Lucas looked around—the seat he was in was at the judges' table. Beside him were Katy and Nurse Joy from the Cascarrafa Pokémon Center, both invited by Kofu to try new dishes.
Word had spread that Kofu would be competing against a traveling chef from another region, so many diners stayed behind to watch.
Lucas's gaze fell on Seibold, who was calmly preparing at the cooking station, wiping his spotless utensils with a clean cloth.
To Lucas, Seibold was more memorable as the Water-type Elite Four of Kalos, rather than a chef.
What impressed Lucas most was Seibold's command of a Mega Blastoise that defeated Alain's Mega Charizard X before its Tough Claws ability had been developed.
It truly showcased the strength of the Elite Four.
The preparations seemed complete. At a signal from one of Foku's apprentices, the two chefs began demonstrating their skills with dazzling knife work and ingredient prep.
In the blur of motion and exclamations from the crowd, two delicious aromas began to fill the restaurant as the chefs completed their dishes.
Lucas, feeling out of place in this Food Wars scene, could only endure while the crowd grew more excited.
The Poliwag on his lap, however, was thoroughly enjoying the show, even wondering whether Ceruledge's barbecue skills could beat these two chefs.
Soon, the two confident chefs brought out their dishes one after another.
On Lucas's left was Seibold's dish, covered with a silver lid, the aroma trapped inside.
On his right was Kofu's small stew pot, with a mouthwatering scent escaping through the lid's seam.
From their earlier ingredient prep, Lucas guessed what they had made.
Kofu must have made some kind of soup with the magical kelp and sea bass, while Seibold had prepared several vegetables, making it hard to tell what his dish was.
The two chefs exchanged glances. First, Kofu removed his lid, revealing a clear, fragrant fish soup.
Kaofu smiled, "Freshest sea bass and kelp soup—please enjoy."
Lucas took up a spoon, blew on a scoop of clear broth, and took a sip, eyes freezing in place.
A complex yet harmonious blend of flavors exploded on his palate, all culminating in one word:
Umami!
The umami of the ingredients themselves, plus Kofu's expert technique, created the ultimate flavor.
Lucas glanced at the other two judges—both Katy and Nurse Joy were covering their cheeks and swallowing, seemingly overwhelmed by the soup's sweetness.
Seibold also tasted his portion and exclaimed, "Bravo!"
Then Seibold lifted his lid, bowing gracefully. "French Nine-Vegetable Aspic with Special Sauce—please enjoy."
Lucas blinked—he felt like he'd seen this dish somewhere before.
Anyway, this was a different flavor track.
Nine different vegetables neatly arranged in the aspic—Lucas recognized cabbage, cucumber, corn, zucchini, cauliflower, carrot, okra, asparagus, and more.
It looked exquisite, with the kind of expensive plating you'd see in a high-end restaurant.
But the black sauce on the side intrigued Lucas. Was it sauce, or ink?
Seibold provided special utensils. Lucas cut out a piece, and, following Seibold's suggestion, dipped it in the sauce.
The crisp, fresh taste of vegetables burst forth, then the mysterious sauce mixed with the nine flavors to create a complex, profound taste—not just sweet or spicy, but addictive—you wanted a second bite after the first.
While Lucas ate, Kofu also sampled Seibold's dish.
He, too, praised it, "What a complex and rich taste—yet so harmonious!"
The two exchanged glances, recognizing each other's skill.
"Now, it's time for the judges' verdict."
Though they acknowledged each other's talents, since they had called in judges, they needed a winner.
First up was Nurse Joy. She pondered, then solemnly declared, "I swear on the name of the Joy family, what I say next is absolutely true."
Wait, you're swearing on your family name just to judge some food?
Lucas's face twitched.
Joy said, "While the nine-vegetable aspic with sauce is very rich in flavor, I still find the simple kelp and sea bass soup's umami more moving."
Kofu smiled, and Seibold bowed in thanks, unbothered.
Next was Katy.
Katy looked nervous, glancing at Kofu before stammering, "I think the vegetable aspic was more impressive. It's light on its own, but the sauce transforms it… That's my judgment."
The audience murmured, "Miss Katy didn't side with her teacher?"
Katy looked even more nervous.
Kofu patted her shoulder, "It's fine—you just spoke your true feelings."
Seibold bowed, "I'm honored by your praise, dear lady."
Finally, it was Lucas's turn. He glanced at Poliwag, then voiced his thoughts, "I think it's hard to pick a winner."
Kofu raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"
"Could you elaborate?" Seibold asked calmly.