Author's Note:

Hello,

yeah the update came slightly faster than I expected. To be honest..I think he updates will continue in this pace for now...I won't promise anything but you see, now that summer is around the corner, school life is rather relaxed and I also have all my exams finished already. So I do have time.

However as soon as Autumn reaches, updates will probably get rarer.

I do hope, I get over the Introduction Arc during summer.

So well, have the second Chapter which introduces a new character (or a familiar one, if you already read the story before I started revising it)

Mhm, I hope you will have fun reading the new chapter and reviews are always appreciated, remember qwq

Author's Note End

As Soma and Erina arrived at home, they were already greeted by the familiar fragrance of various ingredients being steamed, boiled, fried and what not.

"Good Morning Hiraku!" Soma greeted as he entered the kitchen.

His wife walked past him and took out her mobile phone while doing so. "Good Morning from my side as well, Hiraku. I'm going to help in a second, but I have to phone someone first." She quickly said and then was outside trough the backside door.

Hiraku stopped chopping the mushrooms in front of him and turned to his father. "Mornin'! Grandpa is out on the market. But where have you two been and where's-" He stopped mid-way as the realisation hit him, without his father's help.

"The transfer exam is today, isn't it?" "Got it!" Soma laughed. "Shouldn't you know that, as an Elite Ten member?"

"I guess..." Hiraku shrugged. He wasn't very much of an organised person.

"Well then Dad, do you want to taste a new creation of mine?"

Before Soma could even say yes, Hiraku's lips formed a creepy grin. "I was experimenting a little with ice cream."

His father only mimicked the strange expression of his son. "Oh? Well give it to me then."

And with that a blue canister was handed to Soma.

Outside Erina shook her head as she heard her husband exclaiming. "Bwah! Disgusting! Squid with Chocolate Ice Cream!" Followed by laughter from both Soma and Hiraku.

"They're at it again.." Erina sighed into the phone, but the other party didn't failed to hear the little smile on Erina's lips.

"Oh my, you're still in love like on the first day!" A female voice teasingly giggled. Erina only rolled her eyes.

"Whatever, I hope you chose a good examiner for today." Erina then said, which resulted in a "Hmph" from the other person.

"Of course I did! You should have more trust in me, Erina! I do this job for quite some time now." Then there was another chuckle. "Don't worry, I didn't organised some haughty girl, who couldn't admit the food from the love of her life, because she was too proud."

Erina's face went red. "When will you two stop with that already?! Also who are you calling haughty, huh?!"

"Ah~, you never fail to disappoint me with your reactions, Erina! But real talk now, a skilled examiner will be there. It's just on your daughter and if she will pass."

"Of course, she's going to, don't be ridiculous. Well, do I know the person examining?"

"Oh, yes you do. I got the very best for this task." And with a last smirk Alice Nakiri hung up.

The Second Plate - Entering the battlefield with sharp claws

"It...It is impressive..." Kimiko muttered to herself.

The honey-blonde teenager was currently walking on the grounds of Japan's most famous cooking school, Tōtsuki. While she followed the plan handed to her, her head turned left and right to inspect her surroundings.

The plan lead Kimiko to the location where the entrance exam would be held. Compared to some other places in this academy, that one was not very far away and still easily reachable.

"Boy, is this all luxurious here." Kimiko mused, as her eyes trailed over the expensive looking facade. She found herself in some kind of garden. While it wasn't that big, it still looked like a garden you would only find behind an European castle.

The whole thing was surrounded by a building, of course build out of high class material. Many huge gates lead into the inside of it, however, they were protected by men and women in suits, who didn't let anyone trough just yet.

The other transfer-candidates completed the scenery perfectly, as Kimiko noted. They wore school uniforms from expensive looking private schools, were escorted by bodyguards and all held a prideful expression.

Kimiko felt out of place, wearing the school uniform from a common, public school and not having any limousine or bodyguard behind her.

She couldn't even show off some golden or silver jewerly, like the most other girls she saw.

"Pfh, jewerly is unnessacary when cooking..." She then simply stated out loud and made her way to a bench.

But of course someone had heard her.

Just as Kimiko sat down and wanted to start thinking about new recipe ideas, she heard footsteps nearing her.

Within seconds a girl in her age stood in front of her.

The hair was brown and wavy, also the girl wore a black ribbon in it. Magenta coloured eyes were surrounded by long, deep black eyelashes.

She played with one of her golden earrings and looked at Kimiko like a princess about to order a kill for someone who was not following her orders.

Kimiko simply stared back, with an unimpressed, nearly bored expression, wondering what that girl could want from her.

For several minutes the two teenagers just looked at each other, both expecting the other one to say something. Then the brunette finally spoke up. "'Jewerly is unnessacary when cooking', nice way of saying that you just can't afford it."

Her voice was sharp and soaked with arrogance. "Hah?" Kimiko replied. "It is. You're cooking, not applying for a fashion show. Bracelets and all that stuff is just in the way. Even my aunt, who loves Jewerly, takes them off when cooking."

"Tch..." The brunette was at a loss of words for some seconds. She just couldn't believe it. This girl was truly a commoner. Couldn't afford Jewerly, had no bodyguards or limousine and the school uniform doesn't seemed to be the one of a private school.

"Let me ask you, do you even know who I am? Other people would already consider it blessing, when I just glance into their direction."

Kimiko tilted her head, now slightly annoyed. What was that girl's deal?

Kimiko never had been the biggest fan of social interaction and this girl seemed unsympathetic from the very start. Couldn't she just leave her alone?

"No. Is it a crime to not know you or what?"

The brunette's cheeks reddened and outraged she snarled. "I am Oshiro Tamae! Heir of the infamous 'Rose-Palace', one of Japan's most known French restaurants."

Now she's going to be sorry. Tamae thought and couldn't help but smirk.

Okay, let's just end this conversation. Kimiko thought and couldn't help but yawn.

"Alright, alright. I'll try to keep that in mind." To underline that for her the interaction was finished, she took her knife case and stood up, ready to walk away.

But Tamae didn't let her. "You'll keep that in mind?! Okay, that's it! You clearly still have no idea who you're talking to you...you...commoner!"

Ah, there it was! That "c"-word.

Kimiko stopped mid way in turning around. "So?"

"So? So?! What the hell are you doing here? The word 'commoner' is written all over you and it clearly shows that you are just some girl from the streets! I am still asking myself, who of the staff was so brain dead to let you step into Totsuki."

Now Kimiko faced Tamae again. Her golden eyes had hardened and seemed completely lifeless at that point. Some people who had started to watch the cat fight even backed away a bit. But Kimiko still felt the spiteful eyes of the others burning on her.

Tamae didn't noticed any of that. She was too caught up in humiliating that commoner. "Really, do you really believe you have any chance to get trough here? You may not know it, but this is a high class, exclusive, Elite school where only the very best stand a chance. Look around, all of the candidates gathered here come from well-known gourmet restaurants. And you? Oh, Oh don't say it. I'll guess myself! A diner perhaps?"

The other candidates started to laugh, while Kimiko's face darkened.

Tamae spat. "Well then, let me give you some friendly advice. Go back there and entertain the lower life forms who are satisfied with such second rate work that a diner serves and let us handle the real cooking."

Her earrings and bracelets jingled, as she flipped her brown locks. While the other candidates shallowly cheered for Tamae and exclaimed various words of approval, Kimiko just stood there. Not one inch of her body moved. She stared at the ground and the grip around her knife case hardened.

"Oi!" Tamae snipped her fingers and then put her hands on the well developed hips. "Don't you have anything to-"

The last words got stuck in her throat, as Kimiko finally lifted her head to look into Tamae's eyes.

Yellow was a warm colour, but still her eyes looked so sharp and cold. Kimiko's bangs dived her face into shadow and a dark aura was surrounding the young girl. Her face was pretty much emotionless.

The laughter, whispers and cheers immediately stopped.

A little chuckle escaped Kimiko as she watched how everyone's face became unsettled and slightly frightened. Then she turned her attention to Tamae again, who was absolutely silent for the first time.

"Oshiro-San, say do you have waterproof make-up?"

Confused looks were exchanged in the crowd, while also Tamae raised an eyebrow. "H...Huh?" She said a little more unsure than she wanted it to sound.

But Kimiko just continued to bore her yellow eyes trough the other girl, awaiting an answer.

"Of course I do..." Tamae then finally stammered.

"Ah, that's good to hear." Kimiko calmly stated. "At least you will still look as flawless as now after I stomped you into the ground."

Kimiko's right hand was now being laid over her chest. "Listen hear, all of you! You'll only receive the right to judge my diner, if you manage to beat me in a cook off. Something I..." She giggled. "...highly doubt to be quite honest. So well, please don't brother me with that filthy attitude of yours and just let me finish that entrance exam alright? If you excuse me."

With a swift turn she walked out of the scenery, leaving Tamae and her companions speechless. Nobody spoke out loud what they were thinking, because that would praise that diner-girl and yet all of them had one thought in their head.

"Like a queen."

Kimiko tried to let her mind trail off that unpleasing encounter while walking trough the garden.

"Gosh, if already the candidates act that way, what will the examiner be like?"

Just as that thought stroke her head, a male voice announced. "Transfer Candidates! Put on your cooking uniform in the cabins and then enter the gate assigned to you. Your group is noted on the plan you got at the entrance."

Kimiko looked to the speakers from which the voice had come from and sighed. "Finally.." She looked at her plan. "Group C" was written on it.

"Alright." Kimiko confidently said to herself and then made her way to the cabins.

Even tough she felt eyes burning on her again, nobody talked to her.

-.-.-.-

Tamae couldn't enter the hall assigned to Group C as graceful as she wanted to. She still looked fabulous of course, but she could have looked truly bedazzling.

A little unladylike grunt escaped her, after which she immediately covered her mouth.

That girl. That commoner girl still stuck in her head after all. And it angered the proud Tamae.

What was the deal with that girl either way? She had not been in the slightest way impressed? Did she really whole heartily believe she could make it trough that?

Also why could this simple girl, the same age as Tamae, let shivers trail down her spine.

It was very hurting for Tamae's ego.

Just, forget her! As if a diner girl could make it on Totsuki. It's Totsuki we're talking about here, after all. Tamae convinced herself as suddenly a girl passed her.

Tamae flinched.

She just got completely ignored by Diner-Girl, who didn't even made the afford to turn her head to Tamae. She simply walked past her and only came to a still as she found the right place to stand. Diner-Girl was now dressed in a restaurant uniform, like Tamae herself.

However hers wasn't modelled after the traditional cooking uniform. It was rather a blue shirt and black pants. An apron was tied around her waist and the white letters on her back read Yukihira.

Of course she got into the same group as me. Also how dare of her to ignore me! Tamae ranted in her head, while shooting despised glares into Kimiko's direction.

Wait! What an opportunity! Then I am going to show her now, why she doesn't fits into this place.

Immediately Tamae's pride was restored and elegant she made her way next to some handsome, black-haired guy in a pure white chef uniform.

Just as she wanted to say "Hi", the crowd stiffened and all conversation was immediately stopped as they heard footsteps.

The examiner!

Tamae set her focus to the front, so did Kimiko.

Then a young girl, the same age as everyone else in the room, entered.

Kimiko's eyes widened in surprise, but a happy smile spread on her face at the same time.

She was the only one, with a rather positive expression.

Everyone else's heart pretty much stopped for a second.

Their faces now showed shock and disbelief. Some even started to sweat.

The girl in front wore the school uniform, but not the one for girls, no. She wore the boy's uniform. Her hair was short, wild and black. Notable is that the left bang was longer than the other one, creating an asymmetrical but still stylish look. The girl's eyes were red and intimidating and while her lips formed a playful smirk, one of the two pale hands played with the ying-yang-necklace that the girl was wearing.

Slowly the first shaky whispers could be hear within the crowd.

"It cannot be..."

"She's...she's..."

"We're gonna be examined by..."

"Nakiri Lola..." A guy near Tamae muttered. "Alongside her twin sister Mona, she's the daughter of Nakiri Alice, the headmistress of Totsuki. A true genius when it comes to Molecular Gastronomy and Seafood."

Tamae knew her as well and couldn't help but shiver a little.

This girl was the daughter of Totsuki's director! She certainly was a powerful and skilled chef. More powerful than Tamae will ever be.

"Lola!" A joyful voice suddenly interrupted the anxious ones.

All heads turned simultaneously to Kimiko, who happily waved to their examiner. To everyone's shock the examiner's rather sinister expression had changed to a gleeful one as well.

"Kimiko!"

It was dead silent as everyone else in the room tried to comprehend what they just witnessed.

Especially Tamae couldn't find any logic in it and hoped her eyes fooled her.

Why was Diner-Girl so casual with Lola Nakiri? Even referring to her with first name, not even adding any suffixes. No way! This had to be a dream!

Meanwhile Kimiko and Lola exchanged grins and simple nods. Without any word, they agreed to do all the talking later on.

Lola turned her head to the crowd again, giving everyone a light heart attack as she began to talk.

"Good Day, everyone and welcome to the transfer exam! For those who live under a rock and don't know me: my name is Nakiri Lola and I'll be your examiner today."

Now it was official.

A lot of the candidates still had held on to that ridiculous and small hope, that Lola would not examine them. That she was just some show act, Totsuki brought in to impress.

Lola took out a sheet of paper and waved it around, like a child wanting to show their parents some information they got from school.

"Well I read the rules and conditions for the exam, this morning...but..."

She simply tossed the paper away and smiled innocently. "It's way too boring."

Good, old Lola. Kimiko thought, not even noticing the despair in the other candidates' eyes while watching the paper slowly sink to the ground.

Everyone just wished they could wake up from this nightmare. The atmosphere in the room was thick and tense, nobody said a word either.

Lola snapped her fingers. "So, I thought something up instead!" Her head turned to the doors. "Bring the ingredients in!"

While various workers followed Lola's request, she started to elaborate the task.

"The exam will be held, in form of a competition!" She didn't left the candidates any time to go all "Huh" and "What" and cheerfully explained further. "Means only one of you will make it into Totsuki and that's the one who manages to beat the rest with his dish. The judge will be me of course."

She received nothing but distressed faces. Nobody could believe what thy just heard.

Just one free spot?

And they had to compete over it?

Kimiko on the other hand was excited and couldn't help but glance over to Tamae, who held the same shocked expression, everyone else held.

Lola was not in the slightest bothered by the scenery of fright before her. "As I am going to be the one tasting, I chose a main ingredient, I am really starving for right now."

They heard the sound of rolls coming down the hall way and to everyone's amazement a water tank was rolled into the exam place.

Lola made a arm gesture towards the tank, presenting it. "Crab!"

The tank did contain all sorts of crab, swimming car free around in the blue and a "Wow" escaped Kimiko. She spotted Blue Crabs and Brown Crabs, but there were certainly more, she just couldn't identify.

The rest of the audience was in panic.

"No way, a seafood dish for the seafood master?"

"She must be used to the best of skills, her father is Nakiri Ryo after all!"

"I am never going to make it."

The guy next to Tamae lifted his hand. He was absolutely pale and looked like he was about to throw up. "Ms. Nakiri!"

"Hm?" Lola stopped watching the crabs doing their thing and faced the guy. "What is it?"

"I...I...I am sorry...but..." The guy stuttered. "Isn't...Isn't...that against the rules? Having just one of us making it trough the exam?"

Tamae gasped and also the other candidates turned to the guy, questioning his sanity. Lola tiled her head. "What's your name?"

"Kita Haru."

"Well, then Kita Haru..." If Lola had looked sinister before, she now looked threatening.

Her red eyes glowed, she smiled darkly and tapped her chin.

She looked a bit like Kimiko had before on this day.

"Thank you for being the example of how to not enter Totsuki. You failed and can go home now, good day." Her voice sounded friendly, but still made everyone shiver.

Haru's eyes became blank. "Wha.."

Now even Lola's smile disappeared and she looked at him coldly. The icy tone, matched the chilly appearance she suddenly had. "Look, if you already now back away from competition, Totsuki is not the place for you. You will basically go down. And this exam is about finding out if one of you is Totsuki material, right? Well, you clearly are not. Bye-bye and good luck on your further path."

While Haru sunk to the ground, Lola's former attitude came back and she clapped her hands together. "Well then, if that's it with the questions, we can start now, right? Begin cooking!"

Swift and elegant she slid away to make way for the storm of hectic and pressured chefs making their way to the ingredients.

I'll think I will go with Blue Crabs, a way calmer Kimiko made up for herself and started to head into the direction of the water tank.

It was hard reaching some of the ingredients trough the mass of nervous teens, but at some point Kimiko had made it. She could gather everything she needs and laid it onto her workstation.

Kimiko was just about to get started, as a familiar voice made her look up again. "Oh Blue Crab it is?"

Lola had bend over the working station, resting the head on her hands and inspecting the Blue Crabs closely.

Her red eyes met Kimiko's golden ones as the transfer candidate greeted her. "Well, hello Lola."

The two of course didn't minded the confused looks, that were given to them and Lola just continued the chat.

"Good day to you as well, Kimiko." She smirked. "Nice to see, that Uncle Soma and Aunt Erina sent you to Tōtsuki at last."

Kimiko hummed in response and casually asked afterwards. "Well how are Aunt and Uncle doing? And where's Mona by the way? It's so rare to see you without her."

"You forgot to ask how I am doing!" "You're doing absolutely fine, as I see."

Whispers started to go trough the crowd.

"Uncle..? Aunt...?!"

"Don't tell me they're..."

"...cousins..."

"No way, Diner-Girl can be related to a Nakiri! That doesn't make any sense!"

"Hey, she never did officially confirmed that she's from a diner...maybe she is a high class cook!"

"Why haven't I heard of her then?"

"Huh?" All the sudden noises finally caught Lola's attention and she span around to face the others. Her face now showed an innocent expression, as if she couldn't understand why the people are wondering.

Then she giggled. "Oh! Well..." She pointed to Kimiko, who raised an eyebrow to her. "This is Yukihira Kimiko and yes, we are related. Our mothers are first-degree cousins, which makes us second-degree cousins."

Kimiko didn't added anything and just started to work. Lola nonchalantly turned away from the uproar of "What?!" and "I can't believe it!", to talk to Kimiko again.

"What will you make by the way? You know, I won't treat you special, just because we're family...I hope you know that." "Well I would be disgraced if you would." Kimiko responded and grinned afterwards. "And you'll see soon enough, what I will be making."

Lola crossed her arms, swirled around and walked away pouting. Her face showed a smile again as she sat down in the front tough.

At the same time, some candidates couldn't help but admire the skills Kimiko just showed off.

Fast but concentrated she moved around her workstation. Just one of her crabs, didn't made it into her steamer and was put on a grill. While that was going on, Kimiko cooked her rice in a pan with butter and it sizzled as she added white wine to it. With an astonishing pace she cut trough asparagus, onions, garlic and avocados.

"Seeing her cooking, she does seem to be talented.." One of the other ones mumbled.

-.-.-.-

The transfer candidates for Totsuki were in distress. More than half of them, already heard the words "Not good enough" from Lola Nakiri.

Not one of them, had met her expectations yet. Well, how in the world could you? She was used to the very best!

"Argh, this really is Totsuki Level, I suppose..." "But man, this exam is so hard.." The students whined.

Also Tamae had sat into the corner and was still trying to comprehend what happened.

"This is just plain crab soup. Nothing special."

"But...it's made with King Crabs!"

"And? Just because you used a rather luxurious item, it doesn't makes the dish automatically better. It lacks originality, something you need on Totsuki."

Everyone looked up, as Kimiko made her way to the examiner. Balancing a tablet on her fingertips.

The honey blonde passed Tamae and before she could walk on, Tamae called her name. "Yukihira-San!"

Kimiko stiffened, came to a still and took a look back.

Trying not to be insecured by Kimiko's unsettling uninterested expression, Tamae said what she wanted to say. "I eh...wanted to apologise for the things I said this morning...You got to understand, I had no idea you were related to Nakiri Lola! You just don't look like that, you know?"

Kimiko raised an eyebrow. Before Tamae could say more, she looked straight forward again and stated. "Well, I am sorry but I don't understand." And walked on.

Lola was currently watching the left over crabs in the tank again, probably thinking of new dishes to make out of them, as Kimiko arrived in the front.

"Lola!" She called out to seek her examiner's attention.

"Oh Kimiko, you're done?" Lola questioned the obvious, resolving in a nod from Kimiko.

The plate was placed in front of Lola. The first thing she noticed were the four small bowls, placed within a...risotto? Yes a Risotto. And the bowls contained four different sauces.

The pile of rice was surrounded by a circle of croquettes and one single blue crab, laying on the side.

"Where's the crab in that dish, did she just lazily laid it on the plate?" One of the other candidates muttered.

"I present: Blue Crab Croquettes with four different Dips."

Kimiko grinned.

"Let it hopefully satisfy you!"

Lola took her chopsticks. "Well then, let's see Kimiko..."

Everyone was watching curiously as Lola tasted the dish. Even the people, still cooking stopped what they were doing to get a glimpse of what reception Diner-Girl would get.

After minutes of silence, Lola then finally gushed. "Ahhhh, nice!"

Looks filled with various emotions were exchanged within the audience.

This was the first time Lola reacted that way.

"The croquettes are filled with steamed crab meat and work perfectly with the four dips, creating various ways to enjoy them! Say, what dips did you used?" Lola complimented Kimiko.

"Well, one is Ponzo-Sauce. The other is a dip out of Garlic and Chiles, the next is a Ginger-Lemongrass Dip and last but not least an Avocado Dip." Kimiko answered.

Lola continued her praise. "The risotto adds such a nice element as well." "I added some garlic, asparagus and white wine."

Kimiko ate a lot of Risottos in her life, her father loved to make these.

"And the crab on the side...?" "Grilled!" Kimiko laughed. "You can eat it with the Risotto or with one of the Dips as well. Just a little side element I brought in."

And so Lola did and judging by her face she was satisfied. She suddenly looked quite innocent again with her eyes closed and a happy, honest smile on her strawberry pink lips.

"She's the first one to impress Nakiri Lola!"

"She really is related to them!"

In the shadows Tamae sunk to the ground.

This certainly wasn't much of her day.

She failed the transfer exam for Totsuki and next tot that, she had also insulted a relative of Alice Nakiri.

-.-.-.-

The transfer exam was over and everyone knew who had made it.

"The transfer goes to: Yukihira Kimiko!" Lola made the obvious public. Kimiko had been the only one, who could make Lola smile.

As everyone else left in a gloomy manner, Kimiko wanted to tack along as well but Lola hold her.

"Oh you wait, Kimiko! Where you think you're going? You going to spent the evening with us!"

She winked and pointed at herself. "But the..." Kimiko wanted to counter but Lola didn't accepted any other options.

"I'll call Uncle Soma!"

With an approval of Soma, Lola, as so often, got her way.

So the two girls entered a limousine and drove off to the Nakiri Mansion, as Kimiko's first day on Totsuki was officially over.

Author's Note:

For the dish presented in here, I watched every crab battle from "The Iron Chef" that could be found on Youtube. The problem is, I absolutely lack creativity and just can't craft dishes out of my newfound knowledge qwq But I tried...

(really, if there's anyone who wants to help me...please say so!)

Also I drew heavy influence from an article on a website called saveur .com; called "Six Perfect Sauces For Crab"

Thanks a lot, a lot for reading and I hope I can greet you again next chapter!

Have a wonderful morning, day, evening, whatever time it is over where you live and bye-bye

Author's Note End