Chapter 2 – Polar Star Dormitory
Sorry for the grammatical errors.
"regular conversation"
"thoughts"
As Sena walks up the hill to get to her dormitory she looks around the campus to see different buildings. After 10 mins of walking, Sena gets frustrated and yells "Damn it! What the hell is wrong with this school!?" After 15 mins, she comes to her destination and looks at the building and worries "Seriously?!" She enters the building and hears a stampede and starts freaking out and thinks "A-an earthquake?!" She suddenly hears a lady in the intercom yelling and scolding the student's actions and behavior. Sena sweat drops, "How'd I end up in another freak show?"
A lady with spiky gray hair combed backwards with a headband stands on the stairway, she introduces herself, "I am the caretaker, Daimido Fumio."
Sena asks herself why she's here "Dad…I'm going to kill you! Why did you send me to a freak show?!"
Sena thoughts were cut off when the warden continues talking, "It's our famous challenge for those who wants to live here! You need to bring those ingredients in order to complete the challenge!"
Sena freaks out and exclaims "But I didn't bring any ingredients! This is new to me!"
Fumio with no concern tells her "Then…you'll have to camp out then"
"YOU GOT TO BE SERIOUS! My father neve-…never mind." Sena shuts up before going any further
"Hmm…? What about your father?" Fumio asks wanting to know more what she was about to say.
"It's nothing. Anyway isn't there any other way? I'm tired and I need a place to sleep." Sena comments with a whining voice.
"We only have leftover scraps in the dorm kitchen,…" Fumio was cut off when Sena asks a question "Does that mean I can cook with those scraps then?" Sena asks.
Fumio thinks "I don't like know it all brats, but I don't see why not" she replies "doubt anyone can create a dish good enough to pass the test. There's nothing but scraps" Fumio takes her to the dorm kitchen and lets Sena look around the kitchen. As Sena looks around she sees canned food, onion, and egg, Sena assures Fumio "Yes, this is plenty."
"What!?" Fumio exclaims in shock and watches her start cooking.
Sena starts cooking and makes 'Yukihira brand Kitchen Clearing Mackerel Hamburg Set'. Fumio tastes the final product and passes Sena due to her fantastic meal she created. She allows her to live in the dormitory. Fumio hands her a golden bronze key with her room number, 303. Sena takes her key and heads to take a shower/bath.
After entering the bathroom, she strips off her clothes and places them neatly in the basket placed on the shelves. Sena grabs a towel nearby and covers her body. She slides the door and she sees Tadokoro Megumi in the bathtub with a baby duck…
"KYAAAAA!" Tadokoro screams
"Tadokoro-san?" Sena asks
"AH! I'm sorry I screamed at you." Tadokoro realizes who it was and quickly apologizes
"Ahahahaha. It's alright." Sena laughs while rubbing back of her head with her right hand
"No! I'm really sorry." Tadokoro apologizes
"No, really. It's okay. Don't apologize. I'm sorry I barged in without knocking." Sena quickly reassures
"It's okay. Would you like to come in?" Tadokoro invites Sena in.
"Umm, you're taking a bath right now." Sena replies with awkwardness in her tone.
"Yes, I am." Tadokoro answers in a kind way, though as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"Isn't that bit weird?" Sena asks in wonderment
"Umm, no. Why should it?" Tadokoro asks
"Well, it's just…taking bath with someone is kind of weird isn't it?" Sena asks.
"Well…no. I don't think so." Tadokoro comments again
"Do everyone do this?" Sena asks with curiosity
"The girls in our dormitory does take bath together once in a while…it's quite enjoyable to talk to each other and enjoy each other's company." Tadokoro replies with a smile
"Umm, sorry I'm not use to taking bath with people. I find it really uncomfortable." Sena tells her.
"Oh, okay" Tadokoro starts tearing up since she thinks it was her that made her uncomfortable and feels really guilty.
Sena notices her change of behavior and quickly assures her "It's not you. I never went to bath houses where people just bathed together. Nor did I bathe with people. I guess you can say I was raised that way."
"Okay" Tadokoro says with relief
"I'll wait till you finish" Sena quickly excuses her help
"Okay" Tadokoro replies with smile
"No Problem…thanks" Sena comments
_scene break_
Sena gives a long sigh "…today was a long day." She looks at the phone on the corner edge of the bathtub and reaches out to get it. She starts looking at all the missed calls and messages left by her friend, but mostly by her father. She sighs "…that man…he's such a pain my ass sometimes". She starts dialing her father's number and calls him.
"Hello? Sena?! Is that you?" Joichirou asks
"Hey dad…how are you? I got those 148 text messages you left me, along with those 130 voice mails you sent….so, what do you want?" she speaks in an annoyed and tired tone.
A soft chuckle is heard on the other line "I just wanted to see how my little girl is doing that's all."
"Well for short, I find this school annoying…the campus is huge. I mean insanely huge. What kind of culinary school is this?! I would expect something like Ouhaku Private Academy, but a mere Culinary Academy to have this huge campus is crazy. I hate walking around this campus."
"Hahahaha, yea…I had the same problem. But…it's not that bad, right?" Joichirou agrees, but asks her opinion.
"Sigh…yea, it wasn't bad as I expected it to be. But the classes were really easy." Sena replies
"Sena…I want you to hide your true abilities." Joichirou suddenly comments out of the blue.
"Huh? What the hell are you talking about?" Sena asks in confused tone
"I presume you know about 'Shokugeki' right?" Joichirou asks
"Yea, we have them at Ouhaku, so what?" Sena answers while nodding.
"The 'Shokugeki' you have at your school is kind of different compared to Totsuki." Joichirou tells her
"Can you elaborate?" Sena asks
"The 'Shokugeki' overall is used to gain something, such as, positions in the elite ten. For example, your school requires the contestant to test in an auditorium with spectators and judges/examiners. To win a position in the elite ten you are required to test in every field subject there is in your school: language, literature, science, math, cooking and etc. However, for the seat in Factions, you are required to challenge in that subject. For example, in Law Faction you are required to challenge in any law related field. On the other hand, at Totsuki Academy whether it be gain for experience or positions, during the challenge you are having a cook off with your opponent. In order to win you need to make a dish better than your opponent and the winner is chosen by the judges. For positions in the Elite Ten, it's the same concept but more steps. By hiding your abilities you will have a trump card, but also you will have an ace in the hole during those 'camps'." Joichirou tells her.
Sena listens to her father on the other side. She rests her on her arms that is rested on the edge of the bathtub. "Sigh…I see...wait? You said camps. What 'camps' are you talking about?" she quickly asks suddenly.
She hears someone yelling her father's name and two other people talking about fasting and being a model for the disciples at the temple. "Dad? Where are you?" Sena asks curiously.
"Ahhh? I'm at VIP reception hall of Manhattan Royal Hotel. I went to India, Italy, and Spain. I will be in the east coast for a while." Joichirou replies
"Oh! New York! I miss that place. I went to some good concerts and plays." Sena brightly replies
"Yep." Joichirou agrees
"Anyway…I wanted to ask you about the camps." Sena quickly asks
"Oh! The camps are technically an elimination camp. They pluck out the weak and look for potential chefs." Joichirou asks with a slight amusement in his voice.
"…I see." Sena sighs out.
Chuckle is heard "why don't you tell me how your day went?"
"hahahaha…funny you mentio-" Sena explains what happened today and she occasionally heard her father chuckle and laugh at her crude and blunt action and behavior.
"hahahaha….as expected." Joichirou laughs
"Well, I guess it will be an interesting year." Sena exclaims
"Sure will. Sena…" Joichirou tells her, "Sena, remember that in Totsuki, cooking is everything." Joichirou reminds Sena
"Ya…I kind of figured that out myself" Sena scoffs and replies.
"Sena, remember. To be a great chef, you need to-" Joichirou was cut off by Sena and she replies "I know, dad. Don't worry. I haven't forgotten what it means to be a chef." Reassures her father
A soft chuckle is heard "I know…I love you sweetie."
"Love you too, dad." Sena brightly replies
Joichirou looks out the balcony and up the sky. "Goodnight, angel. I'll call you later."
"Goodnight, dad…though it's daytime there...so hope you have a wonderful day."
"Thanks." Joichirou chuckles
"Bye, dad. I'll call you later."
"Alright, talk to you soon." He replies back Joichirou hangs up and looks out the city. "I hope you find 'it'. And you better be wearing that!"
Sena immerses herself in the bathtub and goes up the surface again. She sighs in bliss and relaxes her body against the bathtub. She runs her fingers through her long silky red hair to loosen the knots and she scrubs her smooth natural tanned skin with a soft sponge. "I should ask dad to send me some bubble bath soap" Sena relaxes her body and enjoys her time in the tub.
She gets out the tub and rinses herself in the shower. She grabs the towel and dries herself then wrapping the light pink towel around her body. She gets to the changing room and pulls out her clothes from the basket. She puts on her undergarments, but as she puts on her navy blue shorts "I should have asked to stop calling me and leaving me with hundreds of text messages and voice mail…Crap! How can I be so STUUPID?!" She continues to put on her shorts. And her navy blue tank top with a light grey loose sweater. She puts on her bracelet and locket that her father gave her. Then, She puts on lip balm on her natural pink lips that girls envy; not too thin, nor too plump. She grabs her key and puts her basket back to its place. She goes to her room and puts her clothes she wore in the laundry basket. She starts putting and placing her things around the room. After organizing and decorating her room she lays down on her bed and looks up at the ceiling. As she closes her eyes, she sees the ceiling shaking. A man appears from the ceiling, "Hello, transfer student! C'mon, we're having a welcome party."
Sena freaks out, not at the fact that the man barged in without knocking, but the fact that he suddenly appeared from the ceiling. Sena sighs and goes to Room 205.
They introduce themselves to Sena, they have a celebration, and have a party. Everyone becomes drunk from rice 'juice' and enjoys the party. Once everyone fell asleep, the only members awake were Isshiki Satoshi and Yukihira Sena. Isshiki tells Sena that he will quickly make a dish for her to try. Few minutes later, Isshiki brings a mackerel resembling spring. After, Sena tries his dish Isshiki-senpai introduces himself as the seventh seat of the Elite Ten in Totsuki with intimidating aura.
"Now…I'd like to try your cooking next, Sena-chan. Show me what narrative you'll create on your plate."
Sena stares at him with a hint of surprise, nervousness, and awe. However, inside Sena's head, she is not at least intimidated at all. "Hmm…so he's one of the elite ten, seventh seat. Hehehe, at least he doesn't have Erina's arrogant attitude…hmm…I guess I should accept and see where this goes…I'm interested. Okay, I'll play your little game of yours, Isshiki Satoshi."
"Hang on to your seat!" Sena exclaims.
Sena heads to the kitchen to make a dish from the Yukihira's Diner. Sena speaks softly to herself "So, senpai. It seems you're playing safe with that dish. (chuckles) Alrighty then, it seems for this game to be fair…I'll just play safe as well…then maybe, I'll show you my true specialty. Daddy was right, I'll keep my skills to have an ace in the hole…(chuckles) now, let the game begin." Sena starts cooking with Spanish mackerel. Few moments later, she brings in four servings to the room. She introduced them her dish "This is Yukihira's secret menu item number 20, revised. Usually it's used with salmon, but I revised with Spanish mackerel. It's tea over a mackerel rice ball! I made enough for everyone, so you can all dig in."
Yoshino Yuki, Sakaka Ryoko, Ibusaki Shun, and Isshiki Satoshi grabs their chopsticks and starts digging in.
Ryoko: "What'd you pour over the rice?"
"It's salted kelp tea. Its mild saltiness and depth of flavor are a perfect way to wrap up the feast."
Yuki: "Aw, how can my appetite say no when served something like this?"
Shun: "Yeah…"
Isshiki thinks in head "But this is all too pedestrian…it practically screams that it's a dish served in an diner for the masses. But perhaps…"
Yuki: "All right, then! Diggin in!"
Shun and Ryoko thanks for the food to Sena.
Yuki: "The mackerel is really juicy and the skin's brittle texture is superb! The umami just gushes out with every bite."
Ryoko: "You can't get this mouthfeel from just grilling the fish. How did she –"
Isshiki: "Poêlé. This mackerel has been cooked using the poêlé method."
Inside her head, Sena smiles at Isshiki-senpai and she just plays along when Yuki and Ryoko looks surprised.
Yuki: "po"
Ryoko: "ê"
Sena: "lé" ?!
Yuki: "Wait, why are you acting all surprised?!"
Sena: "Huh? I was just surprised that's all. I was just wondering what this poêlé thing is."
Ishiki: "Poêlé is a cooking method in French cuisine, a type of sauté. It's a method where you pour olive oil and the like over the ingredients from above in order to ensure even browning. Tell me, Soma-kun. How did you come to know a French cooking method?"
Inside Sena's head, "well, it seems he knows his stuff…"
Sena: replies, "Uh…I just learned this from my dad. He said it's the best way to make the fish crispy. You can eat it all crunchy with rice, or enjoy a slightly different texture altogether by softening it a little in a salted kelp tea.
Isshiki: "Your father learned how to cook French cuisine?"
Inside Sena's head she chuckles and thinks "you have no idea". Sena just simply replies "Oh, I'm not really sure. I think he went around cooking in a lot of different countries.
Isshiki: "I see." I never thoughts he'd make rice ball ingredients using a French technique. Her cooking isn't bound by culinary traditions or genres. How liberated! The poêlé method is suited for ingredients with thick skin. Salmon and Spanish mackerel are a perfect fit. Sena-chan determined its potential in an instant and rearranged the menu. The radiant rice is like pristine white snow…through which the Spanish mackerel burst, as though it symbolizes the vitality of spring itself. She has expressed the very moment spring begins in this dish.
After everyone finished their dish they said thank you for their delicious meal. Ryoko and Yuki woke others up and nonchalantly left Marui's room. As Isshiki puts a blanket over Marui, he tells Sena that if she needs any help, she's welcome to ask him anything.
Sena: curiously asks "How do I become an Elite Ten?" This should be interesting.
Isshiki: explains in a vague manner, but sadly tells her they'll have to do it later.
The next morning, Sena declares she wants a Shokugeki with Isshiki-senpai. However, he apologizes for being vague and tells her in a detailed manner about the Shokugeki matches with the Elite Ten members.
Sena thinks "Hmm, this school's Shokugeki is quite similar to the Shokugeki we have at school for Factions…interesting."
Sena and Tadokora leaves their dormitory to head for their classes, on the way out Sena says "man and here I wanted to challenge Erina, too."
Tadokoro looks nervous and pessimistic and tells "th-there's no way for you to win, Sena-chan"
Sena chuckles "of course I can"
"B-but Sena-chan, Nakiri-san is known as God Tongue and she's the tenth seat of the Elite ten. Th-there's no way for you to win."
Sena softly chuckles "Well, you never know until you try." Inside she thinks "Nakiri Erina, tenth seat of Totsuki Elite Ten. She's also known to have the 'finest' palate known to mankind! A.K.A. The God Tongue. (Chuckles) However, that may be true…there is also one person who is known to a magnificent palate that makes her palate like child's play. That person is known as 'Ma Magnifique Mystère'. No one knows her identity nor do many people know her. Only the select few of the world class chefs and food critics knows her identity and existence. (Chuckles) I wonder how Erina would react if 'La Magnifique Mystère' says her food wasn't enjoyable. Hehehehehe, well…only time will tell."
Sena and Tadokoro continues walking, while Shun and Isshiki has a conversation about Isshiki's dish.
"You were playing it way too safe with that dish. You didn't make your specialty."
Isshiki glances at Shun and tells him "I don't know what you're talking about."
Shun just walks away and goes back inside the dormitory.
