When they arrived at the restaurant, Senzaemon, Leonora, and the others were already seated at the table, waiting.
"Are you finally ready? I'm starving," Leonora said with anticipation. She glanced at Sui with a smile. "Erina-chan's blue friend, I'm looking forward to tasting your cooking."
Sui could only smile helplessly in response. 'This aunt is so warm-hearted, but her Japanese is truly terrible,' he thought.
Meanwhile, Erina clenched her teeth, feeling both embarrassed and frustrated. She couldn't believe how talkative her aunt was, always going on about Sui being her boyfriend in front of so many people.
At that moment, the students from the other exchange group had also finished preparing their dishes and brought them over.
"I've heard that the students from your school have a very high standard. This is a good chance to witness it firsthand," Chapelle remarked with a faint smile.
"Haha, I'm looking forward to seeing the culinary skills of Totsuki's Elite Ten," Professor John laughed. "It will be a good opportunity to see which school's students are more talented."
"Our students at Totsuki never lose to their peers," Senzaemon declared stoically. His expression was neutral, but his tone exuded undeniable confidence.
"That's not necessarily true," a lecturer from the exchange group said arrogantly. "While Totsuki may be the top culinary school in Japan, it's still just Japan. Today, Mr. Nakiri will witness the strength of our top students."
"Let's sample the dishes one by one," Chapelle suggested calmly, though internally, he was feeling anxious.
The opposing team came from one of Europe's top culinary institutions, particularly known for cultivating their ingredients. While this wasn't an official competition, losing in front of such a distinguished group would still be a major embarrassment. It could also affect Totsuki's reputation, making future interactions with the other school awkward.
Chapelle couldn't help but sneak a glance at Senzaemon. Although his face remained impassive, it was clear he took this exchange seriously.
'Maybe I should've called in Eishi Tsukasa earlier for a better chance of winning,' Chapelle thought to himself.
Soon after, the restaurant waiters began bringing out the dishes.
"Peach-glazed duck," a student from the exchange group introduced.
On the plate were several slices of seared duck breast, accompanied by a small serving of peach sauce. The aroma was enticing.
"This is a unique breed we've developed by crossing wild ducks with domestic ducks," Professor John explained. "It retains the rich texture of domestic duck while capturing the gamey flavor of wild duck."
"It looks delicious," Leonora said, picking up a piece with her fork to taste it.
The duck was incredibly tender, the skin perfectly crisp, and the peach sauce added a delightful sweet-and-sour contrast.
"Can I try some too?" Alice asked, leaning over to steal a bite from her mother's fork.
"Alice! That's rude in front of guests," Erina scolded, feeling embarrassed by her cousin's casual behavior.
"Oh, it's no big deal, Erina. Come and have a bite if you're hungry," Alice retorted, clearly annoyed.
"Erina-chan, you haven't changed one bit," Leonora chuckled. "Your blue friend Sui must have his hands full dealing with you."
"We get along just fine," Sui replied with a smile.
Erina, on the other hand, was seething, the veins on her forehead visibly throbbing.
Senzaemon and Chapelle both tasted the dish, their eyes lighting up in surprise.
"The quality of this duck meat is exceptional," Chapelle admitted, impressed by the other school's culinary prowess.
Professor John and his colleagues exchanged smiles, sensing Chapelle's reaction. "How do you find it? Our students aren't bad, are they?" Professor John asked.
"It's quite good, approaching the level of the Elite Ten," Senzaemon responded in a measured tone. "Now, please enjoy the dish prepared by our students."
Professor John and the other exchange group members frowned slightly, displeased by Senzaemon's comment. '"Approaching the level of the Elite Ten"? Does that mean our top students aren't even as good as theirs?' they wondered.
At that moment, Erina chimed in, "Grandfather, Teachers, please try my roast duck leg with vanilla honey."
The dish featured duck legs roasted to a golden brown, coated with honey, and garnished with a hint of rosemary.
"More duck?" Chapelle murmured in mild surprise. He hadn't expected a second duck dish so soon, especially when the quality of the first had been so high. However, he trusted Erina wouldn't serve it without good reason.
Senzaemon remained silent, cutting into the duck and taking a bite.
"I haven't had Erina-chan's cooking in so long. I've really missed it," Leonora said as she took a piece for herself.
Even before tasting it, the sweet floral scent of the honey combined with the fragrance of rosemary filled the air. The duck skin was crispy and sweet, while the meat inside was tender, with a balanced blend of salty and spicy flavors.
"What kind of honey is this? It smells so good and has such a rich sweetness," Professor John and the lecturers exclaimed in amazement.
While the duck itself wasn't necessarily superior to the first dish, the honey left an indelible impression. In the end, Erina's dish was deemed better overall.
"Ms. Erina, may I ask where you got this honey?" Chapelle inquired.
"This honey comes from our own bees," Erina replied, blushing slightly. "Sui provided it."
Everyone turned their attention to Sui.
"Him again?" Professor John muttered, his expression growing serious.
From the milk in a previous dish to the honey now, Sui's contributions had made a profound impact. 'Is this student some kind of genius when it comes to cultivating ingredients?' they wondered.
"So, how do you find Erina's dish?" Senzaemon asked, a rare smile appearing on his face. He was clearly proud of his granddaughter.
"As expected of Totsuki's God Tongue," Professor John nodded in acknowledgment.
The other lecturers wore sour expressions. It was clear they had lost this round of the culinary exchange, particularly in the battle of the duck dishes.