Chapter 83: Rebun Island

- The Traditional Jewel

"Whew, we're finally here!" Sōma exclaimed excitedly as he bounded down the gangway, disembarking the passenger ferry that had shipped him and the others, whom had boarded back at the north-westernmost point of Hokkaido, to their final destination.

"Yeah…" Takumi added fist bumping his redheaded rival and best friend, "but we are definitely not the same as we were before. We're gonna show those guys at Central the results of our training".

"Hey Sōma…" Megumi spoke nervously as she trembled where she stood. "I know that I'm gonna have to face off against my brother but my heart is still unwilling to believe that fact". Looking forwards at the huge glass panelled building before her, the blue haired girl gulped shuddered with anxiety.

Walking forwards the boy in question reached forwards and squeezed his girls hands comfortingly. "I get it... I really do" he uttered with a defective frown belying his comforting smile.

"I didn't want to face Ken... not like this anyway. Despite him going against Central to save Kyokusei for us, he still sides with them. He's a great chef… and as much as I want to have another cook off with him, this isn't how I'd imagined it taking place" Sōma continued forlornly.

Tears slipped down Megumi's cheeks as she nodded her head and hugged the boy opposite her, whilst recounting her childhood - playing, chatting and cooking with her brother - before he was entombed by social anxiety and crippled by episodic depression.

Seeing that her conflicting thoughts were not departing, Sōma kept up and tightened his embrace of her whilst playfully toting with her twin braids - a move that he knew calmed her.

"Hey guys… don't you think it's strange that Kensuke wasn't replaced", Takumi abruptly opined taping a finger to his chin. "He went against Azami for you but suffered no major repercussions. Aside from being assigned to be an advocate for Central halfway around the planet".

"My father was probably in the midst of planning some repercussion" Erina responded, "but I'm betting that our regimental food war challenge hit him before he could formally announce and consider any of his preferred candidates to replace him with".

Catching a glimpse of a frown upon Megumi's face as they heard that particular thought, Sōma again gently squeezed his girlfriend's hand and smiled lovingly before kissing her on the nose. "I know your worried Megs... but we need to focus on overturning our friends expulsions and taking back Tōtsuki from chef Nakamura".

With a deep intake of breath, consequently making her feel refreshed, Megumi shook her head elevating as much anxiety as she could and gaining a little more confidence. Then pushing herself up on tiptoes she returned the kiss the redhead boy had given her before making them both stumble on their feet and almost fall into the shallow water below.

"Thank you for always staying by my side", she whispered softly nuzzling her face into Sōma's neck. "I really love and appreciate your support".

"Don't forget guys…" Takumi interjected with a grin upon his face, and determined to keep the conversation straight on the topic of their food war. "We're not going alone. We've got some more comrades to count on".

"Yeah..." Sōma replied matching his best friend's wide grin.

"We're gonna show father and his arrogant benefactors the power of true culinary freedom!" Erina declared proudly. "I won't let him control me ever again".

Turning around the four first years were met by the equally determined expressions of their allied 'rebel' chefs whom had agreed to assemble and stand with them as allies in the Regimental Food War.

"Hey guys!" Megumi smiled as she waved at the - too - disembarking chefs. "We're glad to see you've made it. Isshiki, Kuga, Mimasaka, you too Chise".

A sudden loud blast of the passenger ferry's horn made the nine 'rebel' chefs jump in surprise as they realised that the ferry's crew had been waiting for them to leave before returning to the mainland. Brought back to the present moment by the sight of Erina's broad smile as she pointed towards the venue of the Regiment de Cuisine before them, all eight rebel chefs collectively took an intake of breath.

"We're here... Rebun Island".


Immediately following disembarkation of the ferry, the rebel chefs were pounced upon by their expelled friends, whom had apparently travelled to Rebun Island under their own steam to cheer them on in team food war.

Megumi and Erina were themselves drawn into tearful embraces with their best friends: Alice, Yuki, Ryōko and Hisako. Whilst Sōma and Takumi were met by with fist bumps and encouraging words from Shun, Shōji, Daigo, Zenji, Akira and Ryō. The only exceptions were Isami, whom fully embraced his older twin, and Ikumi who hugged and kissed her boyfriend.

Gently hugging and reassuring the three female participants in the team food war, the remaining girls all smiled showing their commitment to cheering them to victory over Central.

"I know you've got this guys" Alice declared as she pointed at the group before her. "We'll be cheering you on 100% of the way!"

Tearing up, Erina moved out of Hisako's arms and embraced her cousin. "Alice, I'm so sorry…" the god tongue was suddenly stopped from speaking by a finger being placed over her lips. "Don't worry Erina. You can make up for our poor childhood relationship to me by winning back our culinary freedom", she grinned pulling her cousin into a hug.

"Just remember to show Hisako a lot of affection afterwards… your still in the beginning stages of your relationship after all…" she continued with a playful smirk.

Blushing bright, red the god tongue weaselled out of Alice's arms before spinning around to her fellow food war team mates. "Well then…" she stammered, her mind still thinking about Hisako, "I-we should go prepare".

Nodding in agreement, the other rebels followed Erina inside the huge event stadium to change into their chefs whites and prepare for whatever was thrown at them. Wiping away tears of happiness and anxiety Yuki was grabbed by Shun - who ignored the knowing smirk from Ryōko - and carried into the building. The others whom were defeated and expelled hurried afterwards, chuckling and yelling.

"Hey!"

Stopping in the reception area of the building all the rebels - including those whom had been expelled - all heard the familiar grating voice of Etsuya Eizan as he grinned tapping his watch in faux disappointment.

"Tiktok rebels..." he spoke condescendingly. "I'd hate for you to miss registration. Otherwise we might win by technicality, and we all know that just wouldn't be sporting".

Instantly grabbing ahold of both Sōma and Takumi, preventing them both from charging angrily at the former ninth-turned eighth seat; Akira, Alice, Ikumi and Megumi levelled Eizan with furious glares.

"Say what you want Eizan..." Hisako retorted plainly. "But by the end of this team food war you and the other members of the Ten will be out on your arses!"

Chuckling as he raised an amused eyebrow at the Erina's former secretary turned girlfriend, the new eighth seat shrugged his shoulders before turning around and pushing open the huge ceiling high doors that led to the main venue hall.


The massive event stadium was a sleek modern building, designed by Zaha Hadid, was intended to be used by Tōtsuki Academy for VIP guests and international attendees to witness culinary demonstrations from the Ten. As well as being used for administering final exams for third years, the building was also the most powerful symbol of Tōtsuki's global influence within the culinary world.

Fitted out with a huge seating area on three sides of the central cooking stage and an elaborate marble raised judges dais just before the floor level kitchen, the venue hall certainly stunned the rebel chefs to their cores.

However, the biggest eye catcher in the room was the massive fifteen metre wide-twenty metre floor to ceiling window from which could be seen - by all in the room - Rishiri Island, and Rishirifuji, from a distance.

Taking a deep breath, Erina moved forwards onto the cooking stage to face her father.

"What do you say to five rounds?" Erina inquired coolly, her arms neatly folded in front of he body.

Raising an quizzical eyebrow, Azami smirked. "Very well. Usually three rounds would be in order but I guess I'll oblige".

Turning around the Tōtsuki Director moved away towards the emcee of the regiment de cuisine, Urara Kawashima, and handed a piece of paper to her. With wide eyes, holding her microphone, Urara gripped her microphone in her left hand and gesticulated widely with her right towards a side entrance of the main venue hall.

"Audience, please put your hands a together for our glorious Members of the Ten who will triumph over the disgusting trashy rebels!" She exclaimed her voice loudly projected around the hall by the tannoy system.

From those doors walked the current members of the Ten: Tsukasa, Rindō, Kensuke, Momo, Saitō, Nene and Eizan, followed by the two newest members: Julio Shiratsu and Shōko Kaburagi.

"Our Central will never be defeated!"

"They all have obtained epithets from world class gourmands and critics!"

'White Knight of the Table' Eishi Tsukasa

'Barbarian' Rindō Kobayashi

'Silent King' Kensuke Tadokoro

'Fairy Godmother' Momo Akanegakubo

'Samurai' Sōmei Saitō

'Traditional Jewel' Nene Kinokuni

'Alchemist' Etsuya Eizan

'Il Duce' Julio Shiratsu

'Gloriana' Shōko Kaburagi

An eruption of pro-central cheers took ahold in the venue as the Ten appeared, and those cooking took their places on the stage opposite their respective rebel opponents.

"Kensuke Tadokoro…" the voice of the emcee railed disdainfully. "Your earlier act of defiance against Central has not yet been fully dealt with... and you will pay for it later, but you will side with us today".

Grinning, almost sadistically, Urara twirled around the stage whipping the audience up into fanfares of pro-central applause.

"For the health and future security for all up and coming young chefs resides with Director Azami! Glory unto Central!"


Narrowing her eyes as quiet rage burned in within her small body, Megumi clenched her fists together and glowered at Urara before then rounding her furious gaze upon the Director. Returning her glare with a pointed grin, Azami simply waved away the blue haired girls anger.

"Now let's begin with challenger selection…" Urara announced to the room's audience and the two opposing Tōtsuki camps.

"And here we have it folks!" The voice of the emcee reverberated, by way of her microphone, around the large open room. "From the vile disgusting rebel side: we have Sōma Yukihira, Satoshi Isshiki and Chise Nakata. Whilst from our dignified and talented central, who will surely crush them into oblivion…"

Looking up at the electronic board above where the judges table was placed; Yuki, Alice and Hisako, along with their other expelled friends, noted the match lineup with equal parts intrigue and worry.

'Satoshi Isshiki vs Julio Shiratsu'

'Chise Nakata vs Shōko Kaburagi'

'Sōma Yukihira vs Nene Kinokuni'

Glancing at the redheaded boy they all saw a look of joyfulness on his face as he walked forwards and pulled a piece of paper, denoting the theme ingredient, from the randomiser. The moment he picked the paper the room was filled with haughty jeering coming from the central supporting students in the stands and the aligned culinary officials in the private boxes.

"I can't believe it the theme is Soba, chef Kinokuni's specialty!" Urara laughed into the microphone, followed by a loud voice coming down from one of the boxes; "low class eatery scum! Prepare to be humiliated here and now!"

Frowning at the verbal abuse he was receiving from Urara, as well as the central aligned officials in the above stalls and others students whom passed the recent exams, Sōma made his way alongside Isshiki and Chise to go pick out ingredients from the arranged pantry that would complement their theme ingredients for their food battles.

However, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a pale faced third seat scratching at his wrists whilst appearing to wobble on his feet before being supported by Director Azami himself - whom whispered something to him.

Just as he tapped Isshiki on the shoulder, and pointed this occurrence out, the doors leading to the pantry warehouse swung shut behind them leaving both the redhead and the blonde former seventh seat to bitterly narrow their eyes.

"Forget about them for now" Chise sighed, although it was blatantly clear to Sōma and Isshiki that she was seriously worried. "We can worry about Kensuke later but right now we have three members of the Ten to defeat. So focus".

"I know…" Sōma responded mournfully. "I just wanted to believe that Ken would have quit Central by now".

Feeling a comforting hand on his back, the redheaded boy turned slightly to look at Isshiki. "Ken is difficult to understand..." Isshiki spoke sadly. "At best his anxiety makes oblivious and at his worst the anxiety makes him depressed and indifferent".

Widening his eyes at this newfound understanding towards Kensuke, Sōma couldn't help but frown as he was once again struck by the thought that the former director must have been so out of his depth when it came to the third seat's social anxiety.

"I-I shouldn't have suggested he take a sojourn from Tōtsuki..." Isshiki continued. "Whilst I wanted him to take a break from school and see his counsellor, I should have known that isolating himself away from his regular peers would not be in his best interest. I should have stayed and talked with him".

In the end it fell to Chise to forcefully drag her fellow teammates along into the pantry building, and get them to select their chosen additional ingredients. After ten minutes of pushing trolleys around, the three rebel chefs were less frustrated and more determined as they re-entered the main cooking hall to begin cooking their dishes.


"I'm gonna make instant cup yakisoba!"

Gawping in utter shock at their fellow first year student, the residents of Kyokusei dorm plus Alice, Ryo, Isami, Hisako, Akira and Ikumi had their attention grabbed by the exquisite way that Nene carried out the first step of soba production.

"This is stunning… her Mizumawashi skills are that of an artisan!" Ryōko announced. "The flour is settling right before our eyes!"

Both Zenji and Shun shuddered scared by the sixth seat's skills compared to the meagre working that Sōma was doing.

"She's so slender…" Ryo stated, "it's scary to realise that she is so much stronger than she looks".

"The secret to that is in her lower body…" Erina replied curtly. "As she shifts her weight the energy acts like springs for her legs and hips, which is transferred into the dough. This is the result of years of mastery of soba".

"I heard that chef Nene was given an epithet by culinary gourmands just like the other members of the Ten…" Takumi spoke up, "but having just heard all of them just now I cannot recall exactly".

A smile came across Isshiki's face as he walked forwards and placed a hand on the blonde Italian's shoulder, chuckling as he spoke. "The 'Traditional Jewel'…" he replied fondly. "Because out of all the Ten she is the most versed in pretty much everything traditional in Japanese culture".

A sudden growling alerted the expelled rebels back towards a red faced Chef Kinokuni who narrowed her eyes at the one sided argument that Julio was trying to have with Isshiki.

"Isshiki!" Julio yelled, impatiently slapping his workstation. "I ask that you take this seriously! Cooking is an art, one that encompasses all of our behaviour in the kitchen we ourselves are meant to be here and harmonise to create a tremendous…"

"I'm sorry but who are you?" Isshiki replied broadly smiling back at Julio, resulting in his opponent narrowing his eyes in anger. "Damn you Isshiki! You will taste the heart rending bitterness of utter defeat!"

Spinning around from where he had been presently encouraging Sōma, the former seventh seat remained smiling as he gazed down at the alive and water packed eel before him. With stars appearing in his eyes he immediately spun around and looked at his dorm mates, "hey guys! If we don't win this we can start an eel farm with an aquaponics greenhouse!"

"This is not the time to be thinking about this sort of thing Isshiki!" Both Yuki and Ryōko screamed as they grabbed ahold of their cell bars.

"He really should stay focused" Hisako and Ikumi sighed their heads in their hands.

"Spouting off nonsense in the middle of a battle, I guess somethings never change. You just meander around aloof to everything around you!" Julio scowled as he stood over the stove with eel, white wine and garlic in a frying pan. "I respect your abilities from the bottom of my heart, almost as much as I revere my dear Chef Donato Gotoda!"

"I wanted us to be colleagues together at Central… so why do you stand against Director Azami. Nene!" Turning towards the sixth seat, Julio gestured back at Isshiki, "is it not true that he's the shame of his family… He shouldn't even be associating himself with these low life bottom dwellers!"

"Erm Julio…" Isshiki growled angrily as he pinned the eel through - the eye - to his chopping board before perfectly slicing the fish in half. Turning his head slightly, the former seventh seat narrowed his eyes at his opponent.

"Could you please shut up!" Narrowing his eyes, he levelled a deadpan stare right at his opponent. "You're winning is soo annoying… plus with that latest comment of yours", he gritted out dangerously. "I think that maybe it's time that I get serious and crush you for real".


R.I.P -

Kazuki Takahashi. Manga artist behind Yu-Gi-Oh!

Shinzo Abe. Politician and Former Japanese Prime Minister.

Lorna de Schmidt. Anti-apartheid and anti-racism campaigner, part of the Black Consciousness moment.

James Caan and Tony Sirico. (Actors Godfather and Sopranos)

Monty Norman. Singer, Composer and Lyricist. (of the James Bond theme - alongside John Barry)