Both participants kept going without feeling much of the pressure the others were feeling from their face-off.
"Seems like I'll be going first..."
Hayama's voice echoed through the arena, and Ryo just clicked his tongue in response, continuing to complete his dish at his workstation.
Seeing no response from Ryo, Hayama shook his head and fully focused on his own craft once again.
With the duck perfectly caramelized and the sides ready, he began plating his dish.
Hayama placed a generous scoop of mashed potatoes in the center of the plate, arranging the sautéed Brussels sprouts around it.
The star of the dish, the caramelized duck breast, was sliced thinly and fanned out over the potatoes, its golden-brown exterior glistening under the lights. He finished with a drizzle of the honey glaze and a sprinkling of the spice blend over the entire dish.
Looking at the final product, Hayama put it all on the trolley and slowly made his way to the judges, whose eyes lit up as he approached.
"Finally, I got bored of waiting..."
Tsunozaki chuckled as she licked her lips excitedly, anticipating the incoming food to her table.
"This is Duck Apicius. Please enjoy..."
No fancy words came from Hayama's mouth other than its name, which made Gin smile in satisfaction as he observed Hayama.
"He's truly confident, huh?"
The other judges were similarly excited, watching as Hayama slowly placed the plate in front of them with care, then lifted the lid. A blast of aroma suddenly enveloped them, causing their eyes to widen in shock.
"T-The aroma... it's permeating the whole arena!"
The moderator's voice trembled with surprise, echoing the astonishment of the students who felt their mouths salivating at the unprecedented aroma.
"The aroma is much stronger than before..."
Inui mumbled in amazement, her eyes fixed on the rich, dark color of the caramelized duck contrasting beautifully with the bright green Brussels sprouts and creamy mashed potatoes.
"A dish loved by the Roman gourmet, Apicius, huh?" Mizuhara mumbled, her gaze fixed on the impressive presentation, even by her standards.
Beside her, Gin smiled and sliced a piece using the fork in his hand, "Let's not waste any more time and taste it..."
All the judges nodded in agreement while Hayama stood confidently nearby as they each took a bite.
"...!"
Immediately, the intense flavors enveloped their palates.
"Mhmmm, so tender!"
The caramelized duck was juicy and tender, its natural richness perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the honey and the boldness of the spices.
"The spices are well-balanced too, complementing the duck perfectly..."
Each spice contributed distinctively, creating layers of flavor that unfolded with every chew.
"Mhmmmm! Even after swallowing, the aroma lingers in your mouth and nose!"
Inui expressed satisfaction, fully engulfed by the flavors.
"He uses such a complex combination, yet it perfectly balances each element," Gin mumbled to himself, closing his eyes to savor the dish.
He slowly opened them, continuing his train of thought, "Some are hot, some slightly sweet, others refreshing..."
"Such perfect manipulation of flavors wouldn't be possible..."
He sighed, glancing at Hayama, before murmuring, "...without his acute sense of smell."
The flavors were so intense and well-coordinated that the judges felt as though they were caught in an eagle's talons, each bite tightening the grip of the spices on their senses.
It was powerful and overwhelming!
"You can try all you want..."
Hayama spoke slowly, turning to Ryo, who appeared to have finished his dish as well. He chuckled in amusement and added, "...but you will not surpass me."
"You sure like spouting a load of crap like it's nothing..."
Ryo's voice boomed, his forehead veins bulging as he opened the lid and placed the plate in front of the judges.
"This is Eel Matelote!"
However...
"...!"
Hayama raised an eyebrow at the intense flavor that seemed to have enveloped the lingering aroma from his own dish, which had already been completely eaten by the judges. He looked at Ryo with interest.
"Seems like you're not all talk, but..."
His attention was suddenly drawn to something on the side as Ryo continued to present his dishes one by one.
"...where the hell did you get these mugs?"
These mugs weren't plain at all!
Even Hayama himself was able to recognize the restaurant logo, including the addresse, which he had seen repeatedly, possibly from a certain someone.
But how did Ryo even get these and place them here?
"Someone sneaked these onto my workstation..."
Ryo's face darkened completely as he answered before sharply turned his head to a certain area in the crowd, growling and cursing, "Grr... you crazy motherfucker. Just you wait, I'll devour you too!"
"..."
Silence fell over the arena at the sudden turn of events that was quite unexpected.
A promotion that everyone was familiar with which left them speechless!
All eyes turned to Tsuna, whose expression turned stony as if he had no involvement, which annoyed the spectators for some reason.
They all seemed to think the same thing: "Fucking shameless..."
"Kekeke, that's quite clever..."
Senzaimon seemed to be thoroughly entertained, holding his beard with twinkling eyes of interest.
"Is this why you asked me which of these boxes would go to Ryo-kun's workstation?"
A voice interrupted suddenly, and Tsuna and Senzaimon turned to see Alice, visibly annoyed and pouting. She continued, "How did Ryo-kun agree to use these at all?"
"Oh? That..."
Tsuna smiled mischievously before explaining, "...I emptied out the rest."
"You...!"
Seeing Tsuna's smirk only fueled Alice's annoyance, her frustration evident as she began rambling about how shameless and annoying he was, even suggesting she could report him for sabotaging the tournament.
Contrary to the lively atmosphere where Tsuna stood, the judges slowly regained their composure, eyeing the mug with suspicion before Gin cleared his throat and spoke, "Ahem... Let's focus on what's important and give it a try..."
As the judges took their first bites, they were immediately overwhelmed by the complex layers of flavor.
"Mhmmm!"
"The flavors are so bold and daring."
The eel was tender and juicy, with the red wine and spices creating a rich, savory profile.
However...
"T-there is a plum in the eel!"
It was a pleasant surprise for the judges as it elevated the dish higher!
"I have to admit though, the combination of the eel and the dried plums is genius..."
Mizuhara let out a satisfied moan while commenting, the sourness of the dried Japanese plums cutting through the richness, adding a surprising twist that heightened the overall experience.
"Plum?"
Hayama and the rest of the crowd were surprised at the revelation. Hayama turned to Ryo with a frown and asked, "Is this your wild card?"
"Shut up and watch..."
Ryo scoffed as he walked closer to the judges and instructed, "Next, dip the mashed potatoes and brioche on the side into the sauce infused with the eel's essence..."
"Eat it all together with the eel meat!"
He laughed loudly, clearly enjoying the spectacle his dish created as the judges swallowed nervously before following his instructions.
The moment they did...
A whole new realm of flavors opened up, overwhelming their palates immediately with its intensity!
"This...!"
The mashed potatoes were smooth and buttery, a perfect complement to the intense flavors of the eel.
The combination was so potent and irresistible that the judges felt an almost primal urge to devour the dish, abandoning all restraint.
Unlike Hayama's elegance, Ryo's dish was wild yet refined!
With the two empty plates before them, the judges wore expressions of profound contemplation, their gazes reflecting their inner conflict.
"I... can't decide who's better!"
They were completely torn, unable to overlook the unique strengths of both dishes, each undeniably exceptional in its own right!