Chapter 12: The Breading of Another World

AN: Okay, I checked and it turns out that it is kaki peanuts that Saiba used in his Char Okakiage, not rice crackers. I do apologize for not looking things up and hope to avoid them in the future. But I'm sticking with the rice crackers on this.

Oh, and I made a forum. Here's a link if you guys are interested: topic/230469/182694898/1/

Many of the chefs gawk at what Saiba pulled out from his knife case. It is a mezzaluna, but it is black as coal with one part of the handle in a form of a minotaur while one is in the shape of a Roman emperor in battle armor, which both are as black as the blade yet the blade itself has a super sharp edge that gives it a steel coloration.

Takumi says in surprise. "A black mezzaluna?!"

Saiba goes, "Oh, you like it? I had Tritoria custom made back home. Made from the metal ore of a meteorite."

One of the male students say, "That thing is made from a meteor!?"

One female student says, "Incredible!"

Saiba has the chicken place on the table. He looks at Megumi, "Megumi, prepare the greens!"

"Right!" Megumi immediately gets to work on the greens that she got.

Saiba looks at the chicken, "Okay, here we go."

Saiba then proceeds to cut the chicken by having the mezzaluna in his hand spin like a buzz saw. He slices through the ribs with ease and great precision with no lost to his movement. He even manages to cut the legs and wings off in a flash that many are impressed.

"Whoa!" one of the male students say, "Saiba is using that strange knife as a buzz saw!"

Another male student says, "And he does it without making any mistakes!"

Takumi is speechless as he looks at how Saiba is able to use his mezzaluna beyond the skills of any expert chefs. 'How is it possible!? I thought my skills with it are second to none! But Saiba uses it in a way that I cannot fathom!'

Isami has his dropped all the way down to the ground. Literally.

Saiba removes all the organs from the carcass before removing all the dark meat and breast meat as he combines them to make it look like fish.

Megumi says, "I'm finished with the greens."

"Good. Get the oil and fryer ready."

"Right."

Saiba then pulls out the rice crackers and put them all in saran wrap and pulls out a hammer.

'Wait a minute. Is he...'

BAM! Saiba starts pounding the rice crackers with the hammer.

'He's planning on using the rice crackers as the breading. Not only that, he is combining the light taste of the white meat of the chicken with its flavorful dark meat.'

Hinako watches with interest, 'I see. Combining both the light and dark meat of the chicken to bring out its flavor. Using the rice crackers as a breading will give it a unique texture. Although, I wasn't expecting a fried dish. This should be interesting.'

Saiba covers the chicken meat with the rice crackers before frying them. Megumi then makes the sauce using egg yolks, kinome (pepper tree buds), salad oil and salt. Everyone can't believe how efficient both of them are doing. Before long, they're finished.

"Done!" Saiba says.

Both Megumi and Saiba present their dish to Hinako. The dish almost look like tempura from a char or some king of fish yet made of chicken. It is perfectly breaded and looks like tempura with crunchy rice crackers. The vegetables are place neatly on the side close of the chicken. On the other side, there is the special sauce Megumi made in a small red cup. The sauce is so yellow and glistening with the sprinkled kinome.

"Here you go, Chef Hinako." Saiba says to Hinako, "This is Hiwatori O-kakino Tane-age."

"My goodness." Hinako takes her chopsticks, "So you use the rice crackers in your bag for breading."

"Yes, ma'am. I learned to cook with whatever I can find and whatever I have on hand. I learned a lot when I traveled with my grandfather."

"I see." Hinako picks up the chicken, "The chicken is perfectly and evenly coated with the rice crackers and seasoned wonderfully." She sniffs, "And the smell. It has an excellent aroma to it." Hinako then dips the chicken in the sauce before taking a bit. Yet she admires the sauce, "The sauce is whipped up with egg yolk and kinome. This is a fluffy tamago no moto sauce with a hint of spice. Now for the taste."

Hinako takes one bite. All the students watch to see what happens as she munches on the fried chicken.

"Now this has such a wonderful texture! It's so crispy and the chicken is nice and warm. The coating protecting the two types of meat help concentrates the flavor. The dark meat surrounding it helps keep the white meat's moisture in and prevents it from drying out."

Takumi is stunned to hear such a thing while is brother looks hungry when Hinako describes the chicken.

"The flavor of the rice crackers gives it another layer of complexity. The sauce not only provides another layer of flavor, but also enhances the chicken. Eggs are a perfect paring for chicken, especially with oyakodon."

One of the female students say, "He use the eggs as a base. And that country bumpkin added salad oil and salt to the yolks and whip it up."

"Oh." one of the male students say, "So that's their sauce."

"The pepper buds and young sansho leaves gives the sauce a refreshing sensation. It helps tempering the oil and refine the flavor." Hinako dips the bitten chicken into the sauce, "The creaminess of the sauce glistening between bites of the crispy coating really rouses the appetite. The treatment of the fried vegetables are skillful as well. Providing a vibrant counter point to the chicken." She giggles a little, 'I've assign this challenge several times. Deep frying is one thing, but I never had a student give me a breaded dish.' Hinako blows the chicken to cool it down and takes another bite. 'And it works. The rice crackers bound within the foul.'

In her mind, she imagines herself high in the sky while being carried by someone with white feathered wings.

'Every time I bite, I feel like an angel is carrying up towards the heavens.' She moans as she is being lifted with the angel on her back, holding her neck and waist with his muscular arms.

The angel himself has a dress made off gold with green sprinkles on it that symbolize the sauce while also having a halo made from rice crackers. They both stare into each other's eyes tenderly and full of romance.

'I feel like I'm floating away to parts unknown! In crispy rice crackery and flavorful love!'

We make it back to reality as she wipes her mouth with a pink handkerchief.

Megumi looks happy that Saiba had come up with something, "Saiba? How did you come up with something like this?"

"We have okakiage that we use in Japanese cooking, right?"

"He pulverize the rice crackers and use them as a breading for our fried ingredients. Giving the dish an unexpected texture and flavor. I made a lot of it with different kinds of meat and it always satisfies."

Takumi says, "So you came up with the idea of using kaki no tane the same way, huh?"

Saiba goes, "Yeeep! Kaki no tane is basically senbei, which means rice crackers. Yet kaki no tane literally means persimmon seeds while kaki in okaki-age is a different kaki if you look at it in kanji."

"Is it all experiences you got from your hunts?"

"To some extent."

Hinako look at Takumi and Saiba, 'Takumi Aldini has a broad perspective on things. He didn't overlook duck as a possible ingredient. On the other hand, Saiba was expectionally creative. He made something no one else here even consider as an option. Even with conditional constraint, he set out to cook his dish his own way. That resolve is the mark of a professional chef.' She place her chopsticks down, "Saiba Yukihira. Megumi Tadokoro. You both pass."

Megumi and Saiba high-five as Saiba says to Hinako, "You're welcome, ma'am."

Saiba approaches Takumi, "Oi! Takumi." Saiba extends his right arm with his fist, "Once we pass camp and head back to school, whaddya say we do a Food War to truly prove ourselves on who is the better chef?"

Takumi smirks and fist bumps, "You got it, Saiba. And I'm gonna win!"

Saiba smiles, "Not if I manage to kick your butt!"

And so, a new friend and rival challenges young Saiba in his path on making his way to the top of the school. Two chefs that have work in restaurants and of different worlds race to the number one spot of Totsuki Academy. As time went by in the lesson, Takumi and Saiba talked about where they're from as Isami and Megumi listen. Although, they did notice that Saiba has skimmed through some stuff about his hunts. Everyone else is trying to find ways to impress Hinako by going out and finding whatever else they can find and make some new dishes. Some of them went as far as grinding uncooked rice into flour and use it as a breading for some of their fish. They may not be perfect, but enough to get a passing grade. Others try to make a mountain rabbit stew from one of the wild rabbits one team managed to catch. Others try to use everything they learned with a lack of imagination, in other words, they're the ones that are going home since they aren't giving Hinako what she wants. They are free to try again until the time runs out.

"Really?" Saiba says to Takumi, "So your father and uncle wanted you and your brother to go to Totsuki."

"Yeah. My father and uncle said that we need to get some experience or something like that. But there is something I have to ask though."

"Like what?"

"How did you manage to get to use your mezzaluna like that?"

"Yeah." Megumi says, "I would like to know, too."

Isami is interested as well, "I'm interested as well. In all my years of being in the kitchen, I never seen a mezzaluna used like that. Did you use magic?"

"But that's cheating!" Takumi point out.

Saiba blushes a little, "Well... It wasn't easy. But I did see one of the Gourmet Hunters use a weapon similar as well to cut-up some of the wild game in a similar fashion in one of my hunts. Actually, it looked similar to a mezzaluna yet with only one handle. I watched and studied the guy to see how he did it. So I practiced with a wooden mezzaluna I carved out and try to figure out how he did it. It took me over a year to figure out how until I finally mastered it."

"So you watched a hunter do the same thing with a similar tool? So it's not magic?" Takumi asks.

"Weapon, actually. But yes. That guy was pretty awesome who can only use healing and purification magic."

"That's amazing!" Megumi is amazed by what Saiba learned from a hunter, just by watching.

Hinako claps her hands, "Okay, class! That's enough! Today's cooking challenge is over."

Over half the students managed to succeed with a passing grade. The others aren't so lucky and have to leave.

Those that did make it say, "Thank goodness." or "We did it."

Those in despair are more like, "No, I failed." or "Ah man, I'm screwed."

As the students are about to leave, Takumi stops Saiba.

"Hey, Saiba!"

Saiba turns around to look at Takumi.

"You better pass this camping trip! Because I'm the one gonna take you down!"

Saiba grins and gives a thumbs-up, "You bet! Anytime, anywhere."

Takumi gives the same thumbs-up at Saiba.

Hinako says, "This class is dismissed. Everyone has to head back to the hotel, okay?"

Everyone got on the bus and head back to the hotel. However, Saiba is getting motion sickness with Takumi and Isami sitting across from him to his right while also sitting next to Saiba.

"Are you okay, man?" Isami asks.

"I hate traveling on wheels." Saiba says with a groggy attitude.

Yet Isami is trying to hold back his laughter with tears coming out, "Ah man. You look like a zombie."

"Shut up. You're making me feel even worse."

Takumi looks out the window while contemplating, 'I used my skills to the fullest in today's challenge. When that inspiration for that dish hit me, I was sure that I would win. Yet Saiba is a different level. Whatever he tried and ate in the Special Region far surpass anything I would have. Even his mezzaluna skills are far superior to mine. Dammit! I need to surpass him no matter what. If I were to get a glimpse or have sampled the food from Saiba's home, I would have a better understanding. Maybe even try to surpass him. One day, I will beat him.'

Despite feeling sick, Saiba looks at Takumi, 'Takumi Aldini. So, there's someone in the same grade as me who has come this far.' Saiba remembers all the hard work he did back home, yet there is something that has been bothering him. 'If I had stayed at home, I never would've known. But I have a purpose here. A purpose that I want to fulfill. Make sure that no one else dies in the New Continent.'

They have finally arrived back at the hotel with some members of Polar Star have passed.

"Megumi! Saiba!" Yuki shouted out as she runs over to them, "You made it!" Yuki hugs Megumi.

"Hi Yuki, hi Ryoko!" Megumi is glad to be with her friends and glad to see them all pass. "Heard anything about the others?"

Ryoko looks behind her where Shun is on his cellphone, "Shun is trying to find out right now."

"Understood, thank you." Shun hangs up the phone and tells everyone the good news, "Looks like we all made it through. Everyone from Polar Star survived."

"Oh, thank goodness." all three of the girls say.

Although, Saiba looks on the ground and notices Zenji is lying there and white as a ghost. "So, uh... Did Zenji made it?"

Shun explains, "Apparently he was running around in the mountains like a madman."

"Really? Our group had a challenge a bit similar."

Ryoko says, "Gosh, that was unbelievably exhausting."

"I'm so tired, I can barely move." Megumi states.

Yuki says with excitement, "Whatever are you saying, my young ladies. It's time for us to enjoy our reward!"

"What reward?" Ryoko asks.

Megumi is also confused, "Huh?"

"Dinner. A hot bath. And our fancy rooms. I'm sure they'll be luxurious and utterly gorgeous and comfy! And you know, I will enjoy them like it's the last day on Earth!"

"FLEX BABY!" says a bunch of muscular men in the dinning hall. All of them look like they're all hungry.

Yuki is utterly stunned by what she sees. All the students gathered there are confuse on what is going on. Hitoshi Sekimori, former Totsuki student and proud owner of a sushi restaurant, explains what is going on.

"You will have some free time when you're done making dinner for these gentlemen." Hitoshi says.

"Who the heck are all these muscle heads?!" Yuki asks out of despair and confusion.

"They're the members of the Upper Arm University Body Building Club, which is holding a training camp down the road. The football and wrestling clubs will also be joining us."

"FLEX!"

Hitoshi unveils on what they're gonna have to do. He shows a Japanese steak dinner with miso soup, pickles, a salad with hard boiled egg halves, and white rice.

"Tonight's meal: will be a steak dinner. You'll need to make fifty servings each for this challenge."

The students are in complete and totally shocked by what the hell they need to do.

"FIFTY SERVINGS EACH!?" one of the male students cried out.

One female student let out a, "WHAT?!" followed by, "STARTING RIGHT NOW?!"

"THAT'S FREAKING RIDICULOUS!"

Yuki asks, "Chef Sekimori! What about our dinner!?"

"Once you've made fifty plates, you are allowed to go ahead and cook for yourself."

Yuki's dreams of luxury dinners are crumbling, "Wait, what? We have to do what? But that's... Who will cook for us?"

"That's not going to happen."

"WAAAAH!" Yuki screamed as her soul is slowly being crushed.

"While you're here, you'll be in charge of making your own meals. That would be breakfast, lunch and dinner. Please keep that in mind."

Yuki looks like she got turn to stone as her soul is snapping.

Ryoko is scared of what she hears, "I can totally hear Yuki's soul dying inside."

Hitoshi pulls out a stop watch, "Oh, and one more thing: Anyone who is unable to complete their dishes within an hour, will be summarily expelled from the academy."

"W-WHAT?!" all the students have turn white as a ghost. Even more so than Zenji earlier.

He presses the stop watch, "Good luck." and everyone try to head to the kitchen.

Everyone is in a panic as they try to cook fifty servings in less than an hour. It is in total chaos as everyone runs around, getting the ingredients and worried that the body builders will come and eat them if they don't get their dinner. Hitoshi judges the steak dinners and send back any that aren't reaching his standards which forces many students to try again. The muscle heads are getting impatient as they scream out for more. Yet many students are now running ragged after the challenges they had to do, so they're a little slow and muster whatever strength they have left to complete this challenge or its game over.

Yuki thinks to herself while cooking, 'This training camp is truly pure evil.'

In her mind, she imagines all the dudes as demons as she is wearing fantasy warrior garbs to fend them off. Yet she is holding a kitchen knife and a lid of a stew pot to fend them off.

'THEY ARE DEMONS FROM HEEEEEELLLLLL!'

"Saiba Yukihira, you have completed fifty servings. You pass."

Saiba takes his headband, "You're welcome."

Yuki says in her tired state, "That was too fast."

Takumi is still working to reach fifty, "Crap! I fell behind!" He is now on his 46th plate, "Saiba Yukihira, mine will taste better than yours! Probably!"

Hitoshi scolds Takumi, "You! Use your hands instead of your mouth!"

"Y-yes, sir!" Takumi immediately gets back to work.

"Later!" Saiba says, "Any Polar Star members survive, you're welcome to my room!"

Zenji, despite being tired, sighs, "I can finally get some sleep."

"GET A MOVE ON, DORK! OR YOUR ON THE MENU! RAAAAAGGHHH!"

"AAAH!"

As Saiba heads over to his room, he notices a sign that says, 'Public Bath'.

"A public bath?" He smiles, "Hell yeah! I get the place all to myself!" Then he happily skips over to his room while singing, "Gonna get clean and get rid of the dirt of today~!"

Meanwhile, in the women's bath, Erina is there as she hums Spice. The first ending theme of the original show. Saiba continues to skip down the hall as he hums the same song while carrying his robe and towel. As Erina exits out and Saiba heads in, they both bumped right into each other and they both fell.

"Ow!" Saiba rubs his head, "What was that?!"

Saiba then sees Erina in her robes and Erina sees him. Saiba is also seeing Erina's cleavage and legs which causes him to turn red.

"Saiba?" Erina gets all happy and lovey-dovey, "SAIBA!" She pounces from the floor and tackle hug him.

"Oh crap!" Saiba says as he is knocked to the floor.

Erina rubs her clean body all over him. Snuggling him in a very compromising position. Then she proceeds to lick his right cheek.

"EWW!" Saiba is disgusted, "I haven't even taken a bath yet! Gross!"

"Oh." Erina stops licking, "But how about you and I find a mix bath for us to fool around in. I've already taken mine, but I wouldn't mind going for another, long as you're with me."

"NOOOOOOOO!"

Meanwhile, in one of the hotel rooms, Chef Kojiro Shinomiya, owner of Shino's in France, is trying to think of a new recipe while having a glass of red wine. But sadly, he keeps on drawing a blank. He becomes more and more frustrated the more he tries. Even go as far as taking it out on the students like he did before.