Chapter 66: Shameimaru Aya: The Tears Finally Came Out.
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Summer, Day 11.
In Stardew Valley, this day would feature a Hawaiian luau on the beach with a large pot of "Lucky Soup" where residents could add their favorite ingredients. In Gensokyo, however, things were a little different.
Early that morning, Kihara got up as usual to supervise Marisa's watering duties. He was surprised to see half a snow-white envelope sticking out of the mailbox that had almost grown spiderwebs. He walked over, took out the letter, and carefully read its contents.
「To all residents of Gensokyo:
Today is the Summer Festival day for the new area of the Human Village. However, a simple banquet would be too boring and not in line with Gensokyo's style. I have decided to turn the festival into Gensokyo's First "Cooking King Championship." The champion's prize is "the right to make any one wish to me, the youkai sage Yukari Yakumo, and I will fulfill it."
Contestants who wish to participate should come to Pelican Town before noon today to immediately enter the finals.
Youkai and humans with exceptional culinary skills, bravely step onto the stage and prove to everyone that you are the strongest super chef!
(Special thanks to Hakugyokurou, Eientei, the Sunflower Field, the Scarlet Devil Mansion, Youkai Mountain, and Moriya Shrine for sponsoring this event)」
"What exactly is Yukari planning…"
Kihara's face was covered in black lines. He had originally wanted to spend the day relaxing with his girlfriends on the beach. How did it suddenly turn into Gensokyo's Cooking King Championship?
He waved at Marisa, who had just landed.
"Hey~ Marisa, did you receive an invitation letter for the Cooking King Championship?"
"I got it three days ago. Hehe, it's rare for Yukari to offer such a luxurious grand prize.
I…" Marisa was about to boast about her secret weapon, but realized Kihara might also be her opponent, so she quickly changed the subject. "Ahem, I still have something to do. Gotta go!"
"So secretive… Is she planning to participate?"
When Kihara arrived at the beach, multiple cooking stations had already been set up. A large banner hung at the entrance with the gilded words "Cooking King Championship."
Shinjou Akane and the others were happily carrying ingredients and placing them beside the stations. When they saw their boyfriend standing at the entrance with a dumbfounded look, they all gave him awkward smiles. It seemed only Kihara had been kept in the dark — everyone else had known about the event in advance.
"Kihara-sama, you're not angry, are you?" Lili ran over and tugged his right hand like a child who had done something wrong. "We just wanted to give you a surprise…"
"How could I be angry? In fact, I'm happy that you're all getting along so well with the youkai of Gensokyo."
"Chuu! Kihara-sama is the best! Lili will show you around the venue!"
"Mm."
The Cooking King Championship venue was simply arranged. The contestants' cooking stations formed a rough circle, with a central area for various ingredients. Twenty meters above the stations was the judges' platform, while the audience seats were positioned below, to the left, and to the right. As for why the judges' platform was so far from the stations, Lili only needed to say three words — "Yuyuko" — to explain everything.
If they let this black-hole-level glutton get too close to the stoves, the dishes might be swallowed along with the pots before they could even be plated. Keeping a safe distance was only natural.
"Why is it straight to the finals?"
"Because there weren't as many contestants as expected, and Yukari said a direct final would better ignite everyone's fighting spirit."
Kihara pointed at himself. "By the way, can I be a judge?"
"Um…" Lili's eyes became evasive. After hesitating for a long time, she finally told him the shocking truth. "Kihara-sama, you are actually a contestant…"
"Hah!? I don't remember signing up for the competition at all."
"But… the sponsors all made your participation a condition. If you don't compete… the event might be canceled entirely."
Yukari Yakumo appeared perfectly behind him at just the right moment and teased, "Kihara, you wouldn't want to disappoint your girlfriends by canceling an event they were looking forward to, right?"
"Yukari, I'm remembering this grudge!" Kihara casually pushed away the hand she had placed on his shoulder.
"Ara~ I'm so scared~ Just thinking about what kind of 'this~~ and that~~' requests you'll make if you win the championship makes me feel very unsafe~~"
Not far away, Shameimaru Aya's eyes lit up with excitement. She almost pulled out her camera to furiously snap photos of Yukari and Kihara. Unfortunately, she was here on official orders for serious news reporting. All photos had to be reviewed by her strict boss and couldn't be taken recklessly.
Otherwise, just from the conversation between those two, she could have written over ten different articles, such as "Shock! Gensokyo's Stallion Flirts with the Youkai of Boundaries in Front of His Girlfriends, Planning to Do This and That to Her!" or "The Tearful Past of the Youkai of Boundaries Being Abandoned by Kihara" — all extremely eye-catching headlines.
Participation was now a done deal. Kihara quickly adjusted his mood, determined to win the championship and properly punish Yukari. He didn't need to take her down completely, but at least make her suffer a little embarrassment.
"Maybe making her publicly say 'I love you' in front of everyone would be a good choice?"
With that thought, Kihara followed Lili to meet the other contestants.
The eternal punching bag of Hakugyokurou — Konpaku Youmu, the female bodhisattva who recently developed a habit of drinking other people's milk at night — Kirisame Marisa, the youkai who felt uncomfortable if she didn't drink — Ibuki Suika, the shameless red-and-white who was clearly just there to make up numbers — Hakurei Reimu, and the recently opened Night Sparrow Restaurant owner — Mystia Lorelei.
And the person he least expected — the eternal shut-in and online keyboard warrior — Houraisan Kaguya.
"I'm not still dreaming, am I? You actually came out to participate in the Cooking King Championship?" Kihara teased, then walked over and brushed aside the hair on Kaguya's forehead. Without hesitation, he pressed his own forehead against hers. "You don't seem to have a fever either…"
"Hmph~ Aaaaaah!!! I can't take it anymore! To hell with serious news reporting! My camera is crying because it can't take gossip photos!!"
"Aya, calm down!!"
"If Mr. Kihara complains about you again, you'll lose this month's salary! Without money, you won't be able to self-fund the 'Bunbunmaru News Express'!"
"Nooooo!!!"
Her colleagues' words hit Shameimaru Aya like giant hammers. She staggered and collapsed to the ground. Tears poured from her eyes like a broken dam, instantly soaking the sand beneath her.
On the other side, Kaguya glared and grabbed Kihara's chin, angrily shouting, "What are you doing? You think there's something wrong with my brain?"
"You don't even know how to hold a kitchen knife. Coming to a cooking competition — what else could it be but a problem with your brain?"
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Thank you for reading.