Chapter 50: Coup D'État

"I was just about to come and pay you a visit, I feel quite honoured you came to see me instead. It's been a long time, father". Azami's voice was genuine in its sense of gratitude and respect, yet the ice cold expression which Senzaemon bore was of absolute hellish fury.

"Begone ingrate! You have no right to be on these premises, you were banished years ago. And I believe I told you that you were forbidden from using the Nakiri name". As the two men faced off against each other, Sōma and Megumi stood beside and in front of Erina; shielding her as they could see that she was still shaking.

"Humph... yet it was I her father, that cultivated the god tongue's gift that she was bestowed at birth. You may try to drive me away but you will never be able to deny that she is my daughter and that it was I who trained her". Azami responded firmly. "She will always have my blood within her veins".

Glowering with rage, Senzaemon outreached his hand and pointed at the his exiled former son-in-law. "I cannot erase what has already been done, entrusting Erina to you was my greatest mistake! You forfeit any rights to be the girls father years ago!"

"We both have our mistakes we bare" Azami replied, "if I had remained I would never have allowed Tōtsuki to become what it is now. An unsightly place filled with nothing but mediocrity".

Blinking, as he got even more confused, Sōma became increasingly aware of a panting sound beside him and so looking over to his left he saw the bent double and out of breath, Kobayashi Rindō. "Ohh so this is where you ended up Sōma, Megumi..." the redhead girl lazily wheezed. "Oh chef Rindō... what's the matter?" The second seat placed her hands on her knees as she began to catch her breath. "I-I-I was enjoying a-a nice little snack when I saw all these black cars race by... so I followed them here to see what all the hubbub is all about".

"We don't exactly know either" Megumi replied, clutching Sōma's arm. "But it looks as if Erina's father just turned up out of the blue". Turning their attentions back towards the two men, the couple as well as Hisako and Erina did not see the look of confusion and surprise morph into a small grin.

"Oh yeah?"

"At this school cooking is the only thing that will ever matter, so long as they have the skill to advance. That is the heart of the Tōtsuki legacy...!" Senzaemon explained firmly, only to be interrupted by Azami. "It's disgusting is what it is. Thinking that some lowbrow student would be able to come up with highest level of true cuisine is the height of fallacy, even for you".

"You're a fool! You know nothing, it is the very soul and drive of these so-called lowbrow chefs that will decide the future of Tōtsuki. You can whine all you want but you will not change anything!" The director's hands were clenched into fists, as he retorted Azami's ideas. He was instantly silenced by the man before him holding aloft a piece of paper with the words 'Council of Ten' written on the front.

"The Tōtsuki Council of Ten... they are bestowed with as much power, if not more so than the academy's director, isn't that right old man. Therefore if a majority of the Ten enact a policy, then the school must adopt it no matter what". For the first time since the two men had begun their verbal face-off, a smirk found its way onto Azami's face making Erina; who was behind Sōma and next to Hisako, whimper.

"So... Sōma Yukihira" Rindō asked, turning towards the redhead boy. "Which one would you like to choose?" Blindsided by the second seat's question, and still utterly unsure of what was going on, Sōma levelled an empty look ate the redhead girl. "Huh... I don't know what's even going on here". Grinning, Rindō looked up exposing her wide catlike golden eyes. "Oh, my bad. I thought you would have thought you would have gotten onboard instantly".

"What...?" Sōma and Megumi both spoke.

"What, no... this is... this can't be happening!" The look of utter bewilderment and confusion on Senzaemon's face as he held the paper in his hands and read the seven names printed, in fine kanji, inside almost made Azami pity the old man. "The Council of Ten have voted that a change is required, they have endorsed me as the new school director. Meaning you... are out of a job!"

Momo Akanegakubo

Sōmei Saitō

Nene Kinokuni

Etsuya Eizan

Kensuke Tadokoro

Eishi Tsukasa

Kobayashi RindōAs Senzaemon read and reread the council's latest edict, he suddenly realised that Azami had managed to acquire a supermajority of Ten. Meaning that Tōtsuki would be that much easier for Azami to corral under his control. 'Even Kenauke... how. What did Azami promise him to get his vote...'

"A new wave os coming in to take over..." Rindō explained as Sōma, Megumi, Hisako and Erina all stood utterly speechless. "And the mere thought of riding it makes my heart flutter". Befuddled and beguiled, the gourmands, who had followed the four first years out to see what the noise and lights were all about were suddenly struck dumb.

"No way! The most powerful body at Tōtsuki has managed to orchestrate and carry out a secret coup!" Osaji Kita yelled, as Natsume Sendawara growled under her breath as she berated the 'underhanded duplicity' of the council.

"By this time tomorrow..." Azami once more spoke, watching gleefully as Senzaemon dropped to his knees in shock. "All the paperwork will be completed and everything will be settled. Tōtsuki will be reborn anew as the pride of Japan, a kingdom of cuisine. And I, shall be it's new king". Azami then walked forwards and knelt down before the crumpled form of Senzaemon, whispering something to him, before abruptly doing an about face and staring straight at Erina.

"It's so good to see you again. My sweet daughter".

Those few words, from Azami as he climbed into one of the black sedan cars, were enough to make Erina begin shaking and sweating. Hisako instantly bolted forwards and wrapped her arms around the blonde girl, announcing to the guests and waitstaff that 'service is closed! Mistress Erina needs to go home!' Nodding their heads, the gourmands stepped aside for Hisako to lead the god tongue away.

"Hey...!" Sōma yelled out after the two girls. "If you or Erina need anything, then Kyokusei dorms will be there for you!" Despite her fear, Erina forced herself not to blush at the concern from Sōma... yet she noticed a look in her faithful aid's eye that showed that she was also grateful for the concern being shown to her. "Thanks... Yukihira, Sōma..." the god tongue managed to utter before she was whisked away by Hisako.

Left alone outside Erina's restaurant Sōma and Megumi were about to properly begin accosting Rindō for answers, when they realised that the second seat had vanished into the night. Sighing, both teenagers decided to head back to their dorm house and have a 'word', or two, with Isshiki.

It was then that Megumi felt her heart jolt with a realisation. "Why would Kensuke do this?" Sniffing as uncertainty began to creep into her mind, she felt the cool night breeze nip at the back of her neck making her shudder. "We should ask Isshiki", Sōma stated, "they're both second years after all. Maybe chef Rindō would know since she, Tsukasa and Ken are so close". A look of profound concern appeared on the bluenette's face as the fear that people were manipulating her brother for their own ends entered her mind.

His grin faltering, Sōma remembered Emiko telling him how close her two children had been growing up, and how protective Megumi became of Ken. Turning around he gestured for her to climb on his back, which she blushed at but did not refuse, and then began to walk back down from the mountain area towards the main avenue. "I'm sure Ken is... fine" Sōma tried to reassure Megumi, yet he could tell that she was uneasy. Fine. Kensuke sure was not... and it certainly did not constitute going along with a plan to oust the incumbent director in favour of Erina's exiled father.

"I finally got my brother back", Megumi whimpered. "I'm not loosing him again".

That was the last thing the redhead boy heard before he felt his girlfriend's head rest on his shoulder and the gentle warmth of her breath upon his neck. Instantly, blushing at how his father would most likely be teasing him right now, Sōma forced his mind to focus on his cooking. Unfortunately, his traitorous brain decided to manifest a vision of himself and Megumi in the kitchen cooking for several redheaded children. Blushing, whilst trying very hard not to not remember Emiko's teasing words, the redhead boy continued onwards to Kyokusei.

'I hope you give me plenty of grandchildren'.

Upon reaching their dormitory, he proceeded to carry the still slumbering Megumi towards her bedroom. He only became aware of his soon to be embarrassment when he spotted Yuki and Ryōko grinning at him. Suddenly, Sōma realised that he probably shouldn't... or more appropriately, be the one to put her to bed. As Megumi would be extremely embarrassed if she knew that he had seen her undressed, or in pyjamas. As if they could tell what he was thinking, the game chef and the fermentation master came forwards and took Megumi into her room.

"When you two marry", Yuki whispered into his ear, as she passed him. "You and Megumi can enjoy yourselves fully". Bolting, as quickly as he could, down the corridor towards his own room and slamming his door behind him, Sōma collapsed red faced on to his bed, drawing his arms over his head and groaning.

"Too soon?" Yuki asked coquettishly, as she and Ryōko tucked a now pyjama clad Megumi into bed. "I don't think so", Yuki continued, smirking. "Way too soon!" Ryōko responded. "Yet, as they truly do love one another", she added smirking, "they'll definitely be me intimate as they grow".

"If Sōma ever does grow up", Yuki giggled. "He's so childishly impetuous".

As the two girls left, they placed one of Sōma's 'Yukihira' hoodies next to her, that upon awakening see would see something reminding her of Sōma beside her. "There just so cute", Yuki grinned closing the door behind them both. "I know I promised Megumi that go downplay my feelings for Kensuke... but I have to again state his brooding cuteness". Sighing, Yuki rolled her eyes and dragged the other girl downstairs to assist Isshiki, and the others, with cleaning their booths cooking equipment.

All the while completely unaware of the abrupt, and seismic, change in Tōtsuki's leadership that had occurred hours earlier and how all their culinary aspirations were soon going to be in serious jeopardy.

The very next morning the Tōtsuki school paper was emblazoned with the massive headline 'Senzaemon retires!' Followed immediately by the strapline 'New Director to be sworn in within hours'.

Sat around the breakfast table, in their pyjamas, were all the resident chefs of Kyokusei all of whom, except three students who knew the truth. Or variants of the truth. Megumi, Sōma and Isshiki all remained pensive about the new director.

"Council of Ten approves Azami Nakiri as next Academy Director", Zenji read from the paper. "By a majority of seven to two, with one abstention, the new school Director was recommended four weeks ago but only now has the recommendation been activated. Due to a special request by Azami Nakiri himself. Today the new director shall deliver a speech outlining his plans for the new direction that Tōtsuki will now traverse".

Looking up for the article, and then diverting their collected gaze towards Isshiki; Yuki, Ryōko, Shun, Zenji, Sōma, Megumi, Shōji and Daigo all utters the same question. "How did this happen!" With a shrug of his shoulders, Isshiki smiled forlornly. "Your guess is as god as mine right now. I never would have imagined an outside to the school managing to curry favour with the Ten and initiate a move like this".

"So your not part of this...?" Ryōko asked crossing her arms, and narrowing her eyes. "I mean you're one of the Ten... so are you an outvoted or the abstention?" A genuine look of hurt flashed across the seventh seat's face as he took in Ryōko's words, but he hid it quickly by revealing that he had voted against Azami's nomination.

"I voted as I did to protect the integrity of the council. Just because it isn't written down in charter, that doesn't give the Ten any right to interfere in who becomes Director. Each director chooses their own successor".

"Hey guys!" Shōji announced, switching through the campus television channels, "the new director is about to give his introductory speech". Immediately all eyes were fixed to the tv screen as they took in the sight of Azami Nakiri, still dressed in his black suit and coat, approached a single solitary lectern. Also, as the camera panned around the Kyokusei dorm mates could see the faces of Takumi, Isami, Ikumi, Alice and Ryo standing amongst the crowd of students.

And then the new director spoke.

"Good morning Tōtsuki. I'm Azami Nakiri..."