Chapter 3: First Exams
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. Man I am so happy with how much this story has taken off. I hope you like what I have planned for this chapter. Please Review and Enjoy.
It was the opening ceremony at Totsuki Academy and all the students that passed from the Middle School division were lined up as a student stood at the podium.
"We will next present the new students with their class badge starting with incoming valedictorian Erina Nakiri." The girl said as Erina walked on stage.
"Wow, she's so amazing." A girl sighs.
"If I could go on one date with her, I'd die happy." A boy said as Erina was given her badge.
"Don't even think about. Her family runs the entire food world."
"We will now hear a speech from the Academy director, Senzaemon Naikiri." She said as the big guy stepped forward and instantly the atmosphere turned cold.
"He's terrifying."
"That man has the entire academy…no the entire Japanese food world under his thumb!"
"Congratulations on your advancement to the high school division. During your years in the middle school division, you have received a basic skill set in cooking and deepened your understanding of ingredients. Now in high school, your knowledge will be tested. The challenges you will face will determine whether or not you have the drive to make it in the food world. 99 percent of you are meant to be sacrifices for the 1 percent who hone their skills. Out of the 812 students who entered last year only 76 made it to the second year. If you want to be part of the one percent then hone your skills!" Senzaemon declared before walking off stage.
In her booth, Erina was sitting down with a cocky smirk on her face.
'I pity those who are in the same generation as me. You'll all have to fight for second.' Erina thought.
"And finally, we'd like to welcome our two transfer students." She said as Andy and Soma took the stage.
"Uh should we say something?" Soma asks.
"I guess so." Andy said walking up first and when Erina saw him she grinds her teeth remembering all the insults he gave her and how he beat her with a such a common dish. "My name's Andy Grayson and I guess I'll be cooking with you guys for the next few years. This school is pretty crazy and I guess as of now we're all in a competition together so…race you all to the top." Andy smiles.
All the students mumbled softly not minding what he said as Andy stepped back and Soma stepped forward.
"Uh I'm Soma Yukihira and to be honest I see this school as just a stepping stone for me. I just transferred here but I don't plan on losing to people who have never served a customer before. I guess now that I'm here I might as well take the number one spot." Soma said pissing everyone in the crowd off as he and Andy walked off stage.
"Soma you think you just made everyone in our year hate you in a few minutes." Andy warns.
"Well you don't hate me." Soma chuckles causing Andy to smile until he noticed Erina in front of them.
"Oh well if it isn't the spoiled brat." Andy narrows his eyes.
"Stop calling me that." Erina glares.
"Then stop acting like one." Andy said stepping forward.
"You should be thanking me." Erina said.
"For what? Mocking me during the whole exam?" Andy asks.
"Who was it that let you into this school?! Me." Erina snaps.
"I seriously don't know how you can put a chef's hat over that giant head of yours." Andy rolls eyes.
"Admit it. You should have walked away when you had the chance. I tried to pull the plug on your stupid music and you wouldn't listen." Erina said.
"Unlike everyone else in your life I don't work for you." Andy said as Erina walked right up to him and looked him in the eyes.
"Enjoy your time here while you can. I don't see you lasting very long." Erina glares.
"Bring it on spoiled brat." Andy glares causing her to growl and storm off.
"Seems I'm not the only who pisses people off." Soma smirks.
"Guess not." Andy said.
Little did they know Senzaemon was nearby with a smile on his face happy that Erina finally had a challenger.
'That boy might just be what Erina needs.' He smirks.
Going their separate ways, Andy found himself in one of the test rooms while Soma went to another.
"Alright class, for this one you'll be paired into teams and given the same dish to complete. Your own take on a delicious Salmon dinner." The teacher said as Andy looks over to see his partner was a girl his age with long purple hair, this was Ryoko Sakaki.
"Uh hey I'm Andy." He said holding out his hand.
"Oh you're one of the transfer students. At least your speech was kinda motivational." Ryoko said shaking it.
"Yeah Soma really picked the wrong words to say." Andy cringed when Ryoko noticed his headphones.
"Uh shouldn't you take those off? You might not hear the teacher." Ryoko said.
"No way this makes it fun." Andy smirks getting her attention.
Nearby a girl with orange hair was looking at Ryoko and Andy with interest. This was Yuki Yoshino.
"Alright class, you are able to use whatever ingredients in this room to make your dish." The teacher said as they all walked to get their ingredients.
Ryoko moved in first to get her ingredients but only managed to grab the salmon when she turned to see Andy turn on his iPod and put on his headphones.
(Play My Song Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up) by Fall Out Boy)
"Uh Andy, we only have an hour to do this." Ryoko said as Andy was tapping his foot to the beat as he looked up at the ingredients and saw what he needed.
"Ryoko." Andy said getting her attention as he lifted off one of his speakers so he could hear normal. "Can you prep the salmon I got an idea?"
"Sure I guess." Ryoko said as he walked over to the table and grabbed ginger, limes and seasonings before bringing them back to his station as Ryoko hands him the salmon causing him to grin as he turned on the stove.
I'm a young lovers rage
Gonna need a spark to ignite
My songs know what you did in the dark
So light em up up up, light em up up up,
light em up up up, I'm on fire
So light em up up up, light em up up up,
light em up up up, I'm on fire
Ooh oh oh oh (In the dark, in the dark)
Ooh oh oh oh (In the dark, in the dark)
Mincing up the ginger, onions and celery Andy tosses it into the pot and places the salmon on top of it before chopping the limes in half and squirts them on top of the salmon.
Ryoko and the other students watch as Andy tosses the pan in the air and all the contents flew up and landed back in the pan with everything landing on top of the salmon before he places everything down on the plate.
"All done." Andy smiles turning off his song.
(End Song)
"Well that's something you don't see everyday." Ryoko said in awe.
A few stoves down a boy with blonde hair and a large boy with spiky brown hair were looking at Andy with interest as well.
"Well he's interesting." The big one said.
"I'd rather go after the other transfer student." The blonde said narrowing his eyes as Andy and Ryoko walked up to the teacher and put the plate down.
"Hmm what is this?" The teacher asks.
"Ginger Lime Salmon." Andy said as the teacher took a bite. "The bold and bitter flavors from the ginger quench the appetite and when you balance it out with the onion and the celery the flavors mend together and create a pleasant taste."
Ryoko looked at the smile on the teacher's face and bends down to take a bite and when she did she let out a soft moan.
"But what really brings the whole dish together is the lime juice I sprayed into the salmon before I cooked it. As it cooked the juices mixed into it and the rest went into the ginger giving it a taste that you just can't help but love." Andy said as Ryoko took another bite.
It was wild and unique. In Ryoko's food fantasy she was swinging from a vine wearing cheetah fur clothing like a wild girl would wear as she swings over a waterfall with wild salmon jumping below her before zooming out of the fantasy.
"You both get an A." The teacher smiles.
After the exam, Andy and Ryoko were walking out when Yuki walked out behind them.
"Wow I have never seen someone cook like that before." Ryoko licking her lips. "And that salmon was amazing."
"You were like a dancing chef. I couldn't take my eyes off you." She said.
"Yeah it's kinda my thing." Andy smiles.
"So what dorm are you staying in?" Ryoko asks as Andy opens his bag and took out some papers.
"Says here it's someplace called the Polar Star Dorm." Andy read.
"Oh that's our dorm. Come on I'll help you get some stuff to cook with." Ryoko said confusing him.
"Why? Do I need to cook my own meals too?" Andy asks.
"When you apply to the Polar Star dorm you have to make a dish that wows the woman with charge. Pass and you get a room key." Ryoko said.
"Fail and you'll have to sleep outside until you pass." Yuki warns.
"Yikes." Andy gulps. "Lead the way."
Ryoko nods as they walk out of the school to help Andy prepare for one more test today.
In another test room, Soma was walking out with a girl with long blue hair, this was Megumi Tadokoro.
"Thanks for all the help today." Soma said.
"Thank you for everything Soma. It's thanks to you that I—" Megumi stutters.
"Think nothing of it. I'm looking forward to working together with you from now on." Soma smiles.
"Me too." Megumi nods.
"Hey want to try a new recipe to celebrate our team up?" Soma asks.
"Yes please." Megumi smiles when Soma pulls out what looked like a tentacle drenched in honey confusing her.
"It's Honey Pickled Squid." Soma said in an almost demonic tone as he feeds Megumi what had to be the most disgusting thing ever.
Down the hall, Erina was walking through having just completed her class when Hisako runs to catch up with her.
"Erina! I just got news that he passed his class with thie highest mark! I'm talking about Andrew Grayson." Hisako said causing Erina to growl in anger.
"Do not utter that name in my presence!" She glares.
"I'm sorry." Hisako apologizes.
'That boy is an intruder in my domain and he needs to be eliminated. Get ready Andrew Grayson, I'm coming for you.' Erina thought determined to take down the only boy to ever question her power.
A few hours later, Andy, Ryoko and Yuki were walking around campus with a bag of ingredients and his suitcases.
"Thanks for showing me where the market was." Andy said.
"Thank you for the A in class." Ryoko smiles.
"I hope you get in Andy, our dorm is really fun." Yuki said.
"By what you've said this place sounds awesome." Andy said when they stopped in front of a building and as the sun was setting behind it the place looked like one of those creepy old places from a horror movie.
"Here we are, our home away from home." Ryoko smiles causing Andy to cringe as the two girls walk ahead of him.
'People willingly live here?' Andy thought as he walked in behind them. "Uh hello? Is anyone here?"
Looking around the inside of the dorm was almost as creepy as the outside.
"You must be one of the transfer students." A female voice said.
Turning around Andy saw an old woman with spiky gray hair combed backwards with a red hairband holding it together. This was Fumio Daimido, the caretaker of the Polar Star Dorm.
"Uh yeah I'm Andrew Grayson but my friends call me Andy."
"Well I hope I'll get the chance to call you by that version but let's see if you have what it takes to become a resident here first. Do you have your ingredients?" Fumio asks as Andy held up the bag. "Follow me." She said leading him to a very well furnished kitchen.
"Alright, I guess I better start." Andy said placing the bag down and pulling out meat, bread, beans and other stuff.
Scrolling through his iPod, Andy clicked a song and put his headphones on. "Get ready for a New York favorite."
(Play Vacation by The Go-Gos)
Grabbing the beans, some meat and seasonings Andy mixed them all into a large pot before cutting the bread into buns and toasting them with garlic butter in the oven.
'What on Earth could he be making? He said it was a New York favorite, but many different types of food originate from that place.' Fumio thought as Andy roasted a delicious polish sausage on the pan.
A week without you
Thought I'd forget
Two weeks without you and I
Still haven't gotten over you yet
Vacation, all I ever wanted
Vacation, had to get away
Vacation, meant to be spent alone
Vacation, all I ever wanted
Vacation, had to get away
Vacation, meant to be spent alone
Taking the bun out of the oven Andy places the sausage on it before pouring the meat and beans over it and sprinkling it with grilled onions.
Putting the finishing touches on Fumio looked to see Andy had put together a Coney Island Chili Dog for her.
Turning off his music Andy turned to her. "Order up."
(End Song)
"A Chili Dog? You know when most applicants apply to my dorm they try to put their best dish forward. Not a lazy one." Fumio glares.
"Hey when I went on vacation with my family nothing tastes better than a Coney Island Dog." Andy smiles.
"While it's true Coney Island is where the Hot Dog originated from this doesn't look like a normal one." Fumio said.
"I used a Polish sausage for the dog and used fresh brioche for the buns." Andy explains.
Fumio looked at it carefully before lifting it up to her mouth and took a bite, once she did her eyes widen.
"The spicy taste of the chili is mellowed out by the grilled onions and the garlic butter provides comfort to anyone wanting to relax. Just like a vacation." Andy said.
In her food fantasy, Fumio sees herself as a little girl sitting on the beach with her family as her parents as they played in the water and had the time of their lives.
Zooming out Fumio sniffles happily at the happy memory. "I haven't been on a vacation in so long. You are an interesting one. Andy you passed." Fumio said handing him a room key.
"Thanks Fumio." Andy smiles taking the key glad to have a room over his head.
"There's a party the other residences throw tonight in Room 205, you should join them." Fumio suggests.
"I think I will." Andy nods as he grabbed his bags and went up to his room.