Chapter 82: Truth in the Past

"Hey dad... what chef Nakamura said about you facing fifty chef opponents, is that true?"

Sitting together at the bar counter inside the train's restaurant carriage part reminiscing part father-son chatting, as the train sped through Northern Hokkaido towards Rebun Island, Jōichirō and Sōma were unusually stoic.

"Hmm, well... I did a lot of stuff back then" Jōichirō sighed before downing, and then signalling for, another glass of bourbon.

"So when you were living at Kyokusei back in the day, was chef Nakamura also there? And why is he taking about destroying the dorm and changing the culinary world?" A frown made its way across Sōma's face as he stared down at the glass of dandelion and burdock in his hands.

"I don't get it. Just what is Azami trying to achieve? And why do so many people support him?"

Turning his head but remaining sat on the bar stool, Jōichirō sighed in frustration. "Jeez what is this, twenty questions? What I want to know is how long you've been dating that pretty blue haired girl. When are you gonna pop the question? ~Sōma~". Grinning at how flustered his son was, Jōichirō couldn't help him but ruffle his boys hair; which only made Sōma's annoyed pout even more pronounced.

"Quit fricking mussing up my hair!" The redhead bemoaned shoving his fathers arm away and restyling his spiky red hair.

"Aww come on my boy..." his father pouted. "She's your first girlfriend. At least tell me how you met..." Jōichirō smiled. "I can see from the look in your eyes that she's super important to you".

Smiling as he felt the familiar warmth spread through his body whenever he thought about Megumi, and a future with her, Sōma took his smartphone from his pocket and proceeded to flick through pictures from Tōtsuki until he landed upon a picture taken after his first full day of lessons.

"Megumi and I were partnered together in my first lesson..." he spoke showing the image of himself and Megumi, in Chef Chapelle's class, to his father.

"She was really shy and nervous about passing that class, as well as not being expelled from school. But we worked well together and after class ended I didn't think I'd see her again..." the red head boy explained. "But then that night, after I passed the residency exam for Kyokusei, I realised we were in the same dormitory".

Biting the inside of his cheek to keep himself from blushing, Sōma purposely left out the bit of information about how he'd discovered they were dorm mates after having seen each other naked after having accidentally walked in on her in the bath.

"We became friends pretty quickly..." the redhead boy smiled softly as if lost in haze. "But I didn't realise that what I felt towards her was love until she invited me to visit her families Ryokan in Hachinohe. That trip was such an important time".

"Ooh getting in with the in-laws early is always a good move" Jōichirō teased, "you must really like this girl. Dense as you sometimes can be".

"Shut up old man! It wasn't like that" Sōma groaned, "and I'm not dense. I just... don't have your 'social skills' dad! But still... getting back to the original conversation" Sōma stated mournfully. "All this prior talk made me realise that I don't really know what kind of a chef you used to be".

Biting the bullet Jōichirō knew that he could no longer continue to hide his culinary past, and that Sōma should probably be aware of Azami's tumultuous beliefs about food and cooking. "Fine, Sōma. I'll tell you about my Tōtsuki past".


Meanwhile, thoroughly exhausted from standing up to her father and then subsequently making her own demands, for the first time, Erina made her excuses to depart the lounge car and return to her sleeping quarters. "Okay guys..." she yawned, "I think I'm gonna go to bed now".

Jumping to her feet Megumi rushed forwards and embraced the god tongue before reaffirming their earlier decision to beat Central.

With an equally big smile on her face Erina bade goodnight to her friends, leaving them alone with Dōjima.

"Hey... I've been curious about this for a while" Takumi asked scrunching up his face as if he was still debating whether or not he had any right to continue with his question. "But can you please explain to me why it is that Azami Nakiri is so obsessed with Sōma's father?"

Sighing as he closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair, Gin Dōjima began explaining events that occurred nearly thirty years prior. "Very well I guess you both have a right to know about this…" taking a folded photo from his jacket pocket Tōtsuki's executive chef placed the picture down on the table before him.

Looking down at the image Takumi and Megumi both studied the three younger versions of Dōjima, Jōichirō and Azami.

"I remember it like it was yesterday..." Dōjima smiled wistfully, "the biggest star in our year was undoubtedly Jōichirō. My food war record against him was pathetic to say the least: twenty wins to a shocking hundred and one loses".

"Is that really true!" Takumi gasped, his eyes wide with shock. "You have more looses than wins against chef Jōichirō?"

Smiling at the two first years stumped expressions, Dōjima continued onwards. "Although I was named first seat; the order on the Ten isn't only determined by food wars but also our grades and any Tōtsuki contributions as well. Naturally, Jō was the top student in terms of cooking skill but he was not top academically…"

With an extremely sour and put out expression on his face, which made both Takumi and Megumi facepalm, the former first seat explained that Jōichirō was always 'late to classes', 'indifferent to all his duties as second seat' and that he would spend a lot of his free time cooking 'awful dishes'.

"He took great joy in cooking these, and then getting his fellow kyokusei dorm mates to try them…" Dōjima growled. "Even today me and Jun are still mentally scared by several of Jō's ingredient combinations".

"Oh don't tell me, like father like son" Takumi chuckled crossing his arms and shaking his head.

"It's actually quite endearing in a way…" Megumi interjected, defending her boyfriends peculiar liking for cooking foul dishes. "I mean… I find his way of cooking, trail by error fascinating to behold. Even if I do end up sometimes feeling like strangling him".

"Sōma's just like him then…" Dōjima chuckled quizzically. "Anyway that was how I first met him, the man known for being a sheer genuine culinary master: Jōichirō Saiba".


Twenty-Seven years earlier


The whole of Kyokusei dorm had gathered in the common room to celebrate the ascension of another of their own, the second year, Jōichirō Saiba, to the second seat on the Council of Ten. As well as Gin Dōjima for acquiring the first seat.

"Congratulations for getting a seats on the Council of Ten you two", one green haired girl stated, grinning at Gin and Jōichirō.

"Chef Jōichirō, Chef Gin you're both so cool!" A young Jun Shiomi gushed bowing formally to her senior dorm mates. "Not only did you graduate to second years but you gained Council seats for Kyokusei dorm. Well done boys!"

Immediately even louder cheers erupted from their fellow dorm mates as a loud zealous pronouncement of the rise of an unrivalled 'golden age of Kyokusei' being formed by Gin and Jōichirō was being cheered by their dorm mates. Also amongst the cheers was a formal declaration by Gin and Jōichirō that Mistress Fumio was Kyokusei's "Holy Dorm-Mother".

"Hahahaha, I knew you two boys would take Tōtsuki by storm!" Ms Fumio grinned joyfully. "And judging by the looks on your faces, you've got plenty more storming left in you".

Grinning as she pounced upon her two second year star chefs, the dorm mother didn't even bat an eye at how some of the students under her roof sighed at her slightly crass behaviour.

Meanwhile, shifting uncomfortable on his feet, Jōichirō bashfully ruffled his own hair and smiled. "Thanks guys, to be totally honest it hasn't really hit me yet. I can't believe that I'm one of the Ten".

Slinging an arm around his best friend, Gin chuckled before getting into talking about how he expected Jō to act more responsibly now that he had the eyes of the school and the wider culinary world on him.

"Hey, Chef Saiba…" a rather timidly voiced pale and black haired student asked, breaking Jōichirō's grin away from Gin. "Can I ask you about the food contest you partook in today?"

Smiling as he turned his body towards his younger dorm mate, Jōichirō began avidly describing his latest culinary creation. "Oh, you want to know more, Azami?" He replied quizzically. "The experts all went crazy for this dish of ceps and olives that I wrapped up in pie crust, and for the final touch…"

Stopping speaking, Jōichirō eyed Azami curiously as he spoke again. "Hey. Whats the deal man? You got that look on your face that's saying tell me all your secrets so that my I may leech off your success so that I may one day surpass you".

Looking abashed, the younger Azami immediately waved his hands in front of himself vehemently denying his idols description. "No no no... that's not it at all! I just want to know how to become more like you".

Grinning, the new second seat grabbed his junior dorm mate and playfully ruffled his hair. "Yeah right, I can tell your just anxious to leave me in the dust".

"That's not true!" Azami responded blushing as he stamped his feet and again denied his friends teasing assumption.

"Okay guys! Let's have another kitchen cook-off tonight" Jōichirō laughed as he began pushing Gin in the direction of the dorm kitchen. "Nakamura…" he gestured after him, "you don't mind being the judge again do you? There's nothing better to advance a chefs palate and skill than being able to observe other chefs in the kitchen".

Blushing as he dashed after his two senior dorm mates, Azami felt a tremendous sense of joy at being held in such good stead with them. As he, followed by all the other kyokusei dorm mates, his heart beat faster as he laid eyes upon the two grinning chefs before him each choosing their ingredients.

"Okay then…" Azami announced smiling broadly as he stepped in between the already bickering opponents. "Get cooking!"


"Trying to keep up with Jōichirō was like walking through a wasteland constantly ravaged by storms", Dōjima explained to Megumi and Takumi, "but amazingly he never seemed bothered by any of it". Smiling as he spoke with such pride, recalling great memories, the executive chef glanced down at the photo on the table.

"Wherever he walked and whenever he cooked, a new path was laid down. And whenever he wielded his knife a new world of flavour was opened up, beckoning him and those around him to follow".

Sitting motionlessly, transfixed, by Chef Dōjima's tale, Takumi and Megumi didn't dare interrupt to ask further questions. They simply wanted to hear more about what had occurred in the past between Sōma and Erina's fathers.

"This was just another ordinary day for us…" Dōjima continued, "our studies followed in the footsteps of a true culinary prodigy. And brought us nothing but pure joy".

Taking a moment to stop his story, the executive chef took up the photo on the table and refolded it back into his wallet before taking a long drink from his orange flavoured gin. "Jōichirō was amazing. None who knew him or tasted his dishes could ever understand how he constantly found new sublime flavours amongst the culinary storm".

"To be honest I had always hated my name: Gin, which means silver. I was always teased for being second best", he frowned. "However, once I met Jō I no longer cared how I ranked. Or how other people saw me; I imagine Azami felt something similar regarding his place in the culinary world when around Jōichirō".

A forlorn expression graced Dōjima's face as he, once more, fell into silence.

Eventually, after an extended period of quiet, Megumi leant forwards concern brimming in her eyes. "Chef Dōjima… are you okay? You don't have to continue if this is difficult".

Jumping slightly, momentarily lost in past experiences, and almost forgetting that he wasn't alone, the executive chef was brought back to reality by the sight of the two first year chefs sitting anxiously observing him.

"Sorry… I'm fine" he gulped before reaching, and downing, his glass of bourbon. "Anyway, I don't remember when but sometime in our second year Jōichirō picked up this strange habit. He began cooking the weirdest dishes he could. Despite them…" Gin shuddered, "he maintained a winning streak in food wars and was undefeated in cooking competitions".

The executive chef couldn't help but laugh out loud at the involuntary shudder, and grimace, from Megumi at the return mention ofthese 'weird dishes'.

"I take it Sōma has inherited that particular peculiar habit too" he chucked, as Megumi lowered her head and nodded.

"They may be infuriating but I know they mean the world to Sōma…" Megumi responded, smiling.

"Then you are already a way better judge of character, and way ahead of me back when I was your age..." Dōjima sighed wistfully. "And then our eyes were opens to the harsh reality that the culinary world does to talented chefs".


Twenty-Seven years earlier.


"It seems Jōichirō has been chosen to compete in next years International competition…" Fumio exclaimed, one late evening to the whole inhabitants of Kyokusei dorm. "Tokyo will be hosting this year's competition for the first time in twelve years!"

Astonishment, wild praise and heaps of congratulatory luck were all cheered that night as that evening's quiet-ish dinner became a full on raucous party.

"By competition..." Gin interjected, his fastidious attention to detail getting the best of him, you don't mean the B.L.U.E.?"

With a beaming smile on her face, the dorm mother grinned as she slapped the second seat on the back. "Indeed. The official announcement will be in the morning".

"That's incredible… your really making waves in the culinary world Jō! You could end up with a string of five star restaurants or even as head of the WGO!" Young Azami exclaimed joyfully, as Gin too smiled earnestly.

Yet, neither of them nor the others in the room noticed the strained smile upon Jōichirō's face.


"The whole school was split between those whom believed in Jōichirō's skill and were chanting him on for the BLUE, and then there were those who were jealous of him…" sighing the executive chief ran a hand across his face.

"These people never believed that Jō was genuinely great, they constantly shouted and heckled him calling him a brown-noser and a fraud. The worst of the lot was the then heir to the Suwatsubashi family".

Pinching the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger, Gin held an expression of pained frustration. "I tried to diminish the ire back then but Jōichirō would constantly declare a regimental food war with all of his detractors, this was where he fought against fifty chefs..." he stated plainly. "Me and Azami desperately attempted to join him but he refused, saying that he had the skills to beat his opponents alone. And so as a result his fame and skills left us in the dust".

"Although he fought this regimental food war alone, Jōichirō Saiba has come out of this battle solely victorious!"

Playing an old audio recording on his own phone Dōjima sighed again before slamming his drink down on the table.

Listening to the remembered words that then announcer had used to describe Jōichirō's win had both the blonde Italian boy and the blue haired girl sat in wide eyed astonishment. "Is that truly how Sōma's father was back then?" Takumi asked.

"People had always showered him with endless praise: a true genius, a pioneer of cuisine, a revolutionary…" Dōjima replied, "but upon that day he gained one more nickname. Carnage".

"Eventually we became third years and Kyokusei held many seats on the Ten. I was fist seat, Jōichirō was second, Azami was third and a fellow dorm mate: Rica Ibusawa was forth. Our dorm was very popular choice for first years, leaving Ms Fumio very busy. All the while, Jōichirō continued to take on cooking missions outside of Tōtsuki" Dōjima continued.

"Yet, to me, it felt like he was simply using those as a means of distracting himself".

Looking mystified, Megumi blinked before asking: "why?"

"I didn't know at the time but I now know that the stress and anxiety of constantly being seen as a culinary prodigy, with all the expectations and responsibilities that came with that, were too much for him to handle. Which is why making his weird dishes, breaking free from his expectations, seemed to bring him so much happiness".

"Megumi, I think what your brother is going through right now is exactly the same as what Jōichirō did all those years ago" Dōjima theorised, tapping his index finger to his nose. "Although, with Kensuke's mental health issues I'm sure the affects are extremely difficult for him to describe or even contemplate".

Sighing, for like the umpteenth time, Gin shut his eyes and silently prayed forgiveness for not noticing his best friends distress years ago. "I think it was around this time that mine and Azami's views on cooking began to diverge. And the closer it came to the day of his BLUE competition, the more withdrawn Jō became".

A single tear ran down Dojima's face as he continued recounting his tale. "I realised that day… too late… all the dishes Jō made that was him letting off steam. He spent everyday climbing up the ladder, only to be told to go further. He pushed past exhaustion to the point where her was haggard and drained yet everyone brushed him off as a genius, pushing him ever onward".

Dropping his head into his hands, the executive chef suddenly broke down and began openly crying as memories of that day, years ago, replayed in his minds eye.

"It was then that I actually realised something: 'when was the last time he cooked something and enjoyed doing so?'"


Twenty-Seven years earlier.


"Jōichirō…" Young Gin called out as he entered his friends room. "You ready yet? They'll be coming to pick you up soon".

However, instead of seeing the second seat sat on his bed or by the window grinning; Gin found the room empty, the competition uniform still laid out and Jōichirō's knives laying haphazardly on the floor.

Realisation struck hard that his slowly gaining sight into Jō's recent behaviour; and the emotions behind, was correct. Something must have occurred to make his friend go awol against a completion that he'd been gunning for ever since finding out about it in first year, Gin about faced and bolted back downstairs yelling to all the other dorm mates to rally out and find their dorm mate.

As all the Kyokusei dorm mates were running around Tōtsuki campus seeking Jōichirō, young Gin had a revelation. 'There…' Upon running to the Celestial Room and pushing open the doors, the first thing he saw bathed in the downlight of the ceiling was his runaway friend.

A shell of himself.

"Gin… we had a lot of fun time in this room didn't we. Our fall selection and all of the many food war victories…" Jōichriō mused painfully. The emptiness in his voice drove Gin to drop to his knees and embrace his best friend.

"But now I can't catch my breath..." Jō continued, "I just thought about getting ready to face tomorrow's challenge and then find myself a new path forward. But nothing makes sense to me anymore. Why am I even at Tōtsuki?"

Suddenly, footsteps were heard coming up behind them. Turing around, expecting to see their fellow dorm mates, Gin and Jōichirō were surprised to see the forlorn visage of Director Senzaemon approaching them.

"So it's true then", the Director stated plainly, "you've been swallowed up by the storm".

Looking down at the floor Jōichirō seemed to look even more discontent even more than he already was, on the other hand Gin was on his feet and angrily accusing the Director of neglect. "If you knew this would happen then why did you not talk Jō out of continuing with the BLUE?"

"I've had my concerns about you, Jōichirō, ever since you first passed the selection because I know that possessing superb talents are double edged swords for anyone", sighing the Director approached them and looked genuinely apologetic.

"Jōichirō Saiba. Leave and go explore overseas, separate yourself from the kitchen and cooking all. That is what you need in you life right now".

No sooner than an hour later the paperwork for a student to drop out of Tōtsuki had been filled out and accepted… and so standing on the steps of Kyokusei dormitory: Gin and Azami watched as Jōichirō waved goodbye to them as he walked away from cooking.

"Gin, Azami…" Jōichirō grinned forlornly. "I'm sorry guys, good luck with school and I hope we keep in touch".

With those words said, the now ex-second seat climbed into a Tōtsuki car and left the academy leaving his two best friends feeling despondent and wretched.


"And that's it. My story..." Jōichirō sighed putting down his whisky sour. "If you stopped listening half way through that's fine, as it doesn't really have anything to do with your generation" Jōichirō stated before gesturing to the bartender to again refill his glass.

Glancing glancing over at his son, the former second seat expected Sōma to be in hard in thought or at least moved in some way. But what he found was his 'precious thoughtful' son snoring away on the counter top next to him.

Resisting the urge to smack him, Jōichirō simply pinched his son's nose causing the boy to splutter awake.

"Urgh… sorry, I fell asleep" Sōma yawned. "Although I did hear a lot of your story dad…"

"You really are a brat you know that!" Frowning as he watched his son, Jōichirō then scowled at his sons lack of sensibility.

"Hey it was only for a second or two, don't bite my head of dad!" Sōma frowned. "To be honest I was worried that you'd gone and done something really bad to chef Nakamura and he was wanting revenge, so I'm kinda relieved that's it's something else".

Meanwhile, back in the lounge car, Dōjima had finished retelling his story as well; although Takumi did bring up why exactly all this related to Azami's actions.

"Azami had nothin but the upmost adoration and respect for Jōichirō, so seeing him suffer must have inspired him into some twisted drive to get revenge for the past".

"I guess I can sort of understand that reasoning…" Takumi responded "but I still call BS on the the whole Revolution thing!"

"Hahahah! You really are just like Sōma, you know that" Dōjima laughed, making the Italian boy blush with annoyed embarrassment.

"In hindsight I believe that Azami was in even more need of my support than Jōichirō was but didn't see it at the time…" Gin continued sadly.

"Yet, It wasn't until sixteen years ago that I learnt the person whom actually saved Jōichirō from self destruction was his very own son. And as a result I have nothing but eternal gratitude that Sōma was born into this world".


Meanwhile, on a private plane bound for Rebun Island.

"A regimental food war. I simply cannot wait chef Saiba… We will create a proper world where chefs are never lead astray" Azami spoke to himself, as the members of the Council of Ten assembled before him in their seats.

Looking up from the photo in his hand, the Tōtsuki Director glowered at the third seat as he took a seat beside Rindō and Tsukasa. Hiding his bubbling disdain for the current council seat, Azami spoke without sounding incredibly excited yet with just the right amount of venom for those whom deserved to feel additionally motivated.

"Once we land on Rebun Island we will immediately prepare for the rebels arrival. I have contacted suitable judges as well as recalled the deputy director", smiling at each of the Ten in turn, Azami concluded with "this revolution is vital for the culinary world to flourish anew".

Just as all of the Ten had become comfortable in their seats the Director spoke again, cold and harshly.

"Oh and chef Kensuke… do not to get in my way again".


R.I.P -

Sir David Nicholas. Broadcaster and ITN news presenter

Dame Paula Rego. Renowned artist, painter and printmaker. [Vivid and disturbing work that focuses on female subjugation].