SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 37 out, this is Chapter 38 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts? So, please be a dear and read and review. Seriously guys, we need more obscure Sailor Moon crossover fics!
Disclaimers: Shokugeki no Souma and Sailor Moon belong to Tsukuda Yūto-sensei and Takeuchi Naoko-sensei respectively. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except the pairings in this fic and plot, I hope.
Pairings: Unofficial!Takumi/Ami, Souma/Megumi later, established!Isami/Makoto
Chapter 38: Aim for Victory!
In the warehouse attached to the arena...
"I feel like I'm gonna get lost in here." Megumi stammered.
"They built a massive food storage facility right next to the venue." Takumi was awed. "I guess that's Tōtsuki Academy for you. They even have several specialty items."
"Hey, you two." Souma came in with a shopping cart with the items he needed. "They've really good vegetables here. First come, first serve."
"Should you really sound like you're on a fun shopping right now?" Takumi chided.
"The ingredients I'm looking for are..." Megumi started looking around.
"Move." Eizan demanded. "You're in my way."
"I'm so sorry!" Megumi squealed.
"Hey, Aldini-ani." Eizan cast a glare at Takumi. "Could you not glare at me?"
"I do apologize." Takumi smirked. "But I need to give it my all. I have the honor of going head-to-head with such an esteemed senpai."
"That's not what your eyes say, you first-year brat." Eizan retorted.
"Etsu-nyan, could you grab that for me?" Momo requested.
"Just get it yourself." Eizan rebuked.
"That's not so easy when I'm so small." Momo pouted. "Push my cart for me, too. I'm too busy carrying Bucchi. Bucchi's so full, so he's really heavy right now. I'm counting on you, Etsu-nyan."
"There are so many varieties of weak flour." Megumi found the corner where the flour packs were.
"If you're going to make a sponge cake, I recommend the one on the very right." Momo advised.
"Thank you very much." Megumi was startled.
"It's no problem." Momo replied. "You're my cute little kouhai, after all, Megu-myan."
Calm down. Megumi steeled her nerves. It's okay. I trained so hard on the Tsukikage on the way to Rebun Island. With amazing chefs like Jochiro and Chef Dojima. And...
Flashback to about three weeks before the Team Shokugeki...
"Hey, slowpoke." Shinomiya Kojirō greeted his new student. "Looks like you're still managing to survive Tōtsuki."
In the arena...
"The third bout!" Urara declared. "While the chefs are in the food storage facility, we're gonna review the match lineup. The first match is the Tōtsuki Elite Ten's fourth Seat, sushi chef Saitō Sōmei, versus, the son of a diner owner, Yukihira Souma. And their theme is butter. The second match: Tōtsuki's Elite Ten's seven Seat, the Alchemist, Eizan Etsuya, versus the Italian born Takumi Aldini. Their theme is beef."
On the viewing balcony...
"I thought you'd left, Shinomiya." Dojima looked at his former kouhai.
"I have some time to kill before my flight." Shinomiya replied.
In the arena...
"And lastly, the third match," Urara continued. "The Tōtsuki Elite Ten's third Seat, pâtissier Akanegakubo Momo, versus the almost-expelled, good-for-nothing student, Tadokoro Megumi. Their theme is apples."
On the viewing balcony...
"There you have it." Dojima stated. "Now, how is Tadokoro going to fight?"
On the sidelines...
"She had Shinomiya Kojirō train her?" both Daigo and Shōji was astonished.
"Yes." Erina nodded. "Chef Shinomiya accepted Chef Dojima's invitation and joined us."
"What's with that extravagant lineup?" even Yoshino was shocked.
"He actually managed to to get the Magician of Legumes here." Hayama was impressed. "You can tell how serious Chef Dojima is about this."
"I guess we're going to see her progress in this Shokugeki." Alice noted.
"Yes, absolutely." Erina agreed.
Continuing the flashback of the Team Shokugeki training...
"Up until yesterday, you worked hard to strengthen your teamwork through mock battles." Dojima addressed the four teens. "But during the Team Shokugeki, there will be times when you need to able to fight on your own. What we're about to do is boost your individual strengths. For today, Jochiro will take Yukihira Souma. I'll take Aldini. Senzaemon-dono will oversee Nakiri. And as for Tadokoro..."
"So, yeah..." Shinomiya started. "Let's have you show me what you can do. Make a dish. I'm saying that I'll be training you personally." he clarified. "Tadokoro Megumi."
"It's Master Shinomiya." Souma beamed, the others were watching from the door.
"Chef Shinomiya who won the French Pluspol Award?" Takumi gawked.
"But Tadokoro is acting strange." Erina pointed out.
"Could it be that..." Souma realized. "She's remembering what happened at the training camp and freaking out?"
"Hurry up and make me a dish." Shinomiya ordered. "Are you a total novice at cooking?" he fumed after Megumi floundered, making mistake after mistake. "You could do more than this at the training camp."
"This isn't good." Ami moaned. "She's totally stiff from nerves."
"I think Master Shinomiya being here might have backfired." Souma remarked.
"Don't be so honest." Takumi chided.
"So, you're going to give up, too?" Dojima asked the dejected French chef.
"Did you come here to mock me, Dojima?" Shinomiya sighed.
"Still, I'm surprised, Shinomiya." Dojima chuckled. "I didn't think you'd be so willing to help with this training. Were you also concerned with where Tōtsuki's going?"
"Not really." Shinomiya replied. "I could care less about the Azami administration. Central, was it? My place won't have anything to do with them, nor will we cater to his wishes. I just did this on a whim. Tadokoro Megumi!" he barked. "You need guts! If you're a true chef, show some guts!"
"Um..." Ami blinked, flabbergasted. "What?"
"Seriously?" Takumi exclaimed. "He's going to start spewing stuff like that right now?"
"This ain't gonna work." Souma agreed.
"You need to grow up, you country pumpkin." Shinomiya scolded. "Is that all you've got?"
"I won't lose, Coach Shinomiya!" Megumi promised. "I won't get discouraged anymore. Hit me with another one."
"Okay..." Shinomiya nodded. "We're gonna catch you right up."
"Right, Coach!" Megumi fired back. "I'll give it a try."
"What's that about a coach?" Souma was bewildered.
"Ah... that manga, huh?" Ami nodded in realization.
"Manga?" the three teens turned to her.
"Give me a moment." Ami took out her smartphone and opened her mobile web browser. "I'm sure I still have that bookmarked. Ah, here it is."
"'Aim for the Smash'?" Souma echoed. "A table tennis manga, huh? So, that's why she started playing ping-pong."
"Doesn't the main character look like..." Takumi peered closer.
"Tadokoro?" Erina blinked.
In the arena...
"The chefs have returned from the food storage facility." Urara welcomed the contestants back. "It's finally time to start cooking."
"Everyone, gather round." Souma gathered his teammates in a rugby group hold. "I want to concentrate on richness and sweetness for my dish and bring out all of the butter's flavor."
"In that case, you need follow up with something that has a clean aftertaste." Takumi reasoned. "Yuzu, actually apples are perfect for that."
"I should be able to support you on that." Megumi agreed. "Also, Takumi, I have a favor to ask, if you don't mind."
On the sidelines...
"All three of them are trying to support each other." Daigo and Shōji exclaimed.
"They're going to attempt something far more difficult than Mimasaka supporting Kuga-senpai." Isami noted.
"This is the biggest reason we sent those three out in the third bout." Erina informed. "They did so many mock battles on the Tsukikage. That should bring out not only their individual strengths, but their teamwork. Now, go! Show them my direction is perfect."
"Miss Erina is starting to act like Miss Alice." Kurokiba muttered.
"What are you saying, Ryo?" Alice pouted.
In the arena...
After retaining the ginger skin, Takumi let out a sigh and proceeded to slice the ginger skin into needle-sized portions.
On the sidelines...
"Takumi's amazing." Yoshino gushed.
"He thinly sliced the ginger perfectly." even Sakaki was amazed.
"Those are the skills nee-chan picked up during his Stagiaire." Isami supplied. "The aroma of ginger; the thinner and more uniformly you slice it, the more you can spread the aroma throughout the whole dish."
In the arena...
I'll beat the eggs, then carefully add some Wasanbon sugar, which has a mild, gentle sweetness so it won't foam up. Megumi was mixing her batter. I'll also add some honey and mirin, and then...
"Tadokoro, here's some weak flour that's already been measured." Takumi passed over a bowl of flour. "I took care of it while I was working on my dish. And this." he handed over a tray of finely sliced ginger.
"Here you go, Takumi." Souma handed over a tray of sliced beef. "I made sue they were all the same size. Be sure to check them."
"Souma, it'll be just a little longer for what you asked for." Megumi informed.
At the judges' table...
"I feel as though I'm watching experienced chefs in a kitchen who don't miss a beat after years of working together." Charme was impressed.
"By supporting each other even though they don't have much time, tasks that would be impossible for individuals become possible because they're working in a group." Histoire added.
"Their teamwork might put the Elite Ten at a disadvantage." Anne admitted.
On the sidelines...
"Kick the Elite Ten's ass!" Daigo cheered.
"Calm the hell down, rebel scums!" Urara fumed. "All their asses are gonna to get expelled anyway."
"This aroma..." Hayama trailed when a sweet flowery fragrance spread through the air. "It's coming from Akanegakubo Momo's pot."
"Now, let us see both sides bring out the true beauty of apples with their dish." the mellowed out Urara declared.
"What could she be making in that pot?" Sakaki wondered.
In the arena...
"Everyone's going to be entranced by my exquisite sweets." Momo drawled. "Okay, Bucchi, now for the finishing touches." taking out a pie spatula and a pair of tongs, she worked on her dish.
On the sidelines...
"She's finishing up her dish at an incredible speed." Isami realized.
At the judges' table...
"Okay, I'm done." Momo put the finishing colors in her dish and presented it to the judges.
On the sidelines...
"Wait, she's done?" Shōji blinked.
"What's going on?" Yoshino wondered, seeing the basket in Momo's hand.
"A bouquet of roses." Kurokiba noted.
"Is this some kind of performance?" Alice mused.
"No." Hayama corrected.
At the judges' table...
"At first glance, it looks like roses, but when you take a closer look," Histoire noted ad Momo served up her tart.
"Every single rose sits atop a pie crust." Charme gushed.
"These roses must be sweets made with apples." Anne added.
"This gorgeous yet elegant scent..." Charme picked up his tart.
"I feel like I'm in a dream." Histoire sighed.
On the sidelines...
"Even the judges are reacting to the scent alone." Yoshino gaped.
At the judges' table...
"Welcome to my world." Momo giggled. "Enjoy every bite."
Amazing! Anne took the first bite. The aroma leaves my nose blossoming into flowers and the crisp texture of the apples entertains my mouth to no end.
"This is damask rose." Charme recognized the roses Momo used.
"Damask rose?" Souma echoed. "So it's made with roses."
"Like this one." Momo brought out a stalk of damask rose. "It's one of my favorite flowers. It smells so nice."
"The rose known to have the most elegant fragrance, also known as the queen of roses." Anne referred to her books. "Queen Cleopatra love those roses and put them in her bath so she could enjoy their scent."
On the sidelines...
"So they're apple sweets with the scent of roses in them." Shōji drooled.
"Of course it's delicious." Daigo agreed.
"Despite having a scent that strong infused in it, it didn't fall apart." Hayama mused.
"To make the scent that strong, you'd have to reduce the whole thing, but simmering would turn the apples to mush." Kurokiba agreed.
"She didn't simmer them, Kurokiba." Ami corrected. "She simply let the apples soak up the roses' scent. After she washed the damask rose petals in water, she threw them into the pot to make a sweet pink rose syrup. After slicing the apples thinly, she heated them up lightly in an extract of boiled apple peels before adding in the rose syrup and leaving them for a few minutes to let the rose's color and scent permeate throughout the apple slices. Or have you forgotten, Akanegakubo-san, that you aren't the only one who uses flowers in their dishes?"
At the judges' table...
"I call this lovely dish of mine the 'Queen's Apple Tart'." Momo informed the judges. "This basket is made out of bread, so it's edible, too."
"Letting the apples slowly soak the rose syrup..." Histoire praised. "That actually take a huge amount of very delicate and masterful technique."
"If she couldn't correctly determine the temperature of the water, she wouldn't be able to make a pure syrup." Charme added.
"Not a smidgen of the ingredient's flavor can escape." Histoire remarked. "As a result, the apple's original sweetness and gentle tartness become the base of the flavor."
"She reduced the apple peels' syrup and brushed that on to bring out the color and shine of the roses." Charme stated.
"Her sense of artistry also extends to her plating and presentation." Anne noted.
"Thank you for waiting." Megumi presented her dish. "Please enjoy."
On the sidelines...
"Akanegakubo-senpai's dish was literally an elegant bouquet of roses." Sakaki was worried.
"We need a dish that packs a punch to match her." Shōji added.
"Knock it out of the park, Megumi!" Yoshino encouraged.
"A dorayaki?" the group exclaimed.
At the judges' table...
"Let us start with the deliberations." Anne picked up the dorayaki. "The inside has shiroan, white bean paste and mixed with that are diced chucks of apple."
"I'm being embraced in the apples' juicy and elegant aroma." Charme gushed. "But at the moment, both the visuals and the aroma of the apple tart are still far superior."
"I wouldn't say that." Histoire corrected. "Dorayaki has an 800-year history in Japan. Sandwiching the filling between two cakes is said to have been influenced by Western pancakes. How fascinating on a cultural level. Now then." he took a bite.
"Histoire?" Anne blinked.
Wasanbon sugar, honey and tofu make up the smooth, silky cakes that gently caress our lips. Charme realized.
The mellow flavor spreads across my tongue like fireworks, lighting up and exploding. Histoire was mesmerized. The mild tartness of the apples gently fades away.
The delicious flavors spreading in my mouth almost feel like they're going directly to my brain. Anne sank into the spread of flavors flooding into her mouth. The moist richness of these cakes packs that much of a punch.
"The greatest secret behind this flavor is what's spread on the inside of the cakes." Histoire realized. "The apple butter. Just as the name suggests, it's grated apple, lemon juice and sugar added the melted butter the fruits' original flavors harmonize with the butter, giving it acidity, saltiness and richness."
"But in order to make this correctly, you need to blend these two totally different ingredients together and emulsify them." Charme pointed out. "It's rather similar to attempting to mix oil and water."
"Even professionals have difficulty bringing out the butter's smooth shine without letting it separate." Anne noted. "This requires a rather specific cooking technique."
"I used monter au beurre." Megumi explained. "A French cooking technique."
An incredible amount of deliciousness is shaking up my heart. Charme gasped. "I thought the winner would be obvious. But I'll gladly admit that my prediction was totally off."
"But even so, it can be said that this doesn't compare to the intense aroma and sweetness Akanegakubo Momo came up with." Histoire noted.
Her eyes... Anne blinked. She hasn't given up yet? Is there another secret hidden within this dish? This flavor... her eyes widened.
"What is it, Anne?" Charme asked.
"You'll find out if you keep eating." Anne answered.
"She didn't use only one type of apple!" Histoire gaped in realization. "She actually used three!"
"I can taste ambrosia, granny smith, and golden delicious!" Anne squealed.
SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Grins* Don't you just love plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.