Chapter 6
Blue Team 12, Red Team 10 (Event Six in-progress)
The dinner bell sounded. Nakamura then announced the rules to the next challenge.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is our eating challenge," he said, "As you know, every one of you had created a culinary dish. However, you cannot share the products of the dishes. In this case, you have to eat it now. Masaru and I have placed all of your sixteen dishes in random areas. Here are the rules: Two teams of three will eat their way through a three-course meal. You may only get to choose one dish at a time, and if you cannot finish the dish, you will be disqualified. The last team standing, or first team to finish, wins. Also, if puking occurs, there will be a penalty for the person involved."
He then suggested, "And please take your time, eating. No one wants to get sick."
For the Red Team, Kagura & Tomo agreed to eat together. Tomo stepped in and smiled evilly.
"No way I'm losing to you!" She barked, "I'm going to engorge myself in my own dish!"
Kagura declared, "FEH! My body can resist my delicious food! When I eat, I never gain weight!"
Yomi then bellowed, ignoring Kagura's remarks, "This night, the scales are off!"
As for the Blue Team, Hanai insisted to join…
"Yakumo! Whatever you made will satisfy me! I, Haruki Hanai, will volunteer, keeping our lead intact!"
…Harima joined in, as well…
"Tenma… Rich Girl… Let's hope I survive this meal. I'll be lucky if I get Red Team's dish, rather than yours."
…and Akira decided to be the third.
"Well, I guess it's a game of Russian roulette! Let's go…"
As Harima was seated, Chiyo-Chan snickered in quiet manners.
"Perfect…" she smiled, "The surefire way to get at Tenma, by going to her boyfriend."
Osaka asked, "Chiyo-Chan, what did you put in her bag?"
Chiyo-Chan remarked, "Simple. I gave Tenma a small surprise bag. And when Harima chose her dish, he'll be so sick that he might dump her."
Osaka inquired, "UH, what did you give Tenma?"
She let out a smug smile and said:
"Laxatives."
Osaka giggled, "Ooh, how sinister… You have such good taste for when it comes to sabotage."
Chiyo-Chan slapped Osaka in the head, "Shut up, Miss Osaka. This isn't sabotage. This… is all about embarrassment. Now let's watch and see if Harima is worthy of Tenma's love… which is not."
She's SO totally missing the point. Harima loves Tenma, but never right back.
So, what will happen if any of the contestants get it? Will Harima get it? And for that matter, what did Tenma bake?
XXXXX
They sat at the table, as Masaru presented the dishes via dinner cart.
"Appetizer…" Masaru announced.
Round One
The teams had to choose which dish is which to try. Unfortunately, they cannot open it, until it is presented. Luckily, Hanai, Akira, and Kagura were so determined, since the Appetizer dish is the one they made.
"Now, when I say open," Nakamura announced, "You may remove you lids."
They were so determined, as Nakamura said, "NOW!"
They opened their dishes. Hanai's dish is a small salad, while Harima's is a delicious batch of potato skins. Akira's is the soft garlic bread sticks.
"Lucky me," Akira smiled, "It's mine."
Reluctantly, Akira's dish was hers: bread sticks.
As for the Red Team, Yomi has antipasto, Kagura has carrot and celery sticks and Tomo just got a peanut butter and raisin sandwich.
"Such a kid…" Yomi smiled, as she had her antipasto.
Tomo then munched down on the sandwich, as Kagura munched her sticks in anger.
"What am I: a rabbit?" She thought, "I'll starve, before I eat this crap. But it's healthy, anyway."
Chihiro was jabbed in the heart, knowing that her carrot and celery sticks were given a secretly low review.
Mikoto then looked at Yomi, "Wow. She really liked my cooking. Look at her go."
Kaorin then saw Hanai and thought, "He likes it."
Kagura finished her plate and sighed, "I wonder what happened to my dish."
"DONE!" Hanai cried, as he finished his salad.
"DONE!" Tomo shouted, as she finished her sandwich.
"DONE!" Harima cried out, finishing up the potato skins.
"You know, that's the first time I ate something raw," he smiled.
Hanai chuckled, "Good going, Harima!""
Yep, they were Hanai's skins. That means Kagura's sandwich was the one Tomo ate.
Kagura then asked her, "Did you enjoy the food?"
"Cool! The raisins were exceptional!" Tomo cheered.
Kagura gulped, "Aw… damn it!"
Akira finished, "I'm done."
Yomi cried out, dropping her fork, "DONE!"
Nakamura announced, "WINNERS: Blue Team! The score is 1-0!"
Masaru then rolled the cart away, as Chiyo-Chan was in a glare toward Tenma, Yakumo, and Harima.
"It'll be dessert soon," she thought, "Now, my dear, Harima, see if you can stay for round two."
She then thought, "But if he gets full… and drops out… all is for naught!"
Appetizer Recap:
Harima: Potato Skins (Hanai)
Hanai: Salad (Kaorin)
Akira: Garlic bread sticks (Akira)
Tomo: Peanut Butter & Raisin Sandwich (Kagura)
Kagura: Carrot and celery sticks (Chihiro)
Yomi: Antipasto (Mikoto)
Round Two
"Main course," Masaru announced, as he presented the main dishes.
We're in luck. Now we'll see some of the great choices. In the previous chapter, Harima, Yomi, Yakumo, Karasuma, Sakaki, and Osaka all have made the main course. The six people chose their dish wisely, as Harima was very nervous.
"CRAP! If it's someone's dish, I'm screwed!" He thought, "And to think I made this dish to perfection! This time, I remembered to rinse the fish."
He opened it and saw his dish, which was a huge Italian pasta dish.
"Uh… this isn't mine," he thought, "But it'll do."
You'd be surprised. It's Yomi's dish: spaghetti a la Mizuhara, with a touch of basil and parmesan, topped in marinara!
Hanai saw his dish, which was Sakaki's: a cat-shaped dish made entirely out of mashed potatoes, gravy, and chopped tuna fish. Hanai blushed, as he knew the dish was from Yakumo, which it wasn't.
Now Yakumo's dish was a beef stew; and sure enough, Kagura was amazed by the perfection that she couldn't stop tearing up. She started to eat it.
Akira's is curry (As you guessed). She took a bite, and her face turned beet red.
"I'm spent," she said, as she shoved the plate away.
"Miss Takano! Disqualified!" Nakamura announced.
Karasuma was in a bit distress.
"Was it too much?" He said to himself.
All that's left is Tomo & Yomi. Harima & Osaka's dish were in front of them, but who's who? They opened it and saw, to their surprise, the most beautiful entrée in the world. Harima's dish was baked salmon, while Osaka's dish was a zesty cucumber soup. Yomi then started eating her dish, while Tomo had her soup… very slowly, in which she finds it very pungent.
"DONE!" Hanai cried.
"I'm done!" Harima shouted.
Kagura finished her stew and said, "Finished!"
Yomi cheered, "DONE! Beautiful fish cuisine!"
Tomo then asked, as she finished, "What's in it?"
Osaka winked, "A-se-cret."
Tomo then stood up and bellowed, "Tomo Takino wins again!"
Nakamura then announced, "WINNERS, via DQ: Red Team! The score is now tied at one apiece."
As Hanai was prepared for the next dish, Sakaki approached him and patted his shoulder. Hanai saw her, who was in tears.
"I'm… I'm so glad… you ate him…" she whimpered, "Please give my regards…"
She ran off, as Hanai was stunned, "So… this… THIS WAS HERS? Wait… Why was she sad?"
Tomo & Yomi giggled, as they prepared for dessert. Tomo then asked Osaka what she put in. Osaka giggled, "Oh, you know. A little chicken, beef, and oriental bouillon; some cloves; a dash of honey; some corn, celery, radishes, and cucumbers…"
"What kind of cucumbers?" Tomo asked.
Osaka cheered, "SEA CUCMBERS!"
Tomo gagged, knowing what she put in. She shrieked, "YOU! YOU'RE SICK, OSAKA!"
She called to Nakamura, "I'm out! I forfeit!"
Nakamura then said, "That's fine. Masaru is bringing the last four plates in. And if memory serves me… you were the last to finish, Miss Takino. I was going to remove you, but-."
Tomo dashed off to the bathroom, "NO PROB! WHATEVER!"
Osaka then said, in a glazed look, "What was she talking about? I found fresh cucumbers in the vegetable bin."
Yomi sighed and snuffed to Osaka, "Word of wise: never use sea cucumbers in a culinary dish."
Kagura then asked who made the beef stew. Yakumo raised her hand. Kagura held her hands and whispered, "Marry me…"
Hanai gasped in fright, "NO! YAKUMO! HER FOOD WENT TO…"
He collapsed, as Harima and Akira looked at him.
"Moron…" Akira sighed, "So much for his cooking expeditions."
Harima asked, "Hey, incidentally, how did you quit? What did you eat?"
Main Course recap:
Harima: Spaghetti specialty (Yomi)
Hanai: Cat-shaped potatoes w/gravy and fish (Sakaki)
Akira: Super-HOT curry (Karasuma)
Tomo: Cucumber soup (Osaka)
Kagura: Beef Stew (Yakumo)
Yomi: Baked salmon (Harima)
Update:
Akira and Tomo have been eliminated
Final Round
"This is it," Harima thought, "If I choose Tenma's and stomach her cooking, she'll have no choice but to love me! This is my golden opportunity! I CANNOT louse this up, this time! But if it's Rich Girl's dessert, or the other girls' dessert, then I don't know what! I have to win!"
In Harima's thoughts, Tenma praised to him, "It's nice to have a boyfriend that liked my cooking."
He smiled, "Alright!"
Yomi and Kagura were prepared.
"Sucks to be Tomo," Kagura smugly grinned, "She doesn't know what we're having yet. I cannot wait to taste Chiyo-Chan's cooking."
Yomi then said, "We've come this far. Let's do it!"
Chiyo then glared, "Come on, Miss Masaru, bring in Harima's doornails…"
"Is something wrong, Miss Mihama?" Nakamura asked.
She gulped, "Uh, no, sir. Say, if you can, can you bake for me someday? I wanted to help cook with you, after all the dishes that we made."
Nakamura bowed and said, "I'm sorry, Miss Mihama. Although that it is a generous offer, I am currently employed by Miss Eri, your opposing adversary; likewise young Masaru."
Chiyo smiled, "Oh, that's too bad. Say, what about us? What do we get, since they're eating our food?"
"My dear," he remarked, "In due time… When the eating event is over, everyone isn't leaving empty-handed; or in this case, empty."
He left, as Masaru arrived with the dishes. Chiyo-Chan glared, "Checkmate, Tenma…"
The final round had commenced. They opened their dishes. Hanai opened his, which is from Chiyo-Chan's. It was strawberry shortcake.
"Oh, so this must be from Yakumo," Hanai thought.
Idiot… She already made beef stew…
Harima opened his and saw… a plate of ice cream cake.
"Did Tenma made… ice cream?" He thought.
Yomi and Kagura had cookies. They were made in the same pattern, except the cookies that Kagura have are a little dark, while Yomi's plate was simple and uneven.
Harima took a bite of his cake. After that, he felt something in his stomach. He got up and cried out, "This… This… THIS IS THE BEST DESSERT I EVER HAD!"
Tenma shouted, "He what?"
Eri snapped, "Whiskers what?"
Chiyo cried out, "HE WHAT?"
Tomo returned from the bathroom, feeling uneasy.
"What happened?" Tomo called out, "Did I miss anything?"
Hanai finished his shortcake. "I'M DONE!"
Harima didn't finish. He was so moved that he couldn't finish. Chiyo-Chan was pissed a bit.
"No way," she thought, "That laxative should kick in soon."
Yomi and Kagura tasted their cookies and let out a huge smile.
"Quick! Hanai finished!" Yomi cried out, "Time to finish it!"
"COWABUNGA!" Kagura shouted.
They both snarled down the cookies, very quickly, leaving only a few left. Nakamura did say that the dish must be empty.
Tomo saw Harima and was moved, "Wow. Who'd have guessed that Hairy Man liked my cake?"
Chiyo shrieked, "WHAT?"
Tomo stated, "Sorry. I don't think I can use a stove for dessert. Besides, I had plans to make pudding or gelatin, but it would take days on end to complete. So, I went ahead and concocted Tomo Takino's famous chocolate-swirl ice cream cake! Now he enjoys my love in cooking… Oh, I feel happy…"
Tomo floated off in lovey-dovey style, as Chiyo was confused… and also very frightened.
"If Hanai has my dessert… and Tenma's boyfriend has Tomo's…"
She gulped, "Uh, oh…"
Grrr…
Yomi's stomach started to rumble. As does Kagura, who picked up the last cookie, laced with laxatives.
"Ooh… no way we're giving up," Yomi groaned, as her body started to burble.
Kagura munched down the last cookie and shouted, "I'm… oh! Done!"
She turned to Yomi, "Come on! Do it!"
Yomi picked up the last cookie and put it in her mouth.
"Miss Yomi! DON'T DO IT!" Chiyo-Chan screamed, knowing that her plan completely backfired, in a HUGE way.
"Harima!" Mikoto cried out, "You're stalling! Finish the dessert!"
The Blue Team chanted for Harima, as Yomi took a bite of her cookie. Harima proceeded to pick up his plate and to engorge his dessert completely in his mouth…
"Tenma… I cannot let these two women ruin and embarrass me! This cannot be the magma curry contest, all over again!" He thought in tears, "NOW! WHOEVER MADE THIS WILL BE PROUD OF MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS!"
…until…
Grrr…
Kagura started to break wind. Yomi dropped her half-eaten cookie and got up. They were starting to feel sick. Chiyo was shocked, Harima and Hanai stopped and looked, and everyone was stunned.
"AHH!" Yomi screamed, "WHAT'S IN THOSE COOKIES?"
Kagura yelled, "DAMN YOU, CHIYO-CHAN!"
They ran off to the bathroom, with their stomachs churning and their hands on their hips, holding in the flatulence, along the way. The rest of the players covered their noses.
"EW!" Mikoto groaned, "What happened there?"
Osaka sighed, "Must be some powerful chocolate…"
Nakamura then said, "Forfeit! Miss Mizuhara and Miss Kagura are out!"
Tomo and Sakaki ran after them. Chiyo was stammering in anger, grumbling very quietly.
"Tenma…" she muttered, "What did you do?"
Akira said, as she looked at Harima and Hanai celebrating, "I wonder who would make crappy cookies…"
Eri & Tenma whistled away in embarrassment; seems to me that they made the same cookies with the laxatives that Chiyo-Chan secretly presented, when Tenma gave a batch of dough to Eri.
"I don't get it," she thought, "I didn't know the ingredient was some sort of laxative."
"Tenma," Eri suggested, "Just between you and me, let's just keep it quiet from everybody."
She then added, "And I think it's probably a strong case of fiber. You know how it goes right through you."
"EW! No one puts fiber in cookies!" Tenma shouted.
Kaorin stated, "Not really. Using fiber in cookies is a useful way to bake. You know how they used to make oatmeal raisin cookies? Oatmeal has fiber."
Eri and Tenma said, "Oh…"
Yakumo asked Hanai, "Did you enjoy the meal, Hanai?"
He replied, "Pretty good. I'm sorry I didn't sample any of your cooking. I forgot that you made the main course."
She said, "Well, when this is all over, I'll make you some of it, if you like."
Hanai was blushed, as Harima finished his ice cream cake that Tomo made.
Dessert:
Harima: Ice cream cake (Chocolate) (Tomo)
Hanai: Strawberry shortcake (Chiyo)
Kagura: Cookies; slightly dark (?)
Yomi: Cookies; somewhat uneven (?)
(Cookies made by Tenma and Eri; it is unknown which was which)
End Result:
Harima and Hanai survives; Blue Team wins!
End result, the Blue Team was victorious.
Nakamura announced, "For being such a good sport, the Blue Team gets three points, while the Red Team gets one point. And for your excellent work for baking such culinary arts, the rest of you, who didn't eat, will share the reward."
Everyone was surprised, as they got their reward. Masaru rolled in a tray of French and Italian dishes.
"This is your reward!" He added, "Except for Harima, Hanai, Mizuhara, and Kagura, you will enjoy your fancy cuisine, specifically made by Masaru."
Everyone was happy that they get to eat, as Hanai and Harima were pouting.
"Damn…" Harima thought, "I guess that we ate already."
Hanai moaned, "I think I got full off of that cat potato sculpture and shortcake…"
As for Tomo and Sakaki, they were in the bathrooms, waiting for Yomi and Kagura to come out.
"You okay in there, Yomi?" She asked.
Sakaki said, "It's okay. You two ate too much."
Of course, she was wrong.
Yomi & Kagura spent the whole hour in the toilets, as Tomo and Sakaki left to join the others.
Blue Team 15, Red Team 11, after six events
At the cabins, that night, Tenma paid Harima a visit. He was in bed, feeling upset.
"And after all that, I somehow dodged the bullet," he thought aloud.
"Harima?" Tenma asked.
"Tenma…" he said, as he saw her, "Hey, what's up?"
"Oh, I just wanted to say that I'm so glad that you enjoyed our cooking. And it was very bold of you to go through it in the last minute."
She then giggled, "To be honest, I've never seen anyone get sick over Eri's cooking. My cooking, however, was superb."
Harima sighed and held Tenma's head. He patted her and said, "Hey, thanks."
He then asked, "Only… next time, let's do an event that doesn't involve cooking, okay?"
XXXX
At the Red Team's cabin, Tomo started to draw a picture of Harima. Chiyo looked down and saw her drawing his self-portrait.
Tomo was in a blushed romantic look, as Chiyo was confused. She thought, "Okay… I guess Tenma and Harima were not meant to be, after all… Tomo must've been happy for him, since he ate her cooking."
She then glared, "But… The second half tomorrow, I will best Tenma Tsukamoto! You'll rue the day that you and your sister become popular, like me!"
Tomo looked at Chiyo, who was angered and pumped, "Hey, Chiyo-Chan, you okay?"
Chiyo-Chan giggled, "Oh, no. I'm okay."
She then whispered to Chiyo-Chan, in a very evil look, "Say, how would you like to play a trick on that girl with the big chest? Maybe we can trick the others, too…"
Chiyo then gave a thumbs-up and whispered, "I'm in. I want to try and trick someone, too. But won't we get caught?"
Tomo smiled and took her outside, "Don't worry. Kagura, Osaka, and I will watch over you. Besides, camp is all about making the late night pranks."
Chiyo then giggled, "Perfect… I'll have my revenge, at last!"
"Huh? What's that?"
"Oh, I mean, we'll have to get there, and fast!"
"That's the spirit!"
They left their cabin, heading to the Blue Team's cabin.
This looks bad. Coming up, we look at what the Knuckleheads are up to.
Plus, will Chiyo-Chan get to Tenma and Yakumo?