| 4 | Entrance Exam

Right now I'm standing in the entrance exam hall for the middle school of Totsuki. And the one that is Judging us is Roland Chapelle, The Chef That Doesn't Smile. Looking at us he spoke with his stoic face.

"Students are only accepted after passing this entrance exam, requiring you to prepare a dish under a specific theme and pass the exam proctor's judgement. And I'm the proctor today, and the theme I'm giving you is beef. You can start your cooking."

As the main ingredient was beef, I didn't want to do something complicated, but I wanted something that would leave an impression on the chef. So the first thing I did was to get a rib eye stake.

I know from my past life that the best beef dish I ate was made by my mother. It was beef with Cassava, since the preparation for Chinese potato will take some time, I went with cassava.

First was cutting the beef into cube shapes and putting it in the pressure cooker with some turmeric powder, salt for taste and black pepper, and started to cook it.

As it was getting cooked, I started to make dough for the flat bread that I'll be serving with the dish.

After that I started to peel and slice two cassava into cube shape and put it aside and started to prep the other ingredients.

As the beef was cooked as I wanted, tender state, I boiled the sliced cassava in the broth of the beef I had in the cooker.

In the meantime I started to cook the flat bread that would go with the dish. It was simple after all, after getting tht dough into a spherical shape I flattened it and cooked it in a pan.

After that was done I mixed the cooked beef and cassava together and started to pan fry it to make the dish into a semi gravy type.

As my dish was finishing up, the smell of garamasla started spread around the hall. With two more minutes, my dish will be finished and I didn't have to do anything until the dish done, so I looked around to only find out that there were no one in the exam hall except for me and Roland Chapelle. Well me being confused was an understatement, I thought that everyone have passed and I was the last one, but looking at the time, it had only been one and half hours too, which means there's half hour more.

Seeing me looking around Roland Chapelle spoke "If you're looking for the other examinees, don't. They have failed to impress me so they are eliminated."

I just nodded at him, since from the manga it I know that this guy is a tough nut to crack. But I didn't mind that at all. And as my dish was finished I garnished it with with a small spring onions and placed it into the tray and walked towards Roland Chapelle.

Nearing him I said "Beef with cassava and flat bread. Enjoy the food." and I placed the dish in front of him.

Looking at it he said "A generic Indian dish, well of it's not up to my standard you will also be eliminated." Saying that he took a piece of flat bread and dipped it in the gravy and took a piece of beef cube and cassava cube in a scoop and ate it.

As soon as he placed the scoop in his mouth, he closed his eyes, ans started to savor the taste. As he was savoring that, unknowingly tears started to roll down from his eye's and a small smile donned on his face.

Opening his eye's he asked me "What is your name?"

"Shouta Yukihira." I replied.

"Then Shouta, I would like to inform you that you have passed the entrance exam." After saying that he started to eat the dish with the same smile he had before.

Nodding at him I went back to my counter to clean it up. After cleaning the counter I left the hall after bidding goodbye to Chapelle, who was still savoring the dish I made.

As I was walking down the hallway, somebody tapped my shoulder, looking back I saw dad, looking at him I asked "I thought you said that you will be leaving after meeting someone here and will not wait for me?"

"I did. But, the person I met wanted to meet you, so come along with me." Saying that he started to walk in a different direction.

"Alright." Saying that i followed him.

A couple of distance later I asked him "Who's the one you met though?"

"Mmm, an old friend." Dad said.

'It's most likely Senzaemon-dono, the dean of the school.'

And just as I thought it was Senzaemon who was waiting for us at the destination.

Seeing is he spoke "So this your first born huh, Joichiro."

"Yes, Senzaemon-dono." Dad replied with a smile.

"Well then, what's your name young one?" He asked me.

"Shouta Yukihira."

"Mmmm, So Shouta, I heard from your father that you're attending Totsuki for fun. Is it true?" He asked me.

I just side eyed my dad, and said "Yes, it's for fun and also to sharpen my arsenal in cooking."

"That is good. But too much fun will effect your future, like his." He said the last part looking at my dad.

"In my eye's dad is happy, that all matters in life. I think." I said.

Smiling at my words dad said "Well said, happiness is the best thing in life."

As we were talking with each other, the door opened and a man came in with a tray with him. After placing the tray on the table between us he left.

Senzaemon seeing the tray said "Now then Joichiro, let's see how your son has fared."

Saying that he opened the lid and inside it was the dish I had made with flatbread.

Without saying another word Senzaemon tasted the beef dish with the flatbread.

As he tasting the dish he striping off the top part of his yukata, from the manga I know that it is a clear sign that he is impressed.

Looking at me he said "You have the same potential, or more than your father. And I'm impressed with you dish even though it's a generic dish."

"Thank you." I said.

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🔻🔺Chapter 4 End🔺🔻