Author's Note:

Hi and welcome back to another update !

Shokugeki's canon might have ended, but this story is just in its beginning and I hope, I will be able to entertain you for quite a while ! (Hopefully)

By the way, I think it's kind off clear, but in case anyone is truly wondering: Anything past RDC is not part of the Verse that "Shokugeki no Kimiko" takes place in. So basically, I will pretend that BLUE Arc as well as the epilogue Les Dessert, did not happen in this fanfiction.

I also made a few minor editions to the former chapters ! One being the changing of Hiraku's Elite 10 Seat (again), he's 5th Seat now which I actually planned to change for quite some time now, as I figured that writing wise it would be a better move to actually show him gaining his 4th Seat ! (Let's just say, he won't be the 5th Seat for all too long)

That being said,

thank you all so much for your kind reviews and feedbacks and for picking up this story in general.

I hope you will enjoy this chapter !

Satoshi was outside in the morning air and in front of his beloved dormitory, eagerly waiting for the return of his little ducklings from the 115th Generation.

When he finally spotted their silhouettes at the horizon emerging from the haze his already-smiling face immediately lightened up even more and he was quick to raise his hand in order to give an energetic wave. "My most precious first-years! There you are back again!" He called out for them, his voice once again sounding like he was about to tear up.

However the nearer they came, the more Satoshi noticed that there had been quite the changes to their appearances making his hand lower a bit and his smile fading a bit in confusion.

Something that unsettled him greatly was the sudden "Vroom-Vroom" reaching his ears.

Just a second later, Kimiko appeared out of the haze, finally in full vision. She wore ripped jeans, black leather boots and a denim top that only covered her chest but nothing else. Her body was out of the sudden decorated will all sorts of scars and she had dyed the edges of her blonde hair black. Additionally her white neckerchief had been switched with one that had the pattern of the American flag on it.

"Yo, Satoshi, my dude!" She greeted. Satoshi's eyes went wide in shock. "Ki-Ki-Kimiko-chan...?!" Kimiko bobbed her hair. "That's my name, yo." As Satoshi could only wordlessly stare at her, she snapped her fingers and elaborated. "Well, whatevs. Ya girl has decided she won't be a cook any longer."

All Color went out of Satoshi's face as he screeched. "WHAT?!"

Kimiko, remained unbothered by his shock and only continued. "Yeah, Yeah, I've decided to become a..." Her hands formed the shape of two guns with her fingers which she then pointed at Satoshi. "...stuntwoman instead."

Once again, Satoshi couldn't form any other word in his vocabulary other than "...WHAT?!"

"Ayeee." Kimiko spread her arms and announced. "From now on this fanfic will be titled 'Hollywood no Kimiko'." "F-F-Fanfic?!" "First Stunt will be driving down a ramp on a motorcycle and jumping over a pool full of sharks!" The 'vroom-vroom' got increasingly louder and before Satoshi could point out that such a kind of stunt should stay in cartoons, Kimiko pointed to the left and stated. "My dude over here will lend me his baby for that."

After she had said so, suddenly a motorcycle rushed past them at full speed. Only scarcely, Satoshi could make out Hiroshi on it, in a leather jacket and a bandana around his head. Satoshi's heart sank just like the realisation that Hiroshi was not wearing a helmet did. "Why is Hiroshi-kun on a motorcycle?!" He shrieked.

Kimiko only gave a shrug to that. "Dude plans to be in a motorbike gang from now on." "HAH?!"

But Satoshi could not inquire about Hiroshi's sudden boost in recklessness further as Mika now appeared next to Kimiko, dressed in an khaki overall and with a snake around her neck, a monkey sitting on her head, a parrot on her right hand and a porcupine following her. "Hello, Satoshi-san." She greeted and lifted the hand with the parrot a little. "I've decided to quit culinary business and become a zookeeper instead."

"A zookeeper?!" Satoshi blurted out. Mika nodded two times. "Yes, exactly." The parrot repeated. "Yes, exactly!"

With a voice full of utter shock and disbelief, Satoshi asked. "But what's with the restaurants of yours? YOUR DREAMS?" The two shrugged in response, seemingly having given this fact no thought on their own until now. Satoshi had both of his hands in his brown locks now, almost urged to pull them out. "Was the Camp so hard this year it made you give up cooking all together?!" At that Mika and Kimiko exchanged glances before giving an simultaneous nod. "Yo!" "Yup." Mika's parrot thought he had to underline it as well. "Yo! Yup!"

Satoshi was at a loss of words. But he was left no time to comprehend any of this, as now Daisuke's voice was heard. "I will be a hairdresser from now on!" He happily said.

Satoshi turned his head and saw him with hairbrush in the one hand and a small scissor in the other hand. What truly sent shivers through Satoshi however was Hideyoshi next to Daisuke. His hair, or at least the last bits left of it, had been dyed pink and had been shaved very unprofessionally. It looked horrendous. "I already practiced!" Daisuke proudly exclaimed and made a presenting gesture towards Hideyoshi's hair.

"I...Eh..." Was all Satoshi could respond before Hideyoshi spoke up. "And I will be an author." Behind his back he brought out a bundle of white papers with an excited expression. "I am already working hard on my first manuscript! It will be the first part of my first series: Harry Potter-" "That's already been writte-" "But Gender-Reversed!" Hideyoshi picked up the pen that he placed behind his left ear and proudly announced. "The first part will be titled 'Henriette Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'."

Satoshi added 'Telling Hideyoshi-kun that he would most likely be sued for plagiarism' on the long lists of topics he had to converse about with the kids later when he had become a bit calmer. But for now he had to figure out how great the damage was.

"Mr. Isshiki." He suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him.

A scream of horror escaped him as he turned his head. "YASU-KUN YOUR HAIR!"

Yasu stood in front of him dressed in a grey suit and with a brown briefcase in his hands. The most notable thing however was that he had cut off a majority of his long, silky, auburn hair. And he had smeared hair grease into what remained.

As his now short hair still managed to cover his eyes however, Yasu showed not much emotion as he stated. "I have chosen to pursue a career in banking."

"...Banking?" Satoshi practically whispered. Yasu gave a short, professional nod.

Satoshi looked around, took in the sight of his rapidly changed ducklings before he turned back to Yasu. He was almost afraid to ask. "Wha...What about Chieko-chan? Where is she? What new career choice does she have?"

For a moment Yasu, remained quiet before he said. "Miss Marui? Oh..." He raised his briefcase to open it.

Satoshi's pupils shrunk as he watched Yasu's hand pull out a very familiar pair of round glasses.

"No..." Satoshi whispered.

"I'm afraid to inform you, that..." Yasu spoke. "...that, Miss Marui has chosen to pursue a career as angel."

Satoshi took a step back, eyes full of despair. In desperate disbelief he slowly shook his head left and right. "No...no..." At this point he felt tears form in his eyes as he fell to the ground and called out. "CHIEKO-CHAAAAAAAN"

And somewhere in the clouds he heard a tinkling laughter of a black-haired girl in a purely white dress who spread her equally white, feathery wings to fly away.

.

"GAH" Abruptly and soaked in sweat, Satoshi sat up in his bed once his blue eyes had snapped open, releasing him of the terrible nightmare he had just endured.

It took a bit of time until he was breathing normally and steady again. "What horror..." He breathed, exhausted from what his own mind had just put him through. He turned his head to the window next to his bed. "Hopefully, my precious first-years are alright."

—

The Thirteenth Plate - The Queen's Call for A Morning Audience

—

The moon was brightly shining above the Totsuki Resort, which was so heavily lightened that one could assume it was trying to get into a competition with the moon with all of its sparkles and radiations.

From the outside it was a beautifully stunning but also calm sight. The insides of the massive building were still very livid however.

"This is just the worst." Chieko Marui muttered (yes, alive and kicking). Her voice got a bit louder. "The absolute worst! I don't want this anymoreee!"

Like many students she was walking or rather swaying through one of the many hallways of the resort dressed in a Yukata, with the boys wearing blue ones and the girls pink ones. Chieko was accompanied, of course, by her fellow dorm members in the fellow dress code.

"Torture! Absolutely inhuman torture!" Chieko went on lamenting, which resulted in a sigh from Yasu. "Chi-chan, you're being a little over dramatic."

Chieko looked over her shoulder, danger flashing in her teal-coloured eyes. "I am not!"

Yasu was not intimated. "If you were so tired as you proclaim to be, you wouldn't even find the power to complain." At that Chieko let out an outraged gasp.

But before she could throw a tantrum, Hideyoshi decided that it was his turn to rant now instead. "This whole camp of hell has been really messing with my sleeping schedule though. I have a lot of beauty-sleep to do once we're outta here!" Daisuke, who was walking beside him, eyed him with a frown. "Beauty sleep?" "So much stress can mess up your taint!"

Yasu shook his head.

"The Real issue..." Mika spoke up now, as she turned her head to Kimiko. "...is that Yukihira did not face off against me yet!" She accused. Next to her, Hiroshi sighed. "Itoko-Chan..."

Kimiko just stretched her arms above her head as a giggle escaped her. "She's right though. We couldn't do so yet, even if I really want to!"

Mika let out a huff, but one could see the end of her mouth lifting just a little bit at Kimiko's words.

Yasu had chosen to distract himself from listening to the complains of his dorm mates and to do so he had pulled out the schedule of the camp.

"Hm...that's weird." He then said after letting his eyes trail over the sheet for a moment. Curiously, Hiroshi turned his head in Yasu's direction and asked. "What's weird, Ibusaki?"

Yasu began subtly rubbing his chin as he replied. "I see no time for lights out for tonight..." Hiroshi tilted his head a little at that. "Oh?" Before he could make any further inquiries or ponder on that information a little bit more, Mika was already quick to voice a speculation. "A printing error, perhaps."

Kimiko could not help but to let out an amused snort at that sentence, earning her a few confused looks by her companions. She made a slight waving motion with her hand, signalising them to not bother much. "Oh nothing, it would just be hilarious if this fancy school that seems to pride itself in doing everything perfectly at all times would make something like a printing mistake. I could tease my aunt for hours!"

"Totsuki is still organised by humans, Yukihira. Not Gods." Yasu spoke. Kimiko only shrugged and argued. "But some of the students sure like to behave that way." "Currently it feels like it's run by demons." Chieko grumbled in the very front.

Just as she had said so, the speakers placed everywhere in the hotel, cracked and a voice could be heard ringing through the numerous hallways. "Students of Totsuki Academy, You're expected to gather in the banquet hall within a hour. Dressed in school attire."

Throughout the announcement every head had magically turned into the direction of whichever speaker was nearest to them. Now several jars dropped and several eyes widened. And then the utter confusion and disbelief ensued.

"Hah?!" "No way!" "What now?!"

And if one knew Chieko Marui in the slightest ways, one would know that she was not all too enthusiastic about the announcement either.
"You've got to be kidding me!" She gasped, eying the speaker as if it had personally insulted her.

Mika blew a part of her blonde hair out of her face and sulked. "Ugh." Was all she had to comment on this. Hiroshi merely tilted his head, looking up to the speakers with round, blue eyes that wondered what this was about.
"For real?!" Hideyoshi blurted out while Daisuke next to him sighed. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Needless to say, despite Daisuke's bad feeling and Chieko's growing frustration there was no way that the two would disobey a school's order.
And so, within the given timespan, the students of Polar Star Dormitory went to their individual rooms, dressed each other back in their uniforms and finally went to the named location together.

They found each other a spot between their classmates to stand at and wait for what was going to happen. Hideyoshi yawned while Daisuke rubbed his eyes. Chieko's head hung low as both of her arms dangled at her sides lifelessly. Mika only impatiently tapped her feet, while having her hands on her hips. Next to her, Hiroshi was fumbling with his fingers a bit nervously.

Kimiko took the moment to let her eyes sweep through the hall. She took a note of how rapidly the number of students had shrunk. And those who did remain until now mostly looked tired out and gloomy.

Through her inspection, she also spotted Takayuki and Kazuo, next to each other as always, waiting alongside the rest. She found eye contact with Kazuo and waved her hand with a slight smile. Ecstatically Kazuo answered the hand-waving with a much, much wider smile.

Just as Kimiko had lowered her hand a little she heard a familiar voice calling her name. "Ki - mi - ko!" A Moment later, Lola Nakiri already appeared in her field of vision startling Kimiko a little, despite the announcement, and she took a short step back while calling out "Lola" in the process.

Lola did not waste any second of pondering wether she should apologise for the slight shock or not and rather began to giggle. "Fufu~ Good Day to you as well, my dearest cousin!" She then put her hands on her hips and pouted. "We haven't talked much lately, which makes me worried that you might not truly learn Totsuki's customs and such, you lost little street-cat."

Kimiko rolled her eyes at that. "I'm fine and don't worry about that, I think I am getting a good idea on how this school works." Lola did what she did best, which is smirking mischievously. Additionally she began tapping her chin. "Maybe you do indeed. I heard about your little challenges throughout camp already."

Kimiko did not answer but rather gave a nod towards Mona who, much as Kimiko expected it, walked up behind Lola, looking as tired and as emotionless as always.

Lola bended her upper body half a little bit to the side, so she could look at the people behind Kimiko, who had watched the conversation with varying expressions. "So those are your new dormmates?" She could make one assumption, before one of said dormmates, who had come closer during their chat, appeared next to Kimiko and laid his hand on his shoulder.

With a confident smile, Hideyoshi held out his hand to Lola and said. "Kawashima Hideyoshi, Lola-sama. You know me." He then eyed Kimiko, who had only raised an eyebrow. "I am a good friend of your cousins." Daisuke closely behind shook his head at this action. Lola just inspected the hand for a few seconds before looking back at Hideyoshi and making no attempt to even raise her hand a little. "Ah, I see." She merely exclaimed. "You're Host-Guy #1." She then pointed at Daisuke, who was not prepared for the sudden eye contact with the headmistress daughter and therefore flinched while also blushing a little. "And that there..." Lola merely continued, not minding Daisuke's reaction at all. "...is Host-Guy #2." "Aoki Daisuke." Mona mumbled behind her.

Mona's voice resulted in Hideyoshi having his attention driving to her and his hand shifting more into her direction. "Mona-sama, what a pleasure to meet you as well." Just like Lola did, Mona inspected the hand for a bit. However unlike Lola, she actually took the few steps forward and shook the hand albeit just for a second and without saying anything. Once the formality was done, she immediately backed away again.

"So Yukihira." Hideyoshi focused his attention on Kimiko again. "Why don't you meet up with your cousins more? Maybe bring them over to the dorm. Or take us- eh I mean, go over to their living place, the Nakiri-Mansion, sometime?" He put a lot of emphasis on the word 'Mansion'.

"Kawashima is being unbelievable as always." Mika muttered a little behind. Yasu and Daisuke gave a simultaneous nod at that. "Itoko-chan..." Hiroshi whispered. "Don't act like you wouldn't like to visit the Nakiri Mansion, considering who lives there." Mika immediately blushed vigorously and spat. "I don't know what you're getting at, Hiroshi!"

Kimiko faced Hideyoshi's gaze and answered. "If they want, they can come over to the dorm. But I, for now, don't want to go to the Mansion unless I gotta talk to Aunt Alice."

"I see..." Lola voiced, before Hideyoshi could say anything else. "So you and Hiraku are still in an argument?" This made Hiroshi look up in surprise and likewise it gained Mika's attention immediately. Kimiko however, just gave a very quick nod and said. "I guess we are."

Once again, Lola began to pout. "Hmph! And just when your Totsuki-days have just begun! What a nuisance!" She put her hands on her hips. A little after, Mona spoke up. "Hiraku is a lot less at the mansion most recently. Pretty much every day he comes back sometime late at night." Kimiko's brows furrowed a little at that. Suspiciously, she responded with an "Oh?".

"He's training in one of his numerous private kitchen, I guess." Lola shrugged. "Or he's at some taste test." "Ah." Was all that Kimiko said in return.

Hideyoshi was just about to open his mouth again but could not begin to talk (something that was probably for the better) as Gin Dojima's deep voice suddenly boomed through the hall. "Good evening, students! Please turn your attention to the stage."

And so, everyone did as told and set their focus to the front where they saw the bulky man in suit speaking into a microphone while maintaining his trademark friendly but professional smile. "We let you assemble you here tonight in order to elaborate tommorrow's task."

Yasu tilted his hair slightly and muttered to himself. "But why do that now?"

Gin continued his speech. "Your task for tomorrow will be creating a breakfast menu item for the hotel. Many say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, as this is what starts you into the day and, of course, every good hotel wants to provide its guest with a perfect start into their days. I'd advise you to have that in mind once you begin to think up your item." He then took something white out, something that looked relatively small in his large hands and given that the something was known to be easily crushable a few students in the front couldn't help but to worry about it being cracked. "The main ingredient for you to use is the egg." Gin announced. "The judging of your work will begin tomorrow at 6 o' clock in the morning."

It was at that moment that many faces within the crowd went even paler than they had already been. Gasps were heard everywhere and panicking glances exchanged.

"6 o' clock in the morning?!" Hideyoshi gawked while finally taking his hand off Kimiko's shoulder. "Tha-Tha-Tha-That means..." Daisuke stammered, not being capable of finishing the sentence and vocalising the crushing reality of what had just been said. Chieko took it over for him as she screeched in utter horror. "Now they have even taken away our sleep!"

Mercilessly Gin finished his speech. "Spent the remaining hours however you like. The kitchen are all there open for you to use and experiment. I'll see you then tomorrow at the given time, DISMISSED."

What followed was a cry out of misery and dumbfoundedness by the students.

"This GOTTA be a joke!"

"I am THIS close to crashing together, how in the world am I supposed to even hold a knife?!"

"It's a NIGHTMARE!"

"I wanna go hooooome!"

"My brains too tired and dizzy to come up with any dishes!"

"Whiny idiots." Mika muttered under her breath. In a broad manner she then lifted her arm so she could point at Kimiko with her finger. That action was accompanied with a firm and loud "Yukihira!".

On cue, Kimiko turned her body half-way into Mika's direction while facing her with a surprised expression. "What is it, Mika-chan?" Mika smirked confidently before boldly announcing. "Tomorrow, Yukihira, you will be face to face with an exquisite and mouth-watering egg dish, crafted with year-long training in Italian cuisine and the very special spark of Trattoria Aldini!" Hiroshi shook his head and softly whispered. "...Itoko-chan."

Before Kimiko could respond however, Lola lifted her index finger and put on a naive and innocent voice. "Oh? But Vesuv..." Mika's eye twitched at the new nickname. "Vesuv?!" "...I've heard already that they would do the judging in different halls, there is a very high chance Kimiko won't see your dish."

Mika's anger about being nicknamed after a volcano in Italy evaporated, as she was thunderstruck by this revelation. "What?!" Lola only smiled in a manner as if she was a lovely, young girl who grew up on the countryside and fed baby animals with a bottle of milk all her life. Kimiko, who knew her a bit better than that, could only roll her eyes. "Yes, at least that's what I heard." Two charming and innocent eye blinks followed.

For a few seconds Mika kept her perplexed expression before embarrassment ultimately spread all over her face and her checks heated up in the process. "We-Well whatever." She tried to sound unbothered and tough while putting her hands on her hips and looking to the side. "Mine is still going to be the better one." Hiroshi sighed. "...Itoko-chan."

This time Kimiko was faster and managed to talk before Lola could say anything else. "I'd like to see you trying." She simply grinned in a challenging manner which did made Mika's blush fade a bit.

"Hm-hm." Lola hummed to herself while tapping her chin. Then she said. "Of course, mine will outclass you as well, Kimiko." This made Kimiko turn her head back to Lola and Mika clutch her fist. "We'll see." Kimiko merely answered, but with a lot of confidence in her tone.

Suddenly they heard enchanted gasps and admiring whispers around them. Soon words found their way into the crowd's awe. "Kaori-sama!" "It's Kaori-sama!" "Graceful and elegant as always...!"

Kimiko immediately shifted her focus. And so did most of the people around her.

Once her eyes found the infamous valedictorian of the 115th Generation, as much as she didn't want to she couldn't help but to agree to the crowd and the attributes they had assigned to Kaori. She had a perfect posture and her walk was what one could only describe as regal and noble. Her gaze was aloof and sophisticated, just like that of a confident, but icy queen.

"Ohh, it's Duchess Prickliness!" A voice suddenly called out and Kimiko was a little surprised to find out that it was a voice right next to her and most familiar. At the same time, Kaoru's brows furrowed a bit in slight annoyance.

Lola began to chuckle. "Fufu~ As prickly and grumpy as always. You're exactly like orange juice drunk after brushing one's teeth."

Kaori's face darkened a bit more as she turned her head a little. As she spotted Kimiko as well, her gaze hardened. "Stop bothering me, Nakiri." She then said, short and harsh. It did intimidate Lola not one bit however. "I hope you keep my offer in mind to work as my assistance! I am certain you'd do an excellent job at it!"

If Kaori's voice had made one feel like they were standing in midst of a snowstorm in Russia before, her voice now made on feel like they were to break into ice and plunge into the Arctic Ocean. Her eyes were steel and her tone sharp as glass as she gave her response.

"I will never work as anyone's assistance." Her resentful gaze swept to Kimiko. "And I do not want anything to do with any of the members of your family."

Kimiko kept an unimpressed face as she held onto the gaze. What exactly was this girl's deal?! Kimiko barely knew her and still she acted like she murdered her dog or something. But more and more, Kimiko felt an urge for someone to put this girl down her haughty throne.

"If you would excuse me." Kaori said as a goodbye and fastened her pace in just the right amount to get faster away from them but still look like a ballerina chosen to star in "Swan Lake".

Lola snickered while watching her. Daisuke and Hideyoshi had likewise dreamy eyes that could not tear themselves away from Kaori's back. Hiroshi only looked at his fingers. Mika grumbled. "Sometimes I feel that girl is just full of helium."

"So, you have problems with that girl as well?" Kimiko said to Lola. "Or what exactly is her deal?!"

"Ah, I just like messing with her." Lola purred. "It's just too easy." Kimiko was just about to ask what problem Kaori had with her then, but Lola already grabbed Mona's arm and proclaimed. "Well, it was nice talking to you and meeting your dorm-buddies, but me and Mona have to get going to reserve a private kitchen now. Wanna come with us?" Kimiko just sighed at that and shook her head. "No thanks." "As expected." Lola smiled and began waving while pulling the emotionless Mona with her. "Good day."

Once they were gone, Mika spoke up again. "Yukihira! You better do not forget my challenge! I expect you to put your all into your dish! I want to see fire and heat and-" "Itoko-chan, I am sure Kimiko-san was about to put her all into her dish anyway." Hiroshi mumbled. Since Gin's description of the task, he had become much more pale. Mika's face, however, got more red at Hiroshi's in-put. "Hiroshi!"

Kimiko only turned back to her, a smile back on her face invoked by Mika's typical over-the-top challenges. "Don't worry, Mika-chan, I will!"

Hideyoshi and Daisuke were still in their little own pale rosy, or rather pale violet, bubble. "Kaori-sama is as beautiful as always." "Indeed, Indeed." The two swooned.

"Chi-chan..." Yasu scratched his head and turned to his best friend. "You've been on the floor for several minutes now. Don't you think, it's time to stand up now?"

Chieko had kneel down and also turn her back from the group. She hugged her legs while facing the red floor of the hall. If one would listen very closely, one could hear a soft giggle.

"Oh, Chi-chan..." Yasu sighed. Hiroshi appeared next to him and unsurely stammered. "Ma-Ma-Marui-san?" He was startled as Chieko out of nowhere rose from the ground with the speed of a flash and loudly proclaimed. "OKAY THATS IT!"

Hiroshi trembled as Chieko made a quick turn and marched towards him and Yasu, beginning to push the much taller Yasu forward while ranting. "Come on, Yasu! We'll show them what we are capable of, they will be damn sorry for robbing me of my sleep! They want an egg dish? They shall get one!"

"You know you're not really threatening when you're just loudly announcing to give the people you want to threat exactly what they want, Chi-chan."

"Shut up, Yasu and keep on moving!"

—

The Polar Star students had parted into various kitchens.

But no matter in which they were, each of them heard frustrated groans, depressed mumbles and truly miserable laments from their classmates. The atmosphere was most certainly tense and hopeless.

Kimiko was not affected by the gloomy mood around her and rather scratched her chin while skipping through various thoughts in her head.

Egg.

A common, basic ingredient in both Eastern and Western cuisine. And therefore in frequent use in her diner as well of course.

"Mom, what's this?" A young Kimiko asked with round, yellow eyes that inspected something that looked much like a small, golden cake to her. "Is it something sweet?" Hiraku's violet eyes were just as much in awe as Kimiko's were as he said. "It sparkles."

A light, adoring chuckle escaped Erina. "It's not something served in the diner but I wanted you to taste it. It's a Western Dish called Eggs Benedict, with my own additions to it of course." She made a presenting gesture. "Enjoy."

Excitedly Kimiko clapped her hands together. "Thanks for the food!" Hiraku clapped his hands a bit more lazily as he mumbled the standard phrase as well. "Thanks for the food."

Once they took their bites, both Kimiko and Hiraku felt like being put on a golden, large throne that stood in an equally golden, large throne room. No mater where you looked, everything seemed to glitter, twinkle and glow. Hiraku was dressed in a fine uniform and Kimiko in a sparkling princess-dress. Both had gleaming crowns that were a tad bit too heavy for their heads and slid a bit downwards.

Hiraku sat left and Kimiko right. And in the middle? A women dressed in the most finest, most shining and most stunning gown; a woman with an elegant, perfectly regal posture; a woman with a golden crown on her head that fit her perfectly. Their mother, Yukihira Erina.

Protectively and lovingly, she patted their heads, as her court got filled with various butlers and maids.

"Mom! That tastes amazing!" Kimiko gushed, immediately shovelling more of the delicacy into her mouth. So did Hiraku who could therefore only eagerly nod at his sister's comment.

Erina laughed. "I am glad you liked it."

Kimiko smiled slightly at the memory, before she softly shook her head. She had to focus. She had to put out something great for this. Something that she would serve as breakfast back in the Yukihiras. Something that would put the customer ordering it in a good mood for the rest of the day. Something that, at the same time, had impact and was memorable.
She began pondering and experimenting.

And after what has been not all too long, the students that were in the same kitchen as Kimiko heard an exclaim. "I think I got the perfect idea!"

And also in other kitchens, a few students of the 115th Generation saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

Lola snapped her fingers and smirked haughtily. "I know what I will make." She turned her head a bit and chirped. "What about you, Mona?" Barely audible, Mona replied in her ever-tired voice. "...I guess, I do too."

"They wanna wake up? I will give them a waking call." Takayuki growled to himself as he chopped more chili peppers. "This will let anyone snap out of tiredness for sure!" Near him, Kazuo was happily stirring something ill-smelling in a bowl. "Nyehehe, I hope the judges will like my offering."

Yasu reached for the eggs. "I suppose this could work." He said for himself, as he began to crack the star of the evening. A little bit farer away, Chieko was angrily chopping some meat while mumbling something about "inhuman" and "unbelievable". Her voice did get loud however as she placed down her knife and rather chose to yell at Daisuke and Hideyoshi who were having a bicker near her. "Can you two blockheads shut your mouths for two seconds?!"

Elsewhere, Mika raised her fist high up into the air as she boldly proclaimed. "That's it! A vision is forming in my head! Splendido!" She lowered her fist again but it remained clutched as she grinned. "This will outdo Yukihira for sure, I can't wait for her to see it."

Only Hiroshi was looking at the insides of his pot with a not-all-too happy expression and he was too consumed with his own, miserable thoughts to reply to his cousin.

A hour later, Mika went to bed. She gave Hiroshi the offer to stay around until he was done but he had refused with a sweet smile that gave her the illusion he was okay. And so she had wished him best of lucks, voiced encouragement and left the kitchen.

Once she was gone, Hiroshi whispered to himself. "Hopefully I will be able to make this without her."

He shivered slightly.

—

When morning came, Kimiko went to the hall she was assigned to for the judging just like everyone else did. Hall A in her particular case.

As she arrived, a slight whistle escaped her just because of how huge and grand the hall was. They had placed many different kitchen stations in it as well and Kimiko realised that it might take some time to find the one assigned to her.

She let her eyes sweep through the hall, in hope to spot a familiar face. And in the end, she did spot one. But not one that ignited any sort of joy in her.

Not all too far away to where she was standing, there was Kaori Hayama, dressed in purely white chef attire, diligently sorting her ingredients with focused eyes.

Kimiko grimaced. She would have preferred to end up in the same hall as Mika.

—

In Hall B, Mika was currently clutching her fist while muttering. "Damnit."

Yasu, who was standing next to her, turned his head in wonderment. "Is something the matter, Aldini?"

Mika had her hands on her hips and a pout on her lips as she answered. "Yukihira is not here." In order to truly express her displeasure of said fact, she stomped on the ground. "I wanted to compete with her, Goddamnit!"

For a moment, Yasu just looked at her, not really sure of what to say. Then a small smile played itself on his lips and though one could hear uncertainty in his voice it was still warm and friendly. "You can compete with me, if you want..."

Mika shifted her head in his direction, surprise in her ocean-blue eyes. After what must have been a few seconds, in which Yasu slowly but surely began panicking on the inside he might have said the wrong thing, Mika eased his worries by returning his smile.

"You know, why not?" She then let out a slightly haughty laugh and pointed at him. "But I won't go easy on you!" At that, Yasu's smile grew as he replied. "Good. I won't either. Let's give it both our best!"

—

In Hall C, Chieko was eagerly hurrying through the hall, carrying a few black trays.

Once she had reached her station and placed the trays down, she noticed. "I didn't get enough, I think." And so she made a quick turn and ran right into a large figure, who was passing her station.

"Ow!" She called out as she stumbled backwards. Once she lifted her head, all she saw at first was a very muscular arm attached to a just as muscular chest.

Being very short in terms of height in general, Chieko had to lift her head some more, so she could see the person's face.

It turned out to be Itsuki Kumai who stammered, as soon as Chieko had found his face. "Ma-Marui Chieko!" Almost as if he was afraid of her or anything which did confuse Chieko quite a bit. Given her petite and small body she was barely ever considered any sort of threat on first sight. And in comparison to her, Itsuki was practically a large bear, fitting his surname excellently.

"Sorry." Itsuki said and began to walk away, a lot fast than he needed to.

Chieko could only watch him, as he approached a station with a miserable-looking, orange-haired girl waiting at it and tilt her head.

Was Hell Camp getting to them this hard or did something else bad happen to them?

And how did hat guy know her name to begin with?

—

"I can't believe I got the same station as you, you boring wallflower!" Hideyoshi ranted over in Hall D. Daisuke, who was preparing his tools next to him, rolled his eyes. "It's not like I chose to be next to you, you arrogant dumbo!"

"What is that you just said to me, Nerd?!" "Wash your ears if you didn't got it, Hollywood-Wannabe!"

Their bicker was interrupted by an amused snicker. "Oh my, please tell me you're always this entertaining."

Surprised by the sudden noise Hideyoshi and Daisuke simultaneously turned their heads into the direction it had come from and found out that Lola Nakiri and her twin Mona Nakiri got the kitchen stations right in front of theirs. Lola purred. "It would be great having a comedy to watch while cooking!"

Daisuke grew tense and hastily but pointlessly searched his head for any words to say. Hideyoshi on the other side, didn't need to do that. With an arrogant grin, he leaned a little over his station and exclaimed. "Oh, the Nakiri-cousins. What a pleasure." He eyed Daisuke. "Thank god there's a few important personas around in the end." Daisuke grimaced.

Lola merely flipped her hair. "They say sometimes you got to listen to the words of the Everyman and for once I believe they're right." The smile went out of Hideyoshi's face and he blinked as he repeated, a little confused. "Everyman?"

It was then that also Daisuke had regained his speech. Or at least bits of it. "Uh, I...Go-Go-Go-Good Lu-Lu-Luck, you two." He stuttered, his face a little red once again.

"Won't need any." Lola straight up said. Mona however mumbled. "...Thanks, I suppose. Right back at you."

—

In Hall E, Kazuo was melancholically making the first preparations at his kitchen station. "I wish I would have gotten in the same hall as Mika-chan, it would have been the greatest and sweetest pleasure watching her display her formidable and overly competent skills. She's so graceful and beautiful cooking! I mean, she's always graceful and beautiful. But it's always such an enchanting, bedazzling performance once she is in the kitchen. Oh, fate. How I wish I could be there to witness it." He let out a long, sad sigh.

Takayuki shook his head and grunted. "Protagonists in stupid Shoujo-Mangas truly have nothing on you sometimes, Mimasaka." "But Takayuki-Kun!" Kazuo dramatically wailed in response.

Something that the two didn't notice was Mika's cousin somewhere in the shadows. His lips and hands trembling as he placed the things he needed for his dish onto the counter. Eyes full of misery and panic.

"Hopefully I will make this." Hiroshi whispered in a shaky voice.

—

"So, we ended up in the same hall, huh?"

We turn our attention back to Hall A and to Kimiko Yukihira who just couldn't resist her current action.

Kaori's eyes narrowed the moment she heard Kimiko's voice and as she lifted her head, it was dived into dark and dangerous shadows. "You." She practically spat.

"Listen..." Kimiko began, unbothered by the very clear and open hostility. "...I really don't know what problem you have with me, but..." She rose her index finger. "...I am glad we got to be in the same hall today." Kaori made a face full of antipathy and annoyance. "Well, I am very much displeased by said fact."

Wow, you must be real fun at parties. Kimiko thought to herself. I can almost see everyone immediately rushing to you asking for a team up when it's time to play Pictionary.
Lola was right. Kaori Hayama truly WAS orange juice drunk right after teeth-brushing.

"I just see this as a good opportunity..." Kimiko continued. "...To show you what I am capable of!"

"I see..." Kaori hissed, quietly but full of contempt and danger. "I hope you do realise, that it can just as well work the other way around." She laid her hand on her chest as a warning flashed in her brown eyes. "I am not the valedictorian for nothing, Yukihira." Kimiko couldn't help but notice just how much venom Kaori put into saying her surname.

Kimiko crossed her arms and blew a streak of blonde hair out of her face. "Cheers to a fair fight then, Hayama-san." And she began making her way to the station, thinking to herself how much more friendlier Kaori's brother had been.

Later, once Kimiko had found her station and prepared everything she had to, the large TVs hanging on the walls of the hall lightened up and showed Gin Dojima with a microphone in his hand. His manly, naturally loud voice was perfectly audible in every corner of the hall.

"115th Generation, out of my observations I presume you're all ready to present your work. Let me then elaborate your task. For a start, the judges..."

Just as he had said so, the giant doors of the hall flew open. The moment that happened, the hall immediately filled with jolly laughter and various chattery.

A few eyes grew round as they saw how children ran into the hall, followed by a crowd of adults, ranging from young to old. "And here they come." Gin spoke over the rapidly growing noise that the crowd made. "They are judges for today, the people who grow and produce the ingredients for the Totsuki Resort Hotel accompanied by their respective families. They take over the judging every year."

"This better be exciting!" One child that entered with his family loudly announced. "I want to finish my video game at home!" He stomped on the ground. A younger girl, presumably his sister, also felt the need to share her wishes to the world. "I want something sweet!"

Kimiko clutched her fist and felt a grin spread on her face.

What a piece of cake. Those were the customers of Yukihira right there. She felt more sure about this task than ever.

In the meantime a new group of people appeared at the door. All of them were adults and dressed into either waiter and waitress uniforms or cooking uniforms.

"Additionally.." Gin spoke. "The cooking and service staff of Totsuki Resort will partake the judging."

At that revelation one could hear a few gasps and wheezes from the students.

"They got the steward of the service department, Sakuma Tokihiko!" Daisuke shrieked as he saw a brown haired man with blue eyes in fine uniform appear on the TV screen near him. "And Chef Dojima's very right-hand chef! Sena Hiromi!" Hideyoshi exclaimed in reference to a maroon-haired man with soft, brown eyes and dressed in a white chefs attire." "Truly experienced men." Lola whistled, while Mona only nodded.

Gin gave further elaborations through the microphone. "There's two criteria to fulfill in today's task: the first one is having your dish be acknowledged by the producers, their loved ones and our staff. The second is that you are expected to prepare and serve more than 200 servings. Passing today's test requires you to achieve both of these criteria within the next two hours."

"That's most certainly am interesting task..." Mika mused aloud, making Yasu look at her once again. "They closely replicated a real life situation at a hotel buffet with a wide range of customers to satisfy." "Its what one would expect of Totsuki, I suppose..." Yasu added.

"Well then." Gin's voice took on a more cheery tone. "All is said. Dear customers, hopefully you'll enjoy today's breakfast!"

Then he got louder again. "Let the judging BEGIN!"

Immediately the students of the 115th Generation did as they had been told. Each and everyone of them placing out their trays with a line up of the dish they had crafted over a long night of pulling their hair out and frustrated calls home.

"Help yourself!"

"I hope you will enjoy!"

"You're Welcome!"

With her typical, optimistic grin on her face, Kimiko placed out the trays as well. "Alright, here we go."

On her plates one could see what everyone would call an appealing looking Okonomiyaki. Each of them being topped with three fried eggs.

"Hiroshima-Styled Okonomiyaki, Three Eggs Edition!" Kimiko said proudly.

She had stacked her classic Okonomiyakis with perfectly fried Yakisoba noodles, into which she had also mixed bits of bacon and ham. All of that had been sprinkled with the typical sauces and were topped by the titular three eggs. The kicker was that one egg had been seasoned with only salt, the other with only pepper and the last one with both. So depending on which side with which egg you were eating, the tasting would have slight but noticeable differences.

Satisfied, Kimiko nodded to herself after she had placed everything out. "I will start working on the second serving then."

And so she turned away and did as she had said, self-assured her dishes would go away easily.

She was taught differently once she finished the second servings and looked back to her trays, ready to present the new-made Okonomiyakis. Her heart skipped a beat however as she saw that only almost half of the Okonomiyakis she had laid out were gone. But there were still a great amount of remaining ones laying there, steaming happily and untouched.

A soft "what?" escaped Kimiko as she took in the situation. She would have expected almost all to be gone at this point. Not to mention, there was barely any customers even walking near her station. Kimiko noticed that most of the students in her area had the same problem as they utterly crushed inspected their still great amount of dishes laid out in front of them.

What happened...?

Kimiko began scanning her surroundings, in search for a possible answer.

Her eyes halted when they found the spot on the very other end of the hall and so did her heart as the realisation struck that this was Kaori Hayama's spot.

Said spot was crowded. Very, very largely crowded. Almost all of the judges present in Hall A at the moment had assembled in front of her station. And even Kimiko much farer away could hear their enchanted swoons and gasps.

This scenery left her with only one question.

"What did she serve?"

On the plates Kaori had put out for her customers one cold see a small, golden Omelett which held purely white yoghurt that had green apples mixed into it in-between. The air around Kaori was full of a familiar fragrance making one think of cozy winter nights inside a wooden cabin: Cinnamon.

Each and every guest who took a bite felt like being taken into the warm protecting arms of a mother, before they stormed off to go and discover the world in all their newfound youthful energy.

"The yogurt that's sandwiched in-between the Omelett..." Gin observed in his viewing spot. "...I was informed that she included chia-seed into it. In Maya language, Chia means 'strength' and is known to boost energy. To many it has become part of the morning meal, incorporating it into their oatmeals or so. The guests we see here feel energised and ready for the day eating it." One of the chefs who was with him nodded in astonished acknowledgement as Gin continued. "Then there is the factor of the cinnamon. Not only is it known to reduce fatigue, which is also beneficial for making the guests wake up, its fragrance is also powerful, well-known and very alluring." Genuine impression showed in his voice as he said. "Strategic-wise, it's the perfect dish for this task. It's fragrance that attracts customers and the ingredients she used energise the guests in a way that rivals, no, outmatches coffee. For a breakfast, it's truly excellent."

One of the chefs that was with him spoke up. "It's like the task was tailor-made for her to succeed, Chef Dojima. She's the daughter of the one who's known to have an extraordinary sense of smell and while Hayama Kaori did not inherit it, she most defiantly was taught the power that fragrance can have and how to utilize it." A third one chimed in. "And then there's her mother, an expert for medicinal cooking. I heard Hayama Kaori has been known for having such a great understanding for her mother's craft that she made many stone-old souls feel like they were in their kindergarten days again. She gives back youth. Her dishes energise. They dubbed her the 'Youth Preserver'."

Gin rubbed his chin understandingly, while watching Kaori place out another tray full of plates with her perfect culinary and exquisite wake-up calls on them. Her face was one of calm and poised grace.

"I guess one could almost say..." He muttered, shifting his gaze to one of the other monitors that were in front of him, all showcasing other spots in the 5 halls. The one he was looking at right now, showed a blonde teen gritting her teeth and clutching her fist. "...the people ending up in Hayama Kaori's Hall are almost cursed."

Behind him he heard a laugh by one of his companions. "Why bother going to the stand of one of the peasants, when the queen of the land decided to come to the market and open a stand of her own?"