Drinks were poured for everyone, and as usual, they began tasting in order from the lightest flavors.
Shinoda Hajime's salmon sushi was naturally the first dish to be sampled.
The judges each picked a sushi piece that looked quite decent, dabbed it with a bit of wasabi and soy sauce, and then placed it into their mouths.
"Mm, mm!"
Eriri chewed energetically, eyes squeezed shut. "The wasabi is a bit strong, but it's actually pretty tasty. The sushi is well-formed and doesn't fall apart. The salmon is fresh too! I'll give it 8 points!"
Yukinoshita Yukino agreed. "I'm not a big fan of raw food, but the salmon here is indeed good. The rice texture is acceptable as well. I'll give it 7 points, though, since sushi is a simpler dish compared to others."
Next were Hazuki, Nene, and Utaha, who gave two 7s and an 8, respectively.
After everyone had tasted the sushi, Ichin nodded and remarked, "Overall, it's quite good. But, Hajime-san, sushi is a bit of an easy choice. If everyone else does well, you might end up at the bottom."
"What? No way!!!"
Shinoda Hajime clutched her head in frustration. "I even picked high-quality salmon for this!"
Of course, that was just an estimation—the true outcome depended on the other dishes.
Next up was Hifumi.
All eyes turned to her, and she instantly tensed up, placing her hands over her chest nervously. "I-I made stew. P-Please try it."
She lifted the lid off the clay pot, revealing a hearty stew brimming with ingredients. Everyone's gaze was immediately drawn to it.
"Whoa! It looks delicious!"
Hazuki gulped and quickly served herself a bowl, grinning like an idiot. "Hifumi's homemade dish! I never thought I'd live to see the day. My life is complete!"
"That's a bit of an exaggeration," Utaha said, rolling her eyes at Hazuki before serving herself a portion as well. She picked up a piece of potato soaked in broth and took a bite.
"Hmm, this is quite good. The potatoes are well-cooked, and the broth is rich with flavor."
After sipping some of the broth and tasting the chicken and taro, Utaha smiled in satisfaction. "9 points!"
Hazuki followed up eagerly. "9 points from me too!" she exclaimed, immediately serving herself another bowl.
One by one, the others tried the stew, each awarding high marks, with most giving 9s.
After taking a sip, Kō Yagami stared at Hifumi in disbelief. "Hifumi, since when did you get this good at cooking?"
Hifumi blushed deeply. "It's a secret."
After the stew, it was time for Kō Yagami's shrimp tempura.
Unfortunately, the tempura didn't look particularly presentable.
Yukinoshita Yukino picked up a piece and examined the uneven batter coating. "The aroma is nice, but the appearance doesn't pass. Even I can make it look better than this."
Taking a bite, she chewed thoughtfully before nodding. "Well, at least it's properly cooked inside. I'll give it 7 points."
After everyone tasted Kō's shrimp tempura, Rin gave a generous encouragement score of 7.5, while Hazuki gave the lowest at 6.
Looking at the disheartened Yagami, Hazuki chuckled. "Don't be upset, Kō. Considering you even sought advice from Rin but still ended up like this, giving you a 6 is already pretty nice. Better luck next time!"
Yagami puffed up her cheeks, sulking as she threw herself into Rin's arms for comfort. "Rin, I'm probably going to end up last."
Rin blushed slightly, gently patting Kō's head with a warm smile. "It's okay. If worse comes to worst, I'll help you out when the time comes."
The subsequent dishes were equally impressive. Aoba Suzukaze's beef and potato stew and Iijima Yun's sake-steamed clams showcased evident skill and effort. Yun's clams, in particular, were on par with restaurant-quality cooking.
In the end, Aoba received 8 points across the board from the judges, while Yun scored three 9s and two 8s.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Aoba patted her chest. "Phew, I'm safe from being last!"
Now, only Ichin and Umiko were left.
Since Umiko's roast ribs were still in the oven, Ichin went first, unveiling his dish.
The moment the lid was removed, the vibrant and glossy sweet-and-sour ribs were revealed, immediately catching everyone's attention.
"Sweet-and-sour ribs. Please, give them a try," Ichin said.
The tangy and sweet aroma wafting from the dish was irresistible. Everyone's chopsticks reached out simultaneously.
The ribs were tender and flavorful, with the sauce perfectly absorbed into the meat. The tangy-sweet taste delighted the palate.
Eriri, after finishing one piece, eagerly grabbed another. "This is amazing! I've had sweet-and-sour ribs before, but yours are even more tender, Ichin!"
Ichin chuckled. "That's the difference in cooking technique."
After sampling the dish, the judges gave their scores: three 10s and two 9s.
Yagami Kō, eating piece after piece of the ribs, pouted at Ichin. "How come you, a guy, are so good at cooking?"
Ichin shrugged. "It's not like I know a lot of dishes—this just happens to be one I can make well."
Rin, laughing, tugged at Kō's sleeve. "Kō, I took notes on how to make this! If you want, I'll cook it for you later!"
"Yay! Rin, you're the best!"
For a moment, the air between the two turned warm and intimate.
Spitting out a rib bone, Umiko grinned at Ichin. "Looks like you're the only one who can rival me. My dish is ready now—let's settle this!"
Umiko's confidence was evident.
Soon, she brought over a large plate of spicy roasted beef ribs, freshly cut and sizzling with oil. The ribs exuded a rich aroma combined with a sharp, invigorating spiciness.
Crossing her arms with a confident smile, Umiko declared, "Try it! These are my ultimate roasted ribs!"
Hazuki, rubbing her chin thoughtfully, picked up a piece with great anticipation, blew on it to cool it down, and took a bite. Everyone else followed suit—the sight of the juicy ribs made them almost impossible to resist.
"I'm digging in! Awwwwwwwwww!"
But the next second, everyone froze. Their faces instantly turned red as if engulfed in flames.
"It's so spicy!!"
"Too spicy! Water! I need water!!"
Scrambling to the fridge, they grabbed a large bottle of milk and poured it for everyone. Only after drinking did they feel some relief.
Feeling like they had just been rescued from the brink of death, Yukino stared at the ribs with fear. "Zero points. Absolutely zero points!"
"Agreed. Zero!"
"Zero points!" three others echoed.
"What?!"
Umiko stood dumbfounded, unable to believe what she was hearing.
...