Chapter 9: Let's Have a Shokugeki

"Wake up Yuzu! Earth calling to Takeuchi Yuzu…"

I was waking up Takeuchi as we promised the night before to enjoy the hotel's amenities before leaving. Looking at the time, there was still two hours left in the clock and our free time was burning away. Takeuchi did not budge from all of the shaking I did so I went ahead and had a relaxing dip in the pool. The temperature was perfect and it felt like I was on a real vacation. Other Totsuki students were also taking their time in enjoying the facilities.

"You are awake."

"Gyaaaahh! Don't scare me like that Ling!"

"Your reaction is unusually excessive."

Ling showed up beside me. I totally missed her since the only visible part of her was until her nose. The depth of the water was more than 5 feet and it seemed that she was standing on her toes.

"Ummm… Anna and Ayako? Aren't you supposed to be with them?"

"They went to the spa but unlike them, I hate being touched by other people."

"Right…"

She just remained by my side doing nothing. She did not speak and I was already feeling awkward.

"I've been meaning to tell you all this time, thank you for the help during the first day of camp."

"Like I told you, don't get the wrong idea. There is a reason behind every action I make."

"Then why did you help me?"

She looked at me with her calculating eyes and didn't answer. After a few minutes, she started playing with bubbles from her mouth to kill time.

"I'd hate to ask you this, but the way you are just standing here… don't you know how to swim?"

A surge of bubbles came from her mouth and she suddenly flailed her arms in the water. Her struggle only managed to get her into the deeper part of the pool. I quickly grabbed her arms and pulled her next to me. It turned out that she didn't really know how to swim. Her arms were tightly wrapped into mine. I have never seen Ling express such emotion ever since I met her.

"Ling, I didn't know that you had a cute side."

Her cold expression returned and repeatedly immersed me in a series of chops to the head.

"OW! OW! I get it! I'll take you the shallow part."

"Never speak of this to anybody." She said with cold killing intent.

I could only nod repeatedly as her squeeze got more intense. My arm felt like it was going to be ripped off.

*Splash*

"So you are cheating first thing in the morning…" Takeuchi rose from the water, "… I wonder how Ayako-chan will take this when she hears about it"

Ling was about to let out her usual palm strike but held off before it hit Takeuchi. She climbed out of the pool and left.

"What do you think you are doing?" I asked loudly.

"Just looking for you since you didn't wake me up and here I see Ling cuddling with you. But when you look at her closely, she has a nice body. What can you say about that?"

"I think that you are still sleepy. Here, let me help you wake up."

I reached for his head and dipped it forcefully into the water.

The students gathered in the lobby to check out from their rooms. A board was placed in the side that displayed the bus assignment. I quickly finished the requirements and walked toward where I left my bag until two men in suits stood in the way. I moved to the left but they continued to block off my path.

"What is the deal with you two? Hey! Aren't you the ones who always took the dishes I served during the camp? What do you want with me now?"

"We are here just to send a message. If you would please come with us." The man in the right said.

"Why should I go with you?"

"Because we are strictly ordered to do so."

*RIIIINNGG*

The man on the left answered his phone and appeared to be in deep conversation.

"…yes, we have him here with us."

He nodded a few time before turning to me and reluctantly handed his phone. I took it and listened to the caller.

"Hey custard boy! It's me."

"Who is this?" I asked.

"Tsk! It's only been a few days and you already forgot?"

The voice belonged to none other than TsunozakiTaki. It was the first test I passed with Ayako at the start of the camp. She always yelled something about not to be disturbed in her restaurant which makes me wonder why she had to call for me.

"Chef Tsunozaki! The men who took my food were yours?"

"That does not matter. Anyway, I didn't call for us to have useless chatter. One of my chefs had to move out because of…" her voice shook a bit and had a hint of anger in her tone, "…circumstances."

"I'm sorry to hear that but why are you telling me this?"

"I don't usually do this kind of thing but if you are interested in Spanish cuisine, you could work for me."

I was left speechless after hearing those words. A professional chef and an alumnus of Totsuki Academy wanted me to work for her even before I graduated. It was the same as the Aldini brothers being asked by chef Mizuhara.

"Uhhh… ummmm…"

My voice was shaking violently until a person of tall stature took the phone from my hands and started talking. An imposing figure that casted shadows over me and the men in front of me…. Dojima Gin.

"So you have finally taken an interest in someone. I remember you telling me two years ago that you won't ever get an inexperienced student."

I could not hear what she said to the general head chef of Totsuki Resort but it was impressive to see him talk down to the person who almost got me expelled. He may be showing a very friendly smile but my instincts told me that he was a dangerous man.

"…and you would remember to only scout for students. You cannot hire them immediately, the rule is that you must wait until they graduate." Dojima looked at me with a certain gleam in his eyes, "…or if they graduate."

A cold rush ran through my body and I instinctively took a step back. He was looking at my next move so I stood straight and inched closely.

"…to make it up to your colleagues, you will be a judge in this coming Autumn Election, understand?" he said with a tone that offered no resistance.

He closed the phone and handed it to the man in suit then he placed his hand in my shoulder and urged to walk ahead.

"Looks like you were scouted."

"Me? But why?"

"Well, you and that other girl were the only pair to pass her test. It's not uncommon for chefs to look for future staff in their restaurant. It is a good opportunity to be scouted as you can learn directly from an alumnus but remember that you must pave your own way to reach the path you decide to take."

We stopped walking midway and I saw the other alumni talking to Yukihira and Megumi.

"Looks like you were not the only one to be scouted."

"Seems like it."

"Alex, I was watching you back in the breakfast assignment. You are rough on the edges and you certainly need some polishing. One thing is for sure, that breakdown you had was not caused by the huge number of judges nor your skill but it is because of your lack in experience. Don't fret about it because you covered all of your inexperience with heart and determination. You should always remember the foundation of your cooking."

I was left speechless once again as he gave me a compliment, something that I felt unworthy of being told to me. He gave me a little push and nodded lightly and went to the direction of Yukihira and the others with his sous chef catching up to his side.

"Wait! Chef Dojima… I heard you talking with Chef Tsunozaki about the Autumn Election, what is it?" I yelled.

"Something you should look forward to."

"Erina-sama!"

A student went out of the bus and ran back to the hotel. She looked familiar with her long chestnut colored hair. The driver was calling out to me to hurry up and board the bus immediately so I ignored the student who ran back.

'Hmmmm… no more empty seats? Oh there is one over here.'

"Excuse me, could I sit beside you?"

The girl with short hair looked up to me and placed more of her belongings on the empty seat.

"No, you may not. This seat is only for Erina-sama and nobody else."

"Don't say that. There is no seat left at the back."

"I fail to see the part where that is my problem."

She said and turned her head to the window signifying that the conversation was over. The driver got irritated and berated to both of us.

"Quit your lover's quarrel and sit down, boy! We have to go now or we will be behind schedule."

"This boy is not my lover!" she pointed at me.

The students in the bus were awfully quiet even though we were making a scene. Nobody dared to speak against us, but instead, I saw the look of pity in their eyes as if I just made a huge mistake.

"We are getting nowhere with this argument so just give way."

I took her belongings and sat at the spot. Her cheeks were puffed and wore an expression of sulking. She stared from time to time but paid no interest. With boredom looming inside the bus, I decided to read the manga i took to the camp. I never had the chance to open them since I fell asleep whenever I had the chance.

"That manga… it's you!"

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"You were that kid who disrespected Erina-sama on the bus during the first day."

The name Erina was popular during the training camp. I heard it a lot of times more so when the rumor was she managed to finish four hundred servings in the breakfast assignment.

"The bus?Hmmmmm… oh! You are that Arato person. But I keep hearing that name,Erina… who is she anyway?"

"You know my name and yet how dare you be ignorant of her name?! She is the youngest member of the Elite Ten council and yet you do not know her?"

"I just transferred last month so it would be nice if you enlightened me." I said sarcastically.

I turned back to the book I was reading and she was about to ignore me but her pride caught up. She took the book so that my attention would revert back to her.

"Just so you know,Erina-sama is on another level that you can never attain for the rest of your life."

"Okay! Clearly we started off at the wrong foot and honestly I'm still too tired to get into another argument so let's just get along well. Here, you can have this manga. I'm not into romance genre anyway so accept this peace offering."

At first, she hesitated on returning the book but I urged her to keep it and eventually she gave in and browsed a few pages before putting it inside her bag.

"Thanks." Hisako said softly.

"What's so special with NakiriErina?" I asked in the most polite way I could.

"She is not only talented but is also gifted," her eyes sparkling with admiration. "It's because of her 'God's Tongue'. She can discern good dishes suited for royalty. Both you and I will never surpass her… although, I heard a rumor that one student managed to tie with her in the first dinner assignment."

I was about to tell her that it was not a rumor, that the person she was talking about was seated next to her but her phone rang before I could even reply. She took it and immediately answered the call.

"…thank goodness. Give me an update once she arrives. What! Erina-sama is riding the car with Yukihira?"

Hearing his name caught my attention. I tried to ask about Yukihira but she took out her glasses and laptop and started typing in it. Different graphs and documents were opened one after another and finished with swift accuracy. Her fingers hitting the keyboard were the only sound inside the bus.

"If I didn't know that you were a student, I would've mistaken you as a secretary."

"You can say that. It is my duty to assist Erina-sama in any way I can so she can concentrate on more important things. If you must know, famous restaurants from all over Japan seek her professional advice and comments."

"Wow! Then she must be an awesome person to be of that caliber?"

"Of course she is! There is no doubt about her skill and I will be behind her in every single step."

It was easy to read her personality. She may look like someone unapproachable but when the topic goes to Erina, she lights up and starts talking with enthusiasm.

"This might just be me but I thought that you were best friends with her."

"Where are you going with this? Of course it is my job to assist her but I want to think that we are friends at the least." her expression changed for a moment.

"It's boring to stay at the back all the time. Why not just stand beside her even if it is only from time to time? It would be more fun that way doesn't it?"

"Maybe, but that is a luxury that I couldn't afford."

Hisako went quiet after that and everything felt awkward. I felt that I dampened her spirit after she was just having fun talking moments earlier. Women's mood swings sure are scary. I frantically thought of another topic that would lighten up the situation and then I remembered what Chef Dojima said.

"Don't feel depressed all of a sudden, we passed the camp! Anyway, do you know anything about the Autumn Election?"

"Why should I tell you that? We aren't exactly friends so I have no obligation to answer that question. I doubt that you'll be participating anyway."

I opened my bag and took out the second book of the manga I gave her earlier. She blushed for a moment and grabbed the book from my hand. A sly grin crept to my face and kept growing until she got irritated.

"Stop smiling like that! I'll tell you already. It is an important event for first year students to showcase all of their talent and skills in front of judges who are well renowned in the culinary industry. Participants of the tournament are picked through the training camp."

"Ohoo… then Nakiri will be the first in the line then?"

"She wouldn't be since the Elite Ten will be organizing the event. Based on past records, the victor of the competition has better chances of being included in the Elite Ten." She lectured.

There are so many things I still don't understand in the way the academy is managed but I recalled Takeuchi telling me about the Elite Ten being the most powerful governing body that not even the director or faculty could oppose.

"When will we know if we get chosen?"

"Normally, it would be sent to your dormitory and the names would be posted in the bulletin board in the front of the school."

"Yes! I'm starting to get pumped up with this competition. I'll show just how impressive my country's cuisine is."

I clasped my hands as I felt energy surging around my body. Time slowed down and all I wanted was to get back into the kitchen to improve my skills. I promised to never repeat the breakdown I had back at the breakfast assignment.

"Like I said, the members of the council will be the ones who have a final say on those who will enter the competition."

"Thank you Arato, you have told me so much information. As a reward, I'll give these to you."

I took out four more books of the manga gave to her.

"Why do you have so many of these shoujo manga? What are you? A kid?"

"Shut up, I just got excited when I went to the bookstore and I bought as much as I could. The cover looked like it was for boys."

"Then is it really okay for me to take all of these?"

"Go ahead. It's my peace offering to you remember? I'm just glad that I have a new friend now."

"We are not friends! Wait… why is this manga missing the last volume?"

The moment I stepped down from the bus in front of the academy, I felt strangely empowered. Coming out from the hellish training camp gave me new confidence and made me discover the things I am lacking. One thing will always stay with me, the professional kitchen is not for people who lack conviction. It was afternoon when we returned and our bus was the last to arrive as most of the students already headed to their own dormitories.

*RIIINNGGG*

"Hello?" I answered.

"WHERE ARE YOU?! DON'T KEEP US WAITING!"

I instinctively took the phone away from ear as Ayako yelled in the phone.

"What are you getting so worked up about?"

"I told you, didn't I? We are having something going on tonight but your bus just took its time to go back so we went ahead to make the preparations. Do your share of work or…"

The voice behind the receiver changed into Takeuchi's.

"Hey man, just hurry up. Ayako here is really worried about y…"

*Beep Beep*

"Yuzu? What happened?"

Takeuchi's voice was cut off as the call suddenly ended. I felt goosebumps just thinking what Ayako must have done to him. I took my time going back to the dormitory and gazed at the surroundings. Everything felt different and I was not the same person compared to the time before the camp. The North Lake dormitory was up ahead and the idea that all of my friends made it through elated my spirits on a higher tier.

The instant I opened the door, a wonderful fragrance hang in the air. Different spices and different aroma of meat invaded my senses. There was the succulent smell of beef being seared, the sourness of tomatoes and the heavenly aroma of garlic and onion being sautéed. The whole gang was working on their individual dishes with more passion. My body was on the verge of breaking down from the fatigue of travel but they still had a lot of energy to continue cooking on a free night.

"Alex! You arrived finally, what are you going to cook tonight?" Anna asked.

"I forgot that we had something planned. The store was already closed so I didn't get to buy ingredients."

"That's unfair! At least make something." Ayako interjected from behind the stove.

I looked around the kitchen to check what they were doing. Anna was roasting some pork and preparing her vegetable siding. Ling gave me her usual cold look when I passed by her. The pork stir-fry was tossed in the air with almost no effort. Ling's hands precisely moved that wok and her ladle that made her appear like she was dancing gracefully. Ayako on the other hand was deep frying some pork cutlet coated in breadcrumbs. The trend was to obvious that it cannot go unnoticed. All of them were cooking using pork as a theme.

"What is going on? Why are all of you cooking." I asked.

"Geeezz! You really weren't listening. This is a mock Shokugeki we all planned back in the hotel." Ayako answered.

"Why are we doing this instead of resting?"

"That is because Yamamori-san has a surprise for the winning dish." Anna replied.

I recalled not seeing the Yamamori when I arrived. He would usually sit beside the fireplace with a mug of coffee at this time.

'Now that I think of it, where could Yuzu be? The line got cut off earlier.'

Smoke was coming out from the outside and I headed to the source to see Takeuchi grilling some pork. He stood in front of the grill with a look of aloofness in his face.

"Yuzu, what happened earlier? Why were you suddenly cut off?"

"I don't know what you are talking about. When did you arrive?"

He was certainly acting not himself. Normally, he would make a ruckus of some sort but now he looked like his soul just left his body. He turned to me and gave thumbs-up but it also revealed the swelling handprint on his right cheek.

'Ayako and Takeuchi always go into silly fights, I wonder if Ayako likes him?'

I walked back and let him finish his cooking and upon entering, I saw Yamamori putting a container inside the freezer. Nobody inside the kitchen was talking and the only sound heard are ladles hitting the pans, knife chopping on the board and the fires from the stove like an orchestaic piece. It was the first time for me to see them cook.

"Start cooking Alex, you don't have much time left." Takeuchi shouted from outside.

"Yeah about that, I think I'm going to skip cooking tonight. I know! Doesn't a Shokugeki need a judge? I am willing to be a judge."

"That doesn't work because there needs to be an odd number of judges." Anna rebutted.

"And there should be only two participants for a Shokugeki to happen and there are four of you so let's just make this happen. I'll try to think of something."

For a competition to occur, there must be an odd number of judges and two parties but there are four of them so the judging system won't work. The mock Shokugeki could happen if they chose who they want to compete with then the winners of both battles would do another battle. The downside was it would not only be time consuming but also short of one more judge.

"How about I go to my room and sleep and you all have Yamamori to judge between all of your cooking?"

"DEFINITELY NOT!" the four of them said in perfect symphony.

"You have the nerve to say that after being so late and not participating." Ayako added.

"I get that you don't want me leaving but why are all of you so fired up about cooking and of all times, the night after the training camp?"

Ayako walked up to me and grabbed my collar and Anna ran towards her side.

"Ling told us during last night's feast that you tied with Nakiri Erina during the first dinner assignment. To think that you, a newcomer who rrived last month would be able to do that, my pride would never let it go. Come on! Let's have a Shokugeki!"

"That's right Alex! It was unfair for you not to say anything at all." Anna said.

"You too?"

I looked outside and saw Takeuchi peeping from the window. He was suppressing his laughter.

"And you? What is your part in this mess?" I pointed.

"Nothing really. I'm just enjoying the show."

"It looks like there's no escaping for me in this little contest of yours but I really am serious when I say I'm too tired to cook anything tonight. Knowing how this will end, all of you will sleep late and I will certainly be the one to cook breakfast tomorrow."

They all agreed to let me be a judge of the mock Shokugeki and so I proposed the mechanics of the competition type I was thinking of earlier. They gave their consent and gave me the privilege of picking who fights against who. The matchup concluded to Anna against Ayako while Takeuchi is partnered with Ling.

"I'm afraid there is no such thing as friendship in this stage Anna-chan." Ayako faced Anna.

"Likewise, I wouldn't have it any other way.

The atmosphere inside the room became hostile in a snap. The four of them were going all out and the competition was burning even though it was only intended to be a trial run. Takeuchi, who always had a silly grin plastered in his face, wore a scary look in his face as Ling's expression was as cold as ever.

They ran back to their stations and continued cooking with only focus in their faces.

*Ding Dong*

The doorbell rang repeatedly and I flew off to answer the call. It was the best time to step away from the kitchen as the heat of battle rose to an inexplicable degree. It felt like training camp all over again. I opened the door to see a tall man wearing a trench coat and a fedora hat.

"Isn't life being too funny? To meet you so soon when we just had a lively talk yesterday."

His voice sounded familiar. Almost too familiar…

"Old man Gerd?!"

He stood in front of me with a luggage in his hand and stepped inside the dormitory without being invited to entered. A smile once again flashed through his face as he hung his coat.

"Is that you?" Anna was craning her neck through the kitchen's door.

"Anna!"

"Grossvater! Ich habe dich vermisst."

She jumped into Gerd and gave him a big hug. I was lucky enough to move a little farther away or I might have been included in the hug as well.

"Wie ist meine Enkelin?"

"Ich bin glücklich sie sind hier."

Both of them continued to speak German. It was already hard for me to not talk in my native language and adapting to Japanese was already hard as it is, but listening to them was on another level.

"Ummmm… what's going on?" I asked in English.

Yamamori and the others came closer to check what was happening.

"Alex…" Anna noticed everybody was also around. "…everybody, this is my grandfather! His name is Gerd Scholken."

"Good evening to all of you. I was attracted by the sweet smell, I hope to be in your care for the time being." His German accent was as thick as I remembered.

'What?! Grandfather… to Anna? What is happening?'

A/N:

Sorry for the long delay but here we are at the start of a new arc. For those of you who don't understand German, you can just have it translated online but it is self explanatory and doesn't really affect the dialogue that much. It's time for the dorm mates to shine so don't miss out the next chapter.

I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter...

Cheers!