Chapter 75: Fettered
"You look pretty damn gloomy for someone who's just gotten into the Ten..." Sōma growled, frowning at Akira. "Have you really abandoned your friends just to fit in with the bastards in Central? I thought you'd look happier than this".
Narrowing his eyes as he took in Sōma's words, Akira clenched his fists in silent rage as he, initially, levelled the redhead with a furious glare but then decided that the words were too much of an blatant attempt for 'answers' and so he dropped his expression to one of indifference.
"I didn't join Central seeking any form of happiness..." he replied offhandedly. "I did so for Jun's sake. Anyway my motives have nothing to do with you, so butt out!" Outstretching his had, the spice chef seemingly waved away all of Sōma's attempts to speak further on the matter.
"To me..." he added finally, "this match is nothing more than a whetstone for me to sharpen my skills on. Nothing will ever stop me from working with Jun ever again".
Before either Sōma or Kuga could counter, or enquire what that meant, Akira had abruptly spun around and walked right past them exiting the kitchen slamming the doors after him.
"Dammit!" Kuga yelled slamming his fists down on the work surface. "He's just toying with you! He sees you as nothing but a foil..." the former eighth seat narrowed his eyes as he directed one of his staffers to follow Akira and keep tabs on his cooking. Looking back over at Sōma, he noticed that the redhead had scrunched up his face in extreme discontent at Akira's words.
Seeing an opportunity to potentially get back at Central, Kuga moved forwards and spoke. "Sōma, seeing as how Akira is now a complete bastard, I think you should just see this cook off as if it was just another regular food war; beat him and then be glad he'll be out of your life forever!"
Suddenly feeling an arm sling itself over his shoulders the Szechuan chef turned his head slightly and found his friend and rival smiling amiably in the direction that Akira had left. "You know I won't do that; me and Akira are friends. We cooked off against one another and I learnt so much from him..." he exclaimed.
"Besides whatever the reason is for why he joined Central it's pretty damn obvious that he holds Azami in contempt and doesn't like what he's doing".
Sighing, the former eighth seat returned the gesture and slung his own arm around Sōma's shoulder, grinning whilst trying not to sigh as he began ushering his rival out of the kitchen.
"Come on... you look like you need a nice relaxing soak in the hotel's hot pools. Trust me, I know what you're thinking right now", Kuga stated flatly. "You're wanting to go find out what is troubling Akira! Well sometimes that isn't what's best for them, you just have to let them fall so they can learn from their mistakes and walk their own path without incident later on".
Not wanting to admit that Kuga had a point but still refusing to give up on loosing Akira to Central, Sōma was about to give chase after the spice chef when all the anxiety and bodily exhaustion he'd been holding back up until this point suddenly came crashing down upon him.
Sighing, the red head nodded his head and followed the former eighth seat through the complex layout of the hotel towards the direction of the hot pools. "I think that sometimes people need to fail in order to see where they truly are", Kuga spoke breaking Sōma out of his musings. "In a way Akira is a lot like Kensuke in that regard... defeat may help them".
Arriving at the hotel spa area both boys entered the male changing rooms and disrobed before making their way into the main pool area with their towels, however, as they stepped out from behind the curtain that covered the divided the changing room from the water area they were suddenly stopped in their tracks as they realised they had inadvertently walked in on the naked form of Gin Dōjima stretching his toned and muscular body - after he'd obviously enjoying a soak in the hot pools himself.
"Chef Dōjima..."
For the second time in his life, since accidental walking in on Dōjima in the spa at the end of the 'Exam from Hell' Sōma felt fear course through him, suddenly self conscious he couldn't help but hold his towel in front of his own body.
"Hello Sōma..." Dōjima sighed, stretching out his arms. "What is it? Your face says there's something bothering you".
Both Sōma and Kuga remained rooted to the spot, overcome by fright in the presence of extremely muscular executive chef. "You're curious about how the Shiomi Seminar got dissolved aren't you?" Dōjima asked plainly having immediately guessed what was on the redhead's mind.
Managing to push past his momentary fright, Sōma walked forwards and lowered himself into the pool with his towel now folded and resting atop his head. On the other hand, Kuga had made his way over to the showers and pre washed himself before then partially submerging himself in the pool and leaning back against the pool edge - listening to Sōma and Dōjima's conversation.
"Do you know anything? Did Akira even put up a fight to protect the Shiomi Seminar? Sōma frowned. "I just can't imagine him joining Central without being pushed or having a genuine interest?"
Inhaling deeply, as if he seemingly understood completely what the boy was asking, almost as if he had prior experience with something like this, Dōjima lowered his arms from above his head and sighed.
"It's as you say Sōma... there was very little reason for Akira to join Central from the start. But then Azami started playing hardball, I expect that the whole rigamarole of searching for new members of the ten was just a ploy for the Director to shackle Akira to him"
Standing on the roof of the hotel watching late evening flitter into night, Akira Hayama scowled as he held his Central badge in his hands. Everything that he'd loved and treasured in his culinary life was and had being threatened by the Azami Doctrine. The new administration had cracked done on all the steps that he; as well as Sōma, Ryo and Alice, all saw as the necessary way forwards for chefs to progress at Tōtsuki.
'Culinary clubs, extra curricular activities, cooking freedom, personal and culinary identities' were being curtailed or cut down altogether. And the Ten, the so called harbingers of future true cuisine, were just as complicit as the Director. 'Indifferent and arrogant' he thought bitterly.
His and Jun's research; the deals that they had formed with restaurants and culinary institutes were gone, torn down by their partners fear of retribution from Azami Nakiri.
As he stood by the railings Akira couldn't help but envy Sōma Yukihira, the redhead was stubborn but at the same time he had the ability to see where he stood at the present and never seem to be overcome or encumbered by negativity. 'Probably Megumi's influence' he mused gripping the railings as he tried to re-centre himself.
A sudden flash of grey and black shot past his left ear making him turn his head to catch a glimpse of what had flown past. Sitting on the railings beside and watching him with jet black eyes, almost curiously, was an adolescent tern. Blinking, startled by the presence of the seabird this far inland Akira suddenly felt extremely melancholic as he realised that he and this bird were in similar situations.
'Young and lost'.
Tightening his grip on the railing, so that his knuckles went white, Akira forced himself to not think about the others; the friends that he desperately wanted to see and continue to cook alongside but now forced - by Central's confiscation of the Shiomi seminar's research - to go against and crush. Having sworn himself to Central as a means of getting the seminars work back, Akira had shoved aside all of his happiness with his friends as nothing but a distraction.
Sacrificing his hard earned friendships for his future career... so be it. Nothing was more important than his and Jun's work, and the chance to continue by her side.
The tern cawed bringing Akira's attention back to the bird. The bird was now grooming its feathers, its beak nipping out damaged ones and then neatly fluffing the others. In the part of him that wanted to abandon Central; this moment was a symbol of him and his friends being birds of a feather... and yet the rational part of him, that wanted to be a chef; was telling him to cast out all distractions.
'All that matters is reclaiming the research and continuing with the Shiomi Seminar... working with Jun'.
An image of the diminutive black haired, glasses wearing woman popped into his minds eye telling him that all she wanted for him was to have friends. And yet, he remained steadfast in his resolve to save his purpose whether or not she wanted it.
'We're sorry. Please see the documents we sent over to you for more details'
'Sorry, we have to go back to the drawing board regarding this contract'.
'Erm yes... my sincerest apologies but well, we'll have to rescind our sponsorship deal with the Shiomi seminar'.
The phone calls he'd had with the partners, whom Jun had been so happy about receiving after the surprise positivity after their collaboration with Alice and Ryo at the moon festival, where they had all rescinded their offers had enraged him. Akira had never been as angry as he'd been on those calls but then he'd been called in to a meeting with Director Azami, and his resentment and anger only grew.
"Welcome Akira Hayama, your cooking sensibilities are in line with what true fine dining represents. However, you must disband your seminar and join Central. Or you'll loose everything you've ever worked on. Not to mention, Professor Shiomi will be out of a job and on her own... in one week there will be a battle royal for two empty Council seats. For your future, and Jun's, I do hope you make the correct decision".
As the memory faded from Akira's mind he found himself drawn back to the tern, still perched on the railing and staring straight at him. It's beady greyish-black eyes still locked on him as if silently judging him.
Flinching, Akira untied his ponytail and hung his head letting his hair fall in front of his face. Hiding his tears, as he silently wept into the quiet Hokkaidō night.
"... And so Akira joined the battle royal with his hands tied behind his back", Dōjima explained to a stunned Sōma and Kuga. "That's exactly how he become the number nine seat of the Ten. I suspect that recruiting Akira was Azami's true goal right from the start".
With his eyes wide upon realising just what Akira was going through, Sōma leant back whilst supporting himself with his arms. "Hey... one more question Chef Dōjima?"
Running a hand across his face the executive chef rolled his eyes before nodding his head. "Can you please find out how Kensuke is? Megumi and I, Isshiki as well, are all worried about him. We know that he's out of the country promoting Central but we don't know where".
"Kensuke Tadokoro is currently in the Puglia region of Italy... sent there by Central to meet with one of Azami's rich benefactors" Dōjima replied instantly. "I know this because I saw him off at Haneda airport bound for Bari. He looked well... if not a bit nonplussed".
"That sounds like Kensuke..." Kuga sighed nonchalantly. "He can cook delectable food without even realising that people are sizing him up or that they're interested in pursuing him as a benefactor..."
Speaking as he climbed out of the pool before making his way over to the shower shower stools for a post soak wash down, the former eighth seat turned on the above faucet and hung his head beneath the water as he began to shampoo his hair.
"However..." he began again after looking up, "when it comes to talking to people and furthering his own culinary network, Kensuke rapidly falls apart. The entire ten were surprised and blindsided when we heard that he had managed to win over three top industry benefactors. Orencia, Velázquez and Ainu... they are monumentally important people within the WGO".
Putting his shampooed head into the path of the falling water ended Kuga's input to the conversation about Kensuke, and so the conversation returned to that of Akira. "Just so you know what you're facing..." Dōjima spoke, "with Azami watching over him, Akira must defeat you. Or he'll loose his perceived place in the world".
A looks of extreme pensiveness fell across Sōma's face as he took in all that had been detailed to him about the undue pressure Akira was being forced to shoulder.
"Huh... so that's when things went off the rails for him. Still, why exactly is Ken going along with Central? Megumi told me that all he wants is to cook in the manner that he feels physically and emotionally capable. To not feel pressure or have high expeditions from either Tōtsuki or from his benefactors..."
"I think Kensuke's wish is far and away more difficult to quantify, his motivation will solely be tied to the strength of his mental health", Dōjima exclaimed with a slight frown. "But I don't believe Azami truly appreciates just how powerful and useful an ally like Kensuke could be. If he wasn't so petty about how the plan to dismantle Kyokusei dormitory was trashed by the third seat".
Jumping to his feet, Sōma immediately bounded out of the pool and rushed to grab his clothes; got dressed, and then bolted out of the hotel bathhouse in search of Akira. So caught up in his search around the hotel complex, the redhead boy never even heard the frustrated yells coming from behind him as Kuga raced after him, trying to keep up.
"Hey! Sōma stop running around like a headless chicken! Wait up god dammit!"
Bursting through the final door and onto the roof, Sōma instantly recognised Akira's white hair; not tied back in a ponytail but flowing in the breeze as its owner stood motionlessly staring out over the rooftop landscape of night in the mountains.
"I'm sorry Akira..." Sōma wheezed, bent double as he caught his breath from running all over the place. "I wish I'd known about what Azami was putting you through. If you beat me in the exams, then you'll get to continue cooking the way you want. So this battle is 'nothing more than a stepping stone' for you?"
Completely blank faced, Akira simply replied in the affirmative not even turning around to face the redhead boy.
"I came here to tell you that I still intend our battle to be a revenge match, the format is strange but that doesn't matter right now. Just focus on your dish..." Sōma exclaimed firmly.
"Huh... victory comes with everything that I'm after. is all I desire from today. What would you even know about me anyway!"
The sharpness in Akira's tone only further strengthened Sōma's resolve to beat him, thus showing him that he shouldn't be so easily dismissive of his friends. "I thought the seminar was important to you but you didn't even put up a fight to save it, didn't you!" Sōma retorted. "As if I'd loose to someone that pitiful again".
Before he could utter another word he noticed that the tern from earlier launched itself into the air and flew away; striding forwards, an angry scowl on his face, Akira harshly shoved Sōma backwards. "You shut your mouth! I told you before that you don't know what you're talking about, nor do you know anything about me!"
Glowering as he spoke, the spice chef pulled a stick of cinnamon from his pocket and brought the bark to his nose and sniffed. "Fine..." he replied tersely, "if your that eager for me to destroy you then I'm happy to oblige".
R.I.P:
The Great, Barry Cryer. A gem of a comedian and script writer. (Forever Loved and Forever Missed).
[Hamish has gone to have his tea]