Chapter 77: Cold
As he laid down the three plates before each of the three judges, Akira remained impassive.
Over the span of his culinary journey and his time in japan; since being rescued from being a street kid in India, he'd learnt that the best way to keep ones emotions in check was to bury them behind walls of resolve. And his resolve was solely fixed to dedicating his culinary skills to Jun, the woman whom gave him a purpose in life.
'My adoptive mother'.
"This is my Cajun Fried Bear. Please Eat up and enjoy".
As he stood tall and stepped back for the judges table, Akira was suddenly inundated by the memories of how he had got to this point.
Betraying his friends, simply so that he and Jun could stay together, tore at his heart but for the sake of his goal he had suppressed his anxiety. anger and regret for the sake keeping his momentum moving forward. If what he wanted was to be protected then he would gladly sever all social ties he had made this far, no matter how much it caused him mental anguish.
Despite having made fun of Kensuke's situation in front of Megumi and Sōma simply to get back at the redheads snarky insinuation, and seeing the quiet rage within both his friends eyes, Akira had begun to truly understood the third seat's mental tribulations and why he was so uneasy about societal gatherings as well as culinary expectations.
Seeing Sōma staring curiously at him across the cooking area made him want to reach out and beg for forgiveness; but again his goal outweighed his burgeoning desire for strong friendships.
And so... thinking about his own situation with Azami blackmailing him with the Shiomi Seminar's research, his mind went back to memories of when he had agreed to join Central.
"Congratulations on winning the battle royal; Akira Hayama, this will unequivocally set your place within Central" Azami had stated coolly as Akira was jostled into the seat beside the new director inside the black sedan car outside the Shiomi seminar.
"Cut the crap old man, I don't care about that! What about your promise. That me and Jun can continue cooking as we like!" The spice chef had retorted tersely.
Smirking from inside the car, and with narrowed eyes fixed squarely on him, Azami handed over a folder stamped with the emblem of Central.
"I understand your intentions quite well, Mister Hayama..." the older man had replied still with a smile on his face. "But first I need you to perform a duty for me. A simple task, all you need do is defeat an old enemy of yours".
Glowering as he reached out and took the dossier, Akira flinched as his eyes immediately settled on the image of Sōma. "Do this for me and your Shiomi seminar's research data will be returned to you, as well as your independence".
Before he could ask any further questions the Director waved him away, and the suited man standing just outside of the car leant back forwards and grabbed manhandled Akira out of the vehicle. "If you fail or disagree then all your work will be destroyed and you as well as Professor Shiomi will be blacklisted by Tōtsuki's new Central administration".
Biting his tongue to prevent himself from beginning a whole new round of vitriolic protestations, Akira clenched his fists around the dossier he was still holding and turned away from black sedan car; carrying the new director inside, as it drove away leaving an angry, red faced and motionless Akira standing alone.
"Please don't do this! Akira, you need to cut ties from Central listen to me. I told you not to join them in the first place, why didn't you hear me out? There's absolutely no reason to believe Azami's words to begin with" Professor Jun Shiomi had pleaded with Akira for hours to try and get him to stop him siding with Central.
To no avail.
"Enough!" Akira yelled back. "Do you see any other way for us to operate and continue our research..."
"You're such a fool Akira!" Jun yelled slamming her hands down on the table. "Azami is under no bounds to follow any deal he may offer you. He's just using you to further his goals!"
"Huh? What the hell! Do you even know know what I've had to struggle with this whole time!" Akira practically screamed back at the woman whom had practically adopted and raised him. "I don't care what you say, I will protect what we've built here. No matter what I lose! No matter what I have to sacrifice for it!"
"Hey Akira! Where mine?" Sōma asked, narrowing his eyes at his opponent and tapping his fingers impatiently on his work surface.
"Oh shut up!" The spice chef glowered as he returned to his workstation picked up a forth plate and then handed it to Sōma. "Here eat it, no your folly and get out of my face!"
Angrily stomping forwards, the red haired boy growled back a petulant retort. "You could at least look like you give a damn about this dish!"
"How many time do I have to say it? You and I are on different levels of culinary skill! Get a clue" Akira snapped back, angrily shoving Sōma backwards. "Just eat what I've given you and then give up cooking forever".
Grumbling, the redhead boy returned to his table and grabbed up a fork yet just as Sōma had brought the fried bear to his lips, his body froze as the aroma of Cajun spices hit him dead on. And judging from the sighs being emitted from Cilla and Berta, they too were probably being swept up in the aroma.
It's too much..." the two females whined in adoration. "Black pepper, paprika, oregano, thyme, cayenne... oh god I can't waste time analysing! I must devour this deliciousness!"
Giving themselves completely over to the utter deliciousness of the fried Cajun bear, Cilla and Berta were almost finished with their food when master Sōe stopped them.
"There can be no doubts. Akira Hayama's bear eclipses Sōma's dish. However, that is just the fried cutlet by itself", dunking his cutlet into the Genevieve sauce, Sōe Nakiri took anew bite of the fried bear.
"I used my Cajun spice, of course, but I used a pestle and mortar to make a juniper paste; which I then added to the marinade..." Akira explained giving a brief description of his method. "This way the more you chew; the more the meat imparts its subtle sweetness. It's an ecstasy that entices and entrances the taste buds".
"Man I'd never have thought to use a blowtorch to draw out the scent of the fat like that. How'd you do that?" Sōma grinned at the spice chef as he recalled the memories of Akira's seared seafood carpaccio.
However, instead of subtly smiling at being praised by Sōma, Akira sighed as he once again felt the sting of a thousand invisible knives stab at his chest; further increasing his sense of betrayal. And his heart and mind ached. 'Just a few more minutes', he told himself, 'then I won'tbe seeing Sōma ever again'.
Brought back to the scene before him by the voice of Gin Dōjima announcing that yet again Sōe Nakiri's 'gift' had flooded the room and stripped the rooms occupants of their clothes; much to Akira's annoyance as he found himself scrabbling about trying to redress, he stood before the judges.
Accepting of whatever verdict he would soon receive: either he would be granted culinary freedom; aligned with Central or he would be expelled and blacklisted from cooking for the remainder of his life.
"Tell us the trick. There's no way that we'll loose to you again! You can't stay on that high horse forever", mentally smiling as he recalled Ryo's envy, Akira fondly remembered all the fun times cooking and learning from the different cooking skills from his fellow first years.
And yet... 'I have to protect what I have, even I have to loose my friends I the process'.
"Did you two come here to start food wars with me?" He smiled, gleefully. "Sorry to disappoint you two then but I'm already content with my Fall Selection victory over both you".
The expressions on their faces back then had been unabashed frustration mixed with fiery determination. "Quit rubbing it in!" They had yelled back only for all three of them to chuckle together.
"Cilla, Berta..." Sōe spoke plainly. "It's still too early to finalise the vote. All we have done is taste the fried portion of each dish. We have yet to judge the meat when combined with the sauce".
As if a lightbulb had just gone off in the two sister's heads, they both looked down at the fried cutlets in their hands before glancing at the two plates containing different sauces.
"Oh crap! That was a close one. We very nearly ate the whole thing" Cilla blushed in embarrassment. No sooner than the two sisters had begun to sample Akira's dish and sauce together than they were suddenly moaning in shock as their clothes went flying off their bodies as Sōe unleashed the 'Burst'.
Seeing the Nakiri families' innate power, for the second time; from Akira's food, Sōma frowned as he scuffed his shoes on the floor. "This dish is sublime! It's frightening to comprehend its precision" Sōe exclaimed, a grin etched across his face. "Flavour and aroma. This dish is equivalent to a fortress with an iron gate".
Turning their attention towards Sōma's cutlet and sauce, the judges allowed themselves a moment to savour the aroma of the bear and magnolia berry cutlet before dipping it into the sauce.
"Huh... what the hells going on!" The suddenness of other male voices being uttered, made Sōma and Akira look behind them only to freeze in shock. Kuga, his staffers and some of the hotel staff had all been disrobed, and were now scrabbling around trying to recover their lost vestments.
Almost immediately both first year chefs realised that they'd been affected by this new phenomenon, and they dived behind their respective workstations to hide their nakedness, whilst they redressed.
"And there we have it" Dōjima explained. "The superior version of the Nakiri families Burst. If a Nakiri eats something worthy of true nakedness, one that fills the heart with harmony, the spiritual energy within the families bloodline is released in waves and disrobes those in the wider area. This experience is called the Gift!"
"This secret is honey and balsamic vinegar..." Sōe stated plainly but with a slight smile.
"Exactly right master", Sōma replied. "Although I made sure to caramelise the honey, slowly adding the vinegar till it became thick. Then I added garlic, onions and magnolia berries along with some bear broth".
"You used caramelised honey to both empathise and subdue the bear..." Dōjima mused in understanding of the method. Grinning as he turned to face Akira, Sōma extended his arm and pointed, "sorry man but I kinda stole your fire from the Fall Selection final".
Completely flummoxed by Sōma's dish, Akira's indifference dropped away and was replaced with awe.
"Okay then: Master Sōe, Master Cilla and Master Berta please cast judgment. Which of the two presented the more delicious bear meat. Which of the two is the victor?" Dōjima spoke as he handed out placards with 'Sōma' and 'Akira' written on them.
"We've made up our minds!" The two sisters announced holding up their two placards displaying themselves as having voted for both Sōma and Akira respectively.
"They disagree..." Kuga murmured. "The decision comes down to Master Sōe".
Narrowing his eyes as he stared at the smirking redheaded boy opposite him, Akira mused about his cajun fried bear cutlets before glancing over at Sōma's.
'My bear should have been flawless...' he mused fearfully, 'I don't know how but somehow you caught up to me. You're an eyesore and there's no way I can loose... I can't'.
"In this battle it was essentially a draw when it comes down to taste; Cilla and Berra's votes reflect that..." Sōe Nakiri spoke. "Therefore, if a vote is required to assign victory then it must go to the dish that shows the most tenacity".
Looking up from his plate, directly at Sōma, Alice's father immediately pinpointed the distinct flavour within his sauce. "Mister Yukihira, the honey you used was no ordinary honey; was it? There was a slight citrus taste and slight sour aroma".
Beaming with pride and nodding his head, Sōma beamed at hearing that his sauce was being fondly discussed for its depth of flavour. "You are correct Master Sōe. I used honey from Mandarin trees, it's got a uniquely strong flavour and it provides a slightly bitter-sour aftertaste, making it the perfect partner for a bear croquette".
"It is almost miraculous that he managed to pull this off!" Berta cooed in her seat. "But how did you come across this combination ingredients? Kihara honey is quite rare" Cilla asked, wrinkling her nose in thought.
"Obviously you don't know Sōma Yukihira very well..." Kuga interjected, walking towards the two female judges. "I got a first hand showing of the chef Sōma is at the Moon festival. He will not give up until he has the answer, he'll hunt for exactly the right ingredients for every recipe he decides to make. Purposely ensuring that each one complements and accents the others".
"I went through trial after trial of nothing working but I eventually came up with the idea of using honey", Sōma interjected, the tone of his voice becoming more animated and lively as he discussed the process for choosing the right honey; making Akira feel out of place.
Despite loving his cooking and being able to do so, Akira had always struggled to express his enjoyment outside of creating wondrous food and by showcasing his nasal prowess. Moreover, being animated and positive about every inconvenience, every hardship, every tidbit of information that went into a recipe was inconsequential as far as he was concerned.
Blinking back tears, the spice chef turned away and grabbed the food offered up by the redheaded boy.
"This dish can only be called the result of devotion and curiosity regarding taste as an art form..." Sōe exclaimed, "and it is there in the depths that I saw the face of the chef that created it!"
Those words immediately halted Akira's sampling of his rivals food and cast him back to when he'd first heard them by Senzaemon to describe his cooking. "W-What was that?" He stuttered in exasperation.
"Tell me Akira..." Dōjima suddenly interjected. "If you are saying that you sought deliciousness in your own manner, then you are being unconsciously selfish". Clenching his fists, Akira attempted to stand firm against the executive chef but Dojima's gaze continued as he spoke. Unyielding. "All on your own? Without knowing for whom you may be cooking?"
"I knew from the moment you finished and presented your dish, that this Cajun Fried Bear is clearly different from the Charred Saury Carpaccio you served at the Fall Selection. Akira... can you honestly say that you still possess the same drive that you had back then?"
Dropping to his knees, Akira could no longer hold back his tears as he thought back to the day that he'd first met Sōma, Ryo, Alice and all the others.
"Don't...!" He snapped slapping a hand over his mouth to silence any sobs that threatened to break from him.
His friends had accepted him, made him feel no longer an outsider on Tōtsuki campus and what had he done to repay their kindness... he'd nearly betrayed them to Central.
Striding forwards an wearing a scowl, Sōma grabbed Akira by the collar of his chefs attire and yanked him to his feet. "You promised me! You said you'd give this battle your all! Everything I did, all my mistakes and trials were to get you to say that my food was delicious! I did this for you!"
Moving past Sōma another person grabbed him.
Slap.
Blinking as he took in the sight before him, not even registering the fact that he'd just been slapped, Akira kept his eyes upon the face of Jun Shiomi as he fell backwards.
"Akira..." the petite woman began timidly. "I want to explain something to you; something that I've always wanted to say but have thought you would realise yourself someday..." with her face, and Akira's both blooming bright red Jun changed the topic, fully understanding that what she hadn't said still very much realised and understood.
"I don't need our own place to cook or a budget given to us allowing us to continue doing research. All I have ever wanted for you is to be able to enjoy cooking, on your own terms. with you friends".
Holding up the final third placard, as Akira fully wept into Jun's arms, Sōe Nakiri announced the winner of the battle exam.
"With a score of two or one, the winner of this advancement exam food war is declared to be Sōma Yukihira!"
N.B
I had planned to get this chapter posted by Valentines Day but as you can plainly tell, I have over shot my target publish date. Of which I can only apologise profusely.
Saints & Kings