Food Wars: Taste Reversal

"That's right." Faced with Hinako's question, Shiraki nodded without hesitation. "If Chef Gan is willing to exchange her own cuisine, this dish behind me can be handed over to you."

"Shiraki-kun, don't be so restrained," Hinako responded with a warm smile. "Just call me 'Hinako.'"

"By the way, what about the results of this 'salt-baked grilled fish' review?" Shiraki asked, gesturing toward the grilled fish resting on the cooking table.

"Do you need to ask? Of course, it was... qualified."

Hinako chuckled softly before grabbing a small bottle from the cooking table and exiting the room in a dignified manner.

Behind her, Megumi Tadokoro exhaled in visible relief.

"Great... Thanks to Shiraki-kun, I passed smoothly this time," she murmured with gratitude.

Meanwhile, Shiraki's gaze lingered on Hinako's retreating figure, his expression thoughtful.

According to Shiraki's speculation, K-level cooking seemed almost equivalent to an SSS-level dish by normal standards. Based on his observations, the non-nirvana dishes of the current Ten Masters were around S-level, while their signature must-kill dishes hovered closer to SS-level. Consequently, graduates likely needed to master SSS-level cooking at the very least.

However, Shiraki pondered: could anyone possibly create SSSS-level dishes?

The strength of Hinako, though impressive, likely wasn't at the top among the graduates. That title belonged to the enigmatic Jōichirō Yukihira, whose overwhelming presence felt as untouchable as a dragon's. Yet, Shiraki had heard that Yukihira's skills hadn't progressed significantly since graduation. Could it mean that Yukihira had already achieved SSS-level mastery by then?

While Shiraki deliberated on these culinary levels, Hinako had already walked outside, holding a bottle of milk and a few eggs. On her way, she reviewed several students' dishes, all of which failed her exacting standards without exception.

Those who failed scrambled to find new ingredients, their desperation palpable. Meanwhile, students still waiting for their evaluations hovered anxiously, carefully tending to their remaining ingredients.

Unbeknownst to anyone, as Hinako left the cooking room, the unattended bag of persimmon seeds she had placed nearby became the target of a sneaky act. Kohei Soma, quick and opportunistic, crushed the persimmon seeds on a cutting board with practiced efficiency.

However, Hinako was far too focused on her next task to notice these "little things." She found an empty cooking table, arranged her ingredients, and began preparing her dish with remarkable precision.

Hinako's actions didn't go unnoticed. The earlier commotion around Shiraki and Takumi's cooking had already drawn attention. Now, murmurs filled the room as the students watched Hinako work.

"Is Chef Inui really serious about this?"

Several students, already relieved to have passed their own examinations, gathered to observe the graduate chef.

"She must be serious. Look—she's already gathered the ingredients. But...where did she even find milk in this forest?"

"It looks like she's making tamago-yaki, doesn't it?"

The growing crowd scrutinized Hinako's deliberate movements. Eggs, milk, and a tamago-yaki frying pan—a classic Japanese dish seemed to be taking shape.

In Hinako's skilled hands, the simplicity of the ingredients transformed into a performance. Every move was calculated, every step seamless. Even as she occasionally paused to evaluate students' dishes, her own rhythm remained unbroken.

After a few expert rolls of the egg mixture, a golden, uniform cylinder emerged from the pan. Using a sharp kitchen knife, Hinako sliced the tamago-yaki into even segments. The cross-sections revealed a densely integrated texture, the egg layers springy and resilient under pressure.

Japanese-style tamago-yaki—complete.

"Then, Shiraki-kun, as agreed, I'll exchange this 'Japanese-style tamago-yaki' for the dish behind you," Hinako announced, smiling brightly as she presented the elegantly plated dish.

"No problem," Shiraki replied smoothly. "Megumi, could you grab a packing box for Hinako?"

"Right away."

Megumi quickly retrieved a box and handed it over. Hinako glanced at the box, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face.

"...Is there only one serving?" she asked, sounding slightly petulant.

Shiraki shrugged lightly. "It should be about the same size as your tamago-yaki."

"Fine, fine..." Hinako muttered reluctantly. She accepted the box, opened it, and found the grilled fish neatly portioned. A small piece of the fish head lay alongside the tender cuts, its lifeless gaze oddly captivating.

Hinako stared at the fish head for a moment, feeling inexplicably drawn to it. The dish radiated an almost otherworldly charm, evoking an unexpected sense of serenity. It was as though the dish itself told the story of the fish's peaceful final moments.

Curiosity overtook her as she picked up her chopsticks. As she pierced the slightly firm outer layer of the fish, the hidden aroma burst forth, filling the air with its rich, savory fragrance. Closing her eyes, Hinako inhaled deeply before eagerly placing a piece in her mouth.

The moment the fish touched her palate, her eyes widened in astonishment.

"Huh?!"

An indescribable sensation coursed through her as if her entire being had been transported to another realm. The fish's elasticity, achieved through a meticulous beating technique, contrasted perfectly with the firmness imparted by the oven's heat.

Yet, this wasn't the dish's crowning feature.

As the fish melted in her mouth, the subtle spices hidden within unfolded their intricate flavors. Salt crystals, delicate as melting snowflakes, danced on her tongue, accompanied by the harmonious blend of soy sauce and white vinegar. Every bite painted a vivid tapestry of texture and taste, leaving her utterly mesmerized.

For a moment, Hinako felt as though time had stopped. The combination of flavors evoked an inexplicable sense of peace and joy—a fleeting glimpse of a world untainted by imperfection.

She set her chopsticks down, her expression a mix of wonder and disbelief.

"Shiraki-kun...this dish is...beyond extraordinary," she finally murmured.

Shiraki simply smiled, his confidence unshaken. "I'm glad it met your expectations, Hinako."

As the other students watched this interaction, their awe for both Shiraki and Hinako deepened. The atmosphere in the room shifted, as though everyone had just witnessed a fleeting moment of culinary greatness—one that might inspire their own journeys ahead.