Chapter 63
Haruto quickly spotted the rest of the Polar Star group after entering the audience stands.
He walked over and took a seat beside Ibusaki Shun.
"I didn’t get a chance to mention this while we were rushing here, but I had an idea. What if we..."
Shun listened to Haruto’s explanation, thought it over for a moment, and then offered several suggestions about the process.
The two soon became absorbed in discussing a new method for smoking Regal Mammoth meat.
Their conversation was interrupted when the noise inside the arena suddenly swelled.
Haruto and Shun looked up to see Yukihira Soma walking toward the center of the venue.
Jeers and angry shouts rose from every section of the audience.
Soma’s declaration during the entrance ceremony had clearly left most of Totsuki’s students with a terrible impression of him.
The majority of those attending the Food War had come specifically to watch him lose and be expelled.
Haruto raised an eyebrow.
"Just listen to that welcome. Soma really is popular, isn’t he?"
Despite their concern, everyone from Polar Star burst out laughing.
A moment later, the host, Kawashima Urara, officially announced the beginning of the Food War.
In full view of the audience, Mito Ikumi revealed the ingredient she had prepared—a bright-red cut of Regal Mammoth meat with dense, clearly defined fibers.
Most of the students stared at it in confusion.
The meat obviously looked exceptional, but none of them could identify what animal it had come from.
The Polar Star students reacted very differently, their expressions immediately turned grave.
Yuki tugged nervously at Haruto’s sleeve.
"Haruto... Soma really is going to be okay, right?"
Everyone else turned toward him as well.
Haruto nodded with complete confidence.
"Relax. Soma will be fine."
His preparation time had been limited, but Soma had worked with Orange Salt before.
He should have no trouble using it properly.
...
At the judges’ table, Bitō Yoshiki shot to his feet the moment he saw Ikumi’s ingredient, astonishment filling his eyes.
"That meat..."
Kuraki Shigeno looked at him curiously.
"Bitō-kun, do you recognize it?"
Bitō gave a firm nod.
"I happened to see it once before."
"It’s a supreme ingredient that appeared on the market recently. Its quality far exceeds even the finest A5-grade wagyu."
"The available quantity is extremely limited, though, so it has never entered widespread circulation."
After a brief pause, he added, "Apparently, it comes from some kind of elephant, but the official testing has yet to reach a definite conclusion."
The ingredient’s mysterious origin might have concerned some people, but true gourmands cared little about such things.
The pursuit of the finest possible flavor was all that mattered to them.
Bitō was no exception.
That was why, despite no one being able to explain exactly where the meat had come from, it had already become a delicacy eagerly sought after by countless wealthy diners.
Many had even gone to extraordinary lengths to trace its source, though their goal was simple enough—to monopolize the supply and claim the market for themselves.
Okamoto Katsunori rubbed his hands together, anticipation glowing across his face.
"So this is the elephant meat that caught the attention of so many influential people recently! Getting the chance to taste it today makes serving as a judge completely worthwhile!"
He had heard plenty about Regal Mammoth meat, but had never managed to obtain any.
The missed opportunity had bothered him for some time.
At last, he would finally get his wish.
...
The two-hour cooking period came to an end.
Soma and Ikumi stopped working almost simultaneously, both dishes now complete.
Ikumi approached the judges first and set down her dish.
"This is my special grilled elephant-meat rice bowl."
The roasted Regal Mammoth meat gleamed with rich juices, and its aroma surged directly into the judges’ noses.
Unable to restrain themselves, all three immediately picked up their chopsticks.
As a specialist in meat dishes, Ikumi had handled the Regal Mammoth meat with remarkable precision.
The instant it entered their mouths, its powerful, full-bodied richness conquered their palates.
Its tender yet springy texture made it almost impossible to stop eating.
Within moments, every piece of meat had vanished.
A considerable amount of rice remained, however.
The meat’s flavor was so intense and domineering that it completely overwhelmed the natural taste of the rice, leaving the rest of the bowl strangely difficult to finish.
Soma then presented his own dish—Yukihira-Style Chaliapin Steak Rice Bowl: Revised!
Because Orange Salt had become the key seasoning, Soma had been forced to redesign his entire dish at the last minute.
He first marinated the steak briefly with Orange Salt, then pan-seared it until golden brown, allowing the fresh citrus aroma to blend deeply with the meat.
After removing the steak, he used the remaining fat in the pan to sauté the onions.
The rice had also undergone a special adjustment.
Soma had originally planned to add pickled plum for acidity and appetite, but after testing it, he found that its sourness clashed with the fragrance of the Orange Salt.
He therefore changed his approach.
A small amount of rice vinegar was mixed into the grains, which were then steamed with water lightly seasoned with Orange Salt.
The rice retained a mild acidity that stimulated the palate, while carrying a refreshing orange fragrance that perfectly balanced the richness of the steak.
...
At first, the three judges approached Soma’s dish somewhat casually.
The moment they tasted the first mouthful of rice and steak together, however, their indifference vanished and was replaced by delight.
The rice was bright, gently sweet, and refreshing.
Paired with steak that was crisp on the outside, tender within, and rich without being heavy, the dish unfolded in layers.
Citrus, meat, and rice each emerged clearly before blending into a seamless whole.
Every bite left them wanting another.
Within moments, the judges had emptied their bowls completely, leaving behind neither meat nor rice.
Bitō set down his chopsticks and stared at Soma in amazement.
"Incredible! You managed to give ordinary meat a flavor comparable to the finest luxury ingredients. This is outstanding!"
The other two judges nodded repeatedly, their astonishment impossible to hide.
They had been completely won over by the dish.
Soma scratched his head and answered casually.
"Well, I did have a little help."
Without the Orange Salt Haruto had given him, the result of this Food War might truly have been uncertain.
In the end, all three judges agreed that Soma’s dish was not only more delicious, but also far better suited to the theme of a rice bowl.
With a decisive three-to-zero result, Yukihira Soma won his Food War against Mito Ikumi.
Ikumi was naturally unwilling to accept the loss at first.
After tasting the portion Soma had deliberately saved for her, however, she had no choice but to admit that his dish was better.
With Soma’s victory secured, everyone from Polar Star began preparing to leave.
"By the way, Haruto, what exactly did you give Soma?" Yuki asked curiously as they walked toward the exit.
Haruto chose not to explain.
"How about this? Once Soma gets back, we’ll make him cook the dish again. Then you can all find out for yourselves."
More importantly, Haruto was curious to taste Soma’s revised Chaliapin Steak Rice Bowl for himself.