Chereads / Food Wars: Taste Reversal / Chapter 87 - 084. The Battle Between Ice and Fire!

Chapter 87 - 084. The Battle Between Ice and Fire!

"I said... Can any of you understand what Shiraki is cooking?"

In one of the corners of the audience, the people in Polar Star Dorm, like the rest of the crowd, watched Shiraki's movements on the broadcast screen blankly. At the start, when the audience was shouting to rush forward and teach Shiraki a lesson, Yuki Yoshino had still been carrying the banner for Polar Star Dorm, shouting cheers from the back. But as the shokugeki began, the entire audience, calmed by Shiraki's actions, fell silent—Yuki included. At that moment, her gaze fixed on the half pot of chili peppers shown on the big screen. Just looking at it made her throat start to feel spicy.

"This... Maybe it's a fruit hot pot? Sorry, I've never seen this kind of cuisine before. I think Shiraki must have his own ideas, right?" Zenji Marui, the self-proclaimed most knowledgeable member, adjusted his glasses. Initially trying to explain the situation, he realized midway through that he couldn't make sense of it himself. Left with no other choice, he could only blindly trust that Shiraki had a plan to turn the tide.

"Shiraki-kun will definitely be fine!" Megumi Tadokoro quickly came back to her senses. She had seen Shiraki pour every spice imaginable into a pot before and still produce a miraculous dish with an unbelievable aroma. Now, witnessing this scene again, she was somewhat mentally prepared—this strange cooking method must contain some hidden skill unknown to her.

"Heh... This guy Shiraki is still as powerful as ever..."

Soma Yukihira, standing nearby, didn't quite understand what Shiraki was doing either, but his curiosity burned brighter than ever. With such a shocking amount of ingredients, what could the final dish possibly look like?

Only Satoshi Isshiki remained calm and mysterious, his expression unchanged as though he wasn't worried about Shiraki failing in this match at all.

—After all, Isshiki had personally tasted Shiraki's egg fried rice, a dish so perfect it seemed crafted by divine hands. The idea of Shiraki failing in this shokugeki never even crossed Isshiki's mind. To him, Shiraki was already at a near-godlike level, far beyond Mito Ikumi's current ability. If Shiraki were to lose, Isshiki's entire worldview would shatter.

Presumably, Ikumi Mito was beginning to feel it too—

That crushing pressure from her opponent!

Satoshi Isshiki had guessed correctly: at this moment, Ikumi Mito did feel the pressure.

By the time Shiraki placed the beef bones in the pot to boil, Mito's entire body was already drenched in sweat.

"What the hell is going on with this guy...?" she muttered. "This seemingly light and sweet fruity aroma completely overpowers the rich fragrance of my A5 beef!"

Just as the thought crossed her mind, a wave of heat suddenly swept through the venue!

The fiery aroma came without warning. It directly assaulted the senses—smell, sight, and even physical perception—immersing everyone in a mellow yet overwhelming spiciness.

Yes, it was mellow. Though the spice was so intense it made people break into a sweat, it lacked the sharp, choking pungency of ordinary chili peppers. Instead, it delivered a strangely pleasant sensation. Mito turned to see Shiraki frying chili peppers at his station.

Undoubtedly, this fiery aroma was coming from him.

At the same time, the sweet, fruity fragrance from earlier still lingered in the air. At first, the audience hadn't noticed its calm, refreshing nature. But now, with the fiery chili scent filling the room, the contrast became glaringly obvious.

The two scents—one cold and sweet, the other scorching and fiery—clashed dramatically. The sweet aroma lingered calmly, like a cool breeze, while the hot chili scent roared like a tidal wave. Together, they created a strange harmony, as if the entire venue were immersed in a hot spring that was half made of icebergs and half of molten magma.

It was two heavens—ice and fire.

"W-What are these two very different aromas coming from Shiraki-san's cooking station? They're... hmm!"

Urara Kawashima, the announcer, picked up her microphone, ready to explain. But before she could finish speaking, the fiery heat overwhelmed her, soaking her clothes with sweat. Then, just as her body felt like it was burning, the refreshing sweet scent struck again. It cooled her down instantly, like a breath of arctic wind, leaving her body in a strange, serene balance.

At that moment, there was no need for commentary. The entire audience could feel it—these two forces clashing head-on. One moment, their bodies felt scalded by magma; the next, they were chilled by ice. Both aromas were so intoxicatingly comfortable that the senses trembled as they tried to keep up with the experience.

It was a contest—Rainbow Fruit versus Devil Chili Peppers.

Both ingredients, pushed to their limits, began to fight for dominance, their incompatible natures creating an intense competition in the air.

And caught between them, the A5 beef, Mito's pride and joy, was utterly overshadowed. Its aroma, once so rich and enticing, trembled and faded beneath the clash of sweet and spicy.

Mito Ikumi realized it too. The beef that was supposed to dominate the dish was now completely lost.

...That transfer student—what is he? A monster?

Even though she could already feel the outcome slipping away, Mito refused to give up. Gritting her teeth, she poured the freshly boiled beef bone broth into the hot pot. The thickness of the soup and the quality of the beef were flawless, but the dish still lacked the power it usually held.

Meanwhile, as Mito prepared the soup base and added ingredients, the cold and hot aromas in the venue began to merge.

The front-row audience noticed it first. Their bodies, which had been straining under the tension of fire and ice, suddenly relaxed. It was as though their energy had been drained, leaving them completely numb. The combination of these two opposing forces sent waves of sensory overload that made their entire bodies tremble uncontrollably.

"Only two-thirds of the time has passed, and Shiraki-san has already finished his hot pot?"

Urara Kawashima, now back to her role as the commentator, tried to sound composed as she reported Shiraki's progress.

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