Chapter 95: Redrawn Allegiances
- Asahi's Sight, Azami's Scorn
The mood that filled the whole venue hall was both sombre and bittersweet; as the entire audience sat and stared in stunned silence, as they took in the magnitude of Kensuke's sudden decision to quit as a chef - regardless of either a Rebel or Central victory.
"No way..." a lone voice uttered from up in the observation galley. "This is not happening!"
One by one, more cries of astonishment, anger and despair began to wail about the auditorium. "This horrible news!" Was the overall theme of everyone's shocked responses; with the exception of a few angry investors.
Another wail of anguished grief echoed around the hall as a woman abruptly kept tot her feet and began crying. "Our restaurant was just about to sign a lucrative contract with chef Kensuke for his culinary services... and now we have just lost our favoured ally".
"This is a travesty of business honour!" A tall brunette haired woman with blonde highlights reposted bitterly as she angrily pointed down towards the third seat.
"Tōtsuki bylaws state that: 'any contract, agreements or pact drawn up between any individual member of the Council of Ten and an outside culinary institution, chef or organisation must be hitherto recognised, respected fully attended to".
"Ergo..." the woman stated haughtily; and with a growing ire in her now shrill, from her yelling, voice. "No matter how a chef of Tōtsuki may feel such agreements are not so easily broken or walked back on. One must be completed - no matter the cost!"
"Okay let us all calm down..." Mister Aida's voice sounded nervous as he spoke into his microphone; projecting his words around the hall by way of the tannoy system. "I think we all need toreturn to the judging..."
Unfortunately, at that exact moment, another angry Central ally stood up in the audience and loudly bellowed an expletive laden excoriation back at the third seat.
This was then subsequently backed up by another, less vitriolic but still angry, rant by the chief executive of the International Food Distribution Association - a Mister Nobunaga Takahashi.
"You filthy peasant! We let you into the very echelons of culinary high society, and this is how you repay us!" Standing up in his seat, the chief executive of the I.F.D.A straightened his tie and jacket before striding out the the upper galley.
"I won't stand for this, I'll take you for everything your have!"
As the V.I.P disappeared from sight, and the slam of the door reverberated around the silent hall, his last words made the vast majority of central supporting students shudder in their own seats; and they all began to slowly change their minds about whether their decision to side with Azami was correct for hopefully becoming a professional chef one day.
Never before had any one of them ever given any serious thought to the possibility that a centrally run academy - one that set its own agenda, classes and exams; where individuality counted for naught and uniformity was key - could be a hinderance.
Moreover, the very thought that the third seat would be the one to properly rattle their belief in and resolve to continue with Central was never an imagined scenario. They had all known of his weakness with social situations, as well as his aloofness and reticence to be involved in food wars, but they all had never know the depths of his anxiety before.
And now hearing the regret and anger - albeit see different levels - from both Rindō and Tsukasa, followed by the resentful self-loathing from Kensuke, all the other students slowly came together and began to chant and cheer loudly for the rebel team.
"Tōtsuki gives us our culinary independence!"
"Down with the Azami Doctrine!"
"Reinstate Director Senzaemon!"
"Rebels... go win us back our individuality!"
After levelling a particularly pointed glare at the judges - seemingly oblivious to the new mood of the audience - Kensuke returned to his workstation and gave his full attention back to his cooking.
Ignoring all distractions, and focusing entirely on his idea of this current food war theme, and with a small but resolute smile on his face, the third seat was for the first time truly seen to be pushing past his anxieties. As well as gaining a new perspective on cooking and gaining new impressions from the V.I.P's looking on.
Lifting the lid of the pot, thereby releasing both a cloud of steam as well as a burst of an intoxicating aroma of stewed rabbit and vegetable broth within.
Stunned by the voracity and instant anticipatory delectability that the aroma created, and was hence manifested by hundreds of mouthes watering and noses pointed in the direction of Kensuke's cooking station, the entire audience hall - be they rebel, central ally or non aligned personnel - all stared in utter joy at the sight of the third seat's new comfortable and content appearance within the kitchen.
Even if he was going to cook for the remaining rounds, and then quit altogether, the audience resolved themselves to simply bask in their newly enquired appreciation of the third seat's culinary prowess.
Meanwhile, staring at his friend from across the cooking stage, Isshiki couldn't help but give a slightly sedate grin as he witnessed, and recognised, the change that Kensuke had just made for himself was actually the best for decision for his own well-being.
'Ken… you're finally making progress towards being a free and independent chef', he mussed as he wiped tears from his cheeks and gazed joyfully towards his opponent.
Although it was sad that he would never be able to cook alongside him again, Isshiki knew that without the pressures and responsibilities of finding, following and progressing into a culinary career, his best friend would undoubtedly become a much happier person.
Turning around where he stood he glanced over towards Megumi and smiled as he saw that she too was beaming brightly; with tears in her eyes, as she rejoiced in her brother's redemption. And beside her; equally joyful and bright, were Sōma, Erina and Takumi all of whom enveloped the blue haired girl in a three-way hug.
Seeing Sōma clasp Megumi's hand and then kiss her on the knuckle, Isshiki rolled his eyes at how Sōma immediately pointed back towards Ken's stove and work surface with such an intense and excited expression of his face.
With his face now practically aching from grinning so much, isshiki could immediately tell that the redhead boy was supremely intrigued and culinarily invested in what his future brother-in-law; a relationship advancement that Isshiki, Yuki, Ryōko and Alice had come up with, was cooking.
Unable to stop himself, Iashiki burst out laughing as he saw Megumi's attempt to get Sōma to reign in his excitement backfire on her when he suddenly lifted her up on his shoulders and yelled down to her brother. Resulting in her face becoming even redder than before.
"Brother! We're both so proud of you!"
Seeing Kensuke simultaneously flinch and blush at being called 'brother', had the instant affect of making Isshiki supremely proud. Moreover, out of the corner of his eye, Isshiki could also see the genuine surprise on the face's of Tsukasa and Rindō as they too saw his reaction to Sōma's words, and watched their best friend cook.
Worry and hope clashing in their eyes. Yet, as they met Isshiki's gaze, the first and ex-second seat smiled contentedly before returning to lower their heads in silent prayer for Ken's good fortune.
'He'll still need further counselling…' Isshiki thought mournfully, 'but I guess for all the damage Azami and Central have done; it was all necessary for Kensuke to come to this realisation'.
Shaking his head of that thought, as well as the uncomfortable and unwelcome truth of it, he returned his own attention to the rabbit soup that he was preparing on the stovetop in front of him.
Nodding his head in silent self-appraisal, he went about gathering ingredients for making mochi dough; as he wanted to surround the remaining meat within mochi wraps which would then become 'islands' surrounded by the aforementioned soup.
Rolling out the mochi into individual parcels, Isshiki sighed comfortably as he proceeded to line them with the leftover rabbit meat, miso paste and ginger before then rolling the mochi dough balls closed and dropping them into boiling water.
Smiling, Isshiki bent down and rummaged around inside one of the workstation cupboards before reappearing holding three stacked together black lacquered lidded bowls which he proceeded to place down upon the clean section of his countertop.
Sensing that he was being watched, he looked up and saw Kensuke hurriedly look back down at his own cooking - before glancing upwards again and smiling as he announced that he was nearly ready to serve his completed plate of food.
"Hey... Isshki", Kensuke spoke timidly. "You remember when we first met?"
Grinning wryly, as he recalled the day three years ago, Isshiki nodded his head as he replied. "How can I not", he chuckled pleasantly.
"It was our first lesson with Professor Chapelle, and he had just made our whole class make Coq au Vin", pausing as he looked around; as if checking to see if the aforementioned teacher was present, the former seventh seat sighed to himself as he continued.
"We had never heard such a strong French accent before..." he chuckled, "And speaking that particular recipe out loud there were so many innuendos uttered after class. Plus you got lost half way through the recipe..."
"Shut up! You promised to never speak of that to anyone", Kensuke interrupted; his face bright red with embarrassment. "I've never once gotten lost over a recipe before. I-I was just got lost in translation... that's all".
"You aren't falling behind are you?" Isshiki replied, a half quizzical-half teasing expression on his face. "After all you did say we would cook at our absolute best, right?"
The mock frown that quickly turned itself into a grin, that Isshiki deployed was received with yet another quizzical look from Kensuke. However, the blonde ex-seventh seat couldn't put his finger on it but he somehow felt that this look wasn't the same as the one his friend used to use whenever in the past.
Whenever had felt used, annoyed or aggrieved.
'No... this is different. This is a new, more poignant and, positive look', he quietly realised.
"I'd usually say that you should keep your focus…" Isshiki replied with a grin, "but I know you. Even when you didn't always want me to".
Seeing Kensuke's eyes widen as he heard that last bit, Isshiki simply gave a thumbs up before thumbing his nose towards the judges. "Don't pat any attention to them", he spoke - suddenly nervous that Azami, Decora and Corage would say something that could revert his friend's progress, and make him once again putty in Central's hands.
With a final glance over his shoulder Isshiki noticed that Sōma - still holding Megumi on his shoulders - was now staring straight at Kensuke with a deadpan look on his face.
Meanwhile, Takumi and Erina had matching curiosity on their face as they realised that this was the moment that the third seat's fate was now, truly, in his own hands. Would he stand firm against the iron will of Azami Nakiri, and move on from his anxiety, or would he collapse back into darkness.
Suddenly realising that Sōma boy had probably figured this out long ago, and was now watching to see how Ken would react to Azami's comments, Isshiki managed to renew his energy and race ahead with his final cooking stages and begin to make preparations for plating.
Megumi too seemed to grasp the importance of the upcoming judging as well, for she was no longer beet red in the face and was now biting her lip in nervously. But she was being calmed by the presence of Sōma, and Chise.
'Bing. Bing. Bing'
The abrupt ringing of the timer sat on the side of an adjacent table, which was coincidently where Kensuke had placed the old red leather bound book, startled - and reminded - the room of the present moment. And the stakes at odd.
With a cold, yet steady, expression on his face the third seat grabbed a pair of oven gloves and made his way back towards the oven. Crouching down to open the door he opened it slightly, and a tantalisingly exquisite aroma instantly had the room folding in their seats. However, as quickly as the aroma had assaulted nd perplexed the nostrils - as well as thoroughly wetted the taste buds - he shut the oven door again and turned down the temperature.
Nodding his head in silent appraisal and approval of his own work he then continued to startle both the watching rebels and the so-called Central chefs by effortlessly, in the space of, maybe, ten minutes, preparing and rolling out a thick rough puff dough. Glancing again at the oven he noticed it was now at the right temperature for what he had in mind.
As if remembering something, Kensuke suddenly looked over his workstation and found that he had no baking trays or spring-form tins available, but just as he felt panic beginning to creep in he felt a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay..." he recognised Rindō state. "I have one here. I still want some though". Placing a rectangular spring-form tin down beside him, the ex-second smiled brightly as she hugged him.
"Glutton", Kensuke replied quietly, a small smile onhis face, as he returned her embrace.
"Shut up..." Rindō riposted with a sly smile. "I may not have get to ask you for food as recompense anymore but I can know of ways to embarrass you".
"Wellness is our passion now", Tsukasa remarked walking towards them from the slide line. "All we need now is each other. Cooking is in our past, we will always be in our future".
Assisting their friend with his cooking Tsukasa and Rindō glanced over towards Isshiki, and found the blonde smiling tearfully at them.
Placing one half the of the rolled out pastry dough into the spring-form pie tin; even though he knew the shape of the tin was antithetical to tradition and would probably incite curiosity and/or frustration from the judges, Kensuke instead focused on merely finishing his cooking. Paying the corrupt and nefarious judges no mind.
Unaware that his choice of rectangular rather than a circular tin was already creating an air of anticipation as the judges and audience watched in rapt attention, the third seat simply proceeded walk over to the stove.
Turning off the heat he removed the lid from the residually simmering pot, and pulled out the the various cuts of boiled rabbit which he then placed on a chopping board and then cut into smaller chunks.
Proceeding to layer the different cuts of rabbit into the pastry case in between other layers of bamboo shoots, spinach, miso paste, white asparagus and diced portobello mushrooms - Kensuke sighed contently as he added a final smattering of chopped dried cranberries as well.
Smiling to himself as he used the final half of the pastry to close the 'pie' he quickly gave the pastry an egg wash before picking up the tin and moving over towards the oven. However, just as he was about to own the oven door, he overheard Rindō speak tersely to someone.
"What are you doing here?" The red haired girl growled through gritted teeth. "Even if you are the director's son, you're still not welcome here".
Paying no heed to the anger, quickly rising from the second seat, Kensuke placed his pastry into the oven and set the timer, but then he instantly felt the presence of Deputy director Asahi making his way, past Rindō and up into the stage - grinning like a madman and staring at him.
Not even when he returned to his workstation and began to clean up the surface and equipment he'd used did he once look up at the dark haired deputy; for the aura he gave off was one of pure disdain.
Frowning at being ignored Asahi simply waved his hand in front of the third seat's face before grabbing his shoulders and shaking him quite hard.
"You are not allowed to ignore me", Asahi spat angrily. "You should count yourself fortunate that I even decided to approach you! As it means that I acknowledge you as a chef... even if you are one for the remaining duration of this food war", he added mockingly.
Dismissively turning around, but still looking visible uncomfortably at being manhandled and yelled at, Kensuke snorting loudly in derision. "Thank you for your glowing endorsement", he replied bitterly. "But could you please vacate my workstation. Your presence is currently inconveniencing me. And as much as I'm sure you want to face me... you're not worth my time".
Spinning the third seat around, to once again face him, Asahi clenched his fists and dug his nails into Kenuke's shoulder. Then the deputy director snarled angrily as he shoved him into Tsukasa, coming to break up the conversation, before stepping right into his target's face.
"You wanna say that again, o' silent majesty?" Asahi growled. "I am a Nakiri... So show me some respect!"
Bolting forwards before anyone else could were Rindō and Chise, from over on the rebel side, who placed themselves in between the two glowering chefs preventing any further utterances or escalations of anger, disdain or malice.
"Enough of this!" Azami called out, surprising both his son and the other judges by the regretful irritation in his tone. "Return to your place, Deputy Director, and allow us to partake in the this most important of culinary processes known as critiquing".
Scowling even more at the added put down, by his own father, as he elbow out of Chise's grasp and sending her a dangerous and lustful smirk, Asahi trudged back towards the judging panel.
Shrugging his shoulders as he stood in between Momo and Saitō, he appeared to have lost interest in the moment. But to Rindō, Isshiki and Chise they all felt his continuous presence preparing to bare down upon the third seat.
Moreover, as Chise observed him walk over it the emcee, Sean Aida, and slink fall into jolly revelry, she frowned as she overheard the two of them whispering about wanting to further 'collect' the skills from the 'silent king'.
Looking back at Rindō whom now had her hand to Kensuke's face, Chise suddenly felt very very awkward.
She had always been secure with her own feelings towards Kensuke, but now after learning so much about how the stress and strain he'd been under seemed to disqualify her from heaving these feelings. However, compared to the strong bonds that she now fully understood were held with Tsukasa and Rindō, almost made her feelings seemed meek and timid.
However, she was saved from further embarrassment and awkwardness when the third seat himself turned towards her and bowed. "Thank you Chise..." he murmured softly, but with genuine gratitude and emotion in his voice. "Thank you for watching out of me".
Then before she could respond, Kensuke gently pulled her into an embrace and patted her on the back. "Thank you for all your support. And I'm sorry that I couldn't see you all the way through to graduation".
Turning away, so that she wouldn't see him cry, the third seat was met by a smiling Tsukasa who pointed to the prearranged assemble of crockery, he'd just brought out, for plating.
As she watched the first and second seat return to the sidelines, Chise glanced back towards her mentor only to see Isshki hurrying over to him to look him closely in the eyes; in almost the exact same way that Rindō had just done before ruffling his hair.
Feeling instantly jealous that another of the Ten had such a close friendship/semi quasi-relationship with her mentor, and love interest, she immediately but down on her tongue - forcing herself to stop thinking about this.
Instead she looked over to Nene for emotional support, as she knew that she and Isshiki were both childhood friends and newly reacquainted partners too. Unfortunately, she was met with a cool calmness behind the sixth seats's spectacles.
"I know how you feel", Nene spoke reassuringly. "I felt this way once too. He doesn't always understand social situations but Kensuke just has this way with unconsciously bonding with people".
"I've always wanted to know how he does that…" Tsukasa murmured softly, as he and Rindō appeared beside them. "Despite the distance Ken tries to put between him and all those around him, it's clear that he does possess an unconscious ability to see good people. And Isshiki has a way to truly understand him".
Watching their former colleague, and they hoped still friend, support Kensuke only increased their regret for misguidedly siding with and believing that Azami would be able to protecting them from experiencing the extreme culinary pressures and workloads from being professional chefs.
"Kenny is right…" Rindō murmured quietly, making Tsukasa, Nene and Chise turn to her in confusion. "We made the choice to side with Central. We did this to ourselves, and hurt a lot of innocent students in the process. Our own personal consequences of our foolishness is nothing compared to the loss of business, experience and passion that Central has done to the culinary industry and its students".
"I have already quit both Central and Tōtsuki but I will also end my culinary journey as well will".
Nodding his head in agreement Tsukasa looked outwards at the rebel chefs all of them smiling and cheering for an Isshiki victory, albeit less vociferously as before. "They all have true courage", he murmured sadly. "They did what we couldn't, and they're winning. I'll join you two as well, I'll quit as a chef".
"It would be the just thing to do" he added plainly. "Let the victors have the right to decide the way of Tōtsuki, plus it would be seem hypocritical - not to mention wrong - of us to continue here when we lose".
As if to counter her two senior's argument, arguing that they needn't give up cooking entirely, Nene suddenly saw noticed that the two current contestants had returned to their own cooking stations and preparing final plating.
"As much as I understand your words…" she eventually replied flatly. "My family would throw a fit if I declared that I was going to stop cooking. Besides", she blushed gazing at Isshiki, "I now have a renewed reason to cook again now. And I'm not loosing him again".
Asahi Saiba, deputy director of Tōtsuki academy, glowered at the third seat from where he stood behind the judging panel. Standing next to him, offset slightly by the floor level scoreboard was the emcee for the battle Mister Aida.
Ever since setting foot in Japan, Asahi had one goal; defeat the man whom had instilled in him a passion for cooking and amalgamate those skills with his own. And then repeat that process with as many other great chefs and great up and coming culinary students as possible so that he could be recognised as the very pinnacle of culinary artists.
And so as he was plotting how he would get his targets to face him he was confronted by one Azami Nakiri, whom confessed to be his father.
Initially reluctant to believe him, as well as bitter and angry about having been abandoned by both his parents in America, Asahi eventually decided to up Azami's offer to travel with him back to Japan and stand beside him - as his trusted Deputy - in his revolution against the archaic trials and tribulations of the current culinary system at Tōtsuki Academy.
Additionally, in return for granting his father his own cooking skills, knowledge and ferocity he would be welcomed as an official member of the Nakiri family and granted the opportunity to battle and defeat as many opposers to their 'doctrine' as came by.
And so with the 'White Knight', 'Barbarian' and 'Silent King' all future targets for his Cross Knives technique.
Moreover, with his Nakiri status officially cemented, as well as him now being deputy director, and the legal successor to his father as head of the family - and Tōtsuki - Asahi joined his father in his desire to rewrite all the current rules. Purely based out of his own desire to spite the man whom had called himself Jōichirō Saiba for teaching him about cooking and then not taking him away from the miserable and unhappy childhood he'd had back in America.
Spite towards the adult world and frustration towards the way he was unfairly brought up and raised with false promises, as well as the intense jealousy he felt l towards his sister's popularity and prowess had made Asahi the young man he was today. Bitter and hell bent on vengeance against those whom he envied.
Scowling up at the man who had found him as a lonely unwanted boy in the orphanage in the Bronx, and who had first taught him to cook and given him a purpose to live, Asahi clenched his fists in silent rage as he recalled being left behind by Jōichirō Saiba.
Leaning close to his father, whispering something into his ear he pleaded for permission to battle the former-former second seat.
"Father…" he murmured imperceptibly, so that no one else could hear him. "Let me face Saiba. He is the only person in this room that I have any concern for. Defeating and shaming him is all I that desire".
Suddenly, as if a depth charge had just gone off, Azami spun around in his seat and with angrily narrowed eyes levelled at his son and punched his son hard in the stomach.
"May I remind you, son…" he gritted out, "that your sister is up there! Whilst, I admit, that your inherent power, this 'Cross Knives' of yours is definitely worthy of being recognised as an official Nakiri gift. Erina is far more valuable to me than you are. So sit down and shut up. You'll get your chance, but for now we bide our time".
Bowing his head in apology, but internally screaming hateful words at his father, he returned to upbeat self determined and humiliate his former teacher. Continuing to glare up at Jōichirō, whom remained too engrossed in some conversation with the 'old coot' and the executive chef to notice him.
Noting a flurry of new activity coming from the two workstations in front of him, Asahi diverted his eyes back towards the food war before him.
Immediately, a cacophony of raucous applause filled the venue hall - all cheering for the rebel seventh seat - created by the flipped student audience. However, the traitors were instantly drowned out by the bellowing of support for Central coming from the investors, allies, chefs and industry figures up in the V.I.P boxes.
"And here we are folk!" The emcee stated excitedly into his microphone. "And it appears as if the traitorous dog, Satoshi Isshiki, the exiled former seventh seat is first up to present his Rabbit themed plate of food".
Angrily biting back his fuming temper against the vitriol that was being spewed at him and his fellow ousted members of the Ten, as well as his beloved juniors of Kyokusei, Isshiki kept up his friendly and high spirited façade as he completed his food.
Moreover, wanting to ease and erase the look of worry and shame from Nene's conscience Isshiki winked at his childhood friend, making her blush and look down at her feet, as he stepped down from the cooking stage and towards the judges dais.
Carrying a tray, on which stood three black lacquered lidded bowls along with three other additional bowls of jasmine rice and stewed vegetables, Isshiki kept his expression neutral as he carefully handed Decora, Corage and Azami their food.
With as much grace and poise as he could muster, without succumbing to his fervent desire to simply upend the food on the judges heads, the seventh seat smiled demurely as he bowed and stepped back from the table.
"Please enjoy this traditional Japanese Rabbit Soup", he stated bowing, avoiding having to look at the judges again. "I trust you'll find it quite delectable".
"Hold on!" Kensuke's voice traversed trough the air. "We finished cooking at the same time! Therefore we shall serve our food together".
Turning around, Isshiki couldn't help but smile as he saw the old familiar smile that he so loved seeing Kensuke wear whenever he was around him.
Stepping forwards with three plates on which rested a rectangular pastry parcel, a simple gravy boat on the side and a large bowl covered by a cloche.
Placing the three plates down before each of the judges, slightly set aside from Issshiki's rabbit soup, Kensuke fidgeted slightly as he felt six sets of eyes watching him.
Speaking softly, if not a little bluntly, he gestured to his cooked dishes. "Eat up already. This is my last thing I will ever cook, as a Tōtsuki student. Hot Water Crust-Rabbit Wellington with Dauphinoise and Jus de Lapin au Ras el-Hanout".
R.I.P:
Glenda Jackson. Actress and Political.
Dame Anne Leslie. Foreign Corespondent Journalist.
Christine Farris King. Teacher and Civil Rights Leader. (Elder sister to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr)
Homer Hogues. Staff Sergeant & Tuskegee Airman.