3 bar menu

Volume 3 Chapter 4 Part 4

「… Hmpf! At a complete loss for words, I see? Don’t be shy, come and eat it while it’s hot! 」

Mitsuhide, who was arrogantly sure that she had already seized victory was looking at Yoshiharu with an expression that was asking him: 「How is it? You ready to admit defeat? 」, but unlike what she was expecting, none of the members of the Kaigi Gunshu looked as if they were ready or willing to speak their thoughts:

「… Is this stuff even fit to be eaten by humans? 」

Everyone poked the miso-covered takoyaki with trembling fingers before they slowly put it in their mouths.

「UUUGH *RETCH!* It’s not… edible…. it’s… not… !!!」

「…..So bitter!!! 」

「The Takoyaki and the miso…. their taste doesn’t mix well. *Sob!* 」

「T-There’s still plenty of nutrients in it… I guess… 」

Even those who came from Mino or Owari and had always immersed themselves with horrendous amounts of Hatcho Miso had disgusted expressions on their faces and tried to avoid eating the abomination of a Takoyaki as much as possible.

「Only Katsuie would like such a thing. 」

Yoshiharu concluded.

None of the Kaigi Gunshu members managed to finish their meal, being used to good cuisines as they were. After all, the specially matured Hatcho Miso that Mitsuhide was so proud of was three times as bitter as the regular one, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

Not counting Mitsuhide who was used to eating Hatcho Miso, these Sakai people who had totally no experience with it could never accept such a flavor.

「Wh….What the hell is… this?! 」

「What did…. you give us….? 」

「No more… My tongue… I can’t feel my tongue…!!! 」

Tsuda Sokyu, who had bet his representative position on Mitsuhide’s victory in this competition, silently put down the bamboo pick in his hand and said:

「This miso is indeed of high quality. The Takoyaki is truly well made too. As a complex dish, it is far more complete than what Sagara Yoshiharu served us. But, to totally not consider the compatibility of the ingredients with the people who will be eating your dish, and to waste so many high quality ingredients just to entertain your own employer… I think that everyone here is going to agree with me when I say that you have thoroughly shown us just how reckless and inconsiderate towards others you are, Mitsuhide-sama.

Imai Sogyu had cast an opposing vote mercilessly.

「Ehhhhhhhhh….? S=So you don’t think that my Takoyaki is good? B-But how? Why? 」

Mitsuhide slumped down on the floor just like Yoshiharu did mere moments ago.

(I…I will be relegated to managing the kitchens of the Gifu Castle for sure *Sob! Sob!*)

The only thing she could do now was to prepare herself for her imminent defeat.

「Tsuda-dono, I’m really sorry for this! Seems like Sakai’s representative will be Imai Sogyu-dono… 」

「No. This is a competition, and the results of the competition will always remain uncertain until the very end. We just have to wait and see what the final verdict is going to be.」

And just like that, after a short break, the results of the Kaigi Gunshu’s vote were out.

And the result… was that Akechi Mitsuhide won. By a landslide of votes.

「YAAAAAAY!!! I WON!!!! 」

「Congratulations on your victory, Akechi-sama. With this, I will be the new representative of the Kaigi Gunshu. 」

「As expected, Hatcho Miso is the best possible ingredient for any dish! 」

Mitsuhide started dancing happily, while Tsuda Sokyu sipped his tea quietly at the side, while at the other side of the competition grounds, Inuchiyo and the others were shouting:

「THAT’S CHEATING! 」

「IT SHOULDN’T COUNT! 」

「THIS COMPETITION WAS OBVIOUSLY RIGGED! 」

「TSUDA SOGYU MUST’VE BRIBED THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE KAIGI GUNSHU!!! 」

But Mitsuhide, who was apparently oblivious to Tsuda Sokyu’s underhanded tactics and machinations, was still saying things like:

「Hmph. So even after the official results, you still don’t want to admit defeat. That’s too disgraceful, even for you. 」

… she and totally didn’t notice anything due to how blinded by her own arrogance she’s become.

「This is ridiculous. I’m going back to Kyoto! 」

「Me too. Because this whole competition was obviously rigged and the results were faked, I don’t think that Yoshiharu-san will be demoted to managing the kitchens back at Gifu Castle, right? 」

「…..angry. 」

Goemon, Hanbei and Inuchiyo… the 3 lolis started the journey back to Kyoto in a fit of anger.

「Boss of Naya, you of all people should know that in competitions, there is always more than one way to win. Looks like from the results, I have won this time, and that should be enough. 」

「To buy so many votes you must have spent lots of money, Boss of Tennojiya. 」

「I had wanted to use this ace up my sleeve when we were in an even match. However, due to the Hatcho Miso, I have suffered a big loss. Well, it’s okay, all that I need to do is not smear Akechi-sama’s Takoyaki in Hatcho Miso when I will be selling it, and the rest should figure itself out in due time. But boss of Naya, you must have noticed the fact that I was buying votes, so why did decide to ignore it? 」

「No matter the result of the competition, I had willingly given up the rights of the Takoyaki. But since the rest of you have obviously decided to not buy Sagara-san’s fried Takoyaki, I shall take it for myself. I don’t think there’s any objection to that, right? 」

Tsuda Sokyu was at a loss for words. If he objected, Imai Sogyu will definitely doubt the result of the voting. So in exchange for the Takoyaki rights that Imai Sogyu gave up, he can only give up on the fried Takoyaki.

「I see… so instead of fame, you care more about long-term benefits. To even betray Sagara-dono, who is so close to you…. how cunning of you… 」

「Yes. Though I am currently a simple representative of the Kaigi Gunshu, once Nobuna-sama will increase her power and influence even more, it will be all too easy for me to have the whole organization dance in the palm of my hand. 」

「Is that so? The officials of Kyoto have all rated Oda Nobuna-sama poorly. Please be careful that you and Oda-sama don’t end up losing everything in the end. 」

These two rivals, Tsuda Sokyu and Imai Sogyu exchanged glances at each other while testing each other with barbed words. But their mind games didn’t change the fact that the official result of the culinary competition is that Akechi Mitsuhide had won.

As for Tsuda Sougyu, he had the seat of the representative of Sakai’s Kaigi Gunshu all to himself.

* * *

「Hehe, I won this little showdown between us, Sagara-senpai! 」

Akechi said with a smug smile on her face.

「Yeah, b-but this is definitely weird. 」

「What’s weird about it?「

「Damn it!! I know I shouldn’t be dwelling on it, but it is so frustrating to have the victory snatched away from me at the last stratch like that! Now hurry up and say your apologies to old man Imai! 」

「Hmph. Even if the voting result wasn’t fair, that is Tsuda Sokyu’s fault and I had nothing to do with it! The world is just cruel like that sometimes, Sagara-senpai. 」

Back at Imai Sougyu’s residence, Yoshiharu and Mitsuhide were quarreling non-stop about the result of their showndown in front of Nobuna and Imai Sogyu. Yoshiharu couldn’t accept the fact that the whole thing has been rigged from the start no matter what, but Mitsuhide was still adamant on her stand that whether the thing was rigged or not was not her business, because as far as she was concerned, she had won fair and square.

「You are unexpectedly whiny about this, Sagara-senpai….. You like to stick to Nobuna-sama and stalk her so much? 」

Yoshiharu was starting to feel troubled as he started mumbling:

「O-Of course not…… 」

But, Mitsuhide sat in seiza position facing Yoshiharu and said:

「Even though my Akechi clan has fallen from its former position of power and is but a shadow of its former self, it is an undisputable fact that in me flows the blood of the Kiyokawa Himiko. Even the first Shogun is part of the Kiyokawa clan, which means that I am a noble among nobles. 」

「I know all about you and your nobility already! And such a thing is obvious from your forehead! 」

「W-What does mu forehead have to do with this?! 」

Mitsuhide pursed her lips unhappily.