Chapter 88: Onwards and Upwards
- The Second Bout: Takumi vs Eizan
Turning to face Tōtsuki's new deputy director, and probable new chef on Central's side, the eyes of the rebel chefs widened as they took in the sight of the tall black haired lanky older teenage boy whom bore an uncanny resemblance to the Director himself.
In fact if Mister Aida hadn't announced this new chef as 'Saiba' then they would have all taken him to be a Nakiri.
However, as well as still presenting a unified glaring front at Azami for introducing another change to the food war, the rebel team all turned their their eyes turned towards Sōma's father as they all began to reevaluate the former second seat - believing that he'd either had another son before Sōma or he'd cheated on his late wife.
"Jōichirō… what have you done now", Dōjima stated wearily. "I thought you'd left this side of you behind when you met your late wife".
Fighting off the urge to simultaneously grin and frown at his best friend for reminding him of his wild days as a Tōtsuki chef, and then for his seeming lack of faith in him as an adult, Jōichirō sighed and rolled his eyes as he ran a hand through his hair.
Striding forwards, the former second seat took ahold of his best friend by the shoulder and dragged him off to a corner of the venue hall - out of earshot of the team rebels and their friends - to speak together in hushed tones.
"I haven't done anything…" Jōichrō murmured waving his hands. "At least not what you're insinuating", he stated flatly. "I don't do that sort of thing anymore. I loved my wife, meeting her and having Sōma saved my life and changed my culinary outlook..."
"Then why does this strange boy carry your name? And why does he seem to be pointedly glaring at you and Sōma?" Dōjima interrupted with a frown.
Sighing again, Jōichirō dipped his head into his hands and explained about how ten years ago during a trip to the United States, in the town of Springdale - Arkansas, where he had come across an orphaned quiet boy whom was bullied by his peers because of his asian heritage.
"Who", Jō explained sadly, "as a result of such actions against him become severely self deprecating and socially dissociative".
"Scorning his own life because of bullies and adults who disdained his existence he found no motivation to live", Jōichirō continued in a whisper as to not alert Asahi that he was being talked about.
"I felt a need to help him…" he explained. "Our circumstances were not in any way similar but I still immediately I had to help him. Because I knew what it was like for him to feel lost and unmotivated".
Dōjima visibly flinched at the mention of 'friends' struggles during their time at Tōtsuki - decades ago - all culminating in his mental collapse and dropping out of the B.L.U.E, and then school too.
Reaching forwards the executive chef grabbed Jōichirō by the shoulders and embraced him. "I'm sorry I wasn't properly attuned to your suffering back then..." he murmured regretfully.
"You don't need to apologise again Gin", Jō grinned. "I've never once blamed you, or even Nakamura, for my fall from the BLUE or dropping out of Tōtsuki".
Smiling as he patted his best friend on the shoulder, Jōichirō couldn't help but see how it had looked to Gin back then - feeling helpless and guilty for failing to be a more supportive friend.
"But when I first met Asahi in Springdale..." Jō continued. "Ten years ago, I decided that I needed to show him something, anything that would get him motivated to continue living. Anything to make him think was worth something for his being born".
"And cooking was that something", Dōjima interjected rubbing a hand across his chin. "I see. Seeing a part of yourself within him, you chose to give a new lease on life to a depressed and lonely boy by wanting to free him from his childhood misery".
"Yes, exactly right. Although I had never expected to see him again. Let alone see him as an ally of Azami"Jōichirō replied despondently. "This is not the culinary way I taught him".
Suddenly hearing mister Aida's voice loudly proclaiming the resumption of the food war battles that had been 'interrupted', the executive chef and the former second seat made their way back towards Senzaemon, and watched as Sōma and Nene began to cook their soba dishes.
"I believe you should let them know about this…" Dōjima murmured gesturing with his thumb over in the direction of Sōma and Erina, "it looks like they've assumed the worst about you. And are ready to dump you as a role model, not that I would recommend anyone to ascribe that particular word about you".
Returning to their earlier positions, standing either side of Senzaemon, the two food war commissioners continued their glaring match with Sean Aida - whenever that man - wasn't spouting pro-central propaganda.
The remaining battle of the first bout, Chise Nakata vs Shōko Kaburagi was relatively uneventful and decidedly quick, as Kensuke's sous chef made impeccably short work of the newest council seat by marking her round with an impressive 3-0 victory for the rebel team.
As she left the stage, Chise grinned and patted Sōma on the back telling him to "keep calm and carry on".
"You're welcome!"
His usual cheerfulness, as he delivered his final cooked plate of Fried Soba with Takoyaki was gone, replaced with a cold blunt growl that bore down on Director Azami and the two new women judges with such ferocious intensity that they all unconsciously shifted in their seats.
"May you enjoy what we're going to continue preparing for you!"
Glowering at them as he removed his headband and rewrapped it around his wrist, Sōma spun around balled his fists and basked in his victory over Central.
His opponent, Nene Kinokuni, had put out a super refined and traditional dish of handmade 2:1 Soba noodles with soy dipping sauce and Shrimp Teriyaki - but for all the work she'd done - Sōma, as well as the other rebels had already known how the battle was going to end.
"I will not serve Central anymore".
Those had been Nene's words to Sōma and Isshiki before their food battle was restarted.
Nene had competed as a member of central but her heart and soul had been reclaimed - freed from Azami's control - by Isshiki.
"I'm sorry…" she murmured, as she made her way back off the stage, walking past the redhead boy's workstation and over towards a smiling and wide eyed Isshiki, who hugged her tightly.
Megumi, whom had also overheard Nene's whispered regret filled apology smiled at the defeated sixth seat before she left her to embrace Isshiki.
Smiling to himself, Sōma found that he was extremely happy and glad that the two childhood friends had reconciled themselves and seemed to reciprocate their shared feelings.
Looking over towards his friends whom were currently encaged by the 'special seating' arrangement, set out by Central, Sōma felt his earlier rage for drift away as he looked upon each of their happy grinning faces; aimed at him, Isshiki and Chise.
"Oomph…" he wheezed in discomfort as the sudden double whammy of frustration and anxiety that were Megumi and Takumi both bolted forwards and slammed into him.
Immediately beginning their admonishing of him for his terse attitude and behaviour towards the judges, his girlfriend followed by his best friend-and-rival glowered in frustration before sighing.
"What the hell were you doing!" Takumi yelled, exasperatedly grabbing his rival by the shoulders. "I know we're fighting a team food war right now but good manners and decorum are meant to be adhered to as well!"
"Sōma… please don't feel like you have to take on the responsibility of seeing retribution for my brother", Megumi stated sadly and worriedly, as she clasped her hands either side of her boyfriend's face and gazed deeply into his golden eyes.
Taking a deep breath before exhaling, Sōma suddenly realised what his father and Isshiki had been trying to make him understand.
"I get it..." Takumi spoke wistfully as he recalled eating Kensuke's food during the Moon Festival. "He was… is a phenomenal chef, but Sōma; Megumi's right. As much as we all wanted Ken to see things differently, he chose to walk with Central".
"Wait… that's not what I meant", he stammered waving his hands in front of his face as he abruptly found himself staring down two sets of angry narrowed eyes silently accusing him of indifference towards the third seat.
Quickly, the blonde Italian quickly reworded what he'd said into something that sounded more understandable to Kensuke's situation rather than seeming indignant.
"What I meant was…" he replied even toned, "Kensuke chose to go with Central because he believed that Azami could help him and others like him. However, he never knew just how far Erina's father would go to manipulate and use him to get this far".
"Moreover…" isshiki interjected, as he and Nene made their way over to them. "Ken was never able to really put into words how he usually felt around the Tōtsuki campus. Only Tsukasa and Rindō were ever able to read him, so even if we'd asked him more firmly - as I often used to do - then we already did, I still think that he would have struggled to describe his feelings properly to us".
A sorrowful glance suddenly overcame Nene as she swept tears out of her eyes. "I-I always looked up to Ken seeing him as how I should conduct myself as a chef… never knowing how hard he himself struggled with the industry", she stuttered tearfully.
"But... I think I finally understand just why Tsukasa and Rindō were always so defensive and protective of him", she murmured quietly. "They all understood... what it was like to have the eyes of future expectation constantly watching them".
Leaning against her childhood friend the now defeated sixth seat appeared genuinely regretful and mournful as she hung her head in shame.
"It's okay…" Megumi stated plainly trying her very best to not break down on tears again. "You befriended and were always beside him. I'm grateful that my brother found people he trusted to feel normal around".
Flicking her new single hair braid over her shoulder, the blue haired girl stepped forwards and embraced the sixth seat; mentally adding her to the already plentiful list of 'sisters in all but blood'.
"Thank you!" Nene openly cried, no longer able to hold back the flood of anguish and frustration she'd been holding back. "Thank you for saying that".
It was then that a flustered and annoyed Erina marched up to them grabbed Takumi by the arm and dragged him into the main cooking stage. "You should've been up here by now!"
Letting out an exasperated sigh, she patted his shoulder before pushing him forwards. "After all… you did argue rather vociferously that you wanted to go next in the lineup!"
Tearing his gaze away from his friends, and glowering at his opponent, as he walked up the steps to the main cooking stage, Takumi winced as the loud teasing voices of his brother - aided by Alice Nakiri reached him.
"~Takumi~", the three girls, and Iasmi, all exclaimed in a higher frequency than before, making him flinch. "You'd better make Ikumi proud!"
Feeling his face burn red with embarrassment the blonde Italian boy bit his tongue and forced himself to not turn towards Ikumi, imagining her flushed complexion as well as her annoyed-embarrassed retorts to those whom had sparked that response.
Instead taking a very deep breath, Takumi stepped up towards the raffle box that was used to randomly assign themes for the individual food wars and withdrew a single white piece of paper with the word 'Beef' written in elaborate black kanji.
Grinning to himself he couldn't help but feel exhilarated by the familiar ingredient he'd been given. And minutes later his exhilaration doubled as he was met with the sights of various beef cuts brought out before him.
"Dammit! Why are you my opponent?" Eizan's angry voice sounded from the other side of the cooking stage.
"Takumi Aldini!" The new eighth seat spat furiously. "You are nothing but an up-jumped mongrel pup!"
Burying his seething fury, Takumi kept his face impassive as he slowly turned around to face his opponent. Biting his tongue to keep himself from descending to Eizan's level of taunting any bullying, Takumi smiled sweetly as he walked forwards.
"Whilst you clearly don't like me", he stated genteelly, "and the feelings mutual by the way. I ask that you please concentrate on your own cooking rather than being your usual antagonistic jerk-self", he added in response.
"You cocky little brat!" The new eighth seat replied, balling his hands into fists as his opponent casually sauntered past into the huge adjacent pantry for additional ingredients.
"Oh and one last thing..." the blonde rebel replied, his voice becoming a base growl from over his shoulder. "Today will be the day that I get back at you for being the unethical cruel puppet master behind mine and Mimasaka's food war".
An hour into cooking…
"The second round of this regiment de cuisine is now underway…" Mister Aida exclaimed.
"Chefs Etsuya Eizan and Momo Akanegakubo pair off against their respective rebel degenerate opponents - Takumi Aldini and Megumi Tadokoro".
Waving off the rebel names with a swift derisive wave of his hand, Mister Aida grinned maniacally as he spun around on the balls of his feet and gestured toward the last set of combatants.
"Also partaking in this food war today..." he chuckled mirthlessly, "are Mimasaka Subaru and Sōmei Saitō. So make sure to please cheer loudly for our beloved fifth seat! And drown out the pitiful whimpers from his deplorable allies".
The entire venue hall - filled with a hundred or more Central supporting industry figures, elite sponsors and Tōtsuki students - erupted into a mass of cheering of applause as well as the taunting and jeering towards the rebels immediately as the three rebels took up their places on the stage.
As the six competing chefs re-emerged from the pantry wheeling their carts laden with all their chosen extra ingredients to support their theme ingredient, the hall burst into another loud ruckus of cheers and jeers.
"You show em Takumi!" Ikumi yelled, inadvertently flashing him - a more detailed - glance of her breasts as she jumped in adoration. Instantly blushing heavily as she realised what she'd just done, and how her friends were all now staring at her, as well catching sight of Alice's raised wiggling eyebrows, the 'Meat General' spun around and grabbed Akira's coat and throwing it over her chest.
"You got this! Take that goon down!" Yuki and Ryōko yelled loudly. "Ikumi's waiting for you", they both hollowed grinningly.
"Brother! Do our family proud", Isami grinned as we'll as he stood next to a put out Akira and an embarrassed looking Shun.
Hearing that from his friends - the loudest cheer of support being Ikumi - made his heart swell with pride and adoration for them all. Trying very hard to not think about his friends teasing incinerations, the blonde Italian focused his brain to return to his recipe. And not the image now permanently in his mind.
Also, the other rebel's cheering caused him to regain his usual broad smile - which he'd lost when seeing Eizan - which resulted in the his girlfriend rolling her eyes and blushing even more from beneath the coat.
Turning his mind back towards his cooking Takumi immediately placed sesame oil and the sliced beef into frying pan on the heat before adding sliced ginger and garlic.
"Oh hell yeah!" Isami exclaimed, as he realised what his brother was cooking. "Your making a Shigureni. Show Central just how well you can make Japanese food as you do Italian too".
Keeping his expression reserved the elder Aldini twin nodded his head in the direction of his brother, non-verbally letting him know what he was planning for his unique twist on the Japanese dish.
Suddenly, as if by magic, Takumi knelt down behind the level of his workstation opened a small draw and withdrew a cling film topped ceramic bowl. "No way…" Corage's voice reverberated around the hall. "That's a proving draw… for dough? Is Takumi Aldini seriously going to make a Shigureni... Pizza!"
"It would appear is if mister Aldini is going for something unconventional", Director Azami chuckled ruefully. "And whilst I can appreciate this boy's ingenuity, Chef Eizan will undoubtedly win. For he is the Alchemist!"
Once again the venue hall erupted into cheers, making the expelled first years droop a little in their caged seating area, although this time Sōma's loudly retorted them all.
"Laugh and cheer all you want!" The red haired boy exclaimed, his voice carrying both determination and petulance, "but us rebels will bring down your so-called revolution!"
"Yeah..." Erina added as well. "We will show you what food cooked by free chefs who've learnt from all their culinary experiences, even the mistakes, can do!"
Cheering on their boisterous friend, and the new impetuousness of the God Tongue, the expelled first years suddenly noticed the evil grin Eizan wore as he watched Takumi roll out the pizza dough and then add on the Shigureni beef, onions and mozzarella cheese topping.
"What the hell is that bastard doing now!" Ikumi and Ryōko both yelled grabbing the bars of the cage.
"Oh Takumi", he smirked contemptuously. "You may think that you have me beat with your pizza Shigureni but you're gonna be waiting an awful long time for your crust to become nice and golden. Therefore as you sit by and wait, I can influence the judges before you're even ready".
Gesturing towards and pot of boiling water on the stovetop, Takumi's eyes narrowed as his gaze fell upon the artichoke laden pot.
Retaining both his composed expression and sturdy posture, Takumi ignored Eizan's attempt at aggravation and swivelled on his feet returning his attention to his Shigureni pizza.
"Taunt me all you like chef Eizan but your words no longer have any affect on me..." Takumi replied with a smirk of his own. "But don't worry, I can keep up with you. So keep running your mouth and allow me to demonstrate to you why your cooking will always loose to mine!"
R.I.P:
Charles Fuller. Amazing Playwright.
Loretta Lynn. Country Musician and Singer.
Sacheen Littlefeather. Actress, Model and Native American cilvil rights activist.
Dame Angela Lansbury. Legendary actress of Film, Theatre and Tv; as well as a singer. [Absolutely unforgettable and beloved]. -- I must have been the only child who was addicted to watching murder she wrote.
