Riese Hayashi's P.O.V
A couple days have passed and those competing in the quarter-finals are being summoned one by one in order to get information about their matches tomorrow, of course, I was one of them. Eishi-kun was supposed to accompany me to the offices, but he had to finish something. It seemed urgent.
The car that I was riding slowly stopped in front of my needed location, I said goodbye to my driver and shut the door lightly. I made my way inside to be greeted by one of the Elite 10 members. It was Isshiki-senpai. I haven't seen him since the time I attended the party that they had in the Polar Star Dormitory.
"Oh, Hayashi-san, how are you feeling?" He gave me a smile that was sincere.
"I'm fine, Isshiki-senpai, and no need to be so formal." I shot him a smile and noticed that Erina-chan was also there."
"Erina, I haven't seen you in awhile." I gave her a smile and she gave it back, we both were open towards each other for some reason. We don't get together often, but she was someone that I would show my warm personality to.
"We've all been busy, Riese." She was formal but for some reason, I could tell that her mood lightened up, perhaps, someone that annoyed her was here previously?
I could only think of a certain red-haired boy annoying her, it made me smile in my head.
"Riese-chan, tomorrow, you will be up against Subaru Mimasaka." His tender voice was now formal, he handed me a folder which I scanned.
"Desserts..." A smile appeared on my face. "My specialty."
"Riese-chan, watch out for that Subaru character, alright?" I looked at Isshiki-senpai and he had a look of concern on his face, he wanted to say more, but I knew that he couldn't. I turned on my heel and began to walk out.
"He should be watching out for me." I yawned and opened the door before turning to them once again, "It was nice seeing you both, have a good day." With that, I left the room to a sighing Isshiki-senpai.
"I guess it's time to put on some kind of a show, good luck copying me, Subaru Mimasaka."
~'~'~
The next day came and all participants were getting ready. I kept silent and brought a lot of different ingredients for this round. I had something in mind, it was something that I had been developing for awhile, but I had back-up plans in case my opponent would try to copy it.
'Not that he will be capable of doing so.' I said while sitting down on one of the couches with my chin on my fist, my legs crossed as I boredly watched the upcoming matches.
"Shokugeki."
"Hmm?"
"We will be having a Shokugeki."
My opponent towered over me with a sly look on his face, he was pondering over my terms.
"Very well."
The first one being Soma-kun going up against Alice-chan, everyone in the audience was convinced that Alice would be the winner in this round, but they were all proven to be wrong when Soma-kun took the glory with his Nori-bento or something.
The next one was Hayama-kun versus Hisako-chan, the former one won. Followed by Kurokiba-kun and Takumi-kun. Their dish was ramen, although Takumi-kun managed to pull off an interesting combination of Italian and Japanese cuisine, the impact of Kurokiba-kun's dish won by a landslide. I knew that I was up, so I stood from the couch and stretched.
I wearing a black shirt and my chef's coat tied at my waist, this match was nothing to be too serious about. I had my ingredients in my other hand and began to walk into the arena.
"And last but not the least, we have Riese Hayashi and Subaru Mimasaka! This will not just be an ordinary round, we will be having a Shokugeki!" The overexcited host exclaimed loudly causing the audience to gasp. I had my arms crossed over my chest and a bored look on my face.
"If Riese Hayashi wins, all the kitchen tools that Subaru Mimasaka has in his possession will be surrendered to their former owners, and if Subaru Mimasaka wins." She paused to add a dramatic effect which I rolled my eyes at, "Riese Hayashi will return to Reuder University." They all gasped even louder.
"Why would the administration allow such thing?"
"Subaru Mimasaka has never lost!"
"We can't disband the Riese Hayashi fan club yet!" I nearly lost my composure at that last one and saw the host, Urara Kawashima glaring daggers at me. Which I scoffed at and looked at my opponent.
"Did you say goodbye to your friends, Riese Hayashi?" He taunted me which I ignored, the match was about to start.
"What? Did you suddenly go mute from fear? Your popularity and reign ends here." He continued mocking me which caused my vein to throb.
"I don't speak to trash." Poison dripped from every word, "Especially trash that merely copies their opponents."
"What did you say?" He looked like he was about to hit me, I wasn't fazed by his actions.
"I said that I don't speak to trash." I nonchalantly made my way to my station as the host announced that the match was about to begin. Mimasaka was about to make a comeback.
"Stop wasting time, Croquembouche takes a long time to make." I announced turning him silent, I began to work on my dessert.
"How is she going to pull that off in 2 hours?!"
"That takes 4 hours to make!"
"Is she kidding? That's impossible."
I grinned to myself as whispers emerged from the crowd, they were all so negative. I guess it's time to give them the surprise of their lives. I boiled together water, butter, salt, and sugar over medium heat, then began adding flour when I removed the pan from the heat and mixed for 47 seconds until it was incorporated and returned it to the heat. 24 seconds when the moisture began to evaporate.
'6%'
I added the mixture into a mixer and began to mix at medium speed, adding the eggs one by one with 7.4 seconds interval in between which made the dough smooth and glossy. I was satisfied with the dough as it would no longer stick to the paddle of the mixer but was still thick at the same time.
I got my pastry bag and filled it with the dough and began piping the dough onto the parchment lined baking sheet. I brushed the surface of the dough with egg to make it smooth. I put it in the oven and baked for 15 minutes and 9 seconds before reducing the heat and baked for another 19 minutes.
'40%'
I began to work on my filling, as I was working on it, I looked over at Subaru and noticed that he was struggling to get his work done. He was still boiling the mixture. I returned to my work and cooked milk with vanilla bean, added my egg yolks and sugar mix into the liquid and added corn starch. The mixture immediately fluffed up and I waited for it to cool before adding it into the fridge. I would use it for later. I also took out the cream puffs and it was beautifully golden.
'68%'
Instead of making the usual caramel for Croquembouche, I went with one of my favorite flavors, dulce de leche. It was something that I mastered and knew by heart because of my mother. I smiled at the thought and was finished with it, it wasn't the typical heavy and thick Dulce de Leche, it was rather light and a bit runny but it still had the taste of Dulce de Leche. I took my custard from the fridge and began pipping it into the cream puffs.
'85%'
I began stacking the cream puffs and shaped it into a tower, I poured the dulce de leche over it and it's dark shade perfectly contrasted the golden hues. I took out the confectionary flowers which I had prepared beforehand and added them in a circular manner that gave the dish more color. They were another shade of gold and they contained the caramel flavor.
"Both chefs should be finishing up by now!"
I looked at my work which was finished, it was maybe one of the most beautiful Croquembouche that I had created. I looked over at my opponent and he was still struggling to design his Croquembouche. When he finished, I could say that it paled in comparison to mine. I was first to present my dish and the judges looked like they were about to drool.
"This is my take of a Croquembouche," I began to explain my dessert, "The pastry is of a typical one along with it's custard filling, however, instead of a caramel sauce to be dripped over it, I created a dulce de leche one."
"Then you can't call it Croquembouche," one of the judges piped in, "Croquembouche should always have Caramel."
"Oh, allow me to finish my explanation, monsieur." I smiled and pointed towards the flowers, "Those flowers are caramel." They were glassy and golden, then their eyes widened, "How did you have enough time to create such thing?" They were referring to the entire cake. I proceeded to give each one a plate.
They took a bite, and then the headmaster went bare.
"It's amazing!" The judge who had criticized my work earlier suddenly praised, "The cream puff is soft but crisp, the filling is perfectly cooked and the dulce de leche and caramel go hand in hand."
"It's as if I had been transported to the Eiffel Tower!" One judge said dreamily while staring at the Croquembouche as if it were shaped like the Eiffel tower.
They continued to praise my dish, and finished their plates asking for more. Before I could serve them, the emcee spoke up, "Excuse me judges, but you still have to try the next Croquembouche." They all sighed with disappointment and I returned to my station sitting against the counter.
They began to eat his dish and although it looked similar to mine, their reactions weren't as amazed.
And as expected, I won.
"Impossible!" He looked at me and glared, "My perfect trace can never go wrong!"
"Your Croquembouche says other wise." I gave him a smile, "Just looking at it, the custard is too runny." I pointed to one of the unfinished plate of the judges. "The caramel too thick and burnt, the puff pastry is deflating as it is undercooked." I said without even tasting the dish, "Am I right, judges?"
"She is." It was the headmaster that had answered. With that, his collection of equipment which he had unjustly taken, was strolled inside the arena. I looked over to the crowd.
"Feel free to take what's yours." With that, 99 people ran down to get all their equipment. I just looked at him and was about to turn on my heel.
"Copying won't get you anywhere." I began to walk away, "And you can't improve an already perfect dessert."
I made my way out of the arena and was greeted by a man with coral colored hair.
"I've been waiting for you, brat." I felt myself about to break down, but I kept my composure and tried to be strong. He neared me and I did not back down or express fear.
"What are you doing here?" I asked with boredom in my tone, I didn't want to deal with him. He was about to reach out to my hand but I moved it away, "Don't touch me."
"I just came to congratulate you."
"I don't need your praise."
"Wasn't it I who taught you how to make that?"
We were silent for awhile. "Yes."
"You've grown." He said crossing his arms.
"Is that all that you need to say?" I spat and glared, he was getting on my nerves.
"No." He paused then pulled me into a hug, "I'm sorry." I froze, not knowing what to do. "I regret hurting you, I regret hurting the person who put up with me and who was the only younger sister figure that I had."
I pushed him away, and glared. "Your sorry won't do anything." I brushed him off and walked outside, I felt tears beginning to form, but I refused to look back at that man ever again.
'I hate him.'
A/N - Woaaah, longest chappie so far! So Shinomiya turns out to be Riese's former brother figure. At least we know there's no malice between them or something. And we finally reached 10 chapters! Yaaay~