Chapter 27: Top First Years

The Autumn Leaf Viewing Festival

Standing tall and proud on the balcony of the tall pagoda, Director Senzaemon Nakiri stared outwards towards the area earmarked for this years Meet and Greet would be held. A grin adored his wizened face, and his moustache and bearded twitched with joy as he imagined the scene about to take place.

Turning around the director made his way back into the room where sitting around a long rectangular table, were the Tōtsuki teachers and resort mangers all resided. Pulling a piece of paper from his robes, Senzaemon held up a poster depicting the headline: Autumn Leaf Viewing Festival. And at the top was a hand painted bronze-red maple leaf.

"I have done it! How do you like my artwork for the poster?" Senzaemon asked, looking at each of the people in turn. "I truly think this years leaf viewing will be splendid. This new crop of first years will no doubt learn a lot from there upperclassmen".

The room was furnished modestly. A simple pine table with straight backed wooden chairs around it and in each corner of the pagoda's top floor was a vase of chrysanthemums, roses and hollyhocks. From his seat, Rolland Chapelle spoke candidly, "I think the poster is really good but... I would have placed the strap line slightly lower. That way the painted on ze leaf would be more of a stand-alone message, which would then draw zee eye down the towards the event itself".

Nodding his head, Senzaemon rubbed his chin. "I see, thank you for your opinion Rolland. I shall take that under advisement for next year. Now let us end this meeting for today, classes may be on hold but I know that some students are due to hand in written work".

As the teachers and resort staff left, the director saw the glance from Tōtsuki Executive Chef, Gin Dojima, a single raised quizzical eyebrow. A look that told him that Gin was aware of what he wanted the first years, especially those who got into the Fall Selections, to learn from meeting their upperclassmen.

'You are one hell of an educator'.

Taking one last look out of the window at the blue sky and the view of numerous acer trees each sporting hundreds of amber leaves, the director couldn't help but look at the seating arrangement for the top first years and the elite ten. 'Sōma Yukihira' and 'Kensuke Tadokoro'... sitting opposite and along from each other.

"This is going to be interesting".

—

The only thing that bothered Senzaemon the most was Kensuke's current vendetta against chef Kabutoyama; the man who had struck his sister during her stagiaire. And whilst Kensuke was well within his rights to be justifiably angry at the way his sister was treated by her stagiaire chef, the way that one of the Ten was going out of his way to make an industry chef's life and business a living hell was deeply unsettling.

For someone who was usually so quiet and adverse to being the centre of attention, Kensuke's crusade against this one man was unnecessarily brutal. Kabutoyama was already being investigated by the Tōtsuki stagiaire committee, due to Erina's involvement but Kensuke was bringing down the weight of the culinary world upon him. Moreover, the WGO's review into whether Kabutoyama deserved a spot in the upcoming Michelin guide was now being shelved.

All this use of extreme power playing made Senzaemon nervous, Kensuke was one of the Ten, and the last thing that Senzaemon wanted was for Chefs to be properly, blindly, terrified of them. Rather than there being a dual amount of envy and respect.

Moreover, Senzaemon could tell just from the hardened glare in the third seats eyes, wherever he saw him in lessons or at council meetings, that it was abundantly clear that he was still baying for blood. And as Kensuke was usually so quiet and introverted, seeing him like this was deeply unsettling. In those times he was of Nakamura's underhand deceitful tactics, and the last thing he wanted was for that man to work himself back into Tōtsuki.

—

Meanwhile... back at the Polar Star dormitory, Sōma was doing some outside grilling of some saury on his portable charcoal grill for his fellow dorm mates, as well as showing off his newest creation. 'Grilled Saury in maple syrup'. Which as it turned out was utterly vile, causing Shōji and Daigo to bolt indoors to the bathroom to vomit.

The normal grilled saury with lime and ginger, went down a treat for the others. Ryōko, Yuki and Megumi gushed over how simply deliciously simply it was, Shun and Zenji grinned as they ate along and enjoyed the warmth of the sun in the calm dormitory garden and vegetable patch.

However, the group was disturbed by the sudden appearance of an annoyed Alice Nakiri and an indifferent Ryo Kurokiba. Before they could ask what was happening, Sōma and Megumi found themselves being dragged out of the dorm grounds by their other friends towards an waiting car. "Do you have any idea what today is?" Alice murmured. "We're already late enough as it is without you holding us up", she frowned.

Pulling out of the white haired girls grip, Sōma planted both feet on the ground and held his spot, whilst Megumi, beside him, did the same thing.

"And why should we go with you? You photographed us, and then sent it to the journalism club", Sōma huffed. He wasn't angry with the news getting out, he knew it would eventually, he simply wanted to subtly get Alice to apologise for invading his and Megumi's privacy. And for inadvertently publishing their first kiss all over Tōtsuki campus.

A slight twitch from Ryo, was all that Sōma needed to know that something unexpected had occurred because of the photographs publication. Moreover, the feeling was additionally confirmed by the downcast forlorn look upon Alice's visage. "Well..." Sōma began, "you gonna explain why you both suddenly got all awkward?" Sōma exclaimed, as Megumi zeroed a frown in on Alice.

"I'm sorry for my actions", Alice spoke lifting her head and looking inexplicably upset. "I just wanted to tease Erina a bit... however I never thought about what it would lead to". Taking a deep breath, the girl continued. "Hisako and Ryo ended up tussling over the phone and accidentally sending the photo to the journalism club".

Megumi and Sōma both smiled upon receipt of an apology but they were stopped from moving onwards by Ryo's outstretched hand. "You need to know..." the black haired Danish chef continued, "our actions kinda broke up Erina and Hisako's friendship..."

"They're friends again", Alice quickly interjected, "but for a while me and Ryo were the ones responsible for Hisako's sadness".

—

Bowing their heads in further apology, Alice and Ryo began to once again lead the two Polar Star students towards a car. "We need to hurry, the others are waiting", Alice stated, "I'll explain on the way". Upon getting into the car, and then setting off along the road up into the mountains, Alice began speaking. "Today is the autumn leaf viewing festival, which apart from the obvious, is also a time for first years to meet their upperclassmen", she explained.

"However", Alice continued grinning, "the rumour going around school as that the first years who managed to get into the Autumn Elections are being seen as potential members of the Ten in the waiting..."

"And we get to meet them", Ryo cut in nonchalantly. "Damn you Ryo! I wanted to say that!" Alice pouted, playfully slapping her aid on the chest.

"Are you serious!" Sōma leapt off the seat, and promptly banged his head on the chassis roof, in absolute sheer disbelief and joy. The grin spreading across his face made Alice roll her eyes and Megumi sigh. On the other hand, Ryo simply announced, "don't get full of yourself Sōma... I'm the one that will be the first to win a Council seat".

"Oh no you won't", Sōma retorted, "I'm gong to take the top spot before anyone else has a chance to move!" To prevent an argument breaking out, Megumi leant forwards and kissed Sōma on the lips. The move worked as Sōma reciprocated the move and slipped his arms around her.

"Aww you two are so sweet!" Alice cooed, elbowing Ryo who shrugged his shoulders. "No wonder school is so agog with gossip about you. The transfer student and the dark horse fall section candidate".

—

After a while the long drive began to eat into Sōma's anticipation and it was clear to see that he was beginning to be restless. "Hey Alice", Megumi asked, "not all the others who got into the fall selection can be there, otherwise there would be too many first years to the Ten".

Alice chuckled as she hugged the blue haired girl. "When I said that the fall selection first year candidates would be there I didn't mean all of them". Ryo immediately rolled his eyes as if he was hearing this for the umpteenth time, before turning to face Sōma and beginning a quietened argument about who had more culinary experience. Meanwhile, Alice explained to Megumi that the teachers and director had personally selected the first years to meet the Ten.

"As far as I know", the white haired girl began, "grandfather is the one who selects the eight first years to go and meet the current Elite Ten. And along with me, Ryo, you and Sōma here, the others are: Akira, Takumi, Hisako and Mimasaka". Before anyone could stop him Sōma blurted our, "I finally get to meet the Ten! Besides Erina, Isshiki and Eizan, I hope I can challenge one of them to a food war".

The looks of shocked disbelief on the faces of his travelling companions made the redhead laugh. "Oh come on now, I was always going to find a way to challenge the Ten. This way if get to do it face to face with them".

Eventually, the car they were in dropped the four student chefs off opposite a grassy meadow surrounded by paper curtains and overlooked by huge Acer trees, all with leaves of amber, red, green and reddish-purple. As they walked along a path, that had Tōtsuki staff at the edges directing them further on, they soon emerged in the centre of the meadow. Spread out on the ground was a red and gold carpet, where sat crosse legged upon it facing ten low tables, were their fellow first years.

"It's about bloody time you showed up!" Takumi yelled, jumping to his feet and rushed forwards. "I will not miss out on meeting the Elite Ten just because of your poor time management!" Sōma looked as if he wanted to be indignant by his friendly rival perceived reason for tardiness but instead he walked forwards and fist bumped Takumi. "Sorry we're late guys", he addressed Hisako, Akira, Mimasaka... and Erina. "Erina... why are you here? As a member of the Ten, shouldn't you be on the other side of this seating arrangement?"

With a semi annoyed huff, and with a slightly red face Erina turned away from

Sōma and positioned herself in between Hisako and Alice. "Erina is a first year, and despite being on the Ten, it's more appropriate for her to be on this side with us", Hisako blushed and whispered to Sōma as she passed him. "Also thank you Sōma... for everything you've done for me". Taking his seat next to Megumi, who subconsciously leant into him and sighed as they intertwined hands, the polar star couple too their seats. Ryo and Akira sat next to each with Alice and Mimasaka on their other sides.

And then, just as the a gently breeze began nipping at them, the sound of a drum being struck rolled down from somewhere further down the path. "They're here", Sōma whispered to Megumi, who was shaking with nerves. Pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, the boy and the girl braced themselves for the long awaited meeting of the Ten.

"Introducing the Tōtsuki Elite Council of Ten!"