Oh... it's been a while since my last update. I really miss you readers, especially your reviews on this little one. I hope that this new chapter can be a medicine for the long hiatus this story had. I hope that I can go back update this story regularly. Got to make another next chapters fast and good enough to be presented in front of you, readers.

So, please enjoy and don't forget to leave your review(s) later. Thanks.


Dish.26 – Savior [part.3]


What is the meaning of being a savior?

That question was the question which hadn't gotten the answer from him. That question, which has long forgotten, for unknown reason was successful in going back to his mind recently. Before all the mess that happened around eight years ago, those question always got asked in every meeting he had with his little daughter.

His little daughter, whom owned the jet-black hair she inherited from her father and a pair of rose-gold eyes which resembled so much with her mother's.

Nakiri Azami looked at the photo of his little family, focused on his older daughter whom looked beautiful and cute at the same time because of her bright smile she showed in the photo.

Nakiri Karen used to be a cheerful kid in Nakiri house. No matter what had happened to her, she always showed her smile to him. At that fact, Azami thought that maybe Karen has born to be the great pretender. Only in those unguarded moments that he saw her sad, longing look shown on her beautiful eyes.

"Do you still look for the answer of that question, Ren?"


"Before becoming a savior to someone else, don't you think that you need a savior for you first, our dear Karen-chan?!"

Eizan's words got heard again – for nth times already – even when she was in the middle of the crowd. In front of her was a rare scene to be seen. The 98 students whom previously got their precious knives taken by Mimasaka Subaru run to get it back. Those event happened all thanked to the heroic winning Yukihira Souma got on his Shokugeki against that Mimasaka boy.

"Savior, huh?"

Actually, she has already tired of hearing that word to be attached to her. Maybe, the one whom matched to that term was that red haired boy. His brave acts had saved many of his fellow students in Toutsuki, like most heroes saved people in the movies.

A ruined one like her, didn't deserve such title.

"Yo, Nakiri! I've overcome this. It's only one more step till I can challenge you as the best one among the freshmen!" The red haired boy shouted as he showed his determined look toward the honey blonde Nakiri girl.

"Better watch your place, Yukihira Souma!" There goes Erina's cold reply. "I'm beyond your reach."

"He always surprised us, isn't he?"

Karen didn't bother to look back at the familiar older one whom initiated that question, as she got her attention solely at the main stage which still filled with merry talks. That simple question, got curt nod from as her immediate answer.

"And today, he was like a hero in most novels and movies. Defeated the villain whom hurting innocent people." Karen added, eyed the crowd which dispersed one by one from the stage. Once she found nothing interesting to be watched, she turned to face the one whom accompanied her just now. "Good work for finishing those paperwork, Ruki-nii."

"It's not-" Haruki stopped midsentence as he realized something from Karen's sentence. He looked back the younger one and found that girl put her innocent look on her face. Haruki frowned a bit, got the bitter feeling because of his lies already got found out by her.

"Nah... I have troubled you with those matters. Maybe I should-"

"There's no need." Haruki cut off before Karen finished her words, which made him earned a questioned look from the latter. "I mean... they won't bother you with those annoying paperwork as they already... called it off."

The last three parts of his sentence got spoken so weak, whisper alike. Not to mention about his nervous act as he slowly avoid eye-contact with her. Those little signs weren't surprised Karen at all. Just, she found it amazing that even after years being together with her, her brother still bad at telling lies. Making it so easy to know the truth even without the boy told her directly.

Her cheerful beam suddenly got shoot out. "It's good then! It's just meant that from now on we can focus solely on our business, right, Ruki-nii?"

Haruki felt stupid for no reason, seeing her fast respond to his ambiguous words earlier. He showed his little smile as he nodded, agreed to her words. Since in the beginning, he knew that Karen was never interested in such title like Elite Ten.

"Have anything in mind about what to do next?" Haruki asked as he offered her favorite caramel candy.

"Uhm... let's see..." Karen mumbled as she got her focus on the candy's wrap, got her hands on working to unwrap the candy. "For now, the final may be worth to be watched." She said at the same time she got the candy unwrapped. "Got any idea about who will claim the top spot?"

Haruki saw the mischievous smile on her followed her question just now. Haruki thought that maybe she didn't need an answer for that question as it seemed that she has had a gut of it. She just wanted to test him. That little...

"Who knows? Each the remained ones seems to have potential."


Days later, after the final match

Toutsuki Academy – Polar Star Dorm

"Oh my God, what's make you all take so long to get back here?! I've almost started the party with Ruki-nii and Fumio-san only, you know?"

All the freshmen of Polar Star Dorm got dumbfounded completely at the sudden complaint made by their regular visitor. The mother hen of the said dorm just sipped her drink peacefully while the sophomore boy whom always glued together with that girl appeared from the kitchen direction with a beautiful arranged sweets on the plate he brought with.

"Ren-chiii!"

It was Yuuki whom became the first one greeted their visitor then hugged the latter like they haven't met for centuries. That welcoming scream too that made the atmosphere melted, they interacted like usually they did. Except the red haired boy, Yukihira Souma.

That day, as he made so many surprises to the audiences of the final match of Autumn Election, he got many surprises too. About how marvelous the dish made by both Kurokiba Ryo and moreover Hayama Akira. About how frustratingly he felt that the gold medal he dreamt of being taken by someone else than himself. About how disappointed himself that he can't fulfill his little promise to his father.

And... about her sudden presence.

Souma barely realized that for the recent weeks since the preliminaries of Autumn Election, that girl got 'unseen' that it felt like she got into a place unknown to this world. Their last encounter, was the day when he was preparing for his battle with Mimasaka Subaru. Since that day, he even didn't see any single trace about her.

Then, now... in their dorm's dining room, there she was. Put her well-made annoyed expression on her beautiful face which got replaced with her cheerful look once the members of the dorm stormed to her place.

"Congratulation for your 'runner-up' position, Sou-kun." Karen offered a glass of orange juice to the red haired boy.

"Heh...? Somehow, it looked not surprising at all if you've predicted it, Kuro Nakiri." Souma replied as he accepted the juice then took a sip of it.

"Nah... had the upper hand against Kira-kun was something that so hard to get. Also..."

"Also...?"

Souma just looked at her, whom still held her sentence unfinished. But, as he kept looking at her, he felt like she had finished her sentence. Through her mysterious gaze upon her own orange juice.

"Hey, kids! Get your plate filled with those dishes before that stupid Isshiki got here!"

"Oooh!"

It seemed that the unfinished sentence will stayed same as Karen already got herself blended into one with the girls of Polar Star Dorm. Sipping his orange juice in silent, he kept his eyes on the merry little party which got held by their regular visitor.


The euphoria of Autumn Election already ended. The ones whom got involved in those annual event already got into their daily courses. It got applied to Doujima Gin too. Countless joint business contracts already waited on his desk, piled up into numerous paper hills. It was still early in his working hour, that he opened the door of his office while got into a serious phone call. Once he ended his call and was heading to his desk, he stopped as he saw an unusual guest already seated in his office.

"Are you... Doujima Gin, the director of Toutsuki Resort?" That guest asked, as he got his black sunglasses off.

"Yes, I am. And... who are you, Mister?"

"Oh, I am sorry for my insolence." That guest rose from his seat, offered his right hand to Doujima. A small smirk on his lips as he introduced himself. "I am Xiao Yang, the current head of Wangshu Group. You must... have heard about us, right?" That man asked as he tightened his grip on Doujima's right hand once they shook hands together.

Doujima Gin had heard about them, of course. Wangshu Group, a business group which got formed by several rich heirs and heiress based on Shanghai. For the recent five years, they already widen their wings till Japan and other Asian countries. Their main business was lending financial capital to them who needed it. But, the way they got back the thing they have lent was no different than any debt collector acted.

"What kind of business Toutsuki had with Wangshu Group that made you, the leader, to come here?" Doujima asked as he got his hand free from Xiao Yang's grip.

Xiao Yang didn't answer immediately, as he got back to his seat. He got something out of his jacket pocket, then put it on the table which separated him and Doujima. A photo of a young man.

"Shingen Ryouta, you know that name, right?"

Another question that made Doujima didn't need to answer it directly. That name, he had heard too. Shingen Ryouta, the former 1st seat of Elite Ten – the 87th generation to be precise. He got listed into one of the successful alumni as he had made seven branches of his Chinese restaurant in three years after graduated from Toutsuki. Thanked to his ikemen look too that he also got popular as model for many culinary themed magazines and products.

"What about him?" Doujima asked, as he seated across Xiao Yang.

"He owned me a lot, to tell the truth. Ah... I don't want to tell you all the details as it will be a boring thing to do. In short, he had lost almost all of his things. And now, he works for me."

That quite surprising, Doujima admitted. But, he still can't put together the things that man Xiao Yang talked about since beginning which related to his sudden visit to his office this morning. Doujima wanted to ask it, but he decided to not do it. He chose to wait for the man to spill it out without being questioned.

"I have to admit that he sucks at organizing his kitchen, which made that small old restaurant didn't get any profit even after all those money I spent on renovating it. So, I decided to meet you today. I heard that Toutsuki is quite excellent in fixing some problematic culinary businesses."

Doujima sighed, didn't belief with the thing he heard just now. That ridiculous idea, just where that man heard about it?

"The Stagiaire Program."

The simple words which made Doujima sent his unreadable look over Xiao Yang. With the same smirk he showed earlier, Xiao Yang showed it again as he said his true intention of coming to Toutsuki Resort.

"Sent the best student of Toutsuki Academy to that place. If it turned out like what I have envisioned about, then we could discuss another business in our future meeting, Doujima-san."


Later in the afternoon, Doujima visited the prestigious Toutsuki Academy. He headed to the headmaster office immediately as he had something really important to be discussed to that old man. The old Nakiri Senzaemon was having his sight on the vast landscape of Toutsuki Academy when Doujima made his arrival. In his right hand, a brown colored map.

"Just tell me right to the point, Gin." Nakiri Senzaemon commanded without looking back at the younger one.

"There's a special request for the Stagiaire Program, Sir. I have sent the detail to you this morning."

"Ah... that thing, uhm... I have read it. So, have someone in your head?"

Doujima didn't answer immediately. Before he decided to meet the headmaster, he already had someone that may be suited to be the one to do the request. Getting his sight focused solely on the old headmaster, Doujima spilled out that name.

"May I send Nakiri Karen for this request, Sir?"