Chapter 1: Prologue
Totsuki
That is the name of the best cooking school in Japan. A very classy school where less than 10% of students graduate.
This school, which has been established for generations, only produces the best graduates who can be counted on one hand.
But not for one particular generation, this generation produces the most graduates compared to previous generations. This generation produces many amazing talents. Yes, they are the 92nd generation of Totsuki or better known as the 'Jewel Generation'.
And today, in a dormitory called Polar Star, the generation known as the 'Jewel Generation' is celebrating their graduation.
"CHEERS!"
"Fuahh, I didn't expect that we would all graduate from this school, right, Ryoko?" Yuuki said cheerfully.
"You're right Yuki, I also did not expect" said Ryoko replied with a smile, then she glanced at the girl beside her confused, "Hm? Megumi? Are you alright? "She asked.
"N-no, it's just that I also didn't expect, even though my grades were always at the threshold" Megumi said deeply moved.
"Come on, Megumi, why are you always worried about that, even now that you graduated as the 6th Chair of Elite 10 Totsuki, it is an extraordinary achievement, and also we have graduated so we don't have to think about it anymore" Yuki said while embracing Megumi with her hand .
Yes, Totsuki Elite 10, it is an organization consisting of the 10 best students in Totsuki, it is the highest organization in Totsuki.
"Right, Yoshino-san said, Tadokoro-san" someone said behind them.
They turned to see the Aldini brothers and Mito Ikumi.
"It's not good to humble yourself all the time, you have to be proud of yourself for what you've accomplished so far" Takumi said.
"Yes, if you continue like that, you won't develop. Even though now your abilities are very great" Ikumi said softly.
Just like Megumi, the two of them are also members of Elite 10, Takumi took the 5th seat and Ikumi took the 10th seat.
"I guess you're right, sorry for acting like that" Megumi replied with a smile.
"Right? Hahaha "said Yuki while laughing.
Then they continued their party.
"Hm, they really enjoyed this party there" Shun said while drinking his drink. Just like Megumi, Shun Ibusaki is also a member of Elite 10 and he occupies the 9th Seat.
"You're right," said the man beside Shun. Shun glanced at the man in surprise.
"It's very rare that you don't get angry when we throw a party in your room, Marui" Shun said calmly.
"How else, how many times did I say you would always have a party here, and also ..." Marui was pensive for a moment "This is our last party at this school"
Shun was silent for a moment, before saying "You're right too, 3 years feels very short even though we have gone through an ordeal to graduate from this school" Shun said, remembering their school days.
"Oh come on, both of you, why do you look like retired parents, let's enjoy this party, okay?" Shoji said cheerfully.
"Let's go! Hahaha" Daigo said with a laugh while pulling Shun and Marui to the party.
"As usual, this place is always noisy" Akira said, leaning against the wall. He is also a member of Elite 10 who occupies the 2nd seat. He also has super strength in the form of a very sharp sense of smell.
"Hey Hayama, although we have graduated but our battle is not over yet" Ryo said sharply to Hayama. The black-haired man is also a member of the Elite 10 Seat 3.
"Of course, practice harder, Number 3" Akira said mockingly.
"Just wait! I will defeat you and Yukihira directly! "Ryo replied before someone pulled his hand.
"What the hell is that Ryo-kun! You say that as if our competition is nothing, and after all you have to serve me forever! "Alice shouted. Like both of them, Alice is also a Elite 10 member who occupies the 4th seat.
"Miss, you are noisy" Ryo said in a nonchalant tone.
"What did you say! Lately, you have become even more rude to me Ryo-kun, it seems I have to educate you even harder! "Alice said.
"Kurokiba said correctly, you are very noisy Alice" Hisako said from behind Alice, attracting the attention of the other two. This girl is a member of the Elite 10 seats to 8 who are very skilled in medical cuisine.
Turning, "You too Hisokko-chan!" Alice said with her cheeks bulging.
"Don't call me Hisokko!" Hisako shouted, as he calmed down he turned to Hayama.
"By the way Hayama, what are you going to do after this?" Asked Hisako.
"You have to come with me Hayama-kun! That way we can continue our `White Robe` gathering" Alice said in a commanding tone.
Hayama laughed before answering, "No, I think I will continue Jun's research after this"
The three were surprised to hear Hayama's answer.
"Serious? I thought you would open your own restaurant " Ryo said in surprise.
"I also think the same" Hisako said.
"Restaurant, huh? Maybe I will think about it in the future, but right now I want to continue that research" Hayama replied. There was a pause then Hayama asked, "What about the three of you?"
"Me and Ryo-kun will return to Europe" replied Alice.
"I will continue the work as Erina-sama's assistant" Hisako said.
Then they continue the conversation.
"By the way, Hisokko-chan, where's Erina?" Said Alice.
"I don't know, and I think you know it" Hisako replied.
"We don't see her, and also the one who is usually the noisiest is not here either" Hayama said as he looked around.
Realizing they were not there, Hisako thought, "The two of them, don't tell me ..."
"Let them spend time together, Hisokko-chan, let's enjoy this party okay?" Alice said with a mischievous grin.
"O-Okay" said Hisako still worried before shouting "and don't call me Hisokko".
On the balcony of the hostel, a very beautiful girl ponders while looking at a very beautiful moon in the sky.
The girl's name was Erina Nakiri or commonly known as 'God's Tongue' because she had a very sharp sense of taste. She currently holds the position of Principal of Totsuki School, a remarkable achievement for the 17-year-old girl. Not only that, when she was still in grade 2 she also won the BLUE tournament, it was a cooking championship for young people around the world.
Erina continued to reflect on the times she had spent in this school.
"Yo, Nakiri" a voice called out to her from behind.
Turning around, Erina could see the person who called out to her.
"Yukihira-kun"
"What are you doing alone here?" Soma said as he approached the balcony.
"Nothing, it's just that I'm remembering school days" said Erina.
"Oh, I see..."
"What are you doing here yourself, Yukihira-kun?" Asked Erina.
"Hm? Oh, nothing, I'm just looking for the wind" replied Soma.
Erina continued to stare at Soma until she realized that her cheeks had turned red, then she turned her attention back to the moon.
Soma Yukihira, initially Erina hated Soma from the beginning of their meeting, according to her, Soma was a very annoying person and a virus that entered her life. But as time went on the hatred faded and turned into a feeling that made Erina's body hot when near Soma.
Actually, because of Erina's love for the Shoujo manga, she already knew what feelings she had for Soma right now, but Erina was too shy to admit it, even more so when she remembered her behavior towards Soma, even now she still doesn't admit that Soma's cooking actually delicious.
"3 years, huh ..." said Soma, breaking the silence between them.
Erina then glanced at Souma, "I never thought time would pass so quickly" Soma continued.
"Hmph, it's fast for you because you disappeared a year during school" said Erina, "But because you took the 1st seat, I can tolerate it."
"Hahaha, sorry about that, I practiced while traveling the world" said Soma laughing, "And by the way Nakiri, what are you going to do after this?"
Erina pondered for a moment due to this quick change of topic and answered, "You already know that I already have a job, Yukihira-kun, so I don't have to answer it" Erina closed her eyes, paused for a few moments before opening her eyes and said, "But ... "
"But?"
"To be honest, I'm tired, Yukihira-kun" said Erina in a low voice, "I'm already tired of solving the problems we have experienced so far, I really like cooking, it has become the most important part for me, but now I hardly enjoy life when cooking because of these problems, all I want is to cook freely without any burden on my shoulders "
"So, I really don't know what I want to do after this" Erina said.
"Nakiri..."
"F-Forget what I said just now" Erina blushed, just realizing that she had overloaded the burden she had been carrying all this time to Soma, "A-And you, Yukihira-kun. What are you going to do after this? " Erina tried to change the topic.
" Me? Well, I guess I'll travel the world to practice again "said Soma.
Erina felt like something was cracking inside her body and involuntarily shouted, "AGAIN? !"
"Calm down Nakiri, no need to shout like that"
Erina tried to calm herself, but she felt an uneasy feeling inside her. "Again? Why does he want to go away from me after being gone for a year? " Erina thought sadly. She no longer wanted to pretend to reject her feelings anymore, during the year after Soma's departure she felt extraordinary loneliness as if the most important person for her had disappeared and would not return.
"Why?" Erina said in a low voice, "Why do you keep practicing? Even though you've been away for a year to practice and you already have extraordinary abilities that no one else will have, so why? Why are you training so hard? "
"Why do you ask like that Nakiri? Certainly the answer I will continue to practice until you say that my cooking tastes delicious" Answered Soma with certainty.
Erina was surprised to hear Soma's answer, "So he has been training very hard because I have never acknowledged the taste of his cooking?"
"Why? Tell me, why do you want me to admit your cooking so much? Is it because of me, you keep practicing this hard?" Shouted Erina.
Soma was surprised to see Erina's eyes starting to water.
"Well, to be honest, it's quite embarrassing for me to answer" answered Soma. Soma was very nervous seeing Erina at this time.
"ANSWER ME !" Erina shouted, unable to hold back her emotions anymore.
"Alright, alright," said Soma, "but calm down first okay"
After a few minutes.
"Have you calmed down?" Said Soma in a worried tone.
"Yes" Erina answered simply.
"Alright, where should I start this ..." Soma thought before continuing, "You know, I didn't have the desire to enter Totsuki, even I didn't know what Totsuki was at all."
Erina was surprised to hear that, "Then why did you come here?"
"Because your grandfather urged my father to send me to Totsuki" Soma answered simply.
"What? Grandfather? But why? "Asked Erina in surprise.
"I don't know, they never said the reason. And it pisses me off so much, I used to have a strong ambition to defeat my father and become the head chef at my restaurant. Then my father gave me a challenge, if I want to be able to defeat him I have to go to this school and practice here, I accept it and I enter this school with confidence. That's when I met you "
Erina listened quietly, she still remembered the meeting.
"When I saw you, I thought ' this girl has high self-esteem ', then I was determined to conquer your pride"
Erina pouted at that, not expecting Soma to have such an impression on her.
"Then it happened, you said my cooking was disgusting, that was the biggest insult in my life, as if the confidence I had accumulated for years had collapsed with just one breath. After that I swear that I will not let you step on my confidence again and will make you say that my cooking is delicious, and that was what made me train so hard "
"Was?" Asked Erina and she did not expect Soma to feel so devastated by her words.
"Yes, I kept practicing while thinking whether you would like the food I made, I kept practicing like that until it became a habit, and as you continued to say my dish was disgusting, for some reason it raised my enthusiasm to train even harder, I continued to practice until I realized that I have grown rapidly from the beginning I entered Totsuki until now, I did not think that I had progressed that far even though I practiced only to make dishes that would make you say delicious, then I kept searching for reasons and I remembered what my father had told me about the secret of being a great chef. Do you know what he said? "
Erina shook her head, she was also curious about the answer.
Soma was silent for a moment, then he looked straight into Erina's eyes and said.
"My father said that to be a great chef is to find someone who is meaningful to you until you want to give the best cooking you have ever made to him, someone you want to give your cooking more than anyone, someone special"
Instantly Erina's face turned red and her body became very hot, "S-So, T-That means ..." she spoke in a stammer and Erina could also see the small red blush on Soma's face.
"Yes," Soma finally answered, "You're the one, Erina Nakiri, you're the one who wants to dedicate the best cooking I've ever made and you're also the reason I can be this strong now"
Erina could no longer hear it, her face was now very red and she did not have the strength to stand up anymore.
"N-Nakiri, are you alright?" Said Soma worriedly.
But Erina did not answer, she kept her head down.
"I will call Arato, you wait here" when Soma will leave suddenly Erina holds his hand.
"Wait!"
Soma turned to look at Erina.
"Please don't go" said Erina.
"A-Alright"
They were silent for a while before Erina said, "Yukihira-kun, you said that you would travel the world right?"
"Yes"
Erina was silent to gather her courage and say, "Then I'll come with you!"
Souma was very surprised to hear that, "What?"
"I'm coming with you!" Erina repeated.
"W-Wait a minute, Nakiri. Are you serious? Don't you have a job now, and what about that? "
"I will resign," Erina said firmly.
"But..."
" I'M COMING WITH YOU!" Shouted Erina. And Soma was very surprised to see tears streaming down Erina's face.
"Do you know? Back when we were in second grade, and I found a letter that you left saying that you were going abroad, I was very upset, you know! "
"I always thought you would always be here with me, cooking and competing whenever we want," shouted Erina, not thinking of the tears that kept flowing, "But you just left without a word to everyone. Not even to me! "
"For me, that is ..." Erina paused for a moment before continuing, "That is the most painful thing for me! Do you know!"
Soma fell silent hearing that, he could feel the pain Erina felt.
"And when I heard that you came home, I was very happy because I could see you after all this time, thinking that you would not go again"
"And now you have decided to leave again, I don't want that!" Erina could no longer hold it in, then she hugged Souma and put her head on Soma's chest, "Please don't leave me!"
Erina continued to cry on Soma's chest.
Soma was silent, he had never thought that Erina had such feelings for him, and he could not see Erina crying like this.
Girls who always have high self-esteem. A genius and talented girl who impressed many people, now she cried in front of Soma.
And Soma couldn't bear to see her like this, so he decided to hug Erina.
"Nakiri" said Soma quietly, "Are you okay with someone like me?"
"Hn" Erina nodded at Soma's chest.
"Are you ready to leave your luxurious life and go with me?"
"I've decided" Erina let go of her arms, "I have no more doubts, Soma-kun"
Soma could no longer hold it in, he immediately aimed his lips at Erina's.
At first Erina was shocked, but she let it go and closed her eyes.
Under the moonlight, the couple continues their romance, then they release their kisses.
"Then let's go, Erina" said Soma, smiling.
"Yes, Soma-kun" Erina replied.
Then the next day, they began the journey.
In the following days, the world of cooking was in an uproar due to the loss of news from 2 of Totsuki's "Jewel Generation" best chefs. People continued to look for their whereabouts but the effort was in vain.
Meanwhile, Soma and Erina continued on their way for days, months and years until their names were barely recognized.