Due to a slight overlap in the schedule, Megumi and Ikumi's joint match against Central had already begun by the time Torrey and co. arrived at Hall B. Luckily, it appeared that both chefs were only just getting started. The rest of Polaris was seated in the bleachers: Marui, Ibusaki, Isshiki, and those two other guys.
"Am I correct in assuming that the Vegan Cooking Society is no more?" Isshiki asked, making room for the new arrivals. Torrey looked uneasy, as if he'd just served undercooked chicken to a customer and was waiting for the complaint.
"They're goners. Done for. Finito. Chopped," said Torrey glumly. He could feel the collective gaze of his peers focusing in on him.
"Are you all right?" asked Ryoko.
"That was cheery," said Yuki.
"Err...sorry, I just..."
"Waldenpond," said Soma, drawing Torrey's attention with his serious tone. It was a rare occurrence, but when something bothered the redhead, he didn't hesitate to drop his care-free attitude.
"Yeah?"
"You did what had to be done, right?" Soma's gaze was piercing, scrutinizing.
"Yeah..."
"Then accept it. I understand why you felt the need to join Central, but if you can't deal with the consequences of your actions, then you should have just packed your bags and went home," said Soma, who'd been quiet on the subject ever since Torrey announced his decision to side with the enemy.
"Soma..." said Ryoko, appalled.
"See? Number one rival," whispered Yuki into Takumi's ear. If one looked closely, a small vein could be seen, just above his left eye and ready to burst.
"Yukihira's right. We have to live with the choices that we make," said Takumi, through gritted teeth.
"What a surprisingly heavy discussion for this bunch," said Isshiki, smiling nervously while trying to lighten the mood.
"After Ikumi, I'm probably the last person here who'd actually support the Vegans," said Yuki. "But it's still sad to think they won't have a place to cook anymore."
"There's more to it than that," Torrey added. "Azami's pushing for a curriculum that forces the use of animal products on the students. The dish I made today should be fine, but vegan substitutes will no longer be available in Totsuki classrooms."
"Whaaat?!" everyone else said in unison.
"I only just heard from my opponent. After crushing her hopes and dreams," said Torrey.
"Maybe I can cut you some slack on this one," said Soma, relenting a little. "Still, it's not that surprising given what we already know about Azami. The guy's a monster."
"It's strange to think that a win might not necessarily be a win," said Ryoko. I want to support Torrey...but he barely approves of his own actions, she thought.
"Sheesh. What happened to this school? Seems like just yesterday that everyone ENJOYED it here," said Yuki. They all knew the answer. Azami Nakiri happened.
***********************************************
After their bleak conversation, the group's spirits were lifted while witnessing impressive showings from Megumi and Ikumi. In spite of the odds, these two girls were cool and level-headed while facing off against the skilled chefs of Central. One couldn't help but notice the contrast between the two Resistance fighters, however.
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.
****************************************************
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.
"This definitely calls for a celebration!" said Isshiki, who was enamored with the positive vibes being exuded by the group. "Let's have a victory banquet at Polaris tonight! Torrey and Takumi are invited too, of course!"
"Yes! I've been saving Fluffy for a special occasion!" said Yuki. Torrey assumed she was referring to a lamb, but knowing Yuki, 'Fluffy' could be anything. Usually the thought of her freshly cooked game would be enough to get his hunger worked up, but Torrey felt so bad for the Vegans that he was considering trying their diet for a few days.
"Grazie! I'll prepare something delicioso for this event!" said Takumi. His icy blue eyes locked onto Torrey, his rival's rival, and he pointed directly at him. "Something that you'll be forced to acknowledge as superior to your own!"
"Uhh...okay. I guess I'll make my vegetable soup, as an ode to the poor chefs who no longer have a place at this school," said Torrey.
"Great idea! I was pretty bummed that I missed those samples you were giving out," said Soma. "But seriously, try not to dwell on this anymore."
"Exactly what this party is for! Megumi and Ikumi have given hope to the Resistance! Let's focus on the positives tonight," said Isshiki, being a good Senpai.
"I feel like we just had a party..." said Megumi, still embarrassed by the attention. "We probably don't need to..."
"Every day's a party at Polaris!" said Yuki. "C'mon girl, you deserve it."
"O-okay."
****************************************************
Though it had already been a few days since he settled in at his new apartment, Torrey still felt right at home in the Polaris cafeteria, enjoying another lavish feast with his friends. After all, home isn't where you sleep at night; it's where the heart is.
Once again, there was a smorgasbord of delicious dishes, and everyone was eating to their hearts content. Torrey recreated his veggie soup as the first course, then Takumi brought out a crazy combo pizza. Next was Yuki's veal dish, and finally, Ikumi's winner, a surf-n-turf bowl. Unfortunately, Torrey wasn't able to enjoy all of the courses...
Megumi kept apologizing for not making a contribution, but everyone assured her that it was fine. She'd already proven that she could make it through a Shokugeki with just one hand. She deserved some rest.
Surprisingly for Torrey, it was his dish that made for some very interesting conversation at the dining table.
"I take back what I said earlier about Vegan food," said Ikumi, chowing down on the hot/sour veggie soup. "This isn't just a complete dish- it's a GREAT dish."
"Thanks. The best part about it is that it's a different flavor every time," said Torrey. Erina looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Hmm?" she said, pausing in-between bites of the soup. "Precisely what do you mean by that?"
"Didn't you see him make the stock?" Ryoko asked, having learned of Torrey's technique the previous night while taste-testing.
"So that's what those bags of veggies in the freezer were for!" said Soma, this time giving himself a smack on the forehead. "Why didn't I think to do that before?"
"Would someone please explain..." Erina started, even more confused.
"I think it's wonderful that Torrey's taken the meaning of food recycling to a new level. Especially since most of these veggies were made by myself and Megumi, of course. I love to see my babies grow up to reach their full potential!" said Isshiki, sounding like a doting parent.
"Phrasing, Senpai! You need to watch your phrasing!" said Yuki. Erina's purple eyes were still perplexed, so Torrey turned to address her.
"I just meant that, since I make the stock with leftover vegetable trimmings, it always produces a different flavor depending on what was used. It usually turns out pretty well, with a few notable exceptions. One time it was all broccoli stems and potato peels...bleh." Erina seemed to consider this for a moment before speaking again.
"While observing your match, I wondered how you were able to make such a praiseworthy dish using only simple ingredients. I knew something was different as soon as Urara turned to you and asked to try it. The standard procedure for making vegetable stock, as we're taught in class, is to use only the freshest ingredients, and I've never seen a chef enter a Shokugeki with pre-prepared stock..." said Erina.
She sounded different, like she was working through the process of accepting this information. The old Erina would have renounced the technique immediately while asserting that it was inferior cuisine.
"It's gotten even worse with Azami, who pretty much encourages waste with his new curriculum; he has no problem sacrificing ingredients for the sake of 'gourmet'. That's something that I'll never be on-board with," said Torrey. "Did you guys know that in my country, nearly 100 billion pounds of food gets wasted each year, after spoiling at the supermarket, or being left unfinished on the plates of customers?"
"That's a tragedy," said Takumi, shaking his head. "Every chef has a responsibility to make the most of his ingredients, regardless of their quality. Figuring out the right portion sizes is a challenge, but it's a key part of your education."
"Right!" said Soma, jumping passionately out of his seat. "At Yukihira diner, all of our menu items are constantly being refined and improved to suit the needs of our customers. I don't know the exact numbers, but my Dad used to always boast that we had one of the lowest food waste percentages in the country."
"There was one time, last fall, on my way home from the market, when I noticed a bunch of potatoes lying on the side of the road. The truck that was carrying them must have taken a corner too fast. I gathered as many as I could, and carried them back to Polaris to cook them up before the bruises spoiled them," said Megumi, proudly adding to the discussion.
"I remember that! We feasted on potato soup, potatoes au gratin, and even potato pancakes. It was like you were allowing the potatoes to reach their true destiny," said Yuki, her teal eyes welling up with tears.
"This is wonderful! I'm so proud of you all," said Isshiki, also tearing up. "Torrey, your dish might have delivered the killing blow against the Vegan Society...but it encapsulates the very spirit of being green."
"I...can't say that I have anything to contribute. When I was young, as part of my father's 'training', he would use force to make me discard the food that failed his strict standards of gourmet. I didn't bother to count all of the improper dishes that I threw out under his watchful guidance," said Erina, looking pale as she recounted this dark chapter of her life.
"It wasn't your fault; you don't have to feel guilty about any of that," said Torrey, sympathizing. Erina took her time before speaking, again.
"Perhaps. Although you may have joined his organization...you're really nothing like my father," said Erina.
"Thanks, haha. That actually makes me feel a lot better about everything."
"Hmm," said Soma, thinking. "At least you won't have to dirty your hands again any time soon, now that the mop-ups are finished."
"I sure hope that's the case," said Torrey.
A somber silence settled over the group as they finished their bowls of vegetable soup. It eventually grew to be awkward- but nobody knew how to break the ice. Where would the conversation go next? Every time someone went to speak, they would stop themselves and reconsider. Of course, Soma was the first one to end the silence...by making things more uncomfortable for everyone.
"So, Waldenpond...when are you gonna have that Shokugeki?"
"Huh?" said Torrey. I just had a Shokugeki...he thought. Like everyone else at the table, he was wondering if there was something wrong with Soma's head.
"You know, THE Shokugeki. When all the girls are gonna compete for your love." Erina did a spit-take, sending soup everywhere. Ikumi nearly choked on a bite of tofu. Megumi started fidgeting awkwardly, turning to see everyone else's reactions. Yuki busted up laughing, enjoying the surprising turn of events. Ryoko was staring at Soma, with a look of horror. Are you completely tactless? she thought.
Everyone was curious about this event, but there was an unspoken rule in the group that the subject wasn't to be mentioned. Especially not in front of Torrey. They all assumed he would tell them when he was ready.
"Hahaha, you sure know how to address an elephant, Soma-kun," said Isshiki, clapping his hands in delight.
"Oh, THAT Shokugeki," said Torrey. "You know...uh, we might not be able to get to it for a while, what with the upcoming advancement exams and all hahaha," said Torrey, nervously brushing the competition aside.
"Yes! The exams! We should all be focusing on studying for our exams. Not something so frivolous as love," said Erina, trying to convince herself. "In fact, I believe there's going to be an announcement about them tomorrow morning." That damned Yukihira! I was just beginning to tolerate him, and then he goes and pulls this stunt... she thought.
"F-f-frivolous! What an accurate description, Erina-sama," said Megumi, also in denial.
"Indeed. We're chef's, semi-pros even. We can't let ourselves get distracted!" said Ikumi, jumping up with a passionate fist-raise.
"Yeah! In fact, Torrey should leave right now! It's distracting just having him here!" said Yuki, also getting up from her seat and pointing at Torrey.
"You're right Yuki! It was a mistake to invite him over tonight. I'm sorry Torrey, but it's been decided. You'll have to go," said Ryoko.
"Seriously? Geez if you really don't want...aaargh!" Torrey was cut off as the girls combined their strength to literally grab him from his chair and carry him out of the building. Before he knew it, he was outside shivering in the cold. What a nice dinner, he thought. Of course the only dish I got to eat was my own!
Takumi had been in the kitchen preparing his pizza while the rest of them dined on the soup. This'll show that two-bit fraud. It's undeniably better than anything that he could possibly create. He'll rue the day when he stole my rival from me! thought Takumi, entering the cafeteria with his completed dish and a confident grin.
"Bon appetite!" he said with a flourish. "Wait, where's Waldenpond?"
"The girls voted. Torrey's out," said Soma, pointing towards the door. "I feel kinda, somewhat responsible for this..." he said guiltily.
"Whaaat?! He needs to try my pizza and admit that I'm the better chef! Yukihira...just what have you done?"
"I ask him that question all the time, and not once have I received a satisfactory answer," said Erina.