Chapter 252: Perfect Cuisine

At that moment, Erina, Ryoko, and others approached.

"Sui, is your dish finished?" Erina asked, knowing that the dish he was preparing was exceptionally challenging.

"Not yet, but it'll be done soon," Sui replied. Due to the time needed to marinate the salmon, the rest of the preparation hadn't taken much time.

"We've all passed. You should work hard too, Sui," Ryoko said with a smile, brushing her hair behind her ear.

"Mm," Sui nodded in response.

"I didn't expect Erina's score to be so high," Sōma laughed, then turned to Eishi Tsukasa. "So you're Tsukasa-senpai, the first seat? Impressive. How about a shokugeki sometime?"

Eishi Tsukasa blinked in confusion before asking, "Who are you?"

"I'm Sōma Yukihira, a first-year student. How about it, Tsukasa-senpai? Interested in a competition?" Soma grinned as he removed his headband.

"Not interested," Tsukasa replied calmly. Though approachable and modest, the pride in his culinary skill was undeniable. In his eyes, only a select few at Totsuki were worthy of his serious attention.

Feeling the cold rejection, Soma awkwardly scratched his head.

At this point, Sui realized his dish was ready and removed the salmon toast from the oven. The soft bread was now topped with fragrant pieces of roasted salmon and a perfectly cooked egg. The sweet aroma of the bread mixed with the savory scent of the salmon, creating a harmonious blend. To finish, Sui added a touch of French yogurt and a few drops of lemon juice.

"This smells incredible! It must be that transfer student's cooking again!" someone nearby exclaimed.

"What's he making this time?"

Curious students turned to watch Sui. The rich scent of the toast, combined with the attention from Eishi Tsukasa, Rindō and others, piqued their interest even more.

Even Tsukasa looked intrigued.

"Hey, Sui, let's talk for a second," Rindō said, pulling at Sui's sleeve playfully.

Sui glanced at her sideways. He knew exactly what she wanted without needing to ask.

"No," Sui refused outright. Chef Chapelle hasn't tasted it yet, how could I let you have the first bite?

Seeing him reject her before she even finished her sentence, Rindō pouted in frustration.

"Sui, you weren't like this before! You used to be so nice to your senpai," she said, pretending to be hurt.

Sui was speechless. "... If there's any left, you can have some."

"Really?" Rindō's eyes lit up as she playfully patted Sui's shoulder. Flashing her sharp canine teeth, she teased, "You really are a good kohai. Now go quickly! It'll get cold and won't taste as good."

Are you more concerned about the taste for yourself? Sui thought to himself. Shaking his head, he brought the salmon toast to the front of the room.

"Chef Chapelle, please taste it," Sui said.

"Is this your dish, Sui?" Chapelle asked, recognizing the student. He had been observing Sui's cooking with interest throughout the class.

Without hesitation, Chapelle cut into the toast with his knife and fork. As the blade sliced through the egg, the yolk flowed over the salmon and bread, creating an enticing visual.

Chapelle's eyes lit up, and he eagerly took a bite.

The pear bread, dried of its moisture, was soft and sweet. The roasted salmon was tender and flavorful, and the half-cooked egg added richness. The combination of the different textures and flavors was unexpectedly harmonious. The sweetness of the bread enhanced the savory taste of the salmon, while the saltiness of the salmon elevated the bread's sweetness in turn.

What stood out most was the touch of yogurt, which cut through the richness of the dish and added a refreshing note.

"Exquisite," Chapelle murmured, a smile of pure delight spreading across his face. There was no doubt in his mind—this was the best dish he had tasted in the class.

The bread, in particular, amazed him. He had never tasted anything like it.

"Sui and Megumi's team: 100 points."

A stunned silence filled the classroom.

It took a moment before the students realized what had happened, and when they did, the room erupted.

"A perfect score? Is this for real?"

"Does this mean he's even better than Tsukasa-senpai?"

"No way, Tsukasa-senpai is still stronger—he's a third-year."

Chef Chapelle glanced at the remaining salmon toast, a hint of reluctance in his eyes. He truly wanted to finish it, but knowing that he had to taste other students' dishes, he refrained.

"This dish is exceptional. However, the highest score for a first-year is 100 points, so that's all I can give you," Chapelle said with a smile.

"So, what would it score if judged by third-year standards?" Sui asked, curious about how his dish compared to Eishi Tsukasa.

"By third-year standards, I'd say around 95 points," Chapelle answered after a moment of thought.

"Thank you, Chef," Sui nodded and then returned to his station with the remaining toast.

Although Sui had outscored Eishi Tsukasa in this instance, he knew that the first seat hadn't been cooking at full strength—he had treated the exam lightly. The same could be said for Rindō and Erina. To them, this was just a routine test.

Of course, Sui hadn't given it his all either. French cuisine wasn't his specialty, and his victory was largely due to his creative use of pear bread as an ingredient.

Still, Sui speculated that while he hadn't yet surpassed Eishi Tsukasa, the gap between them was not that large. It wouldn't be long before he could officially claim the title of the best.