The sun blazed high in the sky.
At midday, the cerulean expanse of heaven stretched endlessly, and beneath it, Hisako walked slowly down the shopping street with Zane, a faint smile gracing her lips.
Her arms were filled with new clothes—soft knits, elegant scarves, autumn-toned skirts—each item handpicked with care. It wasn't just a shopping trip.
It was her first time in a long while doing something just for herself.
Her steps were slow, her stamina already wearing thin, but her expression—brighter than the midday sun—reflected pure, simple happiness.
She'd been seen. Accompanied. Treasured.
And that was enough.
The next night — 8:30 PM.
At Totsuki Academy, the heart of the culinary world pulsed with anticipation.
The most prestigious building, known as Moon and Heaven, stood tall like a palace of light, its glass dome glowing faintly beneath the night sky. It was here, in this grand arena, that the Autumn Selection Finals would unfold.
A sea of spectators murmured with excitement as the venue reached maximum capacity.
Then—
The spotlight blazed.
A voice chirped across the venue:
"Hey there~"
The adorable and energetic hostess, Urara Kawashima, stepped confidently onto the elevated platform. Her idol-like presence, glowing beneath stage lights, immediately drew thunderous cheers—especially from the male students.
"Good evening, everyone!" she beamed, twirling her microphone like a baton.
"I bet you're all fired up tonight, aren't you?!"
"Because this is it—the grand finale of the Autumn Selection!"
A tidal wave of applause surged in response.
"I won't keep you waiting. The final match officially begins at 9 PM sharp. Use the time until then to rest and prepare."
With a playful wink, she added, "Now then… let's bring out the stars of tonight's culinary showdown!"
The stage lights flared. Fog machines hissed.
And then—they appeared.
Alice Nakiri: confident, poised, molecular gastronomy prodigy.
Soma Yukihira: fearless, smiling, the rebel with a ladle.
Ryo Kurokiba: eyes half-lidded, expression blank—until the battle begins.
Akira Hayama: quiet, focused, surrounded by an invisible aura of spice.
Each of them stepped up to their cooking stations, their tools and ingredients already brought in by staff clad in black.
Then—
Satoshi Isshiki, the competition officer, stepped forward carrying a large silver cooler.
He opened it with a flourish, and a blast of cold mist curled out—revealing rows of freshly preserved pacific saury.
This was no ordinary final.
Unlike previous rounds that focused on specific dishes—like curry, hamburgers, ramen, or desserts—the final challenge had a different rule:
One ingredient. Infinite possibilities.
After approval by the Elite Ten, this year's final theme had been chosen:
Pacific saury — the taste of autumn.
Why saury? Why now?
Because autumn was here.
Saury—known in Japan as sanma, the "autumn poem"—was the season's herald. As it migrates south to spawn, its body fattens, and the flavor peaks. Rich. Oily. Deep.
But make no mistake—
Despite its fat content, pacific saury is deceptively dry, its meat carrying bitter, salty undertones, and an unmistakable fishy aroma. The challenge wasn't just to cook it—it was to transform it.
And above all—
Only fresh saury sparkled with potential.
But 99% on the market? Already dead. Spoiled quickly.
Only a master could tame it.
"Now then!" Urara spun on her heel.
"Let's welcome tonight's judging panel!"
Leonora Nakiri, molecular gastronomy expert and Alice's mother.
Senzaemon Nakiri, the Director of Totsuki, legendary gourmet, and culinary sage.
Gin Dojima, former first seat, calm, analytical, and discerning.
The glass ceiling of Moon and Heaven began to open slowly—
Unveiling the sky.
A collective gasp echoed across the audience.
Above them, the full moon glowed silver-white, suspended in the ink-blue sky like a polished pearl. Light streamed down in gentle strands, draping the venue in celestial brilliance.
For the next two hours, moonlight would grace the battlefield.
Then fade—like a curtain closing.
The timing: exactly the duration of the match.
Leonora gazed upward, entranced.
Even the Director's hardened face softened in its glow.
"…Zane," he murmured aloud, half to himself. "If you'd joined Totsuki back then… you'd probably be sitting at this judging table now."
His voice drifted, wistful.
The competition began.
The Director's voice boomed:
"Begin!"
The four chefs raced to the cooler, eyes sharp, hands fast.
Alice picked up a long, glinting saury, its scales shimmering under the lights.
She turned to Ryo, voice calm, confident:
"I lost to you in Northern Europe, Ryo. But today… I will win—with molecular gastronomy."
Ryo blinked.
Then, slowly, wordlessly—
He tied his red headband.
In an instant, his lazy aura vanished—replaced by the fierce intensity of a predator.
A wolf awakened.
Soma closed his eyes, inhaling the aroma of the fish.
"Father…" he whispered.
"Today, I'll carve your name into this stage."
Akira, as always, didn't speak.
He simply inhaled the scent of the saury.
"Jun… I'm almost there," he muttered.
The sound of knives, flames, and timers filled the arena.
Akira cleaned his saury, removed its gills and innards, marinated it with cooking wine and steamed fish soy sauce. He preheated the oven to 220°C, wrapped the fish in foil with ginger slices, and began a precise, 25-minute bake.
"Salt-grilled pacific saury?"
The Director leaned in with interest.
Ryo was aggressive. He pan-fried his fish, marinated with salt, pepper, and lemon slices. As it cooked in olive oil, he brushed it with oyster sauce, seared both sides to perfection, and finished it with lemon juice, chili powder, and cumin.
Spicy. Smoky. Bold.
Soma, ever unorthodox, started by blanching his saury briefly in 80% hot water to remove its slime. After gutting, he salt-rubbed it inside and out, left it to marinate, then grilled it to a rich crackling sizzle. The aroma alone was intoxicating.
A classic. But evolved.
He plated five fish rolls, cut them in half, then paired them with bright green pea purée and shoots.
Rosemary-grilled Pacific Saury.
Rustic, elegant.
Then—
Alice.
Cool and calculated, she used her sous-vide immersion circulator set to 60.5°C, sealed the fish in vacuum bags, and prepared it using low-temperature cooking. The flavor would be locked in, the fat melted precisely.
Her prep resembled surgery.
Her goal: total control.
Time passed.
The audience sat breathless as the dishes neared completion.
Finally, in perfect synchronicity, the four chefs presented their masterpieces—
And the judging began.
Tasting Begins
Akira's dish was first.
At the first bite, the bitterness of the saury teased the tongue—but only lightly.
Like a fleeting memory.
It melted into a harmony of crisp skin, fragrant meat, lemon acidity, and spices that danced on the palate.
"A melancholic flavor," murmured the Director.
"Like autumn rain."
Leonora's fingers stilled. Her eyes trembled.
This is the taste of autumn's memory.
Ryo's dish came next.
The fish was golden, edges beautifully charred, with seasoning that flirted between boldness and grace.
One bite—crackling skin.
Then—tender meat.
Then—heat. Citrus. Depth.
"A warrior's dish," Gin noted. "Raw, passionate."
Soma's rosemary-grilled saury stunned them with its presentation—each roll gleaming, the purée luminous green.
It smelled of hearth and home. But on the tongue?
A masterclass of control. Smoke. Salt. Citrus. Sweet peas. Harmony.
"Impressive," Leonora nodded. "He respects the ingredient. But isn't afraid to reinvent it."
Alice's molecular saury was last.
Its texture—unbelievably moist. Its fat rendered without bitterness. The flavors—precise, calculated.
A symphony of science and soul.
"Alice…" the Director murmured, impressed. "You've grown far beyond my expectations."
Silence fell.
Each judge stared at their plate, deep in thought.
Urara didn't even try to fill the silence.
This wasn't a match.
It was a moment.
"Incredible," Leonora finally said.
"Each of them… has surpassed themselves."
The Director nodded. "It's rare that I feel this torn. They all brought something unique. Something personal."
"But—" Leonora added, voice low.
"Wasn't Alice… just a step ahead?"
They all looked at her.
She had taken a volatile ingredient—
Stripped it of flaws—
And made it sing.
"A new generation," the Director whispered.
"Totsuki's future… is blindingly bright."
The Autumn Selection was over.
The moon above dimmed as clouds passed over it.
Leonora turned to the Director.
"Will you be returning to the Northern European lab now?" he asked. "Alice might protest."
Leonora smiled softly.
"I'll stay a while longer. There's much more I want to see here."
"Good," the Director said, satisfied. "She'll need you."
With that, he turned to leave—his mind already on the VIP guests awaiting him elsewhere.
As he vanished into the corridor, a new chapter quietly began.
The Autumn Selection had ended.
But for Totsuki's brightest stars—
The real journey was just beginning.