SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 32 out, this is Chapter 33 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 33: Bearing Polar Star Dormitory
"He butchered the eel with lightning speed." Urara was shocked. "All in one stroke of the knife. The former seventh Seat has formidable skills. But he is no match of Central." she backtracked. "Let's look forward to the moment his smile is twisted by defeat."
On the sidelines...
"His skills have no changed." Eizan remarked. "If he'd chosen a different path, he would've been rich beyond his wildest dreams. Why'd he rebel against Central? That idiot."
"Jurio!" Rindō shouted. "Don't be outdone by him. Show him what you are."
In the arena...
"I'm so happy, Isshiki." Shiratsu gushed. "Your skills are so sublime."
On the sidelines...
"I don't know what's going on here, but he's into it now." Rindō beamed. "Good."
"What was that technique Isshiki used just now?" Hisako wondered. "He slit the eel from the stomach with such precision and speed."
"He chose to slit the eel from the stomach." Yoshino pointed out.
"It's unbelievable." Mito was surprised. "Eel have no rib-cage, so it's beyond difficult to insert the knife into the soft body cavity with precision. Compared to slitting the eel from the back, this method requires much more advanced knife technique."
"It's hard to imagine him doing this, given how he's usually naked except for an apron." Hisako was flabbergasted.
"Naked except for an apron?" Alice echoed. "What's that about? Tell me, Miss Secretary, Nikumi!"
"Slitting eel from the back is more mainstream." Sakaki recalled. "I've heard before that slitting the eel from the stomach is a technique that is developed in Kansai regions like Osaka and Kyoto. Why would Isshiki-senpai know that?"
"It's natural that he would." Ami replied. "The Isshiki Family has operated a traditional Japanese restaurant in Kyoto's Gion district since the Muromachi period. The Kinokuni Family in the East and Isshiki Family in the West; these two families are the two important pillars of Japanese cuisine. Furthermore, Nene-nee-sama and Satoshi-nii's connection doesn't end there."
"That means..." Sakaki gasped.
"They're childhood friends?" Yoshino blinked.
In the arena...
"I suppose that's true." Isshiki chuckled.
"No, it's not!" Nene snapped. "He just stayed with us to train. We didn't become close or anything."
"My goodness, you're prickly as ever today, Kinokuni." Isshiki grinned. "Why are you so against me?"
"Don't act naive." Nene continued glaring. "You know why."
"It happens the judges have just arrived." Urara announced the Team Shokugeki's judges. "Allow me to introduce them to you."
On the sidelines...
"Judges..." Hisako mused. "They are important, indeed."
In the arena...
Anne entered the arena with a stack of books in her hands. "That was so heavy."' she borrowed Souma's workspace for her books.
"Nee-san, are you okay?" Souma blinked.
On the sidelines...
"The books she's carrying..." Marui stammered in shock, dropping on his butt.
"They say "WGO' on them." Yoshino gawked.
"Could they be..." Sakaki gasped.
"The World Gourmet Organization." Marui peered closer. "Their main function is to rank all fine dining establishments worldwide out of three stars. Their assessment are published once a year in print."
"Receiving a rating of even one single star would catapult a chef into high standing." Mito added.
"On the other hand, there are chefs who had highly profitable businesses, but shut down their restaurants because they lost a star, and with it, all confidence." Hisako stated.
"All chefs respect and fear that organization, the WGO." Alice remarked.
"The printed publication of their evaluation is a bible." Erina supplied. "Also known as 'The Book', the organization's front-line staff are called Bookmen."
"In other words, WGO Bookmen are our judges today." Takumi reasoned.
In the arena...
"You..." Anne spotted Ami in her formal official Hakuizumi dress on the sidelines. Said secondary clan heiress merely placed a finger to her lips and shook her head. "I understand." the female Bookmen conceded.
On the sidelines...
"It's not a very dynamic cooking style." Shōji muttered.
"Is he gonna make it?" Daigo wondered.
In the arena...
"Isshiki!" Shiratsu called out. "You have no time to be distracted. My dish will soon be complete. I will crush you with this dish."
"I suppose I should pick up the pace." Isshiki returned to his dish.
On the sidelines...
"I think Isshiki wants to use this match to make a point not just to Jurio, but also to Nene and the rest of us." Rindō realized.
In the arena...
"All right." Shiratsu posed. "Done. Then, honored guests, please try it." he presented his dish.
"Here it comes." Urara gushed. "The first one up is our very own Shiratsu Jurio. What Italian eel dish has he crafted?"
"Impressive." Charme stated.
"The concentrated and refreshing flavors of the tomato and the richness of the eel have given rise to a most delectable fragrance." Anne instantly melted.
"That is the dish's greatest, unique charm." Shiratsu declared. "It is a collaboration between unami and fat of the eel and the richness of the tomato. Capitone in Umido!" he named his dish.
"Then, without delay." Anne dug into the dish. The eel's unami and fat are rushing towards me. She let out a silent gasp. They are brilliantly enhanced by the flavors of olive oil and tomatoes. "Perfection." she declared. "This Capitone in Umido has been wonderfully prepared."
"It sure looks good." Souma gaped. "But what' 'capitone' and what's 'in umido'?" he turned to the two Italians in his group.
On the sidelines...
"'In umido' means stew." Takumi explained. "'Capitone' is an eel. However, only female eels of large size are called that. It's considered an upscale ingredient due to its meaty, fatty flesh."
"Other eels are called anguilla to differentiate them from capitone." Isami added.
At the judges' table...
"There is yet another secret that refines the delicious flavor of the capitone in these tomatoes simmered with the eel, right?" Anne noticed.
"That's right." Shiratsu confirmed. "The San Marzano tomatoes I selected are the hidden stars of the dish. This tomato strain has less water content than the others, so it prevents the stew from becoming watery, making possible the creation of a rich sauce."
"The depth of flavor provided by the San Marzano tomatoes has synergized with the spices to heighten the eel's flavors." Histoire added.
"This polenta, made by boiling cornmeal into a thick porridge, then finished to have a crisp outside with a tender inside, is also wonderful."Charme praised.
On the sidelines...
"The sauce required him to enhance the garlic's fragrance and concentrate on the onion's sweetness while reducing the water content of the tomatoes." Tsukasa noted. "This dish would not be perfect unless the chef communes with the ingredients. Jurio seems to have proven himself capable of doing so."
At the judges' table...
Numerous ingredients and numerous melodies have heightened each other's beauty. Histoire mused. A rondo, indeed.
It's as though the substantial capitone and tomatoes cleanse your body and soul and then bulks them up. Charme added.
These delicious flavors... Anne squealed.
"Make you feel as though you're being squeezed between two voluptuous breasts." Histoire and Charme chorused.
"Well done, Shiratsu Jurio." Charme praised.
"It is a wonderful dish that does justice to your family's reputation." Histoire added.
Of course, I've been wearing myself to the bone to hone my skills in order to catch up to Isshiki. Shiratsu smirked. "Isshiki Satoshi, come at me! Let's wrap up this ultimate sessione."
"Of course I will." Isshiki returned. "The dish I'm about to serve employs several special ingredients."
On the sidelines...
"That's the stuff we had stored in Polar Star Dormitory." Yoshino gawked at the assorted items on Isshiki's workspace.
"Wait, he's going to use the ingredients we came up with?" Mito was shocked.
"He brought it here?" even Ibusaki was stunned.
In the arena...
"Yes, I stole it myself." Isshiki declared.
On the sidelines...
"Not something you should be proud of, Satoshi-nii." Ami joked.
"Come on." Sakaki protested. "We were still in the early stage of testing."
In the arena...
"You're charming even when you're mad, Sakaki." Isshiki chuckled. "Shiratsu, I'll show you what cooking means to me."
"Isshiki Satoshi of the rebel team is now serving his dish." Urara declared.
"Please enjoy." Isshiki presented his dish to the three judges. "My eel dish is Hitsumabushi: Polar Star Style."
On the sidelines...
"Polar Star Style?" Megumi blinked.
At the judges' table...
"Hitsumabushi." Anne started.
"Typically, the dish is first enjoyed by eating chopped grilled eel with rice." Charme noted. "Then, the dish is savored by adding condiments such as onions and seaweed, after which you pour a liquid such as broth and green tea and eat it like ochazuke."
"The dish is meant to be enjoyed in several stages as it changes." Histoire added. "And yet..."
On the sidelines...
"It looks like a cheese risotto." Takumi frowned.
"He's come up with something special." Rindō laughed.
"Everyone," Ami started, smiling knowingly. "Please etch this memory into your minds and witness the true ability of the youngest eel danna of Kansai."
At the judges' table...
Insulto. Shiratsu growled. If he just used a mishmash of ingredients made by his juniors, there's no way he could have pulled together a coherent dish.
"Let us taste this dish." Histoire declared. "This is indeed a cheese risotto."
"It seems we are to pour the contents of this pot over the dish at the very end." Charme noticed the tea pot.
The melted cheese is entangling the rice. Histoire picked up his chopsticks.
No! Anne squealed after taking a bite. It's so delicious, it's torture. "The Japanese peppers are what brings this risotto together."
"Their vivid sharp fragrance brings out the mild richness of the cheese and allows the delicious flavors of the eel to explode." even Charme was stunned.
"And the key player that tying everything together from the shadows..." Histoire gaped.
"Is garlic." Anne realized.
"The smoked garlic chips made by my juniors used walnut wood which enhances the flavors of seafood." Isshiki explained. "By using it as crumbled topping, it also adds some crunchy texture to the dish. And the most important thing is that this eel is broiled in the Kansai style. Unlike the method used in the Kanto style, the eel is never steamed during this process. That results in a more crisp and fragrant broiled eel with a stronger expression of the eel's fat, which in turn, allowed me to pair it with a strong ingredient like garlic. Above all, the garlic is infused with Ibusaki's passion, and the blood, sweat and tears of his helpers, Aoki and Sato. Of course it'd be delicious."
"This alone is sufficient sophistication to qualify it as a gourmet dish, but what is inside this pot?" Anne wondered.
"It's eel liver soup." Isshiki answered. "Prepared eel liver and garlic chips were sauteed in olive oil, then this ingredient made by Sakaki and Marui was added along with dried bonito stock. It gently melds with the cheese made by Yoshino and Nikumi to create a beautiful aftertaste." he poured the eel liver soup over the remaining rice. "Shiratsu, if you think this dish is delicious, I'll have you apologize for insulting everyone in Polar star Dormitory." he offered the finished dish to his opponent. "And I don't think my dish as something Japanese at all. I simply made a dish I consider my own brand of cooking."
On the sidelines...
"Did you guys know that in the cooking competition that resulted in Satoshi-nii being crowned the youngest eel danna in Kansai, one of the judges characterized his finished dish as 'an extremely combative Japanese cuisine'?" Ami supplied.
At the judges' table...
The eel's crisp skin and sizzling fat... Shiratsu gobbled down the dish. The clear rich flavors of the liver soup... the ingredients' flavors and mouthfeel have been unified into a singular and most sublime deliciousness.
"It's fragrance is too pronounced." Isshiki took a whiff from the bottle. "But that allowed it to complement the fragrant eel."
He transformed the ingredients' flaw into delicious flavor. Anne was stunned.
"Well, Shiratsu, how's it taste?" Isshiki loomed over Shiratsu. "I don't care about myself personally. But I need to uphold the honor of people at the dorm. This isn't about what I want, but about my responsibilities as a senior. So I'd like you to apologize. You will, won't you?"
This dish offers no resistance! Shiratsu scuffed down the rest of the rice. Mi scusi!
"The evaluation is complete." Anne declared. "The winner of the first bout, second match is Isshiki Satoshi."
On the sidelines...
"You never change, do you Satoshi-nii?" Ami smiled at her surrogate elder sibling.
"I'm the same with you, imoto-chan." Isshiki returned her smile.
"That's true." Ami giggled. "It's one trait the two of us have in common."
"That would be..." Takumi's interest was piqued.
"Our opponents can trash-talk us for all we care." Ami answered. "But once our berserk buttons are pressed, all bets are off. Our retaliation will be swift and most utterly humiliating."
"I see that..." Takumi sweatdropped as Shiratsu was carried off on a stretcher.
"Using our ingredients without even asking..." Ibusaki chided. "What are you going to do if you'd lost?"
"I trust your work." Isshiki assured.
"I'm still upset." Sakaki pouted. "That was still a prototype."
"Mister Isshiki." Anne voiced. "May I taste what's in the bottle?"
"Of course." Isshiki offered the Bookmen a cup.
"I think I understand now what you're hoping to protect in this Shokugeki." Anne took a sip. "Exercise your skills to the utmost. You will receive an absolute and just evaluation of all your dishes from us WGO Bookmen."
In the arena...
"We still have two matches left in this bout." Urara reminded. "As long as Central wins them both, there will be no issues."
On the sidelines...
Highly trained soba artisans can slice noodles to the same width down to a tenth of a milometer. Erina mused. There is no doubt that she has reached that level.
"Yukihira's started to slice his soba noodles, too." Daigo pointed out as Souma started cutting his noodles with a noodle maker. "Although with a machine..."
"The difference in their intensity is pretty huge." Shōji teared.
"Yukihira..." Hisako wondered. "What kind of soba is going for?"
"Will it be cold or warm soba?" even Mito was worried.
In the arena...
"First, I'll like to congratulate you." Nene told Isshiki as he cleared out his workspace. "Make sure you face me in the second bout."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Isshiki chuckled. "You're the sixth Seat, while I'm the former seventh Seat. You don't have to take it so seriously."
"There's no need for you to play dumb anymore." Nene snapped. "The only reason I have a higher rank than you did is because you were never serious. That's how you've been. You easily master techniques that took me a long time while looking like you haven't tried your hardest. Can you even begin to understand how miserable it made me feel? So I'll show you which one of us in the 91st Class is the best chef."
"Sorry, that unfortunately will not come to pass." Isshiki assured. "Because you'll lose to a chef by the name of Yukihira Souma before that."
"Yukihira Souma is bringing something out." Urara cut in. "It's a giant wok. He's putting it over roaring flames."
On the sidelines...
"Is he actually serious?" Megumi gaped.
"Apparently he is." Ami giggled.
In the arena...
"Time for the finishing touches." Souma grinned and tossed his soba into the heated wok.
SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Grins* Don't you just love plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.