Nene had already begun kneading her dough. Her movements were fluid and precise, revealing a mastery that exuded an almost ethereal beauty. As she worked, the distinct aroma of Soba began to fill the air.
Meanwhile, Erina arrived at the private room on the upper floor with Hisako in tow. From there, they watched the Shokugeki unfold.
"What incredible skill! She's more like an artisan than a chef. How does Kinokuni-senpai manage such powerful movements with such a delicate frame?" Hisako exclaimed, eyes wide in astonishment.
"The secret lies in her lower body. She transfers the strength from her waist and legs to her hands through her stance and stepping," Erina explained calmly as she observed the arena below. "The Kanda Soba House has been perfecting soba for hundreds of years. The techniques they've accumulated are nothing short of terrifying. If Sui tries to compete with her in soba noodles, he stands no chance."
"Then… what can he do?" Hisako asked, worry creeping into her voice.
"I don't know. There might be another way, but…" Erina trailed off, shaking her head as uncertainty clouded her expression.
In the audience, murmurs of admiration rippled through the crowd.
"Amazing!"
"She's every bit as skilled as expected from Kinokuni-senpai!"
"Let's see this transfer student's spirit crushed!"
The atmosphere was electric as more spectators arrived. Among them were Rindō and Kuga.
"Nene's flexibility is off the charts. She's really on another level," Rindo remarked, though she didn't appear too surprised, having seen Kinokuni's soba-making techniques before.
"Oi, Sui! You better not lose to this woman!" Kuga shouted, a fierce grin on his face.
Hearing Kuga's voice, Nene's brow twitched in irritation. The veins on her forehead pulsed as she momentarily halted her kneading, turning to glare at him.
"Shut your mouth, shorty!" she snapped.
Unfazed, Kuga called back, "Ignore her, Sui! She's probably just moody because of that time of the month!"
Nene's face paled in fury, and she clenched her fists, visibly restraining herself from abandoning the match to throttle Kuga.
"Don't let him distract you, Commander!" someone from the Soba Research Society shouted, trying to calm her down.
Nene took a deep breath, regaining her composure, but her gaze remained icy as she looked toward Sui. "You and that obnoxious dwarf must be working together. But even if that's the case, you'll never defeat me in Soba. Watch carefully, and learn what true mastery looks like!"
"I am watching," Sui replied with a calm smile. "You really are impressive."
"You…" Nene was momentarily stunned by his nonchalant response. Unlike others, Sui didn't seem awed or surprised by her technique.
"That's because I showed it to him yesterday," Subaru quipped from the audience, a smug smile on his face.
Beside him, Megumi and Yoshino felt a shiver run down their spines. They recalled how Subaru, the day before, had impersonated Nene, kneading dough with exaggerated grace while dressed like her. The memory still gave them goosebumps.
"Wait, you know Kinokuni's technique?" Kuga asked, raising an eyebrow.
"More or less. I spent three months simulating her movements and observing her cooking up close. Though I didn't master it all, I learned enough," Subaru replied with a calm air of nonchalance.
Kuga and Rindo exchanged glances, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"This guy… he's a total creep! Stalking her for three months?" Yoshino muttered, incredulous.
Even Rindo and Kuga's views of Subaru had shifted slightly, tinged with discomfort.
On the stage, Sui had begun his own cooking. However, unlike Nene, he wasn't kneading dough. Instead, he mixed Soba flour with eggs and milk, using a whisk to stir the ingredients at an astonishing speed.
Sui knew he couldn't defeat Nene in soba-making, but the challenge wasn't restricted to soba noodles. After all, Soba doesn't have to be made into noodles.
In Japan, when people hear "Soba," they immediately think of soba noodles. Soba dishes dominate the landscape of Soba cuisine. However, Nene's strength lay specifically in soba noodles, and she had a blind spot when it came to other Soba preparations.
While a member of the Elite Ten had to be versatile and skilled across a broad range of cooking styles, this particular area offered Sui an opening.
As he whisked the Soba mixture in his bowl, his speed was so incredible that a vortex formed in the batter. His movements were controlled and precise, with not a single drop spilling.
"Wow! Look at that speed! And the batter's not spilling at all!" a student exclaimed.
"Every student can mix ingredients, but doing it with such speed and control? That's something else!"
"What strength and precision!" Senzaemon observed, a glint of admiration in his eyes.
In the audience, Subaru watched with a conflicted expression. He'd been defeated by Sui in much the same way—through straightforward yet overwhelming power.
"Wait… he's not making soba noodles?" another student remarked as they noticed Sui's unusual approach.
"That's right," Rindō suddenly realized, a smile tugging at her lips. "He's found Nene's blind spot."
"Blind spot?" Megumi asked, curious.
"Yes, the challenge is Soba, not specifically soba noodles," Rindo explained. "The Kanda Soba House has specialized in soba noodles for generations, but their focus has always been on noodles. Other Soba dishes are less familiar to them."
"So that's his advantage?" Kuga nodded in understanding. "Smart move, Sui."
"Not soba noodles?" Nene murmured, startled by this realization. However, she quickly composed herself, her tone cold as she said, "Even so, you still won't beat me. My soba noodles extract the fullest flavor from the Soba."
Both competitors worked swiftly, and soon enough, their dishes were complete.
Nene finished first.
"Kinokuni-style Nine-Point Soba," she announced, presenting her dish with pride.