Chapter 34 Challenge with Kuga
"Autumn Leaf Viewing with the Elite 10?" Soma asks with surprise.
"Exactly. The current Totsuki Elite 10 members and all of you first years who made it to the main tournament of the election are invited." Isshiki adds. "However, the Phantom won't appear considering there are some specific reasons."
"I know what you mean, if I went there as the Phantom, the others will recognize me as the Phantom without a doubt." Soma sighs.
The ones who are at the Festival are the Top 8 from the Autumn Election, along with Erina sitting on the other side. Takumi yells, "Yukihira! What's with your hair? You let it grow in a really half-hearted way. That's slovenly! A cook must take care of his hair."
Soma says, "You're right. I'll cut it soon, but Takumi, you trimmed your hair quite a bit. You know, after I was a Stagiaire at Master Shinomiya's place, I was just really absorbed in cooking."
"Chef Shinomiya? It can't be, you were at Shino's Tokyo? You always overcome my expectations. To think you'd go to a restaurant owned by a former first seat." Takumi says.
"Eh? Ah, no, I just happened to train there, and somehow the Headmaster made my family diner into one of the Stagiaire places as well..." Soma says.
"What?" Takumi exclaims in shock, and it also gets interested in others. Alice asks, "Oh my, you got to work at your own restaurant? That sure is lucky for you."
"Well, it was not that easy..." Soma sighs. Megumi nods and says, "Indeed. Because it stresses us more because we didn't know what to improve there."
Soma notices Erina and says, "Come to think of it, Nakiri, you're seated on our side, huh?"
"The goal is to deepen the relationship between the first-year students and the upperclassmen, so I belong on this side. But..." Erina suddenly becomes angry and yells, "The Phantom is also the same age as us! Why didn't he come to this meeting as well!"
Hisako sighs, as she has promised Soma to keep this a secret. Soma turns to Hisako and says, "Arato, it's been a while since we last met, too. You look like you're doing fine."
"Yes, all thanks to you." Hisako smiles at Soma, causing Erina to be surprised at how Soma is now close friends with her.
Just then, the Totsuki Elite 10 are now arriving at the festival, and the 8th seat, Kuga, says, "Hey, hey, hey, you know! Why don't we end this here today? And let's abolish this meeting for the next year? It's a total bother and isn't it like, meaningless? Don't you all think so? Ah! You, the braids girl, hey, what do you think?"
Megumi panics as the 8th seat is talking to her, but the sixth seat Kinokuni Nene stops Kuga as she says, "It's a direct invitation from the director. We can't just not participate...forget about abolishing it."
"I'm not asking the braids girl from our side, you know!? Can you not get in the way? I'm chatting with the underclassmen." Kuga replies.
"You're really noisy." Nene sighs.
"Aren't you like a lot more mad than usual? Is it your period?" Kuga asks, only to be replied, "Die."
"That thoughtless bastard with the horrible voice is here again. We can get as much of a budget as we want from Totsuki thanks to that grandpa." Eizan says. "So let's go along with Senzaemon-dono's whim."
"Ahah, Eizan, you're always thinking about money, you're totally boring! Just hurry and get out of Totsuki, like today, right now. I'm counting, three, two, one..."
"Shut up, Midget." Eizan says, and the two of them are having a fight. Isshiki says, "You all look healthy today! Well then, why don't we have a toast?"
"Why should we follow your orders, Isshiki?" Eizan asks.
The group realizes how they are 800 worse than the first years, and Soma just sighs, he knows that this is what they are. Soma decides to stop this and raises his hand, "May I ask why is there only 9 of you? Where is the 0th seat?"
Everyone suddenly flinches, except for Isshiki, who knows what Soma is planning. The first seat sighs and says, "The Phantom has some business to attend, so he won't be here with us. You're Yukihira Soma, right?"
Soma flinches a little, and he turns to the other two, "And Takumi Aldini, Mimasaka Subaru as well. At the Autumn election, I would've loved it if you hadn't had any Shokugeki. I worked extra hard so that the election would go off without a hitch, but I didn't expect two consecutive Shokugeki. I was running around doing all the necessary procedures while glaring at the timetable...I really broke out in a cold sweat."
Isshiki says, "That's why you shouldn't try to accept the Phantom's Cooking showdown to determine who to write it. And you won't have to do this if you work at the hall, Tsukasa Senpai."
"I'm not good at standing in front of others...I told you I'd leave that to all you guys, Isshiki." Tsukasa says, "As for the Phantom, I just tried to see what's under his mask, that's all..."
Soma sighs, as he still remembers how he dresses up as the Phantom and walks into the room to have Tsukasa do the procedures about his own Shokugeki with Mimasaka.
"Me being the first seat is really troublesome. I've got a lot of responsibilities and there's so much pressure, it's really depressing." Tsusaka says.
"Senapi, you need to get your act together." Nene replies.
"Tsakasa-san went into timid mode, what a pain! Well, it's okay, I'll just ignore him." Kuga says, "By the way, Yukihira-chin. It's been like half a year since you got into Totsuki, right? You said something very interesting at the opening ceremony. However, it's about time you understood just how much weight the Elite 10 carry."
"I already understood, considering my Mother was the former second seat." Soma says, causing some people in the crowd to be surprised. "I was just trying to fight strong people. I know that the Elite 10 are also owners of part of Totsuki's authority and sets."
Then he explains what he knows as the Totsuki, and the others can only think, "Is he really just a transfer student? Of is his mother really that amazing?"
"Looks like you know that much about the Totsuki, let me guess, you have been itching to get into the Elite 10, is that right?" Isshiki asks Soma, who sighs and says, "I do, but I don't think now it is the time, that is...what the Phantom said."
The second seat says, "Oh right! You were the one who knows the true identity of the Phantom, right? I heard you talked about it in the Autumn Elections! Won't you try to tell us who he is?"
Soma asks, "And why should I? He asked me to keep it a promise."
Kuga says, "Why should we try to get information from first grades? Doesn't that mean we are weak than them? They aren't even worth considering as opponents."
Soma says, "Even worth considering, huh? What if there's any kind of cooking that is better than you?"
"Not like that'll ever happen." Kuga says.
"Height." Nene mutters.
"He said cooking! You bitch!" Kuga yells at Nene, and Soma sighs, he knows pretty well how Kuga is.
After the meeting is over, Megumi and Erina are shocked to see the others being fired up, considering they all want to beat the Elite 10.
Soma and Megumi are now alone again, and Megumi asks, "Soma-kun, why were you trying to provoke the Elite 10?"
"I don't have any grudges at them, but I feel that something is happening to most of the Elite 10 members that reminds me of a past..."
"A past? What do you mean by that?" Megumi asks.
"I wouldn't want to talk about it just yet, Megumi." Soma says. "But I have indirectly challenged Kuga into a battle, so I have to try and think what to do to fight against him..."
As they notice the truck passing by, Soma says, "The Totsuki Academy Festival...I think I know what to do."
After a while, both of them are playing basketball as Megumi says, "I see, but can you compete with the senpai like that?"
"I guess so, I know that Kuga senpai is good at Chinese Cuisine. But compared to staff members, I have no match against him." Soma says.
"What?" Megumi asks, "What do you mean by that?"
After a while, Soma and Megumi notice Hojo playing basketball, and they decide to ask her to take them to the Chinese RS. Megumi panics a little after seeing how many staff members are there. And they are also perfectly in sync.
Kuga was there as he manages to see who slows down and punishes him, until he notices Soma and Megumi. "Oh? Yukihira-chin and Tadokoro-chan is here."
"Wow, you remembered our names." Soma says.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was wondering how you were preparing for the Academy Festival, Kuga-senpai." Soma says. "I'm planning on putting a stall by myself and I'm thinking about what to make."
"I guess you're scouting the enemy, then! You sure move fast!" Kuga laughs, and he says, "Let's see...I'm still considering how many dishes will be on the menu. But after all is said and done, our bestseller is our "Mapo Tofu.""
Megumi says, "Mapo Tofu...I think you had that dish in your diner, right? Soma-kun?"
"Yeah. But I know for sure how Kuga-senpai's Tofu is different." Soma says. "By the way, can I try some of your tofus? And some fo Megumi as well."
"Me too?" Megumi panics.
Kuga sighs and he asks 10 people to make them for both of them, and after they eat them, they feel spicy and delicious at the same time.
"The Totsuki Academy Festival is a monster event which has 500000 attendees every year. You won't make it to the top in sales if you can't serve around 1000 meals every day. So how are you going to beat me, huh?" Kuga asks.
"With my cooking of course." Soma says. "Thank you for letting me and Megumi watch your work. Then excuse us."
Before they leave, Hojo decides to ask Soma, "So what are you going to do now? There's one thing you have a late start in comparison to Kuga-san. Your reputation how well known you are outside the school."
After showing the newspapers of Kuga and the others, Megumi is in her panic mode and she says, "What should we do? We are already late!"
"Don't worry, I think I have a plan for this." Soma says.
And then he asks Sotsuda to help make his own page of the newspaper as the Phantom, telling him that he will be participating in the festival, Sotsuda is shocked to see the Phantom talking to him in person, and he immediately agrees.
And while Erina and the others are trying to get to the booth, she feels a little strange as she turns around. "Phantom..."
Soma ignores Erina and says, "This is where I am going to set my booth for the festival."
The staff is surprised as he asks, "It's just in front of the Chinese Cuisine RS, you know?! No one wants to set their booth nearby."
"Don't worry about it. I have beaten Kuga Tenori a lot of times, and I'm going to fight him using Taiwanese food. And they are my staff members." Soma says.
"What's this? Yukihira Soma and Tadokoro Megumi are joining you?" Erina notices the paper as she gets surprised.
"Oh, you're here, Nakiri Erina." Soma says. "You must be having your booth at the Uptown Area, too bad we won't be competing sales with you considering I'm setting it at the Central Area."
"What are you planning?" Erina asks.
"I'm just doing a favor for Yukihira Soma and Tadokoro Megumi. I will help them with their booth, but I won't be there when the day arrives. After all, it is Yukihira Soma who tries to fight against Kuga, not me." Soma says.
Erina remembers the words Soma said to her, and she asks, "Why are you helping him a lot? What is he to you?"
"Since I haven't challenged you to a Shokugeki, I'll tell you that he is a person with a bad past. And I'm just helping him to make him better." Soma replies as he leaves, causing Erina to think his words.
And this is the first chapter of the Moon Banquet Festival, and I am going to make Soma better compared to anime or manga. I hope you like this chapter.