As promised... after six years going through my post-secondary career and beyond, since July 5, 2014, one month since the last update on October 27, the final chapter of "Culinary Rivals" is here in November 2020! I figured that in light of current events this month, it was better to take writing slow until things settle down. I had hoped to end this story with a bang, but that's not happening. For your pleasure too, I've prepared a menu on my profile to help guide you readers on the past chapters. Fun fact: "Culinary Rivals" was NOT supposed to reach 88 chapters, but thanks to you readers, this was the result, and I'm fine with that!

DaX0315: Glad you enjoyed the past chapter! And hats off to you for sticking around with this story for the past four years!

Ou7X: And thanks also for sticking around! *cries* You could tell they were moon cakes huh? (even though I never mentioned them by name haha) That makes two of us!

Cosmo light: Gosh. You love both black sesame balls and moon cakes too?! We have similar tastes! Honestly, I'm just as sad to finish the story, but it must be completed :')

Shoutout to the honoured Guests as well. So, please sit back, enjoy the food from the previous chapter (yes, yes, soup, salad, and the tasty desserts I just ranted on about), and savour this final chapter. Consider this a Christmas present for what has been a strange year!


Chapter eighty-eight: Petit Dinner Hours

There were more people at the beach than Steven and Cynthia expected.

They both walked together behind Sophie, who looked like she was clutching Laurent's arm for dear life. In Steven's view, it looked adorable too. But besides that, he and Cynthia looked at the beach to see many familiar faces. Diantha was there, along with the trio of Viola, Grant, and Korrina, and even Fantina! For the record, both Steven and Cynthia put away their disguises, as they agreed it might have done more harm than good to leave them on.

Winona and Lisia were standing near the shore, talking with each other.

And of course, where these familiar faces were, along with Sophie and Laurent, a certain redhaired young woman had to be around. Martine Grenadine saw her boss arrive pretty much immediately and then went to greet him. Steven wasn't sure whether to be less than pleased or to greet her politely. It was impossible that everyone was here by coincidence.

"Bon après-midi, boss!" Martine greeted, smiling.

Steven and Cynthia looked at each other. It appeared that Cynthia had the same thoughts as Steven had. How was it possible that Martine and everyone else knew to find them here?

"Martine…" Steven started, unable to find words. "How?"

"Sheesh, you know how to make a greeting, boss," Martine rolled her eyes playfully. "Even with Cynthia beside you, your impressions need work." So she looked to Cynthia instead. "Bonjour, Cynthia!"

It looked like Cynthia was blanking out too. "Martine. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, the staff figured we all deserved a long, good, break," Martine replied. "Don't fret. James is taking things well back home, and barman is helping already too. We've got you covered!" She put her hands on her hips and leaned forward as if to analyse her bosses. "I heard from Steven that you were off to Undella Town outside your office, so I kind of… shared that with Lisia, and Lisia told her uncle, and then her uncle told everyone else…"

Steven and Cynthia felt like mentally slapping themselves in the face. The last time Steven felt like this was over two weeks ago when he was returning from Lumiose the second time back to Cyllage City. Why don't secrets ever last? Because if people knew more about them, it would be much harder to keep someone from spilling the beans, much less if at least one person was willing to speak openly about it.

Even though Steven could trust Martine to keep certain secrets, other secrets – like ones that could embarrass him or invade his life – were more likely to leak out. Already he and Cynthia tried to keep their relationship secret and out of media attention.

That effort had failed miserably, and not just because it had been openly published by the Richissime Guide for the world to know and see. How much more could their secret getaway to Undella Town be kept hidden? Clearly that wasn't happening either. Martine had leaked the secret, and it ended up with Wallace, and Steven could only guess what kinds of mayhem filled Wallace's mind after. This was the result.

"Martine…!" Steven started growling.

"Oh, relax boss. Before you and Cynthia explode on me, let me tell you that you're only a small part of this," Martine replied. She looked at Laurent and Sophie for a moment and then returned to her bosses. "As our lovely receptionist couple here might have told you, you two are a small part of what's coming. In fact, I want you two to see this!"

That was a surprise. So this time, Cynthia and Steven weren't the ones getting the attention? That seemed unlikely since everyone was here in Undella Town. How could they – the two Richissime star-winning chefs – not have a large part? Unless Martine was bluffing, which appeared unlikely, this was a mystery for them both. But whatever anger had started building in Cynthia and Steven had quickly dissipated and been replaced by curiosity. A wave of relief swept their bodies.

Very interesting, Cynthia thought.

Furthermore, the two of them were either warmly or casually greeted by everyone else, like they knew they were coming. Viola had her camera with her but wasn't using it but instead was talking with her fellow Gym Leaders. Grant was munching on a bag of candy popcorn, and Korrina wasn't wearing her roller skates, which made sense since skating on sand was inconceivable.

Diantha and Fantina went up to meet Cynthia. "You're looking well, Cynthia. Better than ever!" Diantha greeted.

"Yes indeed!" Fantina clapped her hands. "Vacation has done you some good. Anyone can tell."

But despite feeling that wave of relief just minutes earlier, Cynthia's first words were, "Did Wallace drag you out here too, knowing I was here?"

Diantha smiled. "Partly, Cynthia. Partly. Oh, by the way, you looked good in that review in the Richissime Guide. There's no escaping now, but I suppose coming all the way here was fair." Noticing that Cynthia had rolled her eyes, Diantha added, "Come on, Cynthia. You should be happy! Your love life feels almost complete, non?"

Cynthia shrugged.

"Ah… But let's not dwell on Cynthia for the moment. There is something else we must attend to," Fantina said, nudging Cynthia to look at the shore where Winona stood.

"Fantina, I still don't know what's going on…" Cynthia complained.

It felt like Cynthia was wading into a shroud of mysteries and a deep unknown. But she couldn't complain as she would soon find out soon enough. As she looked, Cynthia saw Martine dragging Steven closer to the shore too. What was there to be excited about? Martine had dragged him to where Winona and Lisia stood. Oddly enough, Cynthia noticed, Martine had deliberately chosen a spot where Winona would not notice them watching.

"Martine, can you tell me what's happening?" Steven asked. "I'm told this has something to do with – hmmmmm?!" Immediately Martine clamped Steven's mouth with her hand to prevent him from speaking further. Was it to stay undetected or something? As clueless as he was, Steven had to wonder where Wallace was.

In the distance of Undella Bay the waves seemed to recoil and then a single wave was slowly but surely making its way to the Undella Town shore. Steven's face paled when he recognised what it was almost immediately – the impending impact of a Surf attack. He had seen this used too many times in his Champion days that anticipating it was second nature to him.

And now that wave was about to crash on top of a clueless Winona!

Winona… Steven thought. Not that there was anything he could do to warn her though, because Martine still had her hand clamped over his mouth. So Steven wondered how long it would take before Winona noticed.

Too late, it seemed, because by the time Winona could make sense of an incoming wave that looked larger than normal, the wave would crash on her in due time. Indeed, a ceiling of seawater soon came on top of her by the time she tried turning around. The water had flattened her onto the sand and then Winona reappeared, drenched in water and sand. But he had to at least admit it was amazing how Winona didn't notice the wave.

From the way it looked, it was absolutely pointless, but Steven knew enough there was probably more to this. This had to have been planned.

And soon enough, he was proven right. After the water had subsided and recoiled back to the bay, Steven saw Wallace standing in place. Yes, Wallace was standing beside the crushed Winona, who was still lying flat on the sand.

From a similar distance away, Cynthia had also watched the pointless ordeal happen in front of her. To her amazement she saw that no one around her was surprised, except for Steven perhaps. Then she guessed this must have been staged, and by Wallace no less. Why else would he appear out of that wave in the next instant?

"Winona, dear! You know you could have just avoided that wave, you know," Wallace said, kneeling down to help Winona on her feet. "You know this isn't the first time."

And when Winona finally did get back on her feet, her first reaction was to ball her hand into a fist and punch Wallace in the face (SMACK). Wallace, as expected, was knocked flat onto the sand. "Did you really, really, have to do that?!" she shrieked.

Along with Diantha and Fantina beside her, Cynthia almost smiled. She had heard the stories a few times from Martine and Lisia about Winona's punching antics toward Wallace. It was almost like a lovers' quarrel made comedic. Supposedly, the punching had started shortly after Cynthia had made croquembouche on the wedding night. Winona had started out by slapping Wallace in the face, and then a misleading remark from Lisia caused Winona to turn to punches instead. Winona, however, insisted that she had always done punches to begin with, so anyone who asked would just leave her be. Though Cynthia had to wonder how Wallace could put up with that.

"Aw, Winona, ma chérie," Wallace said. "You don't remember that? You must! It's important!"

Winona glared. "Of course I remember! Don't you remember how fired up I was after that?!"

Their quarrel was already attracting attention, but Cynthia noticed that no one looked surprise. Was this argument planned?! She wouldn't think Winona could have expected this. Then again, only Wallace could plan such things and get away with it.

"It was a romantic evening," Wallace said poetically. "And you know, right? That was when I asked you out for the first time."

Winona paused. But it wasn't long that she balled her hand into a fist to punch Wallace in the face (Steven alone was expecting the 'SMACK' noise) again. But this time was different as Wallace seemed to have expected Winona to, so he smoothly stepped aside, taking hold of Winona's wrist and then guiding her arm and body to his. He looked at her in the eyes.

"I love you, Winona," he said to her, his words as smooth as his actions.

And then Wallace surprised her with a sudden kiss which, to his personal surprise, Winona did not fight back. Perhaps either Winona was too surprised or shocked that her senses were fried for the moment. After their lips separated, Wallace could see Winona's face had turned bright pink and her eyes were blinking rapidly, as if trying to comprehend what was going on.

The shock and surprise did not relent because Wallace was soon down on one knee and from his sleeve pulled out a genuine engagement ring, causing Winona to gasp. Wallace, her boyfriend, was now proposing before her!

"You know you said you would break up again with me countless times…" Wallace started. "We've broken up before. But you know what, Winona? I can't take that. I… I always want to be by your side! Breaking up with you, I can't handle. But you know what I can handle? Your punching. I can take as many punches you can throw at me."

Winona had to smile. So Wallace could put up with her punches in stride, and her smile did not falter when Wallace followed up with the inevitable question. "So, will you marry me?"

It was difficult to not be aware of how many eyes were fixed on them. Even Winona knew too well, Wallace must have told everybody that this was coming. With the mild exception of Cynthia and Steven, everyone wore no expressions of surprise but of anticipation.

Winona nodded eagerly, to cheers and applause from everyone watching. Wallace, smiling genuinely, got up and embraced her tightly. For Steven, it warmed his heart seeing his friend smiling like that for as long as he had known him.

Martine noticed Steven's smile, naturally. She lowered her head slightly to look up at Steven's face. "I didn't know you could smile like that, boss. It's like you're happy for Wallace."

"But I am happy for him," he replied. "As a fellow Champion, how could I not."

As they watched Wallace and Winona finally separate, they also realised that Wallace was waving for their attention. In particular, he was looking at Martine.

"Oh, and one more thing, boss…" Martine's voice was small, almost like she was too timid to say it. "You could tell this proposal was planned and Wallace invited everyone to come watch." She fiddled with her fingers while looking down, which gave Steven a bad feeling. "But he… kind of went around promising you and Cynthia would make dinner – for free, which was the selling point."

She looked back up at her boss' eyes, which showed nothing short of disbelief. "Oh, come now, boss!" Martine gently patted Steven's arm. "Look on the bright side! You're cooking a celebratory dinner again for close friends like us! And for once, you and Cynthia aren't in the spotlight."

Steven groaned.


It was fortunate that the expected attendance was no more than twenty, so less people than at the celebration dinner last week. Steven and Cynthia wouldn't otherwise have had enough food to prepare. Ironically enough, the villa was resembling the restaurant Steven and Cynthia worked at. Steven and Cynthia were working together at the kitchen while Martine, Sophie, and Laurent would help distribute the food.

And it was also a good thing that, as Steven had been well aware since first stepping in, the villa was very spacious. It wasn't crowded at all in the villa and there was plenty of space to mingle around.

Also fortunate was that the food had been graciously paid for by Wallace. Despite getting Steven to cook, he recognised that food came at a cost and he was willing to pay for it. All he needed was a favour from Steven and Cynthia in which they reluctantly obliged with no objections. Wallace supposed there was too much peer pressure on them, which worked out fine.

Not that Wallace had any food or what to make in mind. He simply bought some ingredients and hoped they could work some kind of miracle.

"I have full confidence in you two!" he said. "Don't disappoint me and Winona, okay?"

"Well, that sure makes us feel a lot better, doesn't it?" Cynthia sighed.

Like that wedding banquet that was held in the Stone Restaurant and Bistro some seven weeks ago, Steven and Cynthia were playing host and providing the food, but the attention would be on the couple. The main difference was that the couple was Wallace and Winona, which somehow made this occasion rather special.

And as usual, Cynthia and Steven went about with their specialisations, despite how little time they had. They had to make quality food, but for a large attendance and with limited resources and little time to prepare.

For that reason, Steven had resorted to creating a simplified version of his Stone Accolade dish but as toasted sandwiches. If he had more time, he would have liked to make servings of Accolade en croute, but that wasn't happening. He had the spices, mushrooms, and beef needed to assemble the sandwiches, but there would be no cheese. However, he did lace the bread with spices and garlic and hoped the flavour would be brought out once they were toasted.

Cynthia meanwhile had the benefit of having plenty of choux pastry leftover from lunch, but not enough ice cream for everyone. But Wallace also happened to supply cream cheese, Nomel berries, and strawberries. Was he hoping Cynthia would make a cheesecake out of these? But Cynthia settled on making another set of profiteroles, but filled with strawberry cheesecake instead. She set about making two sets, which seemed enough. At this point, the profiteroles were being baked in the oven, and by the time they were done, Cynthia would have completed her cheesecake mix.

The two chefs working together in the same kitchen was a sensational show to anyone who watched them. Wallace and Winona themselves couldn't think of anything else they'd rather be doing, so they watched them make, bake, and cook. Like the cook-off in Lumiose, Cynthia and Steven were performing before an audience, but this time as if a duet in a concert. Their culinary skills were something to behold and marvel, even though what they were making appeared simple.

Very soon, the first servings of toasted sandwiches were being served by Martine, who served them to Wallace and Winona (with a third brought to Lisia shortly after by Sophie). After all, they deserved credit for organising this occasion and the spotlight tonight. Who wouldn't be curious to ask what their wedding plans were? As it happened, Martine asked exactly that to Wallace.

"I can tell you that Steven will be there," Wallace replied. "I will make him and Cynthia cook for us, and who knows?" He dropped to a low voice to that only Martine could hear. "I'm sure he could spend more quality time with Cynthia…"

Then he looked at Sophie. "Or, I could set up Laurent to propose to Sophie too. What do you think?"

Martine giggled. "You shouldn't say that. They've only started dating, you know." She watched the two receptionists talk with each other a few steps away. They were sharing a couple of profiteroles too and split a sandwich. Compared to Steven and Cynthia Martine thought Sophie and Laurent's relationship was relatively mild.

"Then who else could I target?" When Wallace saw Martine dart her eyes to Steven and Cynthia, he could only laugh. "No no, not those two. I am confident Steven will know when the time is right. That reminds me, I must remember to invite him as my best man." He helped himself to one of the sandwiches. "Let's talk about you, Martine! How is your love life going?"

Martine was happily enjoying a profiterole though, savouring its sweet and creamy texture from the cheesecake. She replied. "What matters to me at the moment is keeping Steven's love life in check." While munching away, Martine gazed back at Steven. "I'm just really happy for him. To think he started out hating her, despite being former Champions!" She looked at her profiterole to see the cream inside.

Her reaction partly disappointed Wallace. In Wallace's view, Martine apparently was harder to play around with as opposed to Sophie and Laurent. Worse still, he was on the receiving end of his own antics from Martine herself.

"But enough about me," Martine said, apparently shifting the burden back on Wallace. "Let's talk about your wedding plans. You know, you'll have to do lots of planning, and then you have decide on your kind of dress. No, Wallace, your clothes right now simply won't do."

Wallace looked irritated and defeated at the same time, with Winona and Lisia, eating their sandwiches, giving him amused looks. How often was it that he was on the receiving end of this conversation?

Smiling again, Martine took a sip of sirop de grenadine and took a long look at the villa around her. Everyone was mingling, possibly speculating what sort of wedding Wallace would have, while they enjoyed their food. That led Martine to think, if Cynthia and Steven could prepare this much food and at this kind of quality, what would they ever do for Wallace's wedding? Assuming they would agree to cooking, that is?

But Martine thought that was thinking too far ahead, and so instead watched her bosses – Steven and Cynthia – sneak out the door. They needed to rest. But she still could marvel at how Steven had changed. Over two months ago, Steven had ranted to her about his hatred for Cynthia. Then just three weeks ago, Steven was in some kind of depression. And then that following week things had miraculously worked out between him and Cynthia, save for Cynthia's surprise visit. It had all happened so fast, Martine thought. Now, here they were. Smiling, Martine took another sip of her favourite drink.


Outside the villa, Cynthia and Steven were met with a gentle sea breeze similar to what they felt at Cyllage City. Given how many people were gathered in the villa at the moment and considering how long they spent in the warm kitchen, it wouldn't hurt to cool down outside. Even though it was a sunny afternoon, it was cooler outside which was welcoming. Quietly, they stood together looking at Undella Bay, which was very beautiful, but what they valued more was simply each other's presence. But still, there was some time for chatting.

Steven turned to look at her. "To think all this time, I saw you as a threat and rival, when all you wanted to do was… impress me with your cooking. But, as Martine tells me, I was just too busy covering up my feelings, not wanting others to know about them. Honestly, it's embarrassing, now that I look back on it."

"But you did fall for me earlier, didn't you?" Cynthia replied, patting Steven's shoulder while turning her head back to him. "Let me share a problem of my own, to be fair."

He smiled. He wanted to hear her out too.

Cynthia then bowed down, laughing to herself a little. "There is that saying… The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Upon saying that she heard Steven's smile turn to chuckles, then she added, "But I had this thought, Steven. What if that 'man' seems to be a way better cook than you are? I bet I'm the first woman ever to come across that."

Steven nodded in agreement. He had heard that saying of course, but never considered the odds of this particular problem ever arising – that that one man happened to be as good a cook. As Cynthia implied, the two of them were the very definition of that problem, and it brought them out in trials of tears, depression, public scrutiny, and food. He didn't need to add that he was that 'man' Cynthia was describing.

Instead he asked, "And did you ever find the answer, Cynthia?"

In response, Cynthia gently put her hand behind Steven's head to guide his face closer to hers. "Oui, I did." She pressed Steven's lips against hers, while they both smiled into the kiss.

Their kiss tasted better than anything they could have cooked or imagined.


It's time to pay the bill for all the delicious foods you've enjoyed here... but Cynthia and Steven say it's their treat. Take a Stone Accolate sandwich and a strawberry cheesecake profiterole as you go!

And that's the conclusion to "Culinary Rivals"! Thanks for reading!