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"Black rice and tuna sushi, please enjoy."
Sui presented the dish.
For this creation, he used marble tuna and jet-black rice. The preparation was simple, focusing on highlighting the original flavors of the ingredients.
"Huh? This is tuna sushi too?"
Somei was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected Sui's dish to be nearly identical to his, except for the replacement of traditional sushi rice with black rice.
"What kind of rice is this? Its color seems deeper and richer than regular black rice," asked Eishi curiously as he came closer.
"Well, it's a special variety," Sui answered with a smile.
"Special rice?"
Rindō, who had been looking embarrassed with her head lowered, suddenly perked up. Her sharp canine teeth peeked through as she fixed Sui with a piercing gaze.
Sui could only sigh inwardly. True foodie.
Meanwhile, Takumi, Ryo, and the others felt a bit discouraged. It seemed the Ten Elites were barely paying attention to their dishes, with their focus fully on Sui.
But it couldn't be helped. Sui's talent had long been acknowledged by the upper echelon, and they already regarded him as a serious rival.
Even Akira Hayama, the Autumn Selection champion, was still some distance away from the top tier.
And Hayama himself had to admit that Sui was on an entirely different level. Among the Ten Elites, few could match him.
"Wait, isn't this the rice you sent over last time?"
Alice exclaimed in surprise. "Mom and Dad loved it, by the way. They wouldn't stop praising you, calling you filial. Oh, and Mom loved the salt you gave her as well."
Sui nodded. "Yeah, I sent them two bags of the black rice."
After all, they were his father-in-law and mother-in-law. Sui wasn't about to be stingy; he made sure to give them the best things he had.
"Hey, Alice, have you tried it?" Rindō suddenly asked.
"Of course!" Alice puffed out her chest with pride. "My mother even said Sui would make a perfect son-in-law!"
"Kohai, you're so unfair!" Rindō pouted and playfully punched Sui with her little pink fist. "You've already french kissed your senpai, but you're still favoring someone! You should be more impartial, you know?"
Sui was speechless. "When did I French kiss you?"
Rindō blushed faintly. "You drank my kuchikamizake—doesn't that count as an indirect kiss?"
"Oh! What a wonderful taste! The tuna just melts in your mouth, and the black rice is perfectly chewy. The more you eat, the more it draws you in!"
Eishi, who had already started eating, praised with glowing eyes.
"Indeed," Nene chimed in. "This tuna is even tastier than top-tier bluefin belly. What kind is it? And the black rice is equally impressive."
"Hey, save some for me!"
Rindō, momentarily distracted from her mock attacks on Sui, rushed over and grabbed a handful, stuffing it into her mouth without a word.
"Rindō, that's hardly polite, don't you think?" Eishi said, half-amused. "You're going to eat it all yourself."
"I don't care! Hmph! Who told him to play favorites?" she muttered, her cheeks bulging with food.
Seeing her like this, Sui couldn't help but sigh. He knew she would end up pestering him for another bag of rice later.
"This sushi is superb," Somei admitted with a hint of disbelief.
Even though they had both made tuna sushi, Sui's creation was leagues ahead of his own.
"It really is amazing!"
Hayama, Takumi, and the others were just as stunned. The gap between them and Sui felt insurmountable.
Was he really in their year? Even Erina couldn't compare to him.
The group stared at Sui's back with mixed emotions. Competing with each other was one thing, but they knew they stood no chance against him.
Soon enough, Sui's black rice tuna sushi became the highlight of the gathering, even overshadowing Eishi's French cuisine. People scrambled to get a piece, and before long, it was all gone.
"This is the best sushi I've ever tasted," Eishi remarked with a reluctant sigh.
The others nodded in agreement. After experiencing this sushi, other dishes seemed to pale in comparison. The tender fish and aromatic black rice left a lingering flavor.
"Sui! That sushi was incredible!" Kuga grinned as he rubbed his hands together. "Say, do you have any more black rice? And, um, maybe some extra tuna, too?"
"Back off, Kuga!"
Rindō shoved Kuga aside and clung to Sui's arm, pouting. "Kohai, can you give me some more of that black rice? I'll even make you some more kuchikamizake in return!"
Sui could only shake his head. When it came to food, Rindō seemed to lose all sense of decorum. Just moments ago, she couldn't even look him in the eye.
"Ah, Sui, if possible, I'd like some, too," Eishi chimed in. "You could even sell it to me."
Momo Akanegakubo, holding her teddy bear close, also mumbled shyly, "Suipan, that black rice… could I have some too?"
Sui gave her a playful flick on the forehead. "What did you call me just now?"
Momo winced, covering her forehead. "Su...mean."
Sui flicked her forehead again. "Try again."
"Ouch... Suilin?" she tried with a pout.
Everyone watching stifled their laughter. It seemed Momo had met her match.
Sui had anticipated Rindō's request, so he pulled out a bag of black rice he had brought along. Immediately, everyone's eyes lit up.
Whether it was Eishi, Kuga, Isshiki, or Momo, they all wore expressions of eager anticipation.