Chapter 49: 'Midnight Hour'

'Still vacant'.

As much as she hid her disappointment well, Erina couldn't hide fully from Hisako's hawkish observational skills. Turning away for the empty table, the god tongue returned to her kitchen to continue with the next order for her clientele; who happened to be the Sendawara Twins; Natsume and Orie.

"Are you okay miss Erina?" Momentarily blindsided by her friends voice, the god tongue flinched before she managed to get herself back to normal. "I'm... fine Hisako", she murmured before turning her head and letting a soft smile grace her lips towards her faithful aid. Feeling better at seeing some relief shine in her friends eyes made something give a little in here heart, it was as if she had just really seen Hisako for the first time. And in that moment, Erina suddenly felt a warmth spread across her face.

Bolting forwards, unable to comprehend this new feeling bubbling up in her chest, Erina made a beeline straight for the kitchen, making sure to lower the hatch so that their was some distance, albeit a metre, in between them. "Hisako..." Erina stuttered, "make sure that the serving staff continue to properly perform".

"Of course, mistress Erina". The way Hisako replied, calmly and respectfully tugged at her heart; and it only confused her more. Yet, she did see, out of the corner of her eye, a look of pure happiness on her friends face as she turned around and made her way back to attend to the dining customers, as well as the other waitstaff.

"Where is the Coq au Vin?" Erina spoke brusquely, to the numerous support chefs that she had taken on for this night, she may be the god tongue and all but scoring to Hisako she shouldn't have to overwork herself simply because she wanted to "outdo" Sōma Yukihira. "Over here milady", one of her support chefs replied carrying over a semi finished plate in one hand and a saucepan in the other. "The plate is ready for your final inspection".

Nodding her head in appreciation for her underlings support, Erina completed the final plating arrangement and then rang the bell at the serving window, alerting a nearby waitress to the readiness of the next serving. "Service!" With the upmost decorum, and poise, the waitress bowed her head to Erina as she picked up the two plates of Coq au Vin and walked away towards the Sendawara sisters.

Turning her head back towards this support chef, the god tongue tried to manage a small smile to show her gratitude. Yet, as she prepared a nicety to speak, she was met by a stunned expression from the man before her, and was also evident by the expressions of the others in the kitchen, all of whom were equally stunned by seeing her smile so genuinely.

"Miss Erina... you look so pretty!"

Feeling immediately awkward, Erina flicked her hair behind her shoulders and turned her attention back over to the salamander grill, wherein was being finished caramelised red onions and carrots, whilst simultaneously checking upon a stew pot containing arborio rice, chicken stock, monkfish, mussels, clams and squid. Additionally, as befitting a risotto Erina pointed at a bottle of white wine on the far shelf. "Someone bring me that Sauvignon blanc, Abbesse. It will add a subtle dryness to the risotto".

Erina became so engrossed in her cooking that she never noticed that Hisako was standing by the serving window, her hands clasped together and placed over her heart, smiling broadly with a faint dusting of pink spread across her cheeks. "She's so cool!" The commentary by the support staff, as they rushed about prepping starters, assisting in the making of side dishes or main dish components ready for the god tongue to finalise, was of sheer unadulterated joy.

As everyone worked, assisting their head chef, Hisako could see that by extension of their own hard work Erina seemed to be pushing herself onwards in what looked like a show of equality with her staff, and seeing her smile small; even if for brief moments, teeming with happiness, made Hisako blush. Turning away from the serving window, the pink haired girl suddenly found herself confronted by a very pale faced female waitress who pointed towards the doors, and the entranceway beyond.

"Miss Arato..." the waitress stuttered. "T-t-there's a man here... demanding to see Mistress Erina. The doorkeepers are keeping him in the entranceway but he's being relentless..." No sooner than the waitress uttered that last word, the double doors at the end of the room were thrown wide open revealing a dark suited man with a single white strand in his slick black hair. Walking into the middle of the room, the man visible sneered at the sight of the guests. Disdain. That was the most prominent emotion Hisako could deduce coming from the man.

She was about to spin around and move back towards the kitchen, to lace herself in between the man and Erina, when she suddenly heard a crash of crockery behind her followed by an whimpered cry. "F-Father!" Instantly bolting towards the god tongue, Hisako wrapped her arms around her friend, and charge.

"Mistress Erina!"

Noticing his daughter's shocked expression, and the look of possessiveness in the aid's eyes, Azami pushed by the waitstaff trying to keep him out of the restaurant. "Erina, I've told you many times before", he spoke coolly. "Your cooking should not be used for such a subpar lot". Spreading his gloves hands at his sides, Azami gestured to the assembled guests before devolving into a diatribe of disgust towards the current star of the culinary world. Including those who partook of senior positions associated with the hospitality sector.

"The culinary world, as we know it today, has gotten fat on the success of prodigious chefs, leeching off them and leaving them to dwell in misery and self loathing! I know this to be true... this industry and the strain it places on up and coming chefs. Back then and now. You are all to blame for the degradation of standards, the intolerable levels of anxiety that plague the minds of chefs and the unimaginable slop that passes for today's culinary delights.

The values and teachings of Tōtsuki should be shared with only a select few, those who truly understand the decency and sensibility of fine cuisine. Only food that has been carefully thought out and methodically crafted down to each Individual molecule of flavour can be affectionally deemed cuisine. Everything else in the world is not but slop, animal fodder!"

Turning his gaze towards his daughter, who to Hisako's shock, was rooted to the spot struck silent by fear. Smiling mirthfully, Azami stride further into the midst of the dining room and smirked sardonically at each of the guests. The Sendawara sisters, Shigenoshin Kōda, Osaji Kita, Seishū Soatome, Shingo Ando and Makito Minatozaka. The resulting looks of anger and returned contempt directed back at Azami by the Tōtsuki associates would have made any other man wilt. However, Azami Nakiri simply raised an eyebrow as he liked to them in turn.

Returning his gaze untoward his daughter, the suited man frowned.

"Erina... what is this nonsense? You should choose only those in the culinary business, otherwise your skills will weaken".

Almost immediately, Osaji Kita turned around in his seat and glared at Azami. "Excuse me, do you even know who you're addressing young man!" The man seated at the same table, Shingo Ando, pitched his fingers together in recognition of the arrogant contemptible man who had so rudely interrupted everyone's meals. "I've seen him before... I think he's a Nakiri!"

"Impossible!" The stunned voices of Misters' Kita and Kōda yelled. "I heard that he had been forced out of Tōtsuki years ago!" Waving his hand, as if he was brushing away a piece of dust, Azami ignored the gourmands angry words. "You are indeed correct, I am Azami Nakiri, Erina Nakiri's father".

Taking the intruder's monetary glance at the diners, Hisako moved forwards and stood beside her friend. Trying as best she could to comfort her. Hisako was about to try again with another round of trying to evict the man from the shop, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around her waist. Blushing at Erina's sudden clinginess, the rosette girl remained by her friends side. It was then the the Sendawara sisters stepped into the conversation, attempting to belittle the man, as he had those in the room.

"Well you sure talk big for someone who was expelled, whilst we on the other hand have legitimate dealings when it comes to Tōtsuk", Natsume spoke pointedly. "Well said dear sister", Orie replied smiling at her older twin. "So when you insult us like that you also show your contempt for Tōtsuki as well", Orie continued.

Sighing as he shook his head, Azami directed his gaze at the sisters. "I have returned in order to save Tōtsuki from the insufferable and dangerous ideologies than will, in due time, run it into the ground". Frowning, the gourmands all allowed a modicum of confusion to appear on their faces. Thus allowing Azami his chance to continue his explanation.

"How many people have you come across that claim to work in the culinary industry that can actually understand what is truly delicious. Again, only those who have a sense of dignity and the sensibility, as well as receiving the proper education, can grasp the true worth of great artistry. This encapsulates fine dining, it's understand should only be shared by a select few of true worth. I highly doubt that anyone who would mistake a meal for fine cuisine just because it uses quality ingredients would be able to understand what I'm taking about".

A fist came down on a table as mister Kita pushed himself upright and strode forwards, right into Azami's face. "You got some damn nerve spouting this crap here!" The man was then backed up by Natsume Sendawara, who herself was now on her feet. "Thank you so much for sharing your views", she spoke sarcastically, "but no matter what you say it'll change nothing. You no longer have the right to change anything at Tōtsuki".

Turning back towards a pale faced Erina, Azami walked towards an empty table placed beside a window, that was being bathed in moonlight. "Now Erina, it has been ten years since I first taught you to cook. You began very young, and I would like to see how far you have progressed since then. So please... give me a menu. Your father is hungry, I want to eat something now".

Flinching, Erina managed to push herself out of Hisako's arms, she froze before she could even begin to move or speak. However, just as she was about to give in she heard the doors of her restaurant creek open, followed by the all too familiar voice of the boisterous head strong Sōma Yukihira.

"Hey Erina! You got an open table, me and Megumi would love to try your eats!"

The moment the redhead and the blue haired girl stepped into the restaurant, they both knew that something really tense had just occurred. It was written across all the faces of Erina's customers. "S-Sōma... you came", the way that the god tongue stuttered her words made the redhead frown but he did see a look of relief and gratitude from Hisako for his sudden arrival.

Holding each other's hand, they walked into the room and towards the table where Azami was seated. "Hey there old man", Sōma grinned, before he was nugded by Megumi for being rude. "I don't suppose you'd mind sharing a table with us?"

"Ahh! Sōma Yukihira is here", Natsume spoke sultrily. "Not to mention the dark horse Megumi Tasokoro", Orie added. "She really took my breath away during the Autumn Elections, even though she lost".

Before Sōma and Megumi could sit down, the dark suited man abruptly stood up and began walking away. "Erina, why don't you see to your friends. I've suddenly lost my appetite". And with those words, the man left the dining room. "Who was that?" Megumi whispered to an emerging Hisako. "That man is miss Erina's father", the medicinal chef replied as she gently returned to hugging the blonde haired tenth seat.

Sōma was about to ask if there was anything he and Megumi could do, when there was an almighty blast of light shining underneath the doors accompanied by the sounds of engines. Immediately confused, he and Megumi along with Erina and Hisako, followed by the other guests, all rushed outside. Whereupon theory were confronted by the sight of Azami Nakiri illuminated by the headlights of six black sedan cars in a line before him.

And he was engaged in a heated conversation with one: Senzaemon Nakiri.