Ah...after sleeping for half a day, I'm back. Lovely headache. Still, I'm getting up to write, for you guys.
Mas2009: You'd be surprised how much can spinning a tale can do. Of course, there will be core scenes that displays the different and even romantic development, something SnS don't focus on (to be honest, I love that)
Bookaholic: I totally agree about the flow. After writing this chapter I'm going back to revise some things.
Okay, that out of the way, let us proceed to chapter 4.
Please enjoy, fav follow review, all that great stuff! Looking forward to it!
April. The beginning of the school year.
"Then, we will proceed with giving the award for the best student of the year. First-year representative, Nakiri Erina."
"Haii."-The magnificient queen walked up, the winds slightly flutter her hair along with the sakura petals in the air.
A truly elegant sight fitting of royalty.
"Ah...Erina-sama is still beautiful as always..."-There are small whispers and chatters below.
"Top of everyclass, with magnificient beauty and in the Elite Ten...how can anyone be anymore perfect than her?"
"Man...I'd die happily if I can go out on a date with her..."
"Shh! If it reaches her ear, your life is over!"
As the award is given to the beautiful blonde, the ceremony continued.
"Then, a speech from our headmaster."
"...The headmaster, Erina-sama's grandfather, also the head of the culinary world..."
"Nakiri Sanzaemon."
Looking at an oldman who still have incredible buffs to his muscle, a scary face with a scar across one of his eyes, saying Yakuza isn't even near to describe him.
Satan probably matches. The demon king.
However, as he inhaled and spoke, he warmed their hearts and gave them courage.
"Congradulation, students, on making it into this academy. During the three years in middle school, you have deepened your knowledge into the basic of food preparing, ingredients. You've had endless classes where you tried and tested your skill with many different dishes, and have been lectured about cooking theory, management, nutrition, sanitation and agriculture. And now you're here. On the doors leading you to your first year in highschool. We won't be testing your skills, your technique, or your knowledge."
"...?"
"We will be testing your guts to see if you have what it takes to survive the life as a chef. Of all students standing here."-Sanzeamon pointed directly as the mass of student.-"99% of you are just worthless stones. Only 1% is a true gem. In the 812 students here in last year, those who continued onto their second year is only...76."
"?!"
"We will get rid of every one who doesn't have what it takes mercilessly. If there's a thousand of you standing here, next year it will only be 100. So tell me. Do you believe you have what it takes to be a gemstone?"
The entire student body is excited and pumped up by his speech.
"If so, prove it."
The cheers were nonstop, energetic and truthful as he finishes his speech.
This is the secret of Tootsuki's institution. Thorough education brought by competition and challenges.
'But I pity those who are born in the same generation as me.'-Erina thought.
The maximum level one could obtain here is only second place.
The number one seat has and will always be her, Nakiri Erina's place.
"..."-Erina's thought went back to the incident one month ago.
After she accidentally stamp the redhead chef failed, another internal battle rose. Admitting to that mistake and let him enter, for some reason, pisses her off to no extent. The idea of seeing his stupid grin again irritates her. But leaving it as that made her feel incredibly guilty, more than she had ever been when she stamped the failure mark on somebody. Because the boy had real talent. Because they had a challenge, one that she actually looked forward to.
Perhaps having him around wasn't so bad...once she beat him, perhaps she can revise that annoying attitude. Then he would make an excellent second place.
In the end, she explained things over with her grandfather, the principal being more than happy once he heard the name, and further embarass Erina that she actually made such a mistake on Asura's son.
But only now did she regret her decision.
"Then, we will introduce the only transfer student that has made it through the examiination without going through the middle school education system here."
'The moron, what kind of idiocy is he about to sprout?'-Erina thought as she eyed the redhead chef as he steped on the stand and leaned on the mike.
"Uh...uhm...this is troubling. Since I'm the only one who passed so they demanded that I would speak...but how to keep it short...uhm..."
"Just hurry up and say it already!"-Erina and some students below is popping some veins.
"Well, there's nothing much to say, but uhm...I'm Yukihira Souma. And all of you are my stepping stones. I have no intentions to lose out to people who didn't actually served actual customers before."
"?!"
'That idiot...'-Erina gritted her teeth.
Now she can't help but to want to kick him out the momment she has the chance.
"Anyway, since I'm here. I'm aiming for the number one spot."-Souma then bowed-"Thank you for listening!"
"YOU BASTARD!"
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU, ROOKIE!"
Those are the general replies he received.
"Phew, I made it without biting my tongue by accident..."-Souma then spotted the flustered Erina as he heads into the tent-"Oh, hey Erina-san. How do you think? To be honest, things like testimonial aren't really important to me, but how did I do?"
"That doesn't matter!"-Erina snapped-"Why did you just have to be so dense and challenge the whole school as your first impression?!"
"Hm?"
"Let me make it clear! I haven't accepted your cooking yet, Yukihira Souma!"
"Eh? but you did say it was adequate and allowed me to enter, didn't you? Ah, talking about it, that was the first time I completely horrified, you know. That stamp still lingers in my mind until now..."
It seems that reminding Erina of her mistake has enough power to at least stop her from throwing a tantrum.
"And I'm regretting that decision right this momment. Maybe I should annouce a mistake and kick you out right now."
"Yeah, that would be really bad..."
Kicking out Asura's son, Erina? That's kinda evil coming from you.
"Anyway, I accepted you in with hopes that you would at least be a loyal lap dog, but it seems you failed even at that! Aiming for the top? Don't make me laugh. All students here have received top ranking review on skills and education. A mistake like you can't hope to survive the first day, let alone taking my first place!"-Erina flipped her hair as she past him.
"...3 years educating huh..."
"Yeah, so what?"
"Like I said back at my shop...the first time I held a knife was when I was three years old."
That sentence alone held gravity as it made the ice queen surprised at remembering those words.
As they turned to face each other, the wind picked up his gakuran, leaving a shirt with the Yukihira mark in the back.
"12 years. That's the ammount of time I've spent in the kitchen, you know."
That sight might have caught a dreamy look from Erina as he continued.
"I could not have my restaurant's name being tainted like that. So...I'll gather whatever skills I would need here, in this institution, and one day, would make you say 'It's delicious'!"
"..."-Erina can't force down her blush at the declaration.
"I'll push my cooking to infinity to satisfy you, Erina!"
Tadokoro Megumi, 15 years old, last place during the entrance exam.
A frail, small girl with darkish blue hair, gold eyes.
"I'm definitely going to be the first stepping stone!"
'No, don't think like that Megumi! Everyone is back home hoping! I can't fail their expectation!'
That's right, just lay low, and stay away from that new guy, Megumi!
...
...
...Is what should have happened.
Due to Megumi being last place, no one wanted to pair up in class.
And of course, the only person they don't want to pair up is...
"What are we cooking today I wonder..."-Yukihira Souma said as he messes around with some garlics.
"Uuuuuu..."
"Ah, nice to meet you."
"N! Nice to M-t you!"
"...W-where did the 'ee' in 'meet' go?"-Souma deadpanned. Did he do something wrong?
"N-no, I just hate the word. I'm scared of it...You see, if I were to have a single more E rating, then I'm expelled..."
"...Oh...that's pretty bad for you...But I thought this is an elite school...turns out there are still people like you here!"-Souma laughed friendly.
But that 'people like you' part stabbed into Megumi as if they are daggers.
"Ah, my name is Yukihira Souma. Nice to meet you."
"Ah...Tadokoro Megumi."
Oblivious to Souma is the ammount of killing intent the other students are giving.
"Morning, class."-The teacher, a mediumly skinny old man with a dark look in his eyes entered.-"Listen up."
"It-it's Chapelle-sensei!"
"Chapelle-sensei?!"
"In my class, you are to make the best dish possible, regardless of position and experience. Those who don't get an A...will get an E. Remember that."
"...I'm...I'm done for..."-Megumi looked like she's close to passing out.
The infamous 'chef who doesn't smile' is leading this first class of the year!
"Today we'll be making Boeuf Bour Guignon. This is a simple French dish that you should all know, but I'll write the recipe on the board to be sure. The time limit is two hours. If that's it, then... Commencez À Cuire! (Begin cooking)"
"Okay..."-Megumi tries to breathe calmly.-"Right now I have to stay calm and try my best..."
'Souma-kun is pretty confident too. I'm sure he-'
"Bu-Boueuf? What the hell is it?"
"?! EEK! Souma-kun, you don't know this dish?!"
"Saa, never heard of it."
"! EEP!"
"Ah, so it's like a beef stew... Well, I'll go take a look at the recipe. Wait a momment, ne?"
"I'm so done..."-Megumi murmured.
...
...
...
And, against all odds, even with other teams' sabortage...
"That sensei spoke true."
"Eh?"
"Before we were students here, we're already cooks on our own two feet!"
He puts on his white headband as he remade the dish.
"Tadokoro, Yukihira, I'll give you an A. But... It is a shame I don't have the means, nor the authority to give you a higher rating than that."-The nortorious chef who doesn't smile...smiled.
"A pleasure to have served you!"-Souma removes the head band and tied it back on his wrist.
...
...
...
"T-thank you very much. It was thanks to you that..."
"Haha, don't mind it. It's just a small problem. No biggie. Everything's fine now, Tadokoro-san!"
"..."-Megumi had a faint blush as she looked up to his smiling face.
'I guess I've met a reliable person...'
"Oh! To celebrate, why don't you try my new dish I came up with?"
"Un! I'll be happy to try it!"-Megumi had no idea the hell that came to her.
"Here, squid tentacles with honey. Oh and here, the original squid tentacle with peanut butter."-For some reason, Souma became a dark shadow that looms over the poor girl.
"EEK!"
'I changed my mind! I don't like this person at all! ! !'
"Eh? So there is a dorm here?"
"You were susposed to be the staff you know?! How come you don't know about it?!"
"The Polar Star dorm...it's true that the school used to have a dorm, but right now, we just don't know..."
"I-I see, I'll go ask someone else then."-Souma said as he left the building.
Unexpectedly, he runs into a familiar face.
"Eh?"-Erina and Hisako noticed the boy as they pass by.
"Oh, Erina, good timing! I was a little lost you see. I'm looking for the school dorm."
"..."-The two girls gave him an 'I don't care' look then proceed to their destination.
"Hey! Don't ignore me! It's your fault for building this school so damn huge! Even the staffs don't know about this 'Polar Star' dorm!"
That halted Erina's steps.
"? Erina-sama?"
"Polar Star...As in Asura of the Polar Star?"-Erina murmured before speaking-"Hisako, do we have a dorm?"
"Even you don't know?!"-Souma clutches his head.
"Eh...yes. It was popular when it was first built, but then the number of students going there reduced greatly..."
"Then we must give the place a proper inspection, don't we? Where is it?"
"If you want to show me the way, you could've just said i-"-Souma started.
"Shut up. Hisako, the location."
"Ah, yes..."
...
...
...
"I forgot one thing..."-Souma started as they are walking.
This place is so damn huge!
As they move along the street, they saw all sorts of constructions, from highrises to temples, traditional houses and structure.
'A windmill? Why?! And a giant dome?! Is it a stadium?!'-Souma now see just how filthy rich these people are.
"I'm so hungry and tired..."-His grip on the grill he brought along is loosening, his eyelids aren't working, heck it's hard for him to properly held that squid tentacle in his mouth.
Even Erina complained.
"I should have called for the car..."
"Well, we're close, so please endure, Erina-sama."
"Bet this is the first time you actually walk somewhere this far, huh?"-Even tired, Souma still has that sly grin as he teased.
Erina popped a vein, but didn't deny that.
Perhaps she is a bit sheltered.
"There we...aaaaarrre?!"-Hisako looked up to see the place and was soon shocked.
Erina and Souma gaped.
Standing before them looks to be an abandoned European styled mansion with the 'Polar Star Dorm' sigh at the entrance.
To be honest, it looks like a total haunted house.
A couple crows placed it self near the gate as it gave that signature crows, making the place scarier by the seconds.
"Well...are you sure this place is still working?"
"Ah..."
"Just head in and see I guess."-Souma leisurely entered.
'He's not afraid at all?!'-Erina and Hisako sweat-dropped.
As they open the door entered...
First they were welcomed by smoke.
"Smoke?! A fire?!"
"Room 208! You are tweaking with the ventilations again aren't you?!"-That sound came through the classic speaker.
"Sorry obaa-san."
"?"-The three new guest had no idea what's going on.
Suddenly, a herd of wild animal of all kinds ran pass them.
"Eek?!"-Erina and Hisako dodged, but the blonde in peticular lost her footing in the rush.
"Whoa!"-Reacted in time, Souma caught her into his arms as he prevented the fall.-"You okay, Erina?"
"... ! ! ! !"-Erina was having a flustered face for a second.
What kind of aura did she just got herself caught up into?
For a momment, there's that dreamy sparkles effect surrounding them as if this were somesort of a shoujo manga!
Her feelings for the redhead is already a mess as it is...
Then she regained the sense of the situation and quickly seperated.
"I-I'm fine. Even if I fall..."
"Don't say it like that!"-Souma smiled-"Who would let an ojou fall to the floor anyway?"
"...thank you."-The blonde princess muttered just enough for them to hear, face still pink.
Then, Erina felt killing intent.
Not towards her, but to the redhead.
She and Souma turned to see Arato Hisako enveloping herself in an aura of intense flame.
"Yu-ki-hi-ra Sou-ma! ! !"
Right now, it looked like they just had 'a momment'.
"Are you alright Hishoko? You don't look-"
"My name is not Hishoko! ! ! Where did that name even come from?!"
The conversation was interupted as the speaker voices again.
"Room 116, I thought I told you that keeping pets are not allowed! Next time I'll skin 'em all, you hear me?!"
A momment later, a person stepped out to greet them.
"You are Yukihira Souma, the boy who was looking to enter my dorm, yes?"
"Ah, uhm..."-Souma nodded.
Before them is a creppy old woman with a strange hair style and a creepy smirk.
"I am Daimidou Fumio, the manager for this dorm. Now, have you prepared the ingredients?"
"Ingredients?! For what?!"
"For the admission test of course. Didn't you heard about it?"
"No I haven't!"
"Huh? Do you honestly think you can stay here without having test of skills first?"
'This is the attitude that let to this place's decay...'-Erina and Hisako thought as they sweat-dropped.
"Does that mean that tonight, I have to-"
"Yes, you camp outside."
"Are you kidding?! Camping outside an April night, might as well order a tombstone for a pillow!"
"Well, rules are rules kid. Come back with the ingredients."
Suddenly, against her nature, Erina approaches Souma as she tapped his shoulder.
"Hm?"
"I guess it can't be helped."
"?!"-Hisako was terrified by now.
Is she going to give him the needed ingredient? Or actually...
'Let...let him stay with her?'-The loyal aide trembled at the thought.
What kind of shoujo manga that led to this?! She had pre-read them to make sure Erina-sama never gets the wrong ideas with it! Why...
"I'm willing to let you stay..."
"Erina-sama, wai-"
"In my doghouse."
...
...
...
"Eh?"-Souma had the strangest expression of dumbfoundedness and froze there.
"Hisako, order a large bone for his dinner."
"Haii, Erina-sama."-Hisako, although surprised that her Erina-sama is actually interested in joking and messing around, nodded seriously.
"Don't listen to her!"-Souma retorted. He didn't expect that, not at all. Heck, the very fact that she offered that joke is strange enough.
"Don't worry, my doghouse is gonna be more comfy and warm compared to any other place you can huddle in tonight."
"Except the fact I'm not your dog!"
"Listen to her, kid. For your health."-Fumio-san added.
"What about my dignity?!"
"What bone size do you want?"-Hisako teamed up.
"I said stop it!"-Yukihira Souma is not used to being teased, although the look on Erina's face is saying she's not joking at all.
"Like I told you, there's nothing but left-overs in the kitchen, there nothing you can do to-"
"Left-overs?"
"Huh?"
"I got it. If there's still something in the kitchen, then it is still enough! I accept the challenge, Daimdou Fumio-dono!"
"Huh?!"-That surprised the remaining females.
"Wow, compared to the shabby outlook, the kitchen looks actualy decent..."-Erina spoke.
"Well, it is the dorm of a culinary school."-Fumio laughs-"By the way, what brought you to this place? If you are visiting and inspecting, give a word ahead, Nakiri Erina-kun."
"The idea is an unexpected inspection, Fumio-dono. But, seems like the place is still holding up despite the age and unruly students."
"Hahah. that's where you're wrong, Nakiri-kun."-Fumio laughs again-"My dorm kids...are more special than you could imagine."
Erina frowned at that, but as Souma nodded as he seems to have come up with a dish, which is actually really amazing considering the kitchen is as close as empty as it could be, they turned their attention to the boy.
"Okay, please wait a momment!"-Souma started cooking.
"He really did accepted the challenge..."
...
...
...
"Without a single gram of beef or pork..."-Fumio-san laughed disbelievingly-"How in hell's name did you make this huge hamburger?!"
"Heheh. I used canned tuna meat."-Souma grinned as he showed them the empty can.-"Onions, eggs, bread crumbs. I added them into the canned tuna meat, added salt then fry it. Then I used juice from the canned tuna and add ponzu, potato starch into it, and a great sauce can be created."
"Amazing...with such little ingredients..."-Hisako voiced.
"And what this egg soup?"-Erina tasted some-"This...is no less than the best quality daishi used to make it."
"What?! There's no kelp or katsuobushi for him to make it!"-Fumio tried some herself.
"Ah...I just happened have it with me."-Souma gestured to the squid tentacle in his mouth.
"Squid?! You're telling me you made the daishi with it?!"
"Of course. Dried squid is an excellent piece of material. Just reconstructed in in water and add some salt to adjust the flavor and you can make high quality daishi with it."-Souma then gestured to the whole meal-"This is the Yukihira's way of cooking, Surprise tuna burger meal!"
'Impressive.'-Erina's expression softens as she smiled thinly.-'With so limited material, he can make a high quality dish, no, nearly an entire meal. He's definitely got some talent. Perhaps it's just a meal enough for my eating this time, but it's enough to-'
"Hold me~"-Fumio, tranced by some past about her first time, grabbed hold of the redhead Yukihira by mistake.
"Let go you crazy woman!"-Yukihira Souma fought litteraly for his virginity.
After a momment, reality came back to the old woman, and she cleared her throat as she declared.
"Okay, I accept you into my dorm, Yukihira Souma!"
Coming out of his struggle for purity, Souma responded.
"A pleasure to have served!"
"Your room would be 303."-Fumio gave him the key.
"Yosh! I'm taking a shower! Bye Erina!"-Souma was so tired and in need of relaxation right now, so he dashed off, forgetting their bussiness.
"Hm. An interesting kid has joined in today."-Fumio-san grinned.
"Hmph."-Erina folded her arm, feigning ignorance-"Now Fumio-dono. About the inspection..."
"Ah, of course."-Fumio leaded them-"Oh, I forgot to warn him. There's someone using the bathroom right now..."
That sent electric shocks down the two younger girls.
Too late.
The inevitable scream of Tadokoro Megumi filled the halls.
I'll be honest and tell you all. I've fallen sick somewhere around half of this. My plan was to write a longer chapter, but first, I have not eaten a thing for a full day(while writing fanfic for a cooking manga), I have a headache, my eyes are filled with butterflies. So forgive me guys. I'll continue tomorow or the day after, after a good night's sleep at best. Please, rate, review and fav if you haven't. I'm looking forward to it!
Til next time.
DsCrystalEyes