Intro: Yosh two chapters in a day! I thought I wasn't able to finish this though.
Disclaimer: I do not own Touken Ranbu and Cardfight! Vanguard and other material which came from the said Game/Anime, they are owned by its original creators. The making of this story and this story is made for the fans and the writer XD. Although the plot and some changes in the story are from me ^_^.
Chapter 72: Cook Off
The mock battle has lasted for a while as the sun is almost about to set everyone is again doing their own things as the 9 toudans who left after lunch has also arrived with Aichi happily eating croquettes "Welcome back." stands up to greet them while still holding onto a croquette and munching on it.
"Oh eating again?" Kiyomitsu mentions as Aichi motions for him to take a bite he did so, surprising some at their closeness "Delicious as always." Kiyomitsu smiles while chewing the food.
"Come to think of it, I think I've caught a glimpse of them doing the same thing with eating the watermelon at the beach…" Kenji recalls upon seeing the closeness of the two.
"Don't worry its normal." Miwa points back at them "Mainly the Tantous." And with that said the Tantou's Midare and Imanotsurugi also takes a bite of it, then Aichi points out where the rest are as the Tantous and Mutsunokami with Yasusada runs to where the food is while Aichi finishes the remaining croquettes from his hands.
Aichi looks like he is scolding the six who were aiming for the food pointing out to the his hands understanding what that means it must be to clean up first their hands since they came from somewhere and possibly their hands are dirty, the others left to so that they could clean out their hands and try the snack Aichi is eating.
"Aichi-sama!" Shokudaikiri calls out as they all turned to him.
"Yes?" Shokudaikiri and Aichi walks to each other.
"You should really clean yourself…" Shokudaikiri sighs smiling to Aichi then pulls out a handkerchief and wipes off the remaining crumbs on his face "Is there any dish you wanted to request for dinner?" he asks while wiping his face clean.
"Anything is fine for today since I am sure you would always make the best dishes especially since there are guests today." Aichi smiles and noticing this Kai wasn't able to contain himself and walked to their direction with Miwa snickering trying to hold onto his laughter.
"Then I will be surprising you again with a new dish I just learned!" Shokudaikiri smiles then saw Kai beside them while Shokudaikiri right now is cleaning Aichi's hands.
"They dote on him… right?" Yuri raises a brow seeing that the actions from the two as if it's normal.
"Yep…" Miwa continues to snicker.
"Can I also use the kitchen to cook?" Kai asks for Aichi's permission.
"It's no problem but… why?" Aichi asks in curiosity.
"It is a thanks for the hard work from the fight for my teammates." Kai answers which somehow Shokudaikiri and Aichi were surprised.
"If it's alright with you can I also have a taste? I've always wanted to try your cooking." Shokudaikiri motioned to Kai as he finishes cleaning up Aichi.
"Then how about a cook off!" Tsurumaru jumps in between the three surprising Aichi but Kiyomitsu was already behind with Yasusada supporting him.
"I've always noticed an affinity with you two when it comes to cooking…" Tsurumaru crosses his arms tapping his finger while nodding his head "Aside from the fact that you guys having almost by a margin the same voice!" He places a hand on his waist while his other pointing out at the two.
Tsurumaru coughs "Allow Aichi-sama to be the judge of your cooking, and of course me too!" Tsurumaru winks and upon hearing this Miwa hastily ran towards them.
"Me too I want to be a judge!" Back to back with Tsurumaru, Miwa points at Kai while Tsurumaru points at Shokudaikiri.
"Why am I included in this?" Aichi sweats at the turn of events in front of him.
"Its fine Aichi don't you also want to taste Kai's cooking?" Miwa winks at Aichi hanging low his head while playing with his fingers "Aww… don't be shy Aichi!" he grabs Aichi by his shoulder.
"Oi!?" Kiyomitsu showed an angry vein on his head upon the closeness between Miwa and Aichi.
"You've always been curious about Kai right, and what a good opportunity to see a side of him right?" Miwa nodded his head continuously while patting Aichi's shoulder while his eyes are closed.
"Since you have given a permission I'll give you two choices… watch how the two make dishes or wait for them to finish and taste them?" Miwa and Tsurumaru leans at Aichi waiting for an answer.
"OI!" Kiyomitsu popped three successful veins as he pushes the two away from him with Yasusada nervously laughing at the action.
"But what about dinner?" Aichi asks.
"Don't worry Aichi-sama I will make plenty of batch for the others." Shokudaikiri smiles assuring him that he can handle it.
"And while they are busy with it, I will help with the side dishes too." Kasen walks up to them.
"Of course I will also help with the kitchen duties such as cooking the rice." Hasebe walks out to them.
"Then it's decided!" Miwa and Tsurumaru both said at the same them as they look at each other smiling ear to ear.
"This two…" Mina and Misaki sighs.
"So what will it be Aichi-sama?" "So what will it be Aichi?" both Tsurumaru and Miwa asks.
Aichi glances at Kai "I don't think they would like it if they are watched and for their space at the kitchen I think it will be better to wait at the same time since it's almost dinner…"
"Then it's decided they will be making dinner and Aichi-sama, Me!" Tsurumaru said and pointed to Miwa.
"And me! Will be the judge to make it fair!" Miwa laughs.
"I'm not making it just for you…" Kai groaned "Then the task is to feed all of them and you three will be the judge." Shokudaikiri and Kai makes eye contact.
"It's fine by me!" Shokudaikiri spoke while not batting an eye at Kai.
"Shokudaikiri…?" Aichi was curious at what was happening in front of him but the toudans, Miwa, and Misaki can clearly understand what is happening it is battle for Aichi's stomach! Well in a good sense it's through his stomach that for his heart.
~At the Kitchen~
Kai rummages for the items and ingredients he will be using while Tsurumaru, Miwa, and Aichi who is dragged by the two watching from the door of the kitchen.
"I see that you are complete with ingredients." Kai places the ingredients he will be using "And you also have exotic ones." He spoke while admiring the shelves of condiments "It seems that I will enjoy cooking here with this kind of stock." He smiles at Shokudaikiri.
"Glad that you like it, aside from getting allowances from Aichi-sama to buy food, we toudans get our own allowances from him and I use those in buying other things I like here for the kitchen." Shokudaikiri finishes preparing his. "With this recipe book that Aichi-sama bought for me, I can cook new dishes!" Shokudaikiri motions for the certain book.
Kai motions that he is asking permission to him to hold the book "Sure but be careful it's a treasure from Aichi-sama." Shokudaikiri chuckles while Kai places his hands on top of the big book.
"Of course if I don't have the ingredients listed at the book I will wait for the time that Aichi-sama will ask to purchase for stocks and then buy them." Shokudaikiri puts on an apron while holding out one to Kai.
Receiving the apron that was given out to him he flips pages on the book with each pages that he seems to have already cooked with notes in it "Aichi-sama likes the taste but it seems he wasn't quite fond of the bell peppers in it, next time I have to make sure he can eat them without noticing that there are ingredients of a bell pepper."
"Aichi doesn't like bell peppers?" Kai thought as he continued flipping some pages.
"Aichi-sama especially likes this mentioning he likes food with cream, next time I will make it creamier then."
"Hmmm…" Kai muttered.
"With Aichi-sama's personality I have understood that he would like sweet things but I still have to make this balanced so I will only make things sweeter for sweets only!"
Kai was surprised at the notes inside of course there are also notes about the other toudans but it was mostly Aichi's name he can read there, but since the book is quite big there are also pages without notes meaning he hasn't tried making them but there is one particular dish that caught his attention, something that he is sure he himself can make this and Aichi will surely love it.
Placing back the book before thanking Shokudaikiri for lending it, he wears the apron for himself as he starts preparing.
"It seems the two are getting along." Miwa snickered as they watch the two converse.
"Well from their love of cooking I am sure it would be that easy for the two to get along." Tsurumaru chuckles.
"I think we should go back now, they will need space." Aichi notices that even Horikawa is inside to help with the cooking.
"And miss this chance… no way?!" The two said in unison.
"Then why did you even gave me a choice earlier?" Aichi smiles but his brows were frowning.
"Oh that is only for you, it's different for me." Miwa laughs.
"I thought it was for all of us…" Aichi sighs "I'm going back…" he whispers while heading outside.
"Eh? Aichi-sama?!" Tsurumaru hastily follows Aichi leaving Miwa behind.
~Hallway~
Reaching out his hands "Y-you aren't mad right?" Tsurumaru tries to peak at Aichi but then someone was also heading off somewhere and met at the Hallway.
"Ookurikara?" "Kara-bou?" the two called out making Tsurumaru let go of his hands with this Aichi had a chance to take his hands off him.
Continuing to move forward Aichi answers Tsurumaru's earlier question but "I-… I'm fi-" Aichi slowly loses his footing, thankfully Ookurikara was beside him and was able to catch him although he himself was surprised.
"Aichi-sama?!" Tsurumaru calls out his name running towards them, thankfully his eyes were half open but he was breathing heavily.
"Aichi… sa… ma?" Tsurumaru and Ookurikara can't believe what they are seeing "Your eyes?!"
Clenching his head Aichi winces in pain "Ookurikara, carry Aichi-sama to the infirmary hurry!"
Helping Ookurikara position Aichi in a better position the two stand up as Ookurikara carry Aichi in his arms "I will look for Mina-nee and the others." while running towards the infirmary they once again bumped into someone, Mina with Kon and Konnosuke following behind her.
Clenching tightly onto Ookurikara's jacket Aichi continues to wince in pain while his other hand clenches his head and on the spot Mina uses her divinity to ease Aichi's condition "Is that what PsyQualia look like…" Mina mentions looking into Aichi's eyes.
"PsyQualia?" Tsurumaru repeated.
"Never mind that now, for now, Aichi-kun? Can you hear me?" Mina calls out his name.
And then slowly the aurora sphere glowing inside from Aichi's eyes becomes dimmer and dimmer as Aichi's breathing becomes normal slowly his hands loses his grip unto Ookurikara's jacket and pulls away his hands from his head nodding to Mina's call sighing in relief.
"What just happened?" Aichi himself was unsure of what happened "I was just fine but then just suddenly…"
"Ookurikara take him to the infirmary first to rest!" Mina instructed.
"No… I'm fine…" Aichi insisted.
"You are not fine, just rest before dinner, I will continue once we reach there." Mina scolded as Ookurikara runs toward the infirmary followed by Tsurumaru leaving behind Mina, Kon and Konnosuke.
~Infirmary~
"What happened here?" Was the first thing Mina spoke out seeing Tsurumaru and Yagen staring also at the person at the bed, well to be specific two people at the bed.
"Aichi-sama fell asleep and won't let go of his jacket." Tsurumaru scratches his head.
"We tried to take it off of him but Aichi-sama kept moving and tightens his grip instead so we just-" before Yagen could finish whatever he was saying Mina immediately snaps a picture on her phone at the two on the bed.
Tsurumaru and Yagen only showed a blank expression from what she did as she blushes immediately.
Ookurikara was sitting on top of the infirmary bed with Aichi sitting comfortably on him Ookurikara's right leg was used as Aichi's backrest with his arms still supporting his back, while his other leg was were Aichi's legs were resting while his other hand was for support.
"I can't feel my legs." Ookurikara annoyingly rants at them.
"W-we know but wait just until dinner and we will wake him up." Tsurumaru pats his back earning him a click of his tongue but he sighs from this "I wish I could have been the one to carry him, lucky you."
Ookurikara sighs "Then you can have him." He instantly moves as he accidentally wakes Aichi whereas he himself also panicked a little but tries his best of course not to show it.
"Well I'll give you something to ease up the pain of numbing a little." Yagen whips up a medicine while Yagen turns serious "So what did happen to him." He asks Mina.
"It's the other power, it slipped up from Aichi-kun by surprise." Mina said as she walks up to where Aichi and Ookurikara is and uses her power to subside the other power again.
"Well he certainly looks comfortable there." In an instant Mikazuki was there, but he wasn't smiling one bit.
"Mikazuki?!" Tsurumaru calls out then finally Mikazuki smiles.
"I felt something made him suffer for a moment." Mikazuki walks in as he sat near the bed where Aichi is.
Kon and Konnosuke jumps on the bed while Konnosuke instead walks up to where Aichi is and sat on his lap and settles himself in while Kon silently waits and watches in silent.
~Kitchen~
"They look like they are really in to this huh…" Horikawa looks surprised at the sight in front of him.
Hasebe, Kasen, and Horikawa even Miwa who is still silently watching behind can feel the pressure from the two and the determination to win as they can somehow see an aura surrounding the two, blue aura to Shokudaikiri and red aura to Kai.
"They can't be bothered too…" Kasen sweat at the sight of the two "Such concentration from the two".
"Thankfully we are only doing the side dishes and they made servings for about 30 people each." Horikawa mentions while ignoring a certain Uchigatana.
"I too want to cook for Aichi-sama…" Clenching his fists Hasebe looks at the two in dismay.
"If you wanted to cook for him too, why didn't you cut in from their conversation when they talked about it and say that you were interested?" Kasen sighs.
Realization hits "Then surely next time!" He raises his fists in the air as he continued on with what he was doing.
Glancing at the two at the back from time to time they noticed how serious they were into putting their feelings into the dishes they are making, they can understand Shokudaikiri, but not that much familiar with Kai, though Miwa could tell that it was the same with Shokudaikiri.
"I'm curious what are they making though." Kasen said smelling the aroma of the dishes they are making.
"I don't know but lately Shokudaikiri-san has been taking a liking at making western dishes, and what Kai-san is making feels like he too is making western dishes." Horikawa inches a little closer using the unfamiliar condiments as a basis for his speculation.
"When it's time for Aichi-sama to taste, we will announce what we are cooking are called." Shokudaikiri moves his eyes. "Although from that look on your face, you seem to have an idea about what I am doing, correct?" Kai only smiled to Shokudaikiri.
"As expected from someone with much more experience and has been doing this much longer than I am." Shokudaikiri smiles.
"I still also have a lot to learn though." Although he says Kai showed an extraordinary skills in cooking.
"What do you say we do say from time to time?" Shokudaikiri suggested.
"I thought the same thing" Kai said as the aura of the two shined more brightly than before.
"It's getting hot in here…" Horikawa laughs it off.
"I guess we should just ask help for the others to start preparing in the dining hall." Kasen said as Horikawa agrees though the two once again ignored and forgot Hasebe who was serious at doing something.
~Dinner~
To not let the others worry they did not tell the others about Aichi's condition and instead continued on to the dining hall like nothing happened, and finally it was the time for the two to battle it out whose dish will Aichi like more.
Noticing a pained looking on Ookurikara "Are you alright?" Sayo asks in concern, which Ookurikara didn't answer instead looked away, Sayo didn't push it and decided to leave it.
The two walks in with the dish with them, the first one to place a dish was Shokudaikiri "Mushroom Risotto." As he finally reveals the name of the dish he made.
"It's an Italian dish, and one of the country's well-known dish." Misaki answers to inform of them.
And then "Beef Stroganoff." Kai said as he placed his dish next.
"B-beef stroganoff?" Aichi said in surprise at the dish in front of him, looking at it with interest.
Kai smiles to Shokudaikiri as he earns a point from Aichi.
"Hooo… the dish Kai was recently trying to learn, a Russian Dish." Miwa whistles as they now wait for Aichi to first taste.
"So it's like their first time making them?" Imanotsurugi asked.
"In a sense? Yes…" Horikawa answers.
The two now waits for the time Aichi grabs a spoon and puts a dish into his mouth.
Gulping his saliva at the food in front of him Aichi finally grabs a spoon and first tried the Beef Stroganoff, another point for Kai for the interest Aichi showed and thinking of tasting it first.
Taking a spoonful he immediately puts it into his mouth "Mmf!" Aichi happily chews the pasta into his mouth, a new expression from Aichi that they saw "Cute…" all the toudans muttered even, Misaki, Yuri and Kenji took notice of this cuteness, of course it didn't get past Mina as she hastily took a picture of it of course Ookurikara was also damaged by the cuteness but he won't flat out admit it.
"I didn't think there would be a day that I could eat Kai-kun's dish…" Aichi feels like he was fluttering in heaven "And it's so delicious."
Tsurumaru and Miwa took a spoonful too and they too were taken to heaven lane at the instant they chew the dish he prepared.
"Mitsubou…" Tsurumaru calls Shokudaikiri's attention "It seems that there is already someone who can match your cooking!" he cries tears of joy from the dish he ate.
"I won't accept defeat that easily!" Shokudaikiri smiles to Kai.
"That would have been very disappointing if you do." Kai smiles back.
Aichi drinks water first so that the taste from the beef stroganoff will wear off so he can taste Shokudaikiri's dish better.
"I'm looking forward to your dish next Shokudaikiri!" Aichi said as Shokudaikiri earns a point this time.
Taking a spoonful from the Mushroom Risotto "Mmf" Aichi places a hand on his cheek as he is again on cloud nine.
Once again they have seen a different side of Aichi "Super Cute!" they muttered once again.
"Ash eshpecthed of Shokudaikiri" Aichi spoke with his mouth still full.
"That's not good Aichi-sama please chew your food first and swallow before speaking." Shokudaikiri scolded.
Aichi then chewed carefully the food and drinks water as Miwa and Tsurumaru also agrees it is now the decision time of who will be the winner in this cook off.
"So who do you think is the winner Aichi-sama?" Horikawa asks for the outcome of the battle.
"Eh why aren't you asking us?!" Miwa said looking quite shocked that they were forgotten though Tsurumaru doesn't mind that much.
Aichi pauses for a moment "Mmmhhh… I just can't choose between them, they just both taste delicious."
"Then How about you Tsurumaru-san? Miwa?" Horikawa finally asks the two but first waited for Tsurumaru's answer.
"Sorry both are really good I can't choose either of them too." Tsurumaru clenches both his fist "Sorry, Mitsubou!" he said looking away.
"No no Tsuru-san… it just goes to show how much powerful my opponent is." Shokudaikiri hands out his hands in a hand shake.
"H-hey?! Aren't you going to let me answer first?!" Miwa cuts them off.
Kai accepted the hand shake "You will only say the same too." Kai sighs.
Making Miwa clench his fists too in sadness, the fight was finally concluded "Sorry, Kai!"
"I guess it is a tie then." Horikawa said ending the cook off.
After that the others helped with preparing the food as they all happily ate the dish "Wow, I didn't think Kai-san can make such a dish!" Midare's eyes sparkle.
"I didn't think today will be full of battles…" Shin mentions as he eats the food in front of him "This is really delicious!"
"I commend you for this!" Morikawa shouts in agreement.
"I don't want to hear it from you…" Kai sighs as he continues to eat.
"By the way were is Hasebe?" Aichi asks as they all look around the area looking for Hasebe.
"I think he was left in the kitchen?" Kasen tries to recall.
"Eh you forgot to call him?!" Aichi then hastily stood up from his seat as the others felt guilty for forgetting Hasebe.
As he was about to be stopped by Shokudaikiri and Tsurumaru that is sitting beside him, Hasebe enters the room with a plate on hand.
"Aichi-sama although I wasn't able to join on the cook off, but I hoped that you will like this instead." He placed the plate in front of Aichi.
"I…" Aichi paused.
"I?" they all repeated.
"I… Ichigo Daifuku!" Aichi immediately started munching on it "So delicious Hasebe!"
Noticing Aichi's reaction Shokudaikiri and Kai already understood who the real winner is in this battle.
"I'm so glad that you like it Aichi-sama!" Hasebe cries tears of joy from Aichi's praise.
"How about we try to make sweets instead next time?" Shokudaikiri mentions to Kai.
"Hmp, I look forward to it." Kai said as he puts a spoonful of food into his mouth.
Clearly the others also thought the same "Who would have thought that it would be Hasebe…" Kiyomitsu thinks of the irony.
"Well Aichi-sama likes sweets, I guess it was inevitable." Yasusada said munching on the food nonstop in front of him.
Mina once again took photos of Aichi "How cute…!"
"You are becoming like a doting mother than a doting si-" Konnosuke was stopped from his words from feeling the wrath of Mina for a moment.
"Is there something you would like to say?" Mina smiles at Konnosuke.
"N-no… nothing!" Konnosuke looks away and continued on eating his food.
~After Dinner -Hallway-~
The nine toudans who left a few moments ago started their scheme at the hallways of the citadel.
"Are you guys ready?" Tsurumaru asks everyone.
"Yes…" The all whispered back to him.
"Alright! Let's start you guys know what to do…" Tsurumaru smiles as they all once again part ways "Commence plan!" Tsurumaru raises his hands as they nodded from his command.
Outro: to be honest I am not feeling quite confident at this chapter, but I did my best! I hoped you liked this Kichi! I did my very best huhuhu….
I'm very sorry for my lack of vocabulary, wrong grammars and wrong spellings, but I hope you like the story nonetheless, and thank you for everyone's continuous support! Thank you for reading!