Florida: Miami

Typing on the computer a boy with black hair leaned back "Tootsuki? What does that translate too?" he asked turning around to a shorter tomboyish girl with short length black hair and brown eyes.

"Do you really have to know? Anyway Dad said you have transfer there" she responded staring at the floor which was littered with bottles and fruit peels.

"Why? I'm still trying out for the basketball club" he complained to his sister who against all outward physical appearance was actually older than him by three years.

Dropping her head she did wonder about their fathers intentions but "You puked and passed out during the final day of tryouts" remembering having to get out of class early to pick him up. Falling to his knees the boy recalled the death like tryout session "You went to that school specifically because it had a good basketball team but it ended up being too good"

Complaining he yelled out "But Kent! Didn't you say Toot…"

"Tootsuki"

"Tootsuki isn't it in Japan? They have a different grade system than America I'll be a freshman! Again!"

"It doesn't matter besides I looked into it" Placing her hands on her hips she continued "It's the worlds greatest cooking school where only the elite can even consider joining" with a smile she continued "Only ten percent of the freshman class get to graduation the Alumni are treated as gods in the cooking world" what she was saying was if he did good he'll get a lot of money in return.

Thinking about money he mentioned another thing "Then shouldn't it be really expensive?" thinking about plane tickets and entry cost aside he personally didn't want to go to school with a bunch of egoist.

"They're using your college fund and you're savings"

Turning with a jolt he stared at her "What? I've been saving that for almost eight years now" shaking he thought his dad was being really serious now

"Don't worry you only spent it on a basketball hoop and food ingredients anyway"

He nodded seeing that was a good point "Why should I go though?" getting back up told her "Cooking's just a hobby for me I won't fit in" she pointed at the table.

"What is that?"

Picking up the dish he showed her a fruit plate arrangement with small colorful little circular pieces "Stamina food the coaches asked me to make something that quickly restores energy without any strange chemicals" taking a piece he put it in his mouth "Maybe a bit more lemon…"

Taking a piece Kent ended up being sent down a path of sizzling sour explosions with a sweet yet harmonic aftertaste almost as if she had just finished a world cup race and was basking in the glory of victory "You asked why this is a pretty good example" snapping back to reality she wondered just what he made.

Looking confused he started typing on the keyboard again "Still though if too much it might cause cramps or something but too little won't be sufficient" blinking her eyes Kent stared at the plate a bit "The coach also asked for a purely fruit dish too so I had to use something different then bread as a base" sounding complaints Kent sighed.

"Pack your things you're leaving for Japan in a few weeks" she told him feeling that he had nothing to worry about.

"Hey I still haven't agreed to this!" a ringing came from outside "I'll talk to dad my shift's over" walking out of the test room he got into the main kitchen.

Large but not too large, small but still big enough a silver metal kitchen with flames and blades in every which direction "Hey Sai you're back on?" one of the other chefs called in Spanish.

"Yeah dinner rush should begin in about ten minutes right? Let's do these quick" the other cooks all nodded as he stared at the orders that were lined up.

Kings Palace an Asian restaurant that specializes in Thai Cuisines located in an underground mall and did pretty well for itself having a steady rise in popularity since eight years ago thanks to the son of the accountant and business investor who had bought the restaurant.

Ten minutes before closing Sai was finishing preparations for tomorrow's dishes "Nice job Sai" one of the female workers told him. She was shorter then him with a roundish face but also had soft eyes that looked out for the boy.

"Thanks you too" putting down the knife he dropped the onions into a large bowl of water and placed a lid over the top he wiped his forehead "And now" rushing out he ran to the bar where only the bartender and a man in a black coat who was maybe in his fifties sat "Dad what's the deal about transferring?" he yelled.

Turning he took off his glasses "It's just as it sounds" he said taking a drink "Didn't you say you wanted to go to Japan?" he asked

"That was when Mom and Kent got to go on vacation! I don't want to live there" Although that would be a bit cool he always wanted to visit Akihabara being a computer nut who spends his time reading manga.

"See it'll be perfect" with a smile he offered Sai a seat.

"Not really can I have a sprite?" he asked the bartender who nodded seeing this was not a conversation he wanted to join.

"Sai what do you want to do in the future?" he started.

Skipping the life lessons and going straight to the discussion? Sai was actually a bit impressed "Not a clue but I still have time" with a shrug he responded taking the soda.

"No you don't you're already in high school it's time to decide what do you want to be" shaking his head he stared at Sai with a serious expression.

Seeing this Sai found it harder to refuse "Even if I do decide to go it's going to be expensive right? Dad I know I don't have that much of a college fund and most of my savings are for Zack's lessons and training" His little brother already known in the community of arts and crafts as a prodigal musician with the help of Sai who was doing everything he could to keep business here good.

"You don't need to worry about that I sent in a request along with that dish you made a while ago they agreed to have a tester come and see if you can apply for a scholarship and also pay for your travel cost" his dad already explained.

Sai remembered his dad giving him a really weird project for a dish that will still be good after leaving it for a few days without the use of preservatives. He ended up making a dish comprised mainly of potatoes believe it or not that worked too an extent "I was wondering what that was for" I've been had. He thought.

"He'll be here tomorrow give him a good dish and go to Japan okay" placing his hand on Sai's shoulders he asked this.

"You can't keep running from the inevitable please Sai do this" not finding a way to respond Sai got out of the bar and went to collect his stuff before they went home.

Japan:

After getting rid of the Land Sharks Souma was repainting the sign "I'm going to take over this shop" he smiled with a stare that gazed towards the future.

"Hey Souma I'm closing the shop for a few years" hearing his father's words the Japanese boy with a scar over his left eye fell of the ladder "So until I come back you're going to go to Tootsuki okay"

Two boys both force into going to Tootsuki what life awaits them on the other side?