Kyandi: Greetings, lovelies!

Ariadne: She's having fun right now.

Kyandi: I'm sorry, but I'm finding certain parts of your personality to be far too much fun to play with.

Ariadne: I won't lie…it's good to be me.

Kyandi: Parts of me wishes I could be as bold as you, but the other part is ashamed of just how bold you are.

Ariadne: Eh. When you are as bold as me, you don't really care about decency.

Kyandi: Obviously.

Ariadne: Is that judgment I hear?

Kyandi: Nope. Everyone, please enjoy and review.

Ariadne: Kyandi-sama does not own Shokugeki no Souma.

Chapter 16 Passing On

The Stagiaire System….a part of the curriculum in which first year students of the high school division are sent to various professional kitchens! The places they're sent include high-class restaurants, food stuff makers, and even public institutions. An official part of the classes with the objective of letting the students learn about the atmosphere in real kitchens. The criterion of the whole thing…within one week, leave "visible results".

When Ariadne had first heard about the next part of their school lives, she had been interested to see what kind of places she would be sent to. Much like Souma, she didn't have any real concerns on not passing. After all, she had been raised in the kitchen of a restaurant and had a good idea on what to expect. Especially since her parents had wanted her to gain a respect of all aspects of the cooking and food industry and had sent her to affiliate facilities of her family's restaurant to learn what went on there and had to be done. Though, she was interested to see what it would be like to work on the manufacture side of the cooking world. When the day came for them to report to their first location, Ariadne found herself being sent to a company that specialized in the gathering and selling of organic fruits and vegetables.

The first few days at her first location, Ariadne simply blended in with the background, not really doing anything to really draw attention to her. She watched and learned, allowing the adults to tell her what to do and when to do it. She simply let them think that she was perfectly okay with being pushed around. There was even one day she overheard one man commenting on how she was just another mindless, pretty face. Boy, did she have a surprise for him. By the fourth day, she had picked up on a lack of communication between the farmers and those who worked in the factory to bundle and ship the orders. That lack of communication caused many errors and a severe decrease in sped with the orders being filled. If the two teams would communicate better, she knew they could increase their speed. Unwilling to let it slide…Ariadne decided to make a slight annoyance of herself.

The head manager in charge of the packing facility, a man named Kugisaki, apparently had no respect for a student's opinion no matter how logical it was. Not even that of a Totsuki student. When Ariadne tried to bring it up respectfully, give him a chance to avoid her annoying side, he blew her off. Well, if he wasn't going to listen then she would make him. She had, after all, had tried to give him a chance. With that decided, Ariadne abandoned the position fostered off on her in the shipping room and approached the farmer's manager. If Kugisaki wouldn't listen, she would appeal to the other manage and hopefully get a chance to talk to the big man in charge over both managers. The lady in charge of the fields, a stern woman everyone called Granny Kasuku, scolded her at first for leaving her assigned spot but ultimately heard her out. Agreeing that changes needed to be made, she arranged for Ariadne to talk to the big boss of the company.

Thankfully, the man was reasonable and agreed. Kugisaki, thought, wasn't too pleased to be called to the boss's office only to find his grinning, missing annoyance sitting on the edge of the boss' desk, her legs crossed. She gave him a wave before the boss, Arada, spoke. "Sinclair-san here tells me that she made a suggestion, a rather logical suggestion, to you to better the function of our company and that you ignored her."

"I," Kugisaki glanced from Arada to Ariadne, who waggled her eyebrows at him, and then to Kasuku, who sat in a chair in front of the desk. "I took note of her suggestion and decided it would only harm the company. After all…she's a child with no real experience. She has no idea what she's talking about."

"This "child" understood the company and its needs and short comings in a matter of days while you're still blind after years." Arada retorted.

"I might only be a high school first year, but I have worked for my family's restaurant and affiliated facilities since I could walk. Communication is always the key. You're just lacking that a little bit." Ariadne gave Kugisaki a bright smile. Change that and I assure you that production and shipping will improve."

Ariadne watched as Kugisaki's jaw worked. She had a strong urge to poke fun and tease but quelled it in favor of her mission there. She had to pass so she could go back to the dorm and face the next challenge at school. She was sure that if she let her bad habits take over just then that it would be counterproductive to the point. Something she really couldn't afford if she wanted to pass to the next stage.

Unknown to her, Ariadne had been shadowed the whole week, the man following her and recording her progress to report back to the school. Every step she made, every decision she followed through with, was monitored and reported. He watched as Ariadne's advice was taken to heart and the whole chain of communication approved for the company, much like Ariadne had said it would. On the last day of her first location, he approached Ariadne as she left the facility, her traveling bag in hand. Ariadne only raised a single eyebrow as he approached her, clearing his throat as he pulled something from a bag hanging from his shoulder.

"You pass," he told her simply, handing her a folder without much explanation past that. "This is your next location."

With that, he left. Ariadne only raised an eyebrow, just a little taken back by how short, sweet and simple the man had been. For a moment, her head tilted to one side as she watched him walk away, her eyes blinking in confusion. Finally, she shrugged her shoulders and turned to look at the contents of the folder in her hands. Flipping pages, she read through the brief bit of information she had been given on her next location, a grin curling her lips. "Oh…this is going to be fun."

-0-0-0-0-

"'I won't accept anyone who didn't at least get to the finals of the Autumn Election as a stagiaire'…I did say that. But of all people…if had to be you, Yukihira."

Clearly amused, his arms crossed over his chest, Shinomiya Kojirou stood face to face with Souma just outside of the new location for his restaurant. He had just gotten off the phone with the Totsuki School Affairs division when Souma showed up for his next stagiaire.

"I was really surprised, too." Souma replied.

"Well, it's okay. I also told the School Affairs division…I would kick out anyone useless." Shinomiya told him.

"Oh mon…I guess that would mean you will frown upon me."

Hearing the playful purr that had haunted his dreams since the summer camp, Shinomiya whipped around. Sure enough, standing there with a bag at her feet and a grin on her…was Ariadne. "Bonjour, Shinomiya-senpai."

"So, they sent you, too, huh?" Ariadne could see the nerve tick in Shinomiya's temple, her lips twitching as she fought back a grin. "You…" Shinomiya paused, thinking through his words before he threw up a hand, Ariadne snickering to herself when he did. "Whatever. For starters…" Shinomiya turned, grabbing a bucket full of supplies and a broom, which he shoved into Souma's hands. "There's carpentry work and the finishing touches to the interior. You," Shinomiya turned to Ariadne to shove a mop into her hands. "You're on cleaning details."

Ariadne looked down at the mop in hand before she gave it a twirl, throwing it up to brace it against her shoulder. "Sounds like fun."

Shinomiya frowned at her cheerful reply, having expected her to be a little miffed that she was being used as a janitor, but turned away from her to show them inside. There, he instantly put the two of them to work alongside his limited staff: Abel the sous chef, Lucie the chief Boucher and Wei the service manager. Ariadne happily got to work, doing what she was told with a childish little skip to her step that just seemed to annoy Shinomiya for no apparent reason. Souma, on the other hand, was not so happy.

"You're still at this stage!?" Souma snapped.

"Huh?" Shinomiya turned to look at him. "Get to work, or I'll fire you. Be like Sinclair."

"If I wasn't so amused right now, you would not want him to be like me." Ariadne commented as she walked by with a potted plant in her arms. Shinomiya smartly kept his mouth shut. He would keep from giving her ammo to use against him as much as he could.

"Chef Shinomiya~! We need to work on the menu too, you know." Wei reminded him.

"She's right!" Lucie agreed. "We should just hire some contractors!"

"Considering the remaining budget, we have to do the rest by ourselves." Shinomiya replied.

"In other words," Ariadne straightened from putting the plant where it needed to go. "You're a cheapskate."

"Shut up! I don't want to hear anything out of you!" Shinomiya's short reply put a grin on Ariadne's face. "The interior design, chairs, tables, cutlery, and wine…I was pretty particular about which to choose. We have to do what we can by ourselves."

"If it's you, you should be able to get as many sponsors as you want, shouldn't you, Chef Shinomiya? You've won the Pluspol Medal, you know?" Wei remarked.

"Let me guess," Ariadne leaned against the mop she had just picked up, one hand running through her blue hair to push it out of her eyes. "Almost all of them disliked the idea of opening a second location, so now you refuse to ask for the support like the stubborn man you are?"

All of them watched as Shinomiya's eyebrow twitched. He really hated that Ariadne had gotten her guess right. "I said shut up, Sinclair."

Ariadne giggled to herself while Lucie tried to press another idea. "Then you could just get a loan in Japan."

"That's no good either. It will over-shadow the impression people have of me making it big in France." Shinomiya replied.

"So…you're a cheapskate, stubborn, and you want to be a show-off. No wonder you don't have a girlfriend."

Shinomiya turned on Ariadne. "Sinclair, what did I just say?"

He was greeted with an elegant shrug of Ariadne's shoulders. "I do believe we both know that I'm going to speak my mind regardless of how many times you tell me to shut up. That I will do so just because you told me to shut up. Just be glad I won't do this in front of customers."

Shinomiya had a strong urge to do to Ariadne what he usually did to Hanako, but where he could get away with it with Hanako due to their long friendship and both of them being adults, he knew he wouldn't be able to get away with it with a student. It was like Ariadne knew this, too, her expression turning to one of devilish knowing. Souma, whether he realized what he was doing or not, grabbed Shinomiya's attention before he could gain any steam from Ariadne's obvious teasing.

"Opening a restaurant sure is hard. Well, I feel very lucky for getting to train in senpai's restaurant." Souma remarked.

"You know, despite all my teasing, I am too." Shinomiya, surprised, turned to look at Ariadne, the girl contently lounging against her mop once again. "It'll be very educational to see how a former member of the Council of Ten runs his kitchen. Especially one that had done so well in France when many thought he would fail to do so."

While Shinomiya didn't know how to respond to that, Wei and Lucie took the chance to officially introduce themselves to Souma and Ariadne, Wei going first. "Once again, nice to meet you, Yukihira-kun, Sinclair-chan. We're all part of Shino's main restaurant's staff."

"We're here to help at the Tokyo branch until things settle in!" Lucie added.

"And…that man there is the sous chef de cuisine for the main restaurant." Wei waved a hand towards Abel, who had a sour look on his face. "You could say he's Chef Shinomiya's right hand man."

"Must have taken a lot of work to achieve such a position." Ariadne remarked, holding a handout for Abel to shake. "It is a pleasure to meet all of you."

"We'll be in your care!" Souma added as Abel shook both of their hands.

"Nice to meet you…well, do your best." Abel told them.

"Sinclair-chan-"

"Please, Ariadne is more than enough." Ariadne gave Wei a smile when she corrected the woman on how to address her.

"Right. Ariadne…you're French, aren't you?"

"Born and bred, so to speak." Ariadne rocked back on her heels, a grin flashing in Shinomiya's direction. "You won't have to teach me as much as Souma."

Shinomiya merely turned his back on her, making her chuckle.

"So, you specialize in French cuisine?" Lucie asked.

"Not at all." The three staff members blinked back at Ariadne for her quick response, making her smile just a little bit wider. "I mean, yes, most of my techniques are purely French, but, no, I wouldn't classify my cooking as purely French cuisine. There's something else I specialize in."

"Sinclair, get this plant!" Ariadne gave the three a wink before she turned to do as Shinomiya told her. "Yukihira! Come here."

Abel watched as Souma joined Shinomiya in moving a screen, Ariadne walking by, humming as she carried another plant to its appropriate place. It made Ariadne grin when she saw the envious way in which Abel watched Souma and Shinomiya. It was almost as if the poor man was foaming at the mouth as he watched the two conversed easily despite Shinomiya's awful personality.

"What's with that kid? He's so close with Chef Shinomiya! Both of them are! Just how long do you think it was before Chef Shinomiya opened up to me? I won't forget…! That day when Chef Shinomiya first asked me to go drinking. And…when he appointed me as the chef for the Tokyo branch, I've never been so moved as I was back then in my whole life!" Abel complained, actually crying as he remembered.

"But Chef Shinomiya has sure become softer…what caused his change of heart?" Wei asked. "Wasn't it after he went to Japan this spring?"

"That might be it! When he was going to be an examiner for some training camp or something like that! I think he suddenly became softer after he came back!" Lucie agreed.

"When I ask him anything regarding cooking, he always answers carefully." Wei continued.

"Right!" Lucie jumped back in. "He complains about it, but he ends up doing it from beginning to end! He might actually be cook at looking after people and want to teach them things!"

"If I were you two, I wouldn't continue to talk about this where he can hear you." Ariadne advised the two as she passed them, carrying another plant. Sure enough, Shinomiya shot the three a look that clearly said that the only thing that should be moving was their hands, not their mouths. Ariadne shook her head when she glanced back over her shoulder. "Told you so."

Finishing with the indoor plants, Ariadne was roped into helping Souma in putting lightbulbs into their sockets. Souma climbed the ladder, allowing Ariadne to stay safely on the ground to hand him the lightbulbs. It was while they were doing that that Souma spoke up. "Anyway, Shinomiya-senpai, why did you want to open a new restaurant? And in Japan, of all places?"

"I'm curious too," Ariadne leaned around the ladder to peer at Shinomiya. "I mean, I don't mean to be rude, but…it's odd for someone aiming for three stars to open a new restaurant, let alone so far from the first location."

"Stop the pointless chatter and move those hands." Shinomiya told them.

"We are, we are. We're just wondering why you opened this new branch when it's time you could, and should, be putting into your main restaurant in France." Ariadne continued.

"I can ask the same of you two. What did you mean by what you said before? You feel lucky you get to train in my restaurant…you say?" Shinomiya replied. "You would both be able to clear this more easily if you went to some random small restaurant."

"Really, you have to ask?" Shinomiya turned to look at Ariadne as she leaned against the ladder, having just handed Souma another lightbulb. "I would think the answer would be the same for Souma and I both. Right, Souma?"

Souma nodded. "It's to make our own specialties. I can't keep doing things like before. Right, Ari?"

"Yeah," Ariadne smiled, Shinomiya finding this one to be less teasing and carefree, like many of her previous ones, and more serious and a little sad. "I may act like I don't care or can't be bothered most of the time, but even I know when it's time for things to change. I want to see how my cooking can change and evolve, just like any other chef who's serious about their cooking. I want to continue to head for that horizon and bring new light to my cooking. I usually don't like to be serious, I find it boring and will avoid it all cost, but even I have something I'm aiming for."

Shinomiya was surprised to get such a serious answer out of Ariadne. The girl, as she had just said, usually didn't give anyone a significant answer, preferring to be an enigma to all of those around her. To get an honest answer, and one accompanied with a slightly sad smile, threw him for a loop. Realizing that both were serious, it put a brief, small smile on Shinomiya's face, which he quickly wiped away before anyone could see. "The reason why I'm opening a restaurant in Japan is because it's something I need to do to reach new heights right now."

Souma and Ariadne both blinked in surprise at Shinomiya's answer, the two staring at him for a moment, before Ariadne broke the serious moment, a teasing smile curling her lips once more. "Yeah, well…you're still not quite at Devil's Food's level."

Shinomiya frowned, one eyebrow twitching. "Shut up and get back to work!"

Snickering to herself, Ariadne turned back to her work. The six of them worked pretty much in silence, save for Ariadne's light humming, for the next few hours before a break was finally called, Lucie dropping to sit in the middle of the floor. "I'm dead tireeeeeeed!"

"But I can see the end of this now. What should we do for lunch?" Wei asked.

"Then, I'll cook something." Abel offered.

"I'll make it." Surprised looks turned to Shinomiya as he pulled off his gloves, tossing them aside. "Set the table."

Apparently, Shinomiya didn't often cook for his staff, for Wei, Lucie and Abel all three got really excited, the three hovering as Shinomiya got to cooking. What came out of it was a quiche.

"Whoa, it smells great!" Souma remarked. "It looks delicious!"

"Quiche…it's a baked dish which uses pie batter, eggs, cheese, and milk as a base and things like bacon and spinach for the filling." Abel mused. "It's a lunch menu that's a cuisine de terroir from the Lorraine region which has extended all the way to Paris."

"You know, that's actually kind of wrong." Abel turned to Ariadne. "Historical records actually show that the dish originated in Germany in the Middle Ages. Lothringen to be precise. Of course, the area later became occupied by us French and renamed Lorraine, but the point is that it was not the French who first created it, but the Germen." Ariadne gave Abel a grin when he stared at her in astonishment.

"Hmm! So, it's perfect for a quick meal." Souma added, further crushing Abel. "Well, let's have some."

Everyone took a slice, Ariadne forking a bite into her mouth. She carefully chewed, letting the flavors wash over her tongue. While the others went on to express how great they thought the dish was, Ariadne tried to pinpoint the crispiness she was tasting in the quiche. She only figured it out a second before Souma spoke. "Greater burdock, huh."

"Greater burdock?" Lucie asked, confused.

"It's no wonder you don't know it. It's an ingredient that's rarely used in the west." Abel told her.

"That's not entirely true," Abel turned to look at Ariadne as she eyed the barely eaten piece of quiche on her plate. "Greater burdock used in food actually dates back to the Old World as a whole. While it is only considered a weed in places like the States, it's been used in food throughout Europe, Asia and Japan. There are even a few French recipes that have subbed in greater burdock before. Though, I admit, I have never tasted quiche with greater burdock over bouillon."

"Can you get such a deep flavor without using bouillon!?" Lucie asked.

"He must have used the greater burdock's skin to make the best of the flavor." Ariadne mused.

"Yes. He created a perfect balance between the greater burdock's sweetness and astringent taste and used it to tightly brace the mildness of the chicken and cheese. This gives me shivers." Wei remarked.

"To think you would add a Japanese vegetable to a French cuisine de terroir! You could even serve this at the main Shino's restaurant. No less from the Legumes Magician!" Abel exclaimed.

"You say that, but…" Ariadne tapped her chin as she stared at the quiche, a seriously thoughtful look on her face. "It feels like there's something missing."

"How dare you…!" Abel turned on Ariadne, angry, but Shinomiya held up a hand.

"No, she's right. It's not there yet." Abel stepped back, surprised, but Shinomiya just picked up a corkscrew. "Alright, we're opening some wine!"

"Eh! Aren't we on a tight budget?" Wei asked.

"It's a meal I made, you know? It would be a waste not to have some wine with it." Shinomiya replied.

"I brought a bottle!" Abel popped up with a bottle only for Shinomiya to hit him over the head and tell him to bring a better wine. "Y-yes! I'm sorry!"

During all of this, Souma continued to stare at the quiche on the table, baffled. Shinomiya had made such a great dish and yet, both he and Ariadne claimed that it was still lacking. It drew Souma's eyes to Ariadne, who was watching Abel, Lucie and Wei with a smile on her face. Souma had always known that Ariadne held back, that she didn't put anywhere near her best into her cooking at the school, but it was at moments like that that he truly wondered just how far she could go if she actually took it seriously.

"Yukihira," Souma's attention was pulled from Ariadne to Shinomiya as he spoke. "You'll definitely get closer to your specialty during this week." Ariadne raised one eyebrow as Shinomiya dropped to sit in a chair, crossing his legs as he snatched his glasses off his face. "As long as you can keep up with my work! Are you ready, Monsieur Yukihira?"

"I am!" Souma exclaimed.

The moment, whatever coolness Shinomiya had managed to display in it, was ruined when Ariadne suddenly leaned forward and poked him in the cheek. A twitch appeared in Shinomiya's eye as he turned to look at her. "You must think you're really cool, sitting there like that. I have some information for you, mister…you're not nearly as hot as you think you are." A grin curled Ariadne's lips as she straightened her back, flicking her hair over her shoulder as she cocked her hips. "You'd have to lose that attitude of yours to come anywhere close to my level of charm."

"How dare you talk to Chef Shinomiya that way! You can't possibly compare to his charm!" Abel hissed at her.

Souma winced, Shinomiya heaving a sigh when Ariadne turned to Abel, her eyes falling to half-mast like they did when she was shifting gears into teasing mode. They both knew that Abel had just screwed up. One of her hands came up, two fingers pressing into the plush fullness of her bottom lip as the corners of her lips curled. Shocked by the clear change in the air around Ariadne, Abel balked as she turned towards him, leaning forward slightly to look up at him through her eyelashes.

"I beg to differ, Monsieur Able." Ariadne let his name roll off her tongue in a purr that instantly had Abel's back snapping straight as a mixed look of panic, confusion and insecurity fell on his face. "You see, I am a unique brand of charm so very few can accomplish. I'd be all too happy to prove it to you. I have no qualms with charming men and women alike, regardless of age, race or…persuasion. I'm sure, by the time I finish, that you will find me very…"charming"."

Ariadne inched closer to Abel, making the man, in his panic, stumble back from her until she backed him up against a table. Lucie and Wei watched, wide eyed, unsure what to say or do as they watched Ariadne work her magic. Souma was shaking his head by the time that Abel found his back against a table, unable to back any further from the ever-growing grin of the teenager in front of him. He stiffened when Ariadne finally came to a stop in front of him, two fingertips coming to rest in the center of his breastbone. Abel's brain went on the fritz then. "Wh-wha-wha-wh…."

At the man's incoherent stumbling, Ariadne's grin grew. "You're welcome to try to fight it, but you'll find that I'm perfectly capable of making you throw your own heart off a cliff. You won't miss it. What do you say, Monsieur Abel, huh?"

Abel was about two seconds away from a complete meltdown when a hand suddenly dropped on Ariadne's head, breaking her eye contact with Abel and making her lean her head back to look up at the person now standing beside her. Her eyes met those of Shinomiya. "That's enough, Sinclair."

"Aw," Ariadne's bottom lip poked out in a pout. "But he was just starting to sweat. A man can't just question a lady's charm like that and not suffer the punishment for it, you know."

"Give it a rest before you break him. You'll owe me another sous chef then." Shinomiya told her, grabbing her shoulder to spin her around and push her away from Abel.

"I have an older brother who's the sous chef at my family's restaurant. You can have him." Ariadne offered.

Shinomiya paused for a moment, as if he was honestly considering it, before he gave her another shove. "Get back to work!"

"Party pooper." Heaving a sigh, Ariadne walked away, Abel shagging against the table, completely ashamed that he had actually let a teenager get to him like that.

With that, they finished their meal and went back to work. Abel avoided Ariadne for the rest of the day, watching what he said whenever he did have to talk to her. It became painfully apparent that he was now convinced that Ariadne was the devil. Satisfied with her work on the man, Ariadne moved about her work, cheerfully humming to herself for the rest of the day. By the time they finished, Shinomiya calling it a day, Ariadne had to stretch to loosen the muscles in her body.

"You did a good job with the interior design. From tomorrow on, we're beginning the pre-opening for Shino's Tokyo." Shinomiya announced.

"Pre-opening?" Souma asked.

"The pre-opening is…a sort of test run for the restaurant." Wei explained. "In that period, we mostly invite people we know and serve them food."

"Yukihira, for the time being, you and Ariadne will be helping me. Once you're both use to it, you might also have to help Abel-san." Lucie said cheerfully.

"Alright! I'll do my best." Souma told her.

"Sounds like a plan." Ariadne agreed, Abel heaving a silent sigh of relief from behind her. "You say test run, but if I'm not mistaken, won't there be various journalists or critics there at some point?"

"Yes. Various journalist will be coming on the last day." Shinomiya confirmed. "This is my restaurant we're talking about…people have high expectations for it. If we make a mistake, the rumors will spread in no time. We must make this a success…understood?"

"And…while the pre-opening period serves to check the coordination between the staff members, it also serves to try out the new dishes we'll serve at Shino's Tokyo." Wei added. "We'll change the menu every day depending on the reactions we get from our customers. We're also having a new dish competition among the staff on the final day of the pre-opening period."

"Oh?" Both Ariadne and Souma perked up at this, the two zeroing on the competition part with laser focus. "Umm…can we participate in that competition too?"

"Of course. It's only natural to consider the opinions of talented people, no matter their position. Though…I might reconsider you, Sinclair." Shinomiya said.

One of Ariadne's eyebrows rose. "Oh? And why is that, Chef Shinomiya?"

"You did fail to get into the main tournament for the Autumn Election. Now, unless you're trying to hide something, that says an awful lot about your skills." Shinomiya mocked, grin on his face.

The only change to Ariadne's expression was the slight pressing her of her lips together in a thoughtful look before her eyes cut up at him. "Careful now, Chef Shinomiya. You're playing a dangerous game with a devil here. Be careful of what you wish for."

"If you can rise to the occasion than I will actually take that warning." Shinomiya told her, then froze.

For a moment, Shinomiya could have sworn he saw something flash in Ariadne's eyes. A spark of spirit, a brief moment in which she let the beast inside rear its head, whatever. Whatever it was, Shinomiya had no doubt that, in that moment, he had been faced with Ariadne's true fighting spirit, the spirit of a true chef deep within her that couldn't help but rise to the bait of a challenge presented to her. Then her lips curled, her eyes narrowing into that devilish look that promised he would regret laying that challenge at her feet. She might not lay it all out for them to see, but she would loosen the gloves enough to give them all a taste of what she was capable off and leave them wanting for more. She would prove that, even when she wasn't at her best, she was still one of the best.

She would make Shinomiya eat his words and would grin like a demon once she did.

He was going to find out that he had just made a deal with the devil.

END

Kyandi: Oh, boy…he's going to regret that.

Ariadne: Just a little bit.

Kyandi: Well, you have to start letting your talent show a little bit, here and there.

Ariadne: And so, I will.

Kyandi: I'm already working on new recipes for her to use. There's one that's going to be a big hoot.

Ariadne: No spoilers.

Kyandi: Of course not. I'm not even going to reveal the main ingredient except to tell all of you that it is one horrible disgusting ingredient.

Ariadne: Oh, boy is it.

Kyandi: With that said, everyone, please enjoy and review.

Ariadne: We'll be back as soon as possible.

Kyandi: Bye-bye!