Dish.22 – Artful Child – [part.02]
"Of course, it's a curry dish. Why don't you take a taste of it first before criticizing it?"
Takumi's hold on the iron fence got tighter when he saw the dish got served by Nakiri Karen. Just like the one Nakiri Alice served, the dish made by Karen looked so 'unlike' a curry dish. Whoever saw that beautifully arranged dish must considered it as a usual classy dessert.
But, none knew if that dish was really a curry dish before they tasted it.
The man with thick mustache – Kouda Shigenoshin – focused on the rectangular thing colored in yellow-gold which like to be the base of whole dish. He took a small cut of it then brought it into his mouth.
"Ehm...! It's... a marinated pineapple. This flavor, it based on a Thai green curry."
"That's right. I made the marinade from green chilies, lemongrass, cardamom pods, lime, coriander, lime leaves, coriander seeds, Malibu and palm sugar. I marinated it for 2 days." Karen started explaining.
"There's a sweet flavor of sugar and coconut, and a bit sour from the lemon in the doughnut. It gave an incredible mix of flavors when it combined with the marinated pineapple."
The one whom seated on next to Kouda Shigenoshin – Minatozaka Makito – commented as his eyes closed in ecstasy because the flavor of the small part of that dish.
While Sendawara Natsume still stayed silent even after tasting both the pineapple and doughnut. Her tongue can't lie that the pineapple was a curry dish itself. But, since the very beginning she saw that dish, one thing that caught her attention was the green colored sphere which laid on the pineapple. What is that?
She tried to take a small portion of it then tasted it.
"..."
All the judges were silent when they tasted the same thing – that green colored sphere.
"H-h-how is the taste...?" The MC girl asked with her trembling voice. But not a single one replied.
Both Souma and Hayama fell into the same state too. Too much flavors which they tasted in that simple looked sphere.
"How... you ask? It's... too complex." Kouda Shigenoshin replied. "We tasted hot flavor from green chilies, ginger, and lemongrass. The aromatic one in it must be coriander and lime leaves. There is also sweet flavor from pineapple, coconut, and sugar. A bitter at the end... it's..."
"What a wonderful flavor!" Minatozaka Makito caught the audience attention after he took a taste of the coconut ice cream together with coconut gel, coconut crisps and coriander crisp. "Then... how if we ate all of the components in one go?"
...
...
...
Souma got stunned by Karen's dish. Each part of the dish was highlighted into the fullest. Each part has its own delicacy. To think that in the three hours given, she made a dish with various component like that.
He hasn't combined all of that parts into one spoon yet, but just imagined how it will tasted like was... made him scared.
So, this is your dish. Your true color, Kuro Nakiri.
While Hayama, he gritted his teeth in annoyance. He had acted mighty, saying that he'll win against her. Once he tasted Karen's dish, he got silenced completely.
The idea in that dish itself was something surreal. Bringing together sweets and curry, combined so many cooking techniques, and harmonized different textures and flavors of each ingredient into a complete dish.
Hayama didn't want to say it out loud, but... he has admitted his defeat.
"It's unfair! I want to taste it too! It looks so cute and delicious!"
In the Elite Ten's lounge, the 4th seat member kicking her feet against her chair's foot when she saw the dessert served by Karen. But, unlike Akanegakubo, the rest of Elite Ten presented there looked stunned not only by the presentation Nakiri Karen has made, but also because of another thing.
"As expected of Nakiri family's member. Maybe she will sweep the first place? Following her cousin Alice." Kuga Terunori commented as his eyes narrowed when he saw the judges' reaction about Karen's dish.
"But, by making it... she has crossed the line. That marinated pineapple and coconut ice cream, you know that kind of preparation is prohibited in this competition. I don't know if she's taking this competition seriously or not." The 6th seat member, Kinokuni Nene added as she pulled up her glasses.
"Eh... is that so?" The red haired Rindou-senpai butted into the conversation. "Nah... all of the dishes got served since the beginning till the end, definitely I will choose hers as my favorite. That dish is crazy."
"I think... that girl's the one whom crazy enough to be able to create that dish." Saitou Soumei got involved, then he looked at the first seat member whom still stayed silent and haven't given his comment. "What do you think about it… Tsukasa?"
"Uhm... I'm just thinking that... the title which entitled to her isn't a lie." Tsukasa Eishi paused. His calm smile followed by the almost forgotten title of a child prodigy back then.
"Such an artful child... she is."
Erina was curious about the dish's flavor as the said dish already made all the judges loss of words once they combined all the parts of the dessert into one spoon and ate it.
And for unknown reason, she felt her heartbeat got faster once she saw the judges were ready to give their score for the dish.
"T-the total score is..."
The hall fell into another complete silent when the total score got shown on the screen.
Later in the evening – Polar Star Dorm.
"Ehm... and now, the closing ceremony of Autumn Election Preliminary... it's time for PARTY!"
All the residents of Polar Star Dorm, added by Aldini brothers and Mito Ikumi, cheered together as they started their party. Many kind of dishes made to make the party got merrier.
"By the way, the scene happened earlier... was really unexpected." Ryouko started an issue to be talked together. After taking a sip of her drink, she continued. "I've thought that Ren-san will take over the first place."
"Me too. After all, with that marvelous dish and all the praises the judges had given. It's really surprising that they took that kind of decision." Yuuki responded, with tone less cheerful.
The rest agreed on it in silent.
"Hey! It doesn't mean that it has ended, right?" Isshiki whom barely placed a plate full of dish on it tried to cheer up his juniors whom looked a bit gloomy. "Even without Nakiri Karen's participation in the main tournament, it's still be a prestigious competition to decide the best one amongst Toutsuki's freshmen."
"So... ganbatte, minna."
As the other started digging in for the dishes as well as the snacks and drinks, opened up new talks, Souma chose to get out of that cramped room. He walked, headed to the balcony to get a fresh air. Taking a sip of his drink, he gazed at the endless night sky.
"You're here, Souma-kun."
He turned and found the blue haired Tadokoro girl stood by the stairs, then she walked towards him.
"What is it, Tadokoro?"
"Nothing. Just... you looked a bit different, Souma-kun."
"Is that so...?"
Megumi tried to look for something to be talked with Souma, as to lessen the awkward atmosphere between the two. Rather than his loss against his father back then, Yukihira Souma whom stood before her eyes looked frustrated. At least since the final announcement of participants which participated in the upcoming main tournament got announced.
"I heard that you used the same theme as Hayama-kun, the curry specialist. Even you made the judges fought each other." Megumi started.
"Hmm... but, there's another point. Do you know? I'm confident enough that I'll win. I thought that I'll get the perfect score from all the judges."
Megumi smiled awkwardly toward the last part of Souma's words just now. Just like Yukihira Souma supposed to be, she thought.
"... Hayama..."
Megumi put her attention on Souma again as that boy mentioned the curry specialist's name.
"Hayama used a condiment that I don't know. Kuro Nakiri too, she used so many cooking techniques in her dish. Both of them made marvelous dishes." Souma paused, as he stood straight then spilled out his next resolution. "I... want to know the world more. I want to learn about spices and cooking techniques, own many skills. And then put it all in my upcoming dish. I want to get stronger!"
"Souma-kun..."
He's so frustrated. But, he always looks forward. It's amazing.
"That's remind me, Souma-kun. How's Ren-san's dish? You... get to taste it, right?"
Souma didn't answer it immediately. He could tell that the girl before his eyes was curious about the said curry dessert which miraculously became the trending topic after the prelim ended.
"It's... so different with any kind of dish I have tasted. The flavor, it's undoubtedly amazing. When you try another piece and mix-matching it with another piece of that dessert, it will created another sensation. Just like when we tried different attractions in amusement park." Souma took a short pause as he tried to relive his experience tasting Karen's dessert earlier.
"Not only that. By tasting it, I was like felt her emotions in it. Boldness, curiosity, happiness, and... pure hope of the chef for the customer to enjoy it."
.
.
.
"... Just like what Oyajii always taught me about back in Yukihira Dinner. Kuro Nakiri's dish earlier... "
At the same time – Nakiri Mansion.
"Did you do it intentionally?"
The sudden question given by the most unexpected person in her list made Karen stopped walking. Even for the younger sister to involve in a conversation with Karen in Nakiri mansion was something rare to be happened. So, rather than answering Erina's unusual question, Karen asked back the younger girl.
"What do you mean...?"
"That curry dessert you've made at the prelim. The marinated pineapple and coconut ice cream that you've prepared before the prelim started... you put it intentionally to that dish so you'll get disqualified from the prelim. Do you hate competition that much?"
Karen's questioned look got deeper by Erina's words. "You thought so... Erina?"
"...?"
Karen turned around, and with a calm voice she started answering. "If I did it intentionally just to get me disqualified from the prelim, there's another easier way to get it, right? For example... all I need to do is not present on the prelim." Karen paused as she gave uninterested look to Erina.
"Just for your information, Erina. I'm not someone whom like to spend my time on unnecessary things."
"... So why...?"
Karen who was about to leave her sister, looked back at Erina whom strangely had a frustrated look on her face.
"Why... you..."
"Because it's the curry dish which I've worked for since summer holidays. And I want the judges to take a taste on it."
Erina clutched her dress tightly after hearing Karen's answer upon her unfinished question.
Why it always ended like that? Why Karen could read me so well when I can't guess even for the smallest thing about her?
"It doesn't matter if the end will turned out like that. Moreover, since in the beginning... I didn't aim their marks on my dish anyway."
With that, Karen turned around then resumed her walk which previously got stopped by her sister.
Unknown from the two sisters, Nakiri Senzaemon heard all of the talks since the beginning till the end. That talk, just reminded him of a conversation he once had with one of Toutsuki students years back. The same kind of question Erina posed to Karen, he asked it to that student.
.
.
.
"Do you hate cooking competition that much, Ken?"
"... Not really. I'm just... not fond of the idea about the gourmets put score over my dish. I'm preferred an honest answer, be it's disgusting or delicious. Just like your usual comment, Ji-san."
"What a strange answer..."
.
.
.
Nakiri Senzaemon sighed, as he glanced at the half-moon hanging on the night sky from the opened window. Despite his calm exterior, he was in deep thought about something. Something that he didn't know till when he could hold onto it.
At certain place far away from Japan...
WGO's main headquarters – Conference Room.
"Does she really a high school girl?!"
The long black haired young lady immediately covered her mouth once she felt her boss's eyes sent a spear look over her. She did take a glance over her boss whom strangely looked so interested in whatever things got shown over the screen in front of them.
"She scored 98, which is the highest score of all the participants in both blocks, right?"
"If the judge was me, I will definitely let her pass the prelim with that creation. So far, her dish was the most creative one in all the dishes being presented there."
One by one started voicing out their comments after the long battle of the Toutsuki's Autumn Election Preliminary which they watched via live streaming.
"I've thought that it'll bore me to death when I read the notification about this gathering earlier. To think that Nakiri family had such untitled chef, it's really surprising." One of the senior book men of the said organization started then sipped his camomile tea. "Say, Nakiri Mana-sama. Between that girl and the one with God's Tongue, who is better?"
All the eyes of book men focused on the lady whom got asked just now. That lady still had her sight on the screen which showed the jet-black haired girl dressed in her black colored chef uniform. A small smile appeared on her lips as she answered.
"You've got wrong about something, Sir. That girl isn't an untitled chef. In the past, she's quite popular. In junior competition, you all must have heard about a child prodigy called by the title 'artful child', right?"
The one whom gave the book master a question earlier countered back. "Does that girl...?"
"Yes."
The rest of book men gasped in disbelief of that revelation. Even in junior cooking competition, WGO put their attention on it too. As to find promising chefs between them.
The said child prodigy with 'artful child' title was one of their targets, back then. The child chef with unusual approach in her cooking style. Many worldwide-known gourmets even had said that the child chef's dish has reached the title of specialty.
It was even before WGO made a contact to the said child prodigy that the little chef suddenly disappeared. As if she has never exist in the first place. Even all the news article related to that child prodigy got deleted almost completely.
"I'm sorry if my words maybe offended you, Nakiri-sama. But, what kind of evidence that support your statement just now?"
Nakiri Mana didn't answer it immediately. She has predicted that kind of question will be given to her. So, she has come prepared.
"I have all the documents you needed in my office. But, before that... based on the show you all have watched, you must have realized it. Her theme... or should I call it as her specialty? It's... harmony, between two antagonistic things."
The long black haired young lady – whom being the first one to comment on the competition earlier – seemed catching the meaning behind Nakiri Mana's words just now. "Hmm... that's right. She harmonized both curry and dessert, spices and sweets."
It's not only that... since, that girl hasn't changed at all.
"What's wrong... Karen?"
The little girl didn't answer her mother's question as she slumped on the bed, her face was hidden behind the pillow. She even didn't bother on changing her chef uniform into casual one. The gold medal as well as the trophy already long forgotten laid carelessly on the floor.
"Did they... speak something bad again to you?"
Again, she chose to give her mother's question a silence answer.
"Don't be upset, girl. They just... envied your talent."
She felt her mother's hand on her head, caressing her jet-black hair which many people noted similar to her father's. She wanted to belief on her mother's saying, but she couldn't.
"You've created another masterpiece, haven't you Karen? Not only it has unique flavor, the appearance itself is beautiful."
Upon that statement, she stopped her muffled cry. She moved her face from the dampened pillow. Slowly, she looked up at her mother whom supported her motherly smile - which rarely seen - on her beautiful face.
"It's kind of sad seeing you looked like this even after you became the champion in cooking competition, dear."
She got brought into a hug the next second. Just like earlier, her mother will caressed her head as well as her back.
"I shouldn't let you attend it if the end was like this..."
She felt the hug got tighter, which for unknown reason... scared her. So... her mother's next sentences.
"... Then... From now on, Okaa-san want you to make dishes only for Okaa-san. Can you do it, Karen?"
Her mother's voice got heard... different. That request, it sent chills to her which made her afraid just to look up at her mother's face. With trembled voice, she asked back.
"... Why?"
"... Because..."
Her mother hung her answer, or maybe... she didn't intend to finish it. But, it felt strange enough... that she felt that her mother already said the continuation of it.
"... Okaa-san?"
She called back, tried to break free from the hug just to get a look over her mother's face. But, before she could do such things, her mother already brought her back into her hug.
"Because Okaa-san love you, Karen. Okaa-san love you so much..."
"Uso... it's all just a lie. You... not love me... right, Okaa-san?"
Two chapters in one update... actually I've planned on posting this several days ago as I'm too eager to share it with you all.
Actually, I have modified several parts from my initial idea about this arc will be made, and it ended up like this. I hope you all enjoy reading this and don't forget to leave your review later...
