Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed the last chapter (bows dramatically)! Thank you sincerely for those who take their time to read my stories and review, seriously.

I know life can get too much and that people like to immerse themselves in stories (not necessarily fanfiction) to take a breather and shut down the real world for a while. So, I hope my stories help you relax and shut down the real world for a while! (wide grin)

Disclaimer: I don't own Shokugeki no Souma, all I own is my OC Lyca Ishikawa!

Chapter 4: The Wolf meets The Heatmaster

The following early morning the Polar Star occupants ate their breakfast as they talked about the upcoming autumn elections and what they still needed to work on. Lyca giggled at Megumi's fits of panic as she tried to calm the younger girl:" Megumi, please don't be so stressed. You'll make it, I'm sure of that. You are a skilled cook, all you need to do is get rid of your nervousness. Anxiety just hinders the mind to think clearly and then you make mundane mistakes that could have been avoided.", the blue haired girl sighed heavily as she slumped against her seat, she said:" B-but L-Lyca! W-w-we have P.E. today w-w-with H-Hayama a-and t-the cooks from C-Central.",

"What?", Lyca asked sharply, her eyes narrowing into near slits at hearing that. It sounded weird, but Tootsuki was still a academy, even if it was a culinary academy, so they needed to keep their students fit by doing P.E. twice a week. And it seemed this time, those bastards from Central will join them too. It was weird, maybe Senzaemon Nakiri had a hand in this, he always liked new complicated situations that had a high chance of resulting in chaos. She shook her head, no…the old man wasn't like that, he was strict and expected great things from his students but he wasn't a cruel man. He was famously known as the "Food's Demon King" but he was anything but a demon, he was a loving family man and led Tootsuki with a iron hand.

Perhaps it was Azami Nakiri, the new headmaster of Tootsuki as of late, he was a truly sinister character, better to be avoided. Lyca shivered in discomfort at the thought of the intimidating, dark man. After being expelled from Tootsuki by Senzaemon himself, he created Central to keep in contact with Tootsuki and possibly have an eye on his daughter Erina.

Central… a organization run by Tootsuki students handpicked by Azami Nakiri himself, they dictated what the students of Tootsuki should cook, they write the rules…most members are from the Elite Ten Council. For example, the current best female student, Rindo Kobayashi, a 2nd seat of the Elite Ten. Lyca didn't necessarily dislike her, she was just suspicious of her motives. She wasn't exactly hostile towards them, she was the more…socially acceptable and cheerful one from the Elite Ten, excluding Dojima and Isshiki of course. However she wasn't directly supportive of them either, which made her motives unclear altogether.

Lyca sighed heavily and said:" It's best if we just concentrate on P.E. If we focus too much on them they will take advantage of our weaknesses Megumi and we definitely don't want that.", she narrowed her eyes as she said:" As for Hayama, he won't be a problem, I think. I heard he's a nice guy…if you don't insult his cooking skills and spices that is.", she winked with a giggled, which relaxed Megumi slightly.

Souma crossed his arms and said:" Tch, Hayama is a tough one. That guy always holds his nose up in the air and thinks he's the best with his spices and all. I say today we show him who's the best in P.E.!", the Polar Star residents cheered, it was childish but they still went along with it. Lyca smiled and said:" Uh, Souma. I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry but that Ryou said he had time to go with me to the fisher market, since his senses are sharper…", she smiled in embarrassment, to her surprise the redhead smiled and replied calmly:" Ah, I see. So, Kurokiba's going with you? That's fine by me, I guess another time then huh Lyca?", he gave her a friendly grin. She nodded and smiled, glad he wasn't angry.

The group met up later with Ryou, Alice and Erina. Souma grinned as he waved at the trio:" Oi! Nakiri, long time no see.", Erina froze briefly before she crossed her arms and said:" Tch…Yukihira, don't greet like we are longtime friends or anything!", Alice just giggled at her cousin's outburst.

"Well, I'll have to be going! I have a busy appointment guys, I'll come back later! Ryou, be a good boy will you?", she patted his head as if he was a dog and Lyca giggled at the display. Souma looked at Alice suspiciously but chose not to comment. Weird...

Ryou's and Lyca's gazes met and Lyca smiled at him, she asked him as she watched Erina and Souma bicker with each-other again:" So, did you hear with whom we have P.E. today?", the young seafood expert looked at her in confusion before she answered his unspoken question:" With Central.", Ryou's red eyes widened a fraction but otherwise he showed no reaction.

"Why with them all of a sudden?", Lyca knew he was suspicious as well, she shrugged and said:" Don't know, but it will be interesting to experience hm?", Ryou frowned, shaking his head. He sensed trouble and his senses were almost never wrong.

The Aldini twins arrived as well, Takumi, again, challenging Souma to their future Shokugeki, with the redheaded cook agreeing with a fiery and confident spirit. Everyone retreated to the kitchens to compete in small Shokugeki's with each-other until P.E. finally arrived.

The girls and boys separated to change into their respective changing rooms, Lyca and Ryou shared a look before they each went into their own changing room. As the girls changed, Ikumi commented:" Those Central bastards are a pain in the ass! Why do we have to train with them anyway?!", the busty blonde growled as she changed into a low cut bikini top and short shorts.

The God's Tongue sighed in displeasure as she pulled on a simple white shirt, she commented with a serious expression on her face:" We will have to be careful, if we show our discomfort to them Central will only use it to their advantage, we can't allow that to happen.", Ryoko tied her hair into a pony tail as she said:" In any case, we should stick together. Central will no doubt try to separate us and chew us out individually. This won't be just a normal training program with them I bet.", Lyca could only agree.

They finished changing and went outside, the bright sun and relatively warm temperature feeling like just the thing they needed. Lyca smiled as Ryou and the other guys emerged from the changing rooms, Ryou was wearing his black, sleeveless muscle shirt again. Lyca commented:" Ryou, are you never hot in black?", the young man shrugged. Obviously not.

Souma said, his voice an octave deeper and more serious:" Here they come.", Isami and Takumi glared at the large group coming their way. Central…

Etsuya Eizan , Rindo Kobayashi, Momo Akanegakubo, Rentaro Kusunoki….just to name a few of the bastards. Though with Rindo the group wasn't sure how to act around as she waved at them with a smile, her cat-like eyes twinkling not only in friendliness but also mischief.

Eizan had immediately fixed Souma with a cold, murderous glare. Ever since Souma beat him in their Shokugeki for saving the Polar Star dormitory, Eizan had been keeping a closer eye on him. Souma returned the glare though his was cooler, composed. Erina unconsciously stepped forward, as if attempting to protect her friends from them, but Souma stopped her with his arm. He whispered:" Don't.", she frowned, Lyca narrowed her eyes at Shigemichi Kumai, the large, intimidating young man's eyes roving up and down her body. She shivered in discomfort, until Ryou stepped in front of her, blocking his view. With his hands in his pockets he said:" I would ask you to stop staring, it's making my partner uncomfortable.", Kumai growled, deep and low, towering over Ryou easily. He said gruffly:" You're standing in my way.", Ryou's usually passive, almost bored eyes, turned into hard red slits, the atmosphere around him growing heated. He glared right into the bigger man's eyes as he said:" My apologies, but I think you're standing in my way.".

It seemed Kumai had been preparing to get physical with Ryou if he continued to make trouble, but then Rentaro Kusunoki appeared beside his friend, he smiled but it wasn't a kind smile, it rather served to make the girls around them uncomfortable. He said:" Ah, don't worry about Shigemichi here. He's a nice guy, as long as he…doesn't get provoked.", Lyca squared her shoulders, trying to appear calm and collected while internally she was slightly apprehensive of their close proximity, especially to Ryou.

"Why don't you go to Etsuya? Seems like he could use some company.", the large man grunted, he glared at Ryou one last time before his large form moved away from them. Ryou's shoulders were still tense, as if he was preparing to ready himself for a battle. Rentaro grinned and said while looking over Ryou's shoulder:" Well, hello there young lady! I don't think we have been introduced have we now?", he made a turn around Ryou, who stiffened even more. Lyca's actions were cautious but the man didn't seem as intimidating as his friend.

She shook the hand that he offered her and replied:" Hello, my name is Lyca Ishikawa. And you are?", the man with the weird hairstyle grinned and said with a flourish:" Only the best cook in the field of heating! My name is Rentaro Kusunoki, a professional with any cooking style and the master of heating and temperature control around the kitchen!", he grinned charmingly, kissing the back of her hand. She pulled her hand back slowly, alarm bells slowly ringing in her ears. This guy spelled trouble, just like their whole gang did.

"By the way, my sincerest apologies that my friend has intimidated you with his staring. He…hasn't been around many pretty girls like you and his social skills aren't the best.", he smiled with a hand on the back of his head. Lyca smiled forcefully as she said:" Oh no, no that's…that's alright I suppose. It just startled me.", Ryou watched the man carefully, his face wasn't as murderous as it was a minute ago, but Lyca saw his muscles were tense.

Souma suddenly said loud enough for everyone to hear:" Since we are already outside why don't we start with training?", thankfully, everyone agreed, some more eager than others, anything to disperse the tense atmosphere. They felt like a pack of wolves, defending their territory from an enemy pack who tried to claim it.

The girls stuck together as they ran around the block in a wide circle while the guys decided to do some pushups and play basketball. Souma, Takumi, Isami, Shoji, Daigo, Marui, Shun and Ryou talked quietly with each-other. Daigo said with his fist clenched:"Have you seen that big guy eyeing the girls up? That's disgusting man! We should teach him a lesson!", Shoji could only agree with his friend, glaring discreetly at the Central guys. Souma crossed his arms in thought as he said:" Let's not get worked up over this, the girls know how to defend themselves and if they try anything we are here. Isshiki should arrive soon too, they wouldn't try anything with him here. Though if you ask me I'm more worried about Eizan and that Kusunoki guy.", Ryou nodded, fixing the heat specialist with a sidelong glare as he noticed his eyes following Lyca around as she ran with the girls.

Marui shivered and said:" T-they are really scary. They looked like they want to kill us with a single glare!", Isami crossed his arms and said:" Isshiki mentioned something about Eizan being a Yankee. I suppose Central is something like his gang. Though not everyone follows him around.", Takumi agreed with his brother, his expression dark and angry as he kept a watchful eye on their enemies.

"Let's do this guys!", Souma grinned and they formed a team to play against Central, basketball time. Shun passed the ball to Daigo, who ran as fast as he could to the enemies' hoop. He attempted to do a slam dunk, but then he was brutally pushed away by Shigemichi, who took the ball from him and ran in the opposite direction.

"What the-! Daigo!", Souma shouted as the boys ran over to him, Daigo slowly stood up, holding his side in pain. He sent them a weak smile and said:" Don't worry guys…I-I'm ok.", he took several long breaths of air. Souma growled as he glared at Central, who only smiled smugly in return. Takumi said:" Let's teach them a lesson.", Shun placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head, telling him it was not a good idea.

"We should watch each-other's backs and be careful. They may have more dirty tricks up their sleeves.", Isami commented as he dribbled the ball on the floor, running towards Central's hoop. Souma and Ryou ran on either side of him, Shun and the poor, panting Marui at the back in case Central got the ball and Takumi on the right side near the hoop. Isami passed the ball to Souma, who side stepped Eizan as he dived for the ball and passed it to Ryou. Ryou dodged swiftly their assaults as he jumped high and scored three points for his team.

"Kurokiba, you did it!", Souma cheered as the two rivals and friends high fived, the Aldini twins grinned and clapped him on the back. Marui's soul was about to leave him again as the boy was exhausted from all the running around, Shoji noticed it and shoved his soul back into him as he said:" Oh no you don't. We still need ya Marui so keep it together.", he patted the small, frail boy on the back. The game continued that way, Souma's team had scored thirty points and Central had twenty-seven. Rentaro smirked evilly, it seemed like Central had something planning.

Ryoko almost jumped when Rindo, the 2nd seat of the Elite Ten, suddenly appeared beside her with a wide smile. She said:" Hi there!", Ryoko looked at her slightly suspiciously as she said:" Hi…", the slightly older girl smiled and asked:" So, how are you guys?", she directed the question at all the Polar star girls. Erina placed her hands on her hips and asked:" What is it you're planning Rindo?", she wasn't afraid of the Elite Ten, if then the Elite Ten should be afraid of her. The redhead pouted and said:" I don't know what you mean, me and the girls aren't planning anything. Though I advise you to keep an eye on Eizan and the others.", she glanced at the boys a few feet away who were playing basketball.

Cliffhanger! Sorry, if I continued writing the chapter would have been too long! I'll update soon I promise! JPlease review and tell me what you think of the tense situation between Central and the Polar Star dormitory!