Chapter 31: Surf vs Turf. The Battle of Red Fruit.

The match took its toll on me. Trying to think on my feet was a very exhausting way of handling the fight. All I wanted was to take a nap before the final match but my friends had another idea.

"Congratulations!"

Ling and Ayako greeted as I entered the waiting room. Takeuchi ran up to me with a hug. Usami and William were trailing behind me.

"Everyone! All together… EI EI OHHHHH!"

A celebratory cheer ensued from everyone, even William who was a foreigner was eager to join the fray. Takeuchi released me from his bear hug but his right arm still stayed in my shoulder.

"Soooo… Didn't I tell you?" his grin was annoying.

"What?"

"The technique of winning a Shokugeki is to serve second!"

He received a smack on the back of the head from Ayako.

"Can you stop with the hitting?! Is this how you always react to everything I say? Anyway, as I was saying, you should do it again for the final match."

"That kind of logic suits you the most, Yuzu." Ling mocked.

"No! I'm telling you. It's not baseless. Think of it this way, by serving second, you now have a point of reference. The first one to serve surely makes an impact but by overturning it against your opponent by serving something better, you give the judges a reference that will manage to get you the win."

He made some sense. Normally, I would dismiss anything he would say but the joy of winning the semi-final match was still in effect.

"But doesn't that also mean that if you serve a subpar dish against the first, you'd instantly lose?" Usami asked.

"Yeah. The first flavor could be so intense that they can mask the taste of the second dish." William added.

"Thinking of it that way, you really are a disadvantage if you served second." Ayako teased.

"…idiot." Ling whispered into Takeuchi who was now on his knees.

He looked like he took a beating from all the comments that overturned his great winning strategy. Usami was about to add her comment but I managed to signal her off.

"Now, I don't think he could take much more. He was just trying to help in his own way."

Takeuchi looked up like a ray of hope has descended upon him. He may act crazy most of the time but I knew he had good intentions. The atmosphere inside the room was delightful and I wondered if it could stay the same. Behind the thought, I knew that there was still a final challenge waiting ahead. I have won all three matches so far that I myself was surprised of the achievement. It boosted the confidence I needed for the last round.

"Ling-chan and Yuzu, we should probably head out now. Let's give them some time to plan ahead and rest." Ayako noticed my fatigue. "And Alex, let's celebrate when you win, okay? I'll cook!"

"What are you saying, woman?! Don't raise obvious death flags before the match!"

Takeuchi's voice trailed off as Ling and Ayako dragged him out of the room.

"You ready?"

William and Usami accompanied me through the dark hallway. My nerves were running wild but their presence was a huge help.

"Whatever the theme they throw at me, I won't lose!"

"That's the spirit. Spoken like a true warrior." Usami praised.

They stayed behind a little as I my name was announced. Kawashima Urara, the emcee who had a fan following among the students, called my name at last.

"Good afternoon everyone! The final stretch of this Regiment de Cuisine has arrived. The victor between the two clubs will be decided in this match!"

The crowd made their excitement felt.

"The transfer student hailing from Philippines and a member of the Filipino Cuisine Research Society has showed his true strength when he grabbed the win from his opponents. A true underdog who fought his way up! Coming from my left, Alex Ramos-san!"

I entered the stadium once again feeling confidence in every fiber of my body. It was the final hurdle to take the spot in the main street that would assure the popularity of the club for the upcoming Moon Banquet Festival.

Cheers were now heard from the entirety of the stadium. Earlier, it only came from the side of Kuga who came to support. I couldn't see him any longer but the club members were still in their seats showing their support.

"On my right, he is a third year student who kept the Spanish Cuisine Research Society one of the top organizations in Totsuki Academy. They say a lion gives everything it has even when chasing a rabbit so president himself is here to defend his club's honor, Tsunozaki Tamaki-san!"

Her voice had a little twinkle upon his introduction. His jet black ruffled hair and good looks could capture a woman's heart easily. It wasn't hard to see the vast extent of his charisma. His fans and supporters were definitely louder as he became the favorite to win the match.

To him, I may just be another face in the long line of students he dealt with. But to me, I was living in the moment with all my senses tuned into defeating him with all the skills I acquired from Le Cordon Blue and the knowledge I gained from Totsuki Academy.

"I look forward to what you will show me, Alex-kun." He greeted.

"…"

"No need to be so serious. Let's just have some fun, okay?"

'Fun? What does he mean by that? Is he not seeing me as a threat?'

I could handle my previous opponent's threats but I was caught off guard with Tamaki's attitude. He wasn't even breaking a sweat amidst all the pressure. His approach was very effective even though it was intentional or not. I remembered that he was also the little brother of the chef who trained me hard in her restaurant. He was truly someone not to be underestimated.

"I wouldn't mind if you picked the theme ingredient for today." He invited. "You deserve it for coming this far."

"I can't believe that my opponent is being overly generous." I managed to retort.

"Well just think of it as a brotherly giveaway. Since I heard so much about you from onee-chan. The way you saved her restaurant, the manner in which you cooked and so much more, I'd like to think of you as my little brother…"

Words couldn't form in my mind with all the things he was saying. My mindset was already being shifted unconsciously.

"…with that, how can I take my new ototo seriously?"

For a second, his chiselled face showed a sinister smile, something that can be compared to an older child bullying his siblings but worse. It took just a moment to realize that he was enjoying all of it while giving off an air of an angelic prince. It instantly faded away but my blood boiled the moment his words registered in my ears. His act was a farce and he was completely playing with me from the start.

"You!" my temper was rocketing.

"Don't get caught in his pace Alex!" William shouted from the side.

There was no point in losing my wit at the moment. It was psychological warfare and he was just playing the game. William was right, if I get sucked in his pace, the whole match would go in his favor. As soon as I regained my senses, I headed to the machine to draw the theme.

My sweaty palms were shaking inside the machine that blew air from below. Countless pieces of paper rolled inside and I grabbed the first that came in contact with my hand then I opened my pick… it was-

"Tomato! A very versatile ingredient that can be found in almost every cuisine out there. This ingredient packs a lot of umami." Urara announced. "Now for a few words from the director, Nakiri Senzaemon."

He stood in his place then stretched his right arm and with his gravelly voice, he declared, "Shokugeki begin!"

"Eh? That's it?" Urara was surprised by the literally few words from the director. "Y-Yes! Shokugeki begin!"

'Don't worry, just remember your training and you'll do just fine.'

Those words didn't really have a great effect but it was enough to make me start. If tomatoes were the theme ingredient then there was something perfect that I had in mind. I remembered the day my dad taught it to me. He was so keen and strict in making sure that I cooked the dish right and the flavor would be the same as how my grandmother taught it to him. To us, it was a family recipe handed down to the next generation.

'This is my family's specialty. Grandma, Dad, give me strength!''

Compared to the earlier round, all of the ingredients I needed were present and easily accessible. It made me wonder if I was really sabotaged by a member of the Elite Ten. My cart was soon filled with ingredients for my special dish.

I was first to come out of the pantry. All of my ingredients were properly laid on the table. The cameraman focused on what I was doing as it was shown on the big screen above for everyone to see.

"A very interesting combination. I think I have an idea of what he is trying to make." Sena commented.

"Is it going to be just like earlier? I don't want to go through that experience again." Kurihara was still recuperating from the blow of the previous match.

Senzaemon sat still with his arms crossed. The pressure his mere presence emitted could be felt all over the stadium. Tamaki, on the other hand, just arrived in his station with no urgency in his movements. He was acting like he had all the time in the world.

A tiny bit of irritation sprung up in me as I saw him put almost no effort in the match. I was putting everything on the line while his demeanor seemed to shrug everything I have put so far.

"Don't be too serious. Your dish won't taste too good if you continue being stiff."

"And your cooking won't win if you continue to relax, senpai."

"Ara ara, young ones should learn to respect their seniors, shouldn't they?"

Tamaki's eyes flared and in an instant a masterful knife work shocked the audience. He filleted a flat fish in mere seconds. Four gleaming parts of the fish were extracted with the bone holding no sign of flesh at all. He proceeded to prepare large scarlet shrimps on the side, removing the shells with almost no energy spared.

I could not believe the precision of his movements. It was like a normal occurrence for him and I had to admit that my skills were lacking compared to his. Despite my shortcoming, I still had all of my experience backing me. I looked at the ingredients in front of me and connect with all of it. The ingredient I chose was beef. To tenderize the meat, I flattened the slab using a mallet then cut along the grains to procure three equal thin slices. The meat was brushed with mustard mustard and seasoned with salt and pepper. Next was to cut carrots and gherkins into strips then rolled it with bacon. Finally, the bacon roll was enveloped with the thin beef slices which resulted into multilayered flavor profile which was held tight with twine.

As soon as the 3 rolls of meat were prepared, I seared the top on a pot to close the outer part and prevent the meat juices from leaking out ensuring that all of the flavors were packed inside. When the beef turned light brown, I took it out to let it cool and sautéed the onion and garlic using the same pot. The theme ingredient was the key to the dish and so I added skinned tomato chunks and tomato paste along with beef stock to add the main body of the dish. Once it boiled, I added the meat once again, turned the fire lower and I was essentially done cooking. From then on, everything would be a waiting game for me until the meat cooks and I add the final touches.

"You looked distraught when you saw me not catching up to your pace earlier but now I see that you are the one doing nothing." Tamaki called out.

"I am just waiting for the right timing to unveil my dish. It is very much different from doing nothing, senpai."

"Is that so? Then forgive me for making hasty assumptions."

Time ticked slowly and I was itching to open the lid to check the tenderness of the meat. I held my impatience and focused on Tamaki's cooking. He was gliding through his station. Every detail was taken with extreme care and there were no wasted movements. Even though he was working at his own pace, I could feel like I was being engulfed by the artistry of his movements. If William's cooking was explosive and acrobatic, flailing knives and ingredients around him, Tamaki was like watching the graceful movements of a professional.

For the past few matches, I was too engrossed on my own cooking to notice everyone. I tried to recall William and Tamaki's match during the first round but nothing came to me. I did regret not being to witness his way of cooking in the earlier rounds. He knew so much about me from chef Taki and the previous match but I was oblivious in everything about him.

Before I realized, he was almost entering the final stages of his dish. It woke me up from the trance I have fallen in. I quickly added potatoes and after a few minutes, carrots were placed inside along with a few ingredients.

Everything was perfect.

The meat was tender and the sauce tasted great. The whole dish was balanced as well. The plating was also beautiful and intricate. I used a slightly deep bowled plate and placed a roll in the middle then I drizzled the thick tomato sauce on top of it. Everything went as planned and the result was above satisfactory in my standards. If I had a specialty, then this would be it. The only thing left was to serve it to the judges

"Oi Alex! What are you doing?" Takeuchi complained from the audience. "Serve second!"

What came next was a muffled voice. Without looking, I was sure that Ayako was doing her best to shut him up. I arrived at the front of the judges table and served them my dish.

"Oh! This actually looks better." Kurihara's delight grew as I gave her own serving. "It looks like Beouf Bourguignon!"

"I concur. Thought the meat itself looks like a roulade." Sena praised. "The last dish you served was a far cry compared to what you have served. I am truly impressed."

Senzaemon looked at me directly in the eye.

"Following their logic, Beouf Bourguignon is a classic French dish that makes full advantage of brown veal stock and wine. Each component of the dish is cooked separately to ensure that all of them are prepared optimally then everything is combined in the end. But you showed none of that." His strong gaze looked intensely at my soul. "So tell me, what have prepared here."

"The dish I give you is Beef Kaldereta! I hope you enjoy this classic Filipino cuisine."

Everybody was silent as they waited the result of the tasting. The three of them consecutively stabbed their fork on a piece of the sliced meat roll. My eyes instinctively shut as I hoped for a good reaction from the judges. I slowly opened them and I wasn't disappointed. Nakiri Senzaemon had his kimono stripped off. Kurihara and Sena were eating in delight.

"Amazing, how does the meat stay so juicy and even tastier than it is supposed to be? Wait…" Sena paused. "You added bacon inside the roulade!"

"Correct! The fat of the bacon gives an extra kick in the roulade's juiciness and umami. The gherkin's slight sourness cuts the heavy fat while the carrots add more sweetness." I added.

"And to think that the sauce is so rich and creamy!" Kurihara took another spoonful. "Ahhh… I can't help myself but take another spoonful. It just pairs really well with the meat."

"Cheese!"

The director himself had spoken.

"You added cheese to give the sauce a sharp salty taste that balances out the sourness of the tomato."

He really was amazing. This dish represented all of my experiences so far. The French concept from my time and lessons from Le Cordon Blue and the love for my country's cuisine were all reflected on the dish. To elevate Filipino cuisine using my own thoughts and experiences made every hardship I went through, worth it.

"This is a splendid dish. I remember tasting that lunchbox you shared with me before the start of the school year. I knew you had potential but to see you grow this fast is simply remarkable."

To hear the praise from the director himself made me swell up with pride and confidence. I never knew that I would be in such bliss from receiving compliments. I tried very hard not to show too much emotion but the joy in my heart overflowed as a wide smile was plastered in my face.

"My turn."

Tamaki moved quietly and served his dish next. His cold grin still unnerved me despite receiving the best praises from the judges.

"You lose, Alex-kun." He whispered "So sad but things won't turn out your way."

"Bark all you want senpai, just talk through your own cooking."

"Oh I intend to do that. Just wait and see."

He placed the plates in front of the judges and the sight in from of me was as plain as day. Urara broke the silence and asked Tamaki the obvious question.

"Tamaki-sama… err… Tsunozaki-san, would you kindly tell all of us what you have prepared for today?"

"I can't refuse a request from a beautiful lady, can I?"

The emcee blushed upon hearing those words. A new set of screaming ladies from the audience rose.

"Dear judges and everyone present, I present to you my Seafood Caldereta!"

"Tsunozaki-san has taken the bull by the horns. He met Alex-san's dish with the same concept with his own idea! Truly, a close match for the final showdown indeed!"

The happiness I felt earlier quickly drained from my body, all I felt was panic and insecurity. Caldereta or in my country was called Kaldereta essentially came from the same roots. I knew it originated from Spain but I never thought that he would use the same as well.

'Is that why he moved so slow at the beginning? To observe what I was doing?'

The thought itself rocked me to my core. I didn't know why I was so agitated but I was clearly not myself the whole match. I tried to gain my composure once again by observing his dish. Nothing was decided yet.

His Seafood Caldereta's presentation looked closely similar to mine right down to the plate used. The large shrimp was cooked into tempura offering 2 pieces per plate and floated on top of the stew. A delicious aroma spread outwards and the judges couldn't restrain themselves anymore as they proceeded to partake of the food in front of them.

"…"

"…"

"…"

None of them uttered a single word. Senzaemon savoured the dish with grace but not the same could be said about Sena and Kurihara who were eating at a faster pace. They finished the whole dish in one sitting and the crowd roared at the result.

"Truly marvellous." Sena slumped back at his chair. "This is as fine as it can be."

"Tsunozaki-san!" Kurihara stood up and bowed slightly. "Please do a segment with me in my cooking show. It would be my privilege to have you as a guest… No! A co-star!"

"Please don't bow anymore. A delicate flower like you must stand tall so that you can shine brighter."

Kurihara blushed with Tamaki's gentlemanly gesture. She sat down without leaving her gaze upon him.

"But Tsunozaki-san, to be able to do this much even though you are still a student is unheard of."

"You make me blush Kurihara-san. There are more capable students than me. I could name a few but this is already expected for a third year in Totsuki Academy." Tamaki scratched behind his head out of shyness.

Sena cleared his throat as if trying to grab the attention of everybody.

"As I was saying before I was interrupted. To think that there is a piece of fish submerged in the sauce to act as a platform for the tempura to stand on."

"I am glad you noticed it. The fish I used was Halibut since it had a firmer flesh that is best suited with stewing. The tempura is made from Carabineros shrimp which is abundant in Spain. It's strong yet sweet taste is a perfect pairing for the sourness of tomato stew. I also added white wine to give enhance the flavor and give it a little bit of sweetness. There is a little bit of capsicum to whet up your appetite."

"I already deduced as much. There was enough heat to keep you going but not too strong to be considered spicy."

Nothing was decided yet. Impressed as they may be, the director still had his clothes on and he refused to give his commentary on the dish. I could still pull through the match. I just needed to have faith with my dish.

"Now that the judges have finished tasting both dishes, it is time to decide the winner of the battle. Will it be Alex-san of the Filipino Cuisine Research Society or Tsunozaki-san of the Spanish Cuisine Research Society?" Urara announced with glee. "Their fates are in your hands dear judges."

A staff member ran up to the stage to place another scroll along with a brush. In a few strokes the match would conclude with the name of the winner written on the paper. Nakiri Senzaemon lifted his brush and paused with his eyes closed. He opened them and wrote the victor's name with ferocity.

"The result of the match is decided. The winner for the final round of the Regiment de Cuisine is…"

I couldn't help but close my eyes, hoping that my name would be called once again. The eerie silence made my heart beat faster that it was likely to burst.

"Tsunozaki Tamaki of the Spanish Cuisine Research Society!"

Time froze in an instant.

'I must have heard wrong.'

His name was written on the scroll that was raised by the director.

'Oh… my eyes seem to be failing me… I can't read my name on the paper.'

The screen above displayed his name with fire blasting on the edges. The audience were cheering but I couldn't hear anything. On the far end, I saw Ayako with tears streaming down her marble white cheeks.

'Why are you crying Ayako? There is nothing to be sad about. Takeuchi, you too dummy. Don't cry. Just look at Ling, she isn't crying…'

My eyes fell on Usami and William who were approaching me. They sported serious yet dignified faces as they lined up next to me. Both of them bowed in front of Tamaki who was now celebrating with Marina, Hiroyuki and Rin. Kawahara was happy with them but she didn't share the same enthusiasm they did. When they noticed my teammates bowing deeply they returned the gesture by lining up and bowed as well.

'Why are they bowing to each other? The match isn't finished yet, right?'

The first sound that registered in my hearing was Nakiri Senzaemon's deep grizzly voice.

"Both of you have done well. Alex made full use of the umami from his multilayered beef roulade partnered with the savoriness of the sauce but the theme ingredient is tomato and that is where Tsunozaki's dish shined. While Alex's roulade was supported by tomato, Tsunozaki's seafood had a subtle flavor that further elevated the taste of tomato to a whole new level.

'I see… so that is where I went wrong… I see. It was a mistake a beginner can make. Shoot, I have to bow as well.'

My body froze in place even though I willed myself to return the respectful gesture of the other team. William saw me and held my shoulder then helped me down. I was grateful for the match, but… but…

"Don't cry." He gently said.

"Khhhhkkk…"

A gravelly sound came from my throat. I didn't notice I was trying not to cry but during that realization, tears just flowed out my eyes without stopping. My body tensed and my fists were clasped tightly after the fact that I lost started to sink in. Suddenly, I could hear the audience along with the special congratulatory speech from the emcee who were celebrating the victory of Tamaki.

"It was a good match." Tamaki offered a handshake. "It was hard acting like a tough guy, so tiresome, but you did impress me. I now know why onee-chan is so fond of you."

"Tamaki-senpai! You have no right to say that!" Marina complained. "I was afraid you would lose."

"Oi Alex-san… you don't have to bow that long you know." Rin nudged me upwards and saw me crying with restraint.

They knew that there was nothing they could say to ease the pain I felt but Tamaki offered me his hand once more. I returned the shake with the little bit of dignity left in me. I still couldn't face him and looked downward.

"Phew! I'm done being your opponent. I hope we get a chance to work together next."

Usami held my arm and William lead me out of the stadium into the dark hallway. The stage was rightfully for the winners along with our booth for the Moon Banquet Festival. Mixed emotions raged in me as we walked out.

"William… I-I-I'm…"

"I know."

I never knew the pain of losing was this much.

I never knew.

A/N:

So close and yet so far. Almost shed a tear while writing this chapter but I was decided from the start that it would end this way. The Team Shokugeki arc has finally reached its end.

Thank you for all of the reviews and messages you have sent me. Also big thanks to people who have given me their recommendations. I carefully thought of each of them so please continue giving your suggestions.

Thank you for all the support and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Cheers! :D