Chapter 59: Recon in Force
"Satoshi Isshiki..." Azami Nakiri spoke coolly. "With the exception of the number eight seat, Terunori Kuga whom is angry, you seem unexpectedly unmoved by being asked to resign from the Ten". Standing before the directors desk, noticing several large scuff marks on the wood, Isshiki accepted his fate.
"I was well fully aware that this would happen to me and Kuga, any member of the Ten whom disagrees with Central are an obstacle to a our way". Stoically, Isshiki held firm but also managed to show a small amount of his dissatisfaction. "Your quick thinking is a boon to you Satoshi", Azami replied with a very false smile on his face. "The other members of the Ten agree with me on this point. Only Rindō Kobayashi and Kensuke Tadokoro vocally disputed that particular decision of mine".
Biting back a retort, as well as not wanting to get into any further trouble, Isshiki clenched his fists behind his back. "Are you serious? What about your daughter, surely you won't be getting rid of Erina?" With a smug grin threatening to break onto the directors face, Azami simply waved away Isshiki's question. "I know that in time that Erina will return to my side, and that she'll agree with my thinking".
Standing up from his desk, whilst gesturing to the stapled documents before him, Azami refused to hold back a scowl. "And now, thanks to you, there's much to do. I've confirmed that you've made the necessary arrangements... thanks to these rules. These research societies and seminars that we wish to demolish must now be challenged, by the pride of Central's elite core of soldiers". As he left the directors office, Isshiki felt a huge sense of relief and pride at having just been able to throw spammers into the works of Central's plans.
The only thing that still desperately worried him was Kensuke's position on the Ten, and how Azami would try and strike back at him for permanently stopping the eviction of Kyokusei. So as he exited the admin building, breathing in the fresh air and feeling free from the council of ten, the now former seventh seat proceed to head back towards the dormitory.
Meanwhile, inside the Council of Ten's meeting room the current Ten, plus some of the newly aligned elite soldiers, were going through the document Isshiki had created.
"Regarding the rules, that research societies and seminars engaging in food wars to challenge their dissolution also presently known as the 'Isshiki Rules' will..." the forth seat Momo Akanegakubo glowered as she stopped reading and slammed the papers down on the circle table. "He named them after himself... that pisses me off!"
To the immediate left of Momo, Nene Kinokuni wrinkled her nose showing her equal distain for Ishikki's choice of document name yet at the same time she then looked plainly at Eizan and scowled. "Yes well... by clearly stating that he will have no interaction with the judges at all, he has made sure that the rulings will be fair throughout. I for one am glad he did that, as I was against that sort of thing from the start".
"Any food war that contests a groups dissolution must be accepted. Isshiki sure is covering his bases", Rindō chuckled. "Bloody hell! That pisses me off as well!" Momo blurted out, roughly gripping her stuffed cat. "We're going to have to battle all these these stupid losers. I did take overall top spot in the Moon Festival after all, so I think I should win by default! No matter what!"
Turning towards the short purple haired forth seat, and inclining her head, Nene looked deeply apologetic. "Please accept this change chef Momo..." then returning a glance at Rindō and Kensuke, the sixth seat pointed out to them that they should be wearing their Central badges. "Wahht... but that things such a pain, come on girl" Rindō complained. "Ken doesn't have to wear the badge..."
"There's no Wahht about it, nor is there a but still! Just wear the damn badge" Nene retorted plainly, making Rindō pout and Kensuke flinch. Taking out the badge from their pockets the second and third seat's attached them to their school blazers. "Everyone be sure to put your badges on or else Nene will get in a big old tizzy!"
From the other side of the room, slightly out of view by the current members of the Ten, stood five people all wearing Central's badge. "Yeah, you don't have to tell me twice", one of the five spoke. Standing up from her seat and walking on ahead, Rindō grinned as she looked over her shoulder at her fellow councillors. "Well then, I guess we should head out. It's time to go hunt the survivors".
Precisely two hours later the residents of Kyokusei Dormitory, plus Takumi, Isami, Ikumi and Hisako were all in the communal living room discussing the news which Zenji and Shun had just heard, returning from their days early class.
"Hunting the survivors?" Sōma asked, equal parts perplexed and enraged. Megumi quickly moved forwards and placed a hand on her boyfriends face and kissed him on the cheek, then snaking her arms Sōma's waist the blue haired girl successful managed to preempt any recklessness from the redhead.
"Apparently that's what Central is calling it when a group challenges it's disbandment through a food war" Zenji explained, picking up a tablet for the table and scrolling through Tōtsuki news articles, bringing up one in particular due to take place today. "So far these..." Zenji pointed to five challenges today, "would be the first instance".
Immediately, the whole room collectively frowned. "Really"Takumi spoke, "that has a kind of a bad ring to it. But then again we are dealing with a 'brand new' Tōtsuki as Eizan described".
"Although..." Shun interjected, "I heard that it will be Central's members that will be carrying this thing out. As well as the Ten's reserve army of chefs, personally scouted by Director Azami".
"Huh... a reserve army? I'd like to see what kind of guys they are".
As soon as the room heard Sōma's words, and saw his expression, they were all struck by anxiety. "Dammit! He looks like he's up to something again" Yuki exclaimed. Rolling her eyes, Megumi took ahold of her boyfriends hand and squeezed, making him look at her. "Please don't run off and get into more trouble", Megumi's worried voice calmed Sōma's impulsiveness but didn't kill it dead. Wrapping his arms around her, the redhead boy smiled and placed a kiss upon the crown of her head. Resulting in a lot of cooing from the rooms other occupants.
"If you're going to watch a food war, I'll go with you. You being their will just make us all worry" Takumi piped up. Another collective sigh from the whole room followed from the older Italian boys statement. "Okay sure", the redhead grinned. "Them being there will help us rest easy" Yuki smiled before pushing Ikumi forwards. "Hey Takumi... Ikumi said she'd like to go with you". Blushing hard and attempting to smack Yuki, for her truthful insinuation, Ikumi found herself standing before her new crush and gazing into his sky blue eyes.
"H-Hey Takumi..." she stammered, "come with you, I can?"
The giggling by the whole room at how the busty blonde jumbled up words and at how bright red the faces of her and Takumi went, suddenly reached new heights when Isami moved forwards and gently pushed his brother. Although meant as small encouragement, the moment was obviously unexpected, on Takumi's part, as the older twin stumbled and ended up landing his lips upon hers, mid acceptance of her request.
The Italian boy and the blonde meat chef were shocked but did not immediately break apart, which only caused their observers to suddenly stop giggling and stare in shocked silence.
"Getting back to the task at hand", Isshiki added, a glint in his eye, "if you want to go observe and learn from these food wars the I suggest you get moving". Nodding his head, Zenji moved towards the door. "My Miyazato seminar will be battling today, I'll go and support them".
"Right..." Hisako spoke taking charge of the decision. "The food wars have been divided into three areas, so I think we should split up and go watch them".
After deciding upon whom went where, and then managing to persuade Hisako that leaving Erina alone at Kyokusei was going to be fine; Sōma, Megumi, Takumi and Ikumi all left the dorm on Vespas to go see the food war being held at venue C.
Driving the Vespas along the campus road from the dorm to the centre of the centre of school where allfood wars tended to be held, was exhilarating for Megumi and Sōma as they had never driven a vehicle before. Ikumi, on the other hand, held tightly onto Takumi as she sat on back of his Vespa feeling the air whizz through her hair; whilst trying very hard to not conjure up images of them doing this on proper Italian roads.
"Woah! There's a lot of people here" Sōma gasped, as he led his friends out onto a walkway to observe the food war below. "Let's see..." Megumi began looking down at the kitchen area and the assembled combatants. "It looks like the number four seat, Chef Momo versus chocolate research society".
"And at the same time it looks like chef Eizan will take on the western cuisine seminar", Takumi finalised. "It looks as if they'll be holding multiple challenges in one venue"
As the four first years began watching; they, along with the whole room, were stunned to witness the forth seat suddenly rip the paws off her stuffed doll and use them as oven gloves. "What the hell is she doing?" Sōma stated astonished. "Why would she do that?"
"Apparently she always does that when she's in a food war" Megumi replied, wrapping her arms around Sōma right arm to try to keep him in one spot. "She's Tōtsuki's best pâtissier, that cake she made for the autumn leaf viewing was super delicious". Sōma and Takumi both nodded in agreement but stopped when seeing Ikumi glaring at them. "Can you please stop taking about how delicious her food is, just from up here you can tell that she is a master pastry chef. Plus you're making me hungry!"
"Akanegakubo and Etsuya Eizan, both have achieved flawless victories!"
The speaker over the tannoy system announced, bringing the four teenage chefs back into the moment. "Bloody hell!" Takumi bemoaned. "It looks like Central completely dominated the matches!" The angry exasperated look on Takumi's face, and the fact that he was gripping the railings had the effect of tamping down Sōma's desire to challenge the forth seat. Albeit for now.
Waking over to his rival, Sōma placed a hand on Takumi's shoulder and was about to console him when he doors of the auditorium were thrown open revealing four people all wearing Central badges. What happened next was a total annihilation of the four other food wars that occurred. As the four defeated chefs, representing their seminars and groups, faced reality one of Centrals reserve elite chefs moved forwards and grabbed one of the chefs and proceeded to belittle him.
"None of you guys are a challenge! I hope you understand your circumstance now..." a rather pompous long haired blonde boy grinned. "You should obey us in Central, it's the right thing to do! So all of you bow to the Azami administration, it's the only option you've got if you want to remain a chef!"
Sensing an abrupt shift in Sōma's body stance, Megumi glanced up at her boyfriend and saw that his hair had fallen over his eyes, and his hands were, ever so slight, shaking. It was in that moment that she knew that a fire had been lit within the redhead and no amount of words from her would keep him from bounding forwards. So placing a quick kiss to his lips, she let go of Sōma's arm and smiled.
Noting that Megumi had non verbally acquiesced to him, the redhead boy bolted forwards and placed himself directly in front of the cocky reserve chef. "I can not let that slide". Hearing his own words echoed as well, Sōma turned his head and saw Takumi standing beside him looking equally pissed off.
Chucking at the two fist years before him, the central chef brushed down his red chefs suit and stood tall. "Ahh... you two managed to be in the Fall Selection, and you Sōma Yukihira managed to beat Eizan and draw with Kensuke... you'd do well not to pick a fight with me, the elite that will be heading up the next generation. It would be in your best interest or not oppose us..."
The chef was interrupted by a rebuttal from Takumi. "Hey chef... I'm not getting a sense of identity from you. Stressing how you've been chosen, and all that, makes you seem as if your hiding an inferiority complex". Pointing straight at the Central chef before him Takumi smirked. "If you have to build yourself up by saying that you're an elite then wouldn't that mean you don't have much confidence in your cooking skills. Right?"
Now fully enraged, the chef cracked his knuckles as he yelled angrily back at the Italian boy. "Oh you are so asking for it, I'm gonna destroy you..." but then he was grabbed by one of the other Central chefs who carried him away like a sack of potatoes. "Don't make a fool of yourself, it's sad", spoke the other chef.
"Shige, put me down now!" The red suited chef yelled to the green attired chef carrying him away. It was then that a pink haired girl, also a Central chef, came running forwards and stood before Sōma and Takumi. "Please forgive Rentarō, he gets too bent out of shape".
From over in the wings of the kitchen area, Rentarō yelled back to the pink haired girl, "shut up Mea! Those first years better wait, they will be going down!"
Just then the announcer of the food wars called out the next round resulting in Sōma, Takumi, Megumi and Ikumi to all gasp in shocked exasperation.
"And the final challenger of today's food wars is The Cutting Edge culinary society! Ryo Kurokiba representing this club versus Rentarō Kusunoki of Central!"
R.I.P - Jackie Mason and Bob Moses