Hi guys here's a new chapter and enjoy!
Chapter 14
Something felt a little off during the bus ride back to the hotel, the younger Aldini twin glanced at the girl next to him. Usually whenever they were together whether it was lunch break at school or after school in the test kitchens they'd talk even joke around he'd see her eyes lit up making them brighter comparing those bright green eyes as emerald jewels. Right now that look in her eyes seemed dull and she wasn't being talkative as before.
Isami wondered if something was wrong, Luna only transferred here for a short time so when they met something clicked between the two of them.
"Rosario-chan, are you alright?" Isami asked softly.
"I-i'm fine." Luna replied softly. "Just a little tired."
Even if she kept reassuring him that she's fine, she shifted her gaze at her lap staring at her hands. Isami didn't ask her again knowing he'll get the same answer from her.
"I'm here if you need anything, Rosario-chan." Isami said softly
Luna lifted her head towards him a small smile formed her lips, Isami felt the same warm feeling every time she smiled at him. He wanted her to keep smiling like that, to know that she has a friend there for her to talk to, to lend an ear.
'There are so many people around my age that are this good…'Luna thought looking down at her hands. 'A lot of them probably know more techniques...and have more experience.'
The bus came to a stop at the hotel, The students and staff got out of the bus, others went inside while some met up with some of their friends that passed.
"Luna-san! You passed!" Ikumi said she looked around feeling relieved that Soma passed as well.
"Yeah...it was hard we had to gather a lot of ingredients to make something." Luna said rubbing her shoulder. "My shoulders feel stiff…"
"You'll be fine, they have a hot springs here, the warm water will melt away all that stress." Ikumi said.
"It's just what i need." Luna said "I've never been to a fancy hotel like this so i should enjoy it...i've heard from Yuki-chan that the hotel food is to die for."
"So let's go and relax." Ikumi said
"Yeah!" Luna smiled brightly, feeling a little better.
Sadly that happy feeling went away, a large group of body builders along with the american football and wrestling club members as well. The entire group of students gave curious looks at what was happening, they couldn't have free time until every student served fifty meals to the bodybuilders.
"Fifty meals?! Right now?!" Luna said caught off guard at the servings, staring at the instructor Hitoshi Sekimori.
"Yes, right now and if you cannot finish serving our guests dinner in the next hour, you'll be expelled on the spot." Sekimori firmly said taking out his stop watch. "Begin!" He clicked the button as the numbers started counting down.
At that moment everything went in a rush between the students while some kept a level head others went to full panic mode. Luna tried to keep a cool head and concentrated in making her meals a japanese steak set, she had it a few times when she first got here so it wasn't something that caught her off guard it was a simple homely japanese meal, she started plating her first tray until the instructor watched her as she got the portions on.
"Hey, these portions aren't large enough." Sekimori said to her. "Start again."
"O-oh...okay!" Luna said starting again. 'This camp...really is hell!' She thought plating up multiple trays of food some managed to be given to the body builders while others had to be remade again.
"Not enough rice, this one doesn't have enough soup" Sekimori said "Start again."
'I thought it was fine...If i keep redoing it i won't reach the quota…' Luna bit her bottom lip feeling a little discouraged. 'This is intense it's nothing like back home...People are never this impatient for food.'
She heard that Soma easily passed, at every meal set she made the instructor found something wrong, discouraging Luna each time, her eyes shifted to the reduced number of students still working while some passed, probably on their way to relax the rest of the day. Luna tried to keep a level head trying to push down her fears but it kept creeping back up, right now she felt like she's on auto pilot, she scrambled around serving the bodybuilders.
"Rosario, stop cooking." Sekimori said "You passed..another minute later you would've been out."
Those words echoed in Luna's head discouraging her even more, She nodded leaving the kitchen station, she noticed only a small handful failed, taking the walk of shame.
Luna looked around, she saw a few phone booths. She wanted to call home, just to hear their voices, to talk to them about what she's feeling now more than ever, sadly she can't of that time difference, she didn't feel comfortable enough to tell her friends what she's feeling. Luna just walked turning through the hallway.
"Hey isn't she that transfer student?" Luna overheard two students talking.
"Yeah, wow i'm surprised she passed i thought for sure she'd fail."
"Maybe in the next test, someone like her doesn't belong here, she's not worth the instructors time."
Those words broke her, Luna kept walking further into the hallway turning a corner breaking down in tears.
Minutes later Takumi crossed her path.
"Rosario-san?" Takumi asked. His eyes were wide as he crouched down to seeing her in tears, he never saw her in such a state before, he always saw how confident and sure of herself.
"P...pollito.." Luna sputtered trying to pull herself together but more tears ran down. "I….i...it's nothing.."
Takumi held out a light blue handkerchief from his chef's pocket, He offered it to her silently, his face full of concern.
"Thank you." Luna said taking the light blue handkerchief drying her tears.
"Why are you crying?" He asked "What's wrong?"
"Nunca pense que todo fuera así..Todo es diferente..no es como la escuelas en mi casa..todos tienen talento..y saben más tecnicas...muchos piensan que la comida que yo hago es basura..que no vale su tiempo." Luna replied 'I never thought everything would be like this...it's nothing like the schools back home..everyone is talented and they know more techniques..they all think that the food i make is trash..that it's not worth their time.'
Takumi blinked a few times as Luna continued talking more in her language stopping forgetting that he doesn't understand her.
"Everything is different...i just don't know if i even have what it takes….these tests are getting harder and harder. "Luna said " I try to do what i can but i feel that they won't take me seriously...i don't know what to do.. I overheard a few talking behind my back..a lot of negative things."
Takumi looked at her as she calmed down.
"Ask yourself this...why are you here? Why come here?" Takumi spoke up.
Luna tilted her head at Takumi's question, he continued talking.
"I know why i'm here. I'm here to find a worthy rival and be the best student in the academy, i want to put my family restaurant in the map." Takumi looked in Luna's eyes. "After you're done crying, Rosario, Where are you going to go? Because if that's home, this camp has made it incredibly easy for you. But if you're going to stay here, well, you need to remember why you came in the first place."
After that Takumi told her to keep the handkerchief, Luna stood up holding the light blue fabric with the blonde's initials etched elegantly in it.
The question lingered in Luna's head during her trip to the bath, unsure of her answer. She let out a sigh as she went to the large elegant bath, most of the girls were already gone resting in their rooms, the silence let Luna's mind wander at Takumi's question.
" Ask yourself this...why are you here? Why come here?"
'Takumi Aldini has a reason, Soma too...and the others in the dorm...i thought my reason was enough but i feel that something is missing..' Luna thought 'Maybe i miss home too much..maybe i rushed being here…'
Luna got out of the bath putting on the traditional Yukata a light pink color with a brown sash, going to her room this is her first time ever being in a fancy luxury room, she saw the large bed she layed there feeling how soft it was.
"The softest bed i've ever felt, it's like i'm on top of a marshmallow!" Luna said hugging the pillow. "Fluffy pillow.."
Then Luna heard knocks on her door, she popped her head up wondering who would be at her door, when she opened it she saw Isami there holding a small box.
"Hey..." He said "I want to say that...you did really good today, i know it can be tough with this camp..the teachers, other classmates but trust yourself and your ability. Don't lose sight on that." He held out the small white box. "I made these earlier it's Biscotti, whenever i felt down i have a few of it and it lifts my mood."
"Isami-kun.." Luna said taking the small treat box.
Isami awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. "Good luck tomorrow." He said "So..goodnight."
He was about to leave until Luna called out to him. "Thanks Isami-kun, you're a good friend." She said smiling softly at him.
Isami smiled "See ya." He said
As soon as Luna closed the door Isami let out a sigh. "I hope that helps her." Isami muttered. 'I know it can be rough not having someone close to talk too to feel comfortable enough to tell your problems. She should know that she has someone here encouraging her.' He thought
The next day at nine a.m. sharp
Luna and the other students were in a large scale kitchen, wondering who their instructor is.
"We're with Chef Donato Gotoda!" A student said
"The Italian chef!"
Luna stared at the blonde instructor.
"My task for you all...is simple." Donato said "Make me a pasta dish. Uovo al raviolo, but you must work alone i handed out the recipes."
"Alone?" A student asked
"The dish may look simple to do but even the simplest recipe can cause mistakes." Donato said "Most tend to hide it but with this nothing can be hidden."
'He's right...Isami told me about this one ravioli dish, it can be difficult if you break the yolk in the process its over. ' Luna thought
"You may try to make this as many times as you want but you have limited ingredients." The chef said "Inizio." 'Begin'
Luna read over the recipe. "What the hell? Most of the words are Italian!" A student panicked.
'Farina? Olio d'oliva? ' Luna thought 'Wait..i know those words! Isami mentioned it in our break when we were in the test kitchens at school!'
Flashback
"Isami-kun i'm more of a visual learner so can you show me how to make pasta correctly?" Luna asked both already being in the test kitchen.
"Alright in exchange you show me one of your latin dishes." He said
"It's a deal." Luna said taking his hand shaking it. Isami took out the ingredients placing them on the table.
"You start in making the well in the Flour." Isami said rolling his sleeves up taking the flour pouring it in the table.
"Harina." Luna said looking at his steps Isami stopped for a moment. 'Flour.'
"Harina?" Isami spoke in a odd accent
"Almost right, The H is silent..like this Harina." Luna explained
"Harina." Isami repeated
"That's it." Luna said "So what do you say flour in Italian?"
"Farina." Isami said
"That's what you say?" Luna said "I guess some words are the same in Spanish and Italian. But different meaning."
"What do you mean?" Isami asked
"Farina is a type of porridge i used to eat when i was young." Luna explained. "So can you tell me more Italian words?"
"I'd be happy too." Isami said "Only if you tell me a few spanish words."
"It's a deal." Luna said
End of flashback…
Luna looked up at the other students already picking the ingredients. She saw the shelves with different types of flours.
'So many types...all purpose flours, whole wheat, white wheat...self rising flour….' Luna looked at the brands trying to find the right one. Her eyes wandered to the other students already picking the first flour they see. 'Their all using all purpose flour...some are still picking which to use..' She went back and picked up the last bag. 'This is it! I'll use this one for my ravioli.'
Donato looked at the students glancing at the work they have so far. He saw some trying to get the mixing right, most plain wrong using a food processor he shook his head, using that is a quick way to get it mixed but for this test is to do it the right way. He stopped his gaze at Luna she rolled up her sleeves, he looked at her technique making cracking the eggs on the well as well as separating two yolks, adding the yolks and eggs in the flours with some salt and olive oil, mixing it.
'Now that it's mixed time to knead it.' She thought fully concentrated she started kneading the dough. 'Isami said i'll know when it's ready just by the feel..so keep kneading. Until i do…'
With everything in mind she went on to make the dish almost an hour later, Donato raised an eyebrow at the Latin girl seeing the finished product in the plate in front of him.
"Here you go." Luna said "Egg yolk ravioli with brown butter sauce topped with crispy sage leaf and Parmesan cheese...buen provecho!" 'Bon appetite.'
Luna waited nervously watching the Italian chef inspect her dish.
There you guys have it! Please leave a review and tell me what you think ! Any ideas or suggestions Pm me!