Chapter 23: Training Camp Pt. 3

[Interesting… So tell me, is there a reason you tried to pick a fight with Kojiro, this morning?]: gin

[No, not particularly… I just didn't like his personality, so I said something… I think you understand where I'm coming from Gin-san… A chef is made by 2 things, his skill in the kitchen, and his attitude towards his employees… Now, tell me, if you own a flourishing restaurant that gets thousands of customers a day, do you think that one chef could put out all that food quick enough to keep the customers happy?... I don't personally think so, that's where employees come into play, they become the backbone of the entire restaurant, while the head chef is the brain behind the operation… But if the brain is an asshole who doesn't understand common courtesy towards the employee, then what's keeping the employee there?... And if enough people leave, now you're all alone, where you could hire new employees, but what says that they are going to be any good?]: soren

After listening to Soren's long winded speech, Gin seemed to be pondering over something, before he spoke.

[I see… I guess in a way, you're right… But that still doesn't tell me how you were able to stand up to Kojiro without fear of being expelled]: gin

[Well that's quite simple… I simply don't care if I get expelled or not, as this is just a big game to me...]: soren

When Soren told Gin that he saw this academy and it's teachings as nothing but a game, he was a bit angry, as Soren was openly mocking all the hard work that he, and previous graduates have all accomplished to get so far in life.

[But don't get me wrong… This place is indeed challenging, it's just that I don't see the challenge, but maybe my younger brother does]: soren

[Well, then maybe I'll need to make it harder for you, and if you still fail, then you will be expelled from the academy… How's that sound?]: gin

[Sounds like an actual challenge, now… I can't wait to see what you have to throw at me, also, for future morning classes, can I be cooking alone?... I don't like having my partner in my way when I cook, and I feel that they aren't progressing on their own, if they pass on the food I cook]: soren

When Gin heard Soren's request, as well as how his classes were going, he didn't mind making this exception, as Soren was right, they wouldn't progress on their own, if Soren just did all the cooking.

[No problem… Starting tomorrow, you will be cooking all by yourself, so don't blame anyone but yourself if you fall behind due to time, as you were the one who asked for this change]: gin

Soren smiled as he got up from the tub, as he was preparing to leave, and then gave one last request, as he felt it would be interesting.

[Great!... Now, one last thing… Can I openly challenge you to a food war after this training camp?... I wanna see where you think I should stand, as it will also give you a hint, as to why I wouldn't care if I were expelled from Totsuki]: soren

Soren having seen Gin go silent for a while made Soren think that his request would be denied, so he just started walking towards the exit of the bath, but before he could reach the exit, Gin spoke up.

[Young Soren!... I'll give you a time and a place to meet, then we can battle, but only as practice, as I'd rather not see such a talent like you being expelled if your food happenes to not live up to the level of boasting you place it on]: gin

After hearing Gin agree to the war, Soren gave a wicked smile that was hidden from Gin, as Soren didn't turn to face Gin, rather he continued walking towards the door, and was just in time for Soma to barge in while being excited to be the first to take a bath, or at least this was to his knowledge.

[Soren!?... I didn't even see you leave! When did you get finished with your plates?]: soma

[A little while ago… Anyway, enjoy the bath, it's nice and hot]: soren

Soren then walked out, while Gin now had a new friend to talk to, and was yet another target of interest, and somewhat seemed familiar, but he couldn't tell why. Soren was now back in his custom Chef's Uniform, and went back to the kitchen to see around the same amount of students, as to when he left, except, Soma was finished, and the blonde french boy was on his 46th plate.

'*Sigh* looks like I'll have another 100 plates complete before the time is called… Really, a 6 hour time limit is quite the bit of time for me': soren (A/N: I changed it from 1 hour to 6, because cooking 10 plates in an hour is already pushing the hour mark, and Soma was able to do 50 plates it in around half that time, so for the sake of having a bit of logic in my story, the time limit is 6 hours for this challenge)

After Soren came back to his cleaned up station, all the surrounding football players, and bodybuilders noticed his reappearance, and quickly began surrounding him, while demanding for food.

[Order up!]: soren

Soren then used the remaining 4 hours to make 100 more plates, and noticed that all of his remaining customers were satisfied, as their stomachs seemed to be on the verge of bursting. And as Soren looked around, he noticed that there were only around 20 students left, and they all had around 30-40 plates made, and they were sloppy at best, making the teacher for this round, Hitoshi, seem utterly disappointed, but after seeing Soren, and his stacked plated, he called out.

[Hey! Soren Langston… Why are you still here? You finished 50 plates 4 hours ago]: hitoshi

When Soren heard his name being called, he turned towards Hitoshi, while in the process of washing some plates.

[Huh?... Ohh!... Well after my 50 servings, I was leaving, but the cries of the bodybuilders began to grow louder, as the begged for me to keep making food for them, so I promised to come back after my bath and continue cooking, so here I am, another 100 servings later]: soren

When Hitoshi heard this, he was flabbergasted, as it was inconceivable, but looking around the room, and seeing the happy faces of the bodybuilders and football players, Hitoshi had to accept the fact.

[Well what are you doing now?]: hitoshi

[Just cleaning my station]: soren

[I see… You seem to be quite a responsible young man, care to tell me why?]: hitoshi

[Well, I wouldn't leave the dishes to pile up in my diner, so why would I leave the dishes to pile up here?]: soren

[That's true… I guess I did say that you were free to do whatever you like after you were done… Then I'll see you later]: hitoshi

Hitoshi then left Soren to finish what he was doing, while all the other 20 students were asked to pack up and leave, as they were being expelled. After washing the dishes, Soren went back to his room, while everyone else gathered in Zenji's room for some poker, as well as some other card games, and the next day, Soren noticed that his class schedule had been changed, as he was placed in the same class as Soma and Megumi, meaning that Gin was indeed challenging him, by pairing him with Kojiro, the one teacher who currently has a burning hatred for Soren. Upon arriving at the class, Kojiro also noticed the sudden change, and when he noticed who had joined, he gave a wicked smile, as he waited for Soren to enter his class. Students began filling the room, as they all went to their workstations, and once Soren entered the room, Kojiro wanted to immediately expel him, but seeing as there was nothing wrong with him, nor was he late, he had no choice but to let Soren slide, for the meantime.

[Good morning… I'm Kojiro Shinomiya, a graduate from Totsuki's 79th graduating class… In today's cooking challenge, you'll be making a dish of my choosing… You should all have been given your recette, yes?]: kojiro

Looking around, Soren noticed everyone holding a piece of paper with instructions on them, while he had nothing of the sort, because as he came in, Kojiro never handed him a paper, so he raised his hand and spoke.

[Uhh… Excuse me, Chef Kojiro, but you never handed me a paper, so could I please get one]: soren

Upon hearing Soren's voice, Kojiro seemed to get agitated, as a visible tick mark appeared above his temple, and seeing as there indeed was no paper given to him, Kojiro walked over and handed him a recette, before walking back to his desk at the front, while he took a moment to calm down, and continue his instructions.

[To give you all a chance, I have chosen a relatively easy recette… Unless you would prefer a more difficult dish?... Also, in this challenge, you all will not be working in pairs, but splitting up and doing your own dish… Also, any exchange of tips or information will be grounds for an immediate expulsion… Behind you, are all the ingredients that you will need, and a small word of advice, it would be wise of you to consider everyone around you as an enemy… Now you have 3 hours, so get cooking]: kojiro

After listening to Kojiro's explanation, Soren began walking over to the cauliflower, and picked a nice and ripe one, before moving on to each of the other vegetables, and as Kojiro set his sights onto Soren, he was quite shocked, as most students went for what was closest to them, while Soren went straight to the cauliflower.

'Does he know that there is some bruised and old produce in the pile?... No, he can't possibly know': kojiro

Soren then used a bit of his strength to push his way through the crowd so that he could get his ingredients, and after attaining all of his ingredients, Soren went back to his workstation and began making the dish by rules of the recette. Soren felt that since everything was written in a specific way, it would be close to impossible for someone to mess it up, unless that someone was somebody who has never followed directions before, or had a bad or bruised ingredient. Soren did exactly what the paper said, and the only difference his dish had to the others around him, were that his ingredients were the freshest and healthiest, while his way of preparing the ingredients were perfect, as they followed the recette, and after an hour and a half, Soren presented his dish to Kojiro, and seeing Kojiro's wicked face, he knew that Kojiro was planning on failing him either way, and just gave a sigh, as he watched Kojiro take a bite of the food. Kojiro felt that it was perfect in every single way possible, but his hatred for Soren was on another level, as he then spoke.

[Remember what I said in the welcoming ceremony?... You're gone, get out of this kitchen, and go pack your stuff]: kojiro

Kojiro gave a wicked smile, as Soren just rolled his eyes at Kojiro's words, while outside of the class, Gin was listening in on Kojiro's words, and wanted to see how Soren's reaction would be.

[So you wanted to expel me so badly, that you won't even tell me what's wrong with my dish?]: soren

Soren's teasing words once again agitated Kojiro, as he then set the plate down, and began speaking.

[It doesn't matter whether your dish was good, or bad… I am the teacher, and I have the right to expel you at any given moment, so pack your shit, and get out, now]: kojiro

[*Sigh*... That won't do, Dick-sensei… I want to challenge you to a food war, if you win, I'll leave, but if I win, you will quit being a chef… How does that sound?]: soren

[Haha!... It doesn't matter, as you are no longer a student of Totsuki, so you have no right to challenge me]: kojiro

[Then let me rephrase my words… We will fight for the title of chef… I own a business in the food world, and so do you… I'll fight you with my business name on the line, and you fight with yours… If I win, I can stay here, and if you win, I'll quite cooking for good]: soren

Upon hearing Soren's challenge, Kojiro was getting immensely agitated, as Soren had ruined his mood, and by this time, Gin decided to make his appearance to settle everything. Soon, a date was set for the challenge, and class went on as usual, with Megumi passing, but only because Kojiro placed more of his focus on Soren, and didn't notice Megumi straying from the recette, thus cementing Kojiro's blockage in progressing any further. Later on that night, Soren and Kojiro were facing off against each other in the basement kitchen of the Totsuki Resort's hotel annex, and along with these two, were Gin Dojima as the overseer, Donato Gotoda, Fuyumi Mizuhara, and Hitoshi Sekimori as the judges.

[This will be an off the books battle, that will decide if Soren Langston is to stay enrolled in Totsuki Academy, or if he quits cooking all together… The stipulations of the battle were all decided by the participants, so even if it looks unfair, both participants were in agreement]: gin

As Gin spoke, the 3 judges who had questioning gazes as first, now understood why it was set like this.

[Gin-dono… Who exactly set the stipulations, as it seems Young Soren gets nothing of value out of this if he were to win]: donato

Upon hearing Donato's words, Kojiro felt offended that Donato would even think about a student like Soren winning against a graduate such as himself.

[All the stipulations were set by the challenger, meaning Soren set the stipulations for this battle, and Kojiro agreed… Now, let's move on to the rules for this battle, you both will have 2 hours to make a dish that will mainly consist of vegetables… All the ingredients you may need are in the room… Now, Begin!]: gin

After starting the battle, Soren decided that he was going to ruin Kojiro's entire career, as he was going to make the same dish as was required in Kojiro's class, but he was going to make his own twist on it, thus improving the dish overall. Soren pulled out 9 different types of vegetables, while Kojiro decided that he was going to go all out to rid himself of Soren, not only from this school, but from the cooking world entirely, so he pulled out one of his better recettes, and began cooking. Almost 2 hours later, both Soren and Kojiro were complete with their dishes, and Kojiro let out a laugh when he saw what Soren made, while Soren only smiled at Kojiro, as he knew that this was going to be an overwhelming victory in his side, leaving Kojiro to grovel at his feet.

[Please present your dishes to the judges, for final results]: gin

Kojiro went first, and Soren watched the faces of all 3 judges as they seemed to relish the taste of Kojiro's food, and smiled as his turn was next.