Souma's PoV
I sighed. "I hope that crinkled hag won't come again after tasting my 'Yukihira-style Roast Pork, Just Kidding' ",I said while wiping the white paint on the diner's sign.
"No matter what will come here, I won't let this shop shut down. Yukihira is the castle where I'll perfect my cooking!", I told myself until I heard faint footsteps heading toward the diner. I turned around to see who was it.
"Pops.."
"Did something happened?", he asked me while carrying his bag and putting a hand in his pocket. "It wasn't much. Some rude clients came by.", I explained while continuing wiping the sign.
"Souma". I turned around to look at Pops. "I'm closing this shop for two or three years". I fell down the ladder and it dropped at me.
"Why so sudden?!", I said while I tried to pick myself up. He went in the shop and I followed him. "Well, that's it. I have to apologize to our neighbors.", he walked away leaving me alone. I got irritated. "Start by apologizing to your son first!", I exclaimed. He sighed, "An old pal asked me to work with him. I will be bothering them for a while so I won't come back".
No way... that's just way too selfish.
"I'll go as soon as I can as I pack my things", he said while leaving me alone again. "Wait...", I said trying to stop him. "I will send you living expenses every once a month in a while.", he ignored me. "I TOLD YOU TO STOP", I yelled while closing my eyes. " I want to always... in this shop... to surpass my Pops!", I added.
I felt a small punch on my chest from him. "It's time to part, Souma. Go measure your ability."
-few weeks later-
"Here huh?", I looked at the building while alot of janitors are passing by. "The buildings are bigger and more prominent than what I thought..."
-flashback start-
"A cooking school?", I asked him. "Here is the application form", he handed me a piece of paper. "Why do I have to go to that kind of place now?", I questioned him. "It's just right, isn't it? I'll close the shop also gives high school credits. Go study for 3 years."
-flashback end-
I sighed and approached a desk. I placed the papers on the desk.
"This is the building where the janitor and the maintenance staff are stationed, the hall of entrance is on the other.", the guy sitting on the chair told me. "Huh, there is an exam?", I asked. "Huh? Obviously. You are now here-", he said while pointing at the map. "-and the executive office is-", he walked really far to point it out. "-3 kilometers ahead.", he explained.
I sighed.
I finally reached my destination and I saw a rich looking man grabbing a teacher's leg and begging him, " I beg you! I will donate ten or twenty million yen, please withdraw my son's drop out!"
I called Pops as quickly as possible, "Pops, what is going on here?", I exclaimed. "Huh, didn't I tell you? That's one of Japan's best cooking schools, a superior elite school where less than 10% of the students graduate.", he explained to me.
Souma's expectations :"Oh, I will teach you a really simple dish toda--y", the old woman said while shivering."Well do your best, Souma. At that school-", he was cutted off by American People speaking English in the background. "Huh? Pops, I can't hear you? It is really noisy. Where are you?", I asked.
"New York City at Manhattan Royal Hotel's VIP Reception Hall", he replied. I was confounded. "I'm cooking here right now. *insert weird American words*"
"At first, I worked on India,Italy and Spain. I came to the U.S. yesterday. I'll be cooking in a city on the east coast for a while. I can't follow up with the conversation.", he said. "Souma, if you can't survive on that school, saying you'll surpass me is a big joke!", he added.
I screamed at the phone, "I WILL SHOW YOU I CAAAAANNNNNNNNN!". "Souma, I will tell you something-". I hanged up. I continued walking. I feel incredibly out of place here. I looked around. I saw people with fancy cars and have like four bodyguards beside them. It seems like I'm the only one who came alone. I heard this was an elite school but to think it was too much. For now, I will go to the exam hall.
I saw a bench with an elegant man sitting on it while sipping a cup of tea. I sat beside him. "May I sit down?", I asked him. "Don't worry are you taking the exam too? I am Nikaidou Yoshiaki. My family owns a French restaurant.", he introduced. "My family owns a restaurant too.", I added. "What kind of shop is yours?", he asked. " Mine is a diner-" I was kicked off the bench. "HOW DARE YOU SIT NEXT TO ME", he exclaimed. After he kicked me out, students are already talking behind my back.
Pissed off, I entered the hall. DAMN IT LIKE ILL DROP OUT. I HAVE TO GET THE EXAMINER TO ACCEPT ME. Just what kind of guy will examine me?
"I was entrusted with today's entrance examination", the examiner said while she flipped her hair.
That voice sounds familiar. "My name is Nakiri Erina", the examiner introduced. Huh? I looked at my red bracelet.
It's her.
Her aide said, "I will read the notification for admissions". While her aide is reading the admissions, she cutted her off. "Hmm, how worthless." "Let's see.", she said while picking an ingredient. "Bring the kitchen tables!", she commanded while Hisako is pulling the kitched tables.
"The main ingredient is egg",she said while raising the egg with her arm. "Make one dish, those who can satisfy my tongue will pass the exam", she said while leaning on the kitchen tables. "Since I'm in a good mood, I will give you one minute to withdraw from the examination if you want", she said while giving the poor examiners a mischievous grin. All of them left and I was remained.
"Is this okay? With this, no one will-", Hisako was cutted off again. "Didn't you see? They are all hopeless garbage. I won't taste my time on these kind of people. Is that the end of the schedule? I want to try making a new dish in my room.", Erina said. The poor aide's mouth was watering. "Huh? It looks like you want something? Want to try my dish?", Erina gave Hisako a cruel smile.
"That was quite rude, Erina", I said.
She turned around. Hisako went infront of Erina and blurted, "HOW DARE YOU CALL ERINA-SAMA BY HER FIRST NAME YOU-". She paused. Erina stared at me for a minute. She took my hand and looked at my bracelet. After realizing I am real, she hugged me so hard that we fell on the floor. Hisako was stunned.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU VISIT ME AT ALL YOU IDIOT! I WAS SO WORRIED I CANT SLEEP MOST OF THE TIME!-", she started blurting insults for 3 minutes until she was crying on my chest. I ran my fingers into her blonde hair a couple of time and I finally spoke. "I'm so sorry. I always think of you too."
Hisako cleared her throat while wiping her tears. "Ano... Erina-sama, the exam...", the aide reminded the crying blonde. "Oh! Right..", she cleared her throat while blushing and wiping her tears. "Yukihira Souma, what will you cook?", she asked. I actually have an idea."How about let's go for Furikake Gohan again? You haven't tasted it in ten years."
"Do what you want.", she looked away. I tied my white cloth to my head and approached the kitchen table. I prepared the ingredients and started cooking.
I heated the sesame oil in the frying pan and sauté chicken wings until golden brown on both sides. I put the items in a pot and turn on high until it boils. I skimmed the scum off top, reduced the heat to low, and simmer until broth level is reduced by half. I poured the broth into a container to cool. When it cooled down, I placed it in the refrigerator to chill and harden. I deboned the chicken wings and cut into sfrips. I made the egg curds. I cracked the eggs into the bowl, added it and whisked. I poured into the frying pan on low heat, stirring rapidly to create the curds. Once it was done, I moved to the plate. Once it hardens, remove the container and cut aspic into 1cm x 1cm squares.
I served the 2 bowls to Erina. I made some for Hisako too. They sprinkled it on the rice and ate it.
The feeling they felt was...They were godesses taking a nap on the clouds of heaven but suddenly they were carassed by angel wings and feathers.
"I remember this taste", Erina smiled. "Yukihira Souma, you passed. Hisako, tell grandfather that one brat passed. Call a car too", Erina told Hisako. The aide nodded. She brought her cellphone and contacted two people. The driver arrived in 3 minutes.
"Come on Souma, get in", she insisted. "Me? Are you sure?", I asked.
"Yes, stay at my mansion for a month. We have alot of stories to tell each other."
Author's Note
OKAY WAIT ITS 2 AM RIGHT NOW AND I FORGOT TO ADD SOMETHING IN THE LAST CHAPTER :
I don't own Shokugeki no Soma nor its characters.
I TRIED MY BEST
My replies :
To HentaiLover018 : I'm really happy that I made someone laugh by writing a story. And yes, I will try my best to write longer chapters. Thank you for reading!
To zrekt23 : Yes,this is my first story. I am very happy that you liked it! Thank you for reading!
To jeconiusli : I am trying my best to write longer chapters. Thank you for reading!
To Teloch : Thank you for your positive opinion! Thank you for reading!
To Lordlexx : Thank you for noticing my mistakes! I will be more carefull next time. Thank you for reading.
