"I don't know, I guess you could tell me everything you know about Soma Yukihira and Joichirō Saiba." Haru said.
They shook hands with a bewildered Erina standing next to them, still trying to process that they had just landed from a 10 hour flight across the world, and were about to hold a Shokugeki at 6:30 in the morning.
Hôtel de Crillon, Paris, France
"Alright you two, since you're both so keen on getting in a match, we'll have a time limit on this Shokugeki." Erina said, folding her arms across her chest.
"Fair enough-" Haru said, yawning.
"The decision is yours, sister." Asahi said, adjusting the beret on his head.
"Well then, our food theme for today is-" Erina pointed a finger at two carts near the massive living room of the hotel room.
"Whatever is in the complimentary food trays!"
Haru was unfazed. Smirking, he walked over and opened the lid that covered the food.
Inside was an octopus, along with some vegetables.
Asahi opened his lid, and inside was a fileted fish of some kind, he assumed a shark, based on its texture and color.
"I guess we're makin' mariscos." Haru murmured.
"Indeed… well- good luck to you Tadokoro-san. Don't think I'll go easy on you now-" Asahi said, sticking out his hand.
"Who said you would get the chance?" Haru responded, meeting his gesture with a handshake.
This must be the most civil Shokugeki I've ever seen... Erina scoffed to herself.
"Well then- if you two are ready, begin!" Erina announced, bringing her hand down, starting the clock.
Totsuki Culinary Academy, Polar Star Dormitory
Megumi sat by the window in her room. Staring sadly into the evening sunset.
Deep down she was happy she could see Haru again. He was so much taller now, he had already been the taller of the siblings but now the difference was striking. He grew his hair out, more than what she remembered. He was leaner than before, and would definitely be considered attractive. She had already overheard some of the girls at Totsuki comment about his looks.
His personality hadn't changed all that much. She figured out a long time ago, that he became a lot more docile and lighthearted whenever he was around her, but was usually more monotone, sometimes hostile to everyone else, especially those who tried getting close to her. Honestly, it was a relief to her, she had missed him without a doubt.
But, still- why did it take him this long to come back, only to leave again with Erina? She had so many questions, but he kept dodging them anytime she asked, and it frustrated her.
She was about to get up and head to bed when she heard sounds through the speaking tubes near the wall where Fumio would often yell at the students for being too rowdy at night.
"Pssst. Megumi, it's me, Satoshi, do you have a moment?"
"Isshiki-san? Uhm- sure I don't mind-"
She was cut off by Satoshi's head popping down from the ceiling in her room, startling her.
"EEEK! Isshiki-san, don't scare me like that! We have doors for a reason!" She exclaimed.
"My apologies, Megumi, it was a force of habit, I'll be sure to knock next time…" Satoshi chuckled, disappearing from the ceiling and reappearing from the door.
"So, what brings you here today?" Megumi asked, composing herself.
"Well Megumi-"
"Let me guess, it's about Haru."
"Yes, and, no. I wanted to ask how you were doing."
"What do you mean?"
"It's just that- I know it must be unnerving, seeing your brother again after so long, only to see him do and change so much at Totsuki. So I wanted to see if you needed anything, I'm not sure if anyone has come to console you after the fact."
"Thank you for worrying Isshiki-san, I truly appreciate it. But, I'm telling you now, I'm okay. It's true I haven't seen Haru in a while, but really, I haven't been distraught from my studies here!" Megumi responded.
Satoshi doubted that. He could see the sad smile on her face, she was trying to stay strong, but something like this wasn't easy to just avoid. But he didn't want to push anymore than he had to.
"Hm. Well if you say so… I'll be here if you need me. Just know that Haru does care about you, at least from what I can tell."
"What do you mean?" The bluehead asked.
"Well, the other day, before his sudden leave of absence with Lady Nakiri, I invited him to play some games, as a gesture on the outside, but really, I wanted to know more about the relationship between you two. I do apologize for doing this without your knowledge, I know it isn't my business-"
"It's alright Isshiki-san, honestly, it wasn't my business either to know what was going on with Haru during that period of time he was gone."
"I see… Well, I was playing some video games with him-"
"Haru likes playing video games? That doesn't sound like him!" Megumi giggled.
Then, it hit Satoshi just how much Haru missed out on his younger sister's growth throughout the years, and just how much Megumi didn't know about who should be her closest family. He felt a pang of guilt, learning this information about Haru before his own sister did- well, all the more reason to tell her now.
"Yes, he likes video games but that might be the one thing he's terrible at. We were playing Smash Brothers, and I found he particularly hated it when he got spiked and KO'D by the character I use, and probably in general as well, he even stomped his foot in anger-" He laughed.
They both chuckled and laughed at the absurdity, and soon after Satoshi continued with his recollection.
"In the middle of our bout, I asked him about you, and while he is very private about things when it comes to you, I did learn how much he cares…"
*flashback start*
"MOTHER OF ALL- *crash*" Haru yelled, chucking his controller across the office, where it crashed and broke a flower vase.
Satoshi, who had barely dodged the incoming joy-con, looked back in horror at the seething Haru.
"Haru- are you oka-"
"Shut up, before I kick your ass out the window of this three story building." He huffed, pointing threateningly at the orange haired teen.
The new headmaster of Totsuki had lost for the ninth time in a row since they started playing, and Satoshi was no professional gamer, but he didn't need to be for Haru to suck this terribly.
"UGHH- I SWEAR TO- *unintelligible noises*" Haru groaned as he put both hands on his face and slouched back on the couch.
"It seems like video games are the one thing you may not be so good at…." Satoshi chuckled.
"No shit, Sherlock. What tipped you off, the nine losses in a row?" Haru retorted.
...
"I didn't suck this much before…."
"Pardon?"
"I used to be good at games, or really, anything that required fine hand movement. Some people said I would be good as a surgeon, others said I would be good at playing video games."
"But after the prognosis…" Haru began.
Satoshi looked over at Haru's hands, which were shaking. Seeing this, Haru closed his hands tightly to stop the shaking.
"It basically cuts off blood to the joints in my body over time, to say the least- right now I can barely feel my hands." He said, flexing and turning his hands.
Satoshi, now with a solemn look on his face, was beginning to understand at least a little bit of what was going on here.
...
"You don't want Megumi to see you like this- so you've hidden yourself from her. But you've also realized there's a clock, and it's running. So you took it upon yourself to do as much as you could before… before-"
"Before I'm pushing up daisies? Yeah, I guess I did. I've already been skydiving, met an olympian, been to pretty much every country, there was even an encounter with a lion- heh." He chuckled.
Haru raised a brow at Satoshi, who had his held down slightly.
...
"Why are you so depressed, annoying orange? You're not the one who's dying here."
"Haru, do you truly care about Megumi, your sister?"
"Yes, I do care about Megumi, my sister."
"Then why do you keep her in the dark?"
"I don't know man! Maybe I'm a coward, maybe I'm selfish, I-" Haru started, getting up from the couch.
"I do believe you care, Haru, the problem is, Megumi is doubting that notion herself right now. And she needs reassurance. The best person to give her that is her own brother."
...
Haru turned his head around towards Satoshi and his eyes widened, as if he had come to a realization.
"Do me a favor, annoying orange."
*flashback end*
"He asked me to give you this."
Satoshi handed a folded slip of paper to Megumi.
"What is it?"
"He told me not to open it. It's for you only."
He also didn't want me mentioning his illness to you as well. Sorry Megumi, that's something he's very stubborn about. Satoshi thought to himself.
"Thank you Isshiki-san." Megumi said warmly, holding on tightly to the slip of paper.
"You're welcome, Megumi, if you need anything just let me know," Satoshi said.
Just as Satoshi was about to leave, Megumi stopped him.
"Actually- if it's alright with you, would you like to stay for a cup of tea?"
Satoshi simply smiled at her and sat down on the floor, rubbing his hands together.
"What are we having?"
Hôtel de Crillon, Paris, France
"Welp. We better get her to the bed." Haru shrugged.
As Haru went to check on the beds, Asahi was stunned at what was before him.
Sprawled on the kitchen floor, passed out, was Erina.
While she gave a reaction fitting of a 97 in an Autumn Election at Totsuki after eating Asahi's dish, it was clear Haru's dish was superior when Erina had not only gobbled up the whole dish, but almost immediately after, fell unconscious, her "gift" undressing both him and Haru to just their underwear.
After his loss to Soma in the BLUE, Asahi became a much more humble person, but today, after facing against Haru, he couldn't believe a force like that existed. He remembered Erina mentioning him during one of their calls, but he couldn't take her seriously until today's Shokugeki against the man.
The other thing that intrigues me… I couldn't copy any of his skills or moves throughout our bout. Cross Knives didn't even seem to work on him. The way his hands moved throughout the process of making his dish all seemed like one fluid motion, I didn't have time to analyze exactly what he was using. To top it off, he did it all in about 20 minutes, less than the 45 minute limit Erina put. I had to use the skills I've cultivated from other chefs. But the fact that they all, even when put together, still fell short in the face of this man-
"Hey, beret. The beds are ready for the Little Nakiri." Haru called from behind Asahi.
As they carried Erina to the bed, Asahi decided to pry a little, after all this was the famed Maestro, a small interview shouldn't hurt.
"Say, Tadokoro-san, am I right to assume you at least made it to the Final in your class' Autumn Elections?"
"Nah, I won." He said as they laid Erina down on the bed.
"Right, as expected…"
"If you didn't know, actually probably no one does, Mana Nakiri resided as one of the judges that day."
"Really?... For what reason?" Asahi said, getting rid of the pillows underneath Erina's head so she could lie flat.
"I don't know, she 'challenged' me, using somewhat demeaning words, so I took it upon myself to try for once and get back at her and the judges who doubted me. Long story short, I served one of my better dishes, and I won."
"What score did you get?" Asahi pried.
"Does that really matter?" Haru said, removing Erina's shoes.
"So you did get a perfect 100…." Asahi murmured, bringing the blankets over Erina.
"Eh- more or less."
*flashback start*
Totsuki 38th Annual Autumn Elections for the 88th Generation
"Students of Totsuki, welcome to the final round of the 38th Annual Autumn Elections! Our finalists are Taki Tsunozaki and Haruka Tadokoro, both from Polar Star Dormitory!"
"Wow, two girls competing for the final, I've never seen that before!" A young man with dirty blonde hair in a ponytail said as he approached the stage.
On the collar of his shirt were two pins that had the characters for "First" and "Seat" pinned to each side.
"Making a guest appearance for the Final is the First Seat of the Elite Ten, Aikuro Miura! And what's this? Someone is approaching the judges table!"
A beautiful woman neared. She had salmon-pink hair let loose behind her, with sharp purple-pinkish eyes, long eyelashes, and unique, round eyebrows.
She walked up to the student menacingly, taking the microphone from him and booming across the arena.
"Hmph, I've just gotten over my bout, let us see if these so-called chefs can satisfy my tongue. Whomever does not, WILL BE EXPELLED FROM THIS SCHOOL, and if both cannot, THEN BOTH WILL BE EXPELLED!"
The crowd roared, hyped up for the final battle.
After getting back the mic, the student regained his composure and spoke once more.
"Ahem, well then, approaching the judges table now, is the Bookmaster of the WGO, MANA NAKIRI!"
As Mana sat down, Aikuro, the First Seat, stood next to her as the match progressed.
"I'm humbled by your presence, Lady Nakiri." He said, bowing.
"Hmph. Do not bow your head to me, First Seat. You are the finest chef in the school, do not lower yourself, and show pride."
"Yes, Lady Nakiri!"
Just as Aikuro said this, the two contestants walked their way onto the stage.
...
"Why is there a man among the contestants? Was it not two female students who would be competing today?" Mana asked.
The man with navy blue hair and cyber yellow eyes approached Mana, not stopping at his post in the kitchen.
"I'm gonna have to stop you there, pretty boy. No one gets close to Lady Nakiri without permission." Aikuro said, blocking the man's path before he could get to the judges table.
"It is fine, First Seat. Let this boy explain himself." Mana said from behind, to which Aikuro promptly stepped to the side.
"You… What is your business with me?" Mana asked.
"Me? I should be asking that of you, you've been giving me the stink eye since I got to the stage. What's your problem with me?" The man responded.
"Watch your tone with me, boy." Mana responded, getting up from her seat.
"Tell me, what is your name?" The Nakiri asked, walking up slowly to the man.
"Haru Tadokoro."
"Tadokoro… It doesn't sound like an especially high class name. Farmland… Where do you come from?"
"Tōhoku. Worked at the family inn, cooking for the customers."
"So- you come from a poor estate. And you were unfortunate enough to be named without care for your gender. Pitiful. How you managed to even make it past the entrance exams is beyond me, boy-"
"Alright, I'll admit dad was a bit carefree when he named me, but I can just shorten it to 'Haru'. Also would ya stop calling me boy already, you sound really old for someone who looks 25, unless- you really are 70 years old?" He asked, smirking.
The crowd in the stands gasped, stunned at how Haru just addressed Mana.
"Hmph. I will call you whatever I please. But you do have guts, boy, I'll give you that much."
Mana moved so she was face to face with Haru.
"Very well then. Prove to me that you are deserving of being called Tadokoro." She said, turning and walking back to her seat.
"Heh- lady, I don't know what bookworm of the WWE you are or something, but I came to this school because I promised my mom to do good in life. You-"
Haru pointed at her mouth.
"-Are just another stepping stone in my path to greatness! So if I'm gonna be the best at this school, I'll start with you, and you better be damn sure I'm making you say my first name too."
*flashback end(for now)*
A/n:
Hey y'all! It's been another minute I know. But I started applying to colleges, and have been keeping up grades more. Plus Thanksgiving and Christmas are rolling around, so I'll have more time to work on Totsuki's Legacy. I know I need to be working on the Iron Bender, but I want each of those chapters to have most if not all my effort when making them, not that these chapters don't- I do try ToT. But anyway yeah this is the new chapter, I'm already working on the next chapter. Also I thought Satoshi's last name was his first name, I'm so sorry T_T. I fixed that, and I'll fix the other chapters where I addressed his name wrong. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and as always, I'll see you in the next chapter, buh bye!
-Kano