Hey guys, so sorry for the long wait here's a new chapter!
Capter 13
After the Aldini twins passed their test, the rest of the students were amazed especially that they did all of the cooking under an hour. Chef Inui was impressed that she changed her mind and decided to be the Judge on the little contest between Takumi and Soma, it seemed like a friendly contest until Chef Inui added more conditions of what the loser will do and say. Luna looked at everyone preparing their fish.
"Takumi-kun is right, if we all use fish then it wouldn't be much of a difference on how you prepare it if we have a limited resources especially if its same fish everyone cooks it almost the same way it would be boring." Luna said her eyes glanced at the Italian twins. "Which is why we won't use fish for our cooking."
"Then what are you planning to use?" Soma asked
"We're using this!" Luna exclaimed holding a whole chicken by its legs, that's already de-feathered without its head.
"Chicken?" Megumi said
' I cant believe that Isami took his time helping me catch this little guy.' Luna thought 'He really didn't have to...he's so sweet.'
She glanced at the clock. 'What dish should we make with the chicken? Maybe...'
She glanced at the ingredients they have gathered. 'Spring onions, Yuzu, Amanatsu, Lotus root, bamboo shoot also garlic and ginger…i remember Reo telling me earlier that the main ingredients of any Asian cuisine is Garlic, ginger, soy sauce and spring onions..'
"Okay...Reo I have an idea on what to make! Can you prep the vegetables while I prepare our chicken?" Luna asked
"Okay!" Reo said
"Also get a few skewers in water please." Luna said "We're grilling this."
"Oh I see! " Reo said
Luna grabbed her knife moving her knife swiftly. The small group watched as she butchered the chicken, from all her training with her meat master friend she did it without breaking a sweat.
'She said she's grilling it?' Takumi thought looking at the Latin girl moving to the citrus fruits slicing and squeezing the juice in a bowl, adding in other seasonings, some sesame oil, she separated some of the liquid mixture in a smaller bowl handing it to Reo to taste it he nodded approving it , After tasting the mixture satisfied with the flavor she poured the rest of the liquid letting the meat be submerged in it.
"I got the grill on and the veggies prepped, i'll start on the sauce to complement the taste ." Reo said with a nod from Luna.
"Okay, i'll start grilling the veggies then the meat." Luna said
During their cooking process Soma took Inui's tea snack telling Takumi to hold onto it, he ran off with Megumi to collect the rest of their ingredients on their dish.
Luna placed the skewered chicken on the grill releasing a flavorful steam in the air, she dipped the brush in the liquid occasionally adding it in the chicken to prevent the meat from drying. Isami started to salivate taking in the aroma from the grill, the flames cooking the chicken, while his twin brother watched the girl's cooking skills, seeing her move swiftly and efficiently. Luna focused on her cooking occasionally humming a tune.
It took Luna and Reo nearly thirty minutes to make and finish the dish, Luna held the plate, her hands trembling lightly hoping that the chef likes the flavors they put in.
"Here's our dish...Chicken Yakitori marinated in a Yuzu Mojo accompanied by a spicy soy dipping sauce and grilled vegetable medley." Luna announced placing the plate down seeing three skewers placed on a bed of grilled Lotus root, bamboo shoots and green onions along with a small cup of sauce.
"Chicken Yakitori?" Inue asked she reached to take a skewer. "Oh..its very fragrant. Now let's see."
Inue lightly dipped the skewer in the sauce taking a bite. She chewed identifying the ingredients. 'Fragrant...chicken is juicy, burst of citrus, it's sour, salty, spicy, sweet. ' her expression changed to one of delight.
"Wait! She said Mojo! Isn't that sauce used in Spanish cuisine? " A student called out.
"Shes right! That's not japanese!" Another agreed.
" They used Yuzu and Amanatsu, those are Japanese citrus fruits along with Soy sauce, ginger , sugar to marinate them in." Inue spoke up identifying the ingredients.
"It's a Japanese style mojo. " Luna explained "When i saw the citrus fruits that made me think of it."
"It's very creative ." Inue answered enjoying the skewer. 'They made something different changing the ingredients to make this, those two used their style and fused it to make this dish.. It feels as if i'm in a festival between the two cultures..i could enjoy this every day.'
'She's quiet...does she like it?' Luna thought her heart beating fast with nervousness.
"You both pass, for being creative in making this dish i have no complaints." Inue announced.
"Awesome!" Reo exclaimed he turn to Luna who let out a sigh of relief.
'I never been in this much pressure in my life…' Luna thought she glanced at the Italian twins, Takumi was looking at the clock while Isami is relaxed waiting for time to pass.
"Um...here have some." Luna said holding an extra plate of her dish. "I thought you two would like to have some since its passed lunchtime."
"Thanks, it looks tasty." Isami said "Come on bro, try some."
The Blonde glanced at Luna as she held out the plate towards the twins. Takumi took a bite of the skewered chicken, his eyes lit up at the unexpected flavors.
Luna stared at the blonde seeing how his features changed to pure bliss, she glanced at the younger aldini twin sharing a similar expression. Her lips moved to a small smile feeling happy that their enjoying her food.
"Luna-chan, this is good." Isami said finishing his skewer. "I haven't has flavors like this before."
"I got inspired by seeing you two cook, improvising with the ingredients you have in making something delicious." Luna said with a smile.
Ten minutes have passed and so far only a handful of students passed, Luna spends her time chatting away with Reo and the Aldini twins. Luna watched as the rest of the students frantically cook trying to finish their dishes which all seemed the same grilled fish.
"I'm glad we passed,Bro." Isami said to his brother.
Instead of being relaxed like his brother, Takumi is irritated he crossed his arms over his chest tapping his fingers in his arms rather impatiently.
"Why isn't Yukihira back yet?" Takumi muttered "He'll run out of time!"
"You should calm down, if he runs out of time you'll win by default." Isami concluded. "What's so bad about that?"
Takumi turned to his brother with a heated expression. "I want a heated battle! I won't accept winning by default!" Takumi exclaimed
"Easy there Pollito." Luna spoke up getting older Aldini's attention. "Soma-kun isn't the type to run off especially by a cooking challenge, he might be getting some ingredients to go against that duck you made, remember he trusted you in holding onto that bag."
Takumi looked at the tea snacks for a second wondering what does Soma need it for? His eyes averted towards Luna who just started chatting with his brother. Her green eyes lit up lightly at Isami lightly giggling at a joke he said, Takumi never realized how bright her eyes looked at this light before. She is fully engrossed in the conversation with his brother that it gave Takumi a chance to examine her features, her long dark hair being in a low braid, her lightly sunkissed tan skin is a contrast to the other girls he's used to seeing fair skin or very pale girls.
Luna turned her head her green eyes met with his blue eyes, Takumi averted his gaze realizing he was staring at her for a very long time. The girl tilted her head wondering if he's alright.
"Rosario-chan." Isami said "I brought some playing cards with me, we can play after this if you're not busy."
"Yeah, that sounds like fun." Luna said
More time passed until finally Soma and Megumi came back with more ingredients. With only fifteen minutes left Soma used Inui's tea snack as a creative way to bread the fish to fry it. Soma held the finished product in his hand presenting it to the instructor. Inue took one bite of the breaded fish that it echoed the crunch all over the kitchen. Soma then handed Luna an extra sample of the dish.
"You let me enjoy your food last time i was over at your place." Soma grinned "Go ahead and try it before it gets cold."
Luna smiled, she used the chopsticks taking in a small piece of the breaded fish, one bite and she fell in love with the delicious crunchy dish.
"I love it! The crunch...the texture and the sauce it cuts the oiliness of the fish, i never thought in using that as a breading-" Luna stopped in mid sentence watching Soma and Takumi argue like little kids. She had tried to stop the arguing but no luck so naturally she used one method to stop them..the one method any latin woman mostly mothers and grandmothers would know to stop any senseless arguing and bring peace.
'I have no choice do i?' Luna thought placing the empty plate down at the counter she cracked her knuckles still hearing the two arguing. 'You guys made me do this, this is your own fault.'
"It was all according to plan!" Soma stated
"You just went with the flow!" Takumi snapped
"I haven't strayed from my path!" Soma countered
"That was just a chance!" Takumi exclaimed
"It was blind luck!" Soma said
"You were just damned lucky!" Takumi said
"Dejan de pelear como niños chiquitos!" Luna snapped hitting the two with her shoe making them yelp. (Stop fighting like little kids!)
Soma and Takumi rubbed the back of their heads. "Stop this unnecessary argument! " she held her shoe pointing it at the two of them. "You guys made two great dishes using your own creativity and spin on it from what you could find."
Chef Inui couldn't help but giggle at the sight of Luna holding her loafer at the two young men, she faintly saw a little sweat coming from them as she continued scolding them. 'That Luna girl has fire, it shows in her cooking and in her personality.' Inui thought. 'Reminds me of my Senpai.'
"Okay, time's up!" Inui announced only half the students passed. Some sigh in relief while others fell into sorrow and despair.
Luna let out a sigh. 'At least i passed with Reo's help...and with Isami's help too, without him I wouldn't be able to catch that chicken.' She thought placing her shoe on. She heard Takumi's voice asking Chef Inui who won the challenge. In the end the chef couldn't make up her mind on who won, he was still deliberating. Suddenly her cellphone ran interrupting her judging.
"Who could that be? I'm in the middle of something important-" Inui said
"He or she can wait just tell us who won!" Luna exclaimed anxiously waiting for the results.
Inui smiled. "I'll say the winner after this call." She said as she picked up her phone.
"What're you up to Hinako?!" Shinomiya exclaimed angrily. "Your group is supposed to be Here with the others back at the hotel!"
Inui got flustered trying to talk. "I was in the middle of-"
"Just get your ass back here!" He exclaimed
Before Inui could say anything he hung up, In a panic. She told everyone to rush back to the hotel.
"Hey!" Takumi said
"What's your decision Inui-senpai?" Soma asked
"Oh...right...well…" Inui started "I'll have to revisit that!" She dashed out like a mad woman. "All right on the bus everyone!"
'She left us in suspense! ' Luna pouted crossing her arms over her chest. 'Whoever called her really interrupted something good.'
"I'm not letting this go!" Takumi exclaimed "We'll settle this someday!"
"Sure, but how?" Soma said clearly bummed out.
"Eventually, I'll challenge you to a Shokugeki." Takumi firmly said a very serious look in his eyes. " Don't run away from it, you have to accept it. And that's when I will crush you!" Soma got serious staring at the Italian blonde. "You'd do well to hone your skills before then as best you can."
The older Aldini twin walked away as he said his final words to him. "Until we meet again, Yukihira Soma."
After a few minutes they changed out of their chef's uniforms to their school uniforms, and took their seats at the bus.
Luna took a seat next to Isami, the young girl couldn't help but hold back her giggles at the sight of a red faced Takumi sitting next to Soma.
"Hey, i guess we meet again." Soma teased
"Shut up!" Takumi said covering his face with his hands trying to hide his embarrassment. "Don't talk to me!"
Isami couldn't help but laugh at his older brothers expense. Listening to Soma teasing Takumi.
"Aren't you gonna crush me?" Soma continued
"I told you, don't talk to me!" Takumi exclaimed
"Ay, pobre pollito!" Luna giggled
"Don't you start too!" Takumi exclaimed his cheeks lightly red.
"You gotta admit that's pretty funny!" Luna giggled
"She's right bro!" Isami let put a soft chuckle.
After that the bus ride went quiet, Luna stated at her lap. 'It's only the first day of camp and i still feel so nervous…' she thought 'Will it be like this for the next few days? Like in those food competitions i'd see on T.V.? It's only been a whole day of this and I'm already tired it's nothing I've ever experienced before...' Luna slowly started trembling in fear. 'What if...i don't have what it takes to be here?'
That's it for this chapter please leave a review! Also any suggestions is welcomed! Just Pm me or if you cant leave it in the review!