Why I Can't Lose

Facility Event: A Dash of Disaster

Episode 3

Why I Can't Lose

Previous Quest

Mushroom Gathering

Next Quest

The Finals Begin

Summary

With the prelims complete, the competition begins for real! Mitsuba and Picaro make it out of the first round and go head-to-head, but an unknown rascal spikes Mitsuba's dashi with excess salt, causing her elimination and leading to bitter tears of regret.

Dialogue

And now, the kitchen warriors who were victorious in the preliminaries will remain in the Hungerdome as our next round heats up like a mouthful of ghost chilies! Amidst the flambé flames can be glimpsed a dream—a vision of glory! But who will brave those fires of flavor to emerge as the greatest in the world?!

---

From group three, the winner of the second qualifier match is...Mitsuba!

---

And the winner of group six is...Valerio!

---

Wooo! Mitsuba and Valerio are cookin' with gas now! And from group four, our victor is...Picaro! That Picaro guy ain't no slouch. I guess his win today means he and Mitsuba will face off tomorrow, yeah? Oh, it's OOOOON! I'm curious how their match will go. Picaro is the favorite, but Mitsuba is doing this to fulfill an important dream. Later that evening...
*sip* Oh yeah, this dashi is PERFECT. There's no way I'll lose tomorrow! *sip* Mellow aroma... Slight tang... Yes, this IS a splendid dashi. Hey! Stay outta my soup pot, you! What are you doing here, anyway? Scouting out your future competition? Not at all. I was merely curious. I had my suspicions when I glimpsed your family crest, but now having tasted your dashi, I am convinced beyond all doubt. You are from the Nanakusa family— operators of the famed traditional Hinomotoan restaurant of the same name. Holy crap, you know your stuff! And yeah, I'm their third daughter. I had the chance once to sample your family's cooking during a sojourn in Hinomoto, and was nearly moved to tears. How does your establishment fare? Er, the founder—my father—he... He passed away. ...I see. But with my siblings' help, we were able to get the restaurant reopened. It was tough getting all seven of us to work together. And then, we had an even larger issue rear its ugly head. It seems none of us can perfectly recreate the flavors of our father. As a result, our customer base is shrinking. We're okay for the moment, but if things don't turn around soon... ...... And while I can't reproduce my father's flavors perfectly, I CAN create new food that inherits its appeal. People call my father's food the best in Hinomoto, but I've come here to win this contest and SURPASS his flavors! My siblings are all counting on me. Our entire future rests on this. You said you came here to make a dream come true, right? ...Correct. Well, my reason for cooking is bigger than a mere "dream." Heh. If it is a fight you seek, take your fervor and throw it at your opponent tomorrow. Trust me, you will need all of it. I don't need YOU to tell me that! Mmm, indeed. Well then, I've my own preparations to attend to, so... Ah. Huh? What is it? Tch. I forgot a hair tie. What a hassle. You tie it back in the kitchen, eh? How unexpectedly conscientious. You'll not get into my head so easily as all that! Just use that blue ribbon you've got tied around your sword. ...N-no. It's fine. I will simply go to my room and retrieve another. Well, THAT got strange fast. What's so important about a little blue ribbon? ...Eh, whatever. Not my problem. Now then. While the dashi cools, I'll make a little trip to the vegetable storehouse. ......

---

At last, Mitsuba versus Picaro! I wonder how it's gonna go? Mitsuba is making Hinomotoan cuisine with her special dashi, but Picaro has high-class cuisine and money to burn. Both of 'em sound delicious to me! I mean, if we ignore the fact that that Picaro guy is a total chump. The match is single-elimination. Who will make it to the final round? And now, we have Nanakusa's Mitsuba versus L'Amandier's Picaro! Who will be the one to snatch victory from the searing-hot pan of conflict?! Ah, and there goes Mitsuba! She's taken out a massive pot filled with... Yes, it's her famed Hinomotoan dashi! She's sampling for taste... What the heck? Oh no! Chef Mitsuba looks upset! Why is it so SALTY? Whatever is the matter, chef? Oho, I DO hope some scoundrel has not slipped extra salt into your dashi! YOU did this! By my blessed pizza peel! Surely you are not accusing me of such a horrid act without any proof whatsoever? Now, if you are done with these baseless accusations, let us see if your salty dashi can defeat my vastly superior flavors. Oho! Oho ho ho ho ho! (Gya! This dashi is totally ruined! Okay, Mitsuba, think. Think! You need a Plan B, pronto!) (If I can't manage to do something with a setback like this, I'll never be able to surpass Dad.) (On the honor of Nanakusa, I WILL win this!)

Our judges have completed their tasting! Now they will hold up placards and inform us who they believe the winner to be. Let the judging...BEGIIIIN! Be Mitsuba, be Mitsuba, be Mitsuba... ...... ...... One vote, Mitsuba! Another vote, Mitsuba! One vote, Picaro! Another Picaro, aaaaand...PICARO! Picaro has done it! He is the winner! Oh no... How very unfortunate, Chef Mitsuba. You dirty cheater! Oho ho! Shout all you like, little one. All of your hot air will not make your dishes any less limp and uninspired. HOWEVER! Let us, for the moment, pretend your inane accusation is correct and I did slip salt into your dashi. A true chef could have recovered from such an incident. They could have found a way to balance their flavors and save the day. Yet you did not. ...... You lose...Mitsuba. *sniffle* Mitsuba, I'm so sorry.

---

Did he really put salt in your dashi? He must have. Just look at him smirk! I...I don't know what I'm going to do... How can I ever face my siblings again? Oh, Dad would be so disappointed... It's a damn dirty trick, but we ain't got a shred'a proof he's the one what did it. It doesn't matter. He's right. A skilled chef would have been able to recover from it. I just... I wanted to win so much... What a very disappointing outcome. *sniff* H-hey, Valerio. I warned you to be careful of that man, did I not, chef? Still, despite the trickery, none who know can doubt your skill. You may not be the champion this day, but I think you have the skill to restore Nanakusa to its former glory. So...er... do not give in to despair? You might be top-class when it comes to cooking, but you sorta suck when it comes to comforting people. What?! But I came here specifically to make you feel better! Yeah, well, you're not doing it right, and now I'm just getting sadder. *sniff* WAAAAAAAH! And this is why I loathe such endeavors... Well, I can't say I don't like Picaro's guts to do whatever it takes to win... But I will never condone the intentional ruining of food—especially when it is being served to others! It looks as though I must teach Picaro the secret to being a chef...with one of my greatest dishes!