I debated if I should post a new chapter now that the uploaded chapters are catching up to my already written ones, but I can't help it, Its like I have the need to just keep posting everyday, I only have four more before I have posted everything I have written I have exams coming next week, I'm a med student by the way so I really need to focus on it. Anyway loving the support you guys, and 1eprechaun I see what you did there, I appreciate the enthusiasm and support man keep it commin'
As always I do not own Shokugeki no souam, I am simply a lowly fan who loves to read and write
CHAPTER VII
Morning came and Souma had that familiar weight in his chest, this is their second time that they slept together but it still felt strange to him.
'I could get used to this' thought Souma, he shifted around slowly not wanting to wake Ryoko up but was surprised when she held him in place, now unable to move Souma wriggled free of from her.
"Souma-kun let's stay like this for a while longer" murmured Ryoko, as she inhaled his scent, Souma only chuckled "if we stay like this longer we'll miss our bus Ryoko-chan, come on let's get ready"
"Mou Souma-kun" Ryoko pouted as she forced herself to get up, stretching her arms up, giving Souma an eye full of her bust, a sight he would never get tired of, "see you at in a while then Souma-kun I'll go take a bath now, unless you want to come join me, you're free to do so" she said teasing him.
"As much as I would like that Ryoko-chan but I must refuse," Souma said scratching the back of his head, "I cannot do that to you after all, maybe next time? If you would have me that is"
"Anytime Souma-kun," Ryoko blushed and walked out of his room, 'I would definitely take you on that offer Souma-kun' she thought and went to her room, as she left Souma also took a bath, having his usual shower thoughts.
'As much as I would love to be in a relationship right now it would only get in my way,' Souma thought as he was standing underneath the shower 'I still have that thing with the Old Man and Dojima-senpai, the fact that I would be making a lot of enemies this coming months would make anyone I'm in a relationship with a prime target, maybe when all of the things going on is over I would consider it, hopefully it won't end like my last' he was drifting off to his own world again but was brought back by the loud voice of Yuki prancing outside.
It was already time to head out and they were all gathered at the bus terminal, the ride was long but Souma loved every second of it, it reminded him of the time him and his Father or Uncle took trips.
Souma laughed at how sentimental he was, but guessing from his father's blank stares whenever they travelled he guessed that he got it from him, his laugh did not go unnoticed though as he was being stared at by a few girls on his bus ride, some of whom he knew did not really hold a grudge against him with his speech at the opening ceremony neither his act of playing stupid dissuade them from being atracted to him, it rather endeared him to them.
When they arrived they were ushered in to hall where all the other students were gathered, Souma looked around and found a few familiar faces, and more than a few who were glaring at him like mad men.
At front was Chef Ronald Chappelle who was about to give a speech, all eyes were on him Souma really marvelled how his once mentor/college was so good at commanding a crowd, but his last words came as a complete surprise for everyone in attendance.
"We have invited guest lecturers," announced Chef Chappelle "they're Totsuki alumni who have graciously agreed to join us, despite their busy schedules" he said pointing towards the coming people.
Everyone was in an uproar, some were in state of paranoia, some were awestruck, yet oddly enough he even saw some who were indifferent, mainly Erina and Hisako. He then stopped on his thinking when he caught a scent he was sure to garner the attention of someone he respects and deeply admires.
"You over there," a chef in the stage mentioned, 'right on time Shinomiya-senpai' Souma thought as he hid his smirk "Nine rows back, the boy with red hair and a scar on his eyebrow" Souma pointed at himself, but berated the Chef in question in his mind.
"Ohh sorry, the one next to you" he corrected himself, "yes, you you're expelled. Your hair product has a strong citrus scent, it interferes with the aroma of the food, we need to pay attention to our style, with that on you may ruin the taste of my food for my customers, you should choose unscented hair products from now on" the student complained, for the ordinary person it seemed way to mundane to be expelled for.
"That is enough to ruin my reputation," he said, as he looked back Shinomiya gave him his most menacing look "are you trying to destroy my restaurant? Farewell young student"
"Was that really necessary?" Souma whispered as he was passing him by, Shinomiya merely smiled at him and continued to go on stage. All around him students were in an uproar on who just walked among them, all of them were praising him and the ground he walked on but Souma merely shrugged pulling off his stupid act.
Chaos was starting around him as the Chefs came down the stage and greet some of his friends, the only one he really knew from the alumni was Shinomiya and Dojima but he was sure that maybe some of them knew his moniker, hopefully they don't know whose face it belonged to though.
The time came when their first class was about to begin, he noticed on the way that he was receiving an extra special glare from a blond student he did not recognise, oddly enough when they were inside the class the said student came and stepped on his shoe, 'Is this some kind of a threat? If so it's not really that intimidating rather than annoying' he thought as they both smirk at the each other.
"Since you've been grinding your foot for more than ten seconds now," Souma started to talk "I can assume that it's intentional?"
"Of course," the young man replied "I was wondering when I'd get to mess with you during this camp, I did not think it would be on the first class, today must be my lucky day, I'll crush you like I did with your shoe" he announced, Tadakoro at this point was shaking trying her best to relieve the tension.
"I see, well congratulations" he replied, while a vein popped on his head "I get your point, so remove your feet already!" he exclaimed matching his intensity.
Sparks flew between them as they continued to glare at each other, it was like seeing to stray dogs intimidate each other, they were interrupted however by their instructor, leaving them both to end their argument for a later time, Chef Inui for all her timid ways and seemingly caring nature only gave them vague answers though, only giving them essentials to have an idea on how to pass her class, when all the instructions were finished most of the students made a bee line on to the mountains realizing that time was against them.
"It's time to face-off Yukihira!" stated the blond, "let's decide who is a better chef, Chef Inui, I'd like you to make the call, please exercise your rigorous judgement and decide whose cooking has the better taste!"
"Huh? Why," Chef Inui blankly responded "that has nothing to do with my task so I would prefer not to" this answer abruptly ended the young man's momentum, as he was dragged away by his brother still ranting about how he would somehow beat him.
Souma knew that he was an experienced Chef like him, how experience that he cannot tell but all he knows is that he just messed with the wrong man, after sometime both presented their dish to Chef Inui, both demonstrating their talents, with the blond serving Grilled Duck with Herbs, of course Souma did not halter serving his own to match his so called rivals dish, having stolen Chef Inui's snacks he came up with his very own Yukihira-style Char O-kaki-Age, clearly having come up with that name himself.
They both passed but were not satisfied until Chef Inui made her decision on whose dish was better, all of a sudden Chef Inui's phone rang, and as she answered she was immediately berated with the shouts of profanities only Chef Shinomiya can dish out.
"Alright everyone we are to go on our bus now," Chef Inui immediately said as she closed her phone, "but Chef Inui you haven't decided on who won yet!" Takumi questioned.
"Ohh sorry, well I cannot give you the explanation but Souma-kun wins" Chef Inui said dashing out of the kitchen "ask him to make the same dish next time and you will see why he won!" she added as she was about to disappear.
This left Takumi devastated; he wanted to prove just how strong he was compared to Yukihira.
"Well let's get going Aldini I am sure the bus won't wait for us" Souma said as he walked out "you may have won this battle Yukihira but I haven't lost the war yet" Takumi said leave a huge grin on Souma's face, he loved challenges, he lived for those moments.
"I'll take you on anytime you like Takumi Aldini" Souma said and walked away, "besides I would have been disappointed if you quit right of the bat, to be honest competition's getting a little stale now to be honest" he said and walked to the bus with his arms behind his head, although Tadakoro was with him every step of the way, it really looked like Souma did all the work, he wished however that his friend would manage to learn to be independent one day.
The next day Souma found himself in Chef Shinomiya's class, he tasked them to recreate one of his recipes or should he say recette, well it should be easy enough, but he was seriously worried about Tadakoro, this would be the first time they would not be teamed up.
He was thinking hard when he noticed the gaze of Chef Shinomiya was on him, he knew that he expected a lot about his cooking, of course with the true Yukihira style he never disappoints. When Souma presented his dish, he was met by a very sinister grin on the Magician's face.
"Ohh hello monsieur Yukihira," Chef Shinomiya greeted him "let's see if you are up to my standards, I heard you were a mere sous chef a couple of weeks ago, do you even have the skills to be in here?" Shinomiya mocked as he tasted his food, Souma may have only recreated his dish but he can tell that he was spot on in every detail.
A small barely noticeable glimmer of pleasure came across his face the moment he ate a piece, clearly Souma was at his level at a very young age, it was truly eye opening for the award winning chef, having someone so young yet so skilled, he only feared that he would stagnate without someone who really pushes his boundaries, so he made a plan to hopefully postpone that lag phase, long enough for Souma to find his other half.
"Bien joué monsieur Yukihira," stated Chef Shinomiya "you pass, you may leave the kitchen if you wish just be sure to be here when it's time to go" Yukihira did not leave however; he stayed behind and watched Tadakoro.
He noticed that she used some kind trick to make her cauliflower white again, 'she must have used vinegar' he thought as he watched her cook, usually Tadakoro was all giddy and nervous when cooking, this was the first time that he saw confidence in her eyes without him giving it.
When the time came for her evaluation Souma leaned a bit closer, wanting to hear every detail, he knew that Tadakoro made a passable dish, she might have tweaked it a bit but that was only to compensate for the state of ingredients.
"Vous échouez, you fail manquér" Shinomiya and was about to leave when Tadakoro protested, "Excuse me Chef but why was my dish unacceptable?"
"Ah, you used wine vinegar when you boiled the cauliflower that was not fresh didn't you " Shinomiya asked her, "you maintained the cauliflower's pristine colour by using it, sure it has a whitening effect but it also changes its sweetness the sweetness and acidity of it made perfect harmony" this made Tadakoro confused.
"But who said that you could change the recette?" Shinomiya said while holding the guide "this dish is intended to savour the harmony created by the sweetness of each vegetable, it did not say to make use of acidity, the dish you made is entirely different, so it merits a fail, I hope you find that explanation adequate"
"I don't" interrupted Souma who heard all of it, "it was what you'd call an unavoidable accident, some of the ingredients weren't fresh, it was your fault not making sure every ingredient was fresh, she only made up for your mistake Chef Shinomiya"
"Ohh, I placed those ingredients on purpose monsieur" Shinomiya turned around and gave him an evil grin "I made it so to limit the number of people who would pass, all of you knew that cauliflower easily oxidizes, easily damaged and hard to prepare, any idiot who fails to acquire or select a poor quality ingredient deserves to fail"
"That was why Tadakoro compensated for it," reasoned Souma, but was shut down by Shinomiya's response "I am the chef here enfoiré, I would never accept anyone who alters my recette, if you refuse to back down, I can fire you to just for going against me" with that he walked away from them, leaving an enraged Souma and a teary eyed Tadakoro.
When Shinomiya was near the door however Souma spoke once more, "Shinomiya-senpai, I'm sorry to bother you" Souma said, stopping Shinomiya in his tracks "I have one more thing to, I have a question to be exact, and does that Totsuki rule apply to an alumni too?" Souma said making Shinomiya's grin even wider,
"Do you mean a Shokugeki?" Shinomiya questioned making everyone gasp at how bold the transfer student was, none of them would have had the balls to even ask a simply question to the man, let alone challenge him to a cook off, "Yes, if I beat you in a Shokugeki, will you rescind Tadakoro's expulsion?" Souma added, this made Tadakoro burst in tears in front of everyone.
Shinomiya merely laughed, "Ahh that word brings back so many memories," he stated never losing his evil grin "fine, monsieur Yukihira, I will take you one with your challenge and if I win you would do everything I would say to you" he looked around wanting to see Dojima who was around earlier.
"Chef Dojima, I know you are here" Shinomiya shouted, immediately all of them saw the man himself merge from the shadows "I want you to oversee this, I accept Yukihira Souma's challenge in the premise that should I win, Tadakoro Megumi is expelled from Totsuki and that Yukihira Souma is to be my personal attendant the entire camp" he said and laughed maniacally.
Night came and so was time to of the match between Souma and Shinomiya, being that it was not an official Shokugeki only a few alumni was allowed to enter and witness the match, among them was Donato Gotoda, Sekimori Hitoshi, Mizuhira Fuyumi and the tied up Chef Inui.
Upon seeing this Tadakoro immediately panicked, never has she been in this much stress, she beg for hours for Souma not to go through this and that he should just let her expulsion be, neither does she know that she was caught in between a decade long competition.
Done! Hope you guys liked it, if your new please follow the fic leave a comment and have a good day/night wherever you are.
P.S. I've been basing Souma's reaction and personality with my own so if you have any complaints about his decisions in the future you might want to hold back a bit, but so far so good so I guess I am doing a great job.
P.P.S. I talked to Bryan Stark and I got his approval for his One Piece story, so I would be continuing that probably next month, if you guys haven't seen it its called Gypsy Danger you should check it out and see if you like the story I would be continuing.