Chapter 36: Grandiose and Humungous

China Research Society

"Did that just happened?" Sōma tentatively asked. He, Megumi and Ikumi had all left the campus cafe and were now heading to their next class. Physical Education.

Kensuke had departed from them, saying goodbye once they had reached the administrative building and wishing Sōma good luck. As they had watched the third seat leave, they had heard him murmuring about "stressful essays" to write and council work to observe.

Megumi had been both concerned and joyful, practically beaming, as she waved to her brother, seeing him with a small smile on his face and pleased by his helpful demeanour towards them. Knowingly giving them useful information and advice to use in the Moon Festival had lit a fire of hope within her.

'Perhaps... perhaps he's finally learning to be less anxious around, and more courageous in being around others. As well as having a more detailed understanding of social determination'.

"I'm still wondering about that myself", Ikumi spoke, readjusting her thigh holstered cooking knife. "I wasn't expecting him to so speak so freely about a way to face off with Kuga". Seeing a pensive expression on the red haired boy's face, Ikumi turned towards Megumi. "What do you think?" That was all it took for Megumi to start grinning like mad.

"I'm so proud of him!" She smiled. "He spoke with a confidence I haven't seen in him for years. I hoped that he and Sōma could be friends, and it looks to me like he has accepted you".

Ikumi was about to ask again about the fortuitousness of Kensuke's words, when she felt Sōma lean into her and whisper in her ear. Making her blush. "Let Megs have this moment, it's the first time I've seen her not worried about her brother". Acquiescing to Sōma's ask, Ikumi smiled as allowed Megumi's happiness to be. "Come on guys!" From a little way ahead of them, standing outside a large rectangular building, they saw and heard Ryōko waving to them.

—-

Approaching the entrance of the sports hall, where their PE class was due to be stationed they heard Ryōko more clearly. Dressed in a white and blue striped T-shirt and black shorts, the purple haired girl had her hands on her hips. And a grin plastered on her face. "Hurry up, you need to go change! The class is starting soon... separate,boys and girls changing rooms are upstairs. So don't get any ideas about being alone, lovebirds".

Sōma and Megumi both blushed bright red as they bolted past a smirking Ryōko, followed by an equally red faced Ikumi. 'Due to her second hand embarrassment'. Deciding to up her teasing, the malt expert yelled after her fleeing friends. "You're soo cute together you know that... all three of you!" Her voice rising in intonation at the end, as she shamelessly inferred they were in a threesome. The resulting retort was as loud as it as uniformly embarrassed.

"Shut up! It's-it's not like that!"

Chuckling, Ryōko turned around and walked into the main sports hall wherein she was instantly inundated by fellow students asking her about the sudden closeness that people assumed existed between Sōma and Kensuke. Realising that she was now way out of her depth she bolted towards the one person she knew. Miyoko Hōjō.

"Hōjō... can I join your basket ball game?" Looking up from her game, and dropping her gaze from intimidating the two boys who were challenging her, the purple haired girl looked over and nodded her head. "Sure".

Catching the ball, that Miyo threw, Ryōko moved forwards across the court and sidestepping one of the boys, she then proceeded to launch the ball through the air. In an upward arc, the ball rose until it hit on the rim of the basket ball hoop and bounced back off.

Suddenly felling a rush of exhilaration strike within her veins, she moved forwards again picked up the ball and began a new game. Dribbling the ball across the court she found her way blocked by the other boy, whilst the first was now coming at her from the other direction. So instead she lobbed the ball over them towards Hōjō who grinned, at the flummoxed boys, and then leapt up and slam dunked the ball into the hoop.

"Cool dunk!" Spinning around, Ryōko saw Megumi and Ikumi jogging forwards. "You were really good too Ryōko", Ikumi spoke, "you moved like you were seriously having fun!" Smiling at the compliment, the malt master turned her gaze towards Megumi, whom was pouting slightly, no doubt she was still peeved by the flirty comments and her lustful eyes that been thrown around for Kensuke. However, before Ryōko could apologise to her blue haired friend she found the moment, for now, overshadowed by Sōma's reemergence.

Bounding over to them, all happy and joyful,

Sōma placed a kiss to Megumi's forehead before gently pushing her towards Ryōko. Pouting slightly, the girl smiled upon her boyfriend putting a finger to her nose and uttering a sweet nothing. "Boop".

Leaving Megumi and Ryōko to themselves, Sōma and Ikumi picked two basket balls from a large equipment box and went to join the game that Hōjō and the two other boys.

"Megumi... I'm sorry for being insensitive". Placing a hand on her friends shoulder, Ryōko continued. "I should have realised how badly social anxiety and depression affect Kensuke. And I shouldn't have made you worry for your brother".

Before she could carry on apologising, Megumi embraced her tightly. "I don't like being angry, especially with my friends", the blue haired girl cited. "I know that you fancy my brother", Megumi stated, frowning. "But you really need to understand that he finds it very difficult to fit into society in general". Sighing as she folded her arms, Megumi continued. "If Ken hadn't discovered his talent for cooking... I don't even want to think about how he could have been".

Seeing the beginnings of tears forming; Ryōko wrapped her arms around the other girl trying to comfort her. "Kensuke's so lucky to have you as a sister..." she responded, patting the girl onnthback. "And one day I'm sure he will find his place in the world. He'll probably end up with a string of Michelin stared restaurants".

"You're still my friend, and you always will be", Megumi grinned. "But leave my brother alone... please".

Giggling both girls were about to turn around and watch the game going on behind them, when they suddenly heard the shocked expletive from Hōjō, they could imagine her gaping mouth, as Sōma casually just stated to her that he was taking on the eighth seat of the Council of Ten in the Moon Festival.

—-

"Are you completely out of your frickin' mind!" Hōjō glared at the redhead boy before her, who was brazenly grinning as if he'd just said something incredible profound. "First you challenge chef Kojirō at the training camp! Then the third seat at the Meet and Greet, and now the eighth seat!" Sighing, Hōjō ran a hand through her purple hair.

"You must either be a glutton for punishment or have no concept of defeat!"

"Still", Sōma continued. "I heard that you and chef Kuga specialise in Chinese cuisine. So I was wondering if you could give me a tour of China Research Society".

"Don't insult me", Hōjō snarked. "He limits himself to just Szechuan cuisine, whereas I train in all branches of Chinese cuisine". The redheads grin faded slightly, making him look crestfallen which Hōjō sighed at. "Fine. After class I'll take you and whoever else is on your stall to see Terunori Kuga's territory".

"Aww thanks Hōjō! You're the best!" Sōma replied. Waving over Megumi and Ikumi, he told them what Hōjō had told him about Kuga and that she had agreed to take them to China Research Society. "Great, I'll see you outside to the sports hall, and then we can go see Kuga", Hōjō smiled before she turned around and rejoined her basketball game.

After the class, Hōjō led Sōma and Megumi plus Ikumi toward the section of campus that held the China Research Society. A large glass panelled building, with a series of red and gold painted columns at the front supporting an elaborate arched gable and with the flags of China and Japan flying next to one another, the building looked like it had been designed by Zaha Hadid and I M Pei.

Staring up at the magnanimous structure Sōma suddenly felt a creeping sense of insignificance, perhaps even inferiority. He even began to doubt his own skill and his plan for toppling each of the Ten. Luckily however, both Megumi and ikumi noticed his frown and began pushing him forwards, following Miyoko Hōjō inside the grand building. "Come on Sōma!" Megumi stated in a manner that was both soothing and indignant. "You made a promise to Takumi, so don't forsake him now".

Taking a deep breath, Sōma followed Hōjō into the main building whereupon he was immediately struck by the vast lines of similarly dressed chefs all being put through the works by chef Kuga himself.

"Woah!" Sōma uttered, marvelling at the uniformity of all Kuga's trainees. "Yeah, this is Terunori Kuga's strength", Hōjō replied sighing. "Doesn't this seem a little over the top", Megumi uttered, to which Ikumi nodded her head. "He isn't what I expected the eighth seat to be", Ikumi frowned. "Don't take him lightly, Miyoko responded, "he uses his skills to showcase Szechuan cooking to new heights".

"Oh heya Miyo! Are your here to join China Society?" The four first years were interrupted by the warm more friendly, than usual, voice of Terunori Kuga. Scowling as she replied, Hōjō flatly refused. "Not a chance. I only came to show Sōma, Megumi and Ikumi", she gestured to her right and left, "the inside of China society so they're better prepared for facing you in the festival". Looking over towards the redhead, Kuga's eyes widened before a grin spread across his face.

"Ten of you", he spoke to the room of trainee chefs he was teaching. "Would you please cook for Yukihira-chin... Sōma" he corrected himself, "our main popular staple dish. Mapo tofu". Smiling as he turned to look at the three first year students beige him, Kuga noted that Sōma had a glazed over expression on his face and drool was forming around his mouth. "Hahahah! Your funny Sōma! I think I understand, other then the obvious reason, why Kenosuke accepted your challenge".

Megumi groaned in exasperation as she wiped the drool from her boyfriends mouth with a hankychief and subsequently elbowed him. "Oh hey Kuga", the redhead grinned coming out of his aroma induced trance. "I was wondering..." he was cut off by ten identical bowls of food being placed down on the table before them.

"Go ahead dig in", the blonde eight seat uttered, grinning. "But remember this Sōma, I will beat you at the Moon festival". Smiling right back at his second year rival, the red head simply cocked an eyebrow.

"We'll see about that Kuga-senpai".

—-

R.I.P Bobby Ball (forever, The Swan Man of Ilkley) and, Sir Sean Connery