A/N This plot is basically from the anime shokugeki no soma. I just changed the characters from shokugeki to those from Percy Jackson. I strongly recommend watching shokugeki if you haven't already, it's an anime but it's really good although there is a bit of etchi in it. Anyway, since the plot goes to Yūto Tsukuda and the characters go to Rick, I guess I technically own nothing. No flames please.
Olympus academy for the culinary gifted, is one of the highest ranking culinary schools in America, if not the highest. The school starts at middle school and end at the third year of high school. All around the world, large business chefs send their children to America so they can get an education from one of the most elite culinary schools in the world. Olympus has created some of the most famous chefs in the world. The 87th graduating class was the best set of graduates that had ever been produced at Olympus. That year twelve students finished their learning at the famous academy, the graduating students were known as 'the Olympians'.
2000, November the 30th
Athena sat on her couch in a relaxed position, her young child suckling on her breast. Silently drinking her milk was a young child, no older than three months. Her name was Annabeth, the newest addition to the Chase family.
"It doesn't have enough body."
Athena stared, astonished at her daughter's words. Babies usually begin to talk when they reach the age one to two, but when Annabeth was born, Athena knew she was going to be something special. Athena looked at her only child fondly, even though her child was staring at her with a blank look on her face.
"Annabeth, you sure are special." Athena whispered softly while patting the babies back.
16 years later
Annabeth sat on her chair with a smirk playing on her lips. She was teaching a class and they all had nervous looks on their faces. The 'classroom' was quite different from you average class. The classroom was filled with cooking tables and utensils. On the far end of the classroom was a spice rack, where thousands of spices lay behind glass doors. On the other end was a table of ingredients that her class was using. Annabeth was brought out of her thoughts when she noticed a blonde haired boy walk down towards her with a soup in his hand. The boy shakily handed Annabeth the dish, his eyes looking down at his feet the entire time. Annabeth took a spoon and dipped it in the soup and took a taste. A few moments passed and the boy got nervous very quickly.
'Disgusting.' Annabeth thought mildly.
"Disgusting. You are expelled."
The boy looked on the verge of tears, he was on his knees and visibly shaking. The boy's eyes were wide in shock and sweat began to form on his forehead. It seemed like he hadn't come to terms with being expelled yet.
"P-please. I have to succeed my family's restaurant. What will I do when I go back expelled?"
The other students that had crowded around the student and teacher began to shout obscenities at the boy. As moments passed the yelling got louder and cruder.
"Be quiet."
The yelling had instantly stopped, the students stood as straight as a board as Annabeth's grey eyes scanned over the nervous students. When she was satisfied she made her way towards the failed chef and stood over him. Her eyes grew cold and unforgiving, it was as if she was analysing every single move the boy made.
"A second rate chef. Even if you don't graduate from Olympus, you can still become a chef."
With those words Annabeth sat back down in her seats and the other students went back to cooking, leaving the expelled boy alone in his tears.
Manhattan, Aunt Sally's
Sweat dropped off Percy's face as he shifted the rice on the cooking pan. Currently he was situated in his family diner, Aunt Sally's, it was run by his dad and him. Aunt Sally's wasn't very big, the small place was just a downtown diner. Even though it was a small diner a lot of the locals enjoyed the food, it was the best food in miles. Right now, a food battle was occurring. A battle between father and son. It was an Aunt Sally's tradition, every week Percy and his father would battle it out in a cooking duel. Percy flipped the rice a little, shifting the rice to allow more oxygen to pass through the empty space. With a smirk he quickly switched off the burner. Percy plated the food quickly and grinned at the aroma the food was giving off. A split second later another steaming hot plate of fried rice was next to his. Percy turned his head to see a smirking dad. Percy crossed his arms and looked at the girl in front of him expectantly. The girl was from his school and was chosen to try the food today. The girl lifted up her spoon and dipped it into Percy's fried rice. She then put it in her mouth and swallowed the steaming hot rice. A cold second passed before her eyes lit up in happiness.
"It's so good! Everything mixes together perfectly, it's like I'm back in Asia having fried rice from one of those expensive restaurants."
Percy smiled, and gave the girl a thumbs up to which she blushed to. She then dipped her spoon in Percy's father's fried rice and took a bite. She instantly squealed and stamped her foot on the ground. She breathed out and let out a sigh of content. Without even being asked she pointed towards a dish, the dish was not Percy's.
"It is decided, the old man won the match again today!" There were cheers from the crowd in the small time diner.
Even though it was small and not well known around the world, the whole diner was filled with adults, children and students, so full that you could hardly walk through the restaurant without bumping into anyone. Percy turned his back grumpily.
"I guess I lost today."
"Say that when you at least win once," Percy's dad boomed with a laugh, "It seems like you still need some practice, Percy."
Percy nodded grumpily while cleaning some dishes from behind the counter.
"Hey Percy, aren't we close to 500 losses?"
"Huh? Don't get cocky dad… It's only the 489th loss! Don't worry dad, this is where I'll practice my skills and finally beat you!" Percy said with a grin and a thumbs up.
"Percy…" Poseidon said with a heavy voice, his usually happy mood gone, "I'm closing the diner for two or three years."
Percy instantly snapped his head in shock, in the process knocking down several pans and dishes, which he saved just before impact. Poseidon sighed heavily, his hands expertly chopping up ingredients and plating foods.
"I've got to apologise to the regulars." Poseidon said mumbling to himself.
"Well start apologising to you own son!" Percy shouted while continuing to wash dishes angrily.
"An old friend called in a favour, so I'm going over to him to help."
"But that's just selfish— where am I going to go?"
"You will transfer to a school that will improve you cooking abilities."
Percy stood confused, for the first fifteen years of his life he never went to a cooking school or anything, all of the knowledge he had was from his father or his hard work of trial and error at the very diner that was closing down.
"You will be leaving in a week, there is an entrance exam so try your best."
1 week later
Olympus was bustling with students and other teenagers that wanted to transfer into the academy. Teenagers from all different cultures from all around the world. Percy looked confusingly at the map in his hands, the directions seemed unclear to him. After an hour of bothering random people and asking officers for directions he finally came to a huge mountain at which the academy was built near. The academy seemed like it was ten times bigger than the previous school that he attended. The buildings seemed really spaced out and really high tech. Percy shaded his eyes and look carefully at the academy's facilities. There was a huge building that was a mixture between a white metal and glass, it looked like an arena.
'This is a lot bigger than I expected.' Percy thought to himself.
In his head he thought that his dad had sent him to an average high school that would do a lot more home economics than he did in his last school but it seemed a lot more. Percy wore a casual blue shirt with some black pants and boots. Tied to his right arm was a sea green cloth that he wrapped around his head when he cooked. A slight buzzing from his right pant pocket notified him that someone was trying to call him. He put down his steel case and bag on the ground. He then fished his phone out of his pocket and looked at who was calling him. It was his dad.
"Hello, Percy?"
"Dad, what is this school? It's so big!" Percy yelled motioning his hands even though his dad couldn't see his gestures.
"Huh? Didn't I tell you? That's one of America's best culinary school. A superior elite school where less than ten percent of their students actually graduate."
Percy sweat dropped at his father's lack of information. His father then started to speak a few words but he couldn't hear it over the loud voices from his father's side.
"Dad where are you?"
"Japan," Poseidon said casually as he squeezed lemon over the grilling fish, "I'm cooking over here."
"Dad, I don't follow what you're saying."
"Well, I'm travelling the world Percy. I've cooked in Italy, China and Russia already, I got to Japan last night."
"Dad—"
"Percy," Poseidon cut off his son, "If you can't survive this school, then saying you will surpass me is a big joke."
"I-I'll show you I can!"
"Alright, I'll tell you something that can improve you cooking skills." Poseidon began but stopped once he heard a beep from his phone.
Poseidon sighed. 'He cut me off. Percy all you need to do is find a girl that you want to cook all of your food for.' Poseidon thought while thinking of his beloved.
Percy grumbled quietly to himself as he walked through the entrance of the academy. Percy walked past the buildings and arrived at a pathway that were surrounded by some park benches, some tall green trees and lush green grass. Percy sat down on one of the benches and observed some of the entrance exam takers. What confused him was that there was always two or more servants following each teenager. All of them were dressed in expensive suits or maid outfits, some of them were even holding plates with tea and small snacks. The creak of wood brought his attention to a blonde haired boy to his right. The boy sat down on the opposite end of the bench, a small cup of tea in his right hand. The boy was dressed in a white dress shirt and an expensive form fitting blue suit. It looked like it was tailored for the young boy. When Percy saw the him he knew that he was rich.
"Hello, I'm James. My family owns large traditional Russian restaurants around America."
"What a coincidence, my family owns a restaurant as well."
"Well it might not be a coincidence. See that boy over there?" James said while pointing towards a boy with three servants, "That boy is the heir to a large meat company that sells meat to the high end restaurants, and that girl over there, her father is the owner of one of the most famous steak restaurants in all America. So what's your restaurant called?"
"Ah, it's called Aunt Sally's."
"Oh? A traditional burger restaurant?"
"Nah, it's just a small downtown diner." Percy said with a huge grin.
Suddenly the boy next to him jumped to his feet. Percy turned his head towards James, confused about the sudden movement.
"Don't you dare sit next to me! You are just a mere plebe."
Percy stood up angered and confused at the boy's words. He then took notice of the small crowd that were staring him, they began to throw rude remarks towards him.
"Did you hear?"
"It seems like a punk from a small diner is trying to get admitted."
"Ha! You must be joking!"
"Listen carefully. This place isn't for peasants like you. It's an academy where the elites of the food business are allowed to learn. An academy where we can test our skills against other aspiring and talented chefs. A vulgar peasant like you will probably get expelled after they reviewed your document."
Percy stood up from his seat on the park bench, his black hair covered the fire that was burning in his eyes. Percy stalked towards the rich boy and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and lifting him off the ground.
"You haven't even tasted food from Aunt Sally's. Don't judge our value without even a taste of our food." Percy spoke in a deathly quiet voice.
"L-let go of me!" The boy shrieked.
"Let go of Lord James." The boy's servants shouted towards him.
Percy dropped the kid with ease and made his way towards the hall where they were going to take the exam. He knew from his dad that if he didn't graduate from this school then he will never be able to surpass him. Honestly that was the only reason he was going to attend the school, it was to surpass his dad in cooking. The kids that he had seen so far had been too pompous for their own sake, he just couldn't appreciate their condescending attitude. After ten minutes Percy made his way to the hall, plenty of other students were streaming into the hall as he arrived. When Percy entered the hall it seemed like there were plenty of other students that wanted to transfer into the elite school. There were fifty or so teenagers that wanted to transfer. Suddenly the talk seemed to die down instantly and Percy wondered why, he then noticed a pretty blonde haired girl standing in the kitchen that was at the front of the hall.
"I am Annabeth Chase, and I have been entrusted with examining you today." Annabeth spoke in a loud and confident voice.
'A girl?' Percy thought, 'it can't be, she's wearing a student uniform.' Percy thought in confusion.
"Give me a rundown." Annabeth said to her black haired assistant that was standing next to her, a clipboard pressed against her chest.
"First are the interviews that are in groups of ten based on their application forms. After that is a test of practical cooking test with different dishes, followed by—"
"Humph, how worthless. Let's see. Bring the kitchen tables!" Annabeth shouted towards her assistant.
The metal kitchen table that arrived was more than two metres in length, ingredients were ordered and packed together on the table. Annabeth walked towards the table and picked up a single egg.
"The main ingredient is egg. Make one dish, those that can satisfy my tongue will earn their admittance to Olympus Academy. I'll give you one minute to withdraw from the examination if you want."
Percy hadn't seen this kind of rush since Christmas at Aunt Sally's. All of the teenagers began to rush out of the hall, some even tripping over their own feet. Percy reached out his hand and stopped one of the students from running away.
"Hey wait, why are you running away?"
"You don't know who that person is?" the boy shrieked.
"No, so tell me."
"She's a genius that is the youngest to ever enter 'Olympus' elite ten council', an organisation in the academy that decides most important decisions."
"So?"
"She the holder of humanities best palate, the 'God's Tongue'. All the leaders of the cooking world are Annabeth Chase's clients! In her early childhood, she was already asked to taste some of America's most famous restaurant food!" A look of fear entered the boy's eyes, "Her judgement is well known in the industry, I-If you were to serve her a poorly made dish, and you'll be branded as someone with no talent. That means it would be the end of your career as a chef!"
Percy let the scruff of the boy's shirt go.
"Well that should clear today's schedule, I need to report to the director to report that the number of successful applicants is zero."
"Can I make whatever I want?" Annabeth jumped in shock.
"You can, as long as you use eggs. But do you really want to try?" Annabeth said, her voice questioning the boy.
"Phew!" Percy said while wiping an imaginary sweat drop from his forehead, "I was wondering what I would do if I got dropped out without having a chance to cook."
"If you want to withdraw, this is the last chance you get." Annabeth said stiffly.
"Woah, so sharp." Percy said with an impish grin as he traced his finger along the blade of a knife.
"I'll ask you once more, do you really want to take my test?"
"Eh, I mean," Percy said while tossing the knife metres into the air then proceeding to catch it expertly, "I just have to make it so that you say it's good, right?"
Annabeth walked towards her assistant and flipped through the documents on the clipboard. After a few seconds of searching she found the person she was looking for.
'Percy Jackson, his family runs a small happy go lucky diner, he looks like a second rate chef,' Annabeth thought with a sigh of annoyance, 'He doesn't understand my nobility, just like a stray dog who doesn't understand the value of a gem.'
"If you're willing to go that far, then I guess I am obliged to let you take my test."
"With pleasure," Percy said as he ripped the sea green cloth from his wrist, "I'll make our shops breakfast special for you. Wait for it examiner Chase."
Percy shouted with excitement, tying the cloth around his forehead.
'Eggs are the basic ingredient for many genres of Western, Japanese, and Chinese cooking. Just what kind of dish will he serve Miss Annabeth? Who daily eats high grade egg-based dishes?' Annabeth's assistant thought.
Percy instantly began to prepare and sort through his ingredients. In mere seconds all of the measuring and preparation work was completed with practiced ease. Percy then took the eggs and cracked them in a bowl, he then proceeded to add some flour and began to whisk. After seconds of whisking he continued to add more ingredients to the liquid. Once he was done, what was left was a white mixture that had a gloopy consistency.
'It's been ten minutes already and it seems like he hasn't cooked anything yet.' Annabeth thought.
"Percy, just what are you making?"
"What! You don't know yet?"
"I'll fail you right now! Listen! I don't have time to spend on a failure. I'm asking you, if you're even trying to make a dish that corresponds to my tongue—"
"Fine, I'll tell you. The dish that I am cooking is… Aunt Sally's secret breakfast menu number 6."
'Secret menu? What kind of elaborate dish is it?' if you were looking at Annabeth you could see the cogs in her head spinning fast, very fast.
"Pancakes." Percy spoke with a grin.
Annabeth and her assistant looked at Percy in shock, their eyes widened and words couldn't escape their mouths.
"Don't screw with me! You really are just a second rate chef. This was such a waste of time—"
"But wait… Of course it isn't just a pancake, it's a transforming pancake!" Percy shouted while flipping the frying pan that his pancake was on, "Hold on, it's about to be ready."
'This Percy Jackson, just what kind of dish is he trying to make?'
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Percy said with a smile while putting his dish in front of Annabeth.
The dish sure looked different, but like any other diner it was just a pancake but instead it looked inflated.
'Is he trying to make fun of me? It's just a pancake!"
"This isn't even worth considering, the exam ends here." Annabeth said while turning her back.
'Until one year ago I was full of appointments to taste restaurant dishes, on my dining table, dishes that were high class on extravagancy and innovation, lay. It was truly the heaven of gourmet food. To serve me, a person who has been to that heaven, a questionable dish called a 'pancake'.
"I'll tell you what's wrong with it," Annabeth said her back still turned towards the cook, "You obviously did something wrong with the mixing or cooking because pancakes aren't supposed to be inflated. Well after all, you are a second rate chef, I don't crave this food at all."
Percy gave Annabeth blank look. Peeved that the wielder of the God's tongue wasn't even going to consider his meal.
"You're not even going to try it? Even though the dishes final form is about to show?"
"W-What do you mean with that?"
Percy then proceeded to drop the chips of chocolate on top of the pancake. Moments passed and nothing happened, until something did. It started out slow but it began to speed up quickly. The heat from the pancake warmed the chocolate up and it began to melt. The pancake then began to soak the chocolate making the golden pancake a brownish colour, but it didn't finish there. The added weight of the chocolate pushed down on the inflated pancake and it seemed to deflate. From the bottom of the dish a golden syrup began to pour out from the bottom of the pancake. Annabeth and her assistant looked on in shock. The dish looked so welcoming now, the powerful and sweet scent of chocolate and golden syrup filled their nostrils.
"I'll give it, just one bite."
Percy chuckled at his examiners eagerness.
"If you want to be judged then hand over that dish!"
Percy smirked and handed the dish to Annabeth with a knife and a fork. Annabeth shakily took the knife and fork and slice of a small triangle. Annabeth struggled to control herself as she saw the golden syrup begin to fall off the chocolate pancake. Annabeth steeled herself and ate it, the dish made her feel like she was a kid again.
'Huh! W-what have I done? I forgot to judge it and just tasted it…'
"You'll give it another bit? I though you said just one?" Percy said, a small smirk playing along his lips.
Annabeth grew red quickly, a blush forming at her cheeks. Annabeth struggled to keep her raging cheeks in check but it didn't work.
"Do you have any complaints?" Annabeth shouted while slamming her hand down on the table.
"I was just kidding, take your time."
Annabeth took another bite and she couldn't help but moan inwardly.
'This isn't like any of the dishes I've ever eaten. A world of taste that not even I know of!"
"Even the common place breakfast meal, can transform into a gem of creativity and originality!" Percy said while taking a bite for himself. "This is Aunt Sally's cooking!"
Annabeth shakily sliced of another bite and ate it. Annabeth struggled to stand on her legs as the sweet flavours erupted in her mouth. Her an elitist, the holder of the God's tongue, the person who lived on the heavens of gourmet food, couldn't accept it. Her tongue reacted like it should, the sweet taste was so overwhelming but her brain told her otherwise. This meal went against everything she believed in, she believed that only high class gourmet food can taste good, yet a small diner breakfast menu dish mean her squirm in mercy.
'I can't accept this, I can't accept this, I can't accept this.' Annabeth chanted in her mind.
Annabeth tasted the flavours and it brought memories of her childhood, when she was so care free. The dish reminded her of an old cook that used to cook her favourite meals, the cook was the closest thing she had to a father figure. She remembered the easy going smile, she remembered the khaki shorts he used to wear, the Hawaii shirt that he casually wore under his apron. But then it disappeared as she was brought back to reality.
"It is true that my restaurant is a small diner at the corner and yours is probably the really high grade, however, if you just recline on the seat of honour, there are probably things you can't make! Now how was it? Good or bad? Tell me!"
20 minutes later
"Hello! Hello, can you hear me mama? That Annabeth Chase was the examiner. My luck was just too bad. I'm going home now." James, the boy from before cried as he spoke to his mother over the phone.
Suddenly he noticed a black haired kid with sea green eyes.
"I-Impossible, you passed Annabeth Chases' test?"
Percy turned to the boy, a neutral expression played on his face. Percy looked at the boy, his hair swaying in the wind.
"Huh? It seems… it was no good."
"Is it good or bad? Tell me!"
"I-t was bad!"
Annabeth rushed out of the kitchen, her mind processed her thought a mile a second.
'What's up with him? What's up with him? He started to act all mighty, I can't forgive him! Percy Jackson, people like you aren't needed at Olympus.'
Annabeth made her way to her office and picked up her phone and dialled a number.
"Hello, Chiron? It's me Annabeth, the passing of today's applicants is zero." With those words she hung up.
Unbeknownst to both cooks, Chiron was behind the kitchen door the entire time.