Chapter 66: Truth

"I'm finding that there's something different about this years batch of first years in relation to previous groups..." Tsukasa spoke plainly. "And it seems to me that Sōma Yukihira stands at the middle of all this rebellious chaos".

From within their VIP viewing box in the ceiling of the auditorium, Azami and Tsukasa returned to sitting opposite one another after watching Central being triple defeated. Pouring himself a glass of red wine, Director Azami pressed a finger to his lips and mused about the redheaded boy that Tsukasa was taking about.

"Huh... Sōma Yukihira. I believe he's one of the residents of Kyokusei dorm, is he not?" Azami uttered narrowing his eyes, daring the first seat to speak about how the third seat had scuppered the plans to remove Kyokusei by rediscovering historical documents granting the dormitories independence from Tōtsuki, and thereby free from Central's authority. Yet, Tsukasa wisely kept quiet about his friends actions. "I think I'll pay them a visit, and collect my wayward daughter at the same time".

Downing the remnants of wine from his glass, Azami stood up and grabbed his black trench coat before throwing it over his shoulders. With a final withering glare sent towards the first seat the Director spoke. "I expect you and the other members of the Ten to prepare for the next stage of the Revolution. Also, you and Rindō have nothing to worry about when it comes to Kensuke Tadokoro, as I promised the third seat is now the public face of the new Tōtsuki Academy. Currently testing potential applicants from Europe, so he's far away from you right now".

Tsukasa bit down on his tongue as he listened to the director, refraining himself from yelling an angry retort. But as soon as the door snapped shut and her was sure Azami was away, the first seat kicked out at the table knocking it across the room and resulting in the 'smash' of a glass drinks case. Which was so loud it drew the attention of all students below to look up, even if they couldn't quite see what had happened.

Taking out his phone, he sent a quick text to Rindō alerting her to what Azami had Ken currently doing. To which he received an extremely foul mouthed reply that he immediately knew wasn't not totally warranted. Pocketing his phone in his jeans, he looked around the box at the damage he'd wrought. 'Such a waste of good wines. Most of them could be used for stews and casseroles'.

He was about to leave the VIP box when he caught sight of a flash of redhead down in the bleachers below. 'Sōma Yukihira...' for the briefest of moments he considered warning the first year about Azami's planned visit to Kyokusei dorm but he was distracted by the door being thrown open.

"Tsukasa-senpai".

'Urgh', this was all he needed. Running a hand across his face the first seat turned to face the sixth seat: Nene Kinokuni, whom was followed by a scowling Eizan. "Urgh. What do you want Nene? And why is Eizan here, is he stalking Yukihira now?"

Seeing that he'd ticked off the ninth seat, knowing that he wouldn't feel repercussions from it due to his first seat status, Tsukasa brusquely left the room. Nene hurtling after him. "Is it true?" The glasses wearing green haired girl uttered, grabbing the first seat by the arm. "Is Kensuke being punished with exile from Tōtsuki because he opposed the dissolution of his sisters school dormitory?"

The resulting expression that graced Tsukasa's face was a mixture of horror and rage. Desiring to break something but seeing nothing available, the first seat lashed out and punched the wall so hard he left a hole in the plaster. "That smarmy son of bitch!" He growled. "He never said 'exile' so I never realised but being away from Tōtsuki for prolonged periods of time would give that 'man' the excuse to remove him from the Ten!"

"You didn't know? What kind of friend are you anyway!" Nene yelled furiously blushing. "I thought that you and Rindō were able to read between the lines when it came to Kensuke! But obviously your just as oblivious as he is!"

Gritting his teeth Tsukasa was about to stalk away when he was stopped by Eizan appearing in his way. "Whilst I may not like Kensuke as much as you, Rindō and Nene here I refuse to see him leave Tōtsuki, even exiled, before I have bested him in a food war". Pulling a sheet of paper out of an inside jacket pocket the ninth seat pointed out the locations for the upcoming examinations.

"I have..." he began before elbowed hard in the gut. "Excuse me!" Nene retorted, narrowing her eyes. "Nene and I have stolen a plan of Azami's planned purge of rebel students during next weeks journey by train towards Rebun Island. If you want Kensuke to remain in Tōtsuki then the rebels have to survive the examinations, this will distract Azami from plotting his removal from the Academy".

"We may be drawn into the fray with this plan" Nene interrupted, "but if Azami asks us to defeat rebels then so be it". Unclenching his fists, Tsukasa nodded his head as he agreed with by the plan. "If the director does ask for our unity against these rebels then well have to sacrifice Kens's sister so that we can survive in Central..." Eizan stated coldly before being interrupted by Nene. "Or we could simply remove Megumi from the equation by creating a new position independent from Central but within Tōtsuki".

Meanwhile, at Kyokusei dormitory the residents were engaged in feeding their resident charge an extreme amount of their cooking, in what they were calling the 'Seventh God Tongue Taste-Test Festival'. Erina looked extremely put out as the line of kyokusei residents before her, holding plates of food for her to critique, now included Takumi, Isami and Ikumi.

Truthfully as much as she didn't like being used for her god tongue taste abilities, Erina secretly looked forwards to all her new friends cooking for her, even if they didn't entirely listen to her words for improvement. As she sat at the table picking through a duck à l'orange, courtesy of Yuki, she noticed Hisako smiling brightly as she talked to Sōma and pointed at her.

Blushing faintly, Erina lowered her head so some of her blonde hair fell over her cheeks. "Hey, Erina?" Looking over to her left she instantly scowled at Isshiki, dressed in a nothing but an apron. "Are you okay? You're rather red faced, your not feverish are you?" She was just about to answer that she was fine before reaching for her glass of water, when Hisako bolted forwards and stood firmly in between the two former members of the Ten.

"Back away from mistress Erina! And for the love of god will you please put some clothes on!"

Smiling as he whispered something to Hisako, just before walking away, Isshiki gently pushed the rose haired girl towards the god tongue. Whom she was obviously in love with. Noticing that her best friend had turned scarlet faced and was desperately trying it get back at the former seventh seat, Erina suddenly felt a laugh erupt from her diaphragm. Blushing as she realised all eyes were now in her, she was about to stand up and walk out of the room when Hisako stuttered:

"You should laugh and smile more often. You look cute".

Then before the god tongue knew what was happening she found herself enwrapped in an embrace by her pink haired childhood friend, whom whispered in her ear. "I love you".

Returning her best friends tight hug, Erina felt heat flush her cheeks and her heartbeat increase. Remembering the moment they had shared a week ago on Kyokusei balcony, she leant forwards and kissed Hisako on the lips. An action that left the rose haired girl feeling surprised but also massively embarrassed by the gawking and cooing kyokusei onlookers.

Just as Isshiki held up a cup of Ryōko's rice juice to toast new couple, there was a loud and deep 'ring' coming from the entranceway. "Urgh... couldn't people learn to come around at another time" bemoaned Yuki, as she and Megumi both turned in the direction of the entrance hallway and the doors. "I'll get it" Sōma stated getting to his feet, "I bet it's master Senzaemon come back for a surprise visit".

Unfortunately, and regrettably, the moment Sōma reached and opened the door; he was confronted by the pale faced and black haired Azami Nakiri staring right back air him. "Director Azami..." the shock in the redhead's voice masked the sudden anger that Sōma felt coursing through his veins. Yet, even before he could speak again the director raised one eyebrow quizzically mocking the student before him.

"Good evening Sōma Yukihira".

Stepping into the hallway, at the foot of the large grand staircase leading to the bedrooms and other amenities within Kyokusei, Azami Nakiri immediately felt the warmth of memories flooding back to him, as he recalled his prior student days there, but instead of reminiscing positively he scowled. "I happened to be in the area, so I stopped by". Hearing the raucous laughter of happy and cheerful students the director allowed a schooled his features into a hollow smile, before walking past the obstinate redhead and into the dinning room/common room.

Realising what was about to happen, Sōma bolted past Azami Nakiri and back into the dining room but just as he managed to get inside he saw the look of fear strike itself upon Erina's face as her eyes moved to the person appearing behind him.

"Father... it's you?"The mumbled words that somehow tore themselves from the god tongue's throat, and the fact that they were laced with fear and apprehension, made the residents of Kyokusei stand before her. Protectively. "What the hell do you want asshole!" Shōji yelled, echoed by a similarly irate Daigo. "You son of a bitch! Stay away from Erina!" Yuki growled throwing herself in front of the god tongue.

"Ah ha! The new director it seems..." Isshiki announced stepping forwards his arms crossed over his bare chest. "What may we help you with tonight?" With a polite smile, Azami stopped in his tracks and turned his head towards the former seventh seat. "I've come to see my daughter. Is that okay?" The Director asked smilingly.

"We were in the middle of a rather fun and pleasant celebration this evening", Isshiki replied friendly at first before his voice took on a more frosty tone, "may I ask that you go away". Looking over at Erina, Sōma could immediately tell that she was so frightened of her father, that she didn't feel as if she had any right to disobey him.

"Erina. Come here".

The command was delivered, and just as a puppet soldier would commence action, Erina meekly stumbled forwards. However, before she was beyond rescue from Yuki and Hisako, an angry voice declared itself to the room.

"I thought I heard a ruckus! Did you seriously think that you could simply waltz back in here like nothing ever happened! It is truly astonishing to know how much gall you have, Nakamura!" The entire room flinched and, except Azami, abruptly about-faced at the irate ness in Fumio Daimidō's voice.

"Huh, now now Fumio. Haven't you heard I go by Nakiri now?" Azami politely replied, "besides, that's no way to address a former Kyokusei alum".

Instantly the current residents gasped in shock at hearing that the new director, whom was trying to tear down and change the Tōtsuki they knew, was formerly one of them. Then out of the shock came Isshiki's calm yet bordering-on-angry voice.

"I'll have you know that I've done some research on you my friend; Master Azami. Azami Nakamura; when you were a first year at Tōtsuki you managed to achieve the number three seat on the Ten, and the first seat the following year. Some years afterwards you married into the Nakiri family, the clan of the Demon King of Food. From there you attained a position of culinary royalty, until you were exiled by master Senzaemon".

"No way! He was the number three seat when he was a first year!" Both Yuki and Isami exclaimed. "Still..." Takumi spoke clenching his fists so tight that they turned white. "This man is planning to destroy his own former dorm without a second thought". Trying to calm Takumi down, Ikumi bit back her embarrassment and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I wasn't really trying to destroy it per se..." Azami smirked, "it simply became involved because of the historical autonomy that Kyokusei was given, now reaffirmed due to Kensuke Tadokoro's meddling".

The directors cold dark eyes drifted across the room until they landed on Megumi, who blanched under his gaze. "Just so you know", he spoke directly to the blue haired girl. "You will no longer see your brother in or around campus. I would have liked to expel him for insubordination against Central but none of my elites are at Kensuke's culinary ability. And so he will not be seen by those on campus".

Before Megumi, Isshiki or Sōma could interject and follow up that line of inquiry, Mistress Fumio planted herself squarely in between Azami and Erina before roundly pointing in the direction of the exit. "In any case, you are not welcome here now or ever! Get out Nakamura!" Smiling coyly, Azami turned and walked out of the dining room; replying over his shoulder, "have it your way, until next time Erina".

As the sound of footsteps vanished from the building to be replaced by the dull thud of the heavy main doors shutting closed, Sōma frowned at what he had heard from both Azami and Fumio. And before anyone could stop him, he was running out of the room to catch up with to the director outside.

"Erm excuse me..." Sōma smiled as he stepped outside, facing Director Azami. "Somethings been bugging me. You stayed here for a long time, don't you have any memories of being here?" Surprised by the question, the director kept his facial expression one of jovial content as he answered the redhead with a genuine truth.

"Have I earned your scorn for thinking that?" Azami asked with raised eyebrows. "The world of which I seek does not lay with this dorm, well at least not anymore".

Curiosity made its way onto Sōma's face hearing those words, but he remained silent. "I was living here back during the Golden Age of Kyokusei, and there was one chef whom I looked up to then. Refined, a true culinary genius and a chef for whom I will always admire; Jōichirō Saiba. He was there when I was a first and second year student, his technique and skill were so advanced they made you feel as if he was genetically superior to you".

As Sōma raised his hand to speak he failed to notice that the main doors behind him had swung open again revealing Erina flanked by Hisako and everyone else. "Chef Nakamura... Did you say Jōichirō Saiba, because that's my father".

"You mean you're chef Saiba's son!" Azami replied shell shocked and mirroring the exact same expression of his daughter. "Hahaha..." he finally managed to laugh in response. "How much of this is a coincidence and how much was preordained. This Revolution is nothing more than the complete salvation of the corrupt culinary world that once ruined Jōichirō Saiba!"

R.I.P - Robert Fyfe (Last of the Summer Wine is the Greatest)