Chapter 12: Day 2 (Night)

Fest Noz

Dinner at Shōkeien Ryokan, was delicious, not that Sōma had any doubts that it wouldn't be. He had assisted in its preparation after all. Also, Megumi had continually vouched for the deliciousness of the families prized Hachinohe Bouillabaisse recipe. And so eating together at the dining table with their cups of green tea, or sake for Shirō and Emiko, the two young chefs were equally delighted by the flavour of their dinner.

"This is too delicious", Sōma announced as he happily and hungrily slurped up and shovelled down the food from his bowl into his mouth. "Thank you for the food", he uttered bowing his head in reverence and placing his chopsticks down across the bowl. It was then that he noticed the looks directed at him, as well as feeling Megumi gently elbowing him in the ribs to make him aware that he had finished eating miles ahead of everyone else. Yet, the expressions he got from Shirō was of chucking glee, whilst Emiko was simply smirking.

Suddenly, becoming aware of his surroundings Sōma went brought red and bowed his head again. "I'm sorry", he began, "it was rude of me to eat so quickly..."

He was stopped by Emiko's laughing out loud, "don't be sorry. I'm really glad you enjoyed the bouillabaisse. Ken and Megumi always loved it as kids. It was the recipe that they both swore to become chefs by". The redhead grinned as he looked over to his girlfriend, "so this is where you got your motivation from..." He didn't get to speak another word as Megumi leant forewords and kissed him, a sure fire way she had learnt to distract him from further embarrassing her or creating any situations that she would find exasperating.

However, whilst it distracted Sōma it only brought about a lot of cooing and awing from her mother, as well as a very stern look to Sōma from her grandfather. One that was the universal look of 'don't you dare hurt my granddaughter'.

"You're going out this Fest Noz aren't you?" Emiko asked, as Sōma cleared up the empty bowls and carried them into the kitchen. "We were thinking about going", Megumi answered timidly, looking towards the kitchen door. "Today is the last day of the Fête de la Béle Angèle and we are returning to Tōtsuki tomorrow. So I really want to show Sōma the Fest Noz".

"Not to mention the rest of the food stalls, as well as the music and dancing", Emiko struck up, just as Sōma reentered the room. "Should be very romantic", she winked as Shirō jokingly swatted his daughters shoulder. "Should I tell them how you were at their age..." Emiko pouted before she and her father broke into laughter, upon seeing both Sōma and Megumi's looks of sheer awkwardness.

"You two really are made for each other, you know that", Emiko stated. "I just hope you two will give me plenty of grandchildren someday".

That was all it took to make the two teenagers even more red faced. "Mum!" Megumi spluttered, "I-we- that's... I don't know where to begin with that", she spluttered, burying her face into the scarf around her neck.

Just as embarrassed the redheaded boy began to look around the room trying not to make eye contact with the woman's smiling face. "Oh my dear daughter", Emiko exclaimed, standing up and moving around the table to wrap her arms around her, "you have the same look in your eyes that I did when I first met your father. Of meeting your soulmate".

Slowly, Megumi looked up at her mother, and smiled before realising that her mind had just imagined herself and Sōma with several children. And with that she bolted from the room and rushed upstairs to get ready to go down to the harbour for the Fest Noz, shouting after her, "meet you downstairs in ten minutes Sōma". Looking towards the open doorway, and hearing the sounds of feet climbing the stairs, Sōma simply managed to stutter out "sure. I'll be ready soon". Slowly getting for his feet, the boy swayed on his feet and looked a little pale. 'Probably due to Emiko's teasing...' Shirō mused, as he watched the boy move towards the stairs to get ready to go get ready to see the final night of the festival.

Shirō chuckled as he drained the remnants of sake from his cup, before going in for a refill. "You better go and get ready as well", he nodded to the boy noticing the slight blush to his face becoming even more enflamed due to the earlier comment about grandchildren. "Er-yeah, I'll g-go get ready", the redhead replied, moving zombie-like out of the room.

As soon as the room was quiet, Shirō turned it his daughter and spoke seriously. "You know you didn't have to scare them like that. They are only teenagers". The response he got was a grin and chuckle from his adult daughter. "I know, but if I didn't say it then they wouldn't have a chance to really decide about how they want their relationship to develop. And even if they do last, I want them to understand what it's like to raise children". Shirō frowned but broke into laughter upon hearing his daughters last minute add on. "Plus, it was kinda funny seeing their faces".

Upstairs, Megumi was busy splashing cold water over her face, trying to calm herself down and remove the now ingrained vision of her and Sōma as parents from her brain. As she dried her face on a towel there came a knock on the bathroom door. "Hey Megumi", her boyfriend spoke, "I'll be waiting for you at the base of the stairs". When she heard his footsteps descending the stairs, she began to regain a semblance of peace of mind.

Still, hearing her mother's words echoing through her mind brought about even more anxieties that she really wished she hadn't just been introduced to. Redoing her twin pig tails and then brushing her teeth, Megumi made a final check of her appearance in the wall mounted mirror. White blouse, blue denim jeans and dark coloured hoodie... a bit of mascara and her red scarf around her neck, all neat and tidy. She then pushed open the door and walked down stairs.

"Sōma..." she drifted off upon seeing him dressed in his blue 'Yukihira' T-shirt, grey jeans and a navy coloured goose down parka. "Y-your dressed the same as when I invited you here", she stammered. Taking the moment without thinking about being embarrassment, she leant forwards and placed both hands either side of his face, brushing his spiky hair out of his face. "There", she stated, "you look better now". Blushing, Sōma played with her pigtails, "thank you. I need to have a hair cut when we return to Tōtsuki".

As the two left the Tadokoro family restaurant inn and headed towards Hachinohe harbour, both young chefs were giddy with excitement. They were both super crazy excited to be see the final day of the food festival, complete with massive firework display. Megumi explained that the final day was called the Fest Noz. And Sōma was filled with anticipation for the night festival, which only made Megumi happier to see him not as focused on school. They were both two teenagers ecstatic to see the fireworks and hear the music, and maybe be involved in some dancing.

She had told Sōma that Fest Noz was an old Breton festival that was noticed by Japanese travellers and brought back to Japan, substituting Japanese music, food, culture and dancing for those of Brittany. Hearing the origin of the festival only served to make Sōma hell bent on going, when he was older, to Brittany, and seeing a real Fête Noz for himself.

"Of course you're invited as well", he had announced smiling brightly with such determination. "And I will gladly accompany you", Megumi replied taking his hand in hers and leaning her head onto his shoulder, enjoying the walk through town. They walked past rows of shops through the market square, past the small church and rows of little arms-houses, before reaching the towns large public garden.

As they walked through a large central public garden both young chefs were struck by the tranquil harmony. Tall acer and cypress trees ground lit, so that their leaves and pine needles sparkled when hit by light. The wide flower beds, spread around, were sporting white and pink Japanese anemones, tall tree ferns, pink hollyhocks and huge blue hydrangeas... the sight of which was just so beguilingly pretty. And at the centre of the garden was a large arching pergola covered by a huge white flowering wisteria, the scent of which was unbelievably sweet.

Finding a seat, underneath the wisteria covered pergola, that wasn't occupied to sit on was quite difficult. As it turned out that the town garden was, apparently, the go to place for the festival goers to relax before returning to the festival. But find a seat they did, and so they took advantage of its location; overlooking the lawn and flower beds with the rill, leading towards stepped water feature, running in front of them.

"This is so... tranquil", Sōma remarked feeing a couple of flowing white wisteria flowers inyis hands. "It's like a regenerative pool". Restng her head on his shoulder, Megumi compared Kyokusei fields to her towns garden. "For me they both have a calming feel to them. I just feel less nervous about my cooking when I'm concentrating on something like gardening".

Looking through the final archway, and following the rill and the flowing wave of white flowers, her eyes drifted towards the series of decreasing water levels which were gently trickling water down into a large pond where countless water lilies were floating. It was almost unreal to believe that moments ago they had been surrounded by bustling people celebrating he Fest Noz, and now they were enjoying the solitude and gentle water trickling of the garden.

"The garden was designed by Ishihara Kazuyuki", Megumi announced, proudly. "He created it for the Royal Horticultural Society Flower Show at Chelsea in London. Mister Ishihara had originally said that the garden would be transplanted in Nagasaki" she explained, "but due to a wrongful delivery, the garden was repositioned here in Hachinohe. But when Mister Ishihara saw the affect her in Hachinohe, he said it was better here than in Nagasaki". Megumi grinned, as she watched Sōma smile and his eyes dart around the garden in wonder. "And we..." she pointed to herself and outstretched her arms, to include the wider populace of her home town, "have been proudly looking this gold medal, best in show, garden ever since!"

The smile on her face as she pointed to the various plants that could be used in food made Sōma smile happily at far she had come from the shy awkward girl he had met in that first lesson with Monsieur Chapelle.

The harbour, in the cool night air with the stars and lights reflected in the calm stilling waters was beautifully atmospheric. And just like the previous days, there were hundreds of food stalls setup all round the harbour front. The only difference now was a large stage had been setup near the docks, whereupon several musicians were playing a mixture of traditional, modern and classical music. Which seems to be receiving rapt attention and huge applause.

Opposite the stage was a large tent with six long tables and benches for festival goers to sit and chat, eat food from any of the varying stalls or simply watch the musicians on stage. And of course, there was a space in front of the stage for anyone wanting to dance.

The moment of the two young chefs walked by, there was a woman with her hair done up into an elaborate up-do wearing a frilly purple blouse, black leggings and denim skirt playing an electric guitar. "She sounds like Mariya Nishiuchi", Megumi exclaimed, stopping to watch and listen to the woman's guitar playing. Noticing the number of people dancing in front door of the stage, she was almost tempted to join them but she knew that the fireworks would be begging Soon. "She's not a bad singer", Sōma added, "she could actually give Mariya a run for her money".

Swaying to the beat of the music, Megumi shook her her wish to drag Sōma into dancing from her mind for the moment, and remained content to listen. She enjoyed listening to music, and this song, whatever it was, was worth listening to. Unfortunately as much as she wanted to stay here and listen, she knew that the fireworks would be starting soon.

Nudging Sōma in the direction of the marina, they both moved off and returned to walking towards the main features of tonight. The music and dancing had to wait for now; food and fireworks, that she wanted to show off to her boyfriend. "Come on", she announced, grabbing his hand and leading him away towards a new lane of food stalls. "Ummm... that smells delicious", Sōma drooled staring at a stall serving Sapporo udon and soba noodles. After buying two takeaway bowls of a specialty potato noodle ramen with tuna and vegetables, both teenagers made their way towards the other end of the harbour walls. Sitting directly opposite from the little crêperie they had eaten at the day earlier, they found a perch on which to sit and enjoy the fireworks. When they began.

"Wow!" Sōma cawed at the clear night sky pinpricked by the myriad of stars reflected in the marina, as well as the swirls of lanterns hanging ships rigging or tall masts. More so, their were the occasional impromptu fireworks from elsewhere in the town, appearing as arcs of fire bursting in the sky, and then fizzling out as they fell. All in all, the scene looked like the 'Starry Night' Van Gogh painting; light reflected in endless bluey-back water with the ghostly outline of a seafront curling around the main focal point.

"Hey..." Sōma asked, as they sat together and stared out at the festival madness informs of them, as well as the enjoying their food. "Thank you for inviting me to come to your home town, and f-for helping me getting past my autumn election defeat". Turning her head to him, Megumi smiled as she remembered that cold night. Her fumbling exuberant inspiring words, the squid dish he had been modifying and the moon above them.

"You're welcome", she responded, "I know I said it to you then... but I do truly believe that someday you will take the first seat of the Council of Ten". Sōma grinned, as he soaked up her kind words, leaning in towards her and twirled her pigtails in his fingers, gently feeling the softness her of hair. He was about to lean in and kiss her when an almighty bang made them both jump apart.

Looking up at the sky they saw that the festivals end had begun, the grand firework display. Initially purple lights illuminated the sky before being pushed aside by blues and reds. Then fired up next, higher than the previous rockets, were a series of spinning golden Catherine Wheels shooting out red and green sparks that spread their tendrils across the harbour, bathing it in an almost earthly glow.

Following was an explosion of gold and silver, making its way up into the air punctuated by a series of smaller bronze fireworks. The man came a small shadow of firework which exploded in a huge dazzling wave of purple and green, that was then centrally punctured by one big burst of blue.

"Soo beautiful..." Megumi cooed, entwining her fingers with Sōma's. "It really is", he replied resting his head against hers, as the voices of other festival observers murmured their appreciation of the fireworks. As they both watched the fireworks in rapt attention, they slowly became aware that in the distance from the music stage were the combined notes of a ryūteki flute, koto, shamisen, drums and a guitar drifting through the air.

Just as she was begging to loose herself in the sounds of the music and the sights of the fireworks, Megumi shuddered as she suddenly spotted her mother and grandfather standing on the opposite harbour wall holding a large banner with the emblazoned with the words: 'congratulations Megumi Tadokoro' written in traditional black kanji.

A sudden chill reverberated up her spine as she recognised a familiar grin on her mother's face, it was one that was used had whenever Emiko showed how proud she was of her children, usually followed by a grand public spectacle. Coincidentally, Yuki grinned like that whenever she and Ryōko had playfully teased Megumi about her feelings for Sōma.

And then it happened. A spotlight from the top of the triple masted, and centrally marina anchored, Belle Angèle swung down and cast upon the two young chefs followed by a unanimous cheering from all the local townsfolk around the harbour.

"Well done Megumi! The Joy of Hachinohe! You were inspirational in the Tōtsuki Academy Autumn Elections! And an equally deserved well done to Sōma Yukihira, a future son-in-law".

Megumi knew that everyone in her town knew that she was a student of Tōtsuki Culinary Academy, many had after all cheered and heaped good luck wishes and praise on the day that her mother practically screamed with pride, to high heaven, about her daughter making it past the entrance exam. She had done the same for Kenosuke years earlier and the town had partied for him as well but only when he returned home for his first break

from his first semester. But his celebration party had not been as loud as hers, mainly due to the fact that people knew that his skills and talent were more than enough to all out guarantee him a place, and that he suffered social anxiety.

As they sat next to each other, trying to understand the magnitude of what was happening, the blushes on both Megumi and Sōma's faces was enough to make the whole town swoon and cheer even more. Which then became heightened by another series of fireworks rising into the night sky. Illuminating their faces for everyone to see. Lastly, as the final show of colours were blasted into the sky every ship, trawler and sailboat ignited red flares, bathing the harbour in an eerie red tinted smoke screen. And then a man's voice via a tannoy began to sing, signifying the end of the festival.

"I saw the light fade from the sky... on the wind I heard a sigh.

As the snow flakes cover my fallen brothers, I will say this last goodbye.

Night is now falling so ends this day... the road is now calling and so we must away

but these memories we shall hold... and where the road takes us I cannot tell.

We came all this way but now come the day to say farewell.

I bid you all a very fond farewell..."

After he had finished singing, applause rang out from all around the harbour marina. Which was then appreciated by the man on the tannoy announcing, "Thank you everyone! Please enjoy the final day of this years Fête de la Belle Angèle, and have a great Fest Noz! Music and dancing at the stage, food and drink all round!"

Before Sōma or Megumi could even try to make a quiet getaway from the large crowd, they found themselves being surrounded by and embraced by the fishermen, whom had came to watch Megumi at the Autumn Elections. "Er— hey guys", the blue haired girl squirmed but still smiled happily as she was hoisted proudly into the air, and cheered some more.

"We're soo glad you're here! The fishermen cheered, lifting Megumi aloft and exalting her performance at the Fall Selection. "You're cooking was amazing! The way you held your own and perfectly carved up that monkfish was... awesome to behold!"

"You really showed your school how tough you are! They'll defiantly know where you rank now!"

It was then that the group turned its attention upon Sōma, whom didn't get much time to prepare for an assault of handshakes and cheers. As well as the customary slap on the back for helping Megumi improve her confidence.

"Come on you two", Emiko announced walking forwards, "the music is still going on. Shirō has gone to get more food, so lets go over to the awning and get some seats before they all gone". As the young couple made their way past stalls, following Emiko, they heard the same cheering, well wishing and general good luck for the remainder of their time at Tōtsuki.

Arriving at the music stage, they were met by a huge mass of people all holding hands and dancing in circle, against the backdrop of a meddling of traditional instruments and modern electric guitars. "They're dancing a cèilidh," Emiko explained. "It's a Gaelic dance that Breton people dance at their Fest Noz. However, we in Japan substitute the gaelic music for our own traditional music".

The result was strangely beautiful. Gaelic dancing set to the sound of a shamisen, flutes, koto, drums, guitars and bass. All working to weave a symphony of audible addiction. "This sounds so beautiful" Megumi cooed, bobbing her head to the beat as she was further entranced by the singers homely voice and her theatrical performance. The singer, a young women, was twirling around on stage in a golden embroidered red and blue kimono. A fan was clasped in her hands and she had her hair done up in a headdress, from which hung several golden enamelled pins that only enticed the audience more. And for Megumi, and her mother, that was enough to almost entice them into dancing.

And then, an additional layer of adoration filed the air, as another women dressed in a green kimono with her long black hair loose around her shoulders and wearing a rabbit mask was illuminated by a spotlight and began playing a solo shamisen, as the other woman sung. The soulful words washed over the whole audience, many of whom were stunned by the beauty of the song and music, and of course there wasn't anyone who couldn't help but venturing onto the dance floor.

And as Sōma and Megumi, listened and watched the band and singer on stage, they suddenly felt themselves being pulled by invisible strings into the dancing.