Ugh. My head is spinning a bit, but no matter! I can still write a decent chapter or two!
Salience: Erina declaring her cooking is better, I agree. After reading it again I realized the same thing. But luckily, she was flustered, making it simply like she is stumbling and having conflicting thoughts. So..."Logically Illogical" is what I'd say about it (don't mind it, it's just an excuse, lol). The dash key has been part of my blood, so yeah. Between it and a space, not much difference lulz. And the unstable update thing, I guess I'm just being honest, because I thought out the story as I write, and do tends to stop midway as I have many interests in many subjects. But if it's a real eyesore, of course I'll tear it down.
Agnew: Send me PMs from time to time. I am aware of my bad grammar and are always open for others to correct. Hopefully those small flaws don't give you trouble as you read it, heheh.
Miya: And "Souma and Erina" just printed the story out from my brain too. Lulz.
I love interactings with the readers, so keep sending ideas, opinions and questions as I write. It is more encouraging than a fav, that's for sure!
Okay, now we're back to it. Chapter 3. I would be adding Erina to a lot more interactions, that is my Plan A (or Plan C, if you knew Sakurasou). Though I do feel like I'm writing up a total mess, so ideas are more than welcomed.
A few weeks later...
"This is the place? Looks more decent than I expected..."-Souma stood before the office-like building, and entered.
To his surprise, the staffs explained that this is where workers stays, the actual school is further ahead.
If this is the place for window washers and cleaners stays, then...
"The actual examination hall is about 3km from here."-The staff member used a very long stick to point out on a giant map of the campus where that exam hall was.
"That far?!"-Souma yelled in surprise. Quickly nodded a thank you, he left the building.
When his father said he was going to a culinary school, Souma thought it's just a measy basic school with old man teaching simple dishes.
But as he walks, that opinion slowly changes.
"I FAILED THE ENTRANCE EXAM! ! !"
"MY LIFE AS A COOK ENDS HERE! ! !"
Along the sidewalks, a few students his age bemoaned.
Before he can focus on the matter, Souma's phone rang.
"Great timing, pops!"-Souma answered right when he saw the caller ID-"What the hell is this place?!"
Across the street, several middle aged person, presumably parents of student kneeled to the floor as a teaching staff member came by.
"Please! I'll give you 10 million or 20 million yen if you want! I don't care how much money, just let my child enter this place!"
But the teacher unsympathically wriggle off the man's hold and passed by.
That was the surrounding atmostphere. Heavy, despair and hopeless.
"Oh? I didn't tell you?" -Yukihira Joichirou spoke from the other end of the phone- "This school is the super elite, where only 10% of the student could to graduate."
Tootsuki Private Academy.
'Tootsuki? Where did I heard that?'
Souma recalled soon after.
"I'll prove to you that my cooking...that Tootsuki's way of cooking is the ultimate way of cooking!"
'Oh...So Erina goes to this school too...'-Souma nodded before continuing the coversation with his father-"Where are you anyway?"
"New York City, Manhattan Royal Hotel, VIP Reception."
"Hah?!"
"I'm working there right now."
"Hey Joel! So good to have you back in N.Y! Hahahahahah!"-A customer laughed as he is eating the Yukihira's dinner.
"Don't laugh so much, Dr. McFly! Watch your blood pressure!"-Joichirou replied, with no success at stopping the man from laughing.
From a table nearby, a charismatic politician is eating is dish as he is having a serene look on his face.
"Oh...after falling ill and withdrew myself from the National Congress, I thought I'll be satisfied and all ready to pass away if I taste Yukihira's dish...yet...after tasting it for real...I could not help but wanting more..."-Although he spoke it fairly normal, somehow it makes people around him choked up. Maybe he himself is moved by this dish as well.
"L-let's come back again then!"
"We'll go as many times as you want, senator!"
Then, the door opened forcefully as several monks entered.
"W-wait a momment high priest! We're vegetarian! Please set example to others!"
"Shaddap shaddap shaddap! Yukihira's food is right before my eyes, and you're telling me I can't eat it?! If so, then I'll throw away my belief! !"
"High Priest! ! !"-Several followers tried to stop the skinny old man but no avail.
During all that, Yukihira Joichirou headed out to the balcony as he was making his son's dish, squid tentacles with peanut butter.
"Well, I've been to India, Italia and Spain. I've just arrived in USA yesterday."-Joichirou sat down as he talks to his son over the phone.-"I'll guess I'll stay here for awhile."
"Alright then. I'm hanging up."-His son exasperately sighed through the phone.
"Wait Souma."-The older Yukihira bit onto one squid tentacle as he said-"If you can't survive in that school...than forget beating your old man, ne?"
That pumped up the young cook up greatly.
"I'LL SHOW YOU OLD MAN!"
"Hahah, good. Then let me tell you a secret on how to be...Oh he hung up."
"Yukihira! They're waiting for your dish!"-There was a call from inside.
"Okay, I'm coming"-The cook then turned back into the restaurant.
Listen Souma.
The secret to becoming the best cook is finding a woman you would always cook the best food for her.
"I underestimated this school..."-Souma groaned as he stepped away from those isolent rich kids.-"But even for an elite school, this is still overwhelming..."
He joined up with other student at the exam hall.
'I wonder who will examine me...'
"Hello there."-A girl voice sounded-"I was entrusted with today's examination. My name is Nakiri Erina."
'Erina?!'-Souma's thought coincide with the thought of everyone else in the room, however with different reasons.
Yup, it's definitely her up there alright.
"Hisako, the admission notice."
"Yes, first would be an interview in groups of ten, then a test of practical cooking skill with three different dishes..."
"...How boring."-Erina sighed.-"Bring out the ingredients."
And soon enough, tables full of different ingredients are brought in.
"The main ingredient would be eggs."-Erina picked up one for example-"Those who satisfy my tongue will be accepted straight into the academy."
The entire room suddenly wore an entirely different atmostphere. One of total despair.
"In addition. I'll give you one minute to withdraw yourself from this admission test."
As soon as the words left her mouth, all student but Souma turned tail.
'EHHHHHHHHHHHH?'
Grabbing the kid that just insulted him before, Souma asked.
"Hey, why are you all running?!"
"Y-you don't know who she is?!"
"W-well, I do know her, but not enough I guess."
"She is a genius who entered straight into the academy at number 1 place! Grandaughter of the principal, and the youngest in history to take a seat in Tootsuki's Elite Ten council, the organization that handles internation culinary affairs! To top it off, she has the most acurate and incredible palete in history, the God's Palete! Her review on a dish determines the very survival of a restaurant! Everyone renowed chefs around the world are her customers! Furthermore, if you get branded as a failure by her, it pretty much equals goodbye culinary world for you!"-After that frantic explanation, the isolent rich brat yanked his hands free and run off crying.
'W-whoa.'
Souma turned back at Erina, who did not seem to have noticed him, confident she had driven everyone but her aide away.
So she is kinda terrifying.
But. He did it once, and he will do it again.
"Is-is that okay? E-everyone..."
"If they all ran for their lives, then they have no worthy quality to survive in Tootsuki. Now, is that all of our schedule? I want to make a new dish in my room."-Soon as she said that, Erina suddenly had a wavering feeling.
There was a reason other than the fact that eggs are common ingredients.
No matter how much she denied it in her minds, she wanted to taste that dish the readhead chef did a few weeks ago for her. He was insolent, and Erina would even say dumb, unable to read the situation and mood, but regardless, he produced results. If Asura hasn't closed the shop down and went abroad, Erina would have actually come again.
'W-well, he is Asura's son, so it is somewhat to be expected.'-His image in her mind is revising to an extent.
Noticing Hisako's dreamy look and the slight drool on her face, Erina then turned on her ojou-face again, and teased the loyal aide.
"Looks like somebody wants something."-Unaware of the redhead cook (which is actually, against his dense nature, interested at the sight), Erina lifted Hisako's face, striking a pose that gave the environment surrounding them that glitter and rose-frame effect.-"Do you want to sample it?"
"Y-yes...I do...I really do..."
"Such a bad girl, fufu~"
"H-haii..forgive me..."
They were interupted by the sound of a knife coming out of it's holding rack.
Turned to look, the two girl saw a redhead in normal gakuran school uniform testing the knife.
"Eh? Oh, don't mind me. We can start after you're done."-The boy tried his best not to stumble.
"..."
"Uhm..."
"Yuki...hira...Souma..."
"Hm? Why the full name? Just Souma is fine."
"Hm? Erina-sama, you know this man?"-Hisako asked, eyeing the boy carefully.
"Just...why..."
"?"
"WHY ARE YOU HERE?! YUKIHIRA SOUMA!"
"For the entrance exam, of course."-Souma replied without missing a beat.-"Still, I didn't expect seeing you again, as my examiner, no less!"
"..."-Nakiri Erina was popping veins, but she hasn't formed up a proper reply yet.
"So, using whatever ingredient is fine right? Just eggs as a base?"
"I'll give you one last chance to drop out from the exam right now."
"Why would I? Infact, I'm looking forward to this!"-Souma laughed friendly-"I just have to make 'that' again, don't I?"
Against Erina's desire to beat him up right this instant, is an equal ammount of desire towards having that Tamagokake Gohan again. The two sides struggles inside the blonde beauty fiercely, making a blush visible as she glared bullets at the Yukihira cook.
Unaware of her internal battle, Souma continued.
"This time, I'll make sure to have you admit that it is delicious!"
"! You!"-Erina snapped up-"For your information, I still haven't accepted your cooking yet!"
"Which is why I'm going to cook you another one, and have you properly examine it."
The situation is now in his favor as far as getting her to admit his cooking.
"What kind of cook only make one dish repeatedly? Is that little dish all you have against me?!"
"Oh, so that's the problem."-Yukihira Souma sighed as if he had gotten a huge weight off his shoulder.-"If you want a different one, just say so. I've got plenty of ways to make you admit it. You know, you still dodged the question when I asked you-"
"I'm stamping you Fail right this instant!"-She actually raised the stamp above his application for real.
"EHHHHHHHH?!"
Thankfully, it didn't went down.
For half a minute, silence ensued.
"You will cook."
"Ah-"
"You will answer me properly, simple and short when I ask you a question."
"..."
"If I so much as sees you making that stupid grin on your face just once, I'll stamp you a failure and call the police."
"WHY THE POLICE?!"-Even Hisako was scared.
Just what happened between these two? And how is she unaware of such a person?
"Do we have an agreement?"
"Oh, this knife is actually quite sharp!"-Souma wasn't even paying attention, he was getting ready to cook.
"Don't switch subjects! ! ! !"-Both Erina and Hisako could not take that ignorance.
"Okay, I'll make a dish that would make you say delicious!"
"Have you been listening to me at all?!"
In a movement that even Erina would admit that is quite cool, Souma threw the knife spinning into the air, then pull that white band from his wrist and tied it on his head, before skillfully catching the sharp knife right at the handle.
"Please wait a momment, examiner Erina-dono!"
Observing Souma as he is making the dish, Erina and Hisako can't understand what's he's trying to make besides rice.
"Yukihira Souma. What are you cooking?"
"?"-Souma then held a laugh-"I'm already at this stage and you haven't realized?!"
"I'm stamping you!"
"Okay okay! Stop scaring me with that stamp!"-Souma then recollects himself as he voiced-"I'm making Furikake Gohan."
*Insert rimshot here*
"Don't joke with me!"-Erina slamed the table.
Although she said that, it's probably just the initial shock at first. Furikake Gohan is like something used to eat away rice alone, calling it plebian is still not enough to describe it's place.
But, knowing Souma, Erina understands he's not making a normal Furikake Gohan.
"Of course, what I'm making isn't just Furikake. It's Transforming Furikake"
See, he definitely have something up his sleeve.
...
...
...
Okay, maybe he is messing with her.
Erina and Hisako stared at the square bowl full of furikake made of eggs.
'He's definitely messing with me! ! !'
"This isn't even worth considering. To think I wasted time on you. Well..."-Erina flips her hair as she turns away-"You are just a second-rate chef, after-all."
After taking two steps, she did feel kinda guilty.
He is Asura's son, so even if he is talentless and can only copy-cat a dish, maybe he went through that feeling of powerlessness.
"That hurts."-The redhead chef voiced.
'Well, you are better off as something else, Yukihira Souma.'
"Even though I haven't show you the transformation yet."
'Ah?'
That raised her interest again.
For a second, she thought "That's more like it!" but soon forced it out and retained her usual cold self.
Turning around, she saw Souma holding the bowl at an angle.
'T-there's something glittering under the pile of eggs!'
"You know. The true value of furikake can only be shown on hot, white rice!"-Souma then let the show begin as he let the furikake fall onto a bowl of white, hot rice.
As they fall, gold, transparent cubes falls along with them, glittering under the light, and as it touches the rice's surface...melts.
'It's melting into the rice, and the eggs are getting covered by it too!'
Such a dazzle sight came with an irresistable smell.
'It's chicken...the smell of perfectly fried chicken...'-Erina can't help to be tempted.
The dish now looks completely different.
'So...this is his capabilities...'
"It's ready."-Souma said as he presented the bowl forward.
"...Very well. Then I will taste it."
Souma grinned.
"Please enjoy it!"
It was the same. That heavenly feeling she got when she first ate his cooking.
For some reason, she expected nothing less from him. Eventhough she threw insults and threaten him to no end, deep down she really do like his cooking.
If only they had more in common...or rather, their personality don't clash so much. If the boy don't irritates her so much, maybe a decent conversation and an actual admission could be made.
But...
Looking at Souma with his stupid grin, Erina couldn't help but wiping away any idea of admitting his cooking.
By the third bite, she had already brought down to using the table for support.
Her body just want to shut down in order to enjoy it.
Her breathing intensified, a blush on her face, and she eyed between the cook and his Furikake Gohan repeatedly.
"...-o?"
"?"-What did he just say?
"So? Is it delicious, or is it terrible?"-Souma asked again.
"..."
"Come on, be honest, Erina."
"...It..."
"It?"
"It's...It's..."
"Yes?"-Souma hang open his mouth as he waited an answer from the beautiful blone princess before him.
"Enough. You pass."
Eh?
Eh?
"EHHH?!"-Souma stood up from the stool-"Are you serious?! How is it that making you admit it is so hard?!"
"You have no idea how honored you are, aren't you?!"-Hisako pointed at the redhead chef, scolding him.
"But..."-Souma then stops, as there is no way for a cook to argue against the judge, specialy this one in peticular.
"The dish was okay, just barely make it. You pass the entrance exam."-Erina turned away and muttered under her breath-"The first..."
"Yes?"
"A-anyway"-She forced down a blush and cleared her throat.-"As much as I want to strangle you to death, I can't go against what I said. It was adequate, so you pass."
"You seem like you really enjoy repeating the 'just enough' part aren't you?"-Souma deadpanned.
"Of course."
Souma looked up to her.
He couldn't be anymore surprised.
'W-what kind of a face is that?! What in god's name?!'
It...
It looked like...as if...she was smiling gently at him!
Where's the icequeen attitude?! Where are those comebacks that are just like slaps at your face?!
Hisako herself feels uncomfortable when she saw that.
Has Erina-sama ever smiled like that?
Then, the princess' lips moved again.
"It would take more than that to make me say 'delicious', Yukihira-kun."
Now she was encouraging him.
And that encouragement did not go to waste.
"Uhm! I'll try again and again until that happens!"-The fire in his eyes burns even more brightly than when they first met.
It seems to be melting her ice cold heart as she smiled and actually did not hide her small blush.
"I'm looking forward to that."-Erina reaches for for the stamp and stamp his aplication.
"It's a challenge then."
"Uhm"-The blonde nodded.
And...
...
...
...
That incredibly good mood was destroyed the second later.
Unexpectedly, it was Erina who did it this time.
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
Both looked down the application form Erina just stamped.
On it, in bold and red ink.
"FAILED"
Both gawked for words as they stared into it.
Inside, Nakiri Erina's head was in the clouds with flowers and dazzle as she writte a letter to her grandfather in her mind.
'Dear grandfather. Today your grandaughter has accidentally kicked out Asura's son simply because she thought bringing a "Passed" stamp was unnecessary.'
Outside, the rich kid from before who insulted Souma was crying as he called his mother.
"Nakiri Erina was the examiner, mother! It couldn't have been anymore terrible! I'm going home now!"-As he was getting on the car, he saw Souma heading out of the examination hall.-"I-Impossible! Y-you passed her test?!"
Adding to the shock and confusion, Souma answered.
"Ah...Uhm...I think..."-The look on his face showed he was terrified, utterly confused and incomprehensibly tense as if waiting for a verdict.
'HHHHUUUUHHHHH?!'
Chapter 3 complete! Please rate and review, as well as give me ideas and tell me what you think about the interaction and how should it go. As I was writing, I suddenly remembered an old manga and decided on an at least decent route based on it. Deeply moved by the classic romance but unable to write them, that's me in a nutshell.
Okay, I hope you enjoy, and I'll see you again on the next chapter!