Chapter 29: Clash of Exuberance!
Sōma versus Kensuke
One hour.
That was all it took for the news of the up coming food war to spread through Tōtsuki like the plague, creating so much hype that by the next morning students all over campus were abuzz with anticipation and envy.
Students who had always looked down on Sōma due to him being the 'transfer student', were now seething with jealousy that he had managed to rouse the attention of the Third Seat into accepting such a culinary battle, which was even before anyone even began realising that the he was also the brother of Sōma's girlfriend.
To contrast the students who disliked Sōma, there were many students in school who had begun to look up to the redhead boy, these people saw him as a breath of fresh air to the Tōtsuki academy, and wanted to observe his style of cooking and learn as much as possible from him. Most of the teachers and staff were completely shocked by the announcement, as no one had expected that Kensuke would be in the right state of mind for such a food war right after returning from his latest sojourn.
However, the people who were blindsided the most by this challenge were in the official Food War Regulation Office within Tōtsuki. Kensuke Tadokoro, often received regular challenges from many fellow second years and some third year students but never did he agree. Which resulted in some people believing that the constant refusal to accept challenges was a weakness and lack of culinary drive on Kensuke's part. And these people began to think that he was only on the Council of Ten because of bribery, or some shady dealings.
In addition to student and teacher anticipation for the challenge, three of the third seat's top benefactors from restaurants, and the food industry, had diverted their attention to Tōtsuki for the chance to finally witness their aligned Tōtsuki chef in a food war. Three people who even the other members of the Ten avoided, due to being intimidated by their presence.
Ricardo Orencia, was a short portly man with thinning brown hair, grey eyes and a short beard. Born in Spain, he had emigrated to South America and become the president of the Peruvian Culinary Society. One of Kenosuke's most important backers.
Reina Ainu was a purple haired executive chef of the Four Star Argentine restaurant, El Baqueano. She was here in Japan, fastidiously, searching for potential restaurant apprentices to be trained and employed back in Buenos Aires. She was ferociously supportive of Kenosuke, and eager to retain his support of South American in Japan.
Lastly, there was Juan Manuel Velázquez. A tall man who looked like Boris Karloff with an Errol Flynn moustache, to whom held a tremendous love and respect for traditional South American cuisine. He was the Head Chef at El Fuego, a three star restaurant in Bolivia.
—
Overall, the general consensus about this huge development regardless of whom supported or hated Sōma Yukihira, or the excited outside visitors, was of great anticipation and excitement. The third seat had only ever taken part in three food wars in his whole time at Tōtsuki, one of them had been against the first seat Eishi Tsukasa. And the other two had been against the person whom Kensuke had won the Third Seat from back when he had been a first year.
In the food war against Tsukasa, which he had lost, he had managed to take two judges away from the first seat, depriving Tsukasa of another five-zero unanimous victory and from then on, eyes had been opened for both chefs, and they both had a tremendous respect for one another. So much so that Rindō would often relentlessly tease them.
To the envy of Kuga and Nene.
—
"How bloody reckless can he be!" The voices of Ikumi and Yuki both yelled. The two girls had been apoplectic, and had raced over from Polar Star to the main Celestial Room, upon hearing of Sōma's challenging of the third seat. "He's too impetuous", Ryōko sighed from behind the others. The girls were interrupted from their tutting by the quiet voice of Shun Ibusaki. "We should support Sōma, that is why we came here. I'm sure he has a plan".
"I wonder how Megumi is holding together knowing that her boyfriend is about to battle her brother", Ryōko added. Smirking. "I wish I could have seen Kensuke's reaction to that".
"Hey guys!" Turning around the girls, plus a Shun, were met by Isami Aldini and Zenji Marui who were running towards them. "We managed to meet up with Takumi, Alice and Ryo", Zenji uttered wiping sweat from from his face and cleaning his glasses. "Yeah, my brother says that apparently Sōma said that he had 'permission' from Megumi to challenge her brother".
Isami's words did little to dissuade the girls of thinking about Sōma's recklessness, but they did breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Megumi was 'kinda' okay with the situation. "They, along with Akira and Mimasaka, have secured a front row seat for us to be in", Zenji continued. "So we all need to hurry and meet them".
With a final look of apprehension on their faces, the friends all headed inside the huge arena known as the Celestial Room to cheer and support their 'impetuous' friend. "The turnout is huge", Yuki stated looking around the colossal room before her eyes landed upon the five seats at the judging table. "Five judges..." she stirred, "thats unusual for a standard food war".
—
A frown graced Ikumi's face, "I wouldn't put it past that idiot to have waged something big, and the Third Seat to have brought in five judges instead of three".
"Oh no it's nothing like that".
Doing an abrupt about face the group was met by Takumi, Alice, Ryo and Akira. "What's that suppose to mean?" Shun exclaimed, before any of the girls could begin a new round of yelling. "It means pretty boy", Alice answered, walking forwards and caressing Shuns face. "That the third seat gave over complete control of organising the food war to Sōma".
Blushing from behind his thick hair, that covered his eyes, Shun backed up a little before he began to hear giggling from the girls, and more boisterous chuckling from Daigo and Shōji. Who were above them, in the stands along with Mistress Fumio. "Awe your so cute when you blush", Alice cooed before being pulled away Ryo.
"Oooh, Shun you dirty little dog you", came Isshiki's friendly voice. "Shut up! She... she did that herself" the boy muttered. "Isshiki, where are Megumi and Sōma?" Takumi and Ryōko asked. Smiling, the seventh seat nodded his head in the direction of the walkway between the side of the bleachers. Following his line of sight they saw Sōma walking out onto the main area stage with Megumi and Mimasaka walking a little way behind him. Dressed in chef's whites and with his headband wrapped around his left wrist, Sōma Yukihira looked calm and composed.
Ever as he was.
And then the familiar voice of emcee Urara Kawashima rang out across the hall. "Students of Tōtsuki! We have an incredible food war today. First year and transfer student Sōma Yukihira has challenged the Third Seat of the Council of Ten to a food war!"
With one hand holding the microphone, Urara gestured to Sōma, standing by his kitchen work surfaces and appliances with a grin on his face. "The topic of said food war, was purposely left to the decision of Chef Yukihira, who will state what he has chosen the topic to be..."
"But first", Urara interrupted herself, "please welcome our resident Third Seat: Kensuke Tadokoro!"
—
The eyes of everyone in the room all moved towards the aisle between the audience stands but the one person who was most nervous was Megumi. Shaking slightly and fumbling with her buttons of her school blazer, she realised that this was the first time she was actually seeing her brother since before he had left for therapy in Kyōto. And that was even before she got on to the subject of him being the number three seat. A subject that she had been unaware of for a good one year and eight months.
"You okay there Megumi?" The imposing voice of Mimasaka Subaru asked beside her. "I'm fine, thanks Mimasaka", she murmured. "It's just... my brother..." She was interrupted by the sound of the whole audience erupting into either cheers or denounced commenting.
"We finally get to witness the third seat's cooking!"
"We get to witness for ourselves just how strong he is, and if he is worthy of his position".
"Whatever the outcome of this food war..." Megumi heard some second years muttering, "it will show that Kensuke Tadokoro and his pitiful sister are too small for such a grand academy like Tōtsuki".
For the first time in her life, the blue haired girl bit her lip and held back her anger at those who were being disparaging against her and her brother. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Mimasaka had also heard those words. "Don't pay any attention", the tall hulking copy master chef replied patting her shoulder. "You, Sōma and all of us, your friends, know that to be on the Ten one must be a phenomenal chef", he continued.
"Mimasaka's right", Isshiki added appearing at their side, and grinning. "Let these ignorant students rant. They clearly don't know anything about the skill and perseverance that put Ken where he is".
Megumi smiled and hugged her both her friends. "Thanks Isshiki. You really are a great friend", she whispered, but then her attention turned towards the aisle, as she saw the familiar black hair and glasses of her brother dressed in chef whites and an apron around his waist walk towards the central cooking area.
—
"Why is chef Rindō walking with him?" Megumi queried, as Isshiki pattered her shoulder. "Kensuke, Tsukasa and Rindō are pretty much inseparable around school" he replied simply.
However, when Kensuke stepped forth into the arena the entire audience fell into shocked silence. The most known about aspect of the Third Seat was his shaggy black hair and social anxiety, but standing here in the celestial room was a changed chef. Where before Kenosuke had once had medium length black hair that covered his eyes, now his hair was cut short revealing, more clearly, his eyes. "He did away with his fringe..." Isshiki murmured. "Ken always said that he liked having a curtain over his face".
As he approached his own workspace, Megumi watched completely stunned by her brothers transformation, and apparently Sōma was equally slack-jawed. "Brother..." she murmured.
"Yeah... Ken has changed a lot since the day he won the third seat", a feminine voice sounded beside her. Turning around, Megumi found herself staring into the golden cat-like eyes of Rindō Kobayashi. "I still remember that day", Rindō continued. "He was so shy and unsure of himself. But somehow he bested Tōsuke Megishima". The red haired second seat, rested her arm on Megumi's shoulder, "I still have no idea just how good he is".
Looking back towards her brother, the blue haired girl then saw something that she had longed to she again. Her big brother was smiling. A true happy joyful smile, and he was smiling directly at her, as he shook Sōma's hand.
—
"Students..." Urara announced, recovering from her shock. "Our competitors have arrived so I shall introduce our five judges: Chef-Restauranteur, Hinako Inui. Tōtsuki Professor, Rolland Chapelle. The CEO of Haubi Food Corporation, Natsume Sendawara. Gourmet and Food Critic, Shigenoshin Kōda and our head judge is Tōtsuki's own Executive Chef, Gin Dōjima!"
As the whole room of eyes watched in awe and surprise, at the arriving five judges, Sōma was filled with a sense of heightened anticipation and joy. Looking over at Kensuke, the redhead grinned, "good luck", he spoke. "I can't tell you how happy I am to finally meet and get to cook off with you".
An awkward but well meaning smile graced the third seat's lips as the second year turned towards him. "Your my sisters boyfriend. I don't know how I managed to get the courage to accept your challenge at the Meet and Greet, but I don't regret doing so. I'm happy we got to meet".
Looking back over his shoulder, Kensuke saw a conflicted look on his sisters face. "She'll be fine", he heard the redhead boy speak. "She's a lot more confident and brave recently. Not to mention..." the boy grinned cheekily. "She's going to be cheering for me".
A look of slight apprehension flickered across the third seat's face, as he took in Sōma's good humour before managing to clear it away. "Cocky much", Kensuke responded frowning. "Just because you reached the finals of the Fall Selection doesn't mean that you're on my level".
"Still", Sōma grinned. "Even if you are Megumi's brother, I will win today! And you will see the enjoyment of cooking again".
—
"Chef Yukihira", the booming voice of Gin Dōjima asked, via microphone. "Have you decided the topic for this food war? Seeing as Kensuke deferred to you". Walking back to his workstation, Sōma picked up a cold box and placed it on the metal table. Opening the lid of the cold box, he removed a large joint of meat.
"Chef Dōjima, Chef Inui, Professor Chapelle, Madam Sendawara and Mister Kōda. I have chosen... as the topic for this food war, Whale Meat!"
With a sly grin, Dōjima, looked towards the red haired chef. "Very well! The topic is decided, the participants have three hours to prepare a single plate of food that showcases Whale Meat".
Nodding his head in the direction of a Tōtsuki staffer, who proceeded to strike the large ceremonial gong in the manner of food war beginnings. The whole room fell into silence as they all took in the head judge's words.
"Let the cooking, begin!"