The End of the Autumn Election

At noon, the sun was blazing, and the sky was a bright azure blue.

Accompanied by Zane, Hisako finally experienced the joy of shopping and bought her favorite clothes.

Although she felt increasingly tired along the way, she was still very happy!

…

The next day.

At night, around 8:30 PM.

At Totsuki Academy, the most important building, "Moon and Heaven," was about to host the semifinals of the Autumn Selection.

Yes, the final match!

The adorable and idol-styled hostess, Urara Kawashima, stepped onto the stage.

The dazzling lights on the stage gathered on her, making her the most radiant presence in the entire competition venue.

Her appearance instantly garnered enthusiastic attention from many male students present.

"Hey there."

"Good evening, everyone!"

"I believe everyone is very excited right now, right?"

"After all, tonight at Moon and Heaven, we will witness history and an intense and passionate culinary showdown."

"Without further ado, I announce that the finals of this year's Autumn Selection will start at 9 PM. Until then, you can use the time to prepare and rest."

Glancing around, Urara Kawashima deliberately winked and then said, "Alright, let's welcome the four contestants to the stage."

Immediately, Alice, Soma, Ryo, and Akira, the top representatives of the new generation, appeared on stage.

Meanwhile, their ingredients, utensils, and equipment were brought to the cooking stations by some staff members.

"Next, let's invite the competition committee to announce the final cooking theme."

Upon hearing this, Satoshi, the operations officer for this final culinary competition, hurriedly brought out a cooler filled with pacific saury from backstage.

In fact, the final theme of the Autumn Selection each year is not a specific dish like curry, hamburgers, desserts, ramen, or bento, but rather a specific ingredient.

In other words, after being reviewed by the Elite Ten Council led by Eishi, the theme of the competition is:

Pacific saury.

…

At this time, it was early autumn.

So choosing a seasonal ingredient that fits the autumn atmosphere for the students to compete with was quite reasonable.

And without a doubt, with the appearance of pacific saury, the arrival of autumn was announced, and the story of the Autumn Selection reached its climax!

Although there are many seasonal ingredients, such as:

Spanish mackerel in spring.

Ayu fish in summer.

Yellowtail in winter.

As for the taste of autumn, it's definitely pacific saury!

In Japan, pacific saury is called "the autumn poem."

Because at this time, pacific saury migrate south to prepare for spawning, making their meat the most delicious, also known as "fatty autumn saury."

The name "pacific saury" also comes from its long, sword-like shape.

However, despite its rich fat content, it doesn't have a strong fragrance. Sea fish usually have a fresh taste, but pacific saury is an exception; it lacks that fresh flavor!

Therefore, it's a fish that combines all the unpleasant flavors: salty, oily, bitter, and fishy.

Additionally, its meat is quite dry.

That's right.

A fish with rich fat content has a dry texture!

The best pacific saury must be alive, but it's hard to get fresh ones.

Because 99% of the pacific saury on the market are dead since they die quickly out of seawater and spoil fast.

…

"Let's warmly welcome the three final judges."

As Urara Kawashima finished speaking, Leonora, Director, and Gin Dojima took their seats at the judges' table.

Subsequently, the glass ceiling started to slowly open, transforming the previously enclosed Moon and Heaven into an open-air venue.

Thanks to this, the bright moonlight gradually illuminated Moon and Heaven!

Instantly.

The audience gasped in awe.

"Tonight's moonlit scenery is so beautiful!"

Looking up, they saw a full moon hanging in the sky, as round as a jade plate.

It seemed to sense the grand event below, shyly emerging from behind the clouds, casting a few strands of silver-white moonlight through the gaps.

Leonora couldn't help but be captivated by the sight, almost lost in it.

In fact, the moonlight illuminating the entire venue and then fading away took precisely two hours.

Exactly the duration of the competition.

"Zane!"

"If you had accepted my suggestion and joined Totsuki Academy back then."

"You would probably be serving as a judge for the Autumn Selection. What a pity!"

For some reason, the Director, lost in thought, suddenly remembered:

Zane, the tavern owner!

…

Finally, the time arrived.

The Director announced the start of the competition, and the four contestants hurriedly picked their pacific saury from the cooler.

"Interesting, the quality of their pacific saury is quite good."

At the judges' table, Leonora was surprised.

She couldn't help but look at her daughter, Alice, with loving and expectant eyes.

As a mother, she naturally hoped Alice would defeat the other three in the finals and become the champion.

But on the other hand.

As a judge, she needed to be:

Fair and just!

…

After completing all the preliminary work.

Alice picked up a long pacific saury, her gaze sharp, and then turned to the listless Ryo, saying calmly, "Ryo, I always lost to you in Northern Europe."

"But this time, it should be different because I will use the latest molecular gastronomy techniques to defeat you all!"

"Huh?"

"Miss, let's wait and see."

Ryo was stunned, then put on a red headband.

In an instant, his aura changed, like a fierce wolf, exuding a dangerous vibe, making people shiver.

"Father, I will inherit your will and win this competition."

Soma closed his eyes, enjoying the cheers around him.

"Jun, we've finally come this far. I don't think I'll lose this time, right?"

Over there, Akira murmured to himself while smelling the pacific saury.

From the preliminary round with 64 contestants, to the quarterfinals, and now the finals… it was not easy.

After all, everyone was chasing their beliefs and dreams, doing their best.

Losing?

Doesn't necessarily make you a loser.

Winning?

Doesn't necessarily mean you can endure till the end.

At Totsuki Academy, everyone has potential!

…

Time passed slowly.

Akira first removed the gills and guts of the pacific saury, cleaned it, and drained the water.

He then marinated it inside and out with cooking wine and steamed fish soy sauce for over half an hour, preheated the oven to 220 degrees.

He placed the fish on foil, sprinkled ginger slices inside and outside, poured the marinade on the fish, wrapped it in foil, and baked it on the top rack for about 25 minutes.

"Oh?"

"Could it be salt-grilled pacific saury?"

Seeing Akira's method, the Director showed some interest.

Pacific saury's taste is a mix of three parts fragrance, three parts freshness, half part sweetness, and three parts uncertainty.

"The quality of his pacific saury is excellent. I remember he is good at using spices. What kind of dish will he make?"

Leonora, next to him, muttered, her eyes flashing.

…

At the same time.

Ryo was making pan-fried pacific saury.

Similarly, he cleaned the pacific saury, removed the guts, and marinated it with salt, black pepper, and lemon slices.

He then heated the frying pan, added some olive oil, placed the marinated pacific saury in the pan, brushed it with oyster sauce, and fried until the skin was slightly charred, then flipped it to cook the other side until the fish was slightly charred.

He squeezed lemon juice over the fish, sprinkled chili powder and cumin powder.

Over there, Soma was also preparing pacific saury. Before cleaning it, he blanched it in 80% hot water, then removed the slime.

He gently opened the fish belly, made a cut along the spine, and removed the guts, then rubbed coarse salt and lemon inside and outside, placing it on a board to marinate.

After that, he grilled it until the sizzling sound and aroma filled the venue.

Smelling the aroma, one could feel the essence of autumn!

"Look, look."

"What are those machines?"

"As expected of the finals, Miss Alice seems to be serious."

Amidst the exclamations, everyone noticed Alice.

She was preparing two machines, a sous-vide cooker and a vacuum sealer.

She set the sous-vide cooker to 60.5°C and prepared the pacific saury using the vacuum low-temperature cooking method.

…

Two hours, long yet short.

For the four contestants, every minute and second counted. They had to stay fully focused on their cooking.

Finally, their pacific saury dishes reached the final stage.

Soma cut five fish rolls in half, ten rolls on a plate.

He blanched peas and pea shoots, made a puree with some peas and salt, serving the fish rolls with the pea puree.

Thus, his rosemary-grilled pacific saury was complete.

Meanwhile.

Akira's salt-grilled pacific saury was done.

Ryo's pacific saury dish was done.

Alice's sous-vide pacific saury was done!

The four dishes were completed almost simultaneously, signaling the start of the final tasting phase of the Autumn Selection.

…

First, they tasted Akira's dish.

His pacific saury had a slight bitterness at first bite, but not too bitter.

It made the Director, Leonora, and Gin Dojima ponder and feel a

 sense of melancholy.

Yes!

Obviously.

This was the olfactory memory of pacific saury!

Akira, skilled with spices, brought out the best aroma of the pacific saury.

As a result, the taste of the pacific saury, combined with the freshness of the fish meat and the crispiness of the fish skin, along with a hint of fishiness.

With the slight acidity of lemon juice, it constantly stimulated the taste buds.

Chewing carefully, the flavor was...

Wonderful!

Next was Ryo's dish.

When a pan-fried pacific saury was served, everyone was drawn to its enchanting color.

The fish was golden and tempting, with a slightly charred surface, emitting a tantalizing aroma, especially with its graceful presentation and flowing lines, giving a sense of dynamic beauty.

"The crispy exterior and tender fish meat, along with rich seasoning."

"A light bite combines the pacific saury's deliciousness with the seasoning, leaving a lingering aftertaste..."

Then.

It was Soma's dish.

And then, Alice's sous-vide molecular pacific saury dish.

…

"Unexpected."

"These four contestants started with different backgrounds and personalities."

"Akira has the God Tongue, Ryo has unique insights in seafood, Soma is experienced, and Alice has a unique understanding of molecular gastronomy. Her dishes can't be judged by common sense."

"In general, their dishes are all excellent, making it hard to determine a winner."

Leonora gazed at the quickly disappearing moonlight overhead, reflecting and realizing, she sighed.

"Indeed!"

"But in the end, wasn't Alice slightly ahead?"

"Each generation has its talents, excelling in their own time. With them, Totsuki Academy is in good hands!"

The Director nodded in agreement, speaking softly.

This year's Totsuki students were exceptionally strong.

Besides the finalists Akira, Ryo, Soma, and Alice, there were also Erina, Megumi, Ryoko, Yuuki, Miyoko, and others...

Perhaps, Totsuki Academy had entered:

An Era of Hidden Gems!

…

"Leonora, the Autumn Selection is over."

"Are you going back to the Northern European research institute, or staying at Totsuki? It seems Alice can't do without you here!"

Finally, the Director, slightly recovering his senses, turned to Leonora.

"Director, I'll stay at Totsuki for now."

"After all, there are many things here that I need to witness."

Leonora replied without hesitation.

"Good, it's better for you to stay with Alice!"

The Director, satisfied with her response, quickly left Moon and Heaven, leaving the rest of the competition matters to Leonora and Gin Dojima.

As the Director, he had many other tasks after the Autumn Selection, like:

Personally entertaining the VIPs and experts who came as judges for the Autumn Selection!

Yes!

And so.

The Autumn Selection officially ended!

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