Chapter 46: Four Course Delectation

⁃Nighttime of Day Four (Early Day Five)

Ricardo Orencia, Reina Ainu and Juan Manuel Velázquez were all seated at the centre table of Kensuke's restaurant, one that the third seat of the Ten has specifically set aside for his three most important benefactors. And as of the moment, all three of them were enthusing and being enthralled by the four course meal that their aligned Ten member had presented them with.

And they had just finished the first course.

"Kensuke is such a genius", Ricardo spoke after swallowing a mouth full of the tomato and coriander ceviche. "I knew I was on to a winner when I spotted him back when he was a first year". Patting his belly, and sighing contently, Ricardo took a swill from the glass of white wine beside him. "The way he intertwined grated yams, roasted sweet potato with grilled halloumi... and then made a paste out of coriander, garlic, mushrooms fish sauce! Hmmm the tenuous tightrope he walks".

"You always say that when we visit Kenuske", Reina responded dustily. "Although I have to agree, our Ken truly knows his way around South American cuisine". Picking up he fork, she stabbed at a piece of raw swordfish before delicately savouring the flavour. Heaving a euphoric sigh, which coincided with her breasts being shown off more than they probably should have, the purple haired woman smiled in completely satisfied.

"Ahhhh! Such a great flavour from a dish of raw fish. And the wine pairs really well!" With a ferocious grin daubed across her face, and her hair over one shoulder, she looked like a Viking berserker. However. The two men beside her knew that she only got this way because she was protective of the one Tōtsuki chef that specialised in South America. Ricardo and Juan never grinned madly like Reina but they too were equally protective of their standing with their aligned Tōtsuki chef, from whom their restaurants and groups gained huge reputations from collaborating with.

"You should maybe consider tying your hair back when you grin like that", Juan suggested. "That way you won't look so scary to other customers who are trying to enjoy their food". A frown was all he got back from the purple haired woman for criticising her hair style, but she did followed his advice so that their chosen chefs restaurant would continue to do well in the Mountain rankings.

"I would suggest you fill out that pencil line you call a moustache", Reina retorted candidly, "but I know you'd get all bent out of shape and say 'it's part of your charm'".

With a semi annoyed, half petulant look in his eyes, Velázquez scowled as he downed the contents of his wine glass. "Don't even joke about my moustache", he relied tersely. "It's a fashion accessory that suits my brand well. And if I loose face or Kensuke's support because of something you said, I'll won't hesitate to sue you for everything you've got".

Sighing, Ricardo placed his cutlery down against his plate and cleared his throat. "Ehem... if you two are quite finished, I would very much appreciate it if you would allow the wait staff to clear away the empty plates and bring us the next course". Upon hearing his voice, the man and the women turned their heads and saw the slightly sheepish expressions by the two female waitresses. "We're sorry for holding you up", Reina voiced bowing her head in apology. "Yes, I humbly appreciate your diligence", Velázquez added.

With red faces, the two wait staff cleared away the empty plates whilst a third arrived pushing a cloth covered trolly with the main courses aboard.

"Honoured guests", the serving waitress announced as she placed the next plates down before the three culinary world executives. "Chef Kensuke has prepared three main dishes for you: Ceviche with picked radishes and sautéed yams; Roasted Guinea Pig with honey glazed vegetables and blackberry jus; and, Whale Shark stew with Pak Choi, harissa and 'aubergines in the pickling style'".

After placing the three plates in down on the table, the waitress bowed her head and departed making her way back to the kitchen. "Well she sure knows how to act with decorum when working within a high class restaurant", Juan spoke before helping himself to a third of each dish of food, whilst leaving enough for his fellow culinary experts. "Are you saying we don't have decorum..." Velázquez relied, curtly, as Reina, simply shrugged her shoulders and continued to eat the food on her plate.

Just as she was about to utter a rebuttal to Juan's assumption she caught sight of a familiar red headed girl walking into Kensuke's restaurant. "Huh..." she mused, too quietly for the two men opiate her to hear. "The second seat". Staring reticently at the aforementioned girl, who had just walked in, Reina clicked her tongue as she saw four more Tōtsuki students walk in after her.

'Curiouser and curiouser...'

Even before Rindō pushed open the restaurant doors and ushered them inside, Sōma had been abuzz with glee and curiosity. But now, standing inside Kensuke's restaurant, smelling the aromas wafting to them from the kitchen... was almost enough to make him bolt for the kitchen. Fortunately, Megumi reached forwards and took ahold of her boyfriends hand redirecting his focus unto her. Smiling, even as he saw the slight apprehension in her eyes, he squeezed her hand, letting her know that he wasn't going to suddenly re-challenge Kensuke again or do anything else reckless.

Then, with grin spread across his face, Sōma spun her around and held her in his arms whilst leaning in for a quick kiss. Suddenly feeling an intense amount of pressure around them, both boy and girl glanced gingerly around only to find that they their moment had drawn the eyes of the room, momentarily, directed onto them.

People they didn't know were appraising them, and they got the distinct impression that if Rindō hadn't have been with them, the impression would have been love stuck teenagers rather than love struck student chefs; whom the second seat apparently validated.

"I know you two are together and all but you need to learn restraint when in public", Takumi sighed running a hand across his face in embarrassment, as Rindō simply grinned mirthlessly as she eyed the Italian boy and the meat master; as if she was saying 'learn your feelings first before you comment on other people's relationships'.

Megumi blushed at allowing herself to be swept up in the thrill of her relationship with the boy she adored, and involuntarily become a distraction for her brothers customers. Grabbing Sōma's arm, the blue haired girl bolted forwards to where Rindō Kobayashi stood grinning at them. "Well you two sure are entertaining", she smirked, "now come on. I've reserved a table for us".

Practically dragging the four first years forwards, Rindō grinned as she met the eye of the brunette girl leaving the kitchen and moving towards them. "Chise! How's business? Is Ken holding up okay? Oh and we're here for our reservation". Gesturing with a double thumbs up, and a smile, Chise flicked her reddish brown hair out of her eyes and led the group over to a table which had been set for five, and was the only table that was outside on the small balcony.

Walking through a pair of French windows, arched by jasmine and honeysuckle flowers, Takumi and Sōma both oohed at being given such an exclusive table. To which Rindō rebutted them by saying that she had asked for the outside table because she wanted to "play matchmaker" for them, because she had "seen" the way they had blushed when they had spoken at the same time when they had tried to frustratingly berate Sōma after his food war with Kensuke.

"You two looked so adorable!" Rindō grinned. "I knew right then and there that you two belonged together!"

Takumi and Ikumi both blushed beet red and averted each other's gaze, whilst trying very hard not to notice the equally matched grin that Sōma was displaying. "I'm sorry but if you could please take your seats", Chise spoke, redirecting the group's attention back to the table before them and making them all, Rindō exempt, flustered.

As they all sat down around the table, Chise handed out the set menu for the night and she couldn't help but chuckle at the amazement in the faces of the first years. The expression worn by Rindō, anticipatory exhilaration, was to be expected from the girl Kensuke called 'Glutton'. It was then that Chise found herself staring at the blue haired girl and the redhead boy beside hers, currently holding hands, immediately recognising them.

"Your Megumi Tadokoro and Sōma Yukihira right? Kensuke has been expecting you", bowing her head as she continued. "He hopes that you will enjoy the four course dinner of fusion foods, inspired by South America, Mesopotamia and France".

"Hey?" Megumi spoke timidly. "A four course meal... Chise, is my brother really able to do all this himself?"

Seeing that Ken's sister was both anxious and perplexed, the brown haired-blue eyed sous chef smiled as she nodded her head in response. "Ken has been working so hard for tonight, ever since Rindō reserved the table for you lot. He just wants you to have a good time and I think this is his way of trying to apologise for not telling you about him being the third seat sooner".

Megumi frowned upon hearing that her brother felt the need to apologise for his social anxiety affecting his communication to her about his status as the third seat. She had asked him jokingly about the lateness of him telling her not really expecting him to take it as a sign of her dissatisfaction. Unfortunately, she told herself, realising the extent of her brother's frequent misunderstandings, Kensuke must have seen it as a mistake on his part.

"Ken has nothing to be sorry for", she replied waving her hands in the air attempting to convince Chise, so that she could then relay that to her brother. "I only wish I could have been clearer to him that I wasn't upset that he hadn't told me earlier". A sad smile graced Chise's lips as she nodded her head understanding exactly what Megumi meant. "I often wish that Ken could be a little more relaxed sometimes, that way he's not always so tired and overworked".

Turning her head, Chise became aware of the arrival of three serving staff carrying plates of the first course. "Okay guys", she announced grinningly. "First course is Braised Cetacea (dolphin), served with Harissa flavoured Oden, herb roasted garlic-yams and celiac remoulade".

As soon as the first course arrived; Sōma was drooling and Takumi was in a shocked delirium. The aroma of harissa was gentle enough or not outright kill the subtle oiliness of the dolphin, and then was the potentially problematic herb and garlic yams. Garlic was known to be a strong flavour and needed to be used in either moderation or in line with something that would mellow it... and whilst it certainly was mellowed, the two boys could hardly believe that the celeriac was singing alone.

"Aaah, so good!" Rindō's exclamation could almost be described as borderline orgasmic, and her cry made both Sōma and Takumi blush bright red, and bury their faces into their napkins as the second seat sat back in her chair and wrapped her arms around herself. Cooing.

"Oh Ken... you sure do take people by surprise", she grinned. Glancing over at Megumi and Ikumi, the two boys were met by blushing faces as they too were captivated by flavour.

No sooner than than the last fork and knife were laid down, the serving staff were at their table whisking away the empty plates and then replacing them with the second course.

"Please enjoy", Chise enunciated, "Elamite Broth, Zukanda. Elam is in southwestern Iran, and this broth, of Mesopotamian origin has no meat and is of water and fat added to which is dill, coriander, leeks, sour milk with garlic and sheep's blood".

Noticing the ever so slightly green faces being expressed by Megumi and Ikumi, Chise smiled and pressed upon the deliciousness of the second course. "It's a lot tastier than it sounds. When Ken first cooked me this I was... queasy, but it grows on you the more you eat". Immediately, and without further ado, Sōma was intrigued by and by the flinch that Megumi partook in, the boy's actions were probably related to something she wasn't a fan of.

"Ooh... Megumi, I could defiantly use this as inspiration for my side dishes", the redhead boy grinned. "I should hang out around Kensuke more often".

"No. Whilst I'm happy you and my bother met, the last thing I want is for you to learn anything from him that influences your experiments!"

For the first time in her life, Megumi raised her voice and made her opinion known. As much as she expected Sōma to plead a little culinary freedom she wast prepared for him to wrap his arms around her and plant a kiss on her lips. "I love you Megs. I always will, and any advice I get from you, I will treasure".

R.I.P - Christopher Plummer, Mary Wilson (The Supremes)