Chapter 76: Final Day
The semifinals match that shook the entire venue had concluded, bringing the second day of BLUE to a close.
In the clash between Santoku Shogo and Yukihira Soma, Santoku Shogo had secured an overwhelming victory, bringing the curtain down on their bout. It was a performance that showcased his true power to everyone watching.
"The winner is already decided."
"This year's BLUE has turned into something incredible."
"The Santoku family might end up leading the entire culinary world from now on."
Many of the spectators shared similar opinions, and an atmosphere had formed where it seemed impossible for anyone other than Santoku Shogo to claim the championship. If the next head of the Santoku family were to win BLUE, the power balance in Japan's culinary world would shift dramatically. It was only natural for people to grow excited as they sensed the arrival of a new era.
However, amid all this, there was one person who felt cornered.
The one who would face Shogo in the finals—Nakiri Erina.
What am I supposed to do…?
Erina stared blankly at Shogo as he chatted cheerfully with Soma, as if they were simply acknowledging each other's strength. She wasn't mesmerized by her lover's overwhelming display of skill. She didn't have the luxury to feel that way.
The final match to decide the BLUE champion was tomorrow. It would be a battle against the man she had declared her greatest rival and cherished lover. Without a doubt, it would be the most grueling match of her entire life. And… the one where victory felt the most out of reach.
How pathetic.
For Erina, feeling defeated in spirit even before the match began was an entirely new experience. Believing she didn't even deserve to look at Shogo's face, she turned her back and started walking away. She didn't care where—she just wanted to be alone.
…I… I…
The match she had been looking forward to was now tormenting her.
She had wanted to win. She had wanted to become his true rival. —She had wanted to stand beside him as someone worthy.
And now she was forced to realize just how impossibly difficult that was.
She had known he was strong. She had known he was incredible. She had even known he had been holding back his true ability.
But Shogo had simply surpassed every single one of Erina's expectations.
His ingredient selection and preparation were flawless and decisive. There wasn't a single wasted movement before he began cooking, as if he already knew the correct procedure from the start. She had never witnessed such inhuman cooking before. In fact, Erina found herself evaluating Soma more highly for having faced Shogo head-on. When she asked herself if she could do the same, she was certain the answer would be no.
But Erina was not afraid of defeat.
What she feared lay in a completely different direction.
The first chef her own age who stood above her. She had even felt admiration for his refined technique and unparalleled talent.
They had spent time together, declared themselves rivals, and eventually become each other's first lover.
He had changed her stagnant self as a chef, resolved her issues with her father, and even bridged the deep rift between her and her mother.
To Erina, Shogo was far more than just a benefactor. He had become the one and only person she never wanted to let go of.
That was exactly why she wondered—Is it really okay for me to stay like this?
She was almost certain—perhaps arrogantly so—that she would lose tomorrow's final. Soma's dish had reached a level where even Erina had to acknowledge it as supremely delicious. She could tell without even tasting it.
And that dish had been crushed without any resistance. It had been destroyed in a single blow, without even a chance to strike back. It was only natural for her to feel discouraged.
Can someone as weak as me… really stand beside Shogo-kun!?
She kept walking, trying to distance herself from the venue. The more she thought about it, the more the blood drained from her face. She knew it was pointless. Thinking like this wouldn't improve her cooking performance. She also understood that it would only lead to an even more pathetic defeat. Still, she couldn't stop. Once she became aware of her own weakness, Erina could no longer forgive herself.
…What kind of "Nakiri Erina" am I…? What kind of "descendant of the Demon King of Food"…? What kind of "God's Tongue"…? When I'm this… weak…
Before she realized it, tears were flowing.
Just like her weakness, she couldn't hold them back. Pathetically, they kept spilling from her eyes. She was like a child. Not a chef—just a child. Eventually, she couldn't even walk anymore. She hid herself in the shadow of a tree near the venue, crouched down, and cried.
…I can't give him anything… I can't give Shogo-kun anything in return…
She had fallen in love with the opposite sex for the first time. She had experienced a romance she had only known from shoujo manga. She had learned about things other than cooking and wanted to walk through life together with him.
All without realizing she didn't deserve any of it.
If only she had never met him. If only she could have remained a stranger. Because she had met him, because she had come to know him, she had become this weak.
She should withdraw. There was no way she could cook properly in this mental state. There was no need to show such a pathetic figure.
The moment Erina steeled her resolve to withdraw—a hurried voice called out from behind her.
"—Oh! Thank goodness! So you were here…! …Haa, haa, I couldn't find you anywhere. Your phone was in the waiting room, so I had to run around looking for you."
"…Sh-Shogo…-kun."
"…Eh? Are you… crying, Erina?"
"T-this… it's not what it looks like. It's nothing, really…"
She frantically tried to wipe her eyes and hide it, but it was pointless—like trying to confirm the obvious. Shogo knelt down to meet her gaze and asked gently.
"What happened? Did something upset you?"
His usual comforting kindness hurt right now.
Not wanting him to see her in such a pathetic state only made her look even more pathetic. The more she tried to stop her tears, the more they flowed.
"It's okay. Calm down. …Here, take slow, deep breaths."
Without showing any panic, Shogo pulled her into his arms and gently stroked her back. He kept speaking softly for several minutes, helping her regulate her breathing.
The warmth of his body seemed to bring her a sense of security. Erina's breathing gradually stabilized, and she finally calmed down.
"…I-I'm sorry, Shogo-kun. …For showing you such a pathetic side of myself."
Shogo waved his hand lightly at her apology, then sat down beside her. Wiping the sweat from his brow with his arm, he smiled with a relaxed expression.
"No, no. On the contrary, I'm glad I saw it now. If I make you too happy, you might not even be able to cry when you want to."
"…Fufu, what are you saying?"
"Like I thought, Erina looks cutest when she's smiling."
She honestly felt she couldn't compete with him.
Not just in cooking. Even as a person, she couldn't even reach the feet of this lover of hers. The more she thought about it, the more negative emotions dragged down her sense of self-worth.
"…Hey, Shogo-kun. …Tomorrow is our match, right?"
"Yeah, the final at last. I'm looking forward to it."
Erina reacted instinctively to the word "looking forward," then continued despite feeling foolish for being so simple.
"I… I don't think I'm worthy of you. I don't think I can become the rival you want me to be—"
"—You can."
Shogo denied her denial.
Erina's thoughts came to a complete halt at the unexpected response. She was surprised at herself for unconsciously trying to voice her weakness, but she was even more shaken by having that weakness so directly rejected.
"B-but… why? Why do you believe in me so much…?"
"It's not because of something simple like the 'God's Tongue.' Erina… no, you… are one of the only two chefs who looked at my cooking and still picked a fight with me."
"…Yukihira-kun and me."
"That's right. To be honest, that made me pretty happy. I'm grateful to both of you. Really."
"…But Yukihira-kun couldn't beat you. He couldn't even put up a fight. …I'll probably end up with the same result."
"You're being awfully pessimistic. Did you get scared? Of my cooking?"
She knew he was teasing her, but she couldn't deny it, so Erina stayed silent.
Seeing her reaction, Shogo's expression turned slightly more serious.
"Even so, that's fine. You're challenging something stronger than yourself. It's natural to be scared, to feel intimidated, to want to run away."
"…I'm scared… of being hated by you."
"What a cute reason. So I can interpret that as you like me so much that you're afraid of being disliked?"
"…~~~"
Because it was accurate, the feeling of embarrassment couldn't be suppressed. She was surprised at how embarrassing it felt to have her feelings put into words so precisely, and Erina hung her head at her own wretchedness.
However, she soon lifted her face again.
"I won't be disappointed. Not ever."
The words Shogo spoke as he stood up made Erina react. With a genuinely puzzled expression, she asked him.
"…I'm happy that you believe in me. …But I can't believe in myself. …I can't believe in my own cooking."
"Then just believe in me."
"Believe in you…?"
"Yeah. If you can't believe in your own strength, then don't. Instead, believe in my words. The words that say Nakiri Erina is an incredible chef."
As he laughed cheerfully, looking slightly bashful, Erina felt as if a weight had been lifted from her chest for some reason. Somehow, it felt like he was telling her to stop overthinking things.
"Come on, let's head back. …Whoa, your eyes are really swollen. Let's cool them down and get some proper sleep. We both need to rest well for tomorrow."
"…Yes, you're right."
Taking the hand Shogo offered, Erina stood up. Her face was refreshed, as if something had been lifted from her.
"…I'll give it everything I have. I'll throw all of my cooking at you."
"That's the woman I fell for. …There's going to be a surprise tomorrow too, so try not to get flustered and mess up your cooking~"
"A surprise…? Shogo-kun… what exactly are you…?"
"You'll find out tomorrow. —Let's enjoy this final match to the fullest."
On the way back to the venue, Erina kept thinking about the meaning of the word "surprise" while holding Shogo's hand, but—she never found an answer, and the final day of BLUE arrived.
BLUE, Third Day — Final Day.
With the final match about to take place, the excitement in the venue had reached its peak.
Media outlets from around the world were eagerly awaiting the start, with countless cameras flashing. The match was being broadcast live, allowing people across the country to watch the decisive moment in real time.
The number of spectators gathered at the venue was the highest of the three days. Those who couldn't get inside were pressed against the outer walls, trying to feel the heat of the event. It was truly a match the entire world was watching.
The two chefs moving toward the keep—the stage for the finals—were met with applause filled with expectation.
Santoku Shogo and Nakiri Erina. The two chefs who had fought their way to the final match to decide the strongest young chef in the world.
"Shogo-kun! Do your best! You have to beat Erina!!"
"You seem surprisingly calm. Good luck, Shogo-kun."
"…Well, do your best."
"Erina-sama and Shogo fighting… O-of course I'm cheering for Erina-sama! …Though I suppose I could cheer for you a little bit too."
"Yes~! Mea-chan is cheering for you too~!"
"Show me another perfect dish again, okay?"
"Rindou-senpai is cheering for you~! Don't you dare lose~!"
""Shogo-kuuun! Do your beeest!!""
"I-I'm part of the organizing committee, so I can't really root for just one side… but I'll cheer for you a little, okay?"
"Shogo-sama. …May fortune be with you."
As Shogo walked toward the castle, the women sent him their cheers one after another.
Nakiri Alice, Sakaki Ryoko, Hojo Miyoko, Arato Hisako, Yanai Mea, Kinokuni Nene, along with Totsuki OG Kobayashi Rindou. Even the golden-haired, blue-eyed trio of Berta, Sheila, and Lanterby, plus the model-like beauty and secretary Minegasaki Yaeko.
If this scene had been broadcast, Santoku Shogo's popularity among men would have plummeted significantly.
"Ah, thank you everyone. —I'm off."
With his knife case on his shoulder, Shogo followed after Erina, who had already entered the castle.
The cooking area prepared inside the keep was a luxurious wooden space. The two chefs who would fight for the championship were in position, and all preparations for the match were complete.
"—I will be the judge for the finals. The theme is… 'A dish that has never existed on Earth.'"
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