Chapter 53: Open House Revolution

"She'll be fine here", Isshiki spoke, missing the way Megumi and Sōma giggled together as he spoke. "Kyokusei is well known to be very welcoming to new comers".

"Extravagant and experimental food, and loud parties..." Megumi whispered, "but all in good fun".

Then from the top of the stairs, the friendly warm voice of Mistress Fumio was heard. "I've run a nice warm bath for you upstairs, you must be cold, Erina". Nodding her head, the god tongue walked upstairs and followed Fumio to the girls bathroom, watching as Ryo dragged a waving Alice out of the building and back to their own Nakiri manor.

"Don't worry Hisako, Erina will be safe and comfortable here", Megumi announced hugging the rose haired girl. Nodding her head, Hisako smiled feeling relieved, "please continue to keep her smiling". Picking herself up, the pink haired girl made her way out of the dorm, promising to drip by every day with new clothes and school work for Erina.

The next day started like any other, the Kyokusei dorm residents awoke, ate breakfast washed, dressed and then departed for their classes. However, once they were all in their individual classes, either culinary theory or practical, all students were met by a television screen showing an empty lectern with the words, 'Director Azami introduces Reforms', scrolling across the screen.

Sitting at the front row of desks in their theory classroom: Sōma, Takumi and Isami were discussing the plight of Erina running away from her father and being hooled up at Kyokusei dorm. "Are you sure Erina will be okay", Takumi asked. "I get that she must have an awfully big reason to leave home but if the director finds out she's hiding in a school dorm, aren't you worried that he'll strike you all down?"

Sōma simply smiled back before running a hand through his hair. "Whose to say what will happen. Hisako has been coming by with clean clothes and supplies for her and Alice and Ryo have been coming round as well, so I think the secret is safe..." The redhead was cut off by the blonde Italian sighing, "really Sōma... at this point I really don't think Erina's secret hiding spot is a secret any longer".

At that moment the three boy's conversation, as well as the rest of the classrooms lecture was temporarily ceased as the image on the television switched to showing Urara Kawashima holding her microphone. "Attention students of Tōtsuki, Director Azami has arrived to make an announcement".

The camera panned immediately from Urara to the stage where Azami was walking towards the lectern. With his mind drifting back towards what Senzaemon had told him about Erina's father, Sōma couldn't help but scowl in preparation for whatever this man was about to announce.

"Students of Tōtsuki, you have my thanks. I'm Azami Nakiri". The man's voice once again sounded smooth and caring, and had Sōma not had prior knowledge about his character, the redhead was unsure if had would have avoided being beguiled.

"Allow me to be honest with you, I'm here to share my vision of a perfect world, one where Tōtsuki Academy is reborn and exactly what that entails". Raising his fist, with his index finger raised, it was clear to all that he was announcing the first of his reforms.

"The first point is this, beginning immediately all cooking related cooking lectures and seminars, as well as study groups and societies, are stripped of all rights to operate autonomously". The atmosphere at the outdoor stage, inside lessons, seminars and cooking societies was instant fury.

"What did he say? There's no way that's what he said, right?"

"What the hell! Are you kidding me!"

"You can't do this! Our societies help to bolster our cooking styles!"

"This is overzealous, we won't stand for this!"

Yet none of the yelling served to bother or stop the Director, who simply ploughed on into the second reform, from breaking his vocal stride.

"The dial is at zero, and everything ends now. Now on to the second point, a new organisation shall be created on campus. It will be an elite core, comprising of myself and the elite ten. As well as any other students I deem suitable of seeking out new cuisine, it will be a realm of gods where knowledge of all things delicious will be exchanged, the Central Institution for Fine Cuisine or Central. Starting today everything you make will be decided by the members of Central, which means you no longer have to conceive of your own dishes. My apologies... but any who disprove of this methodology will be asked to leave the school".

Again more yells of anger arose from the students who had gathered outside to view the announcement in person. "How dare you! Someone needs to put you I your place!" Shouts of protestation were slowly rising louder and louder, as students jostled forwards trying to fight back against the reforms. "What! I just don't get it...?" A voice yelled out for shot of the camera but was still picked up by the microphone receiver.

"Come now", Azami replied coolly. "Just think about this... the system up until now has been quite illogical, those who fail under the current merit based system are simply let go regardless of the fact that it is widely known that chefs develop at their own speed. Have you not found that this is needlessly cruel? So I'll repeat, from now on all cooking lectures will be conducted by Central and all students will have equal opportunities to reap the benefits, and in time you will all acquire the techniques and skills to one day be on the same level as with the Ten".

"Shut your mouth! How can you even call yourself a chef!"

"You have no appreciation for how much pride a real chef places in their trial and errors!"

"This will be a new world free from conflict without merit, unnecessary expulsion, unnecessary competitions... you will be free from all of these". Standing tall and proud, the director outstretched his arm and panned it across the wide view before him, and pointing outwards to those watching on the school television channel, grabbing everyone's attention at once. "Listen up! You are not pawns to be sacrificed or scoffed at, you are the all important force upon which the future of Tōtsuki will be built. Join with me, and together we shall advance the culinary scope of this country! From this point onwards, today shall be known as Tōtsuki's Open House Revolution!"

From their desk, and collectively, Takumi and Sōma bristled at the way the Director had simply cast down everything that they believed and liked that Tōtsuki encouraged in it's students. "No fricking way!" The blonde snapped, though gritted teeth, whilst being restrained by Isami. Looking at the red head beside him, Takumi saw a mixture of confusion and annoyance evidenced in Sōma's face. "How could Kensuke agree to this?" The boy stated, clenching his fists before realising that he should bring this up with his girlfriend, seeing as she was Ken's sister.

"You should ask Isshiki", Isami advised. "They're both second years, and from what I've heard Isshiki considers Kensuke one of his best friends, even if the third seat is uneasy to admit it". It was then that Takumi's phone pinged, alerting him to a text, plucking his phone form his trouser pocket the Italian boy went white as he read the text. "No way... it's started already. Ikumi has texted me that black suited men from Central are at Bowl Club... they're demanding that she and Kenichi leave forthwith".

Gritting his teeth, Takumi stood up and bolted from the classroom followed by Isami; who apologised to Sōma for his brothers abrupt exit. "It's fine Isami", Sōma grinned. "But... how long has Takumi had meat-meats phone number", he added amusingly. To his credit, Isami didn't betray his bothers confidence but the younger Aldini twin shared Sōma's knowing grin. "If you ask me..." Isami replied, smirking as he departed, "it's about time my brother realised his feelings".

Suddenly feeling a tremendous worry hit him, Sōma realised that he should return to the dorm and meet up with his other dorm mates. Specifically, Zenji and Megumi as they were the two people who were about to lose their associated seminar and culinary society. Getting to his feet, and slinging his rucksack over his shoulder, Sōma bolted from class and back towards his dormitory. His unease growing with every step.

Upon entering the grounds of Kyokusei dorms the redhead boy saw a large group of people, led by Eizan, banging on the doors. Changing from jogging to a flat out sprint, Sōma barged past the ninth seat and stood besides his fellow dorm mates, minus Isshiki, in a standoff with the Central. "Sōma!" Megumi exclaimed, grabbing her boyfriends hand and pointing at the people before them. "They... they want to tear down our dorm".

"Oh hell no!" Daigo and Shōji simultaneously yelled clenching their fists, as Yuki too moved forwards and shook her fist at Eizan. "You want a piece of me, four eyes!" The orange haired girl snapped, as Ryōko and Shun stood before her.

"As I'm sure you're aware Kyokusei is the sole dorm on school grounds, and because you have been able to be financially independent this is why you have been targeted for removal. Your autonomy... this dorm is no longer of any real use to Tōtsuki, and will be henceforth razed to the ground". It took all Sōma had to not leap forwards and punch Eizan in the face due to the self centred Machiavellian smirk on his face.

Yuki and Zenji's reactions were immediate. Shocked and confused, both chefs narrowed their eyes and stood their ground in opposition to Eizan's declaration. "Both the building it's land will be taken over by Central, and you will be evicted to another of Tōtsuki's dorm".

"I'd like to see you try and removed us from Kyokusei!" Daigo yelled. "Too right bro, you guys suck!" Shōji snarled.

"What are you looking at!" Yuki angrily yelled, pointing at one of the suited men behind Eizan. "You want a piece of me!" Seeing a lecherous smirk etch itself onto that particular man's face, Megumi booted forwards and dragged her friend away. "Yuki... please calm down", the blue haired girl spoke, placatingly.

Standing back, next to Sōma and Shun, Ryōko whispered to the two boys; "hey, where is Isshiki? He's on the Ten, if he were here he'd be able to stop this". Gritting his teeth, Sōma bite back his anger. "He'd need to actually be here for that to happen, but he hasn't been here while".

"What the hell!" Zenji spluttered. "Is the Miyazato seminar in trouble too?" Eizan simply chuckled before waving his hand through the air dismissively.

"Well then..." Sōma sighed, his eyes narrowed to slits. "As long as you're here please have some tea?"

Upstairs, leaning over the balustrade, was Erina listening to the chorus of opposition from the people protecting her. Dressed simply in a night gown and dressing gown, she was about to go downstairs and back up Kyokusei dorm when Mistress Fumio appeared placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her head. Knowingly.

Downstairs, in the dining room, Sōma and Eizan sat opposite each other sipping cups of chai tea. "Why would you want to knock down our dorm? I thought we were an independent nation or something?" Again Sōma felt an indescribable urge to punch Eizan, the smirk was grating on the redheads nerves. And he knew Eizan knew that.

"You've just answered your own question", the ninth seat replied cockily. "Having an autonomous organisation, other than Central, would pose a problem, we don't want want two quarrelling bodies. This is our final verdict". Throwing down a stack of documents onto the table, held together by a paper clip, Eizan grinned. "These papers state when you'll be required to vacate these premises, but of course as long as you tow the line you can all remain her at Tōtsuki".

Sensing the wilting of his friends, as well as remembering Erina upstairs, Sōma flickered his gaze over at Megumi for mere seconds, giving her his 'I'm gonna do something reckless' face. Seeing her blush, as well as bite her lip with worry, told him that she knew what he was thinking. Taking a sip of tea from his cup, the redhead boy spoke slowly but firmly. "Mind if I cut in... the decision to knock down our dorm. It can be reversed, right. Though a food war?"

Another grin spread across Eizan's face, and he didn't even try to hide his obvious delight. "You are correct, any decision made by Central can he overturned by a victory in a food war. However... we of the Ten are under no obligation to accept any such agreement. Yet, at the moment we are currently flooded with food war requests of those wishing to save their own culinary societies and clubs".

Placing his hand upon his chest, and then giving a genuine sigh, the ninth seat continued his words. "Yet, for me I can actually sympathise with these groups right to be heard and I have decided to accept their food wars. I actually have a battle planned for today, so keep an eye to the school food war channel and if you still wish to challenge me, even after my warning to you, then you may come at me however you deem appropriate".

Standing up from his seat and downing the rest of his tea, Eizan left the papers on the table and then departed the building chuckling. "See you around campus... Sōma Yukihira. Don't let your dreams be outweighed your skills".

R.I.P - Kentaro Miura.

Berserk will stand the test of time.