Autumn Elections
Megumi: Good morning Senpai. Take care on your way to Tootsuki!
Shinomiya: See you soon.
For a moment when his phone alerted a message, Shinomiya braced himself for another Autumn Elections tidbit from Megumi. It wasn't.
He scolded her for spamming his phone with too many unnecessary details about the event.
Still, he preferred hearing from her about anything than nothing at all. A few days ago she opened up to him about the social pressures around her, and it became a pinnacle of concern for him. She sounded like she was on a breaking point, and the worst part was he couldn't do anything about it. He's not even sure if talking to her that night came through. There's more impact if all the comfort came from someone she has feelings for... and he's not that man for her right now.
She seems to be a little better after that though, and he would receive small updates from her. Not much on the Autumn Elections, but more about asking advice on a few vegetable recipes. He considered it as a way to indirectly check up on her.
The moment he arrived at Tootsuki, the students' attention were drawn towards him. An Elite 10 student led him in a waiting room with the other judges.
Like any protocol for a judge, he would first attend the quick orientation of the competition for the judges. For him it was more of a refresher since he sees the same familiar faces in the food industry who regularly visits the academy's important events.
Also, Megumi gave him more details than he can swallow.
"My kouhai, Megumi Tadokoro, will be here soon to assist you to the venue. The other judges arrived earlier." Isshiki oriented to him and the other two judges in the waiting room.
"Thank you, Isshiki. I'm so glad you're shining at the top on your last year." Anne praised.
"Thank you. I'm lucky to still be here." replied Isshiki.
There was a knock on the door, and their attention directed towards it as Isshiki turned the knob to open it revealing that one person Shinomiya has been looking forward to meet again.
Megumi entered the room with that beautiful mellow smile posted for them. Shinomiya had a glimpse of this on the academy's online news portal, but this could be his first time personally seeing her in her uniform. Matched with that alluring side french braid, she becomes the image of a perfect lady. It suited her too well. The short skirt twirled as she turns to them, and he may be the only one to care, but her fair glossy legs teased him a bit. Perverts could easily grow lewed intentions towards her.
Ugh. She's not safe at all. Totsuki should invent jeans for the girls.
"Hello. I'm Megumi Tadokoro, currently holding the 10th seat of the Student Council." She bowed formally welcoming them. "We've spoken through the phone and we're very glad you have accepted our invitations to be our judges on this annual event."
"I'll leave you all in Megumi's care then." Isshiki swapped places with Megumi as he left the room.
"A pleasure to meet you again, Tadokoro. I see you have done so well to be in the Elite 10." said Anne as she approached Megumi and held up her hands.
"Oh! The pleasure is all ours once again, Anne-san..." Megumi froze with Anne being so close, almost dropping the folders in her arms.
"You were also such a fierce candidate at Blue as well. My, how much you've blossomed into a beautiful chef..." Anne was overly smitten.
"I have learned much since we last met. I am honored you still remember me." Megumi humbly expressed.
Anne then gave Megumi a hug and kissed her cheek. Shinomiya was almost watching another Hinako fawn, or borderline obsess over Megumi.
"Now now, Anne. Control yourself." Histoire stepped in and Anne politely released the bunny.
"Oh how rude of me. Sorry..." Anne apologetically bowed.
"N-no worries at all..." Megumi replied awkwardly with a pleasant smile. "When you're ready, shall we proceed to the event hall?"
"Ready when you are." said Histoire.
Megumi then gestured to follow her. "This way please..."
Shinomiya trailed behind Megumi as she walked ahead. Her posture seems a bit different... Her head held up high while her shoulders no longer crouched. Normally she would hug anything she may be holding as a shield to hide whenever she gets nervous.
The students along the way joyfully greeted her as if a fairy passed by gifting them with her amiable presence on the school halls.
There were still a couple of people who leered at her in disdain, by which he heard a few whispers:
"I swear she just got lucky. She's not that talented, you know."
"What a prick. I was ahead of her last year."
Shinomiya tapped Megumi's shoulder who reactively balked and almost dropped her folders the second time. She turned then paused a bit until she can walk with him side by side.
"How have you fared on your shokugeki records?" He initiated despite being updated. He really just wanted her to focus her attention on him to deafen those possible nasty whispers again.
"I think I'm okay senpai. Why do you ask?"
"I can't know my mentee's status in the academy? What kind of reputation will I have if I mentored someone who got expelled from the academy?" he reasoned.
"I'm doing well, senpai." Megumi bashfully resorted to securing herself behind her folders. "I... Uhmm... I haven't lost yet... By the record, I have never been defeated if we exclude the Elite 10 matches..."
"Is that so?" He smirked. "Did you lose to anyone in the Elite 10?"
"I only got challenged by Kurokiba-kun and Eizan-senpai. I won over my challege against Kurokiba-san, and then it was a draw with Eizan-san." Megumi's cheeks puffed, a little embarrassed about the results. "I have a match against Alice, and Nene-senpai soon..."
That's not so bad...
Shinomiya listened to Megumi about the details of the shokugeki themes during those matches and the dishes that she came up with.
There is always room for improvement, but all in all, he was worried for nothing.
They arrived at the Autumn Election venue. Megumi opened the door for the judges which would lead them to the stage.
Shinomiya lined up last, but before he stepped in, he felt his arm being pulled back.
"S-senpai..." Megumi called out to him, his sleeves being tugged lightly, allowing the door to close.
"I... know this is sudden, but..." Megumi fidgeted hiding behind her documents.
"Spill it out before the program starts." Shinomiya said imperatively hearing the introductions of the judges from the host beyond the door.
"Oh!" Megumi then had a sense of urgency. "I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner at the dorm. There was a last minute change so it's my turn to cook for everyone, you see... and since you're my mentor... and I want to thank you for last time... but then you're busy... but I'm hoping... It's my chance to--"
"Okay." he cut her as his lips curved. Her last lines required sentence completion, skipping phrases, but he understood well enough to know that by saying yes, he can taste her cooking again. "I'll have dinner with you."
Megumi glowed at him all ecstatic. "T-thank you, Senpai... I... I guess I'll meet you after the event." She bowed at him.
Shinomiya watched her rush out and disappear on the corner before proceeding to the stage. It was a good thing he took the whole day off.
After Autumn Election results, the judges were invited by the former headmaster for an afternoon tea.
"It has always been such a wonderful experience being a judge at Tootsuki. Every year we see hopeful cooks... the cream of the crop." said Anne.
"And we are grateful that the students' cooking still fascinate your taste." said Senzaemon proudly. "This year, we even have one of our former first seats to judge us despite his busy schedule."
"It's an honor Senzaemon-san..." Shinomiya replied modestly.
"It seems that the jewel generation is still shining, and they are not even at their utmost potential." said Histoire. "Aren't you happy, Anne, that your favorite student is already growing her wings to fly?"
"She has so much potential, and I'm glad it's starting to show." Anne's voice perked up.
"Ah who is this student you speak of?" asked Senzaemon.
"It's Megumi Tadokoro." Anne replied excitedly then she sipped on her tea.
"Ahh yes... One of Erina's friends. I have always enjoyed trying out her dishes when she cooks." said Senzaemon with nostalgia. "It's students like her that Totsuki stands proud of its legacy of producing the best chefs in the country."
"I must say you also shouldn't discredit yourself, Shinomiya. I believe you were one of those who pushed her to do great things as well." said Anne. "Don't think we don't know how you helped the rebels at the Regiment de Cuisine."
"Dojima simply asked for my help." said Shinomiya, and remembered the training with the rebels.
"Nonsense. Don't be too humble." said Senzaemon.
"Agreed, and I heard your conversation earlier. You're still mentoring her, right?" Anne pressed.
"I heard though that she was at the bottom of the pit when she came here. Almost expelled..." shared Histoire.
"I can confirm that it is not a rumor." said Senzaemon.
"Her growth is excitingly dangerous for the other young chefs then if she started that way." commented Histoire.
"Such a beautiful talented young lady. Why, maybe I should have a grandson marry her. She would be such a lovely addition to the family." teased Senzaemon.
Shinomiya pouted at the very idea of Megumi being a part of the Nakiri family. Such a powerful clan, but if another man touches Megumi, he'll fight for it to kingdom come.
"Oh, definitely." agreed Anne. "That hospitality can break even the worst of in-laws."
"Is this speaking of experience?" Histoire jested.
"Oh please, Histoire. We know you're the one who's trying to impress the in-laws." returned Anne.
They laughed, while Shinomiya stayed quiet over the thought. If it was just the in-laws, no doubt his mother would love Megumi. Who wouldn't?
Still, they both haven't even cleared the status of their relationship yet, and he's having these kinds of foresight unto the future. There is even this current struggle to recover her memories...
How complicated...
"I wonder if she already has a boyfriend. If ever she continues her journey to become a chef, I feel that the best partner for her would be someone who can understand that path... perhaps someone as successful as Shinomiya-san." said Anne.
Shinomiya coughed at it. "Sorry..."
"Yes... Well... We just need to look after her, do we." said Senzaemon.
"Speaking of which... Shinomiya-san, the food critics are crazy about your restaurants." Histoire switched the topic.
"You've been here in Japan for a while though. Is it safe for you to leave Shino's France while it's on its way to earning stars?" Anne wondered.
"I will be returning soon." he answered.
"Oh, when..?" asked Anne.
"Will I get a star if I tell you?" he returned.
Histoire laughed. "Got us right-handed."
Shinomiya set aside his empty cup.
His flight to Paris was originally scheduled today, but when Megumi confirmed the date of the Autumn Elections finals, all he needed to do was excuse himself for a Megumi-related emergency, and his staff in France covered everything for him.
He wanted to at least know that Megumi is back to her normal self, perhaps she is, but...
I'm doing well, senpai.
She's remarkably paving her way to becoming a successful chef on her own.
So what am I doing here anyway?
He can't move much to help her recall her memories, and he can only watch Megumi from afar. Not much of a difference if he's in Paris right now. Maybe his support would probably be more optional for her at this stage. There's no room for a stranger in her life. In other words, he's almost, if not, already is, irrelevant...
Maybe it's about time I return to France.
