Chapter 74: Mountain Men
"Hey chef Rindō".
Takumi's voice held both silent fury and, unbelievably, restraint. "May I ask of you an overdue question? Just what exactly are me and Megumi going to be making during your showdown with us?"
Turning her head away from looking out of the window, the second seat smiled coquettishly at him before chuckling at how red his face went. "Come on... don't look so grumpy, grumpy bear, you're scaring poor Megumi", the second seat chuckled as she ruffled the blonde's hair.
Immediately turning towards his best friends girlfriend, he instantly noticed a slightly apprehensive expression on her face but as far as he could tell, fear was not the presiding emotion. That was given over to annoyance. Of course he could have misread her facial expression, according to Rindō back at the moon festival, he'd been oblivious to Ikumi's change in affection for him.
"Okay guys just calm down I'll tell you, but before I do let me just say that I won't be using any of the methods hatched by the examiners so far. I don't like being seen as contemptuous", Rindō stated; missing the frowns on both Takumi and Megumi's faces.
"So today should be fine for you, and as it's just you two versus me I know the perfect theme". Again her golden catlike eyes began gleaming with culinary anticipation and she tied her hair back into a small pony tail before leading the two first years out of a small side room and into the huge adjacent kitchen.
Walking over towards a single table, set for one, and decked out with cutlery and a bottle of wine, the second seat sat herself down and gestured at kitchen around her. "Takumi Aldini, Megumi Tadokoro... please make me a play of food that makes me say delicious".
Out of all the hellish, contemptible and unfair tasks that Central could have given them, Takumi and Megumi both stood in stunned silence; their mouthes hanging open like guppy fish, trying to figure out why they were being treated so well when compared to the others.
"Well..." Rindō continued, "you may use whatever ingredients you happen to find. And the time limit is three hours. All you have to do is make me say that your food is delicious".
Meanwhile up in the mountains...
"Bears mostly eat the acorns and fruits off of vines and oak trees, but I suppose they'll eat anything. They're not picky. And it is this time of year that they start to put on fat of hibernation. That's kind of fat that'll make some good eating".
The hunter that was accompanying Sōma, Kuga and his staffers very handily explained, in detail the life of the bear. And although they hadn't seen any yet, just being in the snowy mountains was enough for the redhead to start getting an idea of the lifestyle of his ingredient.
After nearly an hour of tracking, the hunter declared that they weren't going to find anything due to their quarries footprints were being laid down in a different direction to their, meaning that the bear was aware that it was being followed. "So you're saying that if we were to continue, the bear would come after us" Sōma asked, curiosity flowing right out of him.
"You'd better believe it..." the hunter stated, grinning proudly in satisfaction of the boy's studious nature. "That's just how good of a hunter the bear is. They are masters in their landscapes".
"If that's the plan..." Kuga interjected, shivering in the cold, "could we please set up camp here before we head back down the mountain. There's nothing here and it's fricking cold!"
Looking slightly disappointed but accepting of the situation, Sōma looked towards the hunter to see what was the right decision. "Your friend has the gist of it", the man responded. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to show you how to properly slaughter and dissect a bear. But seeing as your Tōtsuki students you'll be fine".
It took about fifteen minutes for Kuga to stop whining about the cold, even as he sat before the fire and drank a mug of chai tea; that one of his staffers had made for him.
"You know it's kinda ironic that you're not good in the cold whilst your cooking style is so ferociously hot" Sōma chuckled, trying to not grin too much. Ignoring the redhead's remark as best he could, Kuga sighed as he took in a sip from his cup of chai tea.
"Nah, it's not that I don't do well in cold weather it's just that this is a particularly cold Hokkaido winter. And besides, Rindō's the one who curls up like a reptile and can't even move", the spiky blonde haired boy replied.
Stifling a laugh the redhead practically spat out his hot coffee whilst trying to picture the normally energetic and boisterous second seat as wrapped up heart to toe in thick clothes and sluggish in the cold.
"So erm Kuga..." Sōma asked tentatively, not knowing how the former eighth seat would react to his next question. "How did Akira get into the Council of Ten? And what exactly is Azami's problem with Kensuke?"
Having gotten past his jealousy of the third seat, as well as Tsukasa's great admiration and friendship with Kensuke - by way of gaining a new rivalry with Sōma - Kuga still couldn't help but flinch at hearing the third seat's name. Lowering his head and looking straight into the fire, a gloomy expression appeared on his face.
"Okay... first Akira, then Kensuke" he stated looking at Sōma. "It happened not long after Isshiki and I were first told that we were being voided from the Ten. As you'd expect I was pretty irate, and I furiously tried to counter the decision with food wars against Eizan, Nene and Saitō. And then against central's allied chefs; I failed in all of of them but I did manage to draw against Eizan, but the draw was later changed to his victory as 'differences in taste' were later found".
Growling slightly as he glared petulantly into the flames of their campfire Kuga continued his tale.
"Of course with two seats on the Ten now up for grabs, and with Central in charge, the resulting battles were brutal. All the challengers were from Central, hand picked by Director Azami. Rentarō Kusunoki, who faced your other friend was one of those who tried for the available seats. But he and his fellow second years other were beaten by some third years whom themselves ended up beaten by Akira Hayama".
For what had to have been the umpteenth time that day, Sōma ran his hand through his hair and frowned. "Akira... a first year beat third years!"
"Sōma, you have to understand something..." Kuga stated levelling his rival with a firm stare. "Akira is not the same Chef he was back at the Fall Selection. He's raised that genius nose of his to levels that could rival rival Erina Nakiri's god tongue. And to top that off he's taken in everything Director Azami has offered up".
Gritting his teeth the redhead boy levelled an equally powerful glare back at Kuga. "So you're saying I don't stand a chance against him..." Instantaneously, Kuga was on his feet and standing his ground.
"That's not what I said! I'm just saying given Akira's skills it's probably been very easy for him to take that gamey bear smell and turn it into something extremely lovely".
"Uh huh..."
Jumping in both surprise and shock, Kuga and Sōma had totally forgotten about the bear hunter with them. Spinning around and looking at the hunter, stroking his thin moustache, then two boys took the man's thinking behaviour.
"I guess what you need then is a different approach, one that comes through the knowledge of the ingredient". Bolting forwards, annoyed that someone else had just beaten him to the point of his words, Kuga tried to tackle the older man but was held back by his staffers. "Damn you old man, you stole my suggestion!"
Forgetting that he wasn't in a normal seat, Sōma leant back on the log he was sat on only to tumble backwards into the nearby tree. Resulting in a large amount of snow falling on top of him. As he pushed himself out of the snow he gazed up into the canopy of the tree and instantly got an idea.
"Kuga... I know what I want to do!" Jumping to his feet and brushing the snow from his hair and clothes, Sōma pointed into the canopy of the tree at the myriad of little red berries. "These are magnolia berries! Let's harvest as many as we can carry and then head back to the kitchen".
Smiling as he understood the unspoken plan, Kuga instantly repeats the words to his aides before joining the red haired boy in harvesting the berries.
"By the way about Kensuke..." Kuga added plainly. "He was never easy for anyone to understand, let alone me. And I think Azami too finds him difficult to gauge as well. That's why Isshiki is trying to get in contact with him, in Italy, so that he can try and make him reverse course with Central".
Smiling, Sōma nodded his head pleased that his dorm mate; and former seventh seat, was trying to find a way to make contract with Megumi's brother. "I used to think..." Kuga continued, "that Kensuke was just a self centred arrogant brat. Someone who couldn't see how others compared themselves to him and wanted to be recognised by..."
Sighing, the former eighth seat ran a hand across his face looking remorseful. "But now I understand that the work and pressure expected from someone at his rank in the Ten, combined with his social anxiety, made him a perfect target for Azami to manipulate. And seeing as Tsukasa and Rindō will go through heaven and hell for him makes me wonder how much of Tōtsuki they'll tear down just for the sake of continually being friends".
Frowning at the frustration and panic in Kuga's voice, Sōma leant forwards and pinched the boy before him on the nose. "You shouldn't think like that! Ken will be fine once we get him free from the directors talons".
Recalling Megumi's pained expression on the train the day before, the redhead pushed aside the growing feeling that Kensuke was too far gone for them to reason with; and that only defeating him would be the way to truly save him.
After four hours of waiting for the machine to properly do its job, the meanly four pounds of freeze dried the magnolia berries were ready for Sōma to use for his first major bear meat trial dish. "You just sit by the counter chef Kuga" the redhead grinned smugly. "You'll not have long to wait".
"Don't be so sure of yourself Sōma. Who says that your first trial dish will be good..." To his credit the former eighth seat tried his best to lie away his anticipation that for tasting Sōma's food. However, he was abruptly cut off by the loud growling of his stomach which had the affect of moong him frown and hang his head in silent embarrassment.
Turning his head away, so that he didn't have to see the smirking read head, in his peripheral vision, Kuga tired towards his staffers and instructed two of them to stand outside and keep a lookout; just in case "spice boy turns up", he had gritted out. Another two had been sent out to locate other cuts of bear meat for Sōma to use, whilst the remaining four stood behind their chef and etched the image of Kuga being supportive and good hearted into their minds.
As he removed the berries from the sake, in which they had been soaking for nearly eight minutes now, Sōma added them to a bowl containing minced shoulder of bear and began to mix together with chopped onions, mushrooms and ginger.
Then by hand he moulded the mixture into thick hamburg steaks, an inch thick, before placing them into a griddle pan and frying them over charcoal.
"Ohhh god yeah...!"
The way that Kuga's staffers groaned and stated slumping over, with drool slipping from their mouth's, made Sōma chuckle. "Hey Kuga..." he grinned, "it looks like your staffers are ready to quit China society and be my followers instead".
Feeling an instant rise of confidence and pride as he relished the look of rivalry on Kuga's face, caused simply by the aroma of this bear meat and ginger hamburg steak, was enough to make Sōma realise again that he was utterly grateful to his father, and Master Senzaemon behind the scenes, for pushing him into Tōtsuki.
This drive and yearning to continue cooking here, and learning from all the other amazing chefs around him, only got his blood pumping even more than it already was. "Don't even joke about that!" he heard Kuga petulantly rebuke. Seeing a grin on the former eighth seat's face, Sōma simply chuckled back. "I see why they are so loyal to you. Where else are they gonna get both culinary experience and knowledge, with a free excised regime thrown in as well"
"Urgh! Be quiet and focus on your cooking".
Kuga dropped his head down on the work surface, almost looking forlorn but mostly because he was just utterly exhausted from the days hike up the mountain, the collection and carrying of four pounds of magnolia berries back down and frustration at Sōma's laissez-faire attitude to being in a food war.
Frowning he turned his head and frowned at his followers; most of whom were drooling at the aroma wafting over from where Sōma was cooking.
Pointing at his men, Kuga issued a clear statement to them about them potentially leaving him. "Don't you guys even try and leave me! You all love Chinese cuisine right? So therefore we must remain a unified position within Tōtsuki and keep our China research society free of anyone who would challenge our culinary freedom".
Nodding their heads and cheering for their leader, Kuga's followers all reaffirmed their love, commitment and support for their designated chef leader as well as their determination to continue at Tōtsuki.
However, just as the former eighth seat was about to start speaking again, a plate of food was suddenly placed before him by the grinning Sōma Yukihira; and in that instant all the words that he was wanted to say to his men temporarily vanished and all he could experience was the sight and smell of the bear hamburg steak.
"Here ya go Kuga..." the redhead chef commented, grinning as he noted the drool dripping from Kuga's mouth. "Please enjoy this bear and ginger hamburg steak. But I can already tell, given how loud your stomach is growling, you'll enjoy it plenty".
"Shut up Sōma..." Kuga responded as his face flushed red before being unable to ignore the food before him anymore. As he used the knife to slice through the meat he almost felt lien he was cutting through butter, the meat was so tender. Taking up the forkful that he had just cut up, the former eighth seat couldn't help but sigh with content.
"I see..." he murmured with relief. "You've finally managed to get around the smell clean the bear, the ginger adds a pleasant heat and; then the caramelised onions come through with the sharpness of the magnolia berries!"
"Thanks man", Sōma smiled taking high fiving his second rival. "I'm truly grateful for coming all the way out here to help me. And for giving me the letter from Isshiki..." teetering off at the end; the Red haired boy frowned as he recalled reading the detailed notes that the former seventh seat had managed to discover about what Central was asking of the third seat whilst he was abroad.
"Don't worry your petty little head about any of it", Kuga replied smiling, drawing Sōma's attention back to the present. "Despite Takumi being your main rival, I consider you my new culinary foil. As for Isshiki, you don't need to worry about him looking into Kensuke; he was always frighteningly resourceful".
At that exact moment the kitchen doors were thrown wide open by the two people outside; looking out for central spies, and instantly the room was engulfed in a whirlwind of strong and powerful spices. Swaggering into the kitchen, with chilli powder and turmeric stained his chef's whites, Akira levelled a harsh glare directly at his opponent. Ignoring the glare that the redhead sent right back.
"Hello Sōma!"
Standing in the doorway drying his hands on a tea towel before flinging the kitchen cloth over his shoulder, Akira strode over towards the red-haired chef and grabbed his hand. With a smirk, the spice chef immediately deduced "magnolia berries" as the key ingredient of his rival's dish.
"Oh well..." he continued. "I guess I know your secret now; still you've barged in on me before so it's only fair that I do the same to you" Akira snarked angrily. Turning away from Sōma, the spice chef gestured to Kuga's staffers and addressed them as if they were misguided for following the eighth seat.
"So gentlemen..." he addressed. "Do you really think he'll beat me? He's lost to me twice before, and this; the third time will be his most pitiful. And are you lot so blind to reason that your precious Kuga knows what's best for the advancement of Chinese cuisine"
Clenching his fists together Kuga was just preparing himself to punch the first year before him when; his anger dissipated by Sōma walking past him placing a hand on his shoulder and pointing straight at Akira, with his usual grin on his face.
"We'll see about that Akira", Sōma replied. "Oh we will see about that".
N.B.
I don't have anything else to say.
R.I.P:
Peter Seabrook. Horticulturalist, Gardening writer and broadcaster.
Thích Nhât Hanh. Buddhist monk (Father of Mindfulness) and peace activist.
[I named Kensuke's restaurant, during the Moon Festival, due to my own experience with depression and social anxiety, and how Buddhism has helped me]