Ding ding ding~
The bell signaling the completion of a dish rang out across the venue, half an hour into the finals of the Akihabara Summit Battle.
"Just like in the Group A elimination round, Haranoya's Harano Katsuya is the first to finish his dish!"
Harano Katsuya wiped the sweat from his brow. Finishing such a dish in just half an hour was not only a test of physical stamina and culinary skill but also a trial of the spirit.
"There's nothing left to hesitate about. This is the dish I have made." As a miko in red and white robes carried the three plates to the judges' table, Harano Katsuya's anxious heart calmed.
"Please briefly describe your dish."
Colson lifted the cloche. In a simple, Western-style plating, broccoli florets and lemon slices were stacked to one side. A red sauce was streaked in a smooth, natural arc. At the center of the porcelain plate was a piece of baked fish, its seared skin releasing an alluring, savory aroma.
"What I have made is a Tuna Hamburger Patty Fish Steak. I minced different parts of the bluefin tuna into various sizes and mixed them in a specific ratio. It was cooked by pan-searing it first, then baking it."
"Please, have a taste."
"Let's not rush." Colson did not begin to eat. He steepled his fingers, propping up his chin. "Before that, I have a question for you."
"I heard there was a power outage at the Harano Hotel. Judging by the ingredients on site, your bluefin tuna's aging is past its peak."
"While the flavor of the tuna can be salvaged through culinary skill, I want you to be clear about one thing." Colson held up a single finger in a very pretentious manner.
"The three judges you are facing now are no ordinary people."
"I am the chief food critic for the IGO's Hokkaido district. A single word from me can decide the fate of a restaurant."
"Miko Chiba Eda hails from the Chiba Shrine, a titan in the Far East's culinary world. Her influence can even spread throughout the entire Far East."
"Miss Takagaki Kaede is an idol with a massive fanbase numbering in the hundreds of thousands. While her words may not be like mine or Miko Chiba Eda's, they can still cause a restaurant's reputation to plummet."
"Are you, who have been stuck as a Three-Star Chef for so long, sure you want us to taste a dish made from tuna that is past its peak?" Sunlight reflected off his large, bald head, and for a moment, Colson exuded an immense pressure.
The host, Kasuga Yanagi, stood to the side, not daring to interrupt the heavyweight's conversation.
"Yes, this is the dish I, Harano Katsuya, have presented. Please, have a taste."
From learning that his bluefin tuna's aging had peaked early, to the joy of receiving the recipe, to practicing all night, and finally to giving his all in today's finals.
Having chosen to risk it all, Harano Katsuya was now fearless.
"Mm, not bad. If even the chef is timid, then their dish isn't worth tasting at all." Colson nodded in approval. "Now, let the judging begin."
Colson held a shiny silver fork in his left hand to secure the fish, and brought down the sharp knife in his right hand.
With a crisp crack, the brittle fish skin broke. The knife continued its downward motion unabated but was met with a surprising rebound force. Translucent juices burst forth like fireworks, spraying into the air level with Colson's eyes.
"A hamburger patty fish steak can be this juicy!?" Colson's poker face was gone, his appetite completely piqued.
He quickly cut off a piece and tossed it into his mouth. Colson's eyes widened and his cheeks puffed out.
"What incredible elasticity!" With every chew, he could feel the amazing springiness of the fish.
It was as if the tuna were leaping on his tongue.
"There's so much juice!" Takagaki Kaede covered her mouth. The delicious juices that exploded in her mouth with each chew seemed endless.
"I can't stop!" Chiba Eda's bright, dark eyes shone like those of a gluttonous squirrel, her chubby cheeks puffing as she chewed and chewed.
The juices were at a comfortable temperature, yet they imparted a fiery sensation.
Before the three judges' eyes, a tuna sleeping in the deep sea leaped high above the ocean's surface!
After finishing the fish steak, Takagaki Kaede and Chiba Eda had beads of sweat on their faces. It added a considerable touch of charm to their appearance, causing a crowd of fans in the audience to howl like wolves.
"It's a familiar scene once again, the three judges have cleaned their plates!"
"Mr. Colson, what is your evaluation of Harano Katsuya's dish?"
"This dish... I cannot evaluate it. The only one qualified to evaluate this dish is contestant Harano Katsuya himself," Colson said in a drawn-out tone.
"Indeed. For contestant Harano Katsuya, who has been stuck as a Three-Star Chef for nearly ten years, today's dish is the best answer to his past struggles." Chiba Eda clenched her fist, her face full of seriousness. "Smashing all doubt, rising from the ashes like a phoenix!"
"That indomitable spirit of research, that determination to never retreat a single step even when battered and bruised—it was all conveyed to us through this dish."
The two of them naturally knew that the fiery sensation still flowing through their bodies was proof that a chef was qualified to embark on their journey.
The nascent form of a Culinary Heart!
"The judges seem to have a very high opinion. Now, for the scoring segment. How many points will contestant Harano Katsuya receive?"
"Judge Colson gives a high score of 90 points! Judge Takagaki Kaede gives a perfect score of 100! And the strict Miko Chiba Eda gives the second-highest score of the competition, aside from contestant Mo Bai's perfect score: 75 points!"
"You should know the reason for my 90 points. While you managed to salvage the tuna's flavor, heat control is still your weakness." Colson paused, then said in a solemn voice. "Continue down this path without slacking, and becoming a high-star chef will be far from your limit."
"In two months, there will be a Five-Star Chef examination in Hokkaido. You should come."
"Thank you for your guidance!" Harano Katsuya bowed deeply, tears blurring his vision. He had waited for this acknowledgment for far, far too long.
The cheers from the audience instantly shook the heavens!
"Holy crap! Old Harano is awesome!" At a cooking station in the same front row, Mo Bai's shout was exceptionally clear amidst the cheering.
Harano Katsuya was speechless. He turned and bowed deeply once more.
The favor of this recipe was equivalent to a second chance at life.
Where some rejoiced, others were naturally resentful.
Yoshino Takashi's face was as black as thunder. Having personally orchestrated the cutting of the Harano Hotel's power cables, he crushed a cluster of salmon roe he was washing.
"Damn it! How does that bastard get so damn lucky?!"
"The help from that meddler, the three judges... why is everyone always against me!?"
Yoshino Takashi's composure shattered.
In contrast to Yoshino Takashi, Mo Bai seemed to be in a cheerful mood.
"That moron must be filled with rage he can't vent right now, huh?"
"I'm laughin' with glee, I'm laughin' with glee~" Humming a little tune, Mo Bai closed the lid on the third stockpot.
Shellfish stock, complete.
"Huh? Do you guys smell that? There's a really nice smell coming from over there."
"Yeah, I smell it too. It's the unique aroma of shellfish."
"Nonsense! It's clearly shrimp!"
"You're crazy! It's obviously a dried fish stock, okay?"
The first hint of aroma from the three stockpots caused a commotion in the audience.
"Manager, the fish is clean." Gokou Ruri shook her slightly sore arm. She had meticulously washed away the black membrane and the blood along the bones inside the fish belly until it was spotless.
"Ruri will definitely be a good wife in the future." Mo Bai looked at the clean fish belly and gave Gokou Ruri a thumbs-up.
"Mm." Hearing Mo Bai suddenly say something like that, Gokou Ruri's face flushed, and she left the stage as if fleeing.
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