"Shh!"
The audience immediately started murmuring. Obviously, no one thought this dish could match Mito's big, juicy meat.
Ryoko: "This doesn't look good. It feels like everyone already thinks Mito won."
Tadokoro Megumi: "Ugh…"
Ibusaki: "Well, they say the higher you stand, the harder you fall. Let's see if Hikigaya can pull it off."
Under everyone's gaze, Hikigaya finally lifted the lid from his dish. Just as everyone expected, there was nothing striking about it. Aside from its springy, jelly-like look, it was no different from the jelly sold at a supermarket.
In the audience, people weren't sure if they were stunned into silence by Hikigaya's cooking, or if they simply didn't want to comment. Now and then, a mocking laugh could be heard.
Sitting in the VIP room, Erina also let out a cold sneer. As she thought, she still couldn't accept Hikigaya's cooking. To her, a dish should be like a piece of art. But whenever it came from his hands, it always looked like cheap street food. That, she just couldn't forgive.
"Hikigaya, today will be the day you drop out."
But... in her eyes there was still a hint of disbelief.
After all, as the examiner for the entrance test, she had seen firsthand just how ugly Hikigaya's plating was back then. Yet now...
In just a few days, he had improved this much. This was something Totsuki students normally needed three years of junior high training to master. They worked hard for three whole years, so why could this man progress so fast?
Still, that was as far as it went. Not wanting to show any sign of compromise, she kept her disbelief hidden.
Meanwhile, the judges looked at the plain-looking vegetable meat jelly and found themselves still thinking back to Mito's beef dish. Whether in color or presentation, Hikigaya's dish didn't seem outstanding at all. To those who had just seen his cooking for the first time, it was clearly a weakness. But...
Tadokoro Megumi: "Hikigaya... Hikigaya's plating..."
Marui: "Wait, don't tell me he spent these last two days just practicing plating and speeding up his prep work..."
Yoshino: "If Mito found out that Hikigaya didn't even take her seriously, she'd be fuming."
Ryoko: "Come on, we're still at a disadvantage. Don't pop the champagne just yet."
Ibusaki: "Exactly. The judges already had Mito's dish, which hit them with a strong taste. If Hikigaya doesn't bring something even more impactful..."
With that, everyone's eyes turned back to Hikigaya. The Shokugeki was finally reaching its climax. Once the three judges tasted this dish, the duel would come to an end.
Hachiman: "Judges, when you eat this dish, please make sure to use a spoon."
Though they didn't quite understand, the three judges did as he asked. They held their spoons and gently placed them on the jelly.
In that instant, one of the meat jellies seemed almost alive, leaping out of the plate and falling to the ground.
A few seconds later, it melted into broth.
Judge 1: "N-no way..."
Hachiman: "When eating this, you have to be extra careful."
Because of this sudden twist, the drowsy audience once again lit up with excitement.
"Hey, hey, look at that thing, it looks kind of amazing."
"What's going on? Isn't this supposed to be a meat dish showdown?"
"It doesn't even look that ugly. Now I'm actually curious. I wonder what it tastes like."
Mito: "Hah, a cheap trick like this could never compare to my beef."
The three judges swallowed nervously. This time, they were much more cautious. They gently scooped up a piece of the jelly with their spoons, carefully sliding it off the plate.
The jelly, which looked plain on the outside, was placed into their mouths. At first, it was springy, like jelly, without much flavor.
But in the next second, the heat of the mouth melted it instantly. The jelly revealed its true form. The broth inside flowed out drop by drop until it completely burst open in their mouths.
Judge 1: "W-what is this..."
Even as he tried to speak, another rush of rich, savory meat juice filled his mouth. The impact was like being trampled over by an army on the open plains.
After that powerful assault, the refreshing sweetness of vegetables followed, washing away the heaviness of the meat. From lungs to heart, a cool and soothing feeling spread through the body.
Judge 2: "This is... mint. He actually used mint inside the jelly, and that's the effect..."
Judge 3: "Not only that. The vegetable puree mixed with the minced meat also played a key role."
If Mito's dish was all about biting into big chunks of meat and enjoying that primal wildness, then its weakness was also pretty obvious.
No matter what kind of meat it is, in the end it's still meat. Eat too much of it and you'll get sick of it. It's like sweating buckets on a hot day—sure, the taste might be enjoyable, but your body feels like it's suffering.
Hikigaya's dish was the complete opposite. He blended the meat, the vegetables, and the broth made from both into a small jelly. The balance was perfect, and eating it didn't put the slightest burden on anyone. It was like a gentle man, always thinking about your feelings from start to finish.
Tadokoro Megumi: "Amazing…"
Marui: "But… how's this any different from what you said earlier, Tadokoro? There's no way he really improved in just three days with plating and prep work, right?"
Ryoko: "If you just look at it like this, you really can't tell any difference."
Ibusaki: "It's probably the broth. According to Tadokoro, before this his meat jelly was just things thrown together."
At the same time, Judge 1 had already lost control, just shoveling down the last of the meat jelly.
Judge 2: "How is this even possible? It's so elastic, yet it melts instantly in your mouth."
Judge 3: "Yeah… even after eating it, I still can't figure out what kind of secret technique is behind it?!"
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