Chapter 79: Régiment de Cuisine
"Jōichirō Saiba...!"
The stunned expressions worn by both Azami and Erina made the former number two seat grin broadly, even though he knew that this moment was hardly appropriate. Ruffling his teenage sons' hair, Jōichirō couldn't help but chuckle at the way Sōma's face contorted into extreme dissatisfaction and annoyance.
"Quit fricking grabbing me! Why do you always pop up out of nowhere!" The redhead boy griped, manoeuvring himself out of his fathers grip.
"Howdy again Erina" the older Yukihira smiled turning to face the god tongue, "you sure have grown. I bet you could rival your mother in beauty".
Blushing bright red, Erina looked down at her feet hiding her embarrassment whilst trying very hard not to think about how messed up her parents marriage had been as well as how they were now both estranged.
An absent mother and a controlling father hardly made good role models. At least she had her beloved grandfather, as well as Alice. Taking a deep breath she rushed forwards and hugged the man she saw as her culinary role model. "Chef Saiba..." she murmured, as if fearful that her hero would suddenly disappear before her eyes.
"I'm sorry for barging in like this but I've got some words I'd like to say to your old man..." patting the girl on the shoulder whilst managing to prise himself out of her joyous embrace Jōichirō then took several steps forward and smirked as he faced off with Azami, again, for the first time in nearly twenty years.
"Nakamura... I don't think Sōma's idea is without merit", he spoke coolly, "So I'll take you up on that thing from before. You remember don't cha... a Regimental Food War"
Openly scowling from where he stood, Azami glowered back at his former dorm mate; and hero. "I see you haven't lost your childishness", he frowned before rolling his eyes in exasperation. "So you are where Sōma gets his impetuousness from, as well as his lack of understanding proper culinary decorum". Waving away his idols words, the Director made to once again turn around and board his private helicopter.
"More to the point..." he continued, "Since becoming director I have already competed about ninety-seven percent of my plans. All that remains is to simply clear up any remaining loose ends. Therefore there's absolutely no benefit to me if I accept this challenge".
As if to further bait the Director, Jōichirō crossed his arms over his chest and smirked. "Oh yeah... then how about this for enticement, if we rebels are defeated then I shall abandon every culinary ideal I believe in and join you as an underling. And of course I'll be closing my own Yukihira Diner".
Narrowing his eyes as he glanced back over his shoulder, suspicion and curiosity both beginning to creep into his mind. He also saw the shock and frustration on the red head boy's face; as he immediately railed against that particular bit of the elder Yukihira's statement.
Throwing his arms wide, with a deep hearty laugh erupting from deep within him, Azami Nakiri grinned madly as he listened to the proposition. "Very well then! Chef Saiba, this is an exceedingly good day. I will contact you later with details" turning around he finally stepped into the helicopter and departed leaving the four first years plus Jōichirō, Gin and Senzaemon, whom the teenage chefs only just now noticed, glowering up at the departing helicopter.
"Okay then..." Jōichirō began clapping his hands together, resulting in the four teenagers nearly jumping out of their skins. "You kids are gonna need to really get down into some major training for this upcoming team food war because as I can tell, currently... you don't stand a snowballs chance in hell".
Frowning intensely at his fathers sudden appearance, and his seeming lack of faith in his son or his son's friends culinary growth, Sōma was about to further object when the voice of Gin Dōjima projected itself into the conversation.
"As much as I know you'd like to be childish, Jōichirō, I called you here so that together, along with Master Senzaemon, so that we may train these students to become more adept at teamwork".
Butting heads, practically reverting back to how they had once acted when they had been students, Gin and Jōichirō's squabble was swiftly brought to an end by Master Senzaemon walking forwards and smacking them both down. "If you two are quite done..." he interjected, "we have a train to catch. And teamwork to build".
Picking themselves off the floor, the former first and second seats glowered at each other before immediately straightening themselves up again. Ignoring the laughter coming from Sōma, Megumi, Takumi and Erina.
"You're so childish, ~dad~" Sōma grinned daring his father to contradict him.
Although Jōichirō didn't reply, the smirk on his face was almost exactly the same as his son's. And in that moment the other three first years knew that look was conveying the non verbal 'takes one to know one'.
Onboard the helicopter, flying towards Otaru, Director Azami had a conference call with the members of the Ten, still in Japan. In which he broke the news that there would a change up in the final days of the exam. He'd expected both Tsukasa and Rindō to express displeasure at being asked to be involved in a Team Food War... however, the people who were most angry were Momo and Eizan.
"What the hell! You said that we wouldn't have to face anymore worthless peons now that we've delays with the rebels!" Momo's irate voice yelled from the receiver.
"The ones left over as pathetic. We should just flat out expel them..." Eizan added, growling out the last part. "With Sōma Yukihira suffering a massive amount of humiliation as recompense for what he did to me! Nothing short of that bastards culinary oblivion will satiate me!"
"It his is not up for debate". Azami growled, his voice straining with frustration and barely concealed anger. "You will do exactly as I say! This regimental food war is bigger than you all. It will grant me an exemplary aid, one whose name will cement Central as the worlds top culinary organisation! So..." he took a deep breath and calmed his racing heart. "Be at Rebun island in three weeks. It will be there that we will put down the remnants of these rebels for good, and I shall gain the employ of Jōichirō Saiba".
Hitting the return key on the laptop, the Director is need the video call with the Ten before pondering why he hadn't received any angry retorts from Rindō or Tsukasa but he shoved them out of thought for now; the wishes of chefs whom would soon be graduating from Tōtsuki and would no longer be a thorn in his side wasn't anything he'd be worried about.
And without them pestering him, dealing with the third seat would be much easier.
Sitting back in his seat Azami looked out of the helicopter window, glancing at the city beneath him and the surrounding landscape. Retrieving the photo, of his student life at Kyokusei, from within his jacket pocket the Director looked at the youthful faces of those he had once called friends.
Sighing contentedly he returned the image to his pocket he took a sip from a glass of bourbon and mused, to no one in particular, "I will save the culinary world. I will save Tōtsuki".
"So dad..."
Once they were onboard the train, Jōichirō headed straight for the bar followed by Sōma frustratedly berating him for risking their family restaurant. "Does Yukihira's mean so little to you that you'd risk it just to assist us in beating Central?"
Slamming his fists down on the bar top, startling the sommelier, Sōma felt his temper burn as he watched his father down another shot of whiskey. "Is the restaurant nothing more than a plaything to you? What about Mum..." the boy gritted out between as tears rolled down his face. "She loved to work, even if she wasn't aver good cook, in the restaurant... are you really going to abandon the place she loved so much!"
Clenching his fists Sōma recalled his last memory of cooking with his mother inside the Yukihira restaurant kitchen; and his promise to one day carry the restaurant by himself. "Don't you care that the restaurant was her's and grandfather's before you?"
Letting out a low sigh Jōichirō stood up and abruptly turned around to grab his son's head and began to roughly noogie his head, smirking as he did so. "Ohh whoa! Is it true that you don't have faith in winning? Oh dear what a son I've raised". The playful sarcasm and the childishness made those watching the father and son interact extremely embarrassed - but for Sōma his frustration now boiled over into full-on rage.
"Quit fucking grabbing me!"The redhead yelled, angrily shoving his father away before wiping away his tears and pouted as he extricated himself from his dads reach. "Shut up already! You've said enough..." stumbling back and collapsing to his knees the red haired boy felt couldn't stop even more tears running down his face; the first time in a long time, since his mother's death. "It's clearer to me now that you don't care one bit about restaurant or about keeping Mum's memory alive!"
Slowly making his way forward, Jōichirō knelt down and wrapped his arms around his son and looked apologetic. "Sōma... I do care about the restaurant, and I will forever love and remember Tamako, but right now Tōtsuki must be protected".
Looking up through tears, Sōma sniffed as he suddenly reasoned that his father was hugging him tightly. "I'm sorry dad..." he murmured softly. "I didn't mean to insinuate that you didn't love Mum enough... but I believe that we'll win against Central" the redheaded boy responded, "I trust in myself and my friends".
"I'm sorry Sōma..." the father murmured patting his son on the back, "but this was the only thing I had that I knew would get Azami's blood pumping. If he thinks that he can win me over to his side, arrogant as he is, then so be it".
Then with a slight sadistic smirk, Jōichirō gently raised his son's head and placed his closed fist against Sōma's chest. "Plus if for some reason we do lose then I intend to levy some pretty heavy legal cases against Azami to try and bankrupt him whilst dragging both him and Central through the legal system".
"I guess you had no choice..." Takumi interjected, startling both the father and son; whom hadn't even noticed that they had been followed by the others into the bar compartment of the train. "If Director Azami really does values Chef Saiba more than the current members of the Ten for his doctrine to succeed, then Mister Saiba being here was the only thing capable of getting his attention".
"In that regard..."Dōjima announced walking into the train carriage and slapping his fellow Kyokusei alum for making his son cry. "I should apologise too. The truth is I was the one who called both Jōichirō and Senzaemon here, I wanted this moment. I knew that if Jōichirō were here then Azami would surely accept the challenge but at the same time I knew that you all may feel used... and so for that, I am sorry".
Bowing his head, Tōtsuki's Executive Chef apologised.
However, Takumi stepped forwards and demurred. "It's okay..." The blonde Italian boy explained. "If it weren't for you and Sōma's father stepping in, then we wouldn't have been able to pull off asking for this challenge. And please don't worry about us loosing, we will win!"
"Yeah!" Megumi abruptly announced, rushing forwards to kneel down beside her boyfriend and wrapping her arms around him; placing a gentle kiss to his forehead ignoring the raised eyebrow and smirk from Jōichirō. "We've got this..." she grinned, "even if I am going to have to face off against my own brother to defeat Central, I will gladly do so in order to save him, my friends and protect my families and my boyfriend's family restaurants".
Smiling as he looked up, Sōma pushed himself of his feet and spun Megumi around wrapping her in his arms, whilst twirling her left pigtail in his fingers before kissing his girlfriend fervently on the lips. "I know you can win Megs! Kensuke may be a great chef but I know your skill. I believe in you".
Blushing as it was now her turn to look through teary eyes, Megumi booped the redhead boy on the nose chuckling at his cute reaction. "Thanks Sōma. I just wish I had talked to Ken more around school, maybe if I could have helped him with his social anxiety".
"Oooh... so your the bright eyed young lady that has tamed and transformed my tempestuous son into an almost hardworking young man of dignity".
Immediately, Sōma and Megumi remembered where they were and attempted to spring apart but too late, they as Jōichirō wrapped them both in an embrace. "So my future daughter in law..." the older redhead grinned, "how many times has Sōma plied you with his culinary experiments?"
"Shut up old man!" Sōma narrowed his eyes, not out of anger but frustration. "I've only had Megumi try... erm, my more reasonable dishes".
"Ugh huh... nice save" Jōichirō replied knowingly before once again noogying his son; and starting off an new round of frustrated protestations from Sōma.
Calming her breathing down, Megumi described the first dish of food that Sōma had served to her. "Squid in yoghurt sauce. It was repulsive..." she shuddered, "and as much as I hate them! I know that out of these 'experiments' improve Sōma's skills and knowledge are better because of them".
Wrapping her arms around her boyfriends neck she pressed her lips to his. "And I won't see him change who he is for anything".
Forty minutes later; after Senzaemon had succeeded in scaring Jōichirō and Sōma to quit being childishly competitive, Dōjima began asking the four first years of they knew the basic format of regimental food war. To which Sōma and Megumi were oblivious, and Erina and Takumi were only vague in details.
"I only know that it is fought group against group..." Takumi explained, "but the format is different with team representatives facing off against each other until either one of or neither of the teams make it to the final. Is that about right, chef Dōjima?"
"You are correct" Gin replied, "but there is something else that makes a team food war different from a regular one. And that is that success or failure rests on teamwork".
Taking up the explanation, Jōichirō sat down on a sofa bench next to his friend. "In the regimental food war, how teammates help each other is also judged. While members battle each other individually, they must also assist they teammates as is required. So basically all the chefs cooking will be kind of each others support staff while competing".
"Put simply..." Dōjima intervened, "so long as you can coordinate effectively with your team you can even beat a member of the Ten. And for that reason you will have to develop teamwork that puts you far and above your older opponents. We will begin practice battles tonight..."
Jumping to his feet, Jōichirō rushed over to a small porcelain pot containing toothpicks, which he began snapping in half.
"Okay then!" He announced jubilantly. "Let's draw straws! The people who pick the broken straws will be with Gin, and the people who pick the unbroken picks are with me. The looser in this will have to eat my latest experiment; Plaice in Strawberry sauce".
As diametrically opposed to Jōichirō's plan as he was, Gin still felt extreme annoyance flood through his body as he remembered all the times at Tōtsuki where Jō's laissez-faire attitude had clashed with his own rigorous attention to detail.
"No this is not about winning or loosing" Dōjima interjected, gritting his teeth and trying very hard to not loose his temper. "This is a simulation food war to improve chef teamwork... dammit! I never know where I the world you are, and when I finally do find you you're exactly as I remember you to be! And you call yourself an adult!"
"Oh shut up Gin..." Jōichirō laughed, "no wonder you couldn't handle Madam Shiara. And brides, if you've got something to say that just put it on a plate!"
"Suits me just fine!" Dōjima retorted running a hand across his blushing face. "I'm gonna wipe that smug grin clean off your stupid face!"
"I have decided..." Senzaemon intoned deeply. "This is how the teams for the practice team food war shall go down".
Gesturing to his right he pointed towards Dōjima, Takumi and Megumi before announcing them as "Team Dōjima". Then moving to his left the elder Nakiri called out "Sōma Yukihira, Erina Nakiri and Jōichirō Saiba" as Team Saiba.
"Now Gin and Jōichirō will be their own team captains, whilst the other members will act as their captains support staff".
Splitting into their respective teams, albeit with Sōma and Megumi looking worried about being on opposing sides, the four first years followed their captains and the former director out of the lounge car and into the adjacent kitchen car. Where they were met by the trains porter, two waitresses and chef.
"Now then..." Senzaemon continued, "the dish that both teams will be making is Hachis Parmentier or Shepherds Pie. Also..." the former director added sternly. "The main rule is, you may not speak at all. Now begin cooking!"
Immediately, and before their eyes, the four first years gawked at the speed of both Dōjima and Jōichirō as they began to become centred in their cooking. Shaking nervously as she watched her designated leader prepare the potatoes, mushrooms, onions and garlic; Megumi suddenly became aware that Takumi was no longer standing beside her, and was now holding a frying pan, bottle of olive oil and a black pepper mill.
Noticing the nod of approval from Dōjima, she surmised that the blond boy had correctly distinguished what their leader wanted them to do. Returning her gaze to the ingredients before the executive chef, Megumi thought back to all the times when she'd observed and assisted Sōma in the kitchen, and how she'd later, or at the time, known how to help.
Closing her eyes and drawing in a deep steady breath to calm her nerves, she then reopened her eyes and then slowly began to see the pattern in which Dōjima and Takumi were working. Instantly knowing what to do, she bolted straight for the mushrooms and started to wash, peel and then chop them for frying with the onions.
"Argh! Follow me more closely Sōma!" Jōichirō yelled in frustration, not even realising that he'd just broken the no speaking rule.
"Whatever! You the one whose veering way off recipe as usual dad!" The redhead boy yelled back oblivious to the harsh glare directed at them by Senzaemon, and the gawking embarrassment from the others.
"Do you want to be disqualified!" Senzaemon exclaimed marching right up to the arguing father and son, who hung their heads in shame. "We're sorry" they apologised glumly.
Moving back to his own workstation Jōichirō began to mix flour, egg and butter into pancake batter, to the astonishment of Erina and bemusement of Sōma.
As the god tongue looked back towards Team Dōjima she had a revelation. Atop the workstation she saw two new ingredients, that were never traditionally used in a Hachis Parmentier: anchovy and basil. Grabbing a pencil and paper she scribbled down her deduction and then showed Sōma.
'Chef Dōjima and Saiba are testing us'.
R.I.P
Patrick Demarchelier and Estelle Harris
N.B
I will be taking many liberties with regiment de cuisine arc - seeing as I can.
Saints & Kings
