Waifu Wars: A Food Wars Fanfic

Ch. 39 Vegetable Soup for the Soul

            Megumi's amber eyes shone with fierce determination, her usual lack of confidence having been banished (or at the least, temporarily pushed aside). Every fiber of her being was determined to save the Home Cooking Society, one of the few places where she always felt like she belonged. All of her actions were executed with purpose; there was no hesitation or stumbling about in the kitchen today.

            Ikumi's look, on the other hand, could best be described as smug. Her lips were curled into a confident grin that never once wavered during the match. It wasn't just confidence on display; she was enjoying herself. If someone in the stands were to look down at the kitchen, not knowing which opponent was which, it would be easy to mistake Ikumi for the Central competitor, who was the favorite.

            Even their uniforms spoke volumes about the differences between the girls. Megumi wore the standard long-sleeve chef's coat and matching pants, looking clean-cut and professional as she methodically moved through her routine. Her adorable blue pigtails and flower hairpin added flair; she wasn't just some chef in a coat. She was Megumi Tadokoro, the Vegetable Yukinko (among other names).

            Ikumi was the opposite, showing as much skin as ever. She wore a camouflage top (she was the Meat General, after all) with unbuttoned jean shorts and calf-length leather boots. The knife sheath strapped to her right thigh added a fatal element to her otherwise seductive appearance. It was clear that she was accustomed to the spotlight, but if you gave her TOO much attention, she'd just as soon cut you to pieces.

            "You know, I never really thought about it until seeing her on the big stage today, but how come Ikumi always wears that outfit when she cooks? Isn't it a little...dangerous?" asked Torrey.

            "You can't cook meat if you're afraid of a little grease," said Soma.

            "I guess that's true, but what..."

            "Those are her words. I don't get it either," said Soma.

            "I agree with Torrey. It's far too revealing for my taste, but to each her own," said Yuki, looking down at her chest and frowning.

            "Oh, I wasn't complaining! It's a good look," said Torrey, earning a swift elbow from Ryoko.

            "Oops! I'm so, so sorry, Torrey. I can be such a klutz sometimes," said Ryoko, with an innocent smile.

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            Much like what Torrey and Momo accomplished for Central, Megumi and Ikumi both scored unanimous victories for the Resistance. After the match, everyone had migrated down to the stage area to congratulate the girls on their respective wins.

            "Yo, Nikumi! That was awesome! You did it!" said Soma.

            "Hmph! W-well of course I did. Do you have any idea how hard I practiced for today?" she replied.

            "You too, Megumi! That was easily the best performance I've seen at this school. You killed it with only half of your hands!" said Torrey.

            "Y-you mean it? Thanks..." said Megumi, embarrassed by the praise, even though it was well-deserved. Ikumi was still speaking with Soma, but glaring at Torrey from the corner of her emerald eyes.

            "It WAS a pretty good performance, although I helped with some of the prep work," Ikumi said, overcome with jealousy.

            "Right, you were such a big help, Mito-san!" said Megumi. It was hard for Ikumi to hold a grudge against someone who was so sincere. I worked hard too, but I guess I can let her have this moment, thought Ikumi, embarrassed by her momentary fit. No one seemed to notice, anyways.