Chapter 28
A week later.
Tempest stood outside of the rec center.
It was a high-end facility by the looks of it, and it offered a lot more than mere cooking classes. He saw sports and other recreational activities going on, yet as he stared he knew he had to take the plunge sooner than later. If he can improve himself in a skill, perhaps he will gain more confidence in doing other things in his human form. With a deep breath, he walked into the building. The test kitchen was down the hall to the right. With that he made his way towards it. People were stopping and whispering about him as he walked by. He kept his hood up and sunglasses on as he tried to appear non conspicuous to say the least. But it only made him more mysterious among the girls.
He arrived at the class and found that it was full of young girls and some rather oblivious boys. They were clamouring over one table. "Hey babe, you can make me dinner any time… even breakfast!" one said with a sickening grin.
"Go to hell!" she snapped back. Tempest smiled as it was Misty who told off the boys, but they were getting rather persistent. One was even arching his hand to grab her from behind!
He was quick to make his way into the room. He abruptly cleared his throat. "Excuse me." He said in a gentle tone.
"What!" the boys turned but found themselves being looked down upon. Tempest was clearly two heads taller than they were! Instantly they backed off! He took his seat next to Misty who laughed aloud.
"Oh man, I wish I recorded that, they went pale!" she giggled. But then realized something, she leaned over. "You can't wear a hoodie or sunglasses in class. Your shirt is too long to cook in," she whispered.
He sighed aloud. He was reluctant to take off his hoodie, but she was right, no one else wore such a thing. Perhaps that explained why his mother told him to wear a t-shirt under his clothes. Slowly, he stripped off the sweater, once he tucked it behind him and then took off his sunglasses, the girls of the room blushed.
"Oh… my… God…" one whispered.
"He's gorgeous!"
"Look at those arms!"
"There is so a six pack under that t-shirt!"
He sneered to it all. Misty only smiled. "Don't listen to them if you don't like what they say, besides. I doubt anyone is going to mess with you now." She whispered.
"Thanks Misty,"
The class started, the Teacher was a professional culinary chef and was willing to teach those who would listen. "I don't expect perfect dishes from you, however if you pay attention, you can achieve perfection!" he announced. He was a no nonsense type of teacher. In fact, before class started he evicted three people! "You, you and you… OUT!"
They froze. "What?! WHY!" demanded the three. Two girls, one boy.
"You have not looked at me the moment I stepped into the room, your eyes wonder about, if you do that while holding a knife you are going to lose more than your fingers! OUT!"
Like that, three people gone.
"Hardcore…" Misty whispered. But her smile grew. "You up for this?"
Tempest was oddly excited about it all, there was a challenge before him, the teacher didn't care who he was, and he didn't stare at him oddly like others did. The man was there to teach.
He's there to learn!
#
The instructor was good, a little relentless at times, but good. That day all they learned about were proper knives to use for certain jobs, and then, dicing food with the correct blade. Onions were a big pain in the ass, they made everyone cry, and yet, by the end of it all. The class had sliced, diced and julienne all the veggies the teacher brought. "Sir… where are those going?" asked Misty.
He smiled. "You helped make the base for a soup that will be used to feed the homeless and hungry!" he said proudly.
"Oh good it won't be wasted then," Misty sighed.
With class done, the room began to empty, yet the chef called out. "You two!" to Misty and Tempest. They froze as he waved for them to come to his desk, when the others left he said to them. "You are taking this far more seriously than the others."
"I want to cook." Said Tempest. "I have so much to learn, and yet I already feel I am getting better"
"I can cook, but I need to broaden my skills to say the least."
He gave a nod. "Perhaps it is best that next time, you take the front of the class. I don't like the delinquents here shifting their eyes at the two of you. You want to cook, I will teach you to cook!" he said proudly.
"Thank you sir." Tempest said in great gratitude.
"Now, be off with you and retain what you learned here."
Misty smiled proudly as did Tempest. There is potential!
As they walked out of class, they found all the girls waiting for him!
"Oh, please help me home, I don't feel safe!"
"No walk me home! I live so far!"
"No, I need to be walked home, these books are heavy!"
"Uh… I got another class to go to." He lied.
The girls suddenly perked up. "Oh? Perhaps we have the same class then?"
"Didn't you just ask him to walk you home?" demanded Misty.
They glared at her, however Tempest said it was a secret and wouldn't say another word. The girls left defeated, it didn't help their phones went off, all happened to be on speaker. Their parents were in the parking lot waiting to pick them up.
He was relieved that he would be left alone.
Misty escorted him out of the school, yet as Tempest walked onto the grounds, he was shoved hard from the side. He was forced a step back but kept balance. "What the hell is your issue man? You mean to tell us this girl is your girlfriend or something!?"
He paused at the question. "Are you upset that I stopped your perverted game?" he asked.
There were six of them, each of them snickering to his comment. "Looks like we got to teach you a lesson pretty boy!"
He stood at the ready, despite the lack of his serpent strength. Tempest would stand his ground. He is a Brawler after all!
He ordered Misty back as the six surrounded him. One came from the side attempting to knock him over, he merely leaned back and shoved the guy face first into the ground, one came right at him, an open palm strike sent him flying out of his shoes! The last four all tried to jump him, but they were quickly repelled off with a mere open palm strike. Tempest's father told him to use this technique so it wouldn't hurt people very much. Still they felt it!
They grasped on to their chests as they tried once more to take him down! They charged all at once. Tempest felt the resistance pushed against his body, yet his feet didn't dragged across the ground, he refused to move let alone fall!
He merely shoved them all off, when they tried to get up again for one more strike. Yet as they got to their feet a voice boomed. "ENOUGH!"
Everyone turned and stared at a hefty man staring down the boys. Tempest even froze to his stature. He was rather large to say the least, but felt great power from him.
The troublemakers were quick to run as Tempest was left standing. "Thank you," he said.
Yet the large man still stared at him rather strangely, it was just like how his father does when he is trying to look for something in someone. "Is something wrong?"
"No… no not at all… hm… your stance needs work though."
"Huh?"
"Oh, sorry. I should introduce myself. My name is Onimaru, Sumo wrestler. Oni for short."
"Sumo Wrestler?" Tempest asked.
The smile grew on the man's face. "I know potential when I see it. Quite frankly, you don't quite have the figure… granted thin and lean, yet there is still mass on you. Would you care to join us for a practice one day? We're about to have one now, sit in and watch if you want. I think we could make something out of you."
Tempest blushed a little. "I… don't really know… I am not exactly good around other people…"
"Ah, shy one are we? That's fine too! If you change your mind, come and see me. Ask for Oni by name, okay? No one will mess if you if that is your concern if you are with me. Take care!"
As Onimaru walked away, Tempest decided he wanted to go home. Misty however was enchanted. "A sumo wrestler! You would be PERFECT for it!" she said.
"I don't even know what a sumo wrestler does!"
"Well, research it! Go home and look it up. I think it would be something for you. No one in your family does it right? A nice sport to pick up…"
"Perhaps. I'll consider it."