Hey guys! In this chapter is when Luna goes to Totsuki academy! And a little explanation on Luna's cuisine.
Chapter 4
"Wow, Soma I couldn't believe all of the stuff you guys, have on the market!" Luna said with a wide smile on her face.
"Don't you have that back home?" He asked walking beside her going towards the temporary rental apartment that she currently resides in, she used to be in the hotel but found a cheaper place to live in for the time being.
When she opened the door the room was a bit small seeing the bed neatly tidied as well as her suitcase in the corner all neat, everything neat and organized. Luna placed the bags on the small counter while Soma got the portable grill in his hands.
"Not as much as this." She replied, "I've never seen so many types of fish before."
"So..where can I set this up?" He asked holding the grill.
"I've got a small room in the balcony, you can set it up there." She said
Soma nodded sliding the glass window open.
'I still haven't talked to Mami or abuelita...I don't want to tell them the bad news…' Luna thought she tightened her fist. 'It's been almost three days since then. They haven't called back I guess it's tough trying to figure out the right time zone here but I can't keep avoiding it forever..'
"I've got the grill ready here," Soma said Having the Japanese grill ready, seeing the heat emitting from it.
"Awesome! I'll make you one of my favorite treats that I used to have back home." Luna said taking out two corn husks out of the cloth bags.
"What is it?" He asked
"Elotes! " Luna chimed with a smile.
"What are Elotes?" He asked
"You'll find out!" She started taking the husks off of the corn and lightly wash it, then patted them to dry with a small knife she spread butter she tied the husks with some string securing it.
Soma watched Luna prepare the Elotes placing it on the grill he brought.
"So Yukihira-kun, what are you going to do now? " Luna asked while mixing a few things in a bowl.
"I guess just keep cooking." Soma said, "And you?"
"Well, I guess going back to Tampa and help out at the truck since that girl didn't let us pass," Luna muttered, " I really wanted to stay here and learn more about Japanese food."
"I'm curious about your food too."Soma said, "So you said your food is Latin food."
"Yeah Latin food is my specialty, it's nice home cooking with bold flavors in each country like Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico has their own spice, some use a lot of varieties while some use different quantities and a way of making the dish their own distinct flavor," Luna explained while turning the corn seeing it lightly turning color "My cuisine is a fusion of those flavors with other countries."
"Sounds interesting." Soma said
Twenty minutes later…
"Here we are! Elotes!" Luna said holding the grilled corn by the husk that was lightly covered in a white sauce with red powder and cheese.
"So that's what they look like?" Soma said looking at the corn he held it. "Cheese?"
"Cotija cheese, and a sprinkle of chili powder with a lime aioli." Luna explained "Enjoy Buen provecho!" (Bon appetite!)
A light knock on the door was heard. Luna placed her Elote down while Soma was enjoying his.
'This is pretty good.' Soma thought hearing Luna talk to the person on the door. Then it was silence.
"Esto no puede ser!" Luna exclaimed (This can't be!) "I can't believe it! I passed! "
"Huh?" Soma said tilting his head towards the dark haired girl who was squealing.
"Yukihira! I'm going to Totsuki!" Luna said excitedly taking out her phone calling her mother and grandmother while speaking in Spanish.
'Huh...I wonder if all girls are like that?' Soma thought as he casually ate the Elote. 'Simple and tasty.'
A few days later…..
"Calmate , calmate todo va a estar bien." Luna said to herself. (Calm down, calm down everything will be okay.) Looking at the giant crowd of students in the entrance ceremony she and Soma are inside a tent waiting to speak.
" Just sit back and relax Luna-chan."Soma casually said "You just get up and say a few things then sit back down."
"That's easy for you to say! I'm still learning to speak Japanese correctly here...I just hope I don't screw it up." Luna said, "I'm already nervous as it is."
"You'll be fine."Soma replied patting Luna on her head.
"Finally, we'd like to introduce two transfer students, who'll be joining your ranks today." The announcer girl said with a smile.
Luna and Soma walked up to the stage, Luna wore the standard uniform. While Soma wore his usual black uniform. Luna walked to the microphone looking at the crowd of students.
"U...um…"She mumbled a bit the took a deep breath and started to speak. "Hi everyone...My name is Luna Rosario...I mean Rosario Luna! ..I'm used to saying my first name well first...wow that's a little different from what I'm used to, back home but I do hope that i'll have a chance to learn everything I can here because starting today, I'll show every one of you what this Latin girl can bring to the table! I'll spice things up with my Latin flare and flavor! Just watch me heat things up at this school!"
Luna smiled and stepped down, now it was Soma's turn to talk.
"Oh, sorry to be talking to y'all here." Soma chuckled while scratching his head. " I'll keep it short and simple, just a couple of sentences. Uh...my name is Yukihira Soma, to be honest, this academy is just my stepping stone for me! I wasn't expecting to transfer here, but I don't plan on losing to folks who've never actually served customers. "
'Straight to the point...well I guess I did say something a bit similar too. ' Luna thought looking at all of the students faces. 'I think he made a few enemies today….'
"Anyway, what I'm getting at is...basically , now that I'm here, I'm gonna take the number one spot!" Soma bluntly said
All of the students looked at Soma with Serious looks while Luna walked casually beside him. Bowing in front of the students then left the stage while they started throwing stuff at Soma and the random books would hit Luna too. Both got inside the tent as Soma let out a breath that he held in.
"Phew, I managed not to bite my tongue." Soma calmly said until he was hit in the back of his head. "Ow!" He turn seeing Luna with her loafer in her hand. "What was that for!?"
"De verdad eres un bobo por decir eso!" Luna muttered under her breath. (You really are a fool to say that!) "For saying that! You could've said it a bit more subtle like me!"
"But it's the truth." Soma said rubbing the back of his head.
Luna held her loafer. "Vas a tener más enemigos Que amigos..!" She said taking a seat as she placed her shoe back on her left foot. ( You will have more enemies than friends.)
Luna slightly opened the curtains seeing all the angry students. She glanced at her pendant that her grandmother gave her.
'These guys only been cooking for awhile...but maybe there might be some that worked in kitchens or diners..I've been cooking since I can remember I made tortillas, empanada dough and pico de gallo when I was three years old it was the last time that i saw my father.. After he left, mom changed, I never saw a genuine smile from her since, My mom and grandmother supported me in everything up until now i'll make the two women I love proud. ' Luna looked at the flock of students walk away to get to class. All except for one that was sitting on a steel chair.
Curiosity got the best of Luna so she walked over to see if that student was Alright. Getting a closer look it was a girl around Luna's age with long dark blue hair in two braided pigtails along with a flower hairpin, her eyes are a yellow color and a petite frame.
"Hey, are you okay?" Luna asked
The dark blue haired girl looked up seeing Luna.
"O-oh I'm fine!" She said "I-i better get to class!"
"Hey, Luna-chan! Let's go!" Soma yelled
"I'm coming!" Luna said
A few minutes later…
"You'll be splitting off into different classes and starting your coursework right off the bat. Today you'll be cooking in pairs with your current partner."
Luna could feel a tremendous dark aura everywhere she glanced seeing the entire class glaring at Soma. 'Yikes….those guys are giving the evil glare to him…' Luna thought
After changing into the chef uniform Luna looked at hers that was white like the others.
'I think I can give it a little change in this uniform..'Luna thought
She walked inside the classroom seeing each person already paired off. She looked around the large kitchen.
'It's so big...I don't think i'll ever get used to it.' Luna thought her eyes shifted nervously at the new surroundings.
"Hey, you're Rosario-san?" A boy with short messy brown hair and a black highlight asked.
"Yeah...and you are?". She asked
"Fujii Reo, your partner in class." He said his dark violet eyes looked at Luna from head to toe "So you're a foreigner correct?"
"Yes." Luna answered
"I heard what you said in the ceremony so..just do as i say ,don't screw the recipe up. Got it?" Reo said
"What?" Luna said
"Are you that slow? I said don't screw it up." Reo replied slightly annoyed "I know you Latinas can get a bit too feisty but save it for your night job ."
"Que?!" Luna exclaimed (What?!) 'What did he mean by that?! Oh no...he doesn't think that i'm one of those girls that work at the brothel?! He's the third one this week! He's going to answer to me about that! It's so stereotypical of these japanese men!'
Before Luna could say anything to him the teacher walked in. She learned that this teacher is tough that only gives one passing grade if they succeed if they even show a slight error then they fail. Making Luna slightly nervous, she saw the recipe that they have to make but she tried to read it as fast as she could but a few words got her confused. She even asked Soma for help in translating a few.
'It looks like a recipe for beef stew..., I worked with that type of meat before.' Luna thought still reading each word. 'Okay, so I'll need to go get the ingredients for the stew. And then I'll ask Reo if I can work on the meat.'
"Hey look it's that girl..the Latin one." A student said
"That's her alright, she doesn't look like much." Another said, "She'll be gone, but look at that guy talking to her."
"The other transfer student? You think their friends?"
"If they are I say we try to get rid of them."
"How?"
"I have an idea, Even if Reo is paired up with her I'm sure he won't mind after all he dislike working with people."
"Hey! Rosario-san hurry up!" Reo said, "Start chopping the onions!"
"Uh, Okay! "Luna rushed to her table and started to chop up the onion.
"Go and get the herbs to make the bouquet !" Reo said while preparing the carrots.
Luna swiftly left to get the herbs. 'This guy...he's a bit bossy.' Luna thought
'Why did I get stuck with her? After that little speech, I don't want her to get in my way.' Reo thought while chopping up the garlic. He tilted his head seeing Luna back at the board and asked the teacher a few questions. 'She's still lost? Why bother coming here if you don't know how to read Japanese? '
A few minutes went by and Reo practically took over the dish that's supposed to be made by the both of them he only asked Luna to fetch whatever ingredient they needed to chop it.
"Let me help you with that I have an idea on how to make it more tender." Luna started reaching for the meat.
"No, I'm fine you just go and stay there," Reo said "It took you only ten minutes to read that recipe. If you wanted to come here to learn you should've practiced your Japanese more than playing around."
"Playing around?" Luna said, "What do you mean by that?"
"It's just as I said. " Reo said adding the garlic in the butter into the pan lightly sauteing it. "I told you to stay there and chop up the vegetables and let me do the meat, Foreigner."
"Hey! I'm here because I want to learn and not let you or anyone boss me around!" Luna snapped "I'm trying my best here."
"And you are just stay and chop up the stuff that I asked you to do,"Reo said he turned his head seeing the small bowls with the vegetables cut.
"I chopped up everything you asked." Luna said
"I've got the meat covered."Reo said
Luna pouted she glanced around seeing the students work together. 'These guys are working together but this guy wants to boss me around. He didn't even want to listen to what I have to say.' Luna thought
After twenty minutes of letting the meat simmer, Reo closed the lid of the pot and turned to Luna. "It'll be done soon."Reo said, "Hopefully we'll get an A."
"More like you'll get an A...I know I chopped the vegetables but you didn't want to hear what i had to say, I wanted to tell you about-"
"Rosario-san, it's just following the recipe nothing more." Reo explained, " If we don't follow to the last detail of it we'll fail."
Luna stayed quiet knowing that Reo was right on this one. She let him as long as they work and no one argues then maybe she could get this class over with.
Reo let out a sigh scratching the back of his head. "Can you check on the meat while I go get the plate to serve it with?" he asked Luna nodded her head seeing Reo go.
Luna opened the pot to inhale the aroma of the meat. 'It smells good...it looks good too. ' Luna took a spoon to taste the sauce. 'It needs a little bit of salt.' Luna added a small pinch into the pot stirring it lightly then tasted it again. 'Perfect! Now I think i'll take a quick look at the fruits that they got.'
Once Luna left to check on the fruits at the table unknown to her a few students had an evil smirk looking at the pot on her station.
Reo walked back seeing the lid slightly opened. "Hey Rosario, did you open the lid?" Reo asked
Luna shook her head no walking back holding a few pieces of fruit. "I did check it..I thought it needed a little salt but I made sure to close it." Luna said "We still have to simmer it longer." She tilted her head and saw a slight smirk on a few students faces.
"What are we going to do?!" A female voice said in a panic. "We can't use this meat anymore!"
Luna felt a shiver up her spine and opened the lid, Reo's eyes widen. "A little salt?! That's a mountain! Why did you do that Rosario?!"
"I didn't do that! I said I added a pinch, not this Montaña de sal! "Luna snapped (Mountain of salt!)
Reo gulped looking at the time he felt a drop of sweat run through his forehead. "We won't have enough time to make it! " he started he glared at Luna. "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you on watching it and now we are going to fail, I don't want to-"
Luna covered his mouth with her hand to stop him, he blinked a few times at her. "Reo, but we still have time." Luna replied softly "If you want to pass then trust me on what I have to say." she uncovered his mouth letting her hand fall to her side turning towards the table.
"Trust you? Why should I trust you?"Reo asked
"Do you want to pass or fail? It's up to you." Luna said holding the tray with the extra ingredients, placing it on the table She gripped her pendant, picturing her mother and grandmother.
Reo took a deep breath and nodded. "What do you need?"
"Chop up the vegetables! I'll handle the meat! It'll be so tender it'll melt in your mouth!" Luna said
"Got it! " Reo replied taking out his knife and started to chop all of the vegetables at an incredible speed.
Luna grabbed a few pieces of green fruit, with her knife she peeled and chopped it into a paste adding it in the bowl that had the meat.
"I got the mushrooms and sauce ready!" Reo said
"Good now Let's hustle!" Luna replied with a smile. She took out the meat taking off the green paste and seared it.
"Look they won't make it."
"I feel a bit bad that Reo will fail.."
"So? It's not like he was being friendly to us, besides that's what she gets for associating with that guy."
"But she is pretty…"
"You know what they say about Latin girls that they-"
"Evaluation, please!" Soma said
"Teacher we're done!" Luna said, holding the dish.
"What?! They're done?!"
The teacher name Roland Chapelle evaluated Soma's and Megumi's dish first, Soma explained how the meat got so tender by using honey, Megumi and the teacher took one bite of the beef and were in euphoria. All of the students were shocked seeing him smile for the first time, he passed the two with an A only wishing that he could give them a higher grade for the dish.
"Um...here's our dish." Luna said nervously placing the dish on the table in front of the teacher. "We had an accident with our meat too..but we manage to make it again."
"It's soft too. " Roland said pressing his fork on the meat. "Did you use honey as well?"
"No, we used kiwis." Luna explained "At home my grandmother would mash papaya or kiwis to tenderize tough cuts of meats it works well especially in stews and on a grill for our tostadas so we decided to use the Japanese kiwis, we made it into a paste by crushing it with a fork and let the meat marinate in it for a few minutes. "
Roland sampled the dish, Luna's heart was thumping out of her chest waiting for the teachers answer, Reo started to sweat nervously. "It's delicious, smart use in using the fruit." He said "It's an A."
"Gracias a dios.." Luna let out a sigh of relief. (Thank god.)
After that the two started cleaning up. Reo glanced at Luna for a bit. "H-hey.." Reo said getting Luna's attention. A faint blush lightly spread his cheeks. "S-sorry for being hard on you..I'm not used to doing this."
Luna looked at Reo for a second. "It's okay, the important thing is that we passed."She said
"Still I'm sorry for the way that I acted...I'm not used to working with people...not since.." He stopped himself "Look I'm sorry got it?!" he exclaimed
Luna nodded. "It's okay, for now let's just work together and trust in what we can do to pass." Luna said
"Okay." Reo said "I never thought you would be too feisty..I guess it's true then."
"What's true? Latinas being too feisty? Save it for my night job? "Luna said with an eerie aura around her. "Tell me Reo."
Reo gulped a bit, his violet eyes now in a panic. "I...well….Bye!" Reo dashed off while Luna chased after him cursing in Spanish.
There you guys have it! Please leave a review and tell me what you think! Pm me for Any comments or suggestions.