Dish.12 – Untamed Ambition
Karen plopped into the large bath-up filled with warm water casually. For the first time in that 'hell training camp', she let out a relief sigh. Unlike two days before, she got nothing to tire her body and mind. In other word, the third day was plain – like ordinary days she had. Miraculously enough, all the assignments in that day got finished faster than the previous day. It hasn't reached two minutes since she entered the onsen, but she already got bored. In those large place, she was alone.
Did they love to spend their time stuck in that training kitchen so bad?
Slowly, she closed her eyes. If there was a time to take a rest, she should made the best use of this 'free time'. Who knows? When the sudden storm will came. In those deafening silence, Karen did a flashback with things which had happened – especially yesterday. Yesterday was a big chaos she ever experienced. After the final decision given by Doujima Gin, she didn't remember anything.
Did she got knocked out the whole night? Or... she passed out?
The first thing she found this morning was an IV wire got attached into her left hand. If she didn't wake up this morning, maybe she will got transferred to the nearby hospital. It was when she opened her eyes, someone entered that place. That 'someone' got surprised as 'someone else' already getting ahead of her. Moreover, that 'someone else' was someone she knew too well.
"Karen?"
Karen looked for the one whom called her given name. There, stood next to the cleansing corner, her twin sister had her surprised look all over her flushed face.
"What with those face? Did you see a ghost?" Karen questioned her sister, tried to be 'civil' to Erina as she sent a questioned look over the younger one. But she didn't get a reply.
As if got aware by Karen's question just now, Erina moved to one of the stalls and begun cleansing her body. While Karen, she absentmindedly stared the wooden ceiling above her. Only the sound of splashing water filled between the two Nakiri girls. Finished with her cleansing activity, Erina didn't know if she should left that place or joined her sister to stay in those large bath-up filled with warm water. She took a brief look over Karen before she decided. She saw the jet-black haired girl closed her eyes while her body leaned on the bath-up wall.
Did she take a nap while bathing? Erina asked that question inside her mind. Erina started making small noises, but the other girl still in her position with the same condition. With slowly steps, Erina walked closer to Karen whom still had her eyes closed. She took a better look on her sister, then let out a relief sigh which she didn't know she had holding. With the same 'careful' move, Erina got into the bath-up and let the warm water soaked her body.
"It has been years since we had bath together, isn't it?"
Erina almost got drown out of surprise by the sudden words spoken out by the other girl in that place. Erina was sure that Karen did take a nap in her bathing, but why?
"I didn't recall that you're getting surprised easily over little thing, Erina." Karen commented casually on her sister's 'unusual' act just now. "Did you think that I take a nap?" Karen questioned.
"Uhm..."
"Hai, hai, it's all thanks to your 'little noise' that made me awake." Karen gave another short explanation without getting asked.
Erina's face got completely in deep red once she heard that. So, Karen just 'pretended' to be asleep just now? Why she should do something like that? But then, Erina knew its answer. Because Karen didn't want to engage into a conversation to her. So does Erina. Both of them had well-known as twins sister, but the 'true' relationship between the two was no other than 'stranger' to each other. Erina didn't remember when it started, when her sister started 'distancing' her. Each day, the gap between them got wider – never got shortened. The picture of a lovely sisters was only a facade they often showed in front of others whom didn't know about their real issue.
"Speak it out."
"Huh?" Erina didn't know what the meaning of Karen's sudden words just now.
Karen looked at her sister, getting a bit irritated by Erina's stupid respond. Did Erina eat something weird which made her dumb or something?
"You want to ask something, didn't you?"
"Wha- Nope."
"Is that so?"
Another silence filled that place... and it felt like the sharpest knife to Karen's heart. She can't bear any second later spent just with her sister at the same place. So she decided to leave that place first. Wrapped her naked body with her towel and headed out of that onsen without bid any kind of farewell.
"Did she still feel unwell?" Erina asked herself once her purple can't caught her sister's figure anymore.
There she was, alone in that large place. The fact that Karen already getting ahead of her meant the latter became the first one whom finished that day's evening assignment. The scene she saw yesterday evening was like a dream. Erina submerged her body deeper as she looked up at the ceiling. Never in her memory that she saw Karen was out of energy like yesterday. Her limp body lied on Kimura Ikuya's back, as her rose-gold eyes closed completely, her pale face got shadowed by her asymmetrically cut jet-black hair. It should be her whom frantically shocked by Karen's state. But it didn't happen to her. It was her secretary – Arato Hisako.
Then... how about her?
That silence evening, Erina just stood at the door frame. Like a statue. Her eyes didn't blink even for once as she witnessed every single thing did by both Hisako and Ikuya to the unconscious Nakiri Karen. Too many questions filled her head, again and again, continuously. Then... the definite statement she always hold for years, the one which only she knew, the one which got buried deep in her heart, slowly coming out – blurred her sight and rang around in her head. It kept rang like a broken recording.
Karen is not her sister.
Erina gasped for air once she realized that she almost got drowned in the bath-up. Her heart began ached when she remembered her own stupidity. With an abrupt move, she got out from the bath-up. Dried up her body then changed with the night robe prepared by the hotel staff, Erina left the onsen. For unknown reason, she even didn't have an intention of waiting her secretary to have a bath together. The encounter with Karen earlier already changed her mood. Arriving at her own room, Erina immediately seated on the single chair which faced the window of that room.
Karen is not her sister.
Erina didn't know since when she had a thought about that. Maybe... since she was little? But, when it is precisely? She didn't remember. Since they were little, Erina has thought that she and Karen were different. So different. Too many words to describe it, too many images to picture it.
When she was little, Karen was the one she got envied the most. Karen was warm, bright, and full of happiness. Karen always offered her hand whenever Erina left out at the back. She always brushed off Erina's tears, treated Erina's wound, and spelt any kind of magic words to her whenever Erina fell down when they played. Karen was adventurous, she was willing to get bruised just to fulfill Erina's wish. Even for the most ridiculous thing. Karen was a hard-working little girl, Erina has known about it. Little Karen always sneaked into Erina's room each night right before the latter drifted to the dreamland. She always showed her 'masterpiece' to Erina and asked the latter to taste it. She will came the next night with a developed dish she made.
But, despite of all those caring and hard-working things Karen had done, she never got praised. Only mocking words – came from their relatives. Saying that Karen had done all of that just to get the attention of the elder, their family. Day by day, it seemed that Karen has grown used to it. It was what Erina saw, as Karen always be the brightest little girl in her eyes. She still did her old routine, sneaked into Erina's room. Not only that. Even just it was little, Karen did give her knowledge about cooking to Erina. Erina still remembered clearly Karen's answer when she asked why Karen loved to cook.
"Because it's bringing happiness."
"What's bringing happiness, Erina-sama?"
Erina turned around when she heard that question. Her secretary as well as her closest friend already entered her room, wearing the same night robe Erina had. "Hisako?"
"I almost had my heart attack when I didn't find you at onsen, Erina-sama. Then, when I met Karen-sama, she said that maybe you're already in your room." The pink haired girl explained, then sat on Erina's bed.
"Karen?" Erina asked with the lowest tone she ever did that day.
Hisako whom about to open the small pouch filled with their cards stopped as she saw the melancholy look on Erina's face after that girl mentioned her sister's name. The same melancholy face Hisako saw through the reflection on the window, several seconds before she decided to storm into Erina's room. Then, she suddenly remembered the accident yesterday evening. Hisako remembered well how Erina froze in front of Karen's opened room that time.
"Erina-sama, ano..."
Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!
Both Erina and Hisako looked up at the speaker which barely let out those tone.
"To all of the student, good work for today!" It was Doujima Gin's voice. "An hour from now, at 10 pm sharp, please to have you dressed in your uniform and be present at the hall."
The announcement has over. The two girls in Erina's room looked at each other.
What will happened next?
Karen didn't like the announcement given by Doujima Gin at all. Dressed in her uniform – minus the bow – she walked to the promised hall. The remained student got into the hall one by one, with their limp steps. Karen looked for the vacant chair to be seated on, but found none. So, she decided to walk to the corner of that large hall. Gathered all the remained students into one place, Karen can't pulled any kind of conclusion other than an announcement about an assignment. But, why in that late hour? As if it can't wait for to-
Karen can't continue her own mind rambling once her eyes caught the sight of both Takumi Aldini and Mito Ikumi stormed onto the red haired boy – Yukihira Souma, and kept asking questions to that diner boy. Then, another scene happened. It was like a Paris Fashion Week event once her sister – Nakiri Erina – followed by her secretary arrived at that place.
"Alright. It seems that all of you have gathered here." Doujima Gin's voice immediately made all the attention focused at the same place. The podium. "The reason why I asked you to gather here is to tell you about tomorrow's assignment."
Almost all the students there got surprised. Some of them even didn't bother to hide their shock.
"The theme of the assignment is new breakfast menu which will got served for Toutsuki Resort's guest." Doujima paused for a while as he saw the change of expression on the student's face. "Breakfast is 'the face' of hotel. It is an important meal which served to start the guest's day. On their dining table, we want all of you make a dish which shine like a jewel and have a refreshing surprise." He added to more detailed explanation. Then he took the thing which will be used as the main ingredient. "The main ingredient is egg. Whatever kind of dish you will made, it doesn't matter. The breakfast will be served in buffet type. The assignment will be started at 6 tomorrow morning, get ready for that."
Karen let out a deep, heavy sigh as she heard that 'crazy' announcement. Also, she already envisioned the horror look her fellow student had once they realized that there was no time for them to have a peaceful sleep that night.
"You all are free to use your time till morning. Each kitchen is available for you to test your recipe. It's also your own choice if you wanted to go back to your room and sleep." And with the final words, Doujima ended that announcement. "Then, see you tomorrow morning at 6. Dismissed!"
Karen left the hall immediately as she didn't want to hear those heart-wrecking scene where that students complaining till no end. Even that day didn't tire her body too much, but she didn't want to spend her 'free time' by the training kitchen. So she headed directly to her room.
"It seems that you're already confident enough with your breakfast menu for tomorrow morning, Ren-kun."
Karen stopped walking when she heard the familiar voice not far from her. She turned around and found Doujima Gin stood several steps from her current position. Then that man came closer to her.
"Am I wrong?"
"Nah... I have several things in my mind, but I can't work on it when my body is tired. So, I decided to have a short rest before I worked on the recipe." Karen answered, forcefully as she actually didn't want to have a talk.
"Is that so? Then... good luck."
Karen continued her way to her room, then changed into her pajama once she reached her room. She lied on the bed, but her eyes disobeyed her wish. It kept starring the plain white ceiling of that room. Doujima's words in his announcement before kept replaying in her head. The guest of Toutsuki Resort aren't only 'ordinary' people whom wanted to enjoy a quality vacation. They are 'important' people whom had business in Toutsuki Group, vary in age and preference.
"A hotel classed breakfast menu, with a refreshing surprise in it, also... liked by many kind of people, huh?"
Stood in a line with other students as she waited for her turn to take the coupon of her assigned post for that breakfast assignment, Karen counted her 'remained' favorite caramel cubes in her small pouch. She could see many tired look around her. It can't be helped, as she herself unable to have a rest. Cursed her own curiosity that made her tried so many kind of ingredient in her 'upcoming' breakfast menu.
Five minutes later...
Karen looked at her coupon for the nth time. Not even a letter on it got changed. She sighed slowly, cursing for her bad luck. She already stood in front of Hall A, where she will get her dish tested. But then, when she saw several students whom 'unfortunately' grouped into the same hall, Karen thought that her morning assignment will be a bit 'tight'. There was Tadokoro Megumi whom looked busy with her 'nervous vaccine' activity. The older Aldini twins – Takumi – whom had his post a bit far at the end of the hall. And, surprisingly Yukihira Souma whom got his post side by side with Nakiri Erina.
A – 67
It was Karen's post. She walked slowly as her eyes tried to find those code. She has passed countless workstations but still hasn't found hers yet. It was after she passed both Souma and Erina whom involved into 'little debate' that Karen found her workstation. And, to her biggest surprise, her workstation is face to face with both Souma and Erina.
"Ah... isn't it too amazing? As I get experience to see both you and Kuro Nakiri cook at the same place." Souma chimed in cheerful voice once he realized that Karen had her workstation in front of his.
"Is that so? Nah... I wish for your luck, Yukihira-kun." Erina commented finally as she sent a brief look over her sister who looked uninterested in their little chit-chat. Actually, the fact that Karen got into the same group as her already sent unpleasant feeling to her.
"You all have prepared the dish, right? Then, I will explain the rules of this test." Doujima Gin's voice rang all around the hall, made all the students stopped their activity and paid attention to every word spoken out by him. "Firstly, let me introduce the judges for today."
The tall and high door of the hall got opened, and many people entered the hall. Youngsters and elders, immediately filled the hall.
"They are food supplier whom working with Toutsuki Resort, as well as their family. Each year, they are being trusted to be the judge for training camp, and they already got informed about today's theme." Doujima kept talking about the judge. Then, the next group made their appearance. People from cooking division of Toutsuki Resort. As Karen had several times 'worked' in Toutsuki Resort, she already used to them. She spotted the bell captain – Sakuma Tokihiko, also Doujima's right-hand-man – Chef Sena Hiromi.
"There will be two criteria for this test. If the professional supplier and staff will acknowledge your idea or not. And, you have passed 200 dishes in two hours! Whoever passed those two conditions, will passed this test!"
Another complaint here and there, came from the students. Without she realized, Karen had a small smile on her lips. In 'normal condition' those two conditions maybe not a big deal for her to complete. But now, she has to face the 'cruelest' reality she ever had. She sent a brief look over Erina. Since she knew that her sister is in the same group as her, she has thought that Erina will be the 'main star' for that test. She must had prepared a luxurious breakfast menu. And, Yukihira Souma whom stationed next to Erina. Even he had come from a diner, Karen was sure that the boy had experienced in dealing with customers. Just a perfect 'combination' she got in that group.
"Then, ladies and gentlemen. Please, enjoy your breakfast."
"Please, have a taste!"
Each table decorated with the freshly served breakfast menu. Using the same main ingredient, but got cooked in different type dish. Just like Karen's prediction, Erina's station got crowded by the guests in no time. Serving the famous Egg Benedict which transformed with Erina's own recipe, they whom had tasted that dish looked like got spelled under a magic word.
"Oh, it's Ren nee-chan!"
Karen drew her attention from the crowd in front of Erina's post to someone whom had called her name. A little boy with chubby cheeks, followed by an old man with glasses. Karen recognized that little boy as well as the old man whom followed him. Kurosaki Nobuharu and his grandfather – Kawamoto Ryujin, both from Albion Confectionery.
"Nobu-chan, hisashiburi." Karen greeted the chubby boy once he and his grandfather stopped by her station. But, the boy didn't greet back as his red cherry eyes already captivated to the dish on the counter.
"Nee-chan, it looks delicious. Can I have it?" Nobuharu asked without looked back at Karen. He almost flooded the hall with his drool if Karen didn't reply to his request immediately.
"Of course. Take as many as you want."
"So, we are your first customer, Ren-san." The old Kawamoto Ryujin said as he took a plate of Karen's dish. Just like his grandson, Ryujin's old olive eyes also gleamed in joy as it examined each corner of Karen's dish.
"As you can see, Kawamoto Jii-san. We have the 'queen' here. Truthfully, compared to her dish, mine is far behind hers."
Kawamoto pulled up his glasses position as he smiled a bit to Karen. "Ren-san, you always belittle your own talent. Of course, your dish is delicious. Right, Nobu... hoi, Nobuharu! What are you doing?!"
Almost all the people in that hall froze because of the sudden outburst did by the old man Kawamoto. Karen was the one whom had the most shock face all of the people. The reason behind her shock face wasn't the scream did by Kawamoto but the thing did by the chubby Nobuharu. That little boy looked up at his grandfather with his innocent face while his mouth full of Karen's dish. He kept munching, swallowed it once it got munched, then took another plate of the dish. Kawamoto got dumbfounded by his grandson's doing, then he shifted his sight to the empty plates which already reached into ten plates.
"Oh! It's Nobuharu-chan!"
Another child's voice did break the awkward silence in the hall. A group of little boys and girls surrounded the full-mouth Nobuharu with their curious looks. A girl with curly brown hair came closer to Nobuharu.
"Nobu-chan, what is that? It looks delicious."
"You... have... to... try... it..." Nobuharu replied between his munching, then placed his eleventh empty plate on the counter. He wiped his mouth with the back of his palm then smiled widely. "It's really... delicious!"
One by one, the group of child – which Karen considered as Nobuharu's friends – took the dish and ate it. Laughter of joy soon filled that 'already' noisy hall, attracted another guest to come to that station. Kawamoto, being the one whom came first at that station, reminded the jet-black haired girl to begin move to serve another plate of her dish as the served dish on the counter got taken one by one.
Sakuma Tokihiko – the one whom previously got spelled under Erina's dish, did take a brief look over Karen's station. At first, it was surrounded by kids, then as time goes by, teenage as well as grown-ups began visited that station. So, as to kill his curiosity over Karen's dish, Sakuma Tokihiko himself became one of the customers of Karen's station. He took a plate with Karen's dish on it. It was almost alike Erina's Egg Benedict, but looked different too at the same time. The English muffin at the bottom, baby spinach, smoked salmon fillet, then topped with poached egg and hollandaise sauce.
"Uhm... oishiii..."
A waitress next to him let out a joyful comment once she ate the same dish Sakuma had in his hand. Then, he tried his. On the first bite, he was speechless. Too many flavors in one bite. Deep in his head, he kept questioning how the one whom made that dish is masterfully balanced the bullish flavors of yuzu, jasmine and lemon in one recipe. Not only that. There is still something hidden in that dish. Something which smeared the baby spinach as well as the smoked salmon fillet once it got munched.
It's... salmon egg gelatine!
Sakuma screamed out in his head once he found out the last piece of surprise in Karen's dish. If Erina's dish made him knelt down because of its rich – elegant taste, then Karen's dish is the opposite of it. Karen's dish, if Sakuma put into simple words is wild and free. The feeling he got when he tasted the dish is like a child stepped out of their home for the first time, filled with so much fun and curiosity. There were laid so many treasure in that dish. The tea-smoked salmon fillet, a beautiful twist of yuzu and lemon on the classic hollandaise sauce. Then, the poached egg at the top and the salmon egg gelatine in between the salmon fillet and baby spinach which became the biggest treasure in that dish.
"Nakiri Erina, Nakiri Karen, have passed 200 plates!"
Doujima's sudden announcement brought all the people in that hall back to their sense. It was an ordinary breakfast set but also a competition at the same time. Takumi whom busy serving his breakfast menu only cursed in his head once he heard that announcement. The evaluation was only started 45 minutes ago, and those Nakiri twins already passed the requirements for that assignment. But then, he almost dropped his own knife when he saw Nakiri Karen stopped cooking. What she was doing?
"Ano... Ren-san? Why are you stop making your dish?" The old Kawamoto asked when he saw the younger one did unusual act. The customers got more each second, so she should cook faster, right? But Karen did the opposite. She switched off the stove, started cleaning her workstation from the ingredients as well as the utensils.
"Ren-san?"
Karen whom previously back-faced the guests turned around. She showed her smile before apologized to them.
"Gomennasai... actually, I just made 200 plates for this menu. As I have passed my quota, I can't make more plates for you all."
All the guests whom had surrounded her station became speechless after hearing her reason.
"Eh...? Don't tell me... but, you still have the ingredients. Also, you still have time before the promised two hour time-limit, aren't you? You can serve several plates of your dish!" One of the guests spoke out his opinion, which got agreed with others – the old Kawamoto and his chubby grandson are included.
"That's right... but, isn't it too boring if you can tasted so many different delicious dishes but you only took one of it? Even I envy that opportunity given to you all." Karen shot another 'excuse' to the guests, hoped with that 'lame' words they will moved from her station and begun hunting at another station. She even counted each second but it seemed that the guest in front of her were the hard-headed type as they still stood at their places. So, she launched her last attack. She sent a pleading look over the old Kawamoto, asking him to lure the others out of her station.
"Ah... I think, Ren-san is right. Look! Those station served an interesting dish! Nobuharu! Let's get them before we run out of it!"
The old Kawamoto winked his left eye before leaving Karen's station with his grandson. Then, one by one the other guest followed Kawamoto's act. Karen let out a sigh once her station was free of the customer. It was when she was about to clean out her counter, Sakuma Tokihiko came to her place.
"Isn't it will be easier to make another plate for them rather than letting them go?" Karen didn't answer that question immediately. "They came to this station like ants surrounded sugar. It was a big chance for you to get the top place for this assignment, who knows?" Sakuma added.
"Then... I just offered the bigger sugar to them, Sakuma-san. Also... there are still another assignments after this. I didn't want to tire myself over unnecessary thing as I have passed my quota for this assignment."
Those answer got heard a bit arrogant, to Sakuma. It was like a mocking to the guest's request. But, when he looked at it in different point of view, it looked like Karen already gave a big chance for other students to 'catch' her customer.
"Why don't you try their dish yourself, Sakuma-san?" Karen asked the older one, faced him with a calm look. "They, whom gifted with talent, surely served an interesting dish."
The next day – Training Camp 5th day
4 pm – Lobby of Toutsuki Hotel
"Good work today."
Karen didn't move her attention away from her phone even her surroundings was noisy with those greetings as well as another discussion about that day's assignments which 'miraculously' ended earlier than other days. Karen's focus was solely on her phone. She was waiting for Haruki's reply for her message since five minutes ago. This past four days, she even didn't had a time to just sent a message to the older one as she already busy with those assignments or she's too tired out of fatigue. And, it was intentional or not, the latter didn't sent a single message either.
"Waiting for someone's call?"
Karen looked up from her phone as she heard that familiar – yet a bit annoying – voice, asked her. Shinomiya Kojirou, with the same cocky face of his, stood in front of her with his hands crossed against his chest.
"Kind of." Karen replied nonchalantly. Then she put her phone in her uniform pocket.
It was a bit surprising, as the last thing she remembered was she didn't get a 'good' end with the said chef in their last 'conversation'. So, it was like got struck with the thunder in the middle of day when Shinomiya asked her first. In the same place where Doujima announced the breakfast assignment, only the remained students presented there. Karen didn't find other alumni in that place, except that coral pink haired man.
"Your achievement in the breakfast challenge, it was a bit surprising. So your fellow students, Yukihira and Tadokoro." Shinomiya brought another topic into their talk. And he didn't get a reply from the other party. So, he continued on. "But, what with that 'act' you did yesterday? It's no other than a 'rejection' to the customer's request."
Karen casted a brief look on Shinomiya, then she asked back. "You saw it?"
"All the alumni whom became the instructor in this camp saw each progress in each hall. Of course, your 'scene' yesterday... they saw it."
"Is that so?"
Shinomiya almost pulled Karen's hair because of her 'plain' respond. What was inside her head actually? He asked himself.
"Then... you must have questioned, 'why that girl did those stupid act when the guest praised her dish', 'she could be the top student in that assignment if not for that stupid act', right?"
"Wha- Nonsense!" Shinomiya tried to deny Karen's intuition, but it seemed that he's failed. Maybe it's not in his words, but his face spoke all of it. That Karen's words just now is a correct prediction. For the nth time, Shinomiya got surprised by Karen's insight.
"My reason for making that dish isn't for the top spot, Chef Shinomiya." Karen said, didn't belief herself that she will spilled out her reason to that chef. "It's not like that I blame them whom had the goal to take the top spot with their cooking talent or their dish. It's just, that kind of reason... it was like untamed ambition to me. You keep repeating the same routine of defeating others with your dish. Defeating them means that you have to make them acknowledge your dish. All of it seemed... exhausting."
Shinomiya didn't comment to Karen's words. He just listened to her, in silence. He understood the meaning behind Karen's words, as he had experienced it himself. But, when he looked at Karen, he caught another thing which he can't definite it.
"Then... what is 'the best dish' in your dictionary, Nakiri Karen?"
