Part 1: special dishes

Hitori slumps down on his bed. It’s a very tiring day. Everyday is the same. He had to work since he needs to pay the fee for his school and also for the rent of his rented room in a real deserted area of Tokyo. It was far away from his school too but it’s near the train station so he always had to get up early to go to school by train. He usually only had four and a half hour sleep everyday and after school, he would go straight away to his work place; a mini market near the train station. It’s been three long months living like this. He felt so tired… But he can’t go back ‘there’. If he does, he’ll get beaten up to death so he had to bear living this way at least for only two years away since he’ll be finishing school by then. He then closes his eyes. Tomorrow could be just another day and also a new beginning…, he thought remembering what his mother used to say to him. He always thought of it every night before he falls into the dark unknown world…
***
“What? The store is closing?!” Hitori asked the owner of the mini market in shock of the news he had just heard. The market is running out of business and the owner just had to shut it down.
“Yes. And I’m paying your last payment today, Hitori.” The owner said with a sad and frustrated face. “I’m sorry that it has to happen.” He apologized.
Hitori sigh and took the money. Now he got a new problem. He had to find a new job!
***
I have to do this. I need the money. Anyway, I’m used to cooking. Hitori thought as he saw an advertisement on a cooking competition today at the shopping complex. It’s a program held by a woman named Takako Takahashi. She’s offering ¥100,000 to the winner and a chance to work at her new restaurant which are about to open in Aoyama. It’s really near to Hitori’s school! I have to win this! He thought, determined on winning. It’s not just because of the money. The money will eventually run out though he thought of keeping it for his future (!educational future!). What he really need is the job! He needs it desperately! So, he signs up for the contest.
The contest will include three stages. The first stage is where the contestants had to bake a cake. The most creative and delicious cake will lead ten people to the next stage. The second stage is where the contestants will make any kind of western food. The tasty and creative one will decide out three contestants for the final round. In the final round, the contestants are free to decide what kind of dishes (three dishes altogether) to be served to the judges. The best will win!
***
First Stage:
There are twenty five contestants all together that had signed up for the test. Mrs. Takahashi seems like a real nice person and very approachable. She wishes luck for all of us and the first stage begins…
…Hitori finishes his cake earlier than everyone. He thought that his is the least creative out of all. He made a real simple heart-shaped cake. It is a big heart-shaped cake in the middle that is surrounded by smaller sized heart-shaped cakes. They are white in color with red cream carvings on them and they looked really cute! But, unlike all the other with more marvelous shapes of cakes all around him, he seems to have the lamest shape of cake.
Mrs. Takahashi went to his table with the other three judges to have a taste of his cake. They all had their eyes popped-out a little after testing his cake and smile.
“You are really something. Your cake is really just simple looking, but I’ve never tasted anything like it before… though it might not be creative in the shape but I sense creativity in the taste… So, congratulations! You’ll be up for the next stage!” Mrs. Takahashi said with a warm smile and all the other judges nodded in unison.
Well, to think back, he only ever cooked for his mother before and his mother always said that he is special. He put a real big grin on his face; he can’t argue the fact that he really loves praises. “Thanks!”
***
Second Stage:
Hitori made meat-ball spaghetti for the second stage. All of the judges started whispering to each other after having the taste of it. All he heard are words like; ‘special’, ‘delicious’, and ‘talented’.
Mrs. Takahashi said he’ll get to go to the final round and that he have to start thinking of what to cook for it.
***
Final stage:
It always comes naturally for him to cook. He hardly thought of anything before he cooked. His hands will simply moved around and mixed different ingredients on its own in a very subtle way as he used to.
He noticed that in this round, most of the time, the judges visited his table, asking him opinions on cooking and wishing ‘ganbatte’ to him. He really liked it. It’s as if he had caught their attention.
The time is up. He had finished his dishes earlier as usual. He made Sashimi, Ramen, and Miso soup. They are just natural Japanese dishes. But, he thought that being proud of his own National’s dishes, made him feel happier. This time, he feels a bit weird because he just didn’t care of winning anymore. He wonders why...
Strange as it is, even with ordinary dishes like that, he won. It’s wonderful to have won…