"The fiftieth dish, sweet and sour spare ribs, is here!"
After completing the forty-fifth to fiftieth dishes simultaneously, only one hour had passed since the assessment began, and Hoshino Sora was the first to finish the assessment at an astonishing speed!
And every dish received high praise from the judges.
In contrast, the person who had completed the second most qualifying pork dishes on site had only completed eight so far, and that person was Yumeko Jabami, who was next to Hoshino Sora.
Although every dish could receive high praise from the surrounding judges, her cooking speed was simply too slow, at least compared to Hoshino Sora's.
Hoshino Sora's cooking was both fast and good, which led many people to secretly watch him when they couldn't think of a dish, seeking inspiration from his dishes. After all, Hoshino Sora made mostly home-style pork dishes.
The methods were usually not very difficult, and with a little effort, they could be replicated.
"Congratulations to examinee Hoshino Sora for completing the final…"
"Wait!"
Before the proctor next to him could finish speaking, Hoshino Sora raised his hand and sternly stopped him, then added, "The assessment isn't over yet! This is far from my limit!"
That's right, this was not his limit.
Fifty dishes in one hour means six hundred dishes in twelve hours. Of course, because some dishes take longer, the exact number produced cannot be calculated according to this standard.
But even so, this was a miracle that others could absolutely not surpass!
Time passed bit by bit. As dishes were placed on the serving counter, judges either praised or criticized them. The sound of stir-frying around them gradually grew quieter at some point.
Everyone's physical strength was being greatly consumed.
It was clear that this was not only an assessment of skill but also a test of willpower! In this assessment, if anyone couldn't hold on, they would face the punishment of re-education!
To pass smoothly, everyone on site could only grit their teeth and do their best. Fortunately, Hoshino Sora was there as a guiding light, and his every move attracted the attention of those around him.
The reason was simple: the variety of pork dishes Hoshino Sora made was simply too rich! And the quantity was very large, with five dishes being prepared simultaneously, offering great choice.
It could be said that Hoshino Sora at this moment was a super savior for the examinees on site! It was equivalent to directly putting the standard answers in front of them for them to copy. He truly… I'm so touched I could cry!
While the people at the assessment site were working hard, Yumeko Jabami was also working hard. At this moment, her back was already wet in one spot, and her exquisite figure looked particularly alluring against the backdrop of sweat.
She silently placed her fiftieth dish on the serving counter. The next moment, a big, burly man picked up the dish, simultaneously shaking his small glasses to bring it closer for a careful look.
"This hamburger steak is really good! The inside is juicy and full of flavor, and it contains a special taste. You cooked it with peppercorn oil, didn't you!?"
After a simple sniff, he picked up a piece with chopsticks and put it into his mouth. The Fat Man gave Yumeko Jabami a very high evaluation, and the happy expression on his face was genuine.
"That's right, peppercorn oil can greatly enhance the flavor of ingredients, making the hamburger steak taste better while removing any off-flavors. It's a small but significant improvement."
Facing the inquiry, Yumeko Jabami replied casually.
At this moment, her attention was entirely focused on Hoshino Sora next door. He had already completed over three hundred dishes in just seven hours. It was hard to imagine that this was something a student could do.
She simply couldn't catch up!
If Yumeko Jabami initially had the ambition to chase Hoshino Sora, that ambition had now completely disappeared. His speed in preparing dishes was simply too astonishing!
He could complete five dishes, or even more, in the time it took her to complete one. This was simply not something a human could do, alright!? If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed it.
Simultaneously operating five woks and handling five portions of ingredients, and still managing every step in an orderly fashion under such circumstances, was truly a very difficult thing!
"Yumeko Jabami has completed the final assessment. You may now choose to continue challenging or leave the site…"
Because of Hoshino Sora's precedent, the assessor did not simply announce that Yumeko Jabami had completed the assessment but gave her two choices.
"Little Yumeko, you're done, so I'll finish too."
Seeing that Yumeko Jabami had finished cooking, Hoshino Sora sped up to complete the last few time-consuming dishes, placed them on the serving counter, then wiped his hands with a towel and looked at the girl beside him.
"You haven't eaten yet, have you?"
"I've been here the whole time. Where would I have time to eat?"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's rhetorical question, Yumeko Jabami was a bit speechless, but she still replied in a gentle tone.
"Then let's go out and eat something together."
Ignoring her speechlessness, after consulting with the proctor, Hoshino Sora publicly took Yumeko Jabami's hand, which had already become a kind of signal.
Yumeko Jabami did not resist this.
It was a good thing that he took the initiative, because she was the type who wasn't good at taking the initiative, which was the fundamental reason why she hadn't been taken into Hoshino Sora's room until now.
As for Hoshino Sora, the reason he chose to leave now was because more than half the time had passed, but Yumeko Jabami, who had made the most dishes on site, had only just completed 50, six times less than him.
Soma Yukihira was in the center of the venue. When Hoshino Sora took Yumeko Jabami's small hand, he had also completed 50 dishes, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, clearly indicating severe physical exhaustion.
Under these circumstances, it was even more impossible for others to surpass him. In other words, the first place in the final assessment was already his for the taking.
Since that was the case, staying there any longer would just be a waste of time. It would be better to take advantage of the assessment time to go on a date with Yumeko Jabami and deepen their relationship.
This was also Hoshino Sora's plan. Although she had the idea of relying on him, their relationship was still too weak, so they needed to deepen their feelings.
And the best way for a man and a woman to deepen their feelings, besides getting intimate, should be dating.
After returning to her room, taking a shower, and changing into her most beautiful clothes, Yumeko Jabami looked at her charming self in the mirror and stepped out, ready for everything.
She had always admired Hoshino Sora, from initially seeing him as her opponent to now recognizing reality, but being unwilling to give up and thus challenging him.
And Hoshino Sora's strength had already been demonstrated back at Yōbi Dormitory. She admitted that she was not his opponent.
Although Hoshino Sora made traditional dishes, their taste was excellent, and his skill level already surpassed that of ordinary students. At least, she couldn't compete with him.
Even with the same ingredients, she couldn't achieve his level. The gap between them was significant.
For this, she had practiced a lot in private, but the fact was that for some dishes, even if Hoshino Sora encountered them for the first time, the taste he produced was more delicious than her carefully studied and even self-improved dishes after many days of research.
Undoubtedly, this was terrifying, because it meant he was much stronger than her! This also made Yumeko Jabami depressed for a while, but she quickly snapped out of it, because what she excelled at was creation.
If she couldn't surpass Hoshino Sora by strictly following traditional cooking, then she would innovate!
Since he had mastered traditional cooking to the extreme, she would use change to counter his unchanging approach!
This was also the real reason Yumeko Jabami challenged Hoshino Sora. She wanted to overcome her fear, so that she could go further and further on the path of cooking.
Of course, a challenge carried the risk of failure, but since she chose to give her all, she couldn't allow herself to have any regrets.
"What are you thinking? You look preoccupied."
For their first date, Hoshino Sora did not act overly intimate. Their only intimate gestures were probably holding hands and then walking side by side.
Yumeko Jabami was beautiful, gentle, and polite. She was a well-educated young lady, usually like this, but once something related to cooking came up, her whole demeanor would change.
Once she entered a serious cooking state, her expressions would become exaggerated, enjoying and reveling in the sensations produced by the collision of flavors, and the pursuit of extreme excitement would transition into a state of wild and cold facial expressions.
Hoshino Sora had seen such expressions countless times, but he didn't dislike them; instead, he found Yumeko Jabami, with such a contrasting personality, even more charming!
It was a charm that inspired a desire for conquest from the bottom of one's heart! What kind of expression would such a being have when lying beneath him? Unconsciously, he already had an expectation!
"Nothing. For the competition in a few days, what part of the duck are you planning to use to compete, Hoshino-kun?"
Shaking her head, and looking at Hoshino Sora's somewhat eager eyes, Yumeko Jabami asked her question. Given their current relationship, he should tell her, right?
"Duck hearts. Scouting for information before a battle isn't a glorious act, you know."
Hearing the question, Hoshino Sora did not hide it and directly stated the dish he was going to make. Anyway, she would know sooner or later, so a little earlier or later didn't matter.
Hoshino Sora had absolute confidence in his cooking.
In fact, he had never lost a single time since he started cooking.
He was very proud of this!
"Duck hearts? That's a bit unexpected."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's answer, Yumeko Jabami's face clearly showed surprise, then she nodded gently: "I'm making braised duck, a Cantonese dish, which I've improved and innovated to some extent. The taste will be more suitable for Japanese people than the original method."
Without hesitation, Yumeko Jabami also told Hoshino Sora the dish she was going to make. This was something she had decided long ago, a killer dish she had planned for a long time!
"Braised duck? I'm looking forward to it."
"You don't look nervous at all. Aren't you worried you'll lose to me?"
Looking at Hoshino Sora's nonchalant demeanor, Yumeko Jabami couldn't help but bite her lower lip, then asked this question.
"Worried, yes, how could I not be worried? After all, Yumeko's cooking skills are also very good, and since I'm not allowed to use ingredients from Gourmet Manor, my chances of winning are not one hundred percent."
Hearing Yumeko Jabami's words, Hoshino Sora slowly began to speak. He never thought he could win one hundred percent, even though he was very confident in his cooking skills.
But what then?
Winning or losing in cooking was just a competition. A life constrained by competition was, to be honest, a bit pathetic. At least, Hoshino Sora didn't want such a life.
This was also the reason why he did not follow the Chinese people to Oriental Academy. He did not need absolutely strong cooking techniques, because cooking could not dominate the world. But this did not mean that he would not study it or hone his skills.
"Then why do you look so nonchalant, making it seem like I'm the only one taking this seriously? Hoshino-kun, you're bullying me!"
Her eyes revealed a hint of dissatisfaction, with a feeling of being bullied. Yumeko Jabami hadn't expected him to be so unconcerned about their competition.
"I never said I was just humoring you. I give my all in every competition, but I just don't want you to make cooking your entire life."
"But I only have cooking…"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's righteous words, Yumeko Jabami's expression froze, then she murmured something only she could hear, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
"No, you still have me."
Hearing Yumeko Jabami's words, Hoshino Sora's face instantly stiffened, and then he said seriously.
"What you said is so cheesy, but thank you."
Understanding that Hoshino Sora was comforting her, Yumeko Jabami's face softened slightly, but she still couldn't help but retort.
"Ah, is it that cheesy…?"
"The words are quite cheesy, but seeing that the person who said them is a handsome guy, it doesn't sound uncomfortable."
Looking at Hoshino Sora scratching his head in embarrassment, Yumeko Jabami's face couldn't help but break into a smile. To see him in such a flustered expression, honestly, this was the first time!
"So, as long as he's a handsome guy, it's fine, right?"
Because they had just left the Far Moon Resort's jurisdiction, and the students were still taking their exams, the surroundings were sparsely populated. Looking at the bright smile on Yumeko Jabami's face, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart.
Actions speak louder than words!
He found a secluded corner nearby, grabbed Yumeko Jabami's hand, and wall-slammed her.
However, to prevent her from getting hurt, Hoshino Sora didn't use much force. In this situation, it could at most be considered going with the flow. Looking at Yumeko Jabami, who was a head shorter than him, the boy swallowed.
"I never said that."
Looking at Hoshino Sora, who was so close, Yumeko Jabami did not blush. She boldly met his gaze, her voice steady, and she did not resist his actions.
In fact, deep down, she even had a faint expectation.
For a period of time, almost every night, she had to listen to Hoshino Sora and other girls making sounds in the room. That kind of sound was undoubtedly very… for a virgin like her who had never experienced such things.
Perhaps thinking of something, Yumeko Jabami's cheeks visibly reddened, and her body gradually began to heat up. The atmosphere between them gradually started to become unusual.
"Then what do you want me to do now? It's already come to this, it'll be hard to end without a kiss."
Looking at Yumeko Jabami's charming face in front of him, Hoshino Sora's eyes held affection. To be honest, he had been smitten with her the first time they met. The reason was simple: the girl was truly beautiful!
However, although she had a gentle and approachable personality, she seemed difficult to win over, exuding a cool aura. While outwardly friendly, she essentially gave off a feeling of keeping people at arm's length.
"Then come on, I don't dislike it."
Looking directly into Hoshino Sora's eyes, Yumeko Jabami saw a hint of timidity and inquiry in his gaze. Realizing that she was being respected, she took the initiative, embracing his head and kissing him fiercely.
Hoshino Sora hadn't expected her to be so proactive, but compared to Yumeko Jabami, who was a beginner, his experience was incredibly rich. After a few rounds, he made her surrender.
And so, another defeat was added to Yumeko Jabami's record of battles.
After that, fearing someone might pass by, the two quickly returned to normal. Hoshino Sora could clearly feel that after this incident, Yumeko Jabami's relationship with him had become much closer.
She was now actively holding his hand.
That's right, it was Yumeko Jabami who took the initiative.
Looking at the hand she had actively taken, Hoshino Sora was honestly a little surprised. He hadn't expected the power of a kiss to be so great that it could make a beautiful girl throw herself into his arms.
This also directly led to his high spirits during their subsequent date, as Yumeko Jabami responded to his every action; she would praise him for being amazing when he caught a doll, and applaud when he won a game. Besides that...
"I will cherish this very much."
Looking at the cute panda charm on the keychain, Yumeko Jabami said seriously.
This was a gift Hoshino Sora had given her. Although it wasn't very valuable, it was the first gift he had given her, making it very memorable.
Girls are like this; they might take many gifts for granted, but if it's the first one, they usually remember it for a long time. So, at this moment, Yumeko Jabami's face was full of smiles.
Even though it was just a keychain worth less than five hundred Japanese Yen.
"A tiny keychain bought you over. My little Yumeko is truly easy to fool."
Looking at the girl's happy expression, Hoshino Sora was actually a bit puzzled, and he didn't hide his confusion. He playfully ruffled her head with a joking tone and laughed.
"This is a gift; its meaning is different!"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Yumeko Jabami pouted and retorted. After a day of spending time together, their relationship had clearly progressed.
"Yes, yes, yes, I'll send you gifts often from now on."
"That still can't compare to this one in my hand."
She huffed a tsundere remark, playing with the keychain in her hand. Yumeko Jabami's face was filled with excitement, which made Hoshino Sora ruffle her head vigorously a few times.
He could tell that Yumeko Jabami genuinely liked him.
Although he didn't know when it started, she liked him, and wasn't that enough?
Looking at Yumeko Jabami, who was as docile as a kitten after he ruffled her head, Hoshino Sora felt a bit happy. Now he only hoped that their agreed-upon competition would arrive soon, so he could win and rightfully claim her!
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