Chapter 20: Breaking the Ice

Erina and Megumi

The moment she saw the twin pigtailed blue haired girl sitting in the car, Erina went white.

She had specifically asked that she serve her stagiaire at some high end restaurant, and to an extent that came true, she was working at a top class french inspired restaurant. Unfortunately, her second ask: to be alone, was pointedly ignored, and to rub salt in her wounds her parter happened to be her. Megumi Tadokoro.

Memories of her outburst at Hisako, Ryo's angry rebuttal and her inability to speak played in her mind as she sat in silence trying to ignore, or as best she could, the girl opposite. It wasn't as if she truly hated her, Megumi certainly didn't deserve the cold shoulder that she was getting, it was just that everyone at Tōtsuki now knew that Megumi was now dating Sōma Yukihira. And that irked Erina greatly, although she still had no idea why it bothered her so much.

Such a terrible feeling within her, and without her faithful Hisako to act as sounding board, for her to rant off of, she was alone with her brooding negativity.

Noticing that the girl was shaking slightly, and had a lost look in her eyes, Erina involuntarily leant forwards and patted her arm. "Y-You shouldn't be so nervous. After all, we both got through the training camp and you got into the autumn elections, so the stagiaire should be easy for us". Her attempt at small talk failed to cheer up the other girl, but it did bring her into a sort of talkative mood.

"Erm... Erina", Megumi asked shyly. "Where are we going for the stagiaire?" Duly noting the question, Erina turned her attention back to the girl. "As far as I am aware", the God Tongue stated. "We are heading to a high profile Japanese-French restaurant called Excellence. Where we will be expected to add something of value to the already brilliant system".

Flicking a strand of her blonde hair out of her eyes, Erina noticed a shimmer of sliver around Megumi's neck; a silver chain from which hung a heart shaped pendant. 'Is that from him?' She mused, not daring to vocalise her thoughts, fearful of loosing her composure, and ranting to the blue haired girl in the same manner that had driven Hisako away.

When they arrived at the restaurant, they were greeted by the sous chef; a mixed race women named June Rin who led them into the kitchen to meet with the head chef and restaurant owner: Chef Kasayama. Tall imposing and with a short but thick black beard, Kasayama towered over both girls, blatantly, trying to make them cower before his status as a chef owner. However, as imposed as Megumi was by him, Erina simply stood her ground and glared right back at him.

"You!" Kasayama pointed at Megumi. "You're interning at my restaurant so I get to decide what you do. So go wash the dishes. Stat!" Not wanting to be shouted at anymore the blue haired girl fled towards the sinks, and the mountain of washing up. Erina on the other hand, out right rejected all of the man's instructions, choosing to 'assign herself' the task of taste tester. Modifying all dishes that were ready to go to the diners, infuriating chef Kasayama.

From her spot at the back of the kitchen, Megumi watched as Erina slowly took control of the cooking process of all courses: starters, mains and desserts.

"Miss Erina..."

"Mistress, could you please check this?"

"Service please".

"It's ready for your inspection mistress".

"How is it Miss Erina? Does it require adjustment?"

The voices all reached her ears but they meant very little to her, especially as she was currently unable to do much to fulfil the assignment brief due to her current position. 'Sōma would be out their challenging the head chef', Megumi thought, fondly. She knew that wherever her boyfriend was he was, no doubt, going to be either annoying the staff or annoying his stagiaire partner.

Still, she knew that he would pass, that only left her to somehow pass too and then return to Polar Star with him and their friends. And that brought her mind back to where she was. Megumi was the kind of girl who never liked ruffling feathers of anyone, and so she never sought out conflict or inadvertently creating conflict but since meeting Sōma, he had the effect of making her more bold in her culinary skills. Which was why being stuck at sink duty irked her chefs pride.

She had tried several times to talk to the head chef about moving away to another station but due to Erina's successes, the head chef was in a foul mood and promptly screamed at her to get back to sink duty. And so frightened and uncomfortable, she scuttled back to sink duty. 'I have to leave a visible mark on the restaurant. But how... do I do that stuck washing plates?'

Without a clear idea on what to do, she returned, dejected, to washing up plates.

Over in the middle of the kitchen surrounded by dozens of chefs was Erina was carrying the weight of being the 'usurper' head chef. She was trying to avoid looking at Megumi but every time she saw the girl try to talk to Chef Kasayama, and be subsequently yelled at, she felt a need to stand up for her.

Yet, at the same time the voice inside her head screamed, 'don't! She took him away from you!' She hated herself for not being strong enough to approach and stand up for her fellow stagiaire partner but all these confusing emotions swirling around and constructing her heart, were frowning out her will to help. So instead she pretended to be busy and not see whenever Megumi approached Kasayama, and be subsequently screamed at for implied 'insubordination'.

"Your menu needs to vary", Erina scoffed as as she sauntered over to Kasayama. "Many times I have seen the same orders over and over again. You may have a reputation, which is leading you to perhaps one day obtaining a Michelin Star but you lack originality".

Head Chef Kasayama bit his tongue to prevent himself from unleashing a foul torrent of vile abuse at this impertinent girl but he knew that if he did his career would be dead. Erina Nakiri, the God Tongue, was one of ten people who instilled fear and respect in all chefs.

"Miss Erina", turning her head slightly, she saw another chef holding out a plate for her to inspect before it went out to its intended eater.

As she was giving a few words of improvement, she saw a look of silent thoughtfulness on Megumi's face as she stared at the plates stacked high beside her. A thought struck her.

'How has she remained hidden for so long? She got into the autumn elections for christ's sake'.

Another plate was thrust into her line of sight by the growing number of bowing chef but before she could indulge in judgement or constructive criticism, a loud slap and a whimper echoed around the kitchen. Followed by a crash of metal falling to the floor.

Spinning around on the balls of her feet, her eyes widened as she saw the enraged head chef standing over Megumi, who was on the floor and now sporting a large red gash on her cheek. A stunned silence filled the air as no one dared speak. And then...

"You don't get to decide how much sauce a customer gets with their food! I'm the chef, not you girl!" Kasayama spat angrily, shaking with fury. "You're just a student! Nothing more, nothing less. So don't get the impression that you can change anything..." he was suddenly stopped from his tirade by a waiter tapping him on the shoulder. Turning his angry eyes towards the waiter, he growled, "What!"

"I'm sorry head chef... but a customer is asking for more sauce". The moment he heard that sentence, and realising that he had been humiliated by the second of his interns, mister Kasayama stormed out of the kitchen swearing and screaming to the high heavens. As well as cursing his misfortune.

Despite the pain in her right cheek, and the spots of blood that had now adorned her chefs whites, Megumi tried to hold strong and not cry. The old her would have most certainly cried but the new more confident and self assured refused to allow tears to fall from her eyes.

However, as she found herself being pulled to her feet and the being directed to a seat by the main counter whereupon a waiter handed her a soft drink of calming dandelion and burdock, whilst a medical officer cleaned and plastered her cheek, she felt her walls break and tears descend. Streaking down her face, and bringing one by one of the kitchen and wait staff over it her and kneel down before her comfortingly, her anguish was palpable.

From her spot, Erina abandoned her inner turmoils and flung herself forwards wrapping her arms around the crying girl. "It's going to be okay, Megumi", she whispered, "I'm going to report chef Kasayama to the Tōtsuki stagiaire committee who will then pass the report onto the relevant disciplinary organisation".

Through tears, Megumi was stunned by Erina's kindness and genuine concern. "Thank you Erina... for your kindness. I'm sure Sōma will want to thank you as well".

Shuddering at hearing that name, Erina accepted the gratitude and continued to hold Megumi whilst she cried. "I-I-I guess this means we're kind of friends now", she murmured. Megumi looked up and blinked in surprise, and a small happy smile danced across her face as a result. "I'd be happy to call you my friend, Erina Nakiri. And so will Sōma".