#kinda experimental and im not too pleased with the outcome

[mawmore]

☠️💜

[madokasoratsugu]

buckle in folks, IM POSITIVELY SHOOK BY HOW GOOD THIS UPDATE WAS AND IM GONNA TELL YOU W H Y. this is also kinda weepy bc im Emotional. major spoilers for shokugeki no soma chap240 so please be aware !!

Quick TL;DR: Megumi has exponentially grown in this series, and her character development is showcased brilliantly through this one chapter via: her skill set improvement and her emotional+mental growth. Despite her loss, her character development was much better handled as compared to Takumi’s match and ultimate win. In fact, the key point of her development is seen through recognition by 1) a world class gourmet/food critic 2) Akanegakubo Momo.

ONTO THE ACTUAL POST. which is under the cut bc this got Long.

Megumi lost. Which is the most believable thing that’s happened so far in this round of matches. But the way she lost was so goddamned good to her. A lot of people are saying how detrimental to Megumi’s character development this loss is, but yall aren’t seeing the big picture here !!! Megumi has grown so much, and how this update showcased it splendidly (well. not as splendidly as it could have been but im not nitpicking here.) -  in two main aspects: her skill growth and emotional growth.

1) In terms of skill:

Megumi used French techniques. A big, huge leap from her Japanese cuisine origins, and she executed it well enough that the judges were able to be taken aback by it. She wasn’t cowed by the fact that she was using something new on the spot, by instead showcased it proudly.

This is a huge difference from the AE preliminaries, where its shown that she was nervous and lacked confidence even in cutting goosefish, the One Thing that she’s been training to do as a child.

But now, she’s able to stand her own ground !! Even when its something new and experimental, something she has no idea would even work or not !!

WHICH LEADS ME TO: 2) Her emotional growth (god i wanna die from how good this chapter has been in terms of Megumi’s emotional growth.)

This is a girl who was so nervous during her first year she was failing all her classes due to it. This is a girl who was stumbling around a kitchen even during the AE preliminaries. And now she’s able to hold her head up high, and say: this is not over yet. The timid girl who used to give up too easily now fights back tooth and nail for even a hint of a possibility, and if you can’t see that as growth idk what you’re on.

Like my girl straight up challenged Momo in her own forte. Like for god’s sake, that is such an incredibly courageous move for someone who used to be scared of her own shadow a few months ago. AND MIGHT I REMIND YALL, Megumi personally requested to fight against the 4th seat of Tootsuki. What a bamf.

HER EMOTIONAL GROWTH is so astounding. Megumi used to break down whenever she was confronted with anything remotely challenging. Her social anxiety would take over, and she was literally on the brink of expulsion (that she was very ready to accept, by the way) because of her timid nature. Megumi doesn’t give up, but she does accept very, very unfair hands dealt to her “just because”. And she’s just been beat down the lowest she’s ever been; did she simply accept her fate, like the old her was prone to do?  

No. Here’s the thing: Megumi fights back. For once, she fights back against her weak willed self that was too ready to accept everything thrust upon her. Megumi does everything in her power to give Momo a fight to remember, and when she loses, she doesn’t simply berate herself. She understands that she lost due to a lack of experience, and that she can grow stronger. She’s not the same weak person who would simply accept the fact that she can’t do anything and runs from her problems, but instead faces her problems head on and says: i’ll beat you next time.

And speaking in general about the update: this was the best possible outcome for Megumi, considering how she was up against the Elite Ten’s 4th seat.

Like i’ve mentioned before multiple times, it would have been highly improbable for her to have won, especially in a match up against Momo’s specialty. But she gives Momo a run for her money, and snatches a point from her, through her own efforts, again showing her growth as a chef. (I would much rather have Anne said that Megumi got her vote because of her dish instead of potential to truly bring out Megumi’s improved cooking skills but eh this is kinda good too.)

Let’s not forget that this meant that Megumi was literally one point away from defeating Momo, something that the old her could never have done. With this 2-1 outcome, Megumi prevented Momo from attaining a sweeping win, which could have been ridiculously easy for a professional pastissier.

But Megumi stopped that. Megumi prevented Momo from winning all three votes, while challenging Momo to her own forte. Yall are overlooking this achievement, big time.

AND LASTLY, WHAT REALLY HAD ME FUCKIN S H O O K.

Akanegakubo Momo, who doesn’t even acknowledge certain members in the Elite Ten, has officially recognised Megumi as a worthy rival and cook. (Remember that Momo adds “nyan” or some variation to anyone’s name she looks down on)

YALL MOTHERFUCKERS JUST TRY AND TELL ME THIS ISN’T PIVOTAL TO MEGUMI’S CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.

This girl grew so much emotionally and mentally, to the point where even one of the hardest to please/impress characters in Shokugeki acknowledges her. I’m crying. Megumi didn’t win, but fucking BOY did she hit the jackpot in terms of character development for the Regiment Arc.

Head in my fuckin hands. Im in so much fuckin awe at how good this chapter was written considering all the bullshit that’s been pulled lately.

Megumi has achieved so much and grown immensely as a character, and so many people are willing to overlook it all just because she didn’t win. You are all fucking crazy.

Sure, a win would have been great, but i’ll take this satisfying character development (that hardly any character has experienced in this arc) over some half-assed plot armour win any day, thanks.