The rules of the Extreme Spicy Curry Championship were simple: whoever finished the extreme spicy curry in the shortest time was the champion.

Contestants could participate in pairs, with one responsible for eating and the other for wiping sweat or cheering.

Individual participation was also allowed.

But this rule essentially eliminated those who wanted to compete alone.

Loneliness isn't scary. What's scary is being alone among couples.

When compared, one's own loneliness is magnified infinitely, appearing particularly bleak.

Not even a free three-year meal voucher would entice someone to participate alone.

The Aurora Comics Department had three teams in the contest.

One team was Phoenix Academy Maggie and Aozawa.

The second team was Hojo Tetsuji and Yoshikawa Sayuri.

The third team was Nomura True Wave and Furusawa Kyoichiro.

The two had been in the same school and class since elementary school.

But Nomura True Wave denied that she and Furusawa Kyoichiro were childhood sweethearts. In her opinion, only those who were together in kindergarten qualified as childhood sweethearts.

Elementary school didn't count.

"Welcome, everyone, to our shop's 30th Extreme Spicy Curry Championship! This year, 21 teams are participating. Who will take the crown? Let's wait and see!" announced the host.

The host, being a waiter from the restaurant, naturally wasn't very professional. The spectators gathered didn't care much for commentary, merely sizing up the brave souls daring to tackle the extreme spice.

The team of Aozawa and Phoenix Academy Maggie attracted particular attention.

The other teams all had boys sitting at the tables; only this team had a girl, and a beautiful blonde one at that.

Everyone was naturally curious to see if this girl could handle spicy food.

Phoenix Academy Maggie sat upright in her chair, a circular number nine placard on the table's edge, facing a plate of extreme spicy curry.

The curry, blood-red like magma, covered a small amount of white rice and bubbled occasionally, making it look even more like lava.

Aozawa looked at the curry on the plate and swallowed, having no intention of cheering her on.

Eating such extremely spicy food is like torture, he thought.

"Maggie, don't force yourself. We can just give up if it's too much," he said.

"Go for it, Tetsuji!" Yoshikawa Sayuri clenched her fists, fully embracing her role in the cheering squad, energizing Hojo Tetsuji.

"YEAH!" Hojo Tetsuji exclaimed, his enthusiasm so intense it seemed his sunglasses might shatter, the fervor almost manifesting as flames wrapping around his body.

"Don't lose, Kyoichiro," Nomura True Wave urged.

"Don't worry. I can't possibly lose to the same person twice," Furusawa Kyoichiro proclaimed, pushing his glasses up his nose, his face set with determination.

"Start the competition!"

At the host's command, Furusawa Kyoichiro immediately scooped up a spoonful and brought it to his mouth.

A burst of fire instantly exploded on his tongue.

Without any change in expression, he set down the spoon and said, "I forfeit."

Nomura True Wave sighed. "You're really useless."

"Shut up! This isn't even food meant for humans!"

Furusawa Kyoichiro didn't persist. After one taste, he knew he could never finish the plate.

Rather than give up halfway, it's better to cut my losses and save my chrysanthemum, he figured.

「...」

Less than a minute into the competition, three contestants had already forfeited.

Phoenix Academy Maggie didn't mock their weak willpower.

In fact, after taking a bite herself, she understood that the term 'extreme spicy' was truly deserved.

The curry burned like a ball of fire on her tongue, then slid down her throat into her stomach.

Her entire body felt numb.

It was my mistake; I shouldn't have underestimated the power of extreme spice. This can no longer be considered food; it's more apt to call it a ball of fire, she thought, as an instant flush spread across her fair cheeks and sweat beaded on her forehead.

She began to pant, "HUFF... HUFF..."

Aozawa pulled out a tissue and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Maggie, don't push yourself. Just give up. Extreme spice is no joke."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Mere extreme spice is nothing at all!" Phoenix Academy Maggie retorted, still feigning toughness. Her eyes scanned left and right, noticing others were still eating, especially Hojo Tetsuji.

His face showed great pain, and he was sweating profusely, yet he continued to shovel large mouthfuls of rice and extreme spicy curry.

Phoenix Academy Maggie knew Hojo Tetsuji wasn't eating so voraciously because he liked extreme spicy curry. He persevered only because of his love for Yoshikawa Sayuri. I have the same kind of feelings! There's no reason Hojo Tetsuji can eat it and I can't!

Phoenix Academy Maggie's eyes sharpened.

She scooped a little rice mixed with a lot of extreme spicy curry onto her spoon and brought it to her mouth, eating in large bites like Hojo Tetsuji.

It was like one fire after another burning unceasingly in her mouth and stomach. From head to toe, she felt like the Monkey King trapped in the Alchemy Furnace, sweating profusely.

To keep the sweat from getting into her eyes, Aozawa carefully wiped it away for her.

Under the drenching sweat, the thin tissue felt almost non-existent, allowing her to clearly feel the touch of Aozawa's fingertips.

She suddenly understood why Nomura True Wave had her participate in this event with Aozawa. No matter what the future held, she, Phoenix Academy Maggie, would never forget this moment—going on a date with a boy, participating in an Extreme Spicy Curry Championship, and sweating buckets from the spice. Aozawa probably wouldn't forget either: a girl who couldn't handle spicy food joining such a competition, sweating so much he had to wipe it for her.

As Phoenix Academy Maggie thought of this, a fierce fighting spirit ignited within her, resonating with the flames in her mouth and stomach as she voraciously shoveled curry into herself.

Through her relentless effort, the rice was gone.

"Contestant number nine is in great danger! She's run out of rice to neutralize the insanely spicy curry!" the host exclaimed.

Phoenix Academy Maggie looked at the lava-like curry, panting, scorching heat emanating from her mouth.

"Maggie, can you hold on?" Aozawa, sitting beside her, seemed even more nervous than she was. It would be such a shame if she gave up after getting this far, he thought. All the spiciness she endured before would be for nothing, and she'd still face a wrecked chrysanthemum tomorrow.

He glanced at the other contestants; most of them still had rice. Only Hojo Tetsuji and Phoenix Academy Maggie had no rice left.

However, I can tell Hojo Tetsuji is done for, Aozawa observed. His hands are still moving, but he's just scooping air; his rice has been gone for a while. It's only his tenacious will keeping him from collapsing.

"Maggie, we're in the lead! If you can eat it all in one go, we'll win!"

Aozawa's voice seems so far away, Phoenix Academy Maggie thought, her consciousness growing blurry. She stared at the fiery red curry. It's as if tiny figures are emerging from it, mocking and provoking me. Damn it! I've come this far; how can I possibly admit defeat?!

Phoenix Academy Maggie put down her spoon and grabbed the plate with both hands.

"AAAAAH!"

For the first time in public, she let out a mighty roar.

"You can do it, Maggie!" Aozawa encouraged.

Phoenix Academy Maggie began to pour the curry into her mouth.

I want to make this a moment neither Aozawa nor I can ever forget, she resolved. Even years from now, we'll both be able to recall it. Whether it's with pride or as a dark chapter in our history won't matter. In a lifetime, so few moments truly stay in your memory. Every single one is worth cherishing.

Phoenix Academy Maggie drank all the curry on the plate in one go.

The moment she put down the plate, it was as if she saw her father in the Celestial Kingdom beckoning to her, the stairs already laid out. I just need to walk up those stairs to meet Father, she thought, her senses reeling.

"The competition is over! Contestant number nine wins this Extreme Spicy Curry Championship! What a surprise—such a beautiful girl is so good at eating spicy food!"

"Maggie, we won!" Aozawa excitedly grabbed Phoenix Academy Maggie's shoulders and shook her.

This brought Phoenix Academy Maggie back from the stairway to Paradise. She looked at the audience before her and chuckled, "Haha."

She smiled.

My tongue and mouth feel so swollen from the spice, she thought. It even seems hard to speak.

「...」

After the competition ended, Hojo Tetsuji left early, wanting to undertake training for extreme spiciness.

Aozawa, who always struggled to understand Hojo Tetsuji's thought processes, could only choose to be understanding this time.

He accompanied Phoenix Academy Maggie into the store to claim her prize: a year's free curry meal voucher.

To be fair, the store wasn't stingy with the prize.

The voucher for a year's worth of free curry could be transferred to someone else, but once used by that person, it would only be valid for them thereafter.

Phoenix Academy Maggie wasn't very interested in curry. She glanced at Aozawa and said, "This is for you."

Aozawa was momentarily stunned, then shook his head. "I don't really like curry. It would be a waste to give it to me."

"I like it~" Nomura True Wave raised her hand and, with a grin, moved closer to Phoenix Academy Maggie. "Give me the voucher."

Phoenix Academy Maggie also smiled, her voice soft. "Aozawa, go get me a bottle of water."

"Sure thing." Aozawa nodded and turned to get water from the shop's fridge.

Phoenix Academy Maggie's smile grew even more amiable as she said, "Makoto, you wouldn't have sweet-talked me into joining this competition just for this voucher, would you?"

Nomura True Wave looked shocked. "Maggie, what are you thinking? Am I that kind of person?"

"Before the competition, you said guys love curry and getting a free one-year voucher would make them very happy."

"Correction, I said most guys." Nomura True Wave felt compelled to set the record straight; she had never said Aozawa liked curry. Phoenix Academy Maggie had imagined all the subsequent details.

"Gallows!" Phoenix Academy Maggie wasn't interested in playing word games. She locked her right hand directly around Nomura True Wave's neck, squeezing tighter.

This girl! She actually schemed against me for a year's worth of curry vouchers! Phoenix Academy Maggie fumed internally.

"Ow, it hurts! I can't breathe, Maggie! I'm sorry, please forgive me this time! But a year's worth of curry vouchers is really tempting!" Nomura True Wave pleaded for mercy quickly.

Phoenix Academy Maggie didn't respond, just increased her grip.

Furusawa Kyoichiro stroked his chin. Hmm, seeing her reaction... could it be Phoenix Academy Maggie has feelings for Aozawa?! he mused. Realizing this shocking possibility, his eyes gleamed, the thrill of such juicy gossip exciting him. So the rumors in class must be false!

"Maggie! Please forgive me!" Nomura True Wave begged pitifully, knowing the young lady had a tough exterior but a soft heart.