Food Wars!: Delicious Food of the Heavens

"Is this... feeling temperature with your lips?"

Among everyone present, not many people could discern Mito Ikumi's actions at this moment.

Lin Yu, who was closest and observed most closely, was able to see what was behind Mito Ikumi's actions.

However, he immediately smiled and shook his head.

"This level of precision, or rather, this sensitivity to temperature, is probably something only she could achieve, right?"

......

VIP boxes at the top.

"Lady Erina, what is she doing?"

Hisako Shinoto couldn't contain her curiosity and doubts, so she asked Erina Nakiri for advice.

"She's feeling the temperature inside the grilled meat."

Hisako Niito was even more surprised, "Don't you need a temperature probe?"

Hearing this, Erina Nakiri smiled.

"Hisako, do you know what sustains her cooking?"

Erina Nakiri leaned forward, resting her arms on the armrests on either side of her chair, her palms clasped together in mid-air to support her chin. This posture allowed her to more easily observe the arena in the center of the arena.

"support......"

Hisako Shinoto stroked her chin, pondered for a moment, and then voiced her thoughts, "Is it that brute force that allows you to handle even half a pig or a cow with ease?"

"What you said is not wrong, but that's not the most important thing."

Erina Nakiri did not deny Hisako Shinoto's answer, but nodded calmly before changing the subject and revealing the real answer.

"Mito Ikumi's true greatest skill is not the unrestrained, monstrous strength she displays while cooking."

"Quite the opposite! Her greatest skill lies in the subtlety that is completely contrary to her rugged outward appearance!"

"To put it more accurately, it's about sensitivity to temperature."

Erina Nakiri pointed to the venue, indicating to Hisako Shinoto to observe carefully.

"She inserted a long needle into the center of the roast meat, then pulled it out and put the tip of the needle to her lips. She was using her lips to feel the temperature inside the roast meat."

"Can this really be accurate?" Hisako Niito still found it hard to believe. "Wouldn't this method be even less accurate than a professional temperature probe?"

Erina Nakiri seemed amused by her assistant's words. "She didn't use a temperature probe to check the internal temperature of the grilled meat, of course, because she has absolute confidence in her own abilities!"

"The lips are the most temperature-sensitive part of the human body, but only Ikumi Mito can be so sensitive as to be able to accurately sense the specific temperature."

Erina Nakiri stood up from her chair, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked at Ikumi Mito, who was busy in the arena in the distance. Erina Nakiri's eyes were full of admiration.

"Mito Ikumi's most dazzling and astonishing weapon is her delicate touch when handling flesh!"

On the stage, Mito Ikumi began preparing to slice the grilled meat.

She stretched out her left hand and gently pressed it onto the still-steaming roasted meat.

As she pressed down with the tips of her five fingers, feeling the softness, hardness, and elasticity transmitted from her left hand, Mito Ikumi had a full understanding of the internal state of the grilled meat.

The moment the blade slices through the grilled meat, the rich aroma of meat and the fragrance of compound spices are enveloped in the heat and burst forth from within the meat.

Mito Ikumi took a deep sniff, and a genuine smile appeared on her face.

"You're in just the right shape, my good child..."

In the VIP box above, Erina Nakiri also noticed the details of Ikumi Mito's movements. She raised her hand and pointed at the figure on the stage.

"Hisako, look!"

Hisako Shinoto's gaze followed the direction of the finger.

"Both Mito Ikumi's fingertips and her heart were filled with tenderness for the piece of meat before her. Her knife movements were fluid and smooth, like a pianist performing a flawless, flowing piece!"

"Listen closely, this heavenly melody, a symphony of beef and spices..."

Hearing Erina Nakiri's high praise for Ikumi Mito, Hisako Shinoto became somewhat excited and immediately asked curiously:

"Lady Erina, do you think Ikumi Mito won?"

"Why are you suddenly asking that?"

"Seeing that you, Erina-sama, spoke highly of Ikumi Mito, I think it might be because you want to see her win?"

Erina Nakiri remained silent for a long time after hearing her assistant's words.

"Eh..."

After a long silence, Erina Nakiri sighed.

Hisako Shinto, who was standing to the side, was already a little nervous when she saw that Erina Nakiri didn't say anything. Now, this sigh really frightened her.

"Lady Erina! Did I say something I shouldn't have?"

"Don't be so nervous, Hisako."

Erina Nakiri patted Hisako Shinoto on the shoulder, offering her some comfort.

"To be honest, I did hope to see Mito Ikumi win, but..."

Erina Nakiri looked to the other side of the arena, where Lin Yu was still standing in front of the stove, silently watching the boiling soup pot.

Seeing the focused expression on Lin Yu's face, Erina Nakiri thought of the dishes Lin Yu had made before, especially the red wine braised beef he made in class.

Tender beef, rich sauce, and an extremely mellow flavor with a hint of gentle sourness.

Recalling that wonderful taste, Erina Nakiri swallowed subconsciously, and at the same time, her tongue involuntarily stirred.

Erina Nakiri suppressed the restlessness on her tongue and sighed softly.

"It's difficult!"

......

"Now, please welcome our three judges to taste and evaluate Ikumi Mito's dish!"

Mito Ikumi placed the sliced ​​grilled meat onto a plate, then carried the plate to the judges' table.

"I will win, just you wait and see."

A whisper sounded behind him, and Lin Yu glanced at Mito Ikumi's back out of the corner of his eye.

As she walked toward the judges' table, with each step, Mito Ikumi's confidence gradually increased.

Lin Yu even felt that the aura emanating from Mito Ikumi at this moment was almost back to the wild pride that this girl with short blonde hair and wheat-colored skin had exuded when he first met her.

"She did a pretty good job this time! So confident in her cooking?"

Lin Yu withdrew his gaze and looked down at the soup pot simmering in front of him.

The rising steam, mixed with the rich aroma of beef, was like a seductive enchantress, constantly tugging at Lin Yu's heartstrings and stimulating his appetite.

Lin Yu grinned mischievously and uttered a muttered phrase.

"I hope she can stay strong and not be discouraged."

Mito Ikumi placed her plate in front of the three judges. "My dish is [Combined Spice Grilled Meat]! Please enjoy!"