Food Wars: The Golden Hands

In Korea, Seoul. At one of the restaurants owned by the Red Cloud company, Alexandra Helmet is in her office talking through the phone.

" As I said, Joi, Alex will come to your area for some time in Tokyo, so make sure you spend some time with him" She spoke to Joichiro who was on the other side of the phone, she was going through some paperwork as she spoke with her husband

"I don't care if you're planning on closing your family restaurant. Alex needs you to spend some time with him. he is the only one whom you didn't spend time with, your living with one of your sons and you go to America every week to see your other son" Alexandra was somehow angry, she agreed to let Joichiro live away and didn't complain about rarely seeing him, but this is going out of control.

"You met him only 15 times in the past 7 years and only for a few days, don't you dare not spend time with Alex.That's all for now " Alexandra hunged up on Joichiro and continued to do her work.

She loves Joichiro but it seems his brain only functions when cooking.

On the other side of the phone, Joichiro is standing on the counter of his restaurant scratching the back of his head with a meekly smile.

He looked at his son who is serving food for their customers and called

"Soma..!"

"What, is it old man? another order is ready?" asked Soma from the back of the room, he needed to shout a little as the room was noisy with happy noises and satisfied faces

"Your brother is visiting...."He said before going back in preparing

"Wait! wait! wait! old man!" Soma put down the plates in his hands and ran to Joichiro

"I never met my brothers before!! when will he visit?!" asked Soma, he heard his father talk about his other two sons many times but unfortunately for the young Soma, he never got to meet any of them. One is in America and the other is constantly traveling from country to country and rarely comes to Japan, it won't be a mistake to say Soma is excited to see his brother for the first time.

"Probably this week, his mother never said when will he arrive, she just said he will come to spend some time with us before enlisting a school here." Said Joichro as he poured a little of the oil in his pan with a fire going up a little

Soma's smile became wider as his father spoke. if his brother is enlisting in school in Tokyo he gets to be with him as long as he wants

"I see! the, when he arrives I need to show him my cooking skills, we are both chefs after all!" Soma's eyes become fire with anticipation

A week later. Alexander had landed in the airport with his private jet, he has changed with the years, he became more mature physically, he becomes taller and more handsome with his golden eyes and Deep Black-Red hair. He was wearing a black blue suit with open buttons and a black shirt underneath it. his tie was loose.

"Sir, which hotel would you like to spend your time in??" A man in a black suit came from behind Alex as he made his way out of the airport with 5 bodyguards following behind Alex, they all have black suits and glasses with some earplugs on their ears.

"No need, I am living near my father, rent an apartment near his home!" said Alex, the purpose of his visit is spending time with his father, so a hotel is not needed.

"As you wish" The bodyguard pulled his phone and made a phone call to look for an apartment near Joichiro's house. By the time Alex reaches Joichiro's home, the apartment would be ready to use.

Getting out of the airport, a black Bentley was waiting for him outside, he got in with his assistant and one bodyguard driving the car. the rest followed from behind.

After an hour of driving, Alexander's car reached Joichiro's neighborhood, the people looked at the parade of luxurious cars making their way through the street. They all saw it stop in front of the Yukihira's Resturant.

Alex got out of the car and made his way to the sliding door of the restaurant, his bodyguards tried to follow but he stopped them " Wait here, there is no need for you following me." he then got inside.

What greeted was a bunch of people gathered around the counter where he could see his father and his little brother Soma, they seem to be having a showdown as they both presented a dish for a short black-haired girl.

Alexander stopped at the door and decided to watch for a little. After the girl had tasted the dishes, she didn't hesitate to announce that Joichiro was the winner.

"OOH! the old man won again!!"

"As expected, his cooking skills are unmatched even for Soma!"

The crowd cheered for Joichiro while the girl tried to motivate Soma so he won't be down. But she regretted that soon as he gave her Squid with peanut butter to taste. the girl felt so bad that she almost cried.

Alex was very amused at this, a slight smile formed on his face.

And finally, Joichiro noticed Alex

"Oh! Alexander!!" He called, when Soma heard the name, he turned to the door and saw Alex standing there smiling

'That is my brother?!' He saw the resemblance between him and his father.

"It's been such a long time, father" Joichiro caught his son in a tight hug which Alex returned gladly.

"You've grown taller and more manly, didn't you? Alexander" Joichiro hit Alex's back as he laughed. " Oi! Soma, come and meet your brother."

Soma came running after his father called him, he stopped for a moment in front of Alex for a moment and looked in his golden eyes " Nice...Nithe. I m..mean, nice to meet you!! My name is Yukihira Soma " Soma stuttered for a moment from his nervousness and excitement.

"Don't be nervous, little brother, I am Saiba Alexander, you can call me Alex for short." Alex smiled and extended his hand to his little brother, it was cute, he had a slight blush from his stuttering earlier.

"Yes, Alex-Aniki" Soma smiled at his brother too and extended his hand to shake his hand too.

"Yosh, Alex, you can help us a little before we can have time to talk to each other. The restaurant is full as you see." Alex looked behind Joichiro and saw that there many customers who're still waiting for their orders.

"Why not, I can do that. " Alex took his suit off and followed Soma inside the kitchen. He worked by helping Joichiro preparing food and handing it Soma to serve.

Time went by and customers came and left with satisfied faces. Even tho in the middle of the heavy workload, Soma still got chances to trigger a conversation with Alex. And Alex was happy to chat with him as his little brother was in some way cute and likable, he kinda remember him with his mother but Red hair.

At the end of the day, at night time, all customers left and they were preparing to close down.

"Soma! go throw the garbage can out!" Joichiro pointed at the Garbage can at the back of the kitchen. Soma complained about why he should do all the dirty work but he still went to throw it out.

Joichiro and Alex are the only ones left in the restaurant with Joinchiro sitting behind the counter and Alex in front of him.

"Don't you think I am the worst?" Without any notice, Joichiro spoke suddenly surprising Alex

"What're you talking about?" he asked

"Think about it...I let my first wife die and the second too. I couldn't give them the attention they deserve. I neglected my 3rd wife with her son and rarely et or spoke with them. My First son and eldest is in America, I couldn't even convince him to come with me home and left him there fighting alone." Joichiro brought out a bottle of beer and drank all of it at once "...Aren't I the worst?!" It was always hunting him, his wives faces blaming him in his dreams. He couldn't be with them when they needed him the most.

"That is not for me to decide..."Alex took his father's beer and put it aside, he doesn't want to speak with a drunk man "...Certainly, you're not perfect, you did what you can do and tried. Searching for someone to blame you won't make you feel any better."

"Is that so...?" Joichiro looked down a little, as Alex said. The people around him were too forgiving, Alex and his mother didn't hold any grudge but supported him with passion, His eldest son doesn't care, maybe because his mother didn't treat him that well since she was an alcoholic. Joichiro was looking for someone to blame him and make him feel he was the bad guy, but all found around him was support and smiling faces to the point it made him feel insecure. Sometimes he thinks that they all are just faking it for him.

"Don't get trapped in the past, think about what you have now, there is me, Soma and Asahi and even mother. With all honesty, I don't want a pathetic father who is trapped in his past mistakes. Move forward, for us and for yourself." Alex didn't hesitate to speak his mind, sugar coating his words is not his style. He wants to deliver the truth to his father even if it hurts him.

Joichiro looked at Alex with a surprised face, he then burst out laughing " Hahaha!! You brat have a sharp tongue, don't ya?!!! Haha!!"

It was at this moment Soma came back, he saw his father laughing and hitting his Aniki's back which he clearly was not enjoying.

"Well then, it was a long day, I will go to my apartment to sleep.." Alex stood up and got his suit and throw it over his shoulder "...Good night."

"Aren't you going to stay with us??" Asked Soma, he was expecting Alex to stay in their home

"Nah! I have rented an apartment nearby, I will come tomorrow, see you" He then left the restaurant, Surprisingly his bodyguards and assistant are still waiting outside.

"Sorry for making you wait this long..."Alex completely forget that he let them wait outside all this time

"No need young master, we were busy with another matter." His assistance bowed a little for him

"Well, where is my apartment then?" Alex asked

"It's right here, sir." The assistance pointed at the house behind them.

"...."Alex looked at his new apartment and his father's restaurant...They were facing each other face to face. " Sigh! that's too close, man!" he said

He gave his father's restaurant a final look. He saw some people with black suits making their way inside. There are still customers going in!! he must be very popular!! he thought before going inside his new apartment to sleep. He was tired like never before. A long meeting with the other chefs in their group, a long trip from China to Japan, then helping his father in his restaurant all day. If he didn't sleep like a sloth tonight then he is no more a human.

The bodyguards parked the cars in the parking space in the other street, they are doing shifts in guarding Alex's house. The heavy security is not needed for Alex but it's required from him.

After a few minutes, the black-suited people who entered the Yukihira Restaurant left with a smug face

"Don't forget to call me if you changed your mind." A black haired woman was leading the group, she carried herself with pride in her line of work

"We won't think about it." Shouted Soma

"Old man, salt! bring the salt " Soma shouted at Joichiro so they can throw some salt here those people were in, so they won't jinx their Restuarant.

"Soma!! Don't wast our salt."

All of this was witnessed by the guards, it was amusing for a moment, some of them laughed a little.

The next day. Alex woke late until 11 Am, he took a shower and changed his clothes. Today's he needs to visit the new Resturant in Tokyo city nearby. He will have to attend and give the chefs and staff who work there a motivational speech, and that would be his last work for some time here in Tokyo before enlisting into Totsuki.

As he planned, he went to the restaurant and made the opening ceremony. For the first day, everything would be on the house, he gave his speech and cooked a few meals for some partners who will supply the new restaurant with fresh ingredients. He prepared a western themed food mixed with Japanese traditional food. The partners were so excited they even drolled. they praised his cooky and said they would give a discount if Alexander cooked for them once in a while.

Since the restaurant is new, Alex agreed and they gave him a 10% discount.

Alex finished his work at 3:30 PM, he went back to his apartment, Soma is in school and His father was outside.

When he reached his apartment, he was shocked by what he saw. the Yujihira's restaurant sign was covered with paint.

"What happened here?" Alex asked his assistant with a clearly angry tone.

"We don't know but we have cameras that catch this area, we will go see the film really quick. His assistance made a phone call to the security team asking them to send a video of what happened.

Alex looked at the ruined sign with annoyed eyes.

Suddenly the shutter was opened sharply revealing his brother Soma who came out running to see paint on their sign. He was dumbfounded and he couldn't guess who could do this.

"Oh, My~ the scenery looks better than yesterday! Maybe because of that ugly sign is hidden?" A sweet voice came from behind Alex and Soma, the women from yesterday came again with her man. She spoke with a carefree tone while playing with her sunglasses " Somehow I feel like eating meat... The marbled steaks I always eat in Roppongi are the best..." She made her way inside the restaurant with an arrogant face

"Hey, boy. Make me something. A special juicy meat dish. She at one of the near tables with her legs crossed

Soma was still in his place not responding which the girl took as him giving up.

"What is it?! you can't make it? " she started speaking in a mocking tone " your client wants something to eat, you know?"

she started laughing out loud in a mocking way " You can't serve me?!! you said yesterday that if you couldn't serve food to your customers you'd go out of business. Now that ugly sign is hidden, it would be great timing to close down this nasty restaurant, HAHAHA!!!"

Alex looked at this woman as if she was retarded, all her action scream she was the one who throws the white paint on the restaurant sign.

"Soma, bring me whatever you have. I will cook for this idiot." Alex took off his suit and headed to the kitchen.

"Who the hell is that?!" asked the women, she didn't see Alex when she came yesterday

"No, Aniki." Soma stopped Alex, he took off his white headband and wore on his head "I will serve her.." Soma looked at Alex with determination and fire eyes.

"But in return...You have to promise to never come back to this shop again!" he said, " IT'S A CHALLENGE!!"

After seeing his brother like this and his competitive spirit, Alex couldn't bring himself to interfere ' Show me what you can, little brother!!' he thought

Soma quickly started his work with Alex observing how he is gonna serve this problem, she asked for meat and I can see that there isn't enough meat! how are you gonna solve this? he thought. but soon it becomes clear to him.

Soma took potatoes and steamed them, he minced and kneaded mushrooms with dietary fiber that easily absorb fat. He wreathed that in the thick slices of bacon and carefully roasted it to open! and by doing that, the bacon's fat came out and became crispy. And the potatoes took all of the deliciousness and fat of the pork. the outside is crispy, the inside is juicy, a sensual food texture is born

( A/N: Tell me if I should skip some part like explaining the food and how it's made in details. sometimes it takes too long to search for how some food is made)

Alex smiled in amus.e.m.e.nt, This is good! he thought

Soma served the food, he explained how he came out with this idea from a failure. The woman and her man started drooling at how good the food smells. As he was about to take a bite, soma took the dish from her.

"If you want to eat this, then you have to say: "I'll never target this shop again." she was reluctant at first but as soon as he said he will dispose of the dish, she gave up with her mouth drooling and red face from the embarrassment.

Finally, Soma gave her the food, she and her man attacked the food all at once, they were satisfied as they made sounds like m.o.a.ning.

'As expected, I can't get used to the reaction of the people of this world. It's too strange.' Alex with his deadpan face looked at how these people m.o.a.ned from satisfaction.

"As the saying goes " S.e.x is all good and all but have you haven't eaten my food!" " said Alex

"Huh? what was that Aniki? " asked Soma, he thought he heard Alex say something

"Nothing ... just speaking to myself."

"By the way Aniki, what do you think about my cooking?!!" Soma looked at Alex with anticipating eyes. Alex smiled and patted his head

"It's creative and great. keep it up." Soma smiled meekly as he rubbed the tip of his nose.

After a few minutes, they finished the dish. The women looked at Soma with hatred.

"As we had agreed, you won't return again to this shop," he said

"Tch...I got it, keep your cheap shop to yourself, I am not that interested in this poor area anyway" she stood up from the table and called for her man to leave.

"Clean the dishes, Soma, I will go out for a moment" Alex left Soma to clean the shop and followed the women and her man

"You there..."

The women turned to see Alexander with his assistant behind her " What is it, boy. I will honor my word and won't come back. there is no need for further talk."

"I am not here for that...but..." Alex took his assistant phone and showed the women a video of her and her man throwing paint and breaking in the shop. Her face paled real quick.

Alex's assistant came forward and handed her a few doc.u.ments " This a lawsuit from the court toward you and your company. You're charged with breaking in and damaging another person's property. The date of the trials is next week. We will make sure you give us compensation." After giving her the doc.u.ments, Alex and his assistants left her standing there with empty eyes as she fell on her knees and started crying.

After returning. Alexander is helping Soma removing the paint from the shop sign

"Thank god that this paint is removable," said Soma with a tired expression

"Hurry up Soma. wipe faster My hands are killing me" Alexander was using paint removal on the sign while Soma is wiping it off

"Hey, I am the one who is doing the hard work!!" said Soma.

"Oh! something happened while I was away" Joichiro arrived and saw the kids cleaning white paint from the shop sign

"It wasn't much, Old man. just some rude client. haha!!!" Soma responded

"Soma..."Joichiro called for his son with a serious tone " ...I am closing this shop for 2 to 3 years" His words made Soma stumble in his on the ladder

"OI!!!" Alex jumped off the ladder as it was going to fall because of Soma " WATCH YOUR STEPS!!!"

"Well, that's that" Joichiro went inside as if he didn't say anything " I have to apologize to our regulars."

"Start by apologizing to your son!!" shouted Soma, he followed Joichiro with Alex

"An old friend asked me to work with him. So, I'll be bothering him for a while."

Soma tried to convince his father to change his mind but it wasn't fruitful at all.

" I want to always...In this ship!!" Joichiro lightly punched Soma's chest making him stop in his track " It's time you go find your path and measure your abilities..." said Joinchiro " I am sending you to a cooking school. While I am away for 3 years, you go to study there. It also gives high school course credits."

Soma immediately thought it was a dumb Idea. But the matter was already decided as Joinchiru had already sent his files to the school. All Soma needs to do is pass the exam.

"Alexander..."Joinchiro called for Alex who was listening from the door

"What is it..?" asked Alex

"I will have to trouble you to take me to America," Joichiro said while scratching his head. Since Alex is here, there is no need for booking a plane. he can just ask his son for a ride.

"No problem..."

The next day. Alexander took Joinchiro to America leaving Soma home alone. He still needs to prepare for the exam and say his farewells to his neighbors as he will be staying in the school's dorms.

And so. The remaining time before Soma and Alexander enlist into Totsuki's institution is 3 weeks.

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Next Chapter is the entrance exam.

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