"Ding!"
Yuchuan Ayaka was startled awake by an exclamation.
The host, Chiyoda Aichi's exclamation echoed through the venue,
"The final voting results are now displayed on the big screen!"
Unbeknownst to her, all four judges had already returned to their seats, and their hands were on the voting devices on the table.
This was the real voting showdown.
Verbal support that hadn't yet turned into actual votes was nothing but a reflection in a mirror, a moon in the water, always liable to reverse.
Yuchuan Ayaka looked up.
On the big screen were the headshots of both culinary battle participants.
Below, the numbers of votes.
4 to 0!
Under her portrait, the number was zero!
Zero!!
After checking the numbers repeatedly with wide eyes, Yuchuan Ayaka froze as if struck by lightning, her face deathly pale.
...
The culinary competition came to a close with a huge reversal.
There were no cheers.
