Chapter 33: Kyokusei Afterparty

Takumi's Exasperation

Music, food and 'special' rice juice.

Three things that were aplenty at the party in Zenji's room by the time Sōma and Megumi arrived and traipsed upstairs. Dragged into the room by an over excited Yuki who then placed plates of food in their hands, they decided to sit down next to Isshiki and Shun. Yet, immediately Sōma, along with Shun were immediately roped into, by Alice and Ryōko, along with Ryo, Daigo, Shōji and Akira, into a game of poker.

A little while later, the Aldini brothers and Ikumi arrived in the room, and apart from Isami, the other two seemed overly exhausted from watching and worrying about Sōma's food war. "I'm sorry", Takumi uttered seating himself next to the his rival and sighing. Confused, Sōma braved a brief look at the blonde haired Italian boy. "Why? You have nothing to be sorry about", he replied, before grinning as he placed a card down. "I mean..." Takumi continued, "you were beaten by someone from the Ten... it must kinda sting a bit".

Takumi's question brought about Akira and Ryo's interest in Sōma's answer. "Also..." Ryo added, "as the only one of us first years who has faced one of them, you might as well tell us what he was like to face off against. You know so we can spring board off your defeat to our victory".

Lacking the energy to retort Ryo's attempt at getting a rise out of him, Sōma simply waved his hand in the air. Brushing away Ryo's words. Turning his head back towards Takumi, the redhead boy managed a small grin, "I knew facing Kensuke would be something of an uphill battle but I don't expect it to be as fun as it turned out to be! I want to face him again, and next time I will take even more judges from him!"

"Absolutely no way in hell!" Takumi growled, through gritted teeth. "You are my rival, and I refuse to allow you to leave Tōtsuki before we have settled our food war!" Something akin to a frown graced Sōma's face, only for mere seconds before being reschooled into a smile. "Of course", he replied bumping his fist to Takumi's, "I have no intention of abandoning our food war pledge".

"If you two are quite done with your bromance moment", Alice cooed, "we are were playing poker. And I'm winning!" She excitedly stated placing down a series of cards that resulted in groans of displeasure from Shōji and Daigo, and a small grin from Ryōko.

"Huh... I would have thought that if there was anyone here who had a higher claim to facing chef Kensuke then it would be Megumi", Akira spoke up. "I mean, surely she would want the chance of showing her brother what she can do". Slowly the poker playing group let their eyes drift over to where Megumi was sitting on the bed alongside Yuki, Ikumi, Isshiki and Zenji a laugh escaping her lips as Yuki just uttered an unheard joke. Looking towards his girlfriend, Sōma couldn't help but smile, "when she's ready, I know she'll win. I believe in her".

"For the last time..." Ryo exclaimed exasperatedly, running a hand across his face, "can you stop rubbing your relationship in our faces! As if you didn't need another excuse to be insufferable".

Grinning as he leant past Takumi, Sōma gently shoving Ryo's shoulder and smirked evilly. "I will when you and Alice begin to open up more". With a scowl on his face, Rio was about to retort when out of the blue, the white haired girl opposite him began laughing. Then leaning forwards Alice grabbed Ryo by the arms and pulled him into an embrace, that she then turned into a heated kiss.

"Well that was unexpected", Akira muttered staring off to one side, "I had know idea you were so competitive, Alice".

Giggling, as she disentangled herself, Alice raised a quizzical eyebrow towards Akira, before levelling ad smile at Sōma. "I take it your satisfied now... a kiss between partners should suffice". Ryo on the other hand was sitting in stunned silencex shocked by miss Alice's sudden willingness to be open. Expecting a stunned expression on Sōma's face, Alice was instead met by a sudden smugness before her.

"What are you so happy about?" She stated pouting slightly, hiding her curiously. "You should be surprised?"

"I knew it!" Ryōko exclaimed. "You two are together, you were just playing it close to the chest". She stated gently elbowing Alice's side. "No one who is as close as you two can not be a couple..." the girl grinned coquettishly. "You and Sōma set me up Ryōko!" Alice squirmed in her seat but then simply shrugged her shoulders and downed her cup of rice juice.

—

It was then that the voice of mistress Fumio called to them from the metal communication tubes from the dining room. "Okay kids... there's stewed amberjack and daikon down here. As well as leftovers from Sōma's variousfood wars. Should you feel inclined to try them. So come and get them!"

"Oh and one more thing... if I have to tell you kids to not bring culinary ideas into the dorm rooms one more time, I'll skin you alive!"

Almost immediately, Shōji and Daigo were on their feet and racing out of the room followed by a subdued but curious Ryo. "Could you bring some of Sōma's food back", Alice called after, as they disappeared begind the closing door. "I think I'll go grab some food as well", Takumi muttered, standing up and making his out of the bedroom. "I'll bring more with me, for anyone else", he called out as the door swung shut.

Instantly feeling that something was eating up within his friend/rival, Sōma folded, and walked over to Megumi. "I'm gonna go get some food too..." he spoke, "and see what's bothering Takumi". He whispered to his girlfriend, who nodded her head in silent understanding.

"Folding already, Sōma. I thought you had more moves in you that this..." Alice giggled from too much 'special' rice juice. The redhead boy simply grinned, "You know me Alice, I never give up. But right now I'm hungry".

Walking out of the room, Sōma was almost flattened by an already returning Daigo carrying several trays of food. "Whoa there Sōma", Daigo exclaimed swinging around and managing to retain the balancing act of food he was undertaking. "If your going for food", the boy stated, "you better go now. Before Shōji takes it all". Chuckling, Sōma moved off down the hallway to wards the stairway. "I'll keep that in mind, thanks for the warning Daigo" he replied.

Picking up speed as he moved downstairs, he barely managed to dodge an excited and food laden Shōji coming up. "Way to go Sōma! The food you made against Kabutoyama is really good", the other boy grinned. "Not to mention your tajine!" Smiling in appreciation, Sōma continued downstairs beginning to prepare how he would ask Takumi what was obviously getting to him.

However, as he emerged onto the final set of stairs opposite the main entrance he heard a loud crash coming from the dining room followed by Takumi's exasperated bemoaning.

"Why is he such a reckless idiot...?"

"He's so infuriating!"

"Why is he so stubborn?"

—

Hurrying down the remaining stairs, Sōma barrelled into the room just in time to see a red faced Takumi standing over a mess of broken plates and scattered cutlery on the floor, with both fists clenched and a look of supreme annoyance on his scowling face.

"Hey", Sōma announced, "Takumi... what's the matter? You're... tense". Immediately the blonde haired Italian boy spun around and directed a finger towards Sōma, a look of supreme annoyance etched across his face. "You! Yourwhat's making me tense, Sōma!" Takumi growled, narrowing his eyes. As he returned his eyes towards the hotplates of food, setup on the dining table, he felt a tearful desperation whimper up within him.

"Why... why did you challenge the third seat! Is it because he's Megumi's brother? Is he a worthier opponent than me... Are you that determined to outrank the rest of us?

Just as Sōma was opening his mouth to reply, he was stopped by Takumi again. "We are supposed to challenge one another again... to reach the summit of Tōtsuki together as a group. Or did that slip your mind when Kensuke accepted your egotistical challenge!"

Looking straight his friend in the eyes, Sōma could see a deep hurt caused by him running forwards to test himself against one of the Ten, without considering his friends feelings first. "He could have forced you to leave Tōtsuki!" Takumi cried out, "god knows I wouldn't put it past the Ten to do so. Erina and Eizan both seem to have an idea on whom they want to continue cooking here..."

He was interrupted by Sōma grabbing him by his shoulder and giving him a soft smile. "Takumi... I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to feel fast sidelined by my challenging Kensuke", Sōma spoke comfortingly. "I'm sorry for making you annoyed... but Ken is a really good chef and I could tell from the moment we began cooking that he was never trying to beat me simply to have me leave school".

Takumi shouldered his angst well as he looked towards his friend and rival before suddenly becoming flustered due to briefly losing his temper. "I'm sorry... for shouting at you Sōma", he replied sombrely. "You have nothing to apologise for Takumi", Sōma smiled fist bumping his rival. "I'm the one at fault here, and for making you feel sidelined, I'm truly sorry. You are and remain my friendly culinary rival!"

Grinning, both boys headed out of the dining room carrying trays of food and made their back up towards Zenji's room to continue the party. "You know what Takumi", Sōma stated at the top the entranceway staircase, "I'm glad that chef Hinako ran out on judging our food at the training camp. We would've never properly evolved as chefs if we had settled things there and then".

"Yeah..." Takumi smiled. "We have leaned so much more since then, survived more difficult situations since then and begun to reach towards our specialties". Seeing happiness return to his friend's face was so reassuring to

Sōma, it meant that they could continue onwards in their culinary experience; together as friends and rivals traversing the many and varying aspects of food and cooking.

"I'm glad I left Italy and came to Japan..." Takumi mused, "I have seen so many new cooking techniques, and met so many new friends".

Slinging his arm around his blonde Italians friend's shoulder, Sōma grinned as he began moving ahead. "Come on. The party is still in its infancy, and I've got some of my newest creations to show off". As much as he wanted to frown and berate the redhead for his continued culinary experiments, Takumi ended up laughing out loud as he took in the slight smirk on Sōma's face.

"Sōma... will you ever grow up".