Chapter 57: One, Two and Three

"Dammit, dammit, dammit! Damn him to hell!" Yelled an irate and practically frothing at the mouth, Eizan. "I refuse to let it end this way! I will get my revenge... Sōma Yukihira". As the ninth seat of the Ten stormed out of the room, kicking a stack of crates, sending potatoes and parsnips flying, Rindō Kobayashi couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she remembered what Isshiki had told her. "Huh... I guess everything turned out according to his predication..."

'Sōma has always known that the true worth of a chef is what is placed on the plate before you. I have no doubt that Sōma will defeat Eizan... but what matters most of all is what happens next, this is when the true fight begins and we must be prepared for it'.

Smiling as she brushed her red hair behind her ears, the second seat returned to devouring her remaining Satsuma chicken gyoza, that Sōma had left for her after jubilantly leaving the room.

"I can't believe that such a pedestrian culinary method produced a plate of food so delicious" she heard the older head judge mutter under his breath. "Still..." one of the other two huffed, "that boy may be a second rate chef but you cannot deny his resolve. And he certainly won't hesitate to stand his ground".

Grinning, as she allowed the taste of pork jiao and satsuma chicken to set her taste buds aflame with delicious fervour, Rindō turned to offer a bite of gyoza to Kensuke. However, remembering that he had abruptly left the food war made a jolt of concern flood through her. She was about to head out to try and find Ken, when her phone pinged alerting her to an incoming text. Plucking the mobile from her blazer pocket, Rindō blanched at the words sent to her from Tsukasa.

'Rindō,

Kensuke has shown Central up! Director Azami is furious and threatening to expel him... along with those being kicked off the Ten. Azami is unable to dismantle Kyokusei dormitory due to some historical document cementing the buildings independence from Tōtsuki since the 1870's and therefore protected under law. Hurry over to the admin building... we need to act now to keep us three together!

Tsukasa

Bolting from the room, with a gyoza in her mouth and carrying the last one inside a napkin, Rindō battled her emotions for control of herself. 'Me, Ken and Tsukasa... we won't be separated, not by anyone!' Even if she had to physically assault the Director, she would do anything to keep her friends around.

"Hey..." A sudden deep voice called out to her, as she exited the building where Sōma and Eizan had fought. "Rindō!" With an intense scowl plastered on her face, for being waylaid, the red haired girl directed her annoyance at the former third seat, Tōsuke Megishima.

"What do you want Megishima?" Rindō sighed exasperatedly. "If you hadn't noticed I'm kinda in a hurry right now, so if you're looking for an excuse to get your seat back then find and ask Kenny for a food war". The indifferent gaze she got back made her dig her nails into her hands. "I'm here because I wanted to remind you to not put your personal feelings for your friends before the schools culinary freedom... but I can tell just by looking at your face that you have chosen them instead".

"Don't you fricking dare lecture me!" Rindō growled moving forwards, like lightning, grabbing Megishima by his blazer and shoving him backwards. "You have no idea what you're taking about! Ken and Tsukasa mean the world to me, and I will do anything to ensure we remain together! I will never allow anyone or anything from negatively affecting them! And if drastic change at Tōtsuki is needed to protect them, then so be it!"

With her golden cat-like eyes narrowed in on Megishima, Rindō dared her former colleagues on the Ten to counter her. Yet, instead of replying, the former third seat sighed and walked away. "I had hoped that you would see reason and recant your vote but I can see you are far too invested to become a rebel". As he turned and walked away he announced what he had 'heard along grapevine'. "Azami is going to remove Isshiki and Kuga from the Ten, maybe even Kensuke for his actions in stopping the eviction of Kyokusei dorm. I'd say he's up for the chop as well".

"Just let him fucking try to expel Ken!" Rindō growled under her breath, as she watched the tall black haired boy walk away. Remembering that she was running late to meeting Tsukasa, she picked up speed and ran through the academy campus, ignoring the looks of spite being thrown at her by fellow students whom were now being threatened by Central. She was just approaching the admin building when she was accosted by Nene and Momo who had been sitting on a bench.

"Your going to see Kensuke aren't you?" Nene asked, hiding a furious blush across her face with her wide rimmed glasses. Looking over at the green pigtailed haired girl, Rindō felt as if she should tell her that she had competition for Ken. Chise Nakata and Ryōko Sakaki both sprang to mind. Yet, the second seat gave a simple nod to Nene and a quick affirmative "yes" before she disappeared into the building.

Upon entering the directors room, on the top floor of the admin building, Rindō immediately met Tsukasa's worried gaze before she looked at the livid expression on Director Azami's face. "You both told me, assured me, that having Kensuke Tadokoro among Central would be beneficial. And whilst it is nice having a super majority on the Ten, having him go against the wishes of Central... protecting these lesser chefs is a disgrace!"

Pure rage and disdain were evident on Azami's face, he didn't even try to hide them from the two chefs before him. "I have already asked for the the resignation of Satoshi Isshiki and Terunori Kuga from the Ten, as well as the immediate expulsion of the former third seat Tōsuke Megishima. So answer me this... why should I keep listening to you both about Kensuke Tadokoro being aligned to Central when that clearly isn't the case!"

"Director Azami..." Tsukasa tried to speak but was subsequently interrupted by the new Director. "And what's more due to this rediscovered document, Tōtsuki is are now bound by law to the long standing legal arrangement granting Kyokusei's financial, culinary and academic independence. Right in the middle of my revolution!"

"Please", Tsukasa spoke again. "Ken's only reason for resistance against us was his annoyance about his sister going to be forcibly evicted from her dormitory. Eizan's methods forced his hand". From her spot beside the first seat, Rindō nodded her head before slamming her fists down on the desk and glaring at the man sat behind it.

"Kensuke is a really amazing chef, unfortunately he does have significant mental health issues. We told you all about Ken and our stipulations for siding with your Revolution. So unless you want the first and second seat's to quit Tōtsuki win protest to you, thereby destroying any credibility this plan of yours had, you'll keep Kensuke as the third seat. As well as keeping your minions away from Kyokusei dorm!"

Glowering from behind his desk, Azami toyed with the idea of simply cutting his losses; sacrificing the top three seats, if they were not going to cease being useful to him. However, just as he was about to voice that direction aloud a realisation struck him. "Very well. Kensuke Tadokoro may remain, but he will become the face of Central's international market..."

"Fuck that!" Rindō yelled, smashing the table again, her catlike eyes narrowed to almost snake like slits. "You're just splitting us up, that way we're easier to control!" Again the redhead spat angry words across the desk, as the first seat placed his hands on her shoulders in a vain attempt to calm her down, despite his own simmering rage.

'The nerve of this man... this Revolution was supposed to save us from culinary hell... but no one separates us'.

"Kensuke Tadokoro will remain the third seat, for now, whilst becoming the face of Central's International market. He'll find Tōtsuki new culinary societies, restaurants and gourmands to join with us. It won't be difficult for him, if that what is concerning you. Meanwhile, you, Rindō and Tsukasa will remain here at Tōtsuki and continue as Central allied chefs". Azami's words cut even further into the first and second seat yet they were slowly coming to see; from the black void of Azami's eyes, that this was as good as they were going to get.

With clenched fists, and through gritted teeth, Tsukasa and Rindō ceased their demurrals and instead became somewhat reticent. "You will see to it that Kensuke is not burdened with any undue pressure, and that the cooking he will be doing can be his own!" Rindō spoke tersely, before spinning around and leaving the directors office. Slamming the door behind her.

"You know you really should hold a tighter leash on your girlfriend", Azami murmured resulting in Tsukasa clenching his fists with rage. "Keep your nose out of my friends business! Me, Ken and Rindō are not tools for your machinations! We only wanted a culinary world where we could cook free of anxiety and pressure, but instead we are now being split up. And whilst we still seek the promised culinary world you told us of, if you threaten us we will abandon you!"

Then before Azami could rebut the first seat, Tsukasa too has stormed out of the office slamming the door as well.

Sitting back in his chair, and running a hand through his hair, Azami let out a deep sigh. "Bloody teenagers. If only this generation was like how it was back then..." Wistfully he withdrew a photography from the inside pocket of his dark jacket and stared at the faces, forever captured in time.

"Jōichirō... Gin... Riko... Jun. Everything I do, I do so that the students of tomorrow will be free from the undue burden of red tape that this era's culinary world excels in and stress of the educational system of Tōtsuki. And the culling of inferior restaurants and the retraining of proper chefs in genuine cuisine will realign Japans culinary world with the WGO".

Standing up from his desk, still clutching the photograph in his right hand, Azami walked over to his office window at looked and surveyed the immediate academy grounds. And as he moved his eyes over each and every building towards the outer ranges of academy; where Kyokusei was, he was struck by the rage he'd felt when Jōichirō had left Tōtsuki, broken by stress.

"This industry and the gourmands - their lofty expectations made you fall! I will not allow today's promising chefs suffer like you did, and with Erina by my side we shall remould Tōtsuki into a true image of haut cuisine. Modelled on Auguste Escoffier and Marie-Antoine Carême".

Bringing his eyes back from the horizon of the academies land, Azami spotted the first and second seat, now joined by the third seat, walking together towards the building that housed the offices of the Ten as well as the councils meeting room. No doubt Tsukasa and Rindō had told Kensuke about his new role for Central, and whilst Azami knew that the third seat was probably not suited to be Central's international representative and ambassador; the Director secretly wanted to induce in the third seat a mental breakdown. Thereby allowing the Director a genuine reason to remove him from Tōtsuki and replace him with some one more agreeable.

Azami had been perturbed by Rindō correctly guessing his intention to separate the three top Ten members but he knew he could word it in a way that would put the first and second seat at ease.

Turning back towards his desk, Azami scowled at the new papers which laid before him. 'The Isshiki Rules'. With great annoyance he slammed his fist down upon the desk and swore loudly. "Shit! Damn him to hell!" Straightening his suit, the director stood tall before picking up the office landline and dialling a number. After a minute his call was answered and he spoke his command to the people on the other side of the call.

"Go forth, and hunt the survivors".