~ Next Day, outside of Shino's and Ichigo POV ~

After our match against Team Angela, Miss Sully immediately gave us an envelope for each team member. Once my team got to Tsukasa's summer mansion, we open the envelope to see a letter about our next round. Satomi and I are outside Shino's, she looking nervous while fiddling with her dress. Shino's is the most famous restaurant in France and there is someone Satomi knows really well and who apparently looks almost like her.

Satomi: please tell me his in Tokyo and not Paris.

We walk inside to see Koshiro and Antonio members of Team Koshiro, Lucie and Gao. Lucie and Gao notice their presence and they smile at us.

Lucie: Ichigo-chan, Satomi-chan your here.
Satomi and Ichigo: Hi Lucie-san, Gao-san.
Satomi: Ah...you know who here?
Kojiro: Yes. I'm here Satomi

Satomi: * sad tone * Yay !!
Antonio: I didn't know you have an older brother, Satomi.
Satomi: I don't have an older brother, his cousin. People really take us, brother and sister, since we do look the same except for our hair color, yours is coral and my hair color is pink.
Kojiro: I hope both of you are ready for today's challenge?
Ichigo: of course, we're always ready.
???: ah...I didn't know the Queen and Goddess of Dessert will participate in the Cake Grand Prix.

Satomi and I turn around to see Azami Nakiri smiling to the both of us.

Ichigo: Nakiri-san, I didn't know you're going to be a judge.
Azami: well...Saiba-san ask me if I could be a judge for the Cake Grand Prix, so I couldn't say no to my senior. It's good to see you again Satomi-san.
Satomi: yes, it's being long Nakiri-Kun. Please do visit Totsuki Culinary Academy, Erina-san will surely be glad to see you again.
Azami: I'll make sure to get the first ticket to Japan once the Cake Grand Prix is over.
Henri: Today you'll have 4 judges tasting your sweets that your making for this round, the judges are the Chairman, Moriyama...

Chairman Moriyama: ah...Ichigo you grown well.
Ichigo: Thank you.
Henri: myself along with Azami and Kojiro
Satomi: what our challenge today Nakiri-san, Kojiro?
Kojiro: today's challenge is making any French dessert, all the ingredients you need is here. You only have 2 hours.
Miya: Antonio, we have to win this challenge and show that team Ichigo's score is just a fluke.
Antonio: yes, Lady Koshiro.
Koshiro: Satou, Shiotani please bring the chocolate from Chateau Sweets Company.
Ichigo: isn't that Ritsu specialty?
Satomi: it is, luckily Ritsu taught me a few French desserts.
Ichigo: then you'll be the head Patissiere, Satomi.
Satomi: Me...but I thought we could do * whisper to Ichigo * Croquembouche.
Ichigo: that a good idea, then lets start baking.

~ Third POV ~

Ichigo and Satomi went to their station and got the ingredients they needed. Satomi preheat the oven to 425 degrees while Ichigo got a large saucepan, 2 cups, flour, 14 eggs, water, unsalted butter, salt and granulated sugar. Ichigo bring the water, butter, salt, and sugar to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.

When it boils, she immediately take the pan off the heat. Stirring with a wooden spoon, add all the flour at once and stir hard until all the flour is incorporated, 30 to 60 seconds. Ichigo return the pan to the heat and cook, stirring, 30 seconds to evaporate some of the moisture. Satomi scrape the mixture into a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. She mix at medium speed. With the mixer running, and working 1 egg at a time, Satomi added 6 of the eggs, stopping after each addition to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Ichigo mixes the dough until it is smooth and glossy and the eggs are completely incorporated. The dough is thick, but falls slowly and steadily from the beaters when she lifts them out of the bowl. Using a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip, pipe the dough in big kisses onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Satomi whisk 2 eggs with 3 teaspoons of water. Brush the surface of the dough with the egg wash to knock down the points. The Croquembouche is baked in 15 minutes, but then Ichigo reduces the heat to 375-degrees and bake until puffed up and light golden brown.

~ 20 minutes later ~

Satomi starts to wear the oven gloves and took out the Croquembouche and place them on the baking sheet to let it cool down. In a medium saucepan, Ichigo heat the milk and vanilla bean to a boil over medium heat. She immediately turn off the heat and set aside to infuse for 10 to 15 minutes. In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the cornstarch and whisk vigorously until no lumps remain. Whisk in 1/4 cup of the hot milk mixture until incorporated. Whisk in the remaining hot milk mixture, reserving the empty saucepan.

While Ichigo is making the filling for the Croquembouche, Satomi is making candy art for the Croquembouche. Meanwhile Miya and Antonio are making a Chocolate Crème brûlée.

~ 2 hours later ~

Kojiro: Times up, Team Koshiro please present us your dish.

Miya and Antonio present their dish to the judges, the judges look at Miya's and Antonio's dish.

Azami: I believe you have made a Chocolate Crème Brûlée.
Miya: yes, we use the finest of chocolate made by my father's Chateau Sweets Company.
Kojiro: I see.

Henri, Moriyama, Azami and Kojiro tasted the chocolate créme brûlée.

Henri: amazing.
Moriyama: delicious.
Azami: hmm...it's not perfect enough.
Miya: WHAT !!! * angry *
Kojiro: I have to agree with Azami, you didn't put in your heart to make your sweets delicious that what you lack.
Miya: how dare you say about my chocolate I used the best chocolate in the world and I put my heart for Makoto.
Satomi: that's the problem.
Miya: WHAT !!
Satomi: you put your heart for Makoto, sweets are supposed to be made for everyone and not for one person. I'm surprised that your still a student of St. Marie Academy, if you were in Totsuki Culinary Academy you'll be expelled immediately.
Miya: Tch.
Antonio: Lady Miya.

A few moments and the judges gave Team Koshiro their score. Henri gave Team Koshiro 10 points, Moriyama gave Team Koshiro 11 points, Azami gave Team Koshiro 6 and Kojiro gave Team Koshiro 6 points.

Team Koshiro - 33 points

Ichigo: Nakiri-san, Shinomiya-san aren't you being a bit too lenient.
Antonio: too lenient ?!? That not lenient at all !?!
Kojiro: actually Ichigo is right. Azami and I were a bit too lenient on Team Koshiro, if this was served to me in the Totsuki Autumn Election you'll only gain zero points.
Azami: to explain the Totsuki Autumn Election is a way to find the next Elite Ten for Totsuki Culinary Academy, only sixty first-year high school students that are chosen by the Elite Ten can participate. After the preliminaries, only 8 first-year school students can advance to the main tournament.
Henri and Moriyama: * shocked * only 8 first-year school students can advance to the main tournament.
Satomi: yes, that how Totsuki work.
Ichigo: The school that takes out the weak students out of Totsuki.
Kojiro: now for Team Ichigo turn.

Ichigo and Satomi bring their Croquembouche to the judges, Henri and Moriyama are in shocked to see a beautiful French dessert present in front of them.

Ichigo and Satomi: Please enjoy.

Henri, Moriyama, Azami and Kojiro tasted the Croquembouche.

Henri: this...this is delicious
Moriyama: it's different than any croquembouche I tasted before.
Azami: splendid work Ichigo and Satomi, the two of you are worthy of holding the 1st and 3rd seat of the Superiore Primo Pasticceria.
Kojiro: yes, but it seems you two are holding back. Why?
Satomi: is it not obvious Kojiro, were holding back because these two are weak.
Ichigo: we'll show our true colors in the finals.

A few moments and the judges gave Team Ichigo their score. Henri gave Team Ichigo 19 points, Moriyama gave Team Ichigo 19 points, Azami gave Team Ichigo 19 and Kojiro gave Team Ichigo 19 points.

Team Ichigo - 76 points

Henri: Ichigo and Satomi wins this round, congratulations girls
Ichigo and Satomi: Thank you
Satomi: huh....and here I thought we'll get perfect points.
Ichigo: well we didn't use our full potential remember, we save it for the finals.
Satomi: yes. Hey Ichigo do you think Ritsu and Tsukasa win their challenge?
Ichigo: is it obvious, Ritsu holds the 4th seat and Tsukasa holds the 2nd seat of the Superiore Primo Pasticceria. So of course they win their challenge beside Ritsu expert of French desserts.