["WOW!"]
The host even grinned auntie-style and exaggerated into the mic, ["Contestant Shirou and contestant Artoria really took a novel approach."]
["They clearly did nothing, yet they give me this 'sweet-sweet' feeling of satisfaction."]
["The judges also nodded in approval over this."]
["Ah?"]
Her tone shifted, ["Looks like contestant Mary and contestant Seimu might be having a little problem."]
["Wait, are you two archrivals?"]
The host was shocked, ["You actually turned feeding chocolate into a fight! Also, Mary, those are Seimu's eyes; keep poking and he'll go blind!"]
["Seimu too, he's about to shove that quail-egg-sized chocolate into Mary's nose!"]
As for Nero.
She respected Mash's opinion and was simply feeding normally.
That made Mash feel very relieved.
She'd already lost any craving to win; only: 'I can't do this, I truly can't do this!'
"Damn, looks like the other side is temporarily leading."
Nero, not yet giving up, considered, "Does that mean we can only challenge Mapo Tofu?"
Hearing that, Mash wanted to cry more; she asked, "Your Majesty Nero, can I withdraw now and still make it in time?"
Nero tersely, "Are you thinking of becoming a deserter?"
"I… I…", Mash had tears but none to cry.
Still, she was at least somewhat capable.
Compared to Mash's current state, Shirou would need at least ten times that to describe his situation.
'System, do you even know what you did?'
Shirou felt pain to the core, 'I wanted you to bail me out, not to send me to the crematorium!'
["After big data analysis, this action yields the highest score."]
Ridiculous, he took "save the situation" to mean "win the championship."
'Garbage, brainless person-level intelligence.'
After internally berating the system for a full three minutes, the appetizer segment ended.
Host Mengbao-chan stepped forward, ["Everyone, after five minutes, our appetizer segment is finally over."]
["The process was full of twists. First Shirou and Artoria made a late-game surge, showing a more delicate expression of couplely feelings."]
["Finally… um, Seimu and Mary gave us that classic enemies-to-lovers comedic scene. In short, every development and conclusion was worth savoring."]
["Even Mengbao-chan is looking forward to what joyful things they'll contribute next."]
["So, without delay, let us start Round One, Stage One of the test of love: Soulmates."]
As the camera cut, Mengbao-chan's explanatory voice came through, ["The test of love: Soulmates, as the name implies, extends the appetizer-stage test of mutual tacit understanding."]
["Ten-minute time limit. The chosen food is a finger-food platter; each couple will be randomly assigned a set. Some items will be placed on Partner A's side, some on Partner B's side."]
["Both sides must, without speaking, use eye contact and body signals to tell the other which food they want, then feed each other. Couples may also taste each other's food."]
["Each item can be eaten at most three times. Our staff will time and record the number and accuracy of mutual feedings, coordinating with the judges to score based on tacit understanding."]
["Because it's the first round, everyone please do your best~ nya…"]
"Can we start?", A staff member nearby asked with a smile.
Shirou had just confirmed with Artoria that they could begin when the host shouted in surprise, ["Amazing! Seimu and Mary finished the first stage in two minutes. Could this be that the person who knows you best isn't necessarily a friend but an enemy who crosses your path?"]
Hearing that, Shirou flinched and saw Mary winking at him with a smile.
'Are you even pretending? Laying it all out?'
Shirou didn't bother to comment and grabbed his time.
This stage was pretty simple, ahoge king needs no mention, his intuition is invincible.
As for him, Eagle Eye C-level was enough.
By contrast, Nero and Mash were in trouble.
Mistakes everywhere: Nero wanted strawberries, Mash pulled out shrimp chips.
Mash wanted mango, Nero took grapes.
Utter chaos.
So the pair each scored three points and came in last.
"This is not great."
Seeing Shirou's nine-point rating, the Child Emperor slightly reined in his smile.
"I didn't expect we couldn't be soulmates?"
"Sorry, Your Majesty Nero, it's my fault."
Mash wanted to do better, but she really did try her best.
Because of the restrictions, she couldn't point directly at foods with her eyes; no miming of size or such. No matter how her scalp hurt thinking about it, she still couldn't figure out Nero's strawberry signal.
No way, Nero suddenly pointed to her gorgeous red dress and bowed; who would immediately think of something shaped like a strawberry?
Better to prioritize shrimp; rounding down, maybe shrimp chips?
In short, with Shirou's solid nine points, Mary's seven points of giggling, and Nero & Mash's three points and dejected faces, the challenge moved to Round One, Stage Two.
Sweet Sprint: Shared Feast.
No need to explain further.
Just eat.
Food choices: sushi platters, skewers, noodles, steaks, fried rice, desserts, drinks. Time limit ten full minutes, eat as much as you can.
["Oh, at the start of the round everyone's enthusiasm for food is unprecedented, couple number one and couple number—"]
["What's going on?"]
Mengbao-chan cried out, ["Sh–Shirou and Artoria have no food on their table? Why is their place empty?"]
The staff and judges were dumbfounded.
Meeting the pair's serious gaze.
Shirou was uncomfortable, 'Waited so long and only got ten minutes to eat?'
'Not nearly enough!'
So he scratched his head and said, "Sorry, it's a bit little,.could we have more?"
Polite wording aside, the ugly truth, 'Who can eat on this amount? Give me lots more.'
Thus, to the staff's indescribable looks, plates within minutes piled up into a small mountain.
Only then did Mengbao-chan snap back and frantically remind them, ["Sh–Shirou and Artoria's attitude toward food is truly extraordinary. B-but don't forget interaction, feeding is part of the scoring too!"]
Shirou pretended not to hear.
The ahoge king, meanwhile, thought for a second while eating, then, 'Feeding?'
'A waste of time.'
With their score lead huge, the desire to win took a back seat.
This was the King Stomach's moment.
Stage Two ended; the ahoge pair won with some score, the weird-um group got four points.
Total: ahoge pair 15 points, weird-um group 7 points.
A doubling gap, without special means, they simply couldn't lose.
So…
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