Author's note: Hello guys, I am back.T_T It's preparation time, between school and applications for university, I had little to no time. But when I feel beat up, i write a few lines, so the chapters will come slower these months around, till the end of July i guess ( That is a bit far I know) . But I will continue both hearts will be ending in a chapter or two, as for this one I like to think it up a little, just to keep the stories coherance
Thx to all who supported me till today: TasiaEndlessDreams, JackFrost,IceColdSea and all the others, thank you. And I hope to deliver more great chapters in the future.
Now, Hajime.
CHAPTER 8: The 1st task:
-The missing rook-
-"Who agreed on the establishment of this task?" the sixth seat roared to the heavens, his voice resembling a cracking earthquake.
-"I did." The American blonde beside him, answered almost immediately. Getting a death glare from her comrade.
Upon arriving to the resort that morning, the two sophomores checked in one of the large suites of the hotel, and were later called by the Resort director for an instant overview of all the tasks and preparations for the camp.
It was the file about Mito Ikumi skimpy challenge, that brought quite the tension between the pair.
-" What the…? Are you insane? Tootsuki, the symbol of nobility and grace, is not to hold such an unethical, promiscuous event?"
-" Seriously,…" the girl face palmed. " Dude, we live in a world where people get naked when they taste delicious food. There is enough promiscuity already." She said, as if pointing the obvious.
-" What did you say?" he pulled a face of utter disgust.
She sighed in resignation. Sometimes she thinks she is the only person aware of all the shit going on in their world.
-" Well, your father backed the execution of the event. So I didn't have much to say in the matter." He heard a hard object that hitting the floor loudly.
The hell? Why would he do that? I mean, his father already felt all around the place that morning, a little unusually scatterbrained and airheaded. He seemed not to care about the meeting, neither any information about the shatter of the treasurer. He hastily dismissed the meeting and went straight to his office, he didn't even bare a single glance at his own son the whole morning.
The boy pursed his lips annoyed.
-" Well, now, what is done is done. We need now to check the other tasks and prepare for the upcoming days and communicate with the sponsors and distributors. Annabel, would you have the kindness to verify that all the alumnus have arrived and are lodged and serviced in the most refined of conditions."
-"Okay, Dojima-sama." She said, dodging the stapler that was thrown her way.
He was now left to his own thought, enraged at her stupid tease. The room was silent and gloomy.
The fair-haired boy, was looking at the blankness of an A4 paper. He always pondered about his father's regretful and depressed demeanor. He never was like that when he was little.
His father was a happy man. Always smiling and joking around, overflowing with love for his wife Riko and his son. But, somewhere around 14 years ago, he changed. He became a sad depressed man. Even his cooking lost its accustomed brightness, reflecting an emptiness and a void that seemed to grow within him even further.
When Utsuyuu attended Tootsuki, he heard talk about his father's legacy, the Asura, the 92nd revolution. He couldn't believe that the shallow man that he father is, could 've ever been this amazing. He didn't know what changed him, neither what got him like that. But he swore he'd know, he'd breach that wall he built around himself.
From there on, he began his parkour in Tootsuki, climbing the latter of prestige with force and gusto.
When he earned the position of Sixth Seat, he felt a huge delight that tickled his insides like tiny sparks in his heart. When he announced it to his parents, his mother jumped on him with teary eyes. Choiring phrases about how proud she is. As for his father, and for the first time in forever, he flashed me a happy grin, saying: ' Well done, son.'
He felt an overwhelming happiness that made him tear up in joy.
But now, all my worries that he thought faded, came back, and he still doesn't know why or how to find a solution or a clue to shatter them.
All students to your examination sites please.
-" Is this challenge really relevant?" In the girls' changing room, a female redhead asked her green-haired friend from across the room.
She just took off her blazer, when Nanami stepped in.
-" Well, they are Tootsuki alumnus. You can expect anything." The girl replied, proceeding to unbutton her shirt, revealing her black cotton bra.
-" Isn't it a little unethical? And besides, what does bikini have to do with cooking?" she slide down her black tights, revealing creamy, long, sharp legs.
-" Tropical food. Or maybe seafood." the other girl answered, wearing a towel to hide her body while changing.
-" I think we wait and see." The redhead answered, pulling her hair up not to annoy her while dressing.
-" This looks more like a beach party." The redhead accompanied by her friend were now standing by the pool along with the other students, waiting for their instructor.
For Akane, she got lucky(?) She found an extravagant white two-piece bikini. The top was right at her size, its two push-ups joined by a golden ring, showing just the right quantity of cleavage. The under piece was also white, on each of its sides, two smaller rings were knotted with finely tangled white strings. It was, at the same time, sexy and pure.
Besides her, Nanami was as hot as ever. A one piece night blue swimsuit, on the left side, her ivory skin showed through a wide opening. The skin-tight fabric failed to hide the totality of her back. Her nicely defined, refined body curves and traits showed in their fullest glory due to the contrast between her pale tan and the color of her swimsuit.
Standing beside each other, they made quite a view, having both their hair down, they made most of the boys around them drool at the sight.
-" Isn't this a bit inappropriate. I mean, morally." The redhead asked, noticing all the lusty looks she was getting from the other students.
-"Why are you saying that?" her friend asked incredulously, seemingly not noticing the hungry stares directed at her fine body. " We are cooks, aren't we? We should be ready and prepared for any kind of situation, and serve our customers with the best we could afford." She replied, shining with motivation.
-"Ah, really? But…"
-"Haven't changed, have we Ishikki?" a feminine voice cut off their conversation.
The redhead felt her comrade's aura change into that of hostility. She looked to fully recognize the voice.
-" Rude as ever. Huh, Hojo?" the greenhead slowly tilted her head to the side, looking with darkened cyan orbs at the pair that walked their way.
The offender was a tall SUPER HOOOT girl. A thin slim waist, a huge E-cup covered with a red, gold embroidered top. Thick, meaty thighs, their volume was accentuated by a pair of red shorts. Her long violet hair tied up in a loose tail, that reached her rear. Her magenta eyes looked heatedly at the other girl, smirking like a quirky beast.
At her side, a petite, meek black haired girl seemed to have more interest in the sand beneath their foot, other than the people before her.
She noticed the redhead, that was staring at her dumbly.
-"I see you befriended the transfer student." She said, getting Akane's attention. " And here I thought you'd be pissed at her speech. Such an ego from a freshman I guess." She continued, mockingly.
-" Destiny is always tossing its dice. I can't help but be a friend with my dorm mate. Beside, I haven't seen her cooking yet to know if she were a threat or just another extra." She answered in equal sarcasm.
Akane just pursed her lips. She kept her face as stoic as she possibly could.
-"You got the valedictorian badge, and then you left your high pedestal. I'll be lying if i said I wasn't surprised. But even down here, I can still beat you again." The violette narrowed her eyes fiercely.
-" Say that at least if you did once, I beat you during the entrance exam. That's a point for me baby. Still want to try plucking my wings, honey. Just you try,…And" Nanami looked at her with a dark mana. " I'll slay and rip your heart, Yumi Hojo."
-" That is if I don't break into your fortress first. Ishikki Nanami."
If she weren't sure she was halluscinating, Akane could've sworn she was seeing fire and volcanos raging in the background.
Wow. Now this is something an Elite school must have.
-"They really are getting at it." The redhead commented, looking at the girl, that was rather silent and indifferent during the whole exchange.
She just tried to hold a conversation while those two were shooting sparks at each other, but the other girl ignored her completely.
-"Ano, are you with us here, I'm trying to be nice here. By the way my name is Akane." She walked closer to the introvert-looking girl.
The black haired girl backed up a little, the same amount of steps Akane did toward her.
They kept moving like that: One trying to butt in, the other backing away as much as she could. The meek girl started to get annoyed, a small pout forming on her thin lips.
This redhead is an insufferable, dense idiot. She doesn't get the gist at all.
She turned at the aforementioned, and looked at her with fierce, shady beige eyes.
-"Leave me alone." She whispered angrily.
The redhead was seemingly taken aback by the girl's reaction.
Although, just a second later, she started smiling joyfully at the other.
-"I don't wanna." She replied with a straight face, ticking the other off even more.
-"What the hell is wrong with…" she was interrupted by a hand held near her face.
-" As I said before my name is Akane. What is yours?" she was all smiles when she asked. Confident and beaming with life.
What in the world is with this girl?
-"Lisa." She sighed, surrendering any attempt to back off. " My name is Lisa."
-"Lisa? Isn't that American" she noticed her new acquaintance tense at her recognition. " From which state are you? I bet Ohio,…It is."
-"It is none of your business." She finally snapped. "You asked me to tell yoi my name that is enough. You don't need to know more. And I won't let you." She growled.
-"I asked for your name right? Well, you didn't answer me really?" she pointed, getting the petite girl's attention. "You just told me your first name? Was it your last." At that point, she knew she touched a rough spot.
-"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? YOU ANNOYING,, NOSY IDIOT. I DON'T…"
-"Students, please your attention please?" a clap broke her rant, as all the eyes moved towards the talker.
If Akane thought they looked skimpy. Well, she hadn't yet seen their supervisor's attire.
An American showy top, a pair of unbuttoned jean shorts. With that tan, and that blonde edgy bob hair cut. WOW.
Males were like dogs at this point. And females were like lions ready to protect their territory.
What a controversy?
-" My name is Ikumi Mito. And for this task, I will be your supervisor."
The Meat Lieutenant. Ikumi Mito.
92nd generation student. She never managed to graduate the institute. But with backing of her family name, and her extravagant skills dealing with proteins. She toured the world and refined her skills. By now, she heads her families industrial group with the tenacity of a fully grown male adult.
-"As you all noticed, from your outfits and the environment of this task. The theme is a classic: Barbecue. It is a staple dish all around the world, characterized by its carelessness and sense of freedom, you can do anything, aby flavors could match. No boundaries. You are free you use any kind of meat you like, any flavors or accompaniment of your liking. But…" her emerald orbs darkened. " Bid respect to the meat." She insisted in a sharp tone. " The time span is 2 hours. The pantry will be available all task long. You might start now." She said signaling for the students to start moving.
Everyone was rushing to get the ingredients, pushing and stumbling at each other. Hands flew over the diversity of utensils and tools. Each one took its own spot around the pool, setting their grills and coal bags.
Nanami and Akane set their work stations just beside one another. They both put their ingredient trays on the counters, looking at the other with zealous eyes.
-" Nanami-san, what are you going for?" the redhead asked her friend, unable to connect the dots from her friends purchases.
-" I'll be making Teppanyaki. I'm going original on this one." She smiled at her friend cheerfully.
-"Teppanyaki? But why the condiment?" she looked at the bottles of versatile sauces on her tray.
-" You'll see."
The redhead just shrugged. She had to focus on her own dish. She decided to go with a Texas-style sweet-hot ribs.
After tying her hair in a high tail, she proceeded to clean the pork ribs, cutting off excess fat and defining her serving portions. She had to respect the meat after all.
In separate bowl, she prepared the marinade using condensed tomato sauce, BBC sauce, orange juice and zest, white wine vinegar, chili powder, sweet chili sauce… She had seen a lot of TV shows about comfort, leisure food, so she knew all the blends, so she could add and take according to her tastes.
She was completely in her zone when a loud thud broke her out of her concentration.
She turned her head left, the only thing she saw what a foot that literally dug deep into the ground.
The girl Hojo was ferociously butchering a chicken. The poor creature was reduced into pieces within the span of a minute. Skinned, and boned chicken pieces were neatly dried with a paper towel, she patted its moisture carefully.
Her table was filled with various containers: Honey, soy sauce, hoisin, spice containers and much more.
-"Chinese?" the redhead muttered in recognition.
-" Corr~ect." Nana said to her dorm mate with an all smiley face. The latter massaging something in a bowl. " Yumi Hojo-san, is a Chinese cooking specialist. Next on the Hojo restaurant lineage, she was widely educated in the different fields of Chinese cuisine. She is fearful foe, and the protection shield and shining star of the Tootsuki Chinese RS." She explained. " We knew each other for the longest. We always interact within the circle of deep rivalry, but in reality, we are really good friends." She paused, setting the timer on her table. " I don't know about the girl that was with her." She peeked at the other girl in the sidelines.
The introvert, flat-chested girl was seemingly brushing some yellowish substance over a large rib eye cut.
-" You better focus on you cooking, Akane-san." The greenhead whispered to her friend, who seemed to space out for a moment. She tuned to look at her caller. " Time is running out from you."
The redhead remembered she was actually in a competition
And without further ado, continued her cooking in silence.
Group A-2:
I guess we were not in the same group after all.
But…
The golden eyed brunet was sweating bullets and cringing crazily at the look their instructor was giving him.
The blond handsome man was staring at him relentlessly, his blue orbs almost driving the youth's with a wide Mediterranean sea wave.
He was staring, no, ogling him from the tip of his marron short hair to the old leather of his shoes. He seemed to stamp every feature of the young man into his mind, like if he is going to disappear or something.
Their instructor is clearly Ayumi's father, you can tell from those neat,, refined edges and foreign looks. But he obviously had the attitude of an old Japanese hag.
The air was tense and charged that the temperature rise a few degrees, until a brown-haired boy spoke as such: "Aldini-dono, I think we should begin our task right now."
Yamada would've hugged his dorm mate if it wasn't so awkward already. Their teacher finally broke their eye contact and sighed in tiredness.
-" My name is Takumi Aldini, a 92th generation graduate." The man said from his location on the front of the room. " This Training Camp is where you'll show that you deserve to be in Tootsuki." He pointed at them. " Don't expect me to be easy on you." He glared at them. Blue eyes turning into a dark shade of navy. " Considering our beautiful location here in this academy propriety. A large variety of vegetables and fruits is at grasp in its purest forms. You'll have to bring it to life. You are free for your ingredients, your style, your recipe. But the dish got to have one shining vegan ingredient." He stopped talking.
He sat back on his seat and crossed his legs. All the students were looking at their teacher expectedly.
He peeked at them, and instantly blushed at his stupidity. What was he expecting?
-"What are you waiting for? You have two hours. Get your asses into work." He ordered.
Most of the students just came to the realisation that they had already began. Suddenly they all ran towards the exit. Yamada and Yuuto following suit.
Leaving only Takumi to his own thoughts.
He already rejected the offer of coming to the camp this year. His daughter was among this generation: First, it is weird and uncomfortable. And second, he wanted to assist on the Trattoria new branching in Rome, plus, spend a little alone, quality time with his wife.
But Alice's sudden call came like a category five hurricane, that damaged both their conscientiousness. At the sole mention of that name, they came flying on the first plane back to Japan.
As if he could forget or resist the look on Megumi's face. It was joy punched with sorrow and relief, with a sprinkle of doubt.
But here he is, witnessing it with his very own eyes. The proof of those words. He is pissed because his plans were ruined. Sure he is, and it shows. But what ticks him off more, is the blanks in his head that are now begging for answers.
As the populace was running around rummaging in the potato sacks and carrot counters. Two sole people headed towards the fields.
Yamada was walking steadily, looking around him with deep accuracy and attention, he was looking for a certain something.
From the corner of his eyes, he could notice his friend who crouched, inspecting some kind of vegetable.
He meticulously rubbed on it with his thumb, and gently put it in his bag, and rapidly ran toward the pantry to get the rest of his purchases.
Yamada was walking through the field getting more to toward dry outskirts, leaving behind him the pretty colorful vegetables, and the ripe plump fruits.
He remembered clearly the word of Ayumi that day.
Yuuto-kun is a French cooking specialist. He mostly shines with vegetables and steaming. He has a unique sense of refinement.
If her word were any relatable, it means that they are in his field of expertise. Yamada ignores what kind of cook he is. But from all their previous interactions, he looks to be a somehow of a narcissistic person. He always seems to be on the edge for some reason.
As his thoughts blossomed in his mind, a flash of green made his jolt and smile mischievously.
This one would be the secret of his victory in this task.
-"Luckyyyy." The blonde seventh seat whined in envy.
-" They get to taste delicious food and free extravagant lodging; and I get to do all the heavy, boring paperwork, and checking procedures. How lame!" she pouted in annoyance.
She just came from the hotel reception. She asked the receptionist to give her the list of all the alumnus who had checked in today, and the locations where each of the buses had headed this morning.
How unfair! They get to go around sightseeing in the resort and she is stuck in the main building for committee responsibilities.
All the alumnus had ( of course) already checked in, all the suites were equipped to welcome them. Some came late after the opening ceremony, but they hurriedly left their luggage to the clerk and ran toward their assigned groups.
However, a certain alumnus didn't come. Maybe an unexpected drawback? She didn't know.
What she knew is that she will have to fill a hella long report about the alumnus absence and the consequences of this lack, and the solutions they suggest to avoid a similar incident occurring again. And she will have to write an apology letter to the teacher who had to substitute and fill the role, and also send an email to the absent graduate asking about the reasons and circumstances of this negligence.
And considering that Utsuyuu is already so busy with the several preparations for the camp and supervising the staff and team.
Which means….
NO TIME TO REST. SHE WILL BE BUSY ALL CAMP LONG.
She thought this was her leisure days. The guest of the resort director's son, she will be treated like a queen and prioritize in all the camp goods.
But nooo. There had to be a busy, lazy person who would ruin her holidays. She was fuming from anger and disappointment right now.
At the peak of her irritation, she rustled in the large pack of papers that she purchased from the check-in staff, she was looking for the name of this person who just spoiled her rest. She found the aforementioned document in middle of a red file.
-"Arato Hisako." She muttered to herself, stopping for a moment to read the paper carefully .
-" Arato? Isn't that the name of the Nakiri estate's faithful servants? I thought they totally broke ties with Tootsuki since the creation of the N.I.R.B?" she scanned the paper's content even further with her eyes. " A 92th generation graduate?"
Wow! The Jewels are really dominating this year's camp for sure. Not even in my generation we had this much.
For Annabel, the instructor's body this year was rather surprising. Never in all the previous years, they've never been more than three 92th generation members within the Training camp. They were even times when the invitations were rejected by the alumnus for unknown reasons. Last year,, she had the honor to be praised by Ikumi Mito, it was a chance and a pleasure of a lifetime.
She pondered about it for a bit, and later shrugged it off in order to cringe at the memory of the huge pile of documents that Utsuyuu will send her about the finale camp task.
It is going to be a long week.
Next chapter: They saw it. Felt it. She was right.
Her tears stained her face remembering her love's loss.
His heart tightened recalling their rivalry vow.
...
The bath is quiet full tonight. XD
Ja ne.
Next is chapter 3 of Unwavering Hearts: The Clash of Races.
