A/N: Hello, I do hope you like this chapter and will continue reading.
Disclaimer: I do not own Shokugeki no Souma or its characters nor do I want to
Chapter Thirty-Five: Successful Stagiaire
Soma's POV 3
Abel was actually teaching me how to do a preparation. "French Cuisine is so interesting. It's no wonder my mom liked it more than Italian and Japanese Cuisine" I smiled.
"Well you are right. Japanese Cuisine tends to emphasize minimal handling and processing of Ingredients to keep them 'raw'" he explained.
"French Cuisine spends abundant amounts of time and effort on processing Ingredients. Making an individual stock takes an extremely long time" he was about to continue before he spoke. "What is it?" he asked making me smile.
"You're a very good teacher Abel-San" I smiled widely. "That's only because you have no knowledge of basic French Cusine" he yelled making me frown.
"During the middle ages of France Italian Cuisine heavily influenced French Cuisine. In the 17th Century Marie-Antoine Careme and Francois Pierre La Varenne shifted the influence. They helped create France's new indigenous style.
Knowledge of French cooking contributed significantly to Western cuisines" I recited. "Would you like me to continue?" I asked.
"Have you memorized the Recette for the Fish Dish today?" Lucie asked. "Yes I have" I told her. I memorized all of the Recettes we've had on the Menus.
I looked over at the Recettes when I saw Poele. The one thing my dad taught me about French Cuisine.
"Have you figured out what you're making in tonight's competition?" Lucie asked. "I have a basic idea yes, but I haven't finalized it yet" I answered. Kojiro told us not to slack off on the last day when his head entered the Kitchen.*
Abel told me to hurry on the prep while Lucie asked for my help. "Table 6 is going to be a little late" Gao said.
"Then I'll work on Table 5's Fish Dish" I told her once I finished the prep at the same time she walked in. I did everything I was told before everyone left early. "So who's next?" I asked Kojiro.
"I've invited one more group" he told me making me nod. "The whole place is reserved for them" he finished.
I saw the Totsuki Alumni burst in before Hinako came over to me. "I came here for the Stagiaire" I answered easily. "It's been a while Senseis" I smiled walking over to them.
"Soma Yukihira, so this was your training site" Chapelle said and Hitoshi nodded. "We haven't seen you since the Camp" Donato said next.
"You did great work at the Autumn Elections" Mizuhara smiled. "Thank you very much" I smiled before feeling pressure on my shoulder. "Chapelle-Sensei arrived at Totsuki when we were still students" Hinako informed.
I looked towards the door when I saw Kojiro's mother. He called her madame but she told him not to call her that.
Time Skip: Dinner was served
"I've been wanting to ask since I always rather hear it in person but why did you choose French Cuisine?" I asked him. He was surprised by the question before he turned to his mom. "And why would I tell you?" he asked making me smile.
"Because of your mom" I smiled making him look away. "Come on Soma, we have to make the dessert" he told me.
He didn't want to deny or admit to it. "About the Quiche I made Soma" Kojiro started making me turn to the side. "To westerners Burdock Root looks like a tree root so they're often surprised Japanese people eat it.
Other root vegetables have been avoided for a long time. It's because they remind people of wartime food scarcity" he explained.
I figured as much but that was when there wasn't a Gourmet God or Goddess. The GCA was created during that time to stop that to. "If I were to name that Quiche it would be Quiche de Legumes Oublies I suppose" he told me.
"You asked me why I chose to open a Restaurant right now. It was to reaffirm the roots of my cooking" he explained.
"I'm going to face my own cooking in the Country I was born in once more" he finished. I smiled at that since that's what I'll be doing once I get mom back. I'm going to open a Restaurant chain in Italy, France, and Japan.
After we finished with the dessert I heard Naoko say my name in surprise. "Yes it's me ma'am" I smiled walking over to her.
"I never got to thank you for teaching Seiichi how to cook" she told me. "It's no big deal" I smiled before Kojiro came over. "You taught my cousin how to cook?" he asked and I nodded.
"He loved how Soma-Kun made cooking fun!" Naoko told him. "I see" Kojiro said before Naoko kissed my cheek goodbye.
Scene Change: Kitchen
"I hope you do well Gao-San" I smiled. "Thank you Yukihira. In all of two years my entry was only used once" she informed.
"I know Gao-San" I smiled. "I switched to Customer Service Management because I thought I'd learn something from interacting with the guests.
I've never slacked on my daily training as a Chef" she explained holding out her knife. "I haven't either" Lucie told me. "I have to show people that I didn't become the Chief Boucher because Wei stepped aside" Lucie explained.
I frowned at this because she shouldn't care what people think. "Do you have the resolve to take this on Yukihira?" Abel asked.
"I'm determined to get my mom back and not have Takumi taken from me. So yes I do" I saw a field of downed flowers after I told him that. If they bloom I did well if they don't I won't pass.
Kojiro told us to get cooking before we did. Heat Honey and Sugar till it reaches a deep golden color.
Simmer it after adding Madeira Wine, Red Wine, and Fond de Veau. I sautéed the ground Chicken with Butter as I waited for that to simmer. I sweated the Onions after that.
'Why do you do it like that dad?' I asked when he used Poele. 'It makes the skin crispy' he answered me and I nodded.
'There's a lot to cooking isn't there dad?' I smiled. He nodded saying that was all for now. I pouted slightly at him because he didn't tell me what it was called.
He did tell me later though so I didn't mind. I'm going to shatter how I've been now and continue doing that when I learn even more things.
Time Skip: After Three Tastings
I heard Abel ask if I was done yet before I walked out. "Sorry for keeping you waiting" I smiled. "Soma what is this?" Chapelle asked when I set the Quail down.
"It's a Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl" I smiled. "Well I guess it doesn't look like one" unbuttoning the top button on the Chef's Uniform I was wearing.
"This is the best French Dish I can serve right now" I smiled. I have to get this on the Menu or I won't be able to save Takumi or my mom. Kojiro was surprised by the taste before Hinako said she'll try it.
She was surprised to see Egg and Risotto in it. "A Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl consists of five Ingredients.
Chicken, Egg, Rice, Onions, and seasoned stock. After searing it with oil it was slowly Roti in the oven. The Egg was seasoned with salt and pepper before mixed with cream.
The creaminess of the Egg is critical to the Dish. The Risotto was finished with milk for mildness.
I added ground Chicken that I sautéed in Butter. Onions were sweated for enhanced sweetness" I explained before continuing. "The Sauce is Soy Sauce added to Madeira Sauce, while lightly sweetened with sugar and honey.
Similar to the seasoned stock it brings everything together. This Dish redoes the Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl using French techniques" I smiled.
"How did you stuff the Quail?" Abel asked making Hinako scare some Alumni. "I used Cabbage. I wrapped the Risotto in Cabbage that had been parboiled in salt water" smiling at the memory of it.
"You did it Soma" Abel told me making me smile. "You said you came back to Japan so you could reach greater heights in French Cuisine.
I'm going to be doing the opposite when I get my mom back. I'm going back to the City I was born in before we came back to Japan" I told him. "This is the Dish I'm going to add to the Menu there" gesturing to it.
I know my Dish is going to make it but I also know he's going to say the opposite at first. "It's too low quality… so long as it stays how it is now" I knew it.
"It's fine to be served at a small-time Restaurant you'll have in the future. It's a little lackluster to be served here. I could beat into you what I'd do if I were to make this Dish" he told me pushing up his glasses.
"Please do!" I smiled bowing my head. "In this case you would use Sherry Vinegar" he told me simmering the soy sauce when we were in the Kitchen.
"Add Red Wine only after you've deglazed the pan with it" he explained and I nodded. "Don't forget to skim the foam" "Got it!" I smiled. I understood all of it the first try so we stayed for a bit.
"Where do you plan to go open your Restaurant?" Kojiro asked making me smile. "Castelluccio Village in Umbria, central Italy" I told him.
"What're you gonna name it?" Hinako asked happily. "Sapphire Falcon Diner. It's going to have live cooking and cooking classes in the morning and afternoon for kids" I answered smiling.
Time Skip: Sunrise
"Gomen! I hadn't meant to talk to sunrise" frowning as I bowed my head. "It's fine Soma" Kojiro told me before he thanked me.
"Huh? What for?" I asked confused. "You helped teach Seiichi how to cook and he had fun with it.
What you chose for your future Diner is a good fit" he told me. "Seiichi is a bored child and rarely finds interest in anything.
I'm impressed and glad you were able to help him find something he liked" Kojiro said making me smile. "Thank you Master Shinomiya" I smiled bowing my head. I covered my mouth to muffle a chuckle when Hinako and Lucie were cheering at 'master'.
"Grab the First Seat in Totsuki Soma" he smiled making me nod. "Nothing else will do" I smiled.
Scene Change: Polar Star
"I'm back!" I called walking in. "Oh Soma-Kun, you're the first back" Fumio said making me smile. "It's been a while Fumio-San" I smiled widely.
"You're looking good, you've got a lot of mail" she told me patting the box. "Oh wow!" I smiled seeing a bunch of Shokugeki Challenges.
"They're all Shokugeki Challenges" she told me making me grin ear to ear. "Excuse me, you're here Yukihira Soma" a big guy said from the door. His name was Kabutoyama Tetsuji, a Second Year in High School.
He was challenging me to a Shokugeki. "Let's do it now" I smiled not letting him finish his sentence.
My finger was healed and I won the Shokugeki. "To everyone here at Totsuki I have a message. I'll accept every Shokugeki from anyone here, even now, so come at me whenever and wherever" I told them happily.
A/N: Hello, I finished writing this at 10:28 P.M. on July 25, 2017.
Naoko means 'sincere child'
Seiichi means 'one who is sincere'
I have now finished
*I'm not sure who he was talking to but they all said 'oui chef' so it might be all.
I do hope you like this chapter and story. I am so sorry to those who really loved this story because it is now completed. I do have a Sequel for this but I don't know if I'll be writing it anytime soon because I do have other stories to write. If any of you like Death Note though I am going to start writing Blood Vampir: Prequel now that this is over. I don't mind if you don't read it though.