Chapter 1: Cooking with Music
Hey everyone I'm back with a new story. Now I have always loved Shokugeki no Soma and it always bummed me out not many people made stories of it. I tried doing one of these before but I hit a block, but I think I have it figured out. I would like to thank Cowboy Alchemist for helping me with the character and I hope you like what I have planned. Just FYI I don't know very much about cooking so just pretend what I write works. Please Review and Enjoy.
In New York City, the streets were bustling as people went about their daily lives. In New York, there are many amazing places to eat, from the super fancy places with even fancier food to simple hot dog and pretzel carts. But there was one place in the middle that everyone loved. It was called Grayson's and people from all over New York came for a delicious meal.
"Come on people! We got the lunch rush coming!" A man with black hair said as the various cooks in the kitchen worked hard. This was Liam Grayson and he was the head chef of this amazing eatery.
"Here you are sir." A chef said showing him a plate.
"Very good." Liam said putting the finishing touches on it before it went out. "How are those dishes coming along? Andy? Andy?"
Looking at the dish station, he saw a little boy with short blue hair listening to music on his black, blue and silver headphones humming along to the music as he washed dishes.
Rolling his eyes, Liam walks over and pulls one speaker off his son's ears. "Andrew."
"Sorry dad." Andy said embarrassed.
"Andy I don't mind you listening to music but not during the rushes. We need those dishes cleaned ASAP." Liam said.
Sighing Andy took his headphones off and handed his dad his headphones hooked up to his iPod.
"It'll be right here when the rush is over." Liam said putting it on the counter.
As Liam walked out with the food, Andy peeked through the door to see Liam hand the plates to the customer and as each person took a bite, they all let out moans of delight loving all the dishes prepared.
"Wow. I wonder if I'll get as good as that." Andy said amazed.
"I'm sure you can if you try hard enough." Walking in was an adult waitress with blue hair, this was Maria Grayson, Andy's mom and Liam's wife.
"Thanks mom." Andy smiles.
"Come on people we got orders to fill!" Maria calls out as they got to work.
As the lunch rush died down, the restaurant started to empty out as Andy was wiping down tables with Liam checking the profits.
"Hey dad." Andy asks getting his attention. "How are you so good at cooking?"
"It's a just a feeling son, when I'm in the kitchen I'm able to figure out exactly what I need to do and with a little patience and fun the food just happens." Liam smiles.
"Cool." Andy said amazed.
"So this is where a 4th seat of an Elite 10 ends up." A male voice entering the building.
Turning Liam and Andy saw a man with sleek black hair with a white streak walk in, next to him was a little girl around Andy's age with long blonde hair, this was Azami Nakiri and his daughter Erina.
"Uh sorry sir, but lunch hours are over. You'll have to come back when our dinner hours start." Andy said walking up to him but Azami just laughed.
"You honestly think I would lower myself to eat at this dump?" He mocks.
"Azami, still the same annoying jerk from school I see." Liam narrows his eyes.
"I'm gonna forget you said that for old time's sake, Liam." Azami said.
"What do you want Azami?" Liam asks.
"Just some information. You remember our old friend Joichiro?" Azami asks.
"How could I forget our old dormmate?" Liam narrows his eyes. "After he left school, he cut off communication with everyone he knew."
"But that's the thing. He didn't cut off from everyone. I think he still keeps in contact with you." Azami smirks causing Liam to tighten his fist "Just tell me what I want to know and I'll leave."
"This is my restaurant Azami, legally I am allowed to kick if I see fit." Liam glares.
"But my daughter is famished. Aren't you Erina?" Azami said as the little girl stepped forward. "I'll make you a deal. If anyone in this restaurant can make a dish that can make my daughter say it's decent, we'll leave and never come back."
"Deal. What should I make?" Liam asks.
"Whatever you and your chefs see fit." Azami smirks as he and Erina sat at a table. "You there" Azami points to Andy.
"Uh me?" Andy asks.
"Here's a $100 give me a cup of whatever alcohol you have in this place." Azami said handing him the money. "Keep the change, it'll be the last money anyone makes in this restaurant after we leave."
Andy narrows his eyes as he walked to the kitchen where he saw his father and all the chefs inside cooking their hearts out.
"This is it guys! Cook as if your life depends on it!" A sous chef said trimming meat.
"We can't mess this up!" Another chef said cutting vegetables.
As Liam was manning the stove, Andy looked in shock and fear at how one man brought his normally calm father to this stage.
In the restaurant Andy refilled Azami's drink he looked to Erina. "Anything for you to drink?"
"Just water." Erina said.
Walking to the drink station, Andy poured her a glass and she took a sip. "Ugh too filtered."
"Huh?" Andy said confused.
"That's my daughter's talent you just saw." Azami said sipping his wine. "You see, I've trained my daughter to be able to compare different tastes and determine precise errors in everything put in front of her. I call it the God's Tongue."
"Anything?" Andy said shocked.
"Before the day is done your father will shut this place down and I will have what I need." Azami smirks as the door opens to reveal Liam and all his chefs with their dishes.
Andy stepped back as Maria held him close as Liam placed his dish down first.
"A personal favorite, Deconstructed Philly Cheese Steak." Liam said as Erina took a bite.
"The ratio between meat and cheese is too large, the meat hardly as any flavor because it was overcooked by 10 seconds and the cheese choices are incompatible with the vegetables you have chosen for this dish." Erina said shocking them as she shot down Liam's dish.
Andy watched in horror as Erina tasted every dish that the chefs provided and shot each one done making the chefs feel broken and horrible.
"Well looks like you lose Liam. And you call yourself a chef?" Azami mocks finishing his glass. "If you had any dignity you'd close this place down by the end of the week. Now tell me what I want to know."
Andy looked at the man who came in out of nowhere and bashed his father and friends over and over again. "WAIT!" Andy called out stopping him. "You said if anyone in this restaurant could make your daughter say the food decent you would leave, right?"
"That is correct and you all failed." Azami said.
"No…because I wanna try." Andy declared surprising everyone while Azami just smirks.
"You're very entertaining, I'll give you that, but if your father couldn't impress my daughter what makes you think you can?" Azami asks.
"Because I literally have nothing to lose." Andy said.
"Just let him." Erina said getting her father's attention. "I'm in the mood for dessert."
"You heard my daughter. Make her a dessert." Azami orders.
Grabbing Andy, his father and the chefs bring him into the kitchen.
"Alright Andy make my apple pie, that works everytime." Liam said.
"No, she needs something richer, go with chocolate cake." A chef said as all of them started to argue loudly as Andy covered his ears more afraid of anything that's ever happened to him.
Looking around for something, anything that could block out the sound Andy saw his headphones still hooked up to his iPod on the counter.
Walking over Andy put the headphones on and turned the first song he saw on at full blast.
(Play Get Back Up by Toby Mac)
As the music started to play the arguments around Andy started to fade away as the lyrics from the song took him away.
We lose our way,
We get back up again
It's never too late to get back up again,
One day you're gonna shine again,
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever,
It was like everything became clear to him. The song continued and like with the instruments in the background of the song Andy saw all the ingredients in the kitchen stand out for him and he knew what to cook.
Grabbing the vanilla, strawberries, lemons and a can of soda Andy got to work as all chefs stopped arguing and looked in surprise as Andy was following the music before squeezing the lemons and pouring the cola into the juice before making a mixture, cutting the strawberries he put in in the mixture and put it in the oven.
Next he grabbed a pack of Jell-O mix and mixed in the vanilla and poured the lemon soda juice in it.
When the cake came out of the oven Andy put the frosting mixture and walked out.
Placing the dish down, Andy turned off his headphones ending the song.
(Song End)
"What's this dish?" Erina asks as Andy lifted off the lid to reveal a piece of vanilla cake with strawberries in it and a sea green frosting on it.
"My Vanilla Lemon/Lime Soda cake." Andy said as Erina cut a piece off and took a bite.
But when she did her eyes widen as the taste caused her to release a soft moan.
"I used the sourness of the lemons to balance the sweetness from the soda and the strawberries inside the cake help keep it moist and tasty. I used the Jell-O mix for the frosting because it's strong and supports the ingredients I added." Andy explained. "You may be able to knock us down, but it's not out forever." Andy said quoting his song.
In Erina's mind she saw herself in a boxing ring with her father right behind her as she knocked down each one of the chefs in the restaurant with one punch when something came in and punched her back.
Erina falls against the ropes and when she turned to see Andy also wearing a pair of boxing gloves ready to fight back causing a soft blush to appear on her face as she zoomed out of the fantasy.
"It's…good." Erina said causing Azami's eyes to widen in horror while everyone else.
"A deal's a deal. She said good, now get out and never come back." Andy glares.
Grinding his teeth, Azami stands up and walks out of the restaurant. "Come Erina."
As Erina stood up to follow him she turned to see everyone in the restaurant praise and show Andy love, support and praise. Deep down…she wished she had someone to do that to her.
"Andy how did you do that?" Maria asks.
"I don't know I just put on my music and it was like everything became clear." Andy said gesturing to his headphones.
As everyone praised the little chef, Liam looked at his son with pride and interest.
'To discover such a talent under such pressure is remarkable. If he could hone that he might even be able to go to Totsuki.' Liam thought with a smile. 'Andy, you might be able to become a better chef than I could ever be.'