Author's Note: review, favorite and follow.

Notes at the end of chapter.

Chapter 13: The Princess Banquet: Part 2

As the task proceeded through the night and celebration, the true difficulties that surged were unprecedented. The guests, having already seen most of what the culinary world had to offer; from common street food to top class bistros, were highly meticulous and precise with what they were even welling to look at.

From the aroma that wafted from the dish, to the presentation and backstory of the chosen recipe, they knew it all and did nothing more then glance at dish from afar before walking away with a grimace on their faces.

And those who were able to get even a few of them to taste their plates stood head and shoulders above the rest.

In the Appetizer's Ground, most of students were in a state of distress and ready to pray or even cry for the sake of one service. All the customers seem to have clustered elegantly in front of two distinct stands.

The first one luring the onlookers and passerbys with the sweet smell of delicately roasted tomatoes and fruity balsamic vinegar.

Small portions of diamond-shaped grilled polenta, topped with tomatoes and goat cheese foam. The colourful, rutic and unique plates attracted the curious foodies who are already railed up by the mere mention of Italian Food.

-" What homy serves! It's inspired from the French canapes, isn't it?" A woman in short blond hair spoke, scrutinizing the small piece of appetizer in her hand.

-" Yes,…" the chef, namely Ayumi in her Aldini uniform, responded with confidence at the guest's comment. " In the Italian ordinary diner table, polenta is an essential side dish along with roasted vegetables and cream cheese. However, these dishes could be easily transformed into individual course meals. And that is the core idea of the dish. The creamy polenta was thoroughly mixed in with butter and parmesan cheese and grilled on the pan. The fresh tomatoes I baked them in the oven just to carmalize them and bring out their sweetness. The goat cheese foam was whisked by me and put on in dollops with doplets of balsamic vinegar as finishing touch." She smiled widely at the looks of awe and interest she received from the people before her, and just as they debarqued into their own conversations while enjoying the delight, they couldn't hear the next few words: " I wanted to create gentle family breakfast for all."

As the plates began pilling up one after another, and the oven opened letting the tomatoes' sweetness strick the noses in a total combo, the counter kept running wild toward a 100+.

The second stand own was already having the entire hall squirm at the idea of getting to taste his dish.

From a deep dish plat, rose the sunflower. The heart of the flower was made from a pure white cream semi-sphere and the petals were made of pie crust. Around the blooming flower, a yellowish cream from which came the distinctive smell of fried lard. The overall composition, taste and smell of the dish could any belong to one recipe…

-" It's … Quiche Lorraine." Cried the old man in a black tux, after fully savring his now clean dish. " An instinct classic for the French patissieries. Originated from the region of Lorraine in northeast of France. It is a salted type of tarts made from lardand cheese…."

-"He began by deconstructing the dish into four key elements: The crust, the fried lardon, the crème and the cheese on top.."

-" Coach?" Megumi uttered at the sight of Shinomiya, popping out on them. The man just huffed and adjusted his glasses before continuing.*

-" For the crust, he made a pâte brisée with its crumble and biscuit-like nature. That semi-sphere is an Espuma d'emmental, he added gelatine to give it a enough consistency and mde it from a mix of milk and crème. The stem of the sunflower is a Royale de lard, similar to crème patissiere, he infused it with the lard. And finally, the element the most fragrant, it is a smoked lard crème. When you take a full spoonful of everything, it is the same as tasting a plain quiche. But the level of refinement he put into each part to push it up to gourmet level is recognizable."

-" Recognizable? Pffffft, Shinamiya-senpai, is that your way of saying he did a marvellous job, you should be more expressive though." Takumi chuckled at his senpai's tsundere streak. He had one way of put things into words.

-" You are one to say it, looking at her counter, she nailing it too." He huffed again while motioning to the girl in blue hair deep in her stirring.

Takumi just smiled, giving a single glace sideways, only to see his wife adorning that same carefree smile.

He closed his eyes and said: " Well, that is to be expected. We sent her to tootsuki after all." And he smiled too.

As a deep silence filled the bureau, they all just watched as the task continued, but even from their perpective, they couldn't spot that thing.

That one look that the boy in glasses always sent to his comrades way from across the hall. That look he managed to get every 15 minutes through the people gathering at both their tables.

And to his joy, every time he did, all he saw was her smiling, wider and wider by each passing minute in the task. And he couldn't but say to himself: "Hm, someone is finally showing his true colors." A faint grin brimmed in his face; one filled with a mixture of pride and joy, plus the hint ofsomething else.

Something passionate.

Whereas the Appetizer's Ground ressembled more a finely coordinated dancefloor, as the guests' waltzed harmoniously from counter to counter, the Main Court looked more like a raging wilderness.

All the guests pushed and shoved each other while trying to reach a single chef's counter. While the other students wailed their measly luck at the one-sided battle they found themselves in, they couldn't deny the suplendor of the show before them.

-" WELCOME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. EAT AND SLURP TO YOUR HEART CONTENT." The voice bluttering these words was non other then the owner of said counter, watching delightfully her guests almost begging for a serving of her delicious ramen.

Dominating the entire hall was Ishikki Nanami, standing tall and proud as she turned the once snobby nobles into hungry animals in the run. In a black shirt and a towel tied to her head; she ruled over her grounds like the destined queen she is.

With three varieties of ramen soup, she managed to serve by preference and choice for every single guest. Using her speed and natural stamina, she dragged the guests to her like a magnet, making them fall from their high pedestals and to the earth were they started eating the most common of food in the most common of ways.

-" What a scary talent! I greatly pity those even thinking of keeping up, yet.." Utsyuu, after stirring in his sheets for near an hour, couldn't drift away like his friend did. Why? Don't ask him; he doesn't know either. But he just felt a certain pull to this hall. And here he watches, as the power scale seemed great and no one could measure; and when the counter beeped pointing the 300th serve, it was the fatality for most.

All but one girl, already on the verge of falling, struggling with her grill and versatile comdiments to attract the audience, she is doing a bloody good job. " She is facing her head on even in such a hopeless situation!" He gazed at the redhead girl, slowly cutting her ribeye, rosemary enveloped chop.

Servicing it in porcelain spoons, accompanied with a variety of vegetables and greenery. Her dish ressembled any plain chop service on any table. But even from afar, the meat itself looked different.

-" So, this you dish?" A woman, waiting in the line for her ramen, noticed the girl small grouping.

-" It seems plain, but just taste it? Trust me, no regrets." A short guy with a heavily accessorized hand, told the lady who carefully approached and took the dish in her hand.

Just flicking her tongue above the meat, was enough to send her body to the Nirvana and back to earth.

-" W-W-What is this flavour, It's so addicting." She swallowed the entire portion in a moment, and rolled her eyes in ecstasy. " This flavour:… Rosemary, thym, sage and mint and coriander, all dried and made into a paste to cover the meat… that is not all…"

-" Um…" The stand owner interrupted her muttering. " You might have noticed, but I also used vinegar and nony and olive oil to make the paste. The vinegar to tenderize, the honey fro sweetness, and the oil for the shard. I did my best to refine these flavors. Everyone loved a good grilled chop for lunch, be it a buffet or anything else." She explained, determination burning like the fierce starlight in her eyes.

And he saw it too, how her eyes, so brilliant, flared like the twilight. And he would be a lying prick if he said he wasn't captivated.

And the numbers kept rising, slowly but surely to their destined goal.

Sneakily escaping what could possibly be the most boring discussion in her life about plans and future investment. Walking past the fussing and hustling of the first two halls; in which she had no interest at all, Hibike finally reached her destination.

The dreamland of any girl her age: The Dessert Land, aka Sweet Dreamland.

Strolling down the hall, she checked every counter she passed by, losing interest quickly when she saw nothing other than macarons and mini-tarts.

-" No creativity at all? Bleh" She stuck her tongue in disgust, slightly sad because of this.

-" Wah, Look at this cute bunny." Her ears perked suddenly when she heard the squeal from a woman standing by one counter.

She proceeded with small, sure steps towards said counter, and stuck herself in between all the amazed people discreetly. When she finally managed to ' steal' a plate, she gaped in innocent joy at the cute manufacture in her hands.

Beautifully sculptured to every last detail in shimmering chocolate, was the bunny in the plate. With two bigs ears and thin mustaches.

It just looked too pretty to even dare to eat. Gulping, she took the dessert spoon and dug the tip into the bunny' back. The chocolate shell then cracked revealing a thick layer of polka-dote crème. Taking the substance into her mouth, she yelped at the deliciousness.

-" Fwahh, so much chocolate…"She jumped in her place from delight. " Crunchy and silky." The taste of the Bunny Opera took her to depths of her sugary delights.

Finishing the whole thing off at once, she licked the remainder chocolate on her lips and smiled at the now empty plate in which she saw her reflection. Her lonely, running reflection.

All joy now gone, she remembered that her father will most likely be discussing about their squouting plans next year to some counsellor. She sighed, losing all interest that began her quest.

-" Hey, Hey, HEEEEEEYYYY." She was snapped out of her state by the close whispering her way. She looked around for the culprit, only to see a boy motioning for her to approach from behind his counter.

Which…smelled suspicious.

Frowning at the boy, who responded to her by raising the frequence of his motions, she looked at his screen; he was almost there. And looking at his table, she was intrigued by the sight of them fogged, covered plates.

Breathing in, she put on her usual mask and walked up to him.

When she reached him, she waited as he crouched and turned to the small fridge at her left.

-" You are Hibike-sama, aren't you?" he spoke to her in a low tone, rummaging in his fridge. She refused to answer, and kept her eyes fixed on the white fog inside the covers. "Here it is!" He screamed proudly, quickly putting his hand over his mouth in recognition.

He gave the small lady a square box. " Take it." He pushed her way with a wide grin in face.

-" Are…you bribing me right now? " she huffed at the indignant act. " What absurdity! Do you think this ill lead you anyway with my father, then you are wr…" She halted talking when she heard his cough. He was holding a laugh. " What insolence!" she pouted at such insult.

-" Hah, no. it's just…. Just a little something to share with Mr Katashi." He struggled to speak in his fit of unbearable laughter. Composing himself, he continued: " I thought maybe you would like something for you to share in private. I doubt it is fun to share such precious events with strangers suffocating and following your very move. And I don't think you these small portions are satisfiant for that. So I made this. Take it, not as a bribe, but maybe …as a…. Birthday gift that is." He planted the box in her hands firmly, determined to have her take it. " I too enjoy a little personal moments with whom I cherish." He grinned.

Surprised and overwhelmingly happy by his act of understanding, she mumbled a feeble 'Thank you' and bowed in respect. This seemed to embarrass the boy, who suddenly realized that he was a death or life competiotion and still not in the safe zone yet.

While Hibike walked away out of the hall, she glanced at the klutzy boy trying his best to guarantee his pass.

What a weird boy!

The night reaching its peak and the day drawing its curtains, the students were already at their limits. Some already ahead in their work have closed shop, others losing all hopes of grasping a chance, are crying for mercy.

Those still going, as few as they were, suffered grave fatigue. A certain girl with red hair; gasping for air, had lost every fiber of awareness to her entourage.

Her ears went deaf, and eyes blank; her limbs moving on their own. She was just a few plates away from the milestone.

For what looked like a lapse in time, the girl finally heard a faint buzzing, and immediately she fell to her knees at once.

From the lamenting and joyful screams she heard, she assumed it was the signal of the end of the task she heard. But like hell, she cared. Every cell in her being was aching. Even her own feet couldn't carry her anymore.

Blinded by sweat and her sticky bangs, the hand that came to her help wasn't noticed until he sat to her eye level.

-" S…enpai." She tiredly stuttered. He looked at her with too much…. What was that actually, her mind was too drawn to point it out.

-" Good job." He congratulated. " With such a competition you managed to keep up, gotta give it to you." He smiled.

-" Well, that is if I actually made it through." She mumbled mockingly, doubting she even passed the 300th serve. And seeing her dormmate was making history with just one hand, she is too far behind.

-" What are you talking about?" He stood up and turned the screen her way: " You almost cracked the 400"

391 serves, that was the total of her work. She choked on her own breath. Last thing she remembered having 248 plates, and at some moment, she lost track of time and herself and did this.

Looking around, she found her friend's counter screen. 705, that was the number of dishes Nanami served; and looking around the other tables, she was second in the entire hall.

Taking a moment of thought, she shrugged and mentally praised her culinary instincts, always kicking in the right moment.

Still taking the counter top as her support, she winked at the boy and said: " I guess I made it somehow." To which he laughed off.

Preparing to leave the girl to retreat for her bed, he stopped when she tugged at his shirt and started whispering something in his ears while passing him a small ambiguous object.

From their observation room, the four stared in awe at the power display they just saw.

-" Wow, that was amazing." Takumi uttered, Megumi by his side looked totally wordless.

-" In that half hour, her pace and technique, increased considerably. That is raw talent right there." Even the stiff Shinomiya just staretd as he remembered the smooth knifework and the vigilent movements.

But he didn't get a response, as Doujima Gin was now thinking of one thing while he looked at the pair interact.

What kind of shit is he in at the moment?

Halls went quite and corridors got emptied. The cars driving away and the lights turning off.

All students were back to their rooms and the members have left earlier into the task.

Releasing himself from the suffocating grip of the tie and blouse, even when we are directors, we don't appreciate formal that much.

Walking back to his room, he found one of the young supervisors waiting for him at the door of his room, along with a butler and his own precious daughter.

He saw her holding a box in her hand, he wondered igf it was a courtesy of one of their guests.

When he reached the door, with a motion of his hand, he dismissed both companions and opened the ddoor for his daughter to get in.

However one of the two remained standing still by the door and asked for permission to get in.

-" I have an object to deliver to the young lady in person." Utsyuu demanded, before allowing himself in.

The pinkette, preparing her little tea table and putting the box on it, looked up at the boy that walked her way andshowed her a pair of matching bracelets.

For Takeshi and his daughter, they looked like every store-bought plastic toys but what the boy said after was all that mattered of the gift!: " these are matching love bracelets." He repeated as she was told too.

-" Love bracelets?" Utsyuu asked the girl who muttered that in his ears.

-" Yeah. I can't possibly reach out for Hibike-sama in person nor it is physically potential for me right now. So, I ask you to do it for me, senpai." She said with as much little energy she had.

He remembered when he saw her in the conbini before. So this was what she was looking for: " But why bracelets? I even doubt she will accept it. She is a rich lady after all." He suddenly felt a weak attempt of a punch on his arm. He stifled a laugh.

-" So one-dimensional; I thought better of you senpai. You said it yourself; something that brings you together with your beloved. I may not be a rich girl, but I know a distant relationship when I see it. So say this: These bracelets are a token, a bridge between two people whenever you re apart or togather this will bring you together and ..."

-"…will always fill that void that might occur; or so she said." He recalled the whole situation to the pair, and still couldn't shake the beautiful scowl in her brows when he retorted. " Well, I am not forcing anything, and as humble a sthis is, the thinking behind it isn't that bad, so i…" He stopped talking when the object vanished from his grip and into the girl's grasp.

Looking at her little puffed and flushed cheeks, he smiled at her cute display and bowed to the elder before taking his leave.

He caught a silent conversation between the pair about giving his a thnks or at least send it, but nothing came so he decided just take his leave.

Closing the door, the girl silently handed her father one of the bracelets and murmured: " Take it." To which he gladly obliged.

-" So, baby, what is that on the table? Another gift?" He sat cross-legged before the small table, and she dragged poof on which she settled too.

-" It's a cake actually?"

-" Cake?" He suspiciously raised a brow. " Who gave it to you?"

-" Someone? " she fiddled with the scotch tap on the box.

-" Uhhh? What do you mean someone? Who gave you that? " She ushered his dramatically, as she slowly opened the bax revealing the round cake.

It was covered with chocolat ganache and the words Happy Birthday Princess wher written in Italic on the top.

Looking at how finely prepared the cake seemed, he just assumed it was made by one of the Tootsuki students; yet he questions what reckless, confident guy had the time to make this and work in the buffet and if he even passed.

-" Is this a bribe? " that was the first thing that came out Takeshi's mouth when he saw the cake.

-" No, it isn't…" the girl interjected weakly. " It's my birthday cake." She sincerely smiled for the first time all day.

And just that was enough to warm the father's heart, who hastened in cutting the cake and sang the classic Birthday song in five languages for his daughter.

-" We might be lacking candles, but make a wish anyway." He told her, waiting for her next words.

-" I wish in my next Birthday we will celebrate it in the mountain cottage, with mom and a big cake." She uttered in a loud cry, unwillingly giving the father a critical guilt attack.

That was initial his plan for the day. They will all empty their schedule for the day, they will go to the cottage, make smores, tell stories and under the starry sky they will sing the song and blow the candles. But things escalated one after another and it just happened. He still feel bitter about it. But what could he do.

-"…But it's fine." He heard her continue out of the blue. " It's fine when I just know mommy and dday are okay. It's okay with just one of them by my side and even when itheres try to tear us apart by their words and conspiracies. It's fine, since I know we will always be together, how much far we were." She muttered, trying to avoid the teary eyes of a proud father. His face showed a strange mix of joy and shock. Weird to say the least. " Mou, let's just eat the cake, okay? I am hungry." And she stuffed her face with enough crème to cover her entire face.

As the night grew old with laugher and gossiping ( Believe it or not.) Hibike just felt the stifling need to say the following:

-" You know father, some people are really weird, you know? But that is just magical."

Some are smitten, and others will be beaten XD

Note: A poll was created to choose who is the best boy/ girl in the story. The winner character will receive a bonus interview in the Socrates studio where we will ask all the questions that you are itching to know about him. Choose wisely.

See ya, sweeties.