Leorio's failure made Kaya's heart sink too. He hadn't expected Menchi to raise her standards on the spot and start judging the finer details of their sushi.
The good news was that Kaya could take his time, since Menchi wouldn't even eat anything that looked bad.
The bad news was that he didn't seem capable of shaping sushi the way she wanted, either.
Kaya thought back to his favorite Japanese restaurant. Their sushi had plump, translucent grains of rice.
The rice wasn't sticky in his mouth. Instead, it mingled with the fish as he chewed and melted on his tongue, each grain seeming distinct from the others. The texture was fantastic.
Unfortunately, he had no idea how to make it. It looked like he would have to resort to special measures.
"Here's my sushi. Please tell me what you think."
Gon obediently uncovered his plate and looked at Menchi.
"How is this any different from what that old guy, number 403, just made? Do it over!" Menchi was getting lightheaded with hunger. She lay on the couch and spoke weakly.
"The same as number 403's?" Crushed, Gon held his plate as though he had nothing left to live for.
"We know how you feel." Four hands landed on Gon's shoulders at once.
Leorio curled his lip. "Isn't that a little dramatic? Is making something like mine really that embarrassing?"
Some fearless examinees continued testing the limits of Menchi's patience.
"You didn't even skin the fish. Do it over!"
"The sushi is too loose. Do it over!"
"The fish smells too strong! Do it over!"
"Do you even know which part of the fish to use? There's a lump of shit on it! Get out of my sight right now!"
"Do any of you have any talent at all? How long are you going to leave me starving? Not one shred of creativity!"
Countless examinees were sent back to start over, one after another, and the atmosphere throughout the hall grew tense.
Several of them, especially the group led by number 255, Toby, were struggling to contain their anger.
Kurapika looked at Kaya, who was holding his plate and preparing to have it judged, and patted his head.
"Good luck."
He sounded rather defeated.
"Do you have that little faith in me?"
Kaya walked up to the table and held his plate out in front of Menchi.
"Here, try mine."
Menchi glanced at the brown-haired boy, lazily lifted the cover for a look, then put it back.
She couldn't even be bothered to speak. She waved a hand, signaling for Kaya to get lost.
"Just give it a taste!" Kaya lifted the cover again without waiting for permission.
"Taste what? I didn't want to waste my breath on you, and now you're pushing your luck? You little brat, do you believe I'll..."
"I do," Kaya interrupted, waving the plate in front of her again. "I'll believe anything you say. But if I tell you this is sushi unlike anything you've ever eaten, will you believe me?"
Menchi took another careful look at the two pieces of sushi. No matter how she looked at them, they were failures, neither rounded nor plump enough.
"I admit that none of our sushi is good enough or perfect enough. But we're not professional chefs, after all. How could we possibly shape it the way a professional would? We don't have those skills."
Seeing that Menchi hadn't interrupted him, Kaya continued, "Not everyone here is aiming to become a Gourmet Hunter, but they're all working hard to keep trying according to your instructions."
After saying all that, Kaya was starting to admire himself. If a hard approach wouldn't work, he would try a soft one. With his gift of gab, he was determined to talk Menchi into feeling thoroughly ashamed.
His speech struck a chord with the examinees below, and they nodded in agreement.
"Kaya, that was so well said!" Gon praised him loudly.
"You took the words right out of my mouth." Killua whistled.
"Since when was this kid so serious?" Leorio looked baffled.
"Did you only meet him today?"
Kurapika genuinely admired Kaya's way with words. Whether he was saying something nice or something nasty, his arguments were always watertight.
"Are you questioning my judgment?"
Clearly taken aback by Kaya's speech, Menchi leaned back against the couch, her expression blank, and studied the boy before her with interest.
"I wouldn't dare. I'm only saying all this because I want you to taste what I made."
Kaya put on a sincere expression and repeatedly waved his hands.
Then he abruptly changed tack. "As for everyone else's dishes, I think you should maintain the strict standards of a Gourmet Hunter."
Crash!
Aside from Hisoka and Illumi, who were idling nearby, all sixty-seven examinees toppled over at his words.
One moment, he had been righteously speaking up for everyone. The next, he revealed his true intentions.
"That little brat. I say we all gang up and beat him later," Leorio said through gritted teeth.
Everyone was remarkably unanimous about Leorio's proposal, voicing their support. Even Gon was no exception.
Menchi burst out laughing too. At last, she picked up her chopsticks, lifted a piece of sushi, and put it in her mouth.
The ratio of vinegar to rice was just right. Even after cooling, the rice retained a pleasant texture, neither sticky nor loose.
The unknown seasoning spread over the fish not only highlighted its freshness but also made it more refreshing.
What surprised Menchi most was the delicately sweet jam mixed into the rice. Every grain had absorbed its essence and gave off an enticing fruity fragrance.
That perfectly balanced sweet-and-sour flavor not only cut through the richness of the raw fish but also added depth to the sushi's overall flavor, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
She even felt that this delicacy needed no tea to cleanse her palate, because it was already perfect on its own.
Menchi picked up the second piece from the plate and popped it into her mouth to savor it.
If the first bite had been a careful tasting, the second was utter bliss.
"Why did you only make two?"
Menchi closed her chopsticks on empty air, somewhat dissatisfied. Those two pieces of jam nigiri sushi had thoroughly awakened her appetite, but her taste buds still craved more.
It was like watching a movie only for the power to suddenly go out just as the story reached its climax.
"Two aren't enough? I'm not running a buffet! Am I supposed to feed you until you're full? Besides, if you fill up, what are the other examinees supposed to do?"
Watching Menchi's expression, Kaya knew he had a chance this time.
Menchi set down her chopsticks, a flicker of delighted surprise in her eyes. "How did you think of adding jam? And where did this fruit come from?"
Kaya gave a mysterious smile. "I discovered this fruit myself. It doesn't have a name yet, but if you want to know how I found it, all I can say is that I found it in an underground cave."
Menchi understood immediately. As an outstanding Gourmet Hunter, she might not compare to a professional Botanical Hunter, but she still knew something about the environments in which various ingredients grew.
"If you pass the Hunter Exam, what kind of Hunter do you want to become?" Menchi suddenly asked.
"A Botanical Hunter," Kaya answered without hesitation.
Menchi nodded in satisfaction. "Then there's no need for you to name this fruit."
"Why???"
Kaya was a little surprised. He had thought he'd discovered some incredible fruit, only to receive that response.
"Because this kind of fruit generally only grows for one season. Do you know why? If you can tell me the reason, you'll pass this test."
Menchi wasn't deliberately trying to make things difficult for Kaya. But since he wanted to become a Botanical Hunter, he wouldn't be able to make it if he lacked even this much insight.
Only one season?
Kaya repeated those words to himself. His thoughts instantly cleared, and within moments he had an answer.
"I see! Where different types of terrain meet, there are different environments, and plants try to adapt to them."
"To adapt and reproduce, most plants in these environments spread their best genes. When different plants crossbreed using their best genes, they produce exceptional plants."
"But everything has its pros and cons. These hybrid plants inherit the best genes of each parent, but their ability to reproduce is greatly reduced, or even lost entirely. That's why these plants go undiscovered by the outside world and are difficult to cultivate on a wider scale."
Menchi exchanged a smile with Buhara behind her, delighted surprise showing in both their eyes.
The close connection between Botanical Hunters and Gourmet Hunters went without saying. More precisely, Gourmet Hunters depended heavily on Botanical Hunters. Every newly discovered edible plant offered endless possibilities for culinary innovation.
The boy before them was a one-in-ten-thousand genius, both in talent and insight. If he truly became a Botanical Hunter, he would surely bring unprecedented surprises to the culinary world.
At that thought, Menchi stood up. "You passed."
In her mind, this went beyond simply letting him pass. She would also keep a close eye on him, perhaps even guide him and help him grow quickly.
Before you continue