One week after the Autumn Elections preliminaries, Haruto and the other seven students who had emerged victorious were about to enter the main tournament.
Unlike the preliminaries, the main tournament consisted of one-on-one matches, with only the winner advancing.
There was no room for mistakes.
Every match would immediately decide whether a competitor stayed or went home.
The day before the tournament, Haruto received instructions to report to the Autumn Elections Committee office, where the matchups, competition order, and assigned cooking themes would be determined.
They would have very little time to prepare afterward, making the tournament a severe test of both adaptability and culinary fundamentals.
Early that morning, Totsuki sent a private car to collect the three Polar Star residents who had qualified: Suzuki Haruto, Yukihira Soma, and Tadokoro Megumi.
Haruto leaned against the window, calmly watching the autumn scenery race past.
Soma sat nearby, visibly eager for the competition to begin.
Megumi lightly gripped the hem of her clothes.
She was clearly nervous, but the determination in her eyes showed that she was ready to face the challenge.
Before long, the three arrived at the Autumn Elections Committee office and joined the other five students who had passed the preliminaries.
Isshiki Satoshi, Nakiri Erina, and Eizan Etsuya, who were responsible for organizing the tournament, were already waiting.
Isshiki first explained the procedures for the main event.
Then came the selection of matchups, competition order, and cooking themes.
Once that was completed, the three organizers met privately with each of the eight contestants to clarify the rules and specific requirements of their matches.
Haruto was the last to enter the meeting room.
Isshiki looked at him seriously.
"Haruto, the draw is complete. You’ll compete in the fourth match, and your opponent will be Nakiri Alice."
"The theme of your match is dim sum."
"It’s a broad category that gives you plenty of freedom."
"You’ll need to decide on your dish today and prepare every ingredient and utensil you require."
Haruto’s fingers paused slightly before he raised an eyebrow in resignation.
His opponent was Nakiri Alice, a chef famous for molecular gastronomy.
The simplest way for Haruto to win would be to bring out an exceptionally rare ingredient and overwhelm her through sheer quality.
But winning that way would be meaningless.
True culinary skill was about transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary. It was the union of technique, creativity, and heart.
Haruto believed the abilities he had refined until now were more than enough to carry him through this match.
Still, Alice had the personality of a spoiled child and an incredibly fierce desire to win.
If she lost, she might cry for hours!
...
Once everything had been settled, Haruto, Soma, and Megumi returned to Polar Star Dormitory in the academy car.
Haruto went directly to his room and began considering what kind of dim sum he wanted to make.
Chinese dim sum naturally came to mind first.
The category was vast.
There were delicate shumai packed with filling, soft and sweet steamed buns, mooncakes symbolizing reunion, and flaky pastries that crumbled at the slightest touch.
Each possessed its own techniques and distinctive appeal.
Yet no matter how many options Haruto considered, one particular dish refused to leave his mind.
It had left an especially deep impression on him.
In the end, Haruto made his decision.
That would be the dim sum he prepared.
While Haruto planned his dish, the kitchen at Polar Star remained brightly lit. Soma and Megumi were equally busy preparing for their respective themes.
...
The day passed in the blink of an eye.
By the time the sky began to pale the next morning, the Moon Banquet Hall was already packed.
Every seat in the audience was occupied.
At the judging table sat Totsuki Director Nakiri Senzaemon and four other renowned figures from the culinary industry.
The first match was Yukihira Soma against Arato Hisako.
Nearly every resident of Polar Star had turned out to support him.
Haruto, Ryoko, Yuki, Aoki Daigo, and the others had claimed seats near the front, forming an especially loud and noticeable cheering section.
Since Megumi would be competing in the second match, she was waiting backstage and adjusting her condition while watching the arena through a monitor.
The moment Senzaemon announced the start, Soma and Hisako sprang into action.
The theme of their match was bento.
As Nakiri Erina’s personal secretary, Hisako specialized in medicinal cuisine, so naturally her bento followed that style.
For the staple, she prepared Five-Red Steamed Buns using red beans, red rice, goji berries, red dates, and red-skinned peanuts.
They were soft and gently sweet without being cloying, carrying the soothing fragrance of the ingredients themselves.
She paired them with chilled medicinal tofu, refreshing enough to cut through richness while remaining smooth and flavorful.
A light bamboo-leaf porridge completed the meal. It perfectly suited the dry heat between summer and autumn, leaving the entire body feeling cool and refreshed.
Soma presented his own creation: a Yukihira-style Nori Bento.
He used a modern insulated bento box capable of preserving both heat and texture for an extended period.
The instant the lid was opened, a powerful aroma swept across the arena.
The upper compartment contained three side dishes: fish cakes mixed with nori, crisp shredded burdock, and fried cod that was crunchy outside and tender within.
Each offered a different texture, making every bite a fresh surprise.
The middle compartment held miso soup slowly simmered with onions and bacon, rich and deeply savory enough to warm the stomach.
At the bottom was a layer of white rice evenly covered with fine nori flakes.
When the thick kudzu broth stored inside the lid was poured over the rice, every flavor came together and erupted across the palate.
After tasting it, the five judges became completely absorbed.
Their chopsticks barely stopped moving as they lost themselves in the warmth, creativity, and constant surprises hidden inside the bento.
When it came time to decide the winner, they deliberated briefly.
Hisako’s medicinal bento displayed excellent technique, suited the season perfectly, and was almost flawless in taste.
Soma’s Nori Bento, however, captured the very heart of a bento: convenience, warmth, enjoyment, and thoughtfulness.
Every detail had been designed for the person eating it, while its flavor and creativity were equally impressive.
In the end, the judges unanimously awarded victory to Yukihira Soma.
The result sent the Polar Star residents into celebration.
More importantly, many students in the audience had begun to reconsider their opinion of Soma.
...
As soon as the first match ended, the second began.
Tadokoro Megumi would face Kurokiba Ryo.
Their theme was ramen.
Just before Megumi entered the arena, Yoshino Yuki produced a large collection of handmade cheering fans.
They came in bright colors such as cherry-blossom pink and lavender, with adorable designs and Megumi’s name drawn across each one.
They practically radiated pure girlish enthusiasm.
"Come on, everyone! Take one and cheer for Megumi!"
Yuki excitedly shoved the fans into the hands of every Polar Star resident.
Mito Ikumi, Takumi, and Isami were forcibly given one as well.
Haruto looked down at the painfully bright pink fan in his hand and sighed helplessly.
It was a little too cute for him.
Aoki Daigo and Sato Shoji immediately threw their arms enthusiastically around his shoulders.
"Haruto! Let’s cheer for Tadokoro together!"
Haruto could only sigh and reluctantly raise the fan, forcing an awkward smile onto his face.
Soma, who had just left the arena, arrived in the audience at that moment.
His gaze swept across the stands and instantly found the Polar Star group.
They were easily the most conspicuous people in the entire venue. Missing them would have been difficult.
Down in the arena, Kurokiba unleashed his full presence, resembling a violent beast barely restrained by human skin.
Megumi looked at him and drew a deep breath.
Her gaze became firm as she poured every bit of concentration into her cooking.
Under the heated attention of the audience, Kurokiba completed his dish well before the time limit.
French Seafood Soup Ramen.
The broth had a deep, luxurious red color, created by simmering fish offal, shrimp brains, and crushed shells for an extended period.
The savoriness of the fish, the sweetness of the shrimp brains, and the rich character of French cuisine had blended perfectly within the soup.
There were no unnecessary flourishes.
Its flavor was direct and violent, seizing the judges’ palates like the claws of a wild beast.
After only one sip, expressions of complete bliss appeared on every judge’s face.
The concentrated seafood flavor exploded through their mouths, unfolding in relentless layers and surging straight to their heads.
They nearly forgot that they were supposed to be judging a competition, surrendering completely to the pleasure brought by the dish.
Even the fried batter mixed with shrimp shells carried an extraordinarily intense flavor.
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