Private Sweet, Savory or Spicy?.....

[Kaji Hirohito]

It was an unusually brisk and sunny day in the village hidden in the cloud, a day deserving to be enjoyed outdoors in the sun. And so it was, that on a weekend Kaji found himself up surprisingly early. He had something planned for today in particular, and he had spent all night preparing for it. Namely, a cooking contest for some of the cloud's youth held at a local grill restaurant every year. The reward? A ticket for 15 free meals given the winner of 1st place, something that he had strived to compete and win in ever since he arrived in the cloud. And now after a year of intermittent training he was finally going to participate. While the business was offering to comp the podium finishers for the money spent on meat and supplies, contestants were required to bring many of their own materials, such as the meat and flavorings. The contestants would have a predetermined period of several hours to fully craft their dish, so long as they followed the rules. Those being: no non-safety related questions, no outside interference, the meat must be well cooked at a proper temperature and properly seasoned.

He was in the kitchen, filling it with the the noise of a busy diner as he slowly packed his things. Rows of seasonings and spices, each meticulously labeled and cleaned, now stacked within a backpack of decent stature in preparation. The most importantly was the salt and pepper, Apple cider vinegar, mustard seed sauce, tomato sauce, and his family's secret smoky spices. Yua however, busied herself with packing the utensils and making preparations in advance to pick up their preferred cut of meat, with great success of both. Finally readied Yua called out to her son, "Kaji, hurry and finish packing or we're going to be late to the butcher's!". Finishing his inventory, he donned his backpack and left with his mother soon after.

 

[Kaji Hirohito]

What a sight to see, so many people bustling about keeping the restaurants busy. But as Kaji and his mother carefully navigated through the rush hour hustle, they finally spotted the crowd they were looking for. The group of curious onlookers in the modest square had been watching intently as several young contestants meticulously laid out their instruments like musicians in an orchestra. Soon Kaji was among them, and he too with the same fire in his eyes he set about preparing his equipment just as he had planned it. Not long after the last participant had finished being inspected by the referees, three men and a woman of considerable stature made their way to a long table draped in a flawless white tablecloth and sat. Several assistants appeared within moments, each bearing an artistic rendition of their business's logo, which they hung on the backs of each representative's seat. There sat the Judges and they consisted of some of the greatest restaurant chefs in the village.

There was a hush about the commotion, and each participant was acknowledged and given permission to take their station. The judges then set about explaining the rules: each contestant would have one hour and thirty minutes to create the most satisfying meat dish to be evaluated by the judges. The conditions for failure were short, uncooked meat or burnt meat was not allowed, and would result in immediate disqualification. The winner would receive a free meal ticket, good for 15 meals of any size, supported by every participating restaurant. The podium finishers would receive a one-time paid compensation for their ingredients.

A gong was struck, and without further delay the competition began. Each participant flying about their makeshift kitchens. Some scrambling for skewers or pans, others for baking trays, but Kaji made an unexpected move when he gleefully brandished his cauldron like pot. He planned to roast his massive flank of meat over an applewood fire. Though first he sat it to the side, as one mush always properly prepare their meats. Many shakers full of spices and salts later, he laboriously rubbed the flavoring into every fiber and fat to ensure a proper and even distribution. With some effort, he hefted the once mighty beast and laid it to rest inside. Striking a flint and steel, he set the wood ablaze and moved quickly to bring forth his ingredients for his specialty sauce so the could multitask by the fire. Like a witch brewing a frightfully delicious potion, he concocted his secret weapon within the large cast iron beauty. And he laid it upon a simple grill sitting nearly inside the flame.

As Kaji quickly realized however, his best so far would not nearly be enough. There were some contestants who were almost finished, and he only had an hour left. So, taking the risk, he stacked the wood even higher, having the bowl nearly encompassed by the flame. And he rushed to wash his hands and bring a lid to maintain the moisture of his sauce. Worried for a moment as he thought that he had tipped himself and lost, his fears were crushed as he saw his plan working seamlessly in front of his eyes. The fat of the roast dripped from the meat like water and were collected by the bowl and it's delicious contents. But that was not all, as every roast benefits from a nurturing hand that maintains it's moisture. Time flew, and Kaji periodically glazed his meat with a metal rod and baster through a seam between the pot and it's lid. By the time twenty minutes remained, Kaji had been the last to finish. So, he took what time he had left to ensure that his meal was presented to be as visually appealing as it's taste and scent. Cutting the timer close with only 1:57 to spare, he was finally ready to take his place at the judges' table.

It was agonizing, some passed, many failed. Where there were once twenty-six contestants, there were now only twelve. He feared the look of disgust on the judges' faces as he had seen from those before him, and soon it was his turn at the very end. He feared them so, and yet with only a few small bites, there was a very surprising look instead. One of pure joy, he had won!

And so it was, each of the remaining contestants were given praise for their efforts. The runner up and the one after received their compensation, and the judges, along with Kaji's mother who had been in tears for some time now, triumphantly presented him with his prize. There was much clapping and congratulations for all of the contestants as they walked across the grounds shook hands in a show of sportsmanship. Soon after, the event was wrapped up and people went about their day. Now the day ended just as it had began, and the happy Hirohito family returned home with a lovely meal for dinner.

Final word count: 1,155
Reward: x1 15 free meals voucher
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