Chapter 23
The Curry Ones

After the break, everyone returned back to Totsuki. However, Erina is called into a meeting with the Council of Ten about the Fall Selection. All members of the Council are in a dark room with barely any light as they discuss on who is gonna enter and who isn't. When Saiba's name came up...

"I agree, wholeheartedly." Erina says as she looks over the overwhelming praise Saiba has from the judges back at the camp. "Saiba is an excellent chef and should be allowed to participate in the Fall Selection."

Etsuya Eizan adjust his glasses, "True Saiba's knowledge and experience of the Special Region is valuable, but he is more of a dark horse. Rather, an enigma."

Somei Sato speaks, "True, but his skills are commendable. But one shouldn't discriminate because no one knows much about another."

"Words of wisdom as always." Isshiki compliments. Then turn to Eizan, "But the reason why is because you can't recruit him to your side."

"That's not the reason." Eizan tries to keep a cool head.

Momo Akanegakubo squeezes her Bucchi, a stuffed purple and pink cat with sowed on hands, tight. "Someone cute like him is wasted on you, Erinachi. I want to have his tail and ears."

"Too bad, so sad." Erina gloats, "Maybe if you knew about him, you might have a chance, little girl."

Momo gets pissed off to the point that Bucchi's eyes start popping out.

Erina turns her attention to the Council, "So, we're in an agreement then?"

Nobody said anything.

"Very well. Saiba Yukihira is approve."

A stamp of approval was given on Saiba's profile.

Not long after, all the first year high school students head towards the courtyard of the main school building.

One student shouts, "Hey! Hurry!" as everyone else is heading towards the same direction.

"They're gonna put up the announcement!" says anther male student.

Once there, massive sheets are covering a large board to show who is gonna enter the Fall Selection. Many students are waiting anxiously to see who can participate and have a shot to be part of the Totsuki Council of Ten as well as gain recognition and prestige for future events. If not, oh well. The sheets were removed to show who is gonna enter the competition with one side showing who will appear on Block A and the others on Block B. Each block showing thirty names which adds to a total of sixty. Many students cheer for making onto the board with more disappointed and grief stricken.

"Ah yeah!"

"Dammit!"

Saiba and Shun look at the board as Shun says, "These are the students that will be in the Fall Selection."

Saiba gets excited, "And my name is on there in Block A! Woo-hoo! Oh..." He realizes that Shun's name is on there, "Uh-oh. Looks like we may have to face each other."

Yuki desperately keeps an eye out for her name alongside Ryoko until they spotted their names with Yuki in Block B and Ryoko in Block A.

Yuki cries tears as she hugs Ryoko, "I DID IIIIT!" Relieved that she made it on there.

Megumi panics as she sees her name on there in Block B. "Huh?! What now?! Help me!"

Daigo and Shoji didn't make it as they are in the background as they are whiter than ghosts and giving off a depressing aura. Yuki keeps on headbutting Ryoko for her success, much to Ryoko's misery.

"Hey there!" Saiba waves at his friends. "Did you guys made it too?"

Megumi turns to face Saiba, "Sure did."

"Awesome, Megumi!"

Takumi is there with a smile on his face as he approach Saiba, "Even before a Food War, I've been given a chance to battle you directly! Saiba Yukihira!" But he is ignored as Saiba went to talk to Ikumi.

"Hey, Ikumi. Looks like you made it too, huh?"

Ikumi is a little embarrassed but tries to act tough, "Huh...yeah. I take it you did, too."

Then he turn his attention towards the upset Takumi, "Hey, Takumi! Glad we get to battle each other, huh?"

"Oh, you were listening."

Isami laughs in the back.

"Quit laughing! What's so funny?!"

Not too far, Alice sees her name and chuckles, "Like it wasn't going to happen."

Close by, Ryu is looking for his name. "Let's see... Oh. There's my name written right over there."

Alice looks at Ryu, "Of course it is, dummy! If you hadn't been chosen, it would've been an embarrassment as my intimidating aid. And I forbid you to get eliminated in the preliminary round."

Ryu just keeps on acting chill, "Don't worry about it. I'm prepared to fight to the end." He may say that, but he is completely emotionless, "Even if it means I have to go up against you to win."

Alice pouts with a huge orange kanji word for 'HMPH!' over her head along with some steam and grring sounds.

"What is happening to your face?"

Alice smacks him on the back, "What the heck is wrong with you?! It wouldn't hurt you to show me some respect once in a while!"

"But I always show you respect."

"MORE! Respect me more! You need to be like Erina's secretary! She grovels like a pro!"

"Uh-oh." Saiba notices Alice and Ryu. "One Nakiri is enough for me thanks." he whispers and backs away from them and avoids getting detected.

Alice turns her head at Saiba while still smacking Ryu.

'Ah crap.' he freezes like a deer in headlights.

"How are you, Saiba?" he acts friendly while still smacking Ryu. "Hope that everything's swell." She is lying, of course.

Yuki whispers to Ryoko, "Looks like Saiba is getting to know all the campus big shots, isn't he?"

"He's friends with them already?"

Yuki has her phone out and takes pictures and sends a text, "Yeah! I have to text Ms. Fumiyo all about it after a few pics!"

"Sure to make her happy if this is the second golden age."

"Hey, everybody!" says a girl on a microphone.

Everyone turned to see the direction where the voice is coming from and they see a yellow boom crane that has Urara on a platform as she makes an announcement up in the air. There is some fog coming down by smoke machine on the platform being suspended by cables.

"Good afternooo-oon!~" She waves at everyone before continuing, "You ready for the selection? I am your acting MC for this battle..." She acts like a pop-idol as she winks, twirl. "I am Urara Kawashima! Hellooo.~" She makes a finger gun, winks, laugh a little, and the boys fall for her as they cheer...much to the ire of the girls of the school. "Congratulations on those who are awesome enough to make the final cut. If you take a quick look at the sign board, you will see sixty of you who are chosen are split into groups of A and B. Each block will have their own round of preliminaries. First A, and then B. The top contestants from each block will earn the right to move on and compete in the actual tournament event!"

The crowd below cheers.

Urara reaches into her pocket, "Okay guys." She pulls out a piece of paper, "Now is time for a message from Eizan, whose on this year's action committee. The selection will be attended by several VIPs and competing authorities of the culinary world. However, we are having special guests from the Special Region who will act as guest judges in this tournament that have been selected by the headmaster himself, Senzaemon Nakiri."

"Holy cow, bro!" Daigo is freaking out. "People from the Special Region!"

"No kidding, man!" Shoji is just as shocked.

Now everyone is even more nervous. Except for a certain someone who knew in advance as he grins.

"This is a chance to show-off your skills. However..."

We cut to Eizan saying the final part of the message while looking menacingly in his chair, "...if you present an inferior dish, any future plans you may have regardless of advancing as a chef, will certainly be crushed."

Then we fade back to Urara, "So, for the rest of your summer vacation, you better-"

"Study hard."

Now they are even more nervous than before.

"And that's all!" She does a cute little pose, "Ooo!" while winking and having a pink heart blinking in and out of existence.

But now the students are all fired up.

"WE GOT THIS IN THE BAG, YO!"

"I AM MAKING IT TO THE FINAL ROUND, MAN!"

Saiba grins ear to ear as he is pumped up and excited.

In the hallway not too far on the second or third story, Erina is there with Hisako. Erina is looking out the window with Hisako behind her.

"Congratulations on making it to the Fall Selection." Erina congratulates her secretary. "With your skills, it is only natural."

"Ma'am. I will make sure my performance won't bring you shame as I am your faithful aid. Also, please rest assured. It will be a tremendous honor to defeat Saiba Yukihira and have him take your hand in marriage!"

Erina gives an evil laugh while looking down at Saiba in the crowd. 'Don't get cocky, Saiba.'

Erina imagines herself with Saiba high in the heavens while wearing white togas and golden reefs with cherubs bringing food as the two stare into each other's eyes.

'I will have you.'

Back outside, Alice is sitting on the bench with everyone else around with Saiba talking to Alice.

"I didn't see Erina's name on there. Maybe being a member of the Council of Ten does have its privileges. And I'm gonna guess that they over see events like this."

"That is correct." Alice is impressed. But proceeds to smack Ryo's back repeatedly, "Aw man! It's gonna be a while before I battle Erina." much to Ryo's dismay.

Somewhere else, near a tree, Megumi is freaking out that she's participating. 'Sure enough! The other members are super elite! I really get the feeling that I don't belong.'

Two male students talk about Megumi with one saying, "How come we didn't make the cut but somehow that loser country pumpkin did?"

"My cooking skills and class rank are way higher than that little hic. It makes no sense."

"Total bull crap, man."

"SHUT YOUR HOLE!" says a female student. This particular student has purple eyes and hair, which has a slightly longer group of hair that sticks out from the top of her head. She has a very tall and slender, yet curvy, stature including her large breasts.

The two boys get startled and see who is yelling. So is Megumi.

"You mindless dolts. You think this selection is solely based on only on grades than you nut jobs are even dumber than you look. Candidates are judged on all aspects from their character to their future prospects." She slams her foot on the ground that felt like an earthquake that nearly toppled the two students. "Anyone who is content on getting good scores has no intention on being in this school anyway." She removes her foot to show how deep the imprint is that cause the boys to freak out.

"LOOK AT THAT IMPRESSION!"

This girl, Miyoko Hojo, gives the boys a threatening glance and force them to run away screaming.

Megumi tries to thank her, "Uh, um... Thank you, miss...uh..."

"I'm Miyoko Hojo." She approaches and slams her hand against the wall of the building and leans in closer to Megumi, smiling, which is freaking Megumi out. "And your Megumi Tadokoro. You've peaked my curiosity. Chef Kojiro Shiomiya made his name as a former member of the Totsuki Council of Ten. Are the rumors true that you challenged him into a Food War back at camp? And did you someone managed to pull out a draw?"

"Uh, uh... Well, I..." Megumi tries her best to explain. "I swear it wasn't an even draw."

Miyoko slams her hand on the wall again. "Don't tell me, that you beat him?"

"Y-ye-yes! But it was all thanks to a fluke that S-Saiba pointed out. Chef Kojiro Shinomiya bought the wrong ingredients and failed."

Miyoko is upset, "IT WAS JUST A FLUKE?!"

Now Megumi is even more scared than before. "Yes! Thanks to Saiba!"

She retract her arm from the wall, "Saiba Yukihira? That transfer student? Oh I see. You let some man do it for you? Or in this case, some fox from another world?"

"Well...the truth is that, um, Saiba pointed out an ingredient that Chef Kojiro used was the wrong one. Like one of those mimic ingredients."

"I see." Miyoko walks away, "Sorry, thought you were someone else."

Back at where Alice, Saiba and the rest of the gang are, Alice explains some things.

"Let me explain some things, Saiba. Most of the members of the Council of Ten fought in the Fall Selection's final battle. It's one of the ways to be chosen as a member. In other words, I'm sure you've figured out, one of us is gonna move on to become the next member of the Ten."

"But with Erina's case, she's an exception because of her sense of taste and connections."

"You got that right on the mark."

In another section of the courtyard, Nao Sadatsuka is watching Erina through her binoculars on a tree branch. "Miss Erina. You're as beautiful as always. With those eyes, your words... I wish I can get closer to you instead of taking pictures of that boy. But I must do as I must to gain your attention." Then she notices Hisako Arato and gets angry, "THAT LITTLE TRAMP!" Her left eye is glowing red as she lowers her binoculars, "I HATE YOUR FACE! I AM FAR MORE SUITED TO BE WITH MISS ERINA THAN YOU!"

Hisako gets an uneasy feeling as she looks around and notice nothing yet has a blue question mark over her head.

In the library, the head of the Miyazato Club, Takao Miyazato, is walking with the other members of the club.

"I'm sure that the members have been announced by now."

At the corner of a bookshelf, they see Zenji reading at the table with a huge stacks of books.

One female member with neck-length brown hair with bangs angled to the right side and embellished by three orange hair clips where it partially expose her forehead says, "Yes they have."

Takao then approaches Zenji, "Hello, Zenji."

Back to what Alice is saying, "Of course the point is mood unless one wins here." She stands up from her seat on the bench, "I hope the day comes when you, Erina and I will battle it out for the spot on the Ten." She walks away with Ryo following behind her.

Over at the billboard, a young man with dark skin and white hair tied to a ponytail and green eyes sees his name on the list. He pulls out a cinnamon stick from a bag of cinnamon sticks and smells it.

At the dorm, in the middle of the night, Saiba sharpens his knives, both regular and special, on the two separate whetstones. One seems to be average while the other seems to be giving off a golden coloration. He looks at the stain from the spilled pot of stew his father made many years ago. He thinks about what is father said about not losing to anyone as he looks at the reflection of a knife that is somewhat see through.

He smiles, "Looks like I need to do some work." and grins as he looks out the window. "Get ready. For I'm gonna win this."

The next morning, out in the fields.

"Ahhh." Isshiki enjoys the morning, "Such a refreshing and invigorating morning. Simply perfect for the first day of summer."

Saiba and Megumi are also there tending the garden. They check the leaves for any insects or anything parasitic.

"HEY!" Yuki comes running with an envelope. "I GOT, IT FINALLY CAME! IT'S HERE!"

She presents the document that reads

Contains Important Documents
re: the Fall Selection
To Residents of Polar Star Dorm

"Look! It's from the Fall Selection office!"

"Sweet!" Saiba is excited, "Open it, open it!"

Saiba takes it and rips the top to unveil the main course of the preliminaries.

"And theme of the Selection is... Special Region Curry Cuisine?"

Yuki goes, "What the hell?"

Megumi asks, "Does that mean we have to use ingredients from the Special Region?"

"Hold on," Saiba notices something, "there's more on the back. The rule is that you can only use one ingredient of the Special Region into your dish and only one. You must have the one ingredient or you will face disqualification."

"HUH?!" the girls went.

Everyone have a meeting in the dorm's cafeteria to discuss the meaning of the theme.

"It says that you need to have atleast one ingredient in your curry dish from the Special Region. But it doesn't specify where exactly in the Special Region, so that gives us a lot of options."

Ryoko gives Saiba some tea and asks, "It doesn't really have to be from the Gourmet Continent?"

Shun tries to figure it out, "It sounds like it."

Saiba thinks about it, 'Hmmm... The way it said 'Cuisine' perplexes me. Maybe you don't have to do the traditional curry and rice route. So maybe there's more to this than- Oh!' Saiba remembers something his dad said.

We flashback to when his father visited as they sat on the steps.

"There was one of us who made nothing but curry."

"Oh?"

"Yep, the kid's name was Shiomi. She went on to become a fine teacher at Totsuki. If you cross paths, drop my name. I always have Shiomi's back. Ya outta get a favor or two that way."

And so, Megumi and Saiba went out to find Jun Shiomi, the Curry Expert of Totsuki.

"So that's what my dad told me." he looks at the map.

"Yeah?"

"Looks like we're...here?"

"Huh?!"

The place they need to go to to find Shiomi is a dump. It's an old building that looks like it is being hold together with worn and rusty metal sheets and is rundown.

"Not what I was expecting."

"He might even be scarier than Mr. Chapelle."

They head in, "Excuse me?!" Saiba says.

They head up some stairs to find out where Shiomi is at until they come across a door with a sign that reads 'Shiomi Seminar Room'.

"This must be it." He opens the door, "'Cuse us!"

Yet when the enter, the place looks like a kitchen with some books, scientific sample trays, mortars and pestles, and small plates on the counters.

"What the-?"

Before he tries to figure out, they hear loud grinding noises that a petite girl with brown hair and a long ponytail and glasses is grinding something in a mortar and pestle. She is wearing a T-shirt with the word pattern spice written on it, and track shorts.

"Whoa! My bad!"

"Huh?" the girl looks up and shows her brown eyes.

"Hello there."

The girl freaks out, "We have visitors!?" She panics, "Sorry, I'll put some tea on right away! I'm sorry! I'm really, really sorry!"

Both Megumi and Jun bow and apologize to each other.

Saiba thinks, 'This two are gonna run out of things to apologize for.' So, Saiba breaks the never-ending loop, "Excuse me, but do you know where the teacher of this classroom is? And could you please tell them that Joichiro Saiba's son is here?"

A lightning fast punch nearly hits Saiba's face but he blocked it. Then she tries for three more punches but he blocks everyone of them.

Now she's angry with a fiery aura as she tightens her fist and is ready for combat. "Joichiro Saiba's son?" she says with great disdain. "Get out of here right now or else I'll throw you out."

"My father did something that made you super furious, didn't he?" Saiba says with an expressionless look on his face.

Then walks in Akira Hayama with a small brown bag. "Hey Jun. I brought all that stuff you asked for." He sees Jun being angry as she tries slamming her fist at Saiba and Megumi getting scared.

"Huh?"

Megumi notices him and apologizes, "Sorry for the bother!" and does a bow.

We flashback to when Jun was in the Polar Star dorm in middle school as she tells the story.

"I look forward to staying with you all. I'm Jun Shiomi." Jun introduces herself while having a large backpack.

Gin Dojima, who was in high school level at the time and still have hair, extends a handshake. "Hello, and welcome to Polar Star Dorm. I heard that you managed to clear Ms. Fumiyo's entrance exam on your first try. That's very promising indeed."

Jun shakes Gin's hand. "T-thank you so very much."

"Mornin'." Joichiro enters in while still wearing his pajamas with his left arm in his robe and hair all messy.

"Joichiro! Come on! Why aren't you in your uniform?"

Joichiro then notices the newbie. "Ah! We got a newbie, huh?!" He pats her head, "Welcome to our friendly little abode. Wanna try one of my new dishes? Would ya?"

"Yes please! By all means!"

Joichiro started out with a glowing, golden background and a friendly smile but everyone else runs away. Then we have him in his chef outfit with an evil look on his face with a laugh that matches and a scary aura.

"And that's how Joichiro Saiba used me. The youngest resident of Polar Star at the time."

We see her imagination about her getting molested with eels, getting chased by an alligator, and her close being shredded.

"I became his guinea pig! Utterly tormenting me with his new dishes at every opportunity he can find."

We cut back at the present with Jun having an emotionless, distant expression with a gloomy aura.

"And then, he inflicted a wound to my heart that will never be healed."

Saiba is also giving the same expression and aura, "Guess I wasn't the only one being tormented by my dad whenever he comes up with something disgusting."

Megumi says with a shocked expression, "You look exactly the same as you did in that flashback!"

Jun gets all bashful with a polka-dotted background with various spices and a big kanji sign that reads, 'I'm often told, 'You're too young'.'

"Ah." She rubs her cheeks, "That's because I've been eating spices for a very long time. Many of them help in bathe and beauty enhancement."

Saiba felt so bad about what happened to Jun, he offers him a cookie. "Here."

Jun freaks out and holds a tray as a shield. She's being defensive, "You're not gonna give me something disgusting like your father, are you?!"

"Relax, I'm not like my dad. I'm more interesting in making friends than causing trouble. Plus, its also an apology."

"I DON'T NEED YOUR SYMPATHY!"

Akira boils the kettle for tea as the others sit on the green couches.

Megumi explains, "Um, we're residents at Polar Star. And we thought you could tell us about curry."

"That's right. The theme of the Fall Selection-"

Jun turns away with a pouty face along with a "Hmph!" with a dark pink kanji word of that word. She's still upset. "I will only talk to the sweet little girl sitting over there." Then turns her face again with another "Hmph!" with the same kanji word that faded in and out. "I have nothing to say to either Joichiro or any of his filthy blood relatives."

Akira sets the tea, "Yeah I'm really sorry about that guys." Then he takes a seat in a folding chair. "We finally get some visitors and you end up getting the cold shoulder. Hi, my name is Akira Hayama. I'm a freshman here, just like you."

Megumi looks at Akira, "Huh? I didn't think you can take special seminars until your second year."

Jun drinks her tea.

"Yeah, well, the thing is, she kinda needs me. See, messing around with spices is the only thing she really does.

"Huh?!" Jun stops and looks at Akira.

"Isn't that right, Jun?"

Jun gets upset and scolds Akira, "Don't call me Jun! It's Professor Shiomi! You're my helper Akira, so you should really show me some proper respect around here!"

Akira gets serious and drops some stuff about how irresponsible Jun is. "Jun. It's your turn to water the plants. You forgot again."

Jun flinched with a blue background with yellow lighting and the purplish word in kanji that says, 'FLINCH'. She gets smaller and smaller as Akira points how absent minded she is while she's on her knees.

"So I water them for you again."

"Okay, I'm sorry."

"And you forgot last week, too. And almost killed an important herb dear to both of us."

"Yeah. That was my fault."

Saiba just look at the situation with a giant sweat drop on the back of his head.

"Oh and who was it that entertain the visitors you stood up last month as well, hmm?"

"You, Akira."

'She's getting even smaller.' Saiba says in his mind. 'Is she like one of those half-fairy creatures that can change their size or something?'

After that was over, Megumi notices the jars on the shelves.

"Saiba, you gotta see this!"

"Wow, that is one hell of a collection of spices." Then he notices some in the sample tray, "Are those curry leaves?"

"It is." Akira answers. "It's a spice called curry patta. It is also quite well known as the 'curry leaf'.

"Huh?" Megumi is amazed, "You really have raw curry leaves here."

"It looks like it." Saiba says. "If I'm not mistaken, Japan isn't really the best place for curry seedlings because of the cold weather. Dried leaves are the most common here in Japan." He looks at Akira, "My guess is that you and Jun must've found a special method or two to have these growing here."

"Yeah," Akira replies, "that's one of the main focuses of Jun's research. Finding a way to safely cultivate spices from tropical areas here in Japan. She's found a freezing method to preserve them for long periods of time. And in doing so, she has come up with new flavor components."

Saiba tries to give Jun another friendship cookie. "Like a cookie for respect."

Jun is being stubborn, "Like hell, you blood relative of Joichiro." She looks at the cookie and it seems normal enough. "But I'll try it." She takes the cookie and takes a bite out of it. A long pause of silence filled the room before Jun starts tearing up, "This is delicious!" and proceeds to eat it. "Sorry about thinking you and your father are the same." Then starts looking at Saiba, "By the way, what species are you? And what kind of spices you have in the Special Region?"

"You just finally noticed?"

Akira approach, "Actually, I'm curious myself."

"Well," Saiba explains, "if you must know, there are some hybrid spices like Horsetail Cinnamon Sticks, a type of blue cayenne pepper that have a unique spiciness to it with a blend of other spices called, Azure Pepper. There is a species of cattle called, Spice Cow, which is a cow that has its meat full of spices. And there is a special breed of bees called, Bearbees. Large bees with the head of bears and comes in salt, pepper, herb and curry. Pending on the color."

"There a type of bee that can produce curry-flavor honey!?" Jun is shocked about that.

"Actually, it depends on the color of their bodies."

Jun puts on her lab coat and starts making something on the board as she talks to herself. She's trying to do a scientific theory on how it is possible. But she says, "Spices are usually based-on heat, fragrance and color! They influence all three of these! Combining them produces a synergistic effect and the more spices included the more their qualities are lessen." then she rambles on on trying to understand how the Bearbees try to produce the four forms of honey and so on that Megumi and Saiba get confused.

"We actually came here to learn about curry, not the Bearbees." Saiba says.

Akira sighs, "When she gets like this, it could be a while. I think it will be faster if you guys try it for yourselves." He holds a curry leaf in his hand and tries to act cool, "Follow me and I will show you the true depths of spice."

Akira, Megumi and Saiba went to the cooking room so that Akira can demonstrate what the heat, fragrance and color mean.

"Here's your first dish." Akira presented a type of curry dish that is giving off a golden aroma. "This is a Kozhi Varutha Curry, or Spicy Chicken Curry. It's a signature dish hailing from southern India. It uses some of the curry leaf for fragrance."

"Smell good!" Saiba's mouth is watering. He takes a spoonful and taste it.

In his mind, 'What is this!? First it was the strong scent of the curry leaves that goes through the nose then right behind it comes a tingling heat of peppers and onions!'

His clothes get destroyed while peppers and onions spring fourth from the golden light beneath him.

'That spreads across the entire tongue!'

Back in reality, Akira explains, "That intensity is the raw leaf." He has the leaf close to his nose, "The raw leaves gives off ten times more fragrance than any dried ones can." Akira prepares another dish, "Okay, now for the next dish." He chops and dice onions at a rapid pace before putting them into a pot. Before long, he made a new dish. "This is a goa fish curry. It can use any medium sized white meat fish like swordfish."

"Huh?" Megumi went, "You made another curry?"

"All the other ingredients and spices are exactly the same. But compare the two."

Both Saiba and Megumi take a bite and started getting an impact of flavor.

"This dish is even more delicious! How could it be?!"

"The answer, I pan fried the red pepper and coriander. In other words, I use roasted spices."

Megumi holds the dish that is giving off an explosion of aroma.

"That's enough to make that big of a difference? That is truly incredible, Akira."

'Now I see.' Saiba thinks to himself and remembers what Tenshu did.

Saiba remembers back at the restaurant when he was a kid, Tenshu made three kinds of curry dishes. One is a type of soup curry, one is a green curry, and one is a beef tendon curry.

"Hey, Tenshu?" Saiba looks at the three curry dishes.

"Yeah?"

"What's with the three curry dishes?"

"I wanted to add a new menu item that involves curry." Tenshu approaches and points at the dishes, "You see, I wanted to try different styles of cooking curry. One of which I added pan roasted spices."

Saiba looks at Tenshu, "Why's that?"

"Because if you do that, it blends the ingredients in perfect harmony."

"Really? I don't get it?"

Joichiro laughs, "Don't worry! You'll understand when the time comes."

Then Akira presented a dish that looks identical to the first, but something is different as the aroma is super intense.

Megumi states, "It looks like the same kozhi varutha from the first time."

"No, there's something different with this one." Saiba notices. "The aroma of the curry leaf is way more intense than before."

Megumi takes a bite, "Oh wow. The level of heat that spreads in the tongue has totally changed! The level of flavors are even more pronounced than before!"

"Correct!" Akira says, "And I didn't add a single ingredient more. But instead of using a soup stock, I just simmered them in plain water. It's exactly what Jun was gonna say before she got lost in thought about the Bearbee. Spices need care. If too many varieties are mixed in, they'll lose their individual impressions. This would be the opposite. By deliberately removing the flavor of the stock, it creates a curry where the spices impact truly drastically heighten."

Megumi tries another spoonful, 'Normally you think that would certainly weaken the flavor of a dish. But instead, there's no denying the remarkable amount of fragrance this has reached!' In her mind, she was shot in the heart by an arrow. 'I've been pierced! To think, slightly changing spices are used could change a dish so dramatically.'

Saiba realized something, 'Akira Hayama. He was cooking without looking at the pot even once. He uses his sense of smell to tell the state of the dish with the spices and ingredients alone.'

"So what can I tell you." Akira speaks, "This is why Jun needs my help. I took her theories she comes up with and turn them into actual dishes."

Back in the seminar room, Jun realizes that no one is around.

"Hello? Where did everyone go?"

"To me, that is the role I play here."

"I have a question?" Saiba raises his left hand.

"Yes?"

"Are you sure your not part beastfolk like me?"

"Huh?" Akira was surprised to hear such a question.

"You use your nose the whole time you were cooking. Makes me wonder that you might be part beast, too."

"Um, no, I'm pretty much human. But I do have a good sense of smell ever since I was a kid. To tell you the truth, your method of cooking is interesting. I never seen magic before, not to mention the incredible stamina you have."

"Yeah, but looks like I have to get back to training and hunting to get back at peak performance. Looks like I'm gonna have to balance summer homework, making my new curry dish, and getting my top notch stamina back. Plus, I'll let you taste my curry when the Fall Selection starts."

"Huh? You really think that you can make a curry dish that is superior to mine. True you have all the knowledge of the ingredients in the Special Region, but I am a master of spices and fragrance. So tell me, how exa-"

Akira's attempt to make a declaration of war speech was cut as the ground quakes because of a stampede.

"What's going on?!" Jun checks the three before getting shoved aside by a herd of students.

All of them are trying to get in the room but got stuck.

One male students asks, "Is Saiba here?! I need his expertise on Special Region ingredients!"

One female student says, "I need Akira's expertise on spices! Is he here?!"

"Hey, move it! I need Saiba and Akira to help me out!"

Saiba and Akira look at the students jammed at the doorway as they both have large sweat drops on the back of their heads.

Saiba asks Akira, "Is there another way outta here?"

"No, I'm afraid not."

AN: Hey everyone! Hope you guys are doing alright because of...well...you know. Things are getting intense. As if the pandemic was bad enough, now we got another war on our hands. Is peace and quiet too much to ask? We are having ceasefire talks now, but those aren't going well from what I heard. Even worse when we have the threat of nuclear armageddon. Something like this makes me wish I was isekai to another world right now or have Rick's portal gun to go away in a universe that actually achieved world peace and finally got warp drives. Speaking of, I heard we're getting closer and closer to accomplishing that.

Here's an idea: Instead of invading countries, use the warp drives to go to another solar system! Hell, you can use nuclear fission to get to Alpha Centauri approximately ten years, but at least you won't bother anyone.

I know I shouldn't voice politics, but I just wanna go on record and say humanity sucks. We have good art, but have egos bigger than our dicks that keep on causing more and more problems.

Hope we all survive. Bye.