Author's P.O.V

The day had soon turned to evening as quick as lightning. Misaki had still not made an effort to talk to the two princes as of a friendly matter. No, Misaki wasn't being rude, just too shy to talk to them. He believed that he so led make an absolute fool of himself if he did. He went to the kitchen to see many men and women, dressed in white chef outfits, buzz around like bees in a hive.

He knew that he hasn't even introduced himself to the other members of the castle, so he went down to the kitchen. It was dinner time anyway, so why not now. There was going to be many people from many kingdoms coming for a gathering in the fall.

Steam was pouring out like a folktale witches' culdren. Workers, men and women alike, were shouting over each other and getting to work. One woman in particular rushed to me and placed a similar apron in my hands. "You must be the newcomer that's suppose to work her. You're just in time cause we're short on staff."

Despite him wanting to say what he was actually there for, Misaki just let it go and decided to help. Besides, they said they were low on staff.

"I'm not the newcomer, but I'm glad to help out." Misaki replied.

"Good enough for me." said the woman chef "Now put it on and come straight here. I'll tell you what you need to do."

At that, he went to another room and removed his shirt, replacing it with the new white buttoned one. Then, he tied the apron across my waist so that my pants wouldn't get dirty either. Misaki ran at a moderate pace and found his way back to the steaming kitchen. The same woman from before had directed him to a "station" and told me some basic stuff.

It wasn't hard because Misaki has cooked it before and making the baked chicken is the easiest. He prepared it as quickly as possible and placed it in the oven for it to cook.

"I need someone to help me sauté this shrimp!" someone shouted from across the room.

"I got it!" Misali shouted and speed walked towards the station. He let the fire dance around as he put the wine with the shrimp and tossed it around. Soon, Misaki felt as if this is where he belonged. A world of culinary colors, scents, and sounds.

Soon, instead of basic communication, it turned to basic shouting. Many directed towards me for no reason. They weren't mean, but Misaki was still the center of it all.

A slam of the door had interiors everyone's concentration. The king had everyone's attention.

"Nice work everyone! Another day's good job-Misaki! What are you doing here?"

Misaki's P.O.V

As if on instinct, everyone looked at me and I blushed. "Umm." I replied

"Who is she?" said the woman from before. "I thought she was the new worker. If not-" she look towards me and narrowed her eyes and for a quick second, they had turned a bright red."what's is she here for."

It had looked like I had set everyone off. I swear I had sweat dropped like no tomorrow. I raised my hands to my chest and silently freaked out. 'Bad idea bad idea bad idea! A very bad idea indeed!'

Before I could get antagonized, the king clapped his hands. "This girl is staying with us for the year. Remember I said that there would be a guest with us?"

The lady, while I didn't even know, popped her gum and chewed it. "Well than what the hell are you doing helping us work for the past hour and a half?"

I straightened out my collar with embarrassment. "Well, at first all I wanted to do was introduce myself. However, you looked like you needed help so I just-" I made a 'throwing something with both my hands' motion "went in there and helped. I hope I didn't cause an inconvenience to you all." I bowed "It was fun working with you." and I smiled.

Now it was everybody's turn to apologize. Everyone swarmed around me, bowing their heads and saying apologies that were very incoherent because of the multiple layers of them being thrown at me.

I spazzed around and flailed my arms about. "P-p-please don't apologize to m-me! I-I-I-it was all my fault anyway please don't worry."

Timeskip to after the gathering

I went to my room to change my clothes again. A pair of black cargo shorts and a black short sleeved shirt. When I headed myself to the kitchen, I sensed the presents of a person. I turned around and only saw a glimpse of a set of brown hair and a hint of purple. I wasn't suspicious since the person seemed to not appose a threat. So, I went on with my destination without flaw.

The elongated table was cleared of any speck of food or dirt, but at the end was a single plate. I walked towards it and inspected the card that was placed beside it.

Dear Madam Takahashi,

I would like you to eat this, for it is a thank you token. Without you, we wouldn't have succeeded tonight, despite the fact that you weren't meant to. Anyway, please to have you around for the year. I hope you'll be able to cook with us again.

Sincerely, Another Girl

After reading it, I smiled. This person went through the the trouble to make this for me. I should thank them when I find them as soon as possible.

I took the fork and knife and cut into the small piece of the same baked chicken that I had made that night. I sniffed it and sighed happily. I placed it in my mouth and happily chewed it.

But then...my happiness turned into shock and disgust. I covered my mouth so that I wouldn't puke all over the plate and clean table.

The more I let the food settle in my mouth, the more it made me sick. 'This tastes very...

interesting?' I thought to myself. Well I mean, interesting was an understatement.

A man and a woman had bursts into the same room I was in."Takahashi-sama! Don't eat the chicken!" They shouted.

At our misfortune, I had already token a bite out of it. They ran to my side and I took the napkin, places it to my mouth, and spit out the food in my mouth. I shivered as the after taste mixed in with its my saliva. How can a person burn something, but have it cold and raw on the inside?

"T-tell me who made this." I said in a monotone voice. They two had pointed to the direction of the kitchen as fast as possible.

I walked into that direction. I want to talk to this person as soon as possible, but before I got to my destination a young woman had appeared before me. The same brown hair and purple highlights from before had appeared. Everything started to click in place.

"Were you the one who cooked that for me?" I asked calmly.

The lady was shivering, blushing, and had her head bowed low. "H-hai."

"Well...I have something to say about that." I heard a pair of snickering behind me and looked back towards the girl. "What is your name ma'am?"

She looked up and he eyes looked to me. They where colored a mysterious grey. Almost as if she were a doll and the creator took all of his time painting her eyes this shade. It looked very delicate."My name is Asla. Okemari Asla."

"Well Okemari-san. I was about to say that...the chicken that you cooked was absolutely horrid." I stated firmly and monotonous.

I soon saw her eyes shatter in pieces and her smile to a sad frown. My heart began to break too, but I wasn't finished yet." A real cool wouldn't take such a simple piece of poultry and make it into a deadly weapon of culinary art. I am very dissatisfied with your dorm of work."

The tears started to flow out of her eyes in bulks. She hung her head low and her shoulders started to quiver. "I-I'm sorry I-"

"However-" I interrupted "That's why I want to teach you."

"Eeeeehhh!" Shouted Okemari-san and the other two chefs in the background.

Her tears had stopped but still attached to her eyes. I raised both my hands and gently wiped them away. Then went to her cheeks and wiped it away too. "I see potential in you Okemari-san. I don't want you to loose that spark that I can sense inside of you. Your only like this because you have not one person outside of yourself that believes in you. So, I will be he first." I placed my arms on her shoulders and hugged her. I released.

"Tomorrow. I will teach you to be a decent cook. I will be patient at most times, but I will not tolerate anything that is not up to my expectations. You got what it takes."

I took a moment for her to process what I said. As soon as it did, she rammed into me and gave me a breath stealing hug.

"A-A-ARIGATO! I'm so blessed. THANK GOODNESS!" She shouted. I tried to pry her off me but it wouldn't budge one bit, she was just too strong. However, I'm glad to be able to wittiness the look on her face. It was of pure joy and that was what made my heart pound the most today. Someone else being happy because of me.

After a few minutes of intense hugging, she let me go. "I'll see you early tomorrow! I'll never let you down." she bowed "Thank you Takahashi-sensei!" Then ran away as fast as possible.

The two from before had placed their hands on my shoulders. "She's useless. You don't know what your getting into ma'am." said the man.

I shrugged off their hands and shook my head at the same time. "No. You two are wrong, very wrong indeed. What you two are as failure, I see hope and potential. You'll see, she just needs to take one step at a time and all will follow through."

Timeskip

I was right as always. Though, it was a little bit of a struggle. Sometimes we would have to take multiple trials while other times we would have to go by square one. But in the end of every session and every type of pastry,meat,pasta,soup, and any other types of food you could think of was finally put to the test. I had asked the king to be the tester for her. He agreed almost instantly as if he had the same feeling as me.

I wished Okemari-san good luck and she went in. Trembling, but still held her ground. An hour later, she came out with a 4-course meal and waited. She waited and waited and waited until the results came.

"Asla. Come here." said the king with no emotion in his voice. I pressed her back and semi-forced her towards the dinning room where the king was. I was just as anxious as she was.

'Oh, I really hope that this is all paid off. She put so much work into her cooking and improved so well.' I thought while bitting the tips of my thumb in worry. I started to pace back in forth, asking myself why they seem to take so long.

As my prayers were answered, Okemari-san walked out slowly. She looked as if she was the waking dead and I felt sad. "I'm sorry. You did the best yo-""He said it was great." She interrupted.

I blinked and blinked again and my brain processes her words very slow. "What did you say?" I asked surprised.

She ran up to me and gave me one of her big hugs."The king said I passed. He said that I had improved very well." I saw her have tears in her eyes. And they weren't those of sadness, but they were those of pure joy.

"Congratulations! I knew you could do it." I shouted out loud. Both of us were shouting, jumping, and plain celebrating on our own time.

"Ano. Is it okay if I call you Oni-chan Takahashi-sama since you don't like the -sama after your name because said it sounds too stuffy?" She asked with an embarrassed tone.

I stopped and just laughed, I nodded. I wanted her to be able to be as comfortable with me as possible, for I have found a friend. A chef friend at that, whose dreams that I have made have came true.