Chapter 14
The Magician, The Village Girl & The Fox All Got Into A Food War...

Where we last left off, Megumi was about to be kicked-out after trying to alter a recipe made by Kojiro. But Saiba stepped up and tries to defend Megumi. When Saiba told him he never even heard of Kojiro or his restaurant, one of the male students said that Saiba is from the Special Region. Before all this Kojiro was struggling to make a new dish for his restaurant and is so frustrated that he takes it out on the students. But a Food War against someone from the Special Region might be the inspiration he needs as sets the challenge. Yet the conditions were that Megumi is the head chef while Saiba gets to be sous-chef while able to make a French dish with ingredients from the Special Region, and if they lose, they both will be expelled. Everyone is surprised to hear that and Saiba even accepted the terms.

"WHHAAAAAAAT?!"

Then Gen Dojima is there, hanging by the doorway, "Well, well. It looks like things have gotten rather exciting. Haven't they?"

Then Chef Hinako pops out from behind Gen.

"Chef Dojima?"

They all head to the office of the building with everyone explaining what happened.

Gen and Hinako looked over at Megumi's plate with Gen going, "Hmm. I see."

Hinako takes a bite from Megumi's dish. After tasting it, she gasp, "Her dish is so well done. How can you not agree with that?!" Then she annoys Kojiro with kanji letters for 'Boo' appearing over her head, "Something like this is totally deserves a passing grade." Then she goes over Kojiro's left shoulder to the right, "Kojiro, why are you so stubborn?" Then switches shoulders again, "You are a pig-headed fool and a complete narcissist!" Then she starts getting sparkles over her as she continues to switch shoulders, "A dumb-dumb!"

Then Kojiro grabs Hinako's head and lifts her from the ground as he says, "Shut your mouth, Hinako." in a subtle annoyed tone.

Hinako's head is being crushed as she begs, "Wa-ow-ow! I'm sorry!" and she gets dropped.

Kojiro explains, "Now Chef Dojima, the reason of why I challenged this young man is because I would like to give them a chance to save themselves."

"Really?" Dojima is not convinced with the sarcastic tone he gives, "From what I heard, you never give anyone or anything second chances. I thought you wanted to test your skills against a chef from the Special Region."

Kojiro shrugs and admits, "You got me there." with a smug on his face.

Hinako gets mad, "Honestly, Kojiro!"

Dojima smiles, "Then it's decided. I will manage this official Food War. Or rather, this off-site match."

Have the match being off-site is a bit of a surprise to Kojiro, "Uh?"

"However, we cannot disrupt this training's camp programming. Though you two will battle against Kojiro once these afternoon challenges have been concluded."

Kojiro objects, "Hold on! You wait just a minute! Why does it have to be off-"

Gen is giving a menacing aura along with a glare with his right eye in the shadows glowing purple, "Because, Kojiro, I said so." He said it in a menacing tone as well.

Kojiro frowns upon this but has no choice. "Very well then. I will go along and not publicly humiliate these students." He walks towards the door, "Okay, Saiba, looks like we have our Food War." He opens the doors while giving off his own menacing aura and looking back at him, "My skills will definitely succeed yours. Hope you won't get too upset."

"Then, it's settled. I invite you to the basement of the hotel annex this evening. You two will show me what you've got."

To Saiba, this is no problem, but Megumi is still worried. Outside though, the sun is shining which means the rainstorm has passed. The two of them walked down the halls with Megumi walking slower than Saiba.

"Well, we might be able to turn things around. But we should take care of business with the afternoo-" Saiba looks back and Megumi is angrily staring at him.

Megumi scolds him, "Saiba, you idiot! Why did you go and confront him like that?! I don't believe you!" then she calms down a little, "You already passed the stupid test." Then she starts crying. "Come on, Saiba. Just let me fail on my own." And she sits down on the floor, curled up and cries.

Saiba reaches out and helps her back up, "Come on, get up. I am NOT gonna let you fail, Megumi."

"Huh?" Megumi looks up at Saiba with tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Because you are my friend. I refuse to let my friend to end their journey here. You're the first friend I have ever made on this side and I won't, no, I refuse to have you leave just like that." Saiba claps both Megumi's hands into his, "You're special to me, Megumi. The first human friend I made on this side." Saiba accidentally say 'human'. "Now come on. Let's face that stupid jerk and show him how real chefs cook!"

"But I don't know anything about-"

"Don't worry." Saiba ensures Megumi, "I'll give you a quick rundown on some of the vegetables that we can use. But what kind dish do you want to make, Megumi?"

"What kind?"

Later at night, back at the hotel, almost everyone that have survived made it to the grand hall. However, some members of the Polar Star Dorm are starting to worry.

Ryoko is on her cellphone as she asks Yuki, "Well?"

"Nothing. She wasn't in her room either."

Ryoko tries calling Megumi, but gets nothing. "She's not answering her phone."

Yuki is completely exhausted while worried about her friend, "This is not like her. I wonder if something bad happened in class."

Zenji is on one of the black leather seats, "All teams should've finished their afternoon challenges by now. Don't tell me..."

Shun says, "Her name wasn't on the list on those who failed today."

Shoji and Daigo are on the couch with Shoji saying, "Why don't we ask someone from the same challenge?"

"Oh yeah!" Yuki knows who to talk to, "Saiba would've been with her, right?" But when she looks around, Saiba is nowhere to be found. "Where is he?"

Daigo looks around the room, "Yeah, I haven't seen that dude either."

Yuki tries to deduce, "Let's see here. Those two started a Food War when they were involved with Bowl Club."

Ryoko corrects, "Actually, Saiba was responsible for that."

...

They all go, "I GOT A BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS!" with lighting over them and imagining Saiba's head with big ears flying above that makes a mocking laugh.

One of the students that were in Saiba and Megumi's group runs up to one of her friends, "Did you hear?! Saiba Yukihira, the transfer student from the Special Region, challenged Chef Kojiro Shinomiya to a Food War to prevent that country bumpkin from getting expelled!"

The members of Polar Star heard that and so they run up to her and asks, "WHAT WAS THAT?!" as loud as they can.

In the basement annex, everyone make their way towards the site of the Food War as Gen Dojima explains.

"Totsuki's Resort Hotel annex won't be used in this year's training camp. So here, in the first floor basement kitchen, there will be no distractions."

They made their way to the basement annex with some standard stuff for a Food War such as steel tables, sinks, refrigerators, stuff like that. Yet the walls are made of reinforced concrete as exposed pipes can be seen above the light fixtures. The four are at one steel table with Megumi and Saiba standing across from Kojiro. He gives a threatening glare at them but it doesn't seem to have an effect on Saiba. Megumi is busy looking around and notices the judges for this Food War. The judges for this competition are Chef Hitoshi Sekimori of the sushi restaurant, Ginza Hinora, followed by Chef Donato Gotoda of Auberge, Tesoro, and Chef Fuyumi Mizuhara of Italian restaurant, Ristorante F. As for Chef Hinako Inui of Japanese restaurant, Kirinoya, she is currently being tied-up by rope with a crude cardboard sign on her that reads, 'Just an Observer'.

Megumi is even more nervous than before, "So, um... Why are all these graduates in here with us?"

"They've come her to act as our judges. Hinako's judgment seem to be rather bias however."

Donato smiles, "An unofficial Food War in a middle of training camp. On top of that; a graduate versus a freshman student while also using ingredients from the Special Region. I wonder what Mr. Chapelle would think about this."

Hitoshi knows exactly what Mr. Chapelle would do, "He would tear us a new one, and not in a good way."

Fuyumi is sitting on her chair in a similar manner to L from Death Note, "If he'd found out, I'd make a run for it." and she stares at Kojiro, "And blame everything on Kojiro."

Kojiro is upset about that comment, "Uh, I can hear you, Mizuhara!"

Dojima speaks to everyone, "May I have your attention, we will now begin our off-site match! You will be using some of the leftover vegetables along with some Special Region ingredients hand-picked by Kojiro for this challenge. You're free to make whatever you like but vegetables have to be your main component and has to be French-style. Time limit is set at two hours."

Megumi is getting scared, 'I'm the one who caused this Food War. There's no way I could let Saiba get expelled because of me. And I'm the one who has to be the head chef. What can I do?'

"One more condition. Megumi Tadokoro; you will be head chef. You'll decide the recipe on your own. Saiba, you'll act as sous-chef and support her." He raises his arm up, "This Food War, WILL NOW BEGIN!"

Kojiro holds up something that looks like a cabbage, "Chef Dojima, I already decided on what I'm gonna make."

Saiba looks at it and it seems familiar, 'Is that what I think it is?'

"Would it be okay with you if I begin?"

"Yes. Feel free."

Kojiro looks at Megumi and walks off with a smile as if he is already the winner. Yet Saiba is a bit suspicious about that cabbage that Kojiro is gonna use. Megumi takes a few deep breaths to calm down and remembers what Saiba talked about before the Food War began.

We flash back to that time when Saiba asks what kind of dish does Megumi want to make.

"What kind?" Megumi thinks hard about it until she remembers her mom's cooking back home that brought a tear to her eye, "I want... I want to make a dish that reminds me of my mother! A dish that gives a warmth and care to one's soul!"

Saiba smiles, "That's good. Now one more thing." He slaps Megumi's hands and leave red bruises on them. He explains, "Sorry, but back home, it's a way to get your mind right. The only catch is that you can't do it yourself. When you are in a tight spot, first you need to calm down and focus on what you want to make and only you."

"But...Kojiro is a-"

Saiba presses one finger on Megumi's lips, "No buts. Here's what I learned from my dad and Mr. Tenshu: Cooking is about taking everything that is your heart and soul and putting it on a plate. When the Food War comes, you need to forget about what the other guy's making." Saiba smiles, "That onigiri you made when we were out in the fields, it was incredible. So don't over think, just make the kind of food you want to eat. That'll be enough."

Megumi's eyes glisten and widen when Saiba's words hit home.

Megumi grabbed the cherry tomatoes, "Saiba! Have these tomatoes dried and salted!"

"Aye, Chef!" Saiba takes the tomatoes and get to work.

Kojiro is shocked that Megumi has found the courage to make something and is not petrified with fear. This is also a shock to the judges as well. Megumi is being calm and brave as she starts working on her carrots with ground chicken, butter, eggs, fresh cream, salt and pepper.

Hinako manages to break free as she cheers, "Come on, you adorable duo! Go, Megumi and Saiba! Fight, fight, fight!"

Kojiro tries to boil his pot on a stove but runs into a problem. "What the- Hey! The damn lighter isn't working!"

Saiba approaches with a small blue flame on his right index finger, "Here."

"Whoa!" Kojiro freaks out.

Everyone else is also startled as Saiba assisted Kojiro with a little spark on his finger and started the gas stove. He removes his finger and it isn't burned. Completely unharmed by the flames.

"Y-You can use magic?!" Kojiro is bewildered.

"Yeah, but please don't tell my mother. I promised her not to use magic unless it is an emergency. But I want a fair fight with no faults of any kind. Got it?" And he heads back to assist Megumi.

"Um...sure..." Kojiro gets back to boiling water before steaming.

"So he can use magic." Hinako says with astonishment.

Hitoshi is astonished as well, "Well, he is from the Special Region so there was the possibility."

Mizuhara watches Saiba with great interest with her expression unchanged, "I like him."

Some time has passed with Kojiro almost finishing his dish.

Megumi focuses on cooking some mushrooms, 'Now to saute the mushrooms with the ground chicken.' But she starts to freakout when she forgot something, 'I forgot to preheat the oven to 265!'

The oven that Megumi was supposed to preheat started to ding with temperatures set to 265. She looked and realize that the oven is already done.

Saiba asks, "I did set the right temperatures, right?"

"Y-Yes." Megumi smiles.

"Ooh." Hinako goes, "Does Saiba have psychic abilities as well?"

Donato goes, "Interesting thought. But I doubt that."

"I don't think so." Mizuhara says, "He probably knows what Megumi is going to make and made sure to fix-up any mistakes made. Trying to stay ahead of the lead chef."

"So it's his intuition. He is able to predict what she needed and making sure he isn't in Megumi's way." Hitoshi is impressed, "I wonder who taught him."

Dojima smirks, 'I think I already know.'

Hitoshi pulls up Saiba's file, "Ah yes, the sole transfer student."

Donato also looks, "He works at a local dinner. He seems to build his body of knowledge on the job."

"Still, he wouldn't have moves like that by helping at a family restaurant. When you look at it, his skills are far beyond most Totsuki students."

In Zenji's hotel room, everyone of Polar Star is there and are shocked about what Saiba did.

"He challenged a graduate to a Food War!" Yuki sounds upset, "Unbelievable!"

"I know, I find it hard to believe!" Hisako also finds it unbelievable.

Daigo says, "Well, Megumi was gonna be next up on the chopping block, but Saiba stepped up."

Yuki cries, "No! I can't handle the thought of losing our precious Megumi!"

Ryoko tries to calm her down, "Yuki, calm down!"

Erina is leaning against the door frame and isn't really happy about it, 'Saiba. What makes Megumi special to you? Unless... Wait a minute.'

Back in the annex, Gen Dojima says, "Alright, everyone start finishing your dishes!"

Saiba got three plates out as Megumi got the terrine out from the oven.

"We need to start plating, Saiba!"

"Got it!"

The stop watch ticked away at the last second.

"Now then," Dojima says, "we'll start the judging. We'll start with Kojiro. Present your dish!"

Kojiro walks up with three plates to the judges.

Megumi gulps, 'The top graduate of Totsuki Academy. I'm sure we're gonna see something pretty special.'

Donato says, "Man, I've been looking forward to this."

"Yes." Hitoshi agrees but with a more serious attitude and his arms crossed.

Everyone look at the dish he has made. It looks like something wrapped in cabbage that is wrapped in bacon with green edges, something sprinkled on the top, a golden colored sauce close to the edge of the plates and some garnish on the side.

"A chou farci!" Donato says in surprise, "This is an unexpected surprise from you."

"A local dish of the Obernai Region." Hitoshi says some facts, "Meat and vegetables are minced and stuffed into cabbage leaves, which are rolled and steamed. Similar to the many other cabbage rolls of other cuisines."

Mizuhara reveals more facts, "Its a stable of local cooking. Most often prepared in French households."

Hinako says as she looks at it, "He must be trying to factor in the Special Region ingredients. Guess he found a way to utilize them in a big roll."

Donato takes a knife and fork to cut it open, "Well then." Once he cut it, steam comes out from the cross section with a unique aroma. "Oh my goodness! The aroma of the herbs simply wets the appetite."

Mizuhara takes a piece and taste it. But once she did, she spat it out instantly once it touched her tongue. "Eww!" she is disgusted, "What the hell was that!?"

"UH?!" Donato, Hinako, Dojima, Megumi, Hitoshi and even Kojiro say. Yet Saiba may have an idea and looks serious.

"This cabbage...what is this? For some reason, its all sticky and the asparagus... Eck!"

Donato, Hinako and Hitoshi try a bite and give the same response.

"What the hell?!" Kojiro yells at them, "What was wrong with it?!"

Saiba approaches the chou farci on Mizuhara's plate and take a bite. He chews on the piece and swirl it around in his mouth to test his theory. Then after a few chews, he found his conclusion.

"I was afraid of that." he set his fork down, "Kojiro? Did you use Enamel Cabbage?"

"Uh...yes."

"You moron." Saiba's fists started to tighten up.

"Come again?"

Saiba punches Kojiro in the face, "YOU MORON!"

Kojiro now has a huge red bruise on his left cheek as he fell down.

"Enamel Cabbage is one of the most difficult to prepare ingredients that only specialty chefs can prepare them properly! It has to cut into 0.8 millimeter strips, as thin as enamel wire. Otherwise, the cabbage loses its freshness an it will turn sticky instantly. You cannot just steam it, it will turn sticky faster! First you have to boil it in a mixture of alcohol, water and corn starch to prevent any sticky secretions. Then you have to steam it, boil it again in the same pot and then you use it. And is the asparagus you're using is Bleeding Asparagus? The white asparagus that have red dots comin' out of the tips."

Kojiro stands back up and fix his glasses, "No. They're supposed to be Strawberry 'n' Creamaragus."

Saiba uppercuts Kojiro's jaw while saying, "YOU FOOL!" that causes Kojiro to hit his head on the pipes before landing face first on the floor.

'What the hell is with this kid?!' Kojiro thinks while lying on the cement floor.

He explains, "That wasn't Strawberry 'n' Creamaragus. That was Bleeding Asparagus. Both of these asparagus maybe similar but the difference is that the red guttation droplets from the red tips of the Bleeding Asparagus have a much darker coloration. Bleeding Asparagus is highly well known for being extremely bitter. Like very extremely bitter. Because of the ingredients you used, you ruined the..." he looks at the judges, "What is it called again?"

Donato replies, "Chou farci."

"Thanks." and continues to scold Kojiro, "You ruined the chou farci. Plus, who the hell mix fruits with meat? Seriously. No, seriously, who actually does that?"

"Okay." Dojima says, "Guess Kojiro instantly lost."

Kojiro pops back up to his feet angrily, "WHAT?! I LOST TO A BUNCH OF SNOT NOSED BRATS!? ALL BECAUSE I GOT THE WRONG INGREDIENTS?!"

Hitoshi says, "Now that I think about it, that Bleeding Asparagus might have properties similar to the Bleeding Hydnellum. A mushroom that is commonly found in North America, Italy, Scotland and Germany. Yet it also called the strawberries and cream mushroom due to its appearance, but other times it is called the red-juice tooth, bleeding tooth fungus, or devil's tooth. Mostly in mountainous and subalpine ecosystems."

Mizuhara says, "The mushroom maybe edible, but not palatable due to being extremely bitter.

Donato says, "But it is popular with mushroom dyers who could use mordant to turn the beige droplets into shades of green or blue depending on the amount. Mordants are dye fixatives that it used to set dyes on fabrics by forming certain compounds with the dye, which then attaches to the fabric."

Hinako thinks about it, "So Kojiro used a vegetable that is used to dye fabrics."

Saiba gives Kojiro a menacing glare, "Tell me, Kojiro, how many hunters died getting those ingredients?"

Almost everyone froze when Saiba asked that...right before Saiba grabbed Kojiro's collar.

"Listen and listen well. The New Continent of the Special Region isn't some Garden of Eden or some food paradise. It is a death trap where everything is out to eat you or something unexpected claims your life like a tornado made of soda or a hailstorm made of hard candies. Regular people cannot survive in such a hazardous continent and impossible to settle. And I'm speaking from first hand experience when my grandfather took me out on his hunting trips and saw three people die. Only the strongest can survive but even the strongest will fall. Just how many died in vain for you to botch your dish? How many?!"

Kojiro gulps, "I... I don't know."

Saiba just toss Kojiro to the ground and tells Dojima, "Let's move on. Megumi and I are gonna show you want happens if you only use one ingredient from the Special Region. And only one."

Megumi then presents her dish. At first, there was a rainbow. A rainbow circle in a puddle in the middle of a rain at first but then see Megumi's dish.

"A terrine?" Hinako says as she sees Megumi's Rainbow Terrine.

AN: Sorry, had to cut some corners. Hope you enjoy though.