Chapter 51: Dawn
At the same time as Azami Nakiri stood before the crowd of students, professors and Tōtsuki sponsors, in Europe there was another meeting taking place.
Nestled in the of French Rivera, and bordering the Mediterranean Sea, was the Principality of Monaco. Being the second smallest micro state in the world and a hotspot for millionaires, playboys and celebrities; as well as tax exiles, the nation had a reputation for extravagance. Moreover, the number of well established five and four star restaurants and hotels within its territory was huge, therefore chefs and culinary industry officials were frequently visiting.
And it was here in Monaco, that Jōichirō Saiba and Gin Dōjima were unexpectedly reunited.
"Jōichirō? Is that you?"
The stunned expression on Gins's face made the red haired man grin, and holding his bag of groceries in one arm, the former second seat of the Ten, chuckled as he slung his free arm around the other man's shoulder. "Wow, fancy meeting you here Gin..." He was instantly interrupted by the frustrated yell of annoyance from his dear best friend. "Fancy? Why don't you ever call me or Jun to say that okay! For all we knew you were dead in a ditch somewhere!"
Placing his fingers in his ears, Jōichirō sighed and waited for Gin to finish his yelling. "Do you have any idea how worried I was for you!" Realising that he wasn't going to stop anytime soon, Jōichirō looked around him and saw that people were beginning to stop and observe the ruckus that was occurring. "Erm... Gin", he mused grinning. "You may wish to calm down. Your yelling is making of us a public spectacle. So let's go have a few cold beers to celebrate the reunion of two old friends!"
Frowning. Gin looked around and saw that, indeed, their was a crowd observing them. Refocusing himself into the man of professionalism and decorum that his title of executive chef demanded of him, Dōjima fell into step alongside Jōichirō as they continued to walk along the main street overlooking the marina. "I can't I'm afraid" he replied. "I've got a business meeting with a Tōtsuki client in an hour..."
"So blow it off...!" Jōichirō grinned. "It wouldn't be the first time you broke the rules... remember our second year at Tōtsuki. Does Mistress Hiyori ring any bells".
"I can't you pushy son of bitch!" Gin growled, despite no longer feeling any annoyance. "And besides... you know damn well that wasn't what happened! You locked the door on us, and we weren't found until ten o'clock the following day!"
"Aw come on, an hour is ages away. You can just have one drink and watch me get hammered". Trying as hard as he could to repeal Jōichirō's charm, Gin felt himself falter.
"Fine. Just one beer, and you only get one too. I ain't being responsible for any of your drunken antics again".
Grinning, Jōichirō was about to lead them towards their destination. Sass Café. As they walked through the Larvotto ward, Dōjima mentioned his meeting with Sōma. "I met your little bundle of joy, Sōma sure has taken after you. I've heard from Fumio that his experiments are driving his roommates crazy".
Laughing heartily, properly, for the first time in years, Jōichirō's smile was ear to ear. "Really, I hadn't noticed..." he spoke sarcastically. "Although, I am happy for him. He's growing into a chef that I could never be. It's a miracle he hasn't driven his girlfriend mad yet. She must have the patience of a saint".
"I thinks it's more along the lines that they just understand each other, and know when one another needs the other. Oh by the way, Sōma challenged the third seat on the Ten just before the annual Mon Festival, who is his girlfriends older brother" Dōjima continued, chuckling at the stunned look on Jōichirō's face. "Sōma, a first year, challenged the Ten? Are you sure you're not going prematurely senile?"
Glowering, Tōtsuki's executive chef shook his head and removed his phone from his jacket pocket and scrolled through his calendar to find a photograph that he had taken from the judging panel. "See for yourself", he stated handing over his phone, smirking as he saw the astonishments saw back.
"No fricking way! How did Sōma do? Don't tell me he won... I'll never hear the end of it", the father groaned. Running his hands through his hair, Jōichirō sighed. "I guess he's gotten stronger than I'd expected in six months... why the hell are you laughing!"
"Hahahahah! I'm sorry Jō..." Dōjima heaved. "It's just... you and Sōma are so alike. Right down to the stubbornness to be defeated and the lack of subtly". The former second seat simply smiled and nodded as they walked onwards. "I guess that's what I get for indulging him in his culinary battles since he was a kid..."
"Sōma was defeated against the Ten he challenged but he managed to do something, that I could tell, the other members of the Ten were envious of. He lost four to one, I was the sole judge that voted for him, the other four voted for the third seat" Dōjima explained. "H-h-he took away one judge, preventing a unanimous victory!" Jōichirō yelled, startling a group of high society American tourists standing on the deck of a forty foot yacht, who all appeared to be in varying levels of drunkenness.
With a half quizzical half teasing expression on his face, Gin raised an eyebrow smirkingly. "Sōma seemed very pleased with himself once he realised that he had beaten five other members Ten to something they themselves had been trying to do". Shaking his head, Sōma's father chuckled as he imagined those infuriated looks. "Your boy sure has grown up", Gin smiled. Jōichirō simply smirked, "those are your words not mine. I'll have to test him when I next see him".
Upon finding a through road, from the Boulevard du Larvotto to the Avenue Princess Grace, the two men decided to walk through the Jardin Japonais de Monaco towards Sass Café. Thereby avoiding a large and noisy group of anti-capitalism protesters that were marching along the road. Walking through the garden was tranquil, which was not to be expected as the part of the garden they were in was a Zen garden, yet Dōjima still felt a slight twinge in his gut. It was if as if I his body was preemptively warning him to something which was occurring elsewhere.
"You okay Gin", Jōichirō asked. "You seem kinda ?" Not wanting to have their reunion messed up by his worries, the executive chef shook his head before pointing out the bar/restaurant that his formed had suggested. "I'm fine Jō..." Dōjima brushed off. "So, this place is it really as good as you say it is?" Jōichirō immediately grinned as he began pushing Gin forwards, "come on! Let's get drunk!"
"I bloody told you no..." Gin stated exasperated but he was then suddenly interrupted by the ringing of his mobile phone, resulting in him having to thumb through his jacket pockets. Pulling out his phone and accepting the call, he placed it by his ear and spoke. "Hello, Dōjima here..."
Standing and smirking at his friend, Jōichirō watched in shock as Gin's face turned white as all the colour drained from it. "What do you mean Master Senzaemon has retired? Azami... Azami Nakamura! He's the new director!"
The smiles, and genuine happiness, that both men had felt before were now replaced by grim displeasure. "A supermajority of the Ten supported him... well I guess in face of such a strong council mandate I see why Senzaemon had no choice but to stand down. I'll be on the first flight back, thanks for the heads up Rolland".
Turning back to Jōichirō, Gin was about to apologise for leaving so soon when he suddenly found himself being shoved into the bar.
"If there was anytime to drown yourself in drink then it would be now", Sōma's father stated. "Besides, the first flight out of Monaco is so early tomorrow morning that it's practically today. Therefore, we still have plenty of time to drink to our reunion!" Giving into Jōichirō's placating nature, Dōjima sighed, before flagging down a barman and ordering several large double vodkas.
"Now that's the Gin I remember! You were less uptight but still regular with the rules", Jō smirked clapping Tōtsuki's executive chef on the back. Motioning his head to the barman, Jōichirō ordered a bourbon; to which their orders were swiftly returned. "As inebriated as you get the funnier you become", Gin laughed back. "Only this time I won't back you up if you do anything irresponsible". Unconsciously settling back into their old dormitory roles, both Gin and Jō felt free from their responsibilities right now.
If only for one more day. Then the shit really would hit the fan.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Earth, standing on a stage before a large assembled mass of students; as well as being beamed onto the many television screens around the Tōtsuki campus, was Azami Nakiri. Leaning on the lectern before him, he spoke with dulcet tones into the microphone.
"Welcome colleagues and friends, I would like to thank you for gathering here today. By the will of the Tōtsuki Council of Ten, I Azami Nakiri shall now become the director and made to serve the academy.
The contributions to the school by the prior director, Master Senzaemon are many and varied but above all he has striven to train and guide all chefs who gain entrance to these prestigious classrooms and grounds, and I feel a great sense of pressure to follow as justly as he did. His many years at Tōtsuki have seen the most extraordinary expansion of the Japanese cuisine to the wider world, influencing many a talented chef, which has been undeniably advantageous to those from outside the traditional realm of fine cuisine".
Leaning forwards so his voice became louder into microphone, and his face filled the television screens around the campus, Azami's voice became incredible serious.
"However, I know this role is a pivotal one in driving japans culinary culture and I am humbled by this. I intend to push Tōtsuki to even greater heights".
The huge crowd before him erupted into rapt thunderous applause as they were beguiled by the man's charm. Bowing out from the stage and television cameras, Azami made his way backstage and towards an awaiting car that his security had arranged for him, only for him to announce that he wanted to 'walk around' and 'learn the schools current campus style'.
"Huh..." Reina Ainu murmured leaning Orie Sendawara, who looked annoyed at being used as a staging post. "He's not at all what I had expected". Before she could speak up and tell the other woman what Azami had said in Erina's restaurant, Ricardo Orencia continued. "I assumed he'd be limp and one sided but he seems like a strongman that I could back, that is if chef Kensuke does".
Bursting forwards and immediately lecturing Ricardo, was Osaji Kita; back up by Seishū Soatome and Shingo Ando. "The hell was all that! You cannot seriously be going to support that man! You weren't there when just the other day he showed us his true colours, at his own daughters restaurant!"
"Yes, he spoke so abusively to a room full of people... 'True cuisine is to be shared only by a chosen few' don't make me laugh! He's just making all these affectations to cover his true agenda, I wouldn't be surprised if he had lied to the Ten", Shingo Ando announced, pushing his glasses up his nose. "You may very well think that, and you are entitled to your own opinions Shingo, you too Osaji..." Ricardo replied. "But I couldn't possible comment. My mind is made up, if my industry benefits from a change in Tōtsuki direction then so be it".
"You know" Natsume Sendawara suddenly spoke, "he may not even think he was being abusive".
"Excuse me..." Osaji Kita, Seishū Soatome, Shingo Ando all interrupted. "At the restaurant, and now here today..." Orie continued for her sister, "he's simply acting on his true feelings and in whatever way he deems right".
"Yes, very true. He probably does whatever he wants without any consideration of the consequences to himself and others", Natsume finalised.
"If what you say if true", Osaji Kita shook his head in frustration, "then those of Ten who have aligned with the new administration could become victims of an Azami hidden agenda".
"Ha Ha Ha", Ricardo and Reina sarcastically laughed. "We plan to side with this new order regardless, so if you wish to stand against the Azami administration then on your head be it".
Spinning around and walking away from the consultant and Tōtsuki representative area two of Kensuke's benefactors moved off, leaving the Sendawara sisters and the three men glaring after them.
Hours later, inside the Nakiri manor, Azami once more regained control over his daughter's day to day routine. From behind his desk and with Erina next to him, he addressed the pink haired girl standing opposite.
"Hisako Arato... thank you for your service in looking after Erina, I am aware that your presence has been a tremendous help and I will always be grateful to you but as of now you are officially removed as her faithful servant". Shaking and slightly sweating, Erina kept her gaze on the floor not wanting to show her tears. "Please father..." she whispered "I would like Hisako to remain by my side..."
"But there is no need for you to worry anymore, for going forward, you will always have me by your side. Similarly I will decide all your clientele and who will cook for. This way we can push forwards together", Azami's voice was soft and gentle and held Erina captive and frightened, as Hisako fell into silence. "Yes... father", the God Tongue's quiet mumbled words were enough to end the situation in the new directors favour, from which he then waved a tearful Hisako out of the room.
Just as the door closed in her face, Azami whispered some words to Hisako. "If you want to remain at Tōtsuki, then stay away from Erina, and you should be able to continue studying here at Tōtsuki. Otherwise you will find that the Arato families' reputation will be ripped apart".
Fleeing from the manor, in now floods of tears, Hisako ran seeking the one person who she knew would feel the same way as her right now. Alice Nakiri.
R.I.P Apollo 11 Astronaut, Micheal Collins