I do not own Shokugeki no Soma. I only own this fanfic's story, and any new characters introduced within it.
*flashback*
3 Years Ago
5:00 AM, Jorge Chavez International Airport
"¡Bienvenidos a Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez! La temperatura es de 13 grados con probabilidad de lluvia. Nosotros en Aeroperu esperamos que hayas disfrutado tu vuelo. Nos vemos en el próximo destino!"
"Did that thing just say 13 degrees? Jeez..." Haru said, pulling his coat over his shoulders.
"Thank you for flying with Aeroperu!" A stewardess with a light accent addressed Haru as he exited the plane into the airport.
Haru looked through a glass as he walked through the airport. The city wasn't too far off, maybe 10 or so miles from the airport, but the lights that emanated from within looked magnificent. He was close to finishing the prize money he had won from Shokugeki and exhibitions, and this was going to be his last stop before going back to Japan.
...
Haru checked his phone as he began walking towards a security checkpoint.
"When's this translator guy coming? He should've texted me when he got here but he hasn't at all."
...
*ping!*
"Huh? Oh, he's here." Haru said as he cleared the checkpoint and began walking towards baggage claim.
...
As Haru grabbed his backpack and started towards the door, he remembered leaving Totsuki that day.
*flashback within a flashback lol*
Polar Star Dormitory
"Don't worry Fumio-san, I'll be back in a flash!" Haru said as he closed the door behind him.
As soon as he was far enough away from the dorm he began coughing harshly.
*cough! cough! cough! cough!*
"Ugh... What's happening to me?..." Haru said as he looked at his handkerchief.
"Damn, blood again... What a drag, this isn't gonna let me perform at my best is it?..."
Haru sighed as he approached the main gates.
"I guess I gotta go to the doctor don't I? It's probably pneumonia or something- ARGH!" He flinched jarringly, clutching his arm.
...
"Look, doctor, I don't know nearly as much as you do, but I'm pretty sure pneumonia doesn't cause these constant pains in my arms, legs, hell all over my body!" Haru rasped, squeezing his fingers tightly.
"You're right Haru, it doesn't. Pneumonia doesn't make you cough up blood this frequently either."
"So then, what do I have, doc?"
"This won't be easy news, Haru. Would you like to call your mom and sister over?"
"Nah, Mom and Megumi would just fuss over it. Let's get it over with."
"Well, Haru, you have a disease called Microscopic Polyangiitis, or MPA."
"Micro- what?"
"It's an autoimmune disease that causes the phagocytes in your body to attack the blood vessels in your system, leading to internal bleeding and inflammation."
"Sorry, I'm a chef, not an M.D. Could I get the dumbed-down version of that?"
"The cells in your body that fight off infections are currently attacking your blood vessels. Those pains you feel throughout your body, are your blood vessels weakening and tearing. In this case, the MPA seems to be targeting your lungs, which explains why you cough up blood rather frequently. It also seems to be affecting your joints."
"Is there a cure or something?"
"No Haru... I'm sorry but I'm afraid this illness is terminal."
"Terminal huh... Will it affect my performance as a chef?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Will it affect my performance as a chef?"
"Well, like I said, the disease will also affect your joints, the use of your hands will deteriorate over time as the pain increases. The most damage, however, will be dealt to your lungs."
"Is there something you can do about the pain?"
"There's not much I can do about the pain itself, however, it is possible to cut down the number of white blood cells in your blood, which should lessen the damage done to your blood vessels. The only problem is that you'll be more susceptible to outside infections and won't be able to fight them off as easily."
"Hmm, well, something's gotta give." Haru said, trying to be nonchalant.
"Haru- You need to understand the severity of this, if you don't take care of yourself, you could potentially aggravate your illness and progress its effects on your body."
"I know doc. Now, time for the million dollar question, how much time do I have?"
"Well you're at least somewhat lucky, the disease manifested while you've been in your prime so-"
"Doc, that's terrible! Don't you get it, I won't be able to progress my cooking any further with this thing hindering me. Imagine if you caught this disease while you were in med school and couldn't finish as a result, how would you feel?"
"You're right Haru, that was a poor choice of words, I apologize."
"Look, just give me a number, then I'll have something to look forward to I guess..."
"Well, given how the illness has targeted your lungs, I'd say you have a little over five years left."
"Five, huh? I'll take that anti-white blood cell treatment."
"Are you sure Haru? Your chances of contracting different outside infections will increase significantly."
"Doc, if I'm gonna go down, I'm gonna go down doing what I love, and I can't have anything hindering that."
"I see. Well then-"
*scribble*
"Here is the prescription. Make sure to take it as prescribed, or catastrophic effects could follow."
"Sure, doc."
They said their goodbyes and as Haru opened the door, he stopped and looked back.
"Doc, what were the chances of me getting the disease?"
"There's only about 1 case every 100'000 people."
"Lucky me then I guess..."
"Haru- I respect you deeply and I understand your decision, however, I strongly suggest telling your mother and sister."
"Yeah, I guess I will doc. Thanks."
Haru closed the door behind him and walked away from the office, gripping his arm.
*flashback within a flashback end*
Haru sighed as he exited the airport, looking for Carlos, his new translator.
"The air quality went down a couple of notches, and the people here don't seem too happy to see a Japanese man in their midst... But at least it's a new setting, and I won't have to face anyone from Totsuki, mom... and Megumi." He said, lightly coughing.
*scrrr!*
A limo pulled up to the terminal as Haru took another "anti-white blood cell" pills.
Haru peered inside as the driver rolled down the window, it was none other than the translator himself, apparently he was going to be Haru's guide across the city as well.
"You're… Haruka Tadokoro?
"Um- Yeah, just call me Haru."
"Yeah? I'm Carlos, your translator for the duration of your trip here. Get in."
"Yeah, sure..."
As soon as Haru put on his seatbelt, Carlos began to speak.
"Before we even go anywhere, we're gonna have to go over some ground rules."
"I- Okay then, hit me."
"First off, Peru isn't like wherever you come from. This is a third-world country, you need to be extra careful around here. Where we're going, Miraflores, it's not as bad as other places in this country, but you're still at risk, seeing as you're a foreigner. I can guarantee that people are gonna try and rob you at least once. At that point, it's not my problem. Got it?" He said rather brazenly.
"Uh- Yeah, no problem." Haru said, starting to shake a little.
Jeez this guy knows no bounds, then again, at least he's honest.
"Secondly, you might be the one paying me, but this is my turf, so you treat me with respect, and I just might not throw you out onto the curb, got that?"
"Yeah, haha..." Haru said, forcing a laugh.
Then he thought about what Carlos had said for rule one, "Miraflores, it's not as bad as other places in this country," and became curious.
"Alright, cool let's go-" Carlos began
"Wait." Haru cut him off.
"What is it?"
"Can we go to the worse places of Peru?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean- You said Miraflores is better than other places here, I want to see those other places." Haru said with a determined look in his eyes.
"Hah, are you crazy man? You wouldn't last a second in those places!"
"It's fine, I'll take responsibility if something happens. I just want to see." He said.
"Well, I guess we could go... But that's it, sight-seeing only! Got that?" Carlos asked.
"Yeah, I got it." Haru replied, grinning.
...
Carlos asked where Haru wanted to go, Haru gave the choice to Carlos, so the two went to Lima.
Upon arriving, Haru noticed something strange. Every single home, if you could even call them that, was gated with iron bars, everything from the door to the windows were barred. That could only mean there were a ludicrous amount of robberies and burglaries happening in this area.
But as they passed through, the gated windows didn't stop coming. Haru nearly flinched at the sight of how horrid everything was in this area of the city alone. He figured out much too late that this country was divided into classes, and extreme ones at that. It only showed his privilege as a person, and he felt guilty for that.
Suddenly, Haru caught a glimpse of a little plaza where a group of people were eating together, eating what resembled rotisserie chicken. There were children within the group and seemed to be happy, eating just chicken, no fancy dishes fit for a Nakiri, just... chicken.
Haru felt another pang of guilt.
He realized that the difference in status alone was enough to separate entire cities. As if that wasn't absurd enough, this, and other countries, were plagued by so many other things that he couldn't even begin to describe.
...
"Carlos, stop the car."
"Eh?"
"Stop the car, I need to do something."
"Are you kidding me? What do you even need to do?"
"I'm gonna cook for those people."
"WHAT. Are you crazy, they'll be all over you the second you step out of this limo! You won't last a-"
"Look, Carlos, I understand how you wanted me to respect you, and I will, but I just want to cook for those people, I underestimated just how bad things were in third-world countries. I just want to give them this one thing at least."
"Hmph, you really do give a crap don't you? All right let's go." Carlos said with a grin.
...
Carlos noticed that Haru wasn't like most of the big celebrities that he would translate for, no, Haru was different, carefree, yet not a privileged jerk. He understood that there was a difference between classes.
...
"Oi, Carlos, you there?" Haru called, snapping Carlos back to reality.
"Oh! Yeah I'm good! How'd they like it, whatever you made?"
"They really enjoyed it, and I'm glad they did too."
"I'm surprised they didn't beat you into a pulp."
"...Hey, Carlos?"
"What's up?"
"I think I found my specialty."
"Huh?"
"During my time at Totsuki, I could never pick a specialty. But now that I've cooked for the people here, and nw
Carlos questioned Haru's devotion to this idea.
"That sounds great, but how do you plan on doing that?"
"I'm going to open a restaurant here."
"Good plan, I think people in Miraflores would like to taste the food of a Totsuki graduate-"
"No, I'm opening up my restaurant here, in Lima."
"Are you insane? It would get looted the second you opened the doors!"
"I want to try! I'm not gonna let the people here just eat whatever! It's simply unfair."
Carlos looked at the young man, astounded.
"Y'know Haru, I was being an ass before, but on the first day, you've earned my respect, although you're crazy as hell."
"I don't mind, but you gotta help me out with this little project, alright?"
"Fine, fine, but you'd better pay me double after this..." Carlos muttered.
"Of course I will... As soon as I start making a profit." Haru chuckled.
...
"Well, looks like you and I are gonna be stuck together from now on huh?"
"Yep."
"Well, if that's the case I wouldn't mind spending time with a maniac like you, I need some fun in my life." Carlos said.
"Now then, let's open up Restaurant Tadokoro, specialty in South American cuisine!" Haru said, drawing a building on the fogged glass window.
"I think we're gonna have to workshop that..." Carlos chuckled as the duo drove off in the food wasteland that was Peru.
*flashback end*
Author's Note: Hey guys, that was Chapter 9, sorry about the long wait. As a matter of fact I think I'm changing my upload schedule to every five days instead of every three, as I need time to do other things and study; in return I'll write longer chapters. Also I'm planning on making this a series, every 10 chapters being one season, so I guess that means, Season 1 Finale for Totsuki's Legacy should be out by Thursday! As always, thank you for reading, and I will see you in the next chapter, bye now!
-Kano