Mission Details: Guide the Elite Ten and point out their culinary shortcomings.
Mission Reward: Shuckle.
Time Limit: Complete within one day.
"Shuckle? Could it be another type of Pokémon?" Sui pondered, intrigued.
But no matter what it was, he had to focus on completing the task first.
"Hmm? Do you two seniors need my assistance?" Erina asked, surprised.
"Yes," Kuga nodded, "I've encountered some challenges with my cooking recently, so I wanted to seek Miss Erina's guidance."
It was rare for even the Elite Ten to get Erina's time since her schedule was packed with tasting assignments. Despite their similar rank, finding an opportunity like this wasn't easy.
"No problem," Erina agreed.
However, Tōsuke glanced over at Sui with mild disdain. "Who is he? If he's just a regular student, he shouldn't be attending our gathering, even if he's supposedly Miss Erina's boyfriend."
"Who... who said he's my boyfriend!" Erina immediately flustered, feeling uncomfortable again.
"Oh, don't underestimate him, Tōsuke," Rindōko chimed in with a chuckle. "He's the first-year student who beat Eizan."
"That's him?" Tōsuke's expression shifted slightly as he looked Sui up and down.
He had heard the rumors about Eizan's defeat but hadn't witnessed the event himself.
"In that case, I suppose you're qualified to join us," Tōsuke said, nodding in reluctant acceptance.
"And apparently, he's also got the God's Tongue," added Rindōko, flashing her sharp canine teeth. "Since you've got questions for Erina, why not ask Sui too?"
"He's got the God's Tongue as well?" This time, Tōsuke was genuinely shocked.
Standing nearby, Momo, who had been silent until now, was just as surprised.
Neither of them had attended the battle where Sui displayed his abilities, so they didn't know he possessed the same rare gift as Erina. The God's Tongue was an incredibly powerful tool in the culinary world, something they understood well.
"Even with the God's Tongue, talent varies from person to person," Tōsuke remarked coolly, locking eyes with Sui. "I hope your skill matches Miss Erina's."
Sui smiled calmly. "You'll see soon enough, Tōsuke-senpai."
"Well then," Kuga jumped in, eager to start, "why don't you try my dish?"
Kuga hurried to the kitchen and returned with a steaming casserole, its rich aroma wafting through the air.
"Is this... bamboo shoot and old duck soup?" Sui asked, slightly surprised.
"That's right," Kuga confirmed, "I've been experimenting with soups recently."
"Kuga, why the sudden focus on soup? I thought Sichuan cuisine was your specialty?" Tōsuke Megishima asked.
"Well, as a genius, it's only natural that I branch out. It'd be a shame if I were only proficient in one cuisine," Kuga replied with characteristic smugness.
"Stop deluding yourself, Kuga," Momo cut in quietly from the side. "No matter how much soup you drink, you're not getting any taller."
Kuga, clearly stung by the comment, shot back, "Akanegakubo-senpai, what are you implying?!"
Erina, trying to defuse the tension, picked up a small bowl and chopsticks to sample Kuga's soup.
"Overall, it's good," she said after a moment of tasting. "Though it's a bit salty. Apart from that, there's no major issue. But, I'm not an expert in Chinese cuisine. For more detailed advice, you could ask Sui."
Kuga turned to Sui with interest.
Sui approached, grabbing a small bowl and chopsticks to take his turn. Tōsuke Megishima and Momo Akanegakubo watched intently, eager to see how Sui's God's Tongue compared to Erina's.
Kuga and Rindōko also looked on, awaiting Sui's feedback.
"Like Erina said, the overall flavor is good, but it's still a little too salty," Sui commented after tasting. "Both the ham and bamboo shoots are naturally salty, so when you added additional salt, it overpowered the dish. In fact, you didn't need to add much at all."
Kuga slapped his forehead in realization. "I completely missed that."
"And another thing," Sui continued, "you mixed up the order of ingredients. First, you should put in the chicken feet, ham, green onions, and ginger. Bring the soup to a boil on high heat, then add the duck and simmer for three hours. Only after that do you add the bamboo shoots, which should have been soaked in warm water for 30 minutes. You added the bamboo shoots and ham together, didn't you? That's why they turned too mushy."
Kuga nodded, absorbing the correction.
"One more thing—you can add a touch of sugar. It'll balance the flavors better," Sui added.
"I see," Kuga nodded, grateful for the advice.
At that moment, Sui noticed the others staring at him in stunned silence. He blinked. "Is something wrong?"
"As expected, you're truly impressive!" Rindō grinned, slapping Sui on the shoulder like an older sibling. "Next time I need someone to taste my food, I won't even bother looking for Erina. I'll just come straight to you."
Sui was momentarily speechless, while Erina stood by, grinding her teeth in frustration.
Tōsuke Megishima and Momo Akanegakubo, who had initially been skeptical, now looked at Sui with newfound respect. They hadn't expected his culinary insight to rival, or even surpass, Erina's.
"In that case, Sui, would you try my cooking as well?" Tōsuke Megishima asked earnestly.
Initially doubtful of Sui's abilities, Tōsuke now felt a growing anticipation.
"Of course, Tōsuke-senpai," Sui agreed.
"This is a wonton noodle soup I just prepared," Tōsuke said as he handed him a steaming bowl.
"Wonton noodles?" Sui echoed, slightly surprised.