Blossom: UMMM?! 2k reads? Have another special chapter as thanks! This one was suggested by @AnimeFangirl5Ever, and also influenced by the events idea from @AudenneTannanda. Hope you enjoy!
Scenario: Night Raven College is holding its annual Masterful Chefs with a twist. This time, it's a contest between various teams!
The Competing Teams
- Team 1: Trey and Diona
- Team 2: Jamil and Xiangling
- Team 3: Silver and Sayu
- Team 4: Raiden Shogun and Lilia
The Judges
- Kalim
- Chongyun
- Xiao
- Cater
- Jade
- Paimon (special guest)
The Emergency Medical Staff
- Kokomi
- Ortho
- Qiqi
- Barbara
- Teyvat Fried Egg
Team 1: Conversations While Cooking
Trey: "Ah—ow!"
Diona: "Trey, did you just burn yourself?"
Trey: "Yeah. It's just a slight burn, so don't worry."
Diona: "Huh? I wasn't worried about you! Hmph, imagine having such a klutz as a partner."
Trey: "Alright, if you say so."
Diona: "Ugh, honestly! Don't just stand there. Come here and I'll heal you, or we'll lose for sure."
Trey: *laughs* "Thanks, Diona."
Team 2: Conversations While Cooking
Xiangling: "Hey! Jamil! Come here and taste this stew for a sec."
Jamil: *tastes*
Xiangling: "Is it spicy enough to you?"
Jamil: "I think you should add a bit more chili powder. While you're standing here, you might as well try this curry."
Xiangling: *tastes* "Hmm... needs more Jueyun chilis! Okay, I added more chili powder to mine. Try a spoonful!"
Jamil: "Still not spicy enough."
Team 3: Conversations While Cooking
Silver: "...zZzzzzzZz..."
Sayu: "......zZzzZzzzz..."
Silver: *opens eyes* "Huh? Where am I? Father? Draconia-sama?" *looks around* "Oh, I'm just at school." *goes back to sleep*
Sayu (sleeptalking): "Gotta... escape... work..."
Team 4: Conversations While Cooking
Lilia: "Wow, who knew that you and I had so much in common?"
Raiden Shogun: "It is indeed an unusual coincidence. Fate has brought us together for this contest, it seems."
Lilia: "Okay, next... I like candy. Do you?"
Raiden Shogun: "I adore candy."
Lilia: "Great!" *tosses a handful of plastic-wrapped candy into the pot*
Raiden Shogun: "Hmm... what else do I like? Oh, I know. The smell of Schoenheit's perfume. It is evocative of the Sacred Sakura in springtime."
Lilia: "Vil's perfume does smell nice." *pours a bottle of Vil's perfume into the pot* "Ooh, and I like sea urchins too."
Raiden Shogun: "Those are the prickly purple things, right? They remind me of Electro visions."
Lilia: *tosses a basket of sea urchins into the pot*
Raiden Shogun: "Hm? Is the pot supposed to start smoking like that?"
Lilia: "Oh, don't worry. I'm a pro chef, so I know: this is completely normal. Happens all the time!"
Completed Dishes
Team 1: A four-layer cake. First layer—strawberry shortcake with heart-shaped sugar flowers. Second layer—unsweetened lemon cake with diamond-shaped chocolate shards. Third layer—blueberry cake with spade-shaped frosting swirls. Fourth layer—crabapple cake with crushed peppercorns.
Team 2: Ghost pepper curry with Jueyun chilis. Pepper-and-slime-condensate stew. Extra chili sauce for dipping.
Team 3: Empty plate.
Team 4: Unidentifiable substance. Looks like... tar?
Completed Drinks
Team 1: Cocktail made from beetle shells, old fingernails, fur from Professor Trein's cat, Floyd's scales, the juice of the Valberry.
Team 2: Authentic Snezhnayan fire-water (vodka).
Team 3: Tap water.
Team 4: Unidentifiable liquid. Is it even liquid? I think I see chunks of plastic in there...
Team 1: Judges' Comments
Kalim: "WHOA! Yum! I wonder if Jamil could learn to make this, and tomorrow for my breakfast—" (Jamil: "Don't even think about it.")
Chongyun: "The flavor is very strong. I think I prefer the lemon cake best."
Xiao: "H-huh? What do you mean, I'm smiling while chewing? I'm just scowling less intensely!"
Cater: "O-M-G. Classic Trey, flexing on everyone with a cake prettier than Vil Schoenheit—er, I mean, nothing." (Vil: "That's what I thought.")
Jade: "Mm, quite delicious. However, it would be better with a few mushrooms here and there."
Paimon: *snarf snarf* "THAT'S IT! Paimon's enrolling in Heartslabyul right away!"
Team 2: Judges' Comments
Kalim: "Um... I'll pass. Curry's not really my thing, ever since Jamil got poisoned that one time."
Chongyun: *bursts into flames and dies* (Teyvat Fried Egg revives him)
Xiao: *takes a bite* "—LAMENT! WORTHLESS! DEMON CONQUERING!"
Cater: "Very... aesthetic. I think this dish belongs on Xinyan's Magicam, not in my stomach."
Jade: "Okay, can we agree that the lack of mushrooms is getting ridiculous?"
Paimon: "Yum! Paimon loves Jueyun Chilis. Om nom nom nom nom!"
Team 3: Judges' Comments
Kalim: "It's a... nice plate? Looks fancy."
Chongyun: *breathes fire* (Kokomi extinguishes fire)
Xiao: "Hah! Mortals these days. So undiligent. I can't comprehend their leisurely lifestyles."
Cater: "Ooh, minimalist! I like it." *takes photo*
Jade: "STILL NO MUSHROOMS?"
Paimon: *eats plate*
Team 4: Judges' Comments
Kalim: "..."
Chongyun: "..."
Xiao: "..."
Cater: "..."
Jade: "..."
Paimon: "Wow! Delicious! Paimon's tummy is all full now."
Results
5/6 of the judges were unavailable to announce winners, as the emergency medical staff were trying to revive them and restore their failed heartbeats. Only one judge was able to respond.
Paimon: "Hmm... Paimon liked all of them equally. So, everyone's a winner! Now, Paimon proposes we throw a party to celebrate. And you can't have a party without food!"
Blossom: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, lovely readers! And please don't forget to vote! Have more suggestions? Leave 'em in the comments.