Chapter 35: Festival Sign-Up

Competition

The next day during a lecture... "What have you done now?"

The exasperated voices of Takumi and Ikumi both bemoaned. They, along with Sōma and Isami, were currently sat in the back row of a culinary theory class, half paying attention but mainly talking about the upcoming Moon Festival. Luckily for them, their teacher, in the amphitheater like classroom, was too engrossed in a rather tedious lecture about food requirements in basal metabolism.

"Its nothing that could make me leave Tōtsuki, I assure you", the redhead smiled. "It's just me and chef Kuga have challenged each other to see how many plates of food we can cook and serve to customers in the moon festival". Remembering his promise to Takumi, 'to not forget their rivalry' and seeing a slight flinch on his face, Sōma rested both hands on the Italian boys shoulders and reassured him that "you're still my main rival!"

At that same time, however, Ikumi was openly frowning as she took in the news and manner of the challenge Sōma was taking on with Kuga. "Please be careful Sōma..." she stuttered, placing a hand over her breast as she tried to steady her breathing. "And if you and Megumi need extra help with the cooking... then... erm-I'd be willing to help you". A soft smile made its way onto Sōma's face as he nodded his head appreciatively, "thanks meat-meat. If you could, that would be a great help!"

Takumi grinned as he slung an arm over Sōma's shoulders, "I would offer to help but me and Isami are holding up our own stall. It's a branch Trattoria Aldini, and we are already overcome with helpers... I'm sorry for letting you down". Bowing his head, Takumi found himself being embraced by his friend and rival, "don't sweat it man", Sōma relied. "Let's have our own competition as well. I'll try an out cook you and Isami, as well as Kuga".

A large grin spread across Takumi's face as he vigorously nodded his head in agreement of that idea. "I hope they'll be no hard feelings between us when me and Isami crush you and Megumi!"

With an equally sized grin on his face, Sōma bumped fists with Takumi. "I could say the same thing to you too", he laughed jovially, before they were subsequently yelled at by their teacher for 'tomfoolery'. "I think you two should concentrate on the lesson..." Isami spoke, prodding his brother and the redhead.

"You can have your little bromance moment later", he giggled, upon seeing the two boys red faces. "Aww you two are soo cute", Ikumi cooed, joining in with Isami's teasing. "Do you think Megumi should be worried?" She asked Isami, who simply grinned in response.

"I-I-its not like that... you two!" Takumi stuttered, covering his face with his hands and looking down at his class notes. "But you two do act like an old married couple", Isami continued. "You'd better believe it", a voice behind them interjected. Turning around, the four of them were met by the stoic expression of Akira Hayama.

"How long have you been sitting there?" Sōma asked, with raised eyebrows. "And why now did you decide to speak up?" Akira made no move to show any other form of emotion, other than a slight smirk. "Oh... I just sat down", the spice chef replied, coyly. "I don't exactly know the context of your conversation but Isami's words really made me laugh".

"You lot are unbelievable", Sōma sighed, running a hand across his face before finding himself smiling at the friendly banter. "I'm glad we're friends though. Tōtsuki wouldn't nearly be this interesting had we all never met". The looks he received back on the others faces told him that they all felt the same way, and even if Erina was still somewhat distant he didn't regret meeting her and getting the chance to learn from watching and bouncing ideas of her.

"As much as I would like to deny you on that..." Akira replied, "I have to admit I did like beating you and Ryo, and then hanging out with you two afterwards. You're both so pushingly infuriating that I found myself pushing myself just to keep ahead of you".

"Hey", Sōma pouted, "not cool". Laughing Takumi, slapped the redhead on the back before looking towards Akira. "I like how you handled that... a back handed compliment" he chuckled. Akira simple shrugged his shoulders as he tuned back towards the lecture. "Oh by the way Sōma", Isami added suddenly, "I heard that Megumi's brother will be making his debut in the Moon Festival. I assume you will be planning to stake out his booth as well?"

Sōma grinned deviously as he rubbed his hands together. "If I have time I might go and see his stall, I never got a chance to taste his dish at our food war because Rindō scarfed down the leftovers. But as of right now I just want to concentrate on my stall with Megumi, as well as the competitions with you and Kuga".

It was then that Ikumi piped up, "hey Sōma... have you even decided what you'll be cooking in the festival? I mean the signup is today".

As if he had just been slapped with a wet fish, all the colour drained from the boys face as he suddenly remembered that he still had to make this most important decision. "What the hell Sōma!" Ikumi yelled upon seeing his pale ashen face. Her outburst was so loud that it made the teacher, and the rest of the lecture hall, jump in surprise.

Spinning around from writing on the whiteboard, the teacher: a tall moustachioed man with wavy brown hair, and dressed in a tweed suit, made his way up the steps of the different levels towards the wilting teenagers.

"Miss Mito and Mr Yukihira..." the man berated. "If you would be so kind as to keep your personal conversation to yourself until after this lesson, I would be much obliged". Turning bright red, Ikumi hung her head in mortification whilst Sōma nodded his head; agreeing to the teachers terms. "I'm sorry sir, of course sir", Ikumi replied taking up her notepad and returning to the lecture. Nodding his head, the teacher turned around and walked back to continue the class.

As Ikumi scribbled down lesson notes, she saw a smug look on Sōma's face. Assuming it was because of their being reprimanded by the teacher, she tuned her head to the boy in question and narrowed her eyes showing him her annoyance. But seeing his grin become wider only made her heart beat louder and her annoyance faded away.

'Sōma...' the boy that gave her a new outlook on cooking and who had captured her heart, how could she remain annoyed at him. Blushing, she turned her head back to her notebook and simply scribbled something down on a piece of paper, before tearing it free and sliding it to Sōma.

'You are soo not off the hook Sōma! As soon as class finishes you, me and Megumi are going to have a talk about what our-your stall will be serving. And Megumi will almost certainly want to see her brother again! So make time to take her to go see him!'

Looking up from the paper note, Sōma smiled and nodded realising that he had been thinking too much about working on his stall and not thinking that, since Kensuke was back in Tōtsuki, Megumi wouldn't not want to see him. Tapping Ikumi gently on the arm he whispered, "thanks meat-meat". Seeing her all red faced made him chuckle, which in turn made her frown and flick his nose with her pencil. Making her chuckle. "Hey, what are friends for", she replied grinning.

—-

After their tedious lecture came to an end, Takumi and Isami departed the group saying they needed to begin briefing their additional staff about what they were going to be making during the festival. "Don't you dare forget about me, Sōma! I will totally destroy you!" Takumi's yells were still audible even as Isami dragged him away. Akira simply shrugged before disappearing into the school library and vaguely mentioning his wish to research Tabasco sauce, as he had been flummoxed by the third seat's use of it in his food war with Sōma.

Walking alone towards the classroom where Megumi would be coming out of, Sōma and Ikumi struck up a conversation about the size of Chinese food Research Society on campus. "I should probably go scope out Kuga's territory before to long", Sōma grinned. "You know for 'covert espionage'". Sighing, Ikumi ran a hand over her face knowing full well that Sōma was simply too brash for the word covert to be used in any sort of descriptive context.

As they passed by the outdoor cafe area, where dozens of other students were eating and chatting about school assignment or their research clubs, Ikumi did a double take pointing to Megumi sitting at a table alongside her brother Kenosuke. Both siblings were smiling and excitedly talking. "Hey... Sōma, do you think we should give them some space to chat. I mean they haven't seen each other in a while?" She spoke, looking to the boy beside her.

However, before Sōma could speak he caught Kensuke's eye which immediately made the third seat cringe, and resulted in Megumi turning around and waving them over. "Hey guys come over!" She grinned. Moving her bag off the bench next to her, she made extra room. "If you're sure Megs", Sōma replied sitting down next to, and wrapping an arm around her waist, as Ikumi sat down next to Kensuke. "We're together are we not, Sōma. Or are you ashamed of us", she raised an eyebrow and stared at him before giggling at his red face. "I'm kidding, you goof!"

Leaning into him she softly kissed his cheek before dragging a comb through his messy red hair. Blushing, at having her brother watch her kiss him, Sōma gestured to Ikumi. "H-H-Hey Megumi", he stuttered. "I hope you don't mind but Ikumi here volunteered to help us during the Moon Festival?"

Leaning across the table, the blue haired girl took ahold of Ikumi's hand and smiled. "Of course I don't mind. What is it that Isshiki says... the more the merrier" she grinned. Ikumi couldn't help but share in Megumi's excitement. "Cool! I'll work super hard to ensure that we beat Kuga and Takumi!"

"Y-y-you challenged Kuga...?" Blinking, Kensuke suddenly, but quietly, interjected. His brown eyes wide with curiosity behind his black rimmed glasses.

Surprised by her brothers intervention into the conversation, Megumi seized upon the moment to get Ken and Sōma better acquainted. "He came by Polar Star talking about how he was kinda bummed out", she relied. "And to cheer him up Sōma offered a simple competition to him during the moon festival. To see which one of them can serve the most customers, and get with first place sales rankings".

Elbowing her boyfriend in the ribs, she then subtly nodded her head, so he could further the conversation.

"I heard you're making your debut into the moon festival, Kensuke?" Sōma grinned. "Could we... maybe, stop by and see you cook sometime? I would love to try some more of your food". Stunned by the boys ask... Sōma Yukihira... Kensuke felt a well of confidence rising up within him.

"I'm going to be cooking in the mountain area of school, it's where most of the elite ten will be cooking..." Taking a roll of purple coloured paper slips from the inside of his school blazer, Kensuke handed them to Sōma. "But if you really want to visit then to you'll need these to get in the door. They're Pine tickets, effectively money, or more appropriately the denomination that will get you admission to any of the Ten's food sites".

Grinning, as he pocketed the roll of tickets, the redhead boy shook Kensuke's hand. "Thanks man, we'll definitely drop by!" Seeing the look of happiness on Megumi's face, Sōma gently toyed with one of her pigtails. Twirling it around his fingers, making her blush and Kenosuke to ever so slightly narrow his eyes.

"One more thing", Kensuke spoke. "Kuga is setting up his stall in the main square area of campus. If you wish to out sell him, I suggest going with a style of cooking that is a juxtaposition to his own Chinese style. As well as setting up nearby, that way you can observe and potentially leech customers away from him".