Yes, even though we're by Dylan-sensei's side, it seems we haven't grown as fast as him. He's become so incredibly strong so quickly... Yūki Yoshino's voice was filled with admiration.
She recalled the competition between them not long ago. Back then, Soma Yukihira, using only cheap meat bought from the supermarket, fought her to a standstill.
Now, with careful preparation and the best ingredients, it seemed only natural that he would win. After all, he already possessed that level of skill.
'Is this the difference between a genius and a mere mortal...' Ryōko Sakaki muttered to herself, her voice tinged with reluctance.
She hadn't even made it into the official competition, let alone get a chance in the first round. It really goes to show how vast the gap between people can sometimes become.
'Regardless, we're already very fortunate. With Dylan-sensei guiding us, our starting point is already much higher than others.' Yūki Yoshino, on the other hand, was easily content.
After all, by staying with Dylan, she had learned a great deal and her culinary skills had improved significantly.
'This is good. Maintain this pace, grow slowly, and eventually, one day, you can become a towering tree, an existence that can shelter others from the wind and rain!'
'Indeed, I was being a bit ungrateful.' Ryōko Sakaki sighed, her gaze drifting towards the competition arena where Soma Yukihira was walking towards the area where Polar Star Dormitory members were gathered.
Following Dylan, her future achievements would certainly not be low. She understood this truth, yet it was still somewhat disheartening.
Talent, sometimes, truly defies reason!
Meanwhile.
After her match, Wang Jing returned to the spectator stands and sat down next to Liu Yu.
"You're done, so rest a bit." Liu Yu gently told her, pulling her head to rest on her shoulder.
Wang Jing naturally leaned into it.
"Rice can actually be made into ice cream? Honestly, this is the first time I've seen something like that in my life. What a bizarre dish." Her voice carried a hint of helplessness and teasing.
Watching the audience gradually disperse as the match concluded, a faint sense of loneliness surfaced in Wang Jing's heart.
"I've already lost, you absolutely can't lose too!" As if remembering something, Wang Jing suddenly lifted her head, looking seriously at Liu Yu's face, her voice carrying a hint of playful coquettishness.
She had already lost; if her opponent lost too, they would truly be completely wiped out.
"Don't worry. For today's dish, I've trained quite a bit!" She didn't explicitly say she would win, but the strong confidence contained in her words unconsciously made people believe in her, feeling that she couldn't possibly lose.
(Sound of agreement)
A slightly teasing voice came from beside her, and Wang Jing nodded heavily. She never doubted Liu Yu's strength.
For no other reason than this: she was the strongest among them. A year ago, she participated in Shanghai's Special Grade Chef assessment, successfully passing the first round and achieving a top-three result in the second.
If the opponents in that particular assessment had been weaker, she might have become a Special Grade Chef directly.
And after a year of training, she was now just a step away from becoming a Special Grade Chef. Essentially, she could produce a Special Grade dish out of every five dishes she made.
Such skill, no matter where she was, would earn her the title of a genius. And this was even considering Liu Yu's frequent slacking off and lack of seriousness in cooking.
"People are mostly gone, let's go too." Glancing at the gradually emptying spectator stands behind them, Liu Yu patted Wang Jing beside her, rose from her chair, and strode towards the exit.
Just as she stood up, Huang Mei, not far away, also rose. In that instant, their gazes met, and an invisible first clash occurred.
This clash had no winner or loser. It concluded with Huang Mei smiling and giving her a slight nod.
Afterward, both parties departed from Tsukiten-no-Ma's A and B exits respectively. From the moment they learned they were opponents, they knew that even if they continued friendly exchanges, it would have to wait until after the second round of the competition.
"Are you nervous?" Leaving Tsukiten-no-Ma, Li Wanwan couldn't help but say, looking at Huang Mei, whose body was slightly trembling.
Being afraid before a match begins is not a good thing. Although the opponent is indeed formidable, especially at times like this... Huang Mei clenched her fists, feeling the strength within them.
Thinking of her efforts during this period, her body trembled slightly with excitement.
Li Wanwan looked thoughtful.
"Tomorrow is the official match. I'm not planning to sleep tonight; that dish still needs further adjustments. It absolutely must become a Special Grade dish!"
(Sound of agreement) Her voice carried a hint of determination.
Li Wanwan and Huang Mei, one after the other, left Tsukiten-no-Ma, heading towards the teaching building.
Since they lived under the same roof, they didn't plan to go home. Doing so might allow Liu Yu to know in advance what dish she intended to make and prepare accordingly.
Meanwhile.
In a tearoom within a tall building, Senzaemon Nakiri sat cross-legged, pouring tea for the elder seated opposite him.
"Your students this year are all quite excellent. Those who have made it this far in this Summer Selection have basically all reached the level of a First-Grade Head Chef, haven't they?"
Ordinarily, a First-Grade Head Chef would already be at the level of a Ten Elite. Normally, having one or two First-Grade Head Chefs among the first-years would already be quite remarkable.
The person sitting opposite Senzaemon Nakiri was none other than Zhou Tai. He was leisurely sipping tea.
As one of the few Six-Star Special Grade Chefs, it would have been unacceptable for him not to pay a visit upon arriving in Japan, so Zhou Tai came.
Through the large screen broadcast, both men clearly understood the competition's situation. After seeing Soma Yukihira and Wang Jing's dishes and observing the judges' reactions, Zhou Tai had a rough estimate of their strength.
"After all, that person is teaching here with us. After his professional training, while the number of students in the academy has certainly decreased significantly, their skills have all shown remarkable improvement."
When speaking of Dylan, Senzaemon Nakiri's face showed a hint of pride, for Dylan was not only a teacher at the academy but also... his granddaughter's (boyfriend).
Thinking of this, Senzaemon Nakiri silently gave a thumbs-up to Alice Nakiri in his heart. Truly worthy of the Nakiri family lineage, so capable!
"As expected, it's because of him. When a high-ranking Star Chef personally gets involved and relies on his profound experience, even a rotten piece of wood can somewhat blossom and show its flair."
Hearing Senzaemon Nakiri's words, Zhou Tai nodded. He had already witnessed Dylan's ability; he was an incredibly formidable individual.
If such a person were to wholeheartedly dedicate himself to training students, he could absolutely transform them completely. What he couldn't understand was why Dylan would do something so thankless.
Was it because he was enamored with Senzaemon Nakiri's granddaughter? That couldn't be the reason. As a Seven-Star Special Grade Chef, if Dylan desired it, what kind of woman couldn't he obtain? Why would he waste precious time because of a woman?
He truly was a baffling man.
'No exaggeration, the weakest students in our academy now are at least Third-Grade Chefs, and currently, Second-Grade Chefs are the main force.'
By the time they advance to second year, most of those Third-Grade Chefs will also cross into Second-Grade, not to mention the third-years after that.
'Of course, what satisfies me most are my two granddaughters...' Senzaemon Nakiri spoke eloquently, his voice filled with pride.
As students, to become a First-Grade Head Chef before graduation was already an absolute mark of a prodigy. Those who become Special Grade Chefs at eighteen are, after all, a minority among minorities, usually heirs nurtured by great families.
Currently, aside from Alice Nakiri, who has already become a Special Grade Chef, Erina Nakiri is the most likely to become a Special Grade Chef in her second year.
Benefiting from the top-tier talent bestowed by her God's Tongue, Erina Nakiri's future path will be much smoother than Alice Nakiri's. This is also the fundamental reason why he values Erina so much.
The Nakiri family requires a high-ranking Star Chef. None of his children have been able to reach this level, so he can only place his hopes on his grandchildren, for the sake of the Nakiri family's legacy!
"Let's go watch in person tomorrow. Watching the broadcast just isn't quite the same." Glancing at the television screen not far away, which was now black, Zhou Tai put down his tea cup and said this to Senzaemon Nakiri.
"Alright."
"I've grasped every detail, so why can't I break through the Special Grade barrier...?" Looking at the meticulously prepared secret roasted fish in front of her, Huang Mei clutched her hair, her expression pained.
She had already focused her energy and spent a week researching this dish, so why did the dish's grade consistently fail to reach Special Grade?
A hint of confusion flickered in Huang Mei's eyes. If it were a 'fish' dish from a recipe, she was confident she could make it Special Grade after a week of research.
But she felt that an ordinary Special Grade dish wouldn't be enough to defeat Liu Yu. After all, her opponent could also produce Special Grade dishes, making the outcome uncertain.
To secure ultimate victory, she relied on everything she had learned throughout her life, attempting self-developed recipes, wanting to create (something) with her own abilities.
However, the result was somewhat unacceptable to her. After the dish broke through to First-Grade, it seemed to get stuck; no matter how she adjusted the proportions, there was no change. The taste varied, but the impact wasn't significant.
"Since I can't break through to Special Grade with this method, then I'll tear it all down and rebuild from scratch!" Looking at the dish before her, Huang Mei steeled herself, deciding to discard everything and start anew.
To construct a fish dish from scratch would take Huang Mei several days with her current skill, and perfecting it would take several more days. However, to rebuild, leveraging the experience accumulated before, one night would be enough.
A First-Grade dish absolutely wouldn't beat Liu Yu, so she had to use this pressure, putting herself in a do-or-die situation, in order to find a sliver of hope for victory!
"You can do it!" Huang Mei clenched her fists tightly, encouraging herself, and then fully immersed herself in the new dish.
Beside her, Li Wanwan rested with her eyes closed, not disturbing her, merely offering simple companionship.
Li Wanwan knew clearly that with her own abilities, it would be difficult to help Huang Mei. Rather than suggesting wrong or distracting options, it was better to keep silent from the start. Her presence alone would prevent Huang Mei from feeling too lonely.
Of course, enjoying delicious food during this process was also one of her few hobbies.
Meanwhile.
"Goodnight, Makka Pakka."
After a short yoga session on the balcony, Liu Yu took a hot shower in the bathroom, then spoke to Wang Jing, who was sitting cross-legged on the sofa watching TV.
"Sleeping so early today? Not staying up?" Watching Liu Yu prepare to return to her room to sleep, Wang Jing's voice held a teasing note.
"Just adjusting my routine. I didn't sleep at all during the day and afternoon, precisely so I could go to bed early tonight. Otherwise, tomorrow I'd be (sleepy/tired/etc.)..." Liu Yu joked, then opened her room door, took off her robe, and slipped into bed.
ZLZZ~
In just a few minutes, a wave of drowsiness suddenly hit her, and Liu Yu quickly fell asleep.
The next day, nine o'clock, Tsukiten-no-Ma.
"Dylan, my young friend, is there anyone sitting next to you?" A familiar voice sounded in his ear.
Turning his head, he found that the newcomers were Senzaemon Nakiri and Zhou Tai. Although he wondered how the two had ended up together, Dylan still nodded.
"Please, sit. There's no one here today."
By rights, this seat should have been Alice Nakiri's, but he had exhausted her too much last night, so she was still lounging in bed, unwilling to get up.
Therefore, the seat next to him was empty.
"Dylan, my young friend, who do you think will win?" Sitting in his chair, Senzaemon Nakiri glanced at the two contestants poised on stage, then at Dylan, and asked.
"Huang Mei possesses the top-tier talent 'Super Sense of Touch'. After a week of preparation and refinement, she can at least produce a top-tier First-Grade dish. As for Liu Yu, her foundation is very solid, and her skill reached the level of a First-Grade Head Chef quite early. Occasionally, she can produce a Special Grade dish. So, thanks to this week of preparation time, the outcome between the two of them is roughly a 40-60 split. It's certainly something to look forward to."
Looking at the two confronting each other in the arena, Dylan gave his assessment.
It's true that Huang Mei has 'Super Sense of Touch'. As long as she's given a specific recipe, under conditions where her body is pushed to her limits, she can even make a Four-Star Special Grade dish.
However, the side effect is that she won't be able to cook for several days afterward. Moreover, the recipe must be extremely specific, with ingredient requirements precise down to the gram.
Under normal circumstances, with a specific recipe and ample preparation, Huang Mei can also produce a Special Grade dish. A week is enough for her to prepare.
The gap wouldn't be particularly large. After all, although Liu Yu is a First-Grade Head Chef, she is only one step away from being a Special Grade Chef. With careful preparation, she can also produce a Special Grade dish.
On stage, Huang Mei and Liu Yu didn't know that with just one glance, Dylan had seen right through them, almost to the point of knowing the color of their underwear.
However, even if they knew, they wouldn't say anything. They would only think how amazing Dylan was, truly worthy of being their leader.
And the match was declared open the moment the gong sounded.
"The theme is 'Fish,' and the time limit is two hours! Who will be the victor of this match?!" Urara Kawashima held the microphone, her voice filled with excitement.
These two individuals had performed remarkably well in the first round, truly a well-deserved clash of dragons and tigers!
____
Let's unlock these community goals together!
🎯 Unlock a bonus chapter for everyone at 100 Powerstones!
🚀 Unlock a 5-chapter drop for all stories when we reach 55 SUPPORTERS!
🎉 Your Key To Join: Unlock a special welcome fee!
👻 Use it by finding Walnutchan on platform (P). You know where! 😉