Chapter 2: Totsuki Academy
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. Wow I'm surprised how many of you are interested in this story. Your comments inspired me to get this out as soon as I could. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
It had been 8 years since Andy had managed to beat Erina and Azami and since then he grew in both size and skills. That day transformed Andy's abilities and with his father's help, he honed his musical cooking skills.
At Grayson's, Liam was in his office when Maria walked in.
"How's it looking in there?" Liam asks.
"Pretty calm, but the critic just walked in." Maria said getting his attention. "Are you sure about this? This one is tough."
"Andy needs to face this test. If he passes, he'll be ready." Liam said standing up.
In the kitchen, all the chefs were hard at work when Liam walked in to see a 15-year-old Andy was at the stove. His blue hair had grown to medium length and was wearing a black shirt with gray sleeves and the Grayson restaurant logo in green over his heart. With his iPod strapped to his side and his headphones on his head Andy hummed to a song when Liam tapped his shoulder telling him to pause the song.
"Hey dad, what's up?" Andy asks taking off his headphones.
"We got a critic who wants the chef's special." Liam said.
"Hmm which one?" Andy asks.
"It's the Grim Eater." Liam said causing Andy's eyes to widen.
"Whoa, a challenge." Andy said before taking a few deep breaths. "Let's do this." Andy reaches for his iPod and clicks on a song before putting his headphones back on.
(Play Firework by Katy Perry)
As the music starts Andy gathered up all the ingredients he needed before stopping in front of the vegetables grabbing a knife Andy started cutting them up before moving around the kitchen.
'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Following the music, Andy dances around the stove while cooking at the same time.
Liam and Maria watch their son moving so fluently around the kitchen while having fun at the same time.
"Told you those dance lessons were a good idea." Maria smiles.
"Cooking and dancing to music at the same time, amazing." Liam smiles.
Reaching for some bourbon, siracha and butter Andy poured them into a pan and pink flames shot up into the air before blew them out and poured them onto his plate.1
Finishing his plating, Andy walks out to the restaurant as the song died down to see an elderly man with glasses waiting for him.
(Song End)
"You order the Chef's special?" Andy asks taking off his headphones getting his attention.
"Yes I did, mind telling me what it is?" He asks.
"For the special today, I give you my special Tri-Tip roast over roasted vegetables." Andy said placing it in front of him.
The Grim Eater narrows his eyes before writing some notes on a notepad before reaching out and taking a bite. Once he did his eyes widen.
"For the seasoning of this Tri-Tip I used paprika, salt, pepper and Thyme to give a unique taste while the sauce under it is a bourbon siracha which gives you a spicy kick while a mellow calming flavor at the same time and the roasted asparagus, green beans and brussel sprouts take you on a wild journey." Andy said.
The Grim Eater drops his pen in shock as his fantasy shows him sitting on an open field near a farm where he grew up with his family.
"Come on Ethan!" A female voice calls out as he ran to see his parents and siblings sitting at a picnic table with smiles on their faces when he heard an exploding noise and saw fireworks shooting into the sky before they zoomed out of the fantasy and a smile forms on his face.
Everyone watched in awe as the critic enjoyed the rest of his meal.
"I can't remember the last time I gave my compliments to the chef." He smiled.
"You're welcome sir." Andy smiles before walking back to the kitchen.
The next day, Grayson's was more popular than ever because of the review.
"Grayson's rising new chef is a boy with a bright future in culinary arts. Moving around the kitchen listening to his music young Andrew Grayson dances around the stove giving a performance like nothing you've ever seen and his performance is matched if not beaten by the amazing food he creates. I hope to return to Grayson's soon with high hopes and a big appetite." Maria read as all the chefs cheered.
"You did it, Andy!"
"You made the Grim Eater smile!"
As Andy smiles being pulled into a group hug, Liam looked at his son with a proud look on his face. 'He's ready.'
A few weeks later, Andy was at the airport saying goodbye to his parents.
"You have everything you need?" Maria asks.
"I think so. Are you sure I'm ready for this Totsuki place?" Andy asks.
"I know you are, you've had more than enough practice, but to get in you'll have to take the Transfer Student Exams." Liam explains.
"Sounds simple enough." Andy nods.
"But before you leave, I got you a little something to help you out." Liam smiles taking out a wrapped gift.
Putting his bags down Andy opens the gift to see a new pair of headphones inside.
"They have cushions on the earpieces which allow you to hear your music and filter out all outside noise and can adjust so they can stay on your head even through all your dancing." Liam explains.
Smiling Andy takes the headphones out of the box and puts them on his head. "How do I look?"
"Like you're ready to take on the world." Liam smiles.
"I love you guys." Andy smiles hugging his parents. "Hey are you guys gonna be okay without me helping out at the restaurant?"
"Don't worry I called in a favor from a friend. He's flying in to help for a bit." Liam smiles.
"Final call to Japan!" The PA said.
"You better get going." Maria said.
"Take care of the restaurant while I'm gone." Andy said picking up his bags and walking onto the plane.
As Liam and Maria watched the plane take off they heard footsteps walking towards them.
"So that's your kid, Liam?" A male voice asks.
Turning around they saw a man with long brown hair swept back save for a few bangs. This was Joichiro Yukihira. "He looks the same age as my boy."
"If those two are anything like us they'll be good friends." Liam smiles.
"Yeah." Joichiro smiles putting a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks for covering my tracks and helping me out these past few years."
"It's what friends do." Liam shrugs.
"Well come on, let's get going." Joichiro smiles as they left the airport. "So how much have you told your kid about our old school?"
"Just the small summary, I wonder how he'll react to seeing the place up close?" Liam asks.
In Japan, Andy's jaw was dropped in shock as he looked up at what had to be the biggest culinary school he ever saw. There were multiple giant, fancy buildings all over the place that would rival the skyscrapers of New York.
"Dad really left out a lot of details. I hope my playlists can get me through this." Andy gulps as he walked to the front gate only to touch the door at the same time as someone else.
Looking over, Andy saw a boy his age with spiky red hair, dressed in black. This was Soma Yukihira.
"Sorry about that." Andy said.
"No problem. You new or something?" Soma asks.
"Well I'm trying to be. I'm here for the transfer exams." Andy explains.
"Hey me too." Soma smiles holding out his hand. "Soma Yukihira."
"Andrew Grayson, but my friends call me Andy." Andy smiles shaking his hand.
"Well Andy, let's try to make it through the exams so we can call ourselves friends." Soma said.
"Sounds good to me." Andy nods as they walked in.
"So Andy, where you from?" Soma asks.
"I'm from New York City." Andy said.
"Hmph I just talked to my dad and he's there right now." Soma said.
"Oh is your dad a cook too?" Andy asks.
"Oh yeah and he says if I can't graduate from this place he says I can never beat him." Soma growls. "I'll show you!" Soma kicks a bench in anger not realizing someone was sitting there. "Oh, sorry didn't mean to kick your seat."
"It's alright, are you two applying to transfer?" A blonde boy dressed in blue asks.
"Have a seat."
"Thanks." Andy said as Soma sat next to him and Andy sat on the rails.
"With the high school exams for the middle school division over and exams for people like us trying to transfer in happening things can get pretty lively. I'm Nikaido Yoshiaki, my family runs a French restaurant." He said.
"So do our families." Soma said.
"That may not be a coincidence. That guy is heir to a national restaurant chain and that one's family runs a business that supplies Seafood to everyone in the Kanto region. Almost everyone here has some sort of industrial pedigree." Nikaido explains.
"Guess you'd have to be to get into this school." Andy said.
"What are your places?" Nikaido asks.
"Grayson's." Andy said.
"Yukihira." Soma said.
"Hmm are those Western and Traditional Japanese?" Nikaido asks.
"Nah, we're not that fancy." Andy shook his head.
"No way, mine is a diner downtown—" Before Soma could finish Nikaido kicks them both off the bench and onto the ground.
"Hey what the hell?!" Andy snaps.
"How dare you low-class commoners sit next to me!" Nikaido roars. "This academy isn't for the likes of you!"
"Oh god, I knew it. This one of those snooty rich people schools." Andy rolls his eyes.
"Common garbage like you two do not belong in such a—" Before he could finish Soma grabs him by the shirt and lifts him up.
"You haven't tried Yukihira's food! You don't get to judge our quality!" Soma roars throwing him to the ground. "Come on Andy let's ditch him."
"Yeah no kidding." Andy said standing up as they walked down the path, they instantly became the talk of the transfer students and it was not positive.
"This school is already off to a bad first impression." Soma growls.
"Just imagine who our exam proctor is." Andy growls.
Entering the exam hall, Andy looks in shock to see a girl his age with long blonde hair. Nakiri Erina, the same girl who almost ruined his family restaurant all grown up. "Oh god she's back."
"Greetings transfer students, I am Erina Nakiri, and I have been assigned to judge today's transfer exams." Erina declared before looking to a girl standing next to her with pink hair, this was Hisako Arato. "What are the rules?"
"Examinees will undergo interviews in groups of ten based on their applications then we will do a practical where they will make at least 3 dishes. Those who pass—" Hisako stops when Erina clears her throat.
"How pointless." Erina said seeing this as a waste of time. "I have an idea. Bring the kitchen work table here."
"Right away." Hisako runs out and in the back of the room a large tray of cooking ingredients were brought out.
Smirking Erina grabbed an egg and held it up for everyone. "The ingredient will be egg. Only the transfer students that can make a dish that can satisfy my palate will be allowed in. Furthermore, I will allow anyone who wishes to cancel their applications in the next minute."
Almost immediately everyone but Andy and Soma started running out of the room as fast as they could.
"Hey!" Soma grabs Nikaido as he ran off. "What is going on?"
"You seriously don't know who that is?!" He asks.
"That's Erina Naikiri, all of the heavyweights in the food world are her clients and with her God's tongue if she deems you unworthy your entire future in the culinary world is over!" Nikaido screams before running out the door.
"I figured most of them were hopeless incompetents. I don't have time to waste on such fools." Erina turns to Hisako. "I believe my schedule just cleared up for today?"
"Uh yes." Hiskao nods.
"Well I'll be working on some new dishes in my private quarters causing Hisako to blush with envy. "What's a matter Hisako? You look like you want something?"
"Well…yes I." Hisako said nervously as Erina cups her neck lifting her up.
"Would you like the privilege of tasting my cooking?" Erina asks.
"I-I would!" Hisako said.
"Oh Hisako, you little perv." Erina smirks.
"Please forgive me." Hiskao begs.
"We first have to report that no one passed." Erina said.
"Yes ma'am." Hiskao said.
"Whoa, what am I looking at?" Andy asks getting their attention as they saw him and Soma still in the room.
'What? I have challengers?' Erina thought.
"Any resticitions to our dish?" Soma asks.
"As long as you both use eggs you can use whatever else you want, but I highly suggest you withdraw." Erina said.
"You mean so you don't have to do your job and lie saying you did?" Andy said causing them to gasp. "All you had to do was follow the rules she had and you couldn't even do that."
"How dare you! Do you have any idea who you're talking to?! She is the youngest member of the Totsuki elite 10 and graduated with highest honor from the middle school division." Hiskao said.
"So what do you want? A medal? A pat on the back? Kiss on the cheek?" Andy mocks.
"Why you." Hisako growls
"Yeah I know who she is, it's been a long time hasn't it Erina?" Andy said causing her to raise an eyebrow.
"Have we met?" Erina asks.
"You may not remember me but I remember you. 8 years ago you and your dad walked into my family's restaurant and after you bashed my father and every single chef I called my friend I made you dessert and you said you liked it." Andy said causing Hisako to gasp.
"Erina this boy is clearly lying. Hardly anyone has ever satisfied the God's tongue." Hisako said.
"What was the dish you made?" Erina asks.
"Vanilla Lemon/Lime Soda cake." Andy said as Erina widens her eyes remembering the only cook her age who ever could make something she could eat.
"Well this is a surprise." Erina said.
"I didn't think it was possible but you're even more of a spoiled brat than I remember." Andy said.
"Excuse me?" Erina growls.
"What's that spoiled brat?" Andy mocks.
"Say that again." Erina said.
"You want me too?" Andy asks.
"I dare you." Erina glares.
"Spoiled brat." Andy repeats.
"Alright Mr. Comedian just for that you get to go first." Erina said.
"Then lead me to the kitchen spoiled brat." Andy said causing Erina to growl while Soma chuckles.
"Wow Andy you sure like saying what's on your mind." Soma said.
"You mind going after me do you?" Andy asks.
"As long as I get to cook for her too." Soma smiles.
Hisako reaches into her bag and pulls out Andy's form.
"Andrew "Andy" Grayson. His family owns a restaurant in New York City, Grayson's." Erina read recalling the memory. He was the first boy to ever challenge her God's Tongue and he won.
"I see. Alright Andrew, this is where you will make the dish that will seal your failure." Erina said as they entered the kitchen.
"Hmm what could be a good dish that uses eggs?" Andy pauses completely ignoring her.
"Hey! Listen to me when I'm talking to you!" Erina snaps hating being ignored when Andy came up with an idea.
"Alright folks, sit back and enjoy the show." Andy said putting on his headphones and flipping through his iPod getting everyone's attention.
(Play Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride)
As the music starts Andy taps his foot against the ground finding his rhythm before his hips started moving as if to do the hula as he grabbed some eggs, rice, meat, spices, and veggies before getting to work.
"What on earth is he doing?" Erina asks confused as Andy was making rice and prepping the meat into a patty.
"It looks like he's dancing to his music while cooking?" Hisako said equally confused.
"Finally, someone who knows how to have some fun in this place." Soma smiles.
"Eggs are a fundamental ingredient in Western, Japanese and Chinese cultures, what kind of dish is he planning to serve with all that?" Hisako asks.
There's no place I'd rather be
Then on my surfboard out at sea
Lingering in the ocean blue
And if I had one wish come true
I'd surf till the sun sets
Beyond the horizon
A wiki wiki mai lohi lohi
Lawe mai I ko papa he'e nalu
Flyin by on the Hawaiian roller coaster ride
Erina clears her throat hoping to get Andy's attention but he couldn't hear her so she tried clearing her throat a little louder. Andy spun around to the dance and saw Erina glaring at him trying to say something.
"Can I help you? Trying to cook here." Andy gestures taking one speaker off his ear.
"Mind telling me what you're making?" Erina asks.
"Seriously? The girl on the top of the food world has no idea what I'm making?" Andy smirks.
"Do want me to fail you right now?!" Erina snaps annoyed by him. "I don't have time for a dish just thrown together."
"Alright I'm making you a Loco Moco." Andy said causing Erina to twitch annoyed.
"A Loco Moco?! You're giving me Hawaiian Peasant food?!" Erina snaps.
"Whoever said I was making a standard Loco Moco?" Andy smriks putting his headphones back on.
"What's a Loco Moco?" Soma asks.
"In the United States in Hawaii a Loco Moco is basically a hamburger steak atop white rice with a fried egg and gravy on it." Hisako explains.
"Mmm sounds good." Soma licks his lips.
Chopping up a pepper, Andy drops it into the gravy before stirring it and placing a bed a rice down with a beautiful burger, an egg and gravy before placing it in front of Erina.
(Song End)
"Enjoy." Andy said handing her some utensils.
Erina narrows her eyes and cuts off a piece of the hamburger steak before getting a taste of it causing her eyes to widen.
"I didn't normal beef, that right there is a combination of beef, Italian sausage and ground turkey. Turkey is dry so it absorbed all the grease from the beef and the sausage making it full of flavor and didn't spill, but you tasted it wrong." Andy said confusing her. "Taste it all at once. The egg, the rice, the burger and the gravy. Separate they're good, but together they're a Hawaiian Rollercoaster ride."
Erina grabs a spoon and scoops up a piece of all before putting it in her mouth and letting out a moan.
In her fantasy, Erina was in a blue bikini sitting on surfboard in the middle of the ocean when suddenly a giant wave shot up behind her lifting her up.
"What?!" Erina gasps as she flew off her board and landed on another. Looking up she saw was surfing with Andy as the waves carried them like they were on a rollercoaster ride.
"Hang on!" Andy smiles as she blushes like when they were kids as she felt all the different flavors taking her on the ride of a lifetime.
Zooming out of the fantasy Erina was panting heavily before looking Andy in the eyes.
"Look me in the eyes and say this dish was a fail." Andy said.
Erina wanted nothing more to say it was for all the crap he's said to her but something inside her stopped her causing her to stutter and choke on her words.
"I can't." She admits shocking Hisako.
"H-He passed?" Hisako said blown away.
"Way to go Andy! You're in!" Soma smiles.
"You spent all your time looking down at others, but you never once took a minute to look at things on our level." Andy said taking off his headphones. "Knock'em dead Soma." Andy held up his hand.
"You got it." Soma high fives as if they were tagging in.
"You honestly think I'm gonna let two commoners like you guys get in?" Erina asks.
"Erina I'm gonna teach you two words that I really want you to take to heart. Shut…Up." Andy counts enraging her.
Erina was about to let him have it when the door opened to see an elderly man, who has long spiky gray hair with a mustache and a beard. He also has a scar on his right eye while dressed in a brown yukata. This was Senzaemon Naikiri, the headmaster of Totsuki and Erina's grandfather.
"Grandfather?" Erina said surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to check to see how the transfer exams were going and smelled something good." Senzaemon said.
"Yeah I just passed and soon Soma will too." Andy points.
"Very interesting. You there." Senzaemon said getting Soma's attention. "What dish are you making?"
"Yukihara style Rice with seasoning." Soma smirks as he took a white headband wrapped around his arm and put it on his head.
"Interesting. Erina, do you mind if I judge this one?" Senzaemon asks.
"Grandfather this is a joke, he's from a diner." Erina said.
"Then go, I can handle things here." He brushes her off.
"But I—" Erina stutters.
"He said get lost spoiled brat." Andy mocks causing Erina to growl.
"Stop calling me that!" Erina roars before storming out of the room. 'Just you wait Andrew Grayson, I'm coming for you!'
"Erina sama!" Hisako yells running after her.
"So what did you make?" Senzaemon asks.
"Have a taste." Andy said pushing the Loco Moco towards him.
Senzaemon takes a spoon and when he takes a bite the top half of his yukata stripped off causing him to laugh creeping Andy out.
"Is everything alright, sir?" Andy asks.
"Yes, everything is fine. I think you are gonna do fine at my school." Senzaemon smiles.
"Alright, order up!" Soma said placing a bowl of what looked like egg chunks in front of them.
"What's that?" Andy asks.
"The first stage." Soma smirks dropping the contents in a bowl of rice seasoning it with the cubes causing the heat of the rice to melt it all.
"Whoa, that's awesome." Andy said impressed.
"I may just come from a small diner with simple dishes, but we use our creativity to turn them into masterpieces. This is Yukihira cooking!" Soma declares taking off his headband.
Senzaemon looks at the contents and grabs some chopsticks taking a bite and like with Andy his yukata stripped off but only the left side this time.
"I look forward to seeing you both in classes." Senzaemon declared causing Soma and Andy to smile.
"We did it buddy! We're both in!" Andy said as they high fived again.
"I'll see you both at the ceremony." Senzaemon said before looking to Andy. "Oh and by the way, you have a lot of guts standing up to my granddaughter like that."
"She had it coming, the world may bow to her but I won't." Andy vows as Senzaemon smirks before walking away.
"Hey Andy, wanna compare some recipes your western dishes looked pretty cool?" Soma asks.
"Uh sure." Andy nods as the two friends walked out.