I.

Alain du Tronc was by no means a confrontational type of man.

He did not enjoy getting into spats, disputes, fights, arguments or even minor disagreements with others – he abhorred doing so, feared it even. It made him uncomfortable and brought back memories of his youth that he'd rather not think of – mainly of the six years he spent in Tōtsuki, as a student and the six years he spent after Tōtsuki, as a graduate and alumni of the illustrious academy.

While he didn't like his moniker as The Angel of Peace, perhaps the people that that given him that, admittedly embarrassing, title were onto something given his reluctance to avoid any and all confrontations when possible…

He recalled a particularly vivid memory of an old childhood friend who was quite upset that he had gotten a higher score than her on some exam and had screamed and shouted at him until she had lost her voice and then proceeded hit him until another student had gotten a teacher to calm the situation down. He remembered shrinking in on himself – both physically and mentally – during the event and being desperately torn between apologizing profusely until she calmed down and just letting her take all her frustration and anger out on him until she felt better. That's what friends did right? Help one another during times of emotional crisis and turmoil?

Thinking back on that memory caused him to wonder if, sometime during his childhood, his perception and understanding of human emotions and what was acceptable behavior and not became skewed.

Most likely that was the case.

Though it didn't change the fact that he disliked altercations.

"Alain, you're getting caught in your head again."

Alain blinked and raised his gaze towards man he was visiting. "A-ah… forgive me, it seems that I haven't quite broken that bad habit of mine," he said with a self-depreciating chuckle.

"So it seems… still I'm glad that you are doing fine after all these years."

"Thank you, I've heard that you are doing well. Your business endeavors in America have borne fruit I've heard?"

"They have, though it took some time and effort to get everything moving, once my presence was established and known in the states, people quickly flocked to me and my vision of a better future."

"I see."

"Though I have to say, I am most… disappointed that you never reached out to me for help after what you went through. You know that I would have done everything in my power to support you during your time of need, Alain."

Alain chuckled – feeling equal parts chastised and anxious. Ah… he really didn't like this situation. He wanted to leave. "I wanted to overcome those obstacles of mine without relying on you," he answered honestly.

"A most foolish decision."

"… Perhaps it was…"

"I have no doubt that things would have turned out much differently had you simply talked to me, Alain."

"I was… young and naïve, I thought I could handle things on my own- no, I wanted to become someone who could handle things on my own."

"Hmm… You're teaching in the General Education department now? Not even as a culinary assistant or advisor?" The way it was spoken; it was an accusation, not a question.

Alain faltered for a heartbeat, his heart hammering a loud staccato in his ears as he answered, "I… needed to take a break from… everything." He really didn't want to have this conversation, but at the same time he was no longer a child that bent to the whims and expectations of those around him. "… Besides," he added, a snarky edge entering his tone, "if I truly came to dislike cooking then I wouldn't be a teacher at the number one culinary institute in the world. I'm nurturing the next generation, much like you did for me back when we were students, but I'm doing so in my own way."

"And what do you hope to accomplish with your meager contributions, Alain? The steps you are taking are not on a large enough scale – you will never be able to change anything at the rate you're doing things."

"And the steps you're taking are too sudden – too hasty, impulsive even. I agree that rapid change may be necessary in certain situations, however, if you move too swiftly and without the proper support and acceptance of the masses and of those in power, if you are too harsh and brutal to your opponents and to those that challenge you or don't agree with you, then you run the risk of creating unrest, hate, and fear which will ultimately bring about your downfall and undoing – much like what happened to Nobunaga Oda during his campaign. Yes, he was undoubtedly a revolutionary who had ideas that were centuries ahead of his times, but his execution of those ideas – the plans he enacted and the actions he took were too radical, too ruthless, even to those that lived during that time."

The man Alain was visiting fell silent, contemplating the professor's words. After a long pause, he chuckled, his accusatory gaze softening a bit. "Too true, Alain… as always, your words hold much truth and meaning in them… Ah… I have truly missed these conversations of ours. You always leave me with such revelations after we converse with one another."

"… Thank you…"

"I am creating a new student organization," the man revealed, leaning back in his seat with all the grace and air of a predator, "one that can rival the Elite Ten and maintain my vision of Tōtsuki even after I'm gone… It will be made up of exceptional students from all three years of the high-school division and will be given almost the same level of power and freedom that the current Elite Ten has… I want you to be the faculty advisor to his new organization, Alain. I believe- no… I know that your experiences, your expertise, your advice, and your knowledge will be a valuable asset for the students of this organization. You will help keep these chosen students on the right path and will do so in a way that isn't so...," the man chuckled, a low sound, "… brutal or… hasty."

Alain closed his eyes. He wanted to leave.

"… This new group of yours will be the delicate, soft, emotional, understanding side of your tenor as Headmaster, correct?"

Nakiri Azami grinned, all sharp teeth and madness. "While my Elite Ten and I will be the merciless and vicious entity that forces Tōtsuki, and the world, to either adapt or break, you and this new organization will be there to soothe and calm the people that don't outright fail and leave this broken industry. You will be their second chance, their shining beacon of hope in the wasteland that is cooking."

"And of those that pull themselves together and show their new resolve and commitment, I assume that they will then be given an option to join your 'side'?"

"But of course…," Azami smiled, a soft, gentle thing, "don't you think that everyone deserves a second chance at proving themselves; a second-chance to show the world what they are capable of? To showcase what they've learned and how they've grown?"

"… You've change, Azami," Alain said after studying the Headmaster for a few minutes. "The last time we spoke… I… got the impression that you would never give people second-chances."

Azami hummed and shrugged. "… People change all the time, Alain, and, to be honest, I've met a lot of people since the last time we spoke that have, surprisingly, proven me and my beliefs wrong time and time again. They've shown me that with the right motivation, education, and resources, anyone can rise up and become strong… and, for once, I am glad that I was proven wrong – I never would have been able to see the flaws in my plan otherwise."

… Alain couldn't deny that a part of him was ecstatic that his old friend and mentor had seen the errors of his ways and was changing, for the better it seemed; however… there was a small part of him that was still wary, still doubtful of this new Azami. People can change – that is true, but could Azami change? Did he truly change? Or was he still as delusional and misguided as before?

Only time would tell.

Alain sighed softly. He wanted to leave.

Leave and… and do what exactly? Leave and forget this conversation and their shared history? Forget about their shared goals and dreams? Leave and start enacting change on this cruel, cruel system? Leave and stick his head in the sand? To just remain a bystander and watch everything unfold? … He didn't know anymore.

Perhaps he never knew in the first place.

He never liked difficult conversations, that part of him hadn't changed even after all these years – apparently, neither did his bleeding heart and penchant for giving people second-chances.

Even to those that, perhaps, did not deserve it.

"So what is this new organization of yours called?" He asked, desperate to finish this conversation and move on.

"Central. The new organization will be called Central."

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II.

Isshiki Satoshi was the type of person who had no worries, who lived a carefree life doing whatever he wanted whenever he wanted without any regard to how others viewed him.

That was a lie.

A façade he so painstakingly cultivated over the years, like how one cultivates and nurtures a mighty tree from a humble acorn.

Isshiki Satoshi was smart, that was no lie, and one didn't become the Seventh Seat of the Elite Ten and maintain that position by being stupid.

… He wondered if he could have prevented the tragedy that befell his beloved Polar Star dormitory if he had been just a little bit smarter, been just a little bit more cunning and strategic with his moves.

Isshiki Satoshi was confident – secure in the knowledge that his skills and abilities and power would be enough to keep himself and his precious underclassmen safe.

… He wondered if he had been a bit more aggressive, been a bit more ambitious and had claimed a higher seat – would he have been able to do something?

Isshiki Satoshi, for the first time in a long while, was… unsure of what to do next.

After the Polar Star dorms had been demolished, he had quickly gathered his – frightened, upset, confused – underclassmen and had them move into another dormitory on the other side of the campus.

The St. Josephine dormitory was luxurious compared to the Polar Star dorms.

It had four floors versus the Polar Star's two, had large, spacious bedrooms that had their own on suite bathrooms and personal kitchenettes, it boasted a modern, state-of-the-art communal kitchen full of gadgets and appliances and cooking ware that the Polar Star did not have, it had a bountiful, immaculate garden with a small farm area that spanned four acres of land, there was even a lake with all sorts of fish and aquatic life that would please any seafood lover!

St. Josephine dorms had: a massive communal living space with various arcade games and activities lining the walls, a large flat screen TV with gaming consoles, it had a mini theatre in the basement, there was an indoor pool, gym and sauna on the first floor, a well-stocked library on the second floor, a small garden and BBQ area up on the roof, a wine cellar, a large warehouse in the back which was currently being used as place to age cheese and meats, there was Wi-Fi and a maid and valet service, servants and butlers that would take care of miscellaneous tasks, a spa and karaoke room, and, and-

It wasn't the Polar Star dormitory.

It wasn't home.

Aoki and Shōji, despite having dreamed of being able to work in such a marvelous, state-of-the-art kitchen, had raved and screamed about having to live in a dump like this.

Yuuki, despite wanting to have more land for her animals to run around and graze on for the longest time, had taken one look at the farm and broke down into loud sobs.

Ryoko, who had needed a better place to ferment and grow her ingredients in, had refused to take one look at the warehouse, citing that she didn't need such a place anymore.

Maruki, who had always complained about having the largest room, had refused to sleep in any of the lavish bedrooms.

Tadokoro had glanced over the massive garden and lake and hadn't said a single word since, her face blank and her eyes distant.

Shun and Soma had taken one look at the main building and refused to even take one step onto the picturesque grounds, preferring to spend the night outside in the woods.

Kyou… ever logical and practical; had been Isshiki's sole support during this trying transition.

He had looked at and toured their new residence, all four acres of it, guided by the head butler, then returned and looked at their despondent, fractured group and spoke some sense into them.

"Daigo-san, Sato-san… cease your incessant yelling and help bring our things inside. No, I'm going to stop the both of you there. You can whine and complain all you want but this place is our new residence at the moment and if you don't want your ingredients and belongings to be destroyed by the weather then I would suggest you hurry. Up…. And that goes for you as well, Sakaki-san, Tadokoro. If you don't store the things you brought soon, all the hard work and effort you put into your respective projects will go to waste. And you wouldn't want that to happen now would you? Zenji-san, your books and notes will be ruined if you don't take care of them as well. As you know, books must be treated with the utmost care and respect and right now I see you doing neither of those things. Yuuki-san, are you going to let your animals live in their cages for the unforeseeable future? Take care of them before they get too stressed… Shun-san, Soma you two are behaving like children…. So what? You're just going to spend the next few weeks or months living off the land? Don't be ridiculous! What about your grades? Your cleanliness and health?! I know you don't like our current situation but if you don't take care of your body's basic needs then you have no right to stand in the kitchen and, Soma, if you don't listen to me then I will tell Father- yes, I will… Then stop moping around and do something!"

"And you, Isshiki-sempai," he had said, whirling around and pointing a finger at him, "you need to pull yourself together and start thinking of the future. Yes, what happened was terrible and I know that you couldn't have seen this coming and that, if you had, you would have done everything in your power to prevent this, however, it doesn't change the fact that it happened… It happened and all we can do know is learn from it and formulate a plan and keep moving forward."

"St. Josephine dormitory will be our residence for the time being, I know none of you like it- I don't like it but what can we do? The only thing we can do is make a plan so something like this doesn't happen to us or to anybody else every again! Now get off your assess and get to work!"

Isshiki laughed.

He laughed and laughed and laughed until his sides were sore and he had no more tears left to cry.

"… Kyou is right, everyone," he said, voice hoarse and eyes red as he wiped away his tears and stood tall, "We've undoubtedly been through a lot these past couple of days… what we need to do now is rest and recuperate – and once we've all calmed down, we'll formulate a plan on what to do next. Together."

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III.

"Sir, we still have not located Erina-sama yet… It's been almost three weeks since she disappeared."

Azami frowned sharply at his aide's report.

This had not been part of his plan…

"… Have you questioned that so-called secretary of hers? The one from the Arato clan?"

Shawn Aida nodded. "We have and she has not seen Erina-sama either – we currently have her, Nakiri Alice and Kurokiba Ryou all under surveillance as well, just in case."

Azami sighed and leaned back in his seat, glancing down at the stacks of paper covering his desk and back up to his aide. "… This changes nothing," he declared, "we will still begin the purge of the research societies and other such organizations tomorrow and Central will begin to operate in one week's time, gathering those with the similar ideals and giving out second-chances to those with potential. And… if Erina has still not returned by that time, then we will bring in those three students of mine to act as my proxy. If Erina is still missing by the beginning of next month – we will go ahead and remake the Elite ten."

"Would Erina-sama still be the Tenth Seat?"

"If she is not at the next month's monthly Elite Ten meeting, then no… I have no need for someone who doesn't fit into my plans. It would be nice to have Erina on my side when the time comes, but, ultimately, she is now expendable and I will achieve my goal to change this rotten world, with or without my daughter."

A short, transitional chapter.

Alain was always meant to be a character with ties to Azami but, originally, his connection to Azami wasn't meant to be revealed until the Regiment du Cuisine arc where he would be like "Ahaha I'm actually a bit evil!"

But he's just another victim of Azami and shitty circumstances.

I hope everyone is staying safe during these difficult times!

As always, let me know what you all thought via PM or Review!