raspberry, making the overall flavor rounded and soft, as if enveloped by a feeling of warm happiness.
Texturally, the mousse was light as air and melted instantly, creating a wonderful contrast with the juice that burst forth when occasionally biting into a whole raspberry.
Teacher Kozu clasped her hands to her cheeks, tears of emotion sparkling in her eyes: "Ah... It's too delicious! It's sweet and sour, but so warm and comforting... It feels like being gently embraced! Is this the'sentiment' Classmate Itsuka was talking about?"
Origami, the Master, savored it carefully: "The flavor layers are perfectly constructed. The special syrup is the key variable, successfully enhancing the overall complexity and approachability of the flavor profile. Emotional transmission efficiency: extremely high."
Murasame Reine closed her eyes slightly after tasting it: "...The synergistic effect between the citrus aromatics and the chocolate flavor compounds is significant. The mellowness of the honey reduced palate fatigue. Expected secretion of pleasure-related neurochemicals... greatly elevated."
After finishing, the trio hugged each other. Aoi: "I'm so happy! I feel like I could run three more marathons!" Mai: "Emotional resonance has reached its peak! Satisfaction coefficient is off the charts!" Mii: "Saiko no Koufukukan! (Supreme Happiness!)"
As for Tonomachi Hiroto... he was crying while eating: "Shido... you bastard... how can you make something that tastes this unfair..."
After the group recovered from the powerful aftertaste, they began to sample Chinatsu's Tiramisu.