SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 43 out, this is Chapter 44 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 44: How to Build A Specialty
"The rule call for a two-course meal." Urara laid down the rules. "Each team will present an appetizer and a main dish. Whoever wins this match will take over the Seats of the Elite Ten. If the rebels happen to win, they'll also be able to save all of the students who have been expelled."
"You've got this." Yoshino encouraged.
"But they're up against the top two Tōtsuki's third-years." Shōji reminded.
"I know Nakiri and Yukihira are both amazing, but they're both first-years." Daigo pointed out.
"The top two of the Elite Ten." Mito wondered. "How can they beat them?"
In the arena...
"Alright, let's do this." Rindō flexed.
"Once we win this, I'm going to be swamped with Elite Ten work again." Tsukasa moaned. " Isshiki and Megishima were so reliable."
"Damn it." Rindō rebuked. "Shape up, Tsukasa."
"I mean, I'll do my best." Tsukasa turned serious. "After this match, there will be no one left to stand against Central. I feel bad for Yukihira and the others who will be expelled, but there's no helping it. This is all for the better the art of cooking."
On the sidelines...
"The Elite Ten have begun cooking." Urara declared.
In the arena...
"I'll leave the rest to you, Rindō." Tsukasa handed the shredded button mushrooms and shallots to Rindō.
"Sure thing." Rindō grinned.
On the sidelines...
"I see." Hisako realized. "You're allowed to help your partner in this match."
"They're the perfect combination." Alice admitted.
"And yet, we get..." Yoshino moaned.
In the arena...
"I may have gotten stuck making the appetizer, but I'm going to make a dish that'll beat yours, so be ready." Souma warned.
"That's not the point here." Erina retorted. "You need to take this more seriously."
On the sidelines...
"They're still arguing." Kurokiba remarked.
"Are they going to be okay?" Hayama wondered.
At the judges' table...
"This match ended as soon as it begun." Azami was confident.
On the sidelines...
"Let's see how each team is progressing." Urara went back to the main event. "It appears the rebel team still has no intention on working together. What kind of meal could they possibly create? On the other hand, the Elite Ten team are working together and are in the final stages of their preparations."
"Are we going to see more powerful and extravagant dishes with beasts and rare ingredients?" Hisako was worried.
In the arena...
"I'm almost done here." Rindō started plating. "How are you doing, Tsukasa?"
"Perfect timing." Tsukasa replied. "I'll be done right around the time they finish eating your appetizer."
"All right." Rindō grinned. "I'm just gonna serve up my dish, then."
On the sidelines...
"The enemy's already ready to serve their dishes." Yoshino panicked.
"The appetizer tat Rindō-senpai created." Sakaki mused.
"At least, that's what that's supposed to be." Marui adjusted his glasses. "But is it really?"
"Not a typical dish from a rare ingredient master." Ibusaki noted.
"Look at the beautiful layers on that mille-feuille." Mito gawked.
At the judges' table...
"I call it Mushroom Mille-Feuille with Duxelles Filling." Rindō named her dish.
"The presentation is already spectacular." Azami marveled. "Let us go ahead and try this dish."
Amazing. Decora gushed, taking a bite. The exciting flavors of multiple types of mushrooms meld together with the ultra-thin pie crust in a moist harmony.
"The star ingredient Miss Kobayashi chose for this dish is shiitake mushrooms." Anne noted. "She used olive oil to cook them into a confit, topping the unami flavor while enhancing it as well."
"Champignon mushrooms and shallots sauteed to a golden brown in garlic and butter, then simmered to a paste in broth." Azami added. "Cracked nuts and heavy cream were blended in to make a duxelles that she sandwiched between the mille-feuille layers. And the deciding factor to this dish is the tang.
This tang... Anne gaped.
"What did you use to bring out this tang?" Azami inquired.
"Ants." Rindō grinned.
On the sidelines...
"So, she is the master of rare ingredients, after all." Ibusaki gasped.
"Wait, ants?" Yoshino gawked. "You can't be serious."
"Formic acid." Ami supplied. "Or more specifically, formic acid from young ants."
At the judges' table...
"Right on target, hime-chan." Rindō winked. "I extracted formic acid from young ants and mixed them into my duxelles.
"I see." Anne noted. "Too much formic acid is poisonous, but in small amounts, it can be a wonderful accent. It's not unnecessarily sweet; it just provides a sharp tang that's truly invigorating."
"Plus, with something sweet, it can create deeper, more nuanced flavors than most citrus fruits." Azami remarked. "She has undoubtedly reached a professional level."
On the sidelines...
"Not bad, Second Seat." Kurokiba praised.
"She managed to use that freakish ingredient properly." even Hayama was impressed.
"She's created a delicate and elegant appetizer." Alice admitted.
At the judges' table...
The appetizer... Decora mused. It's duty is to simulate the diner's appetite and pique interest. When faced with the power of this dish, even the butterflies of the gourmet world have no means of defending themselves. They can only be helplessly carried away with incredible strength and dragged into the main dish.
"This dish is 100 percent." Azami declared. "I couldn't ask for a more perfect appetizer."
"Come on now." Rindō bragged. "It's too soon to be satisfied. After all, the main dish is still coming up."
In the arena...
"This is the best dish I can produce right now." Tsukasa removed his dish from the oven. "True gourmet, my specialty."
On the sidelines...
"Salt crust." Kurokiba recognized the dish.
"A baking method where salt is mixed with egg whites and then spread over the top of a dish to form a thick crust." Alice explained.
"It ensures that no moisture escapes, keeping the deliciousness concentrated inside." Hayama added.
"Long ago, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi was deployed on expeditions, he'd cover sea bream with a salt crust to prevent it from rotting." Marui went into history lecture mode.
"He just revealed some glistening red meat." Mito gaped when Tsukasa broke the salt crust with a hammer.
"It's our enemy's dish, but..." Hayama hissed.
At the judges' table...
"There we go." Tsukasa plated his dish in front of the judges. "The White Armor Plate: Sauce Chevreuil." he named his dish. "Chevreuil, meaning the main ingredient of my dish is venison."
On the sidelines...
"Venison?" Megumi and Hisako echoed, recalling a similar dish Tsukasa prepared against a cook-off against Souma.
At the judges' table...
"I can't ruin this masterpiece..." Anne's hands were quivering.
"Anne, you coward." Courage chided. "Give it to me." she took a bite.
"Would you like a bite, Yukihira?" Tsukasa offered his opponent. "You should compare it to the last dish of mine that you ate."
What the hell is this deliciousness? Souma was taken aback. It's not just my tongue; the flavor's so powerful that it reverberates into the back of my nose. It's a punch that vibrates all the way to my brain. This is far superior to the venison dish I had before.
That appetizer didn't simply lead us to the finale of the course. Even Azami was mesmerized. It is truly a paradise where every chef has been freed from their suffering. The peaceful and beautiful world that we long for: the Gourmet Eden.
On the sidelines...
"He's acting like he's already won." Mito scoffed. "Like Yukihira and Erina-sama are going to let that happen. What are you guys staring at?" she noticed Yoshino's and Sakaki's startled looks. "What the hell?" she squealed when she, Daigo and Shōji found themselves stripped to their undergarments.
At the judges' table...
"Oh dear." Azami sighed. "It appears as though my version of the Gifting has slipped out."
On the sidelines...
"The Gifting?" Yoshino and Sakaki gawked.
At the judges' table...
"Because the dish was so delicious, the Gifting pulse within me leaked out, which ended up disrobing those around me." Azami explained.
On the sidelines...
"The Gifting pulse..." Megumi gaped.
"What is he talking about?" even Sakaki was confused.
"Meaning that some people around him were forcibly disrobed?" Yoshino was shocked.
"I guess that happened before." Hayama recalled what happened with Nakiri Sōe.
"When someone marries into the Nakiri family and takes their name, they also inherit the Gifting ability." Alice supplied. "And because he married into the family, of course, Uncle Azami was given the Gifting ability."
"What the hell is up with the Nakiri family?" Hayama questioned.
"I guess stuff like that happens." Kurokiba shrugged, already used to the Nakiri family's weirdness.
"No, it doesn't." Hayama protested.
"Hayama, just chalk it up to insane Nakiri genetics." Ami advised. "It's much easier that way."
"No, it isn't." Takumi rebuked.
"My goodness." Isshiki handed Mito a towel. "I can't say that I approve of forcing young ladies to undress in a public venue."
At the judges' table...
"I assure you it was not on purpose." Azami insisted. "That was just how delicious this course was."
The Nakiri family is famous for disrobing. Anne recalled. The fact that the greater variant of Gifting has occurred is proof that this dish, as well as the whole course, is the real deal.
Kobayashi Rindō put everything into her dish to ensure that the main dish dazzled. Decora noted. And yet, Tsukasa Eishi was still able to dazzle even more. I cannot think of anything greater than this.
The two-course meal created by the top two chefs at Tōtsuki is true gourmet. Anne was forced to admit.
"Now then," Azami started. "The Elite Ten has produced the best main dish anyone could ask for. Meanwhile, Erina, who will be cooking the main dish for the other team, has forgotten my teachings and is currently contaminated. She could not possibly create true gourmet at that state. Meaning, your victory is inconceivable."
In the arena...
"Tsukasa-senpai." Souma started. "You didn't make this dish when we faced off that one time. Does that mean you were taking it easy on me? That was a pretty harsh diss, senpai."
"I wouldn't say I was taking it easy on you." Tsukasa refuted. "I just figured I didn't need to bother making this dish back then. But the theme this time was true gourmet, so of course, I'd go with the best recipe I have, my specialty."
"Then, I guess I'm gonna have to give it all I've got." Souma decided. "I couldn't make this back then, a specialty that surpasses Tsukasa Eishi. But I guess I'm gonna have to do it right here, right now."
On the sidelines...
"Did Yukihira just say he's going to make his specialty?" Hisako blinked.
"But Yukihira's making the appetizer, right?" Sakaki reminded.
"So wait, a specialty appetizer?" Yoshino's mind instantly went back to Souma's trademark squid with peanut butter.
"Squid tentacles and peanut butter?" both Sakaki and Yoshino exclaimed.
"That's probably not it." Ibusaki assured.
"Wait Aldini." Mito shouted. "What the hell happened during the strategy meeting last night?"
Flashback to the previous night...
"There's no end to this!" Erina fumed. "Let's hold off who's going to do the main for a moment. We need to figure out what course we're going to make tonight."
"We just need an appetizer." Souma snapped.
"I'm going out for some fresh air!" Erina stormed off.
"Nakiri!" Megumi hurried after the blond girl.
"You two really got into it." Isshiki chuckled.
"If we just can't decide, we'll have to settle it with rock-paper-scissors." Souma retorted.
"Please no." Takumi pleaded.
"Then, if you lose in rock-paper-scissors, do you promise to concentrate on the appetizer?" Isshiki proposed.
"I guess that's an option." Souma mused.
"That's the only option." Takumi deathpanned. "Don't say that like you actually mean it."
"By the way, Isshiki-senpai." Souma thought to ask. "What does he mean that Nakiri and Mizuno were the keys?"
"Director Azami wants to take advantage of Nakiri's God Tongue." Isshiki explained. "The God Tongue is able to determine the best and worst qualities of a dish. And by her determine that, she can free chefs from suffering to figure that out themselves. As for Ami-imouto, it's her 'Perfect Recall' ability that Director Azami wants to gain sole possession of; even if Nakiri's God Tongue, his revolution needs the best recipes. While the Hakuizumi Archives contains close to a million of records, it'll take a person a lifetime just read through everything and this is where Ami-imouto's 'Perfect Recall' come into play: she has, until now, coupled with speed-reading, memorized close to 89% of the entire Archive library. In other words, she's the perfect recipe generator for Director Azami. That's the idea behind Central. The two basically hold the keys to the great revolution."
"Taking advantage of the God Tongue, huh?" Souma snorted. "That actually sounds kinda of fun."
Yukihira didn't say much back then, but does he actually have some kind of plan? Takumi wondered.
In the arena...
"Nakiri." Souma called out. "Here's some chicken liver I just sauteed. Could you give it a taste?"
On the sidelines...
"What are you doing in the middle of cooking?" Marui wondered.
In the arena...
"In a Team Shokugeki, we're allowed to get help from our teammates as we cook." Souma reminded. "Which means we can ask them to taste stuff, too. If they want to take advantage of Nakiri as their key, I figured I'd take advantage of her, too."
"No good." Erina took a taste. "I liked that you rubbed with with homemade mayonnaise, but the flavor when it hits the tongue is insufficient."
"How's this ratio?" Souma readjusted.
"It works." Erina gave her go-ahead.
On the sidelines...
"Not bad." Rindō praised.
"Then, Yukihira might be able to make an amazing appetizer, after all." Tsukasa agreed.
"But preparing something just as he's told?" Takumi frowned.
"Souma normally wouldn't cooperate with that." Megumi agreed.
In the arena...
"Could you taste this spice mix for me?" Souma requested. "Could you check the balance of this sauce?"
He truly wants to accept my teachings? Erina wondered. I'd love to praise him, if that were actually the case. But...
Flashback to last night...
"If you end up making the appetizer, why don't you make Pâté De Campagne?" Erina suggested.
"Pâté De Campagne..." Souma mused. "What's that again?"
"In Japanese, it translates to 'country-style pate'." Takumi explained.
"We made some in class before." Megumi supplied. "The dish where we added liver paste and vegetables to minced meat and grilled it up."
"The viscous texture and depth whet the appetite." Erina added. "It is a very popular appetizer."
"So, it's basically like corned beef." Souma noted.
"Not in the least." Erina snapped. "Anyway, the purpose of an appetizer is how well it can connect to the main dish. Remember that at all costs. Now, I'll go over the recipe."
The recipe I went over with him last night... Erina fumed. Why is he adding changes here and there? "Yukihira, what in the world are you doing?" she demanded, seeing her partner was not even following the discussed recipe.
At the judges' table...
"Here you go." Souma presented his dish. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
On the sidelines...
"Wait a second!" everyone exclaimed, Souma's dish resembled more of a slab of meat an anime caveman would eat, rather than an appetizer.
"It's times like this I'm so glad I'm best friends with the less outrageous cousin." Ami shook her head.
At the judges' table...
"Dig in." Souma grinned. "Your delicious appetizer is here."
"This is what you call an appetizer?" Azami was not amused.
On the sidelines...
"A caveman!" Yoshino shouted. "That's like a hunk of meat a cartoon caveman would eat."
"Its shape aside, it definitely looks like a main dish rather than an appetizer." Marui added.
At the judges' table...
"I just did what Nakiri asked me to do and made the appetizer, Pâté De Campagne." Souma defended himself.
On the sidelines...
"Souma..." Megumi moaned.
"Don't tell me he actually felt competitive after seeing the specialty Tsukasa-senpai made and completely went out of control." Takumi realized what had happened.
At the judges' table...
Anyway, let's give it a taste. Decora took a bite. It's true that having the pâté inside and wrapping it in thin slices of beef makes it look like a hunk of meat still on the bone. The meat wrapped around the exterior is marinated strips of beef. She squealed. The richly fragrant yet slightly fruity scent of the meat make me feel like I'm going to lose my mind. And right underneath is a layer of bacon slices. They're also holding the pate in place. "Just the first bite makes the impact from the protein reverberate through my body."
"And I used this yakiniku sauce as the base for the marinade." Souma pulled out the sauce bottle. "Even store-bought yakiniku sauce has a great balance of garlic, ginger, soy sauce and mirin. It's a solid base for a marinade. Then, I added honey, grated onions, and freshly squeezed orange juice and had Nakiri taste it for me and adjust it to a flavor that'd fit Pâté De Campagne."
"It's not just the outside." Anne gushed. "The pâté is the most exquisite part of all. It's full-bodied yet delicate. It fits perfectly with the aromatic layer of meat, making each bite spark with an explosion of flavor. He used a base of chicken liver and added chicken breast and cream as well as finely chopped green beans, carrots, and shimeji mushrooms. But the work he did on these individual vegetables is superb. Confit, garlic, brasier and suer; he brought out the best of each ingredient, emphasizing the natural sweetness and heightening the dish as a whole."
What was that? Decora was taken aback when she bit in deeper. The whole flavor just changed suddenly. The outer wall of meat was already delicious, but now, it's like an aromatic geyser of bursting through.
"What is this rich aroma?" Courage shivered. "My body is reacting even though I haven't taken a bite."
"Something is seeping out from between the layers of meat." Decora looked closer.
"It's an extra-thick jellied consomme that I boiled down." Souma explained. "Right before serving the dish, I used a super-thick cooking injector to inject plenty of it into the meat. It starts gushing out while you're eating to change up the flavor."
On the sidelines...
"A bomb of flavor." Hayama snorted, realizing Souma had stolen his tactic.
"Yukihira actually pulled it off." Kurokiba was impressed.
At the judges' table...
"Amazing." Anne was stunned. "I'm even more drawn into this dish than I was a moment ago. The first bite was decadent enough, but each subsequent bite becomes more exciting as you discover all the twists and treasures within. I can't believe all this flavor is packed into one dish. I feel so satisfied."
"My clothes." Courage gasped when she and Decora were stripped to their undergarments.
"The approach he took with the vegetables." Azami noted. "It reminds me of the Magician of Legumes, Shinomiya Kojirō. By bringing the full potential of each vegetable, the overall flavor of the dish is deepened without losing any elegance."
On the sidelines...
"And the method of using different flavors at different times to draw people in..." Megumi started.
"It's like the dish Yukihira presented at the Moon Festival." Takumi agreed.
At the judges' table...
"Exactly." Souma grinned. "This dish is the two new Yukihira recipes I invented fused into one. That's why I took advantage of Nakiri's abilities. Just mashing the two recipes together would've created a jumbled mess, so I had her help me combine the best parts of both dishes. I call it: Countdown Caveman Meat, Cheeky Youngster-Style. It's beyond 'new and improved'. This is true 'Yukihira' cooking.
"Ordinarily, it'd be impossible to properly balance all these complex components." Azami admitted. "But because of the guidance from the God Tongue, the dish is elevated to a level worthy of being called a specialty. It's almost in par with Tsukasa's 'White Armor Plate'. But that's only when I look at this as an individual dish. Tsukasa Eishi's main dish was boosted a few levels all thanks to Kobayashi Rindō's appetizer. Meanwhile, you had the nerve to present a main dish as an appetizer, which ruins the whole course. It's the worst move you could've made. No matter how close to a perfect score your dish gets on its own, it gets a zero in this course meal"
"What do you think you're doing?" Erina stormed up. "Does teamwork simply not exist between us?"
"Listen up, Nakiri." Souma cautioned. "I want to win this Team Shokugeki, no matter what. Your dish wouldn't have won. Tsukasa-senpai's dish that I tasted earlier really packed a punch. I tried out a number of your main dish options last night and they all would've lost. None of them were your specialty. In order to beat senpai, we need to hit him with two specialties, filled with everything we've got. Our course has to be on that level. You can make something better than my dish, right? Then prove it. If you can't beat my dish, we're going to lose this match. So basically, this is a Shokugeki between you and me. Come at me and put everything you have into your specialty."
SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Grins* Don't you just love plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.