Chapter 5: The Verdict
Brock tried very hard not to fidget as Chairman Kaga and the panel took their place behind the ingredient stand. With Vulpix still at his side, the Pewter City Gym Leader was just anxious to find out who won.
Wouldn't it be a hoot if I won? Brock thought. The League would have a field day with that story…not to mention I might have to come out with another cookbook. But Morimoto put up a really good fight too…this really could go either way.
Finally, Kaga interrupted Brock's thoughts.
"Home cooking against neo-Japanese cuisine," he began. "It made for a very interesting match-up in today's tofu battle."
Morimoto sighed. A lot was riding on this battle for him as well, having built up quite the winning streak over the last six months.
"The votes were split—2 to 2," Kaga continued. At this, both chefs raised their eyebrows.
So total points will decide it, Brock thought. Man, if we tie, that means we have to do this again? Oh, I'm not looking forward to that…
"Now…the verdict."
==LADY IN THE RED HAT==
"Today, a revered figure in the world of Pokémon battling tries his hand at another form of battle," Fukui narrated. "Challenger Slate, out of the arena and into Kitchen Stadium, trying to take down Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, who hasn't lost since December of last year! Has he done it with his home cooking? Panel deadlocked, total points will decide it…who takes it? Whose cuisine reigns supreme?"
There was a long pause before Kaga finally called out a name.
"Iron Chef, Masaharu Morimoto!"
==FARENHEIT 451==
"It's the Iron Chef! Morimoto makes it 10 in a row! And he seems incredibly relieved to win his closest battle yet!"
The two chefs met at the center of the stadium to shake hands.
"You certainly gave me a run there," Morimoto said. "I thought you had me."
"Great battle. I'm not ashamed to say I lost," Brock replied.
"Let's check the scores for this one," Fukui said over the applause. "Aoyama, 20-19 Iron Chef; Oak, 19-18 for the challenger; Levin, 20-18 Iron Chef; and Morris, 19-18 for the challenger—votes were tied, but the Iron Chef squeaks by with the win by one point!"
"Wow, I didn't realize it was that close," Morimoto said after Fukui revealed the scores. "Not many challengers come within one point, so walk out of here with your head held high."
"Thanks, Morimoto-san," Brock replied. "I will."
~料理の鉄ポケット~
Exhausted from the long day of taping, Brock arrived back at home, with Vulpix trotting alongside him (Kabuto had let himself out of his Poké ball and became Vulpix's helmet once again). His first stop was the kitchen, not having had a bite since the battle.
"I'm sure you guys are hungry," he said as he filled Kabuto's and Vulpix's bowls. "And for Vulpix, for coming through in the clutch…your favorite treat," he said happily as he dropped two scoops of Mago Berry ice cream into a separate bowl. The little fox squealed happily and gobbled them up quickly.
"I should've given it to you afterwards…now you've spoiled your appetite…" Brock said, shaking his head.
Kabuto, having nearly fallen into Vulpix's bowl of ice cream, interrupted her moment of bliss.
("So what happened?") Kabuto asked his fiery vulpine friend. ("You got to be in most of the action, I missed it.")
("I don't think we'll be having tofu for a long time after today,") Vulpix said. ("We put up a good fight, though.")
("So we lost?") Kabuto said, now a little downtrodden. He sunk into Vulpix's head fur.
"It's OK, buddy," Brock said reassuringly. "You all did so well. I'm proud of you all."
Kabuto stood up again and started running around on Vulpix's head. ("You mean you're not angry you lost?") At this the little crab Pokémon, excited at the prospect of not getting punished, fell off his friend and into his trainer's hand just in the nick of time.
"Woah there, careful," Brock admonished. "And no, I'm not angry at all. Winning or losing wasn't the point, right Vulpix?"
("Right!")
"Exactly. It was all about the love of our food, and the joys of putting it together. And it's not like I'll never have tofu again…" Brock added, "…in fact, I was gonna make some tonight. Want some?"
Vulpix and Kabuto shook their heads and lowered them into their bowls as Brock chuckled, getting to work one more time that night in the kitchen.