People, and the crowd below was full of curiosity. The reason was simple: in less than an hour, Soma Yukihira's dish was complete.
As he picked up the dessert and walked with firm steps toward the judges' table, a drone in the air followed him in real-time, displaying the image on the large screen.
"What a beautiful dessert!"
"It's just like a starry sky."
Placing the completed wagashi yōkan on the judges' table before them, Soma Yukihira's face was filled with intense confidence. "You've been waiting. This dessert is called Galaxy Yōkan. Please, have a taste."
"A dessert this beautiful... I'm almost reluctant to eat it!"
"It's just like a starry sky."
Looking at the exquisite and beautiful yōkan before them, which resembled the cosmic galaxy, all the judges on site couldn't help but exclaim in amazement as they simultaneously picked up their small spoons.
"You chilled this in the refrigerator before serving, didn't you? Eating yōkan in the summer, especially a chilled one like this, is absolutely the most blissful thing in the world!"
Hinako Inui's voice rang out. She looked at the beautiful yōkan, unsure of where to begin, but finally grit her teeth and scooped a piece from the corner.
"This flavor... it's the unique tea fragrance of red oolong, running through the entire yōkan, providing it with a deep and mellow base."
The clear fragrance of oolong tea spread through her mouth, immediately followed by a strong citrus flavor—a fresh, sweet, and sour sensation!
"The taste of candied orange peel and lemon juice. If I'm not mistaken, you added these two ingredients before the yōkan set."
As the slight sweetness of the candied orange peel and the tartness of the lemon juice intertwined in her mouth, Gin Dōjima, next to Hinako Inui, looked at Soma Yukihira and spoke.
The candied orange peel has a mild sweetness with the natural tang of orange, while the lemon juice is known for its distinct sourness. Combining the two adds a rich, sweet-and-sour dimension to the yōkan, making the overall flavor fuller.
In addition, adding candied orange peel and lemon juice also improves the color and enhances the texture. The granular feel of the diced peel adds a unique layer to the yōkan's mouthfeel.
In response to the question, Soma Yukihira spoke at length about the benefits of adding the two ingredients, the ratio of which was the result of his three days of research.
"The aroma of the orange peel and the richness of the tea echo each other, creating a warm and pleasant taste experience. This feeling is so tranquil."
Hinako Inui closed her eyes as an illusion appeared before her.
It was a quiet afternoon, the weather exceptionally hot, yet she was in a shaded room at home, eating the wonderfully cool yōkan. The feeling was superb!
"When the bottom layer of citrus jelly hadn't fully set, you poured in a layer of Red Oolong Dragon Vinegar, ultimately creating two distinct textural layers."
Sonoka Kikuchi opened her eyes in comfort, captivated by the silky smoothness on her tongue.
The sourness of the dragon vinegar combined with the richness of the black tea to form a unique sweet-and-sour taste, one that wasn't overly sharp but still stimulated the taste buds.
Furthermore, the refreshing texture brought by the agar-agar powder was another major highlight of this dessert. It gave the yōkan a unique elasticity and resilience, making every bite feel refreshing yet delicate.
"It has the depth of tea, the freshness of citrus, and the rich, unique flavor of dragon vinegar, plus its inherent chill. This is truly a fine dessert!"
Gin Dōjima offered his evaluation with a broad smile.
A trinity of flavors converged in the yōkan, layered one upon another, complemented by the coolness it provided. Every chew released a new taste—truly brilliant!
"To fuse traditional yōkan with candied sweets and end up creating a delicacy that is top-tier in both appearance and taste... very well done."
After finishing the last bite of yōkan, Sonoka Kikuchi also looked up and began to praise Soma Yukihira. This was the best yōkan she had ever eaten!
"To be able to eat a bite like this in the summer is a true delight!"
Hinako Inui put the last piece of yōkan into her mouth, then set down her spoon. The cold yōkan released its flavor while bringing waves of chill—perfect for summer!
"Could you let me have a taste later, Soma Yukihira-kun?"
Hearing the judges' praises, Liu Yu walked up calmly. She didn't rush to present her dish but first spoke to Soma Yukihira.
"Sure, I made a portion especially for you. But I'd like to try your dessert, too."
"Of course, I made one for you as well."
She then made an inviting gesture to the judges.
In the audience, Wang Jing felt a little nervous watching the scene unfold. She hadn't expected that after her, Liu Yu would also face Soma Yukihira.
Would she win? To be honest, Liu Yu's skill was quite a bit stronger than hers, and she had been studying systematically during this period. Logically, the chance of her losing was very low.
"A Mille Crêpe Cake? That's unexpectedly ordinary. But judging from the ingredients used, it's clear this little cake is actually not so simple!"
Looking at the small, delicate cake before her, Hinako Inui wore a puzzled expression.
From its appearance, it was no different from a regular Mille Crêpe Cake, but considering the ingredients her opponent used, something felt off.
"Regardless, what decides the match is the taste of the dish."
As he spoke, Gin Dōjima extended his fork, scooped a piece of the cake, and brought it to his mouth.
"What is this superb texture and sweetness?! When I poked it with the fork, I could feel an astonishing elasticity."
Sensing the flavor on his tongue, the previously calm Gin Dōjima now looked shocked. It was just a Mille Crêpe Cake, so why was it so springy!
"And yet, the moment you start to taste it, the way it melts in your mouth is as gentle as a light rain falling on your tongue!"
Hinako Inui squinted, her face filled with enjoyment.
"Most importantly, what's with this sweetness that spreads to the back of the mouth!?"
Sonoka Kikuchi's voice was tinged with disbelief. Logically, she had only eaten a small piece of cake; the sweetness shouldn't have spread so deep into her palate.
As she spoke, Liu Yu had already returned from offstage, placing a bottle of soy sauce on the judges' table. The surrounding drones immediately flew over to capture the moment.
"Soy sauce!?"
The audience erupted in astonished cries, their voices mixed with confusion.
Even the old pastry chef who had earlier thought Dylan was just pretending to know what he was talking about, and couldn't be bothered to argue, now looked at him in surprise. He hadn't expected that bottle of soy sauce to truly be the key to this dish!!
"I mixed heavy cream, black sugar, vanilla extract, egg whites, and soy sauce together, whipped it until it frothed, and then spread it."
"This makes the flavor of the sugar even more delicious. By the way, I used black sugar because its flavor is richer!"
Seeing the judges' curious gazes and sensing the audience's confusion behind her, Liu Yu felt the time was right and began to explain softly.
"In other words, this is like adding a bit of saltiness to the dessert to, in turn, accentuate its inherent sweetness. A concept similar to 'soy sauce cream'."
Hinako Inui sized up Liu Yu, unable to hide the astonishment in her eyes. It was hard to imagine that this was a dish created by a first-year student. Are all first-years this terrifying nowadays?
"Not quite. A senior from the dessert club taught me this. Later, I incorporated my own methods to improve it and created this dish."
Liu Yu explained that the color of black sugar matches soy sauce well, making it unnoticeable after being added. Furthermore, black sugar contains various minerals that regular sugar lacks, like sodium and iron, giving it a unique flavor.
"The complex flavor unique to black sugar and the mellow aroma of soy sauce... they truly are an incredible match!"
Feeling the rich flavors on his tongue, Gin Dōjima couldn't help but murmur, a faint, unreadable blush appearing on his face.
"It's not just the cream. Eating this Mille Crêpe Cake from top to bottom will provide an even more wonderful texture. It will be very interesting."
Seeing the judges' expressions, a smile appeared on Liu Yu's face. She then told them not to get hung up on that and to continue tasting, as the key to the dish was still to come!
"This is..."
Hearing Liu Yu's words, the judges' gazes immediately shifted downward, noticing the various fruits within the Mille Crêpe Cake, nestled between layers of Sachertorte.
"How delicious! Every bite leads you into a kingdom of dreams."
Following the instruction, Sonoka Kikuchi plunged her fork deeper into the cake, tasting it with the unique soy sauce cream.
"This is just too good! The fruit, cake, and cream are the perfect partners. One bite is like entering a castle ruled by desserts! And being bombarded without mercy by cannons from all directions."
Closing his eyes, Gin Dōjima imagined a massive castle where countless cannons made of desserts fired various fruit bombs at them!
"There's no way to escape!"
Their clothes burst open in the vision, making them itch uncontrollably, and they subconsciously recoiled. However, when they came to their senses, they realized it was just an illusion and let out a long sigh of relief.
"This dessert has already reached the Special Grade standard. It is a genuine Special Grade dessert!"
Gin Dōjima delivered his conclusion. A dessert of such power, appearing from the hands of a first-year girl—it was simply unbelievable!
"Little Momo's apprentice is indeed formidable. She hasn't disappointed me, making such a cute dish!"
In the audience, watching the judges' shocked expressions, Momo Akanegakubo reached out and pulled on Buchi's arms, making it strike a hugging pose.
"With these two helping, it'll be hard for this Team Shokugeki to be anything but cute."
She thought of Huang Mei and Liu Yu, who had decided to help the dessert club. Both were capable of producing Special Grade cuisine, and Liu Yu was undoubtedly a high-end combatant for the match.
Compared to them, Tōsuke Megishima's side seemed rather isolated and without support.
Overall, her probability of achieving final victory was far greater than her opponent's. This was a Team Shokugeki with a very high margin for error!
"The outcome of this match is already decided."
"I can't believe Liu Yu can consistently make Special Grade dishes. Could she already be a Special Grade Chef?"
Alice Nakiri looked at Liu Yu on the stage with some surprise. This girl could produce a Special Grade dish every time. Could she already be a Special Grade Chef?
"She's still far from it. The main reason she could make a Special Grade dish this time is because she was given ample preparation time. She herself is already one of the best among the First-Grade Head Chefs, and with someone helping her, it's normal for her to produce a Special Grade dish."
Hearing Alice Nakiri's words, Dylan spoke up to explain.
Liu Yu herself was not weak, and based on what she just said, she must have joined the dessert club recently. The club president, Momo Akanegakubo, is an expert at making desserts. With her help, combined with her own foundation, it wasn't strange for her to create a Special Grade dish.
Dylan's words made Alice Nakiri pout.
Soma Yukihira's dessert was quite good, at least its appearance was excellent, but it was still mercilessly crushed. The two were simply incomparable.
"There's no such thing as an unfair advantage. Things like this have always been about individual ability. Having someone behind you is part of a chef's own foundation, and it's perfectly reasonable to make use of it."
"That's true. In that case, if I encounter a difficult opponent in the future, can I also find you, Master? Will you help me?"
At this point, Alice Nakiri turned her head, looking at him with her gentle, large eyes. Her tone was less of an inquiry and more like coaxing.
"Of course, but I'd still hope you try to solve it yourself first, or ask others. You can brainstorm solutions by gathering everyone's opinions. After all, if I personally guide you, you would have basically no chance of losing, and that's not a good thing for your growth."
Hearing Alice Nakiri's words, Dylan patted her head. If she truly needed his help, he would provide it without hesitation.
But he didn't want her to become a helpless doll who only knew how to rely on him.
"Don't worry, I was just kidding. Even if I face an incredibly strong opponent, I'll defeat them with my own power!"
Helplessly, she removed the hand Dylan was rubbing on her head and placed it on her own cheek. Alice Nakiri looked into his eyes and spoke seriously, word by word.
Only by becoming strong could she stay by Dylan's side forever.
Dylan said gently.
At the same time.
The judges on the stage exchanged glances, then spoke to the two contestants:
"Soma Yukihira, your dish is very good. Adding both candied orange peel and lemon juice to the yōkan was certainly a unique and innovative approach.
"And the Red Oolong Dragon Vinegar—the vinegar's sourness and the black tea's richness were perfectly matched, one could say they are the ideal partners.
"But, aside from these two points, the other parts felt very monotonous. It was just an ordinary yōkan, with no change to its fundamental nature.
"In comparison, Liu Yu's Mille Crêpe Cake made bold use of the characteristics of soy sauce and black sugar, elevating the flavor of the cream to a new level.
"Furthermore, this special soy sauce cream also resonated with the fruits tasted later on. It can be said that the cake's flavor was enhanced in every aspect, with no blind spots. Truly excellent."
"Therefore, I declare once more, the winner of this match is Liu Yu!"
Gin Dōjima's voice rang out. He objectively analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of both dishes and, while pressing the button, announced the final winner of the match.
At the judges' table, Hinako Inui and Sonoka Kikuchi also pressed the buttons in front of them. The next moment, Liu Yu's name appeared on the large screen.
3-0, a complete victory for Liu Yu.
"I see. Using the saltiness of the soy sauce to further bring out the sweetness of the cream... what a brilliant performance. I wholeheartedly accept my defeat in this match."
Putting the Mille Crêpe Cake from Liu Yu into his mouth and feeling the exquisite taste within, Soma Yukihira's body began to tremble slightly, as if being hit by countless cannonballs. Only after a long while did he let out a deep breath.
However, Liu Yu clearly saw him clench his fists, his face written with unwillingness. It was obvious that while he verbally accepted defeat, he did not accept it in his heart.
Seeing Soma Yukihira's expression, Liu Yu, however, revealed a smile. No matter what, she had won the final victory of the match and advanced to the finals!
The next battle would be between Megumi Tadokoro and Hisako Arato. She wondered who her opponent would be.
Filled with anticipation, Liu Yu cast her gaze toward the audience, first smiling at Wang Jing, who had been watching her, then looking at Megumi Tadokoro and Hisako Arato, her eyes filled with a clear fighting spirit.
No matter who her opponent was, she would definitely fight and win!
"The match between Soma Yukihira and Liu Yu is decided. Next up are Megumi and Hisako. I remember the theme they drew was taro, right?"
Due to time constraints, the match between Megumi Tadokoro and Hisako Arato was moved to the evening. Immediately after, the theme for the final would be drawn on the spot, followed by a week of preparation for the final championship match.
Of course, the third-place winner would be decided on the afternoon of the same day, but that wasn't what everyone cared about. Everyone knows the highest peak is Mount Everest; who knows the second, third, or fourth?!
"You two should go back and get some proper rest. You can take a nap. Don't put too much pressure on yourselves. I look forward to your performance."
Seeing Megumi Tadokoro and Hisako Arato walking towards him, Dylan stood up with a smile and patted them both on the shoulders.
"Dylan-sensei, I'll do my best."
"I'll work hard too, to at least have a battle I won't regret!"
"All talk and no action is useless. Bring out your full strength and settle it in the arena!"
Hearing their words and seeing their fervent gazes, Dylan's voice carried a hint of internal energy, instantly setting their blood boiling.
This kind of healthy competition was what he most wanted to see.
After all, intense unwillingness to lose is the best nourishment, promoting their rapid growth. And the victor, in order not to be overtaken, will also strive desperately to forge ahead, just to widen the gap.
______
✅ Until 40 advanced chapters of ALL stories!
✅ Exclusive content and updates!
Help us hit our community goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 55 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters of ALL STORIES!
Claim your 40% OFF spot and unlock everything now:
👻 P - Walnutchan