"Hey? Miyoko? Shouldn't you be at school today?" Alice asked, her face flushing slightly as she let go of Sui's hand, not expecting to run into her classmate here.
"Huh? Miss Alice?" Miyoko was equally surprised. Seeing Alice clinging to Sui, she couldn't help but be stunned.
'Isn't Sui close to Miss Erina? Why…'
Miyoko pondered briefly, thinking perhaps Sui was just friendly with Alice because she was Erina's sister. Shaking off her confusion, she focused on the task at hand and brought the dishes to Miyazaki Ryui.
"These five dishes are the signature offerings of Hōjō House. I hope they meet your satisfaction," Chef Hōjō said solemnly.
Miyazaki Ryui smiled slightly. "Let me taste the famous cuisine of Hōjō House," he said.
The five dishes laid before him were sweet and sour pork tenderloin, mapo tofu, steamed sea bass, braised pork with egg, and Pineapple Pork Adobo, the last one being prepared by Miyoko. These were classic Chinese dishes, known and loved in Japan.
Miyazaki Ryui began his tasting, the atmosphere tense as the chefs of Hōjō House watched him intently. They were on edge, unsure of his motives, especially since Miyazaki had previously visited several restaurants in town, all of which had closed shortly after his visit.
He first tasted the steamed sea bass, then proceeded to sample each dish in turn, taking only one bite from each.
After finishing, Miyazaki Ryui calmly set his chopsticks down and took a leisurely sip of tea.
"Well? Were our dishes to your liking?" Chef Hōjō asked, raising his eyebrows and speaking in a deep voice.
Miyazaki put down his teacup and gave a faint smile. "I expected Hōjō House to live up to its reputation, but frankly, I'm disappointed."
The words caught Chef Hōjō off guard, and the other chefs stiffened with unease.
"What do you mean by that?" Chef Hōjō pressed, sensing that the confrontation was about to escalate.
The other chefs were visibly displeased. How could their signature dishes be so easily dismissed?
Miyazaki Ryui began his critique, pointing coldly at the plate of steamed sea bass. "This dish is overcooked. The meat is tough, and it has a fishy smell. It doesn't meet the standard."
Turning to the braised pork with egg, he said, "The ratio of pork to flour and egg is off. It's too dense and lacks the fluffy texture it should have. Subpar."
Next, he commented on the mapo tofu: "The minced pork is lacking in texture, and the spiciness is too mild. It leaves no impression. Not up to standard."
"The sweet and sour pork tenderloin isn't crispy enough, and the sauce is poorly balanced. Disappointing."
Finally, he looked at the dish prepared by Miyoko. "As for the Pineapple Pork Adobo," he said, "your technique is refined, and there are no major flaws, but it lacks impact."
Miyazaki Ryuijing delivered his verdict coldly. "With skills like these, you dare to operate a restaurant?"
The chefs were incensed by his scathing remarks.
"What are you saying?" one chef demanded.
"These are our best-selling dishes. We serve hundreds of these daily!" another protested.
"Customers always leave satisfied," a third chimed in, their frustration mounting.
Miyoko clenched her teeth in frustration, clearly unwilling to accept the criticism.
"Since we've failed to meet your expectations, we will offer you a discount of 20,000 yen," Chef Hōjō said, his frown deepening as he motioned for Miyazaki to leave.
Miyazaki smiled faintly and without protest, placed 20,000 yen on the table. The chefs were puzzled by his easy compliance. They had expected something more sinister—perhaps a scheme to force their closure like the other restaurants he had visited. Yet it seemed he had merely come to pay for a meal and offer criticism.
Although the chefs were displeased by his disparagement, they felt a small sense of relief. Perhaps they wouldn't suffer the same fate as the other restaurants.
While this was unfolding, Sui felt a small hand slip into his. He looked over to see Alice smiling at him. He chuckled softly and held her hand under the table. Alice's hand was soft, smooth, and warm, a pleasant contrast to the tension in the room.
"By the way," Miyazaki Ryui suddenly spoke up as he prepared to leave, "before I go, I'd like to offer you all a taste of my own signature dish."
The chefs exchanged confused glances. "You're offering us food?" Chef Hōjō asked with a frown.
"That's right," Miyazaki replied. He retrieved a thermos from his bag, unscrewed the lid, and smiled. "It's at the perfect temperature now."
As soon as he opened it, an incredibly rich aroma filled the air.
"It smells amazing!" the chefs exclaimed.
"Is this… Buddha Jumps Over the Wall?" Chef Hōjō asked in astonishment, recognizing the scent.
"Correct," Miyazaki confirmed with a smile. "This dish is a true test of a chef's skill. It requires slow simmering for over ten hours to bring out the full depth of flavor. Please, have a taste."
The chefs were in shock. "Is it really Buddha Jumps Over the Wall?" one murmured in disbelief. "Can he really make such a legendary dish?"
Even Alice was surprised, having heard of the dish's reputation. It was renowned for its rare ingredients and painstaking preparation process.
Chef Hōjō said nothing as he stepped forward, picked up a spoon, and took a sip. His eyes widened in shock as the layers of rich flavors washed over his palate—sea cucumber, scallops, abalone, chicken, duck, and more, perfectly blended into a harmonious symphony of taste.
The other chefs soon followed suit, including Miyoko. After a single taste, they were left in awe.
"This really is Buddha Jumps Over the Wall!" one chef exclaimed. "The essence of more than ten different ingredients, all combined into one incredible dish!"
"It's so delicious," another murmured. "Truly a legendary dish."
As the realization sank in, the chefs of Hōjō House couldn't help but feel defeated. Their confidence wavered as they began to wonder if their cooking really wasn't good enough to keep their restaurant open. Miyazaki's words suddenly felt all too real.
Seeing their dejection, Miyazaki Ryui allowed a smirk to play at the corner of his lips.
Just then, Sui spoke up. "May I have a taste as well?" he asked.