「 First Class 」

( Akira POV )

Right now, i'm sitting behind the stage of the Totsuki Culinary High school division opening ceremony. But to call it an opening ceremony isn't right either since most of the students who attend the Totsuki Culinary High school is a graduated from Totsuki Junior High.

Of course there is an exception for transfer student. And this year there are two transfer students, one of them is me. Hyoujou Akira.

I'm also surprised if you asked me why I'm here, the blonde-haired examiner is clearly said that i've failed the entrance test even though I've serve one of my best Painted dish. And suddenly, three days later i get a call from Totsuki.

They said that i've cleared the test and be able to attend Totsuki. It confuse me but here i am, in this big conglomerate culinary school full of rich kids.

And the person who giving speech to the students right now, a buff old man, maybe in his sixty, Nakiri Senzaemon is the director of this academy. The head of Nakiri family. And i must admit, to be in that shape at that age is a dream for any man, just look at those muscle.

Then i looking at Souma who is still sleeping next to me.

"Oi Souma, wake up you sleepyhead, our name will be called soon." I moved his body and waking him up.

Apparently in this school, the transfer students who just moved to the academy will give some speech in opening ceremony in front of all students. I don't understand why should we do that since it is so unecessary. And its only possible because of the fact that the amount of people who moved here can be counted with finger.

" *yawn* Ah okay." He still looked sleepy when he said that while yawning. This guy is so nonchalant about this, well its just a boring formality anyway

After an arousing speech that old man Senzaemon gave to the students, its time for us to show up. The host then calling our name.

"Finally, we will introduce the two transfer students."

Its a girl with a twintail, she looked nervous up there.

When i heard that I stand up and looking at Souma.

"Go ahead Souma, I'm next." I said, patting his shoulder. He just nodded without any form of disagreement.

"Okay" Souma then walked up to the stage casually, putting both of his hand behind is back.

"I'm sorry for standing up here, hahaha"

"Hurry up!"

"Straight to the point, i'm just gonna say a few words."

I'm listening to Souma's speech while crossing my arms in front of my chest.

"Eto, my name is Yukihira Souma. Honestly, this school is just a stepping stone for me, I didn't expect to move here but, I won't lose to those of you who have never served customers, yeah ... I mean, the point is while I'm here, I will aim for first place! "

Silent... I'm just gasped with my eyes widen. This guy didn't really just said something like that in front of hundreds of people and making them his enemy with just a few words.

After he said that, I saw Souma bowing down "politely" and asking their cooperation for the next 3 years. And the reaction from the audience is expected, rage, they're angry, the crowd is furious because of Souma's speech. Throwing bunch of stuffs to the stage.

"Hahahaha, What a way to start your life in a new school, Souma !!!" I laughed while holding my stomach, even though that speech is arrogant, it's hilarious at the same time, i can't stop laughing. After i calming down myself from laugh, i smiled before looking at the stage.

" I guess It's my turn now." I said, then walked up onto the stage which is still noisy and boisterous because of Souma's speech. I walked up slowly with a smile on my face. I'm standing in front of the podium, which had one mic on top of it, quietly observing my surroundings.

"Eto, please introduce yourself," said the host.

But I was just silent, they were not good enough, those eyes with no ambition, only the bland selfishness of young people and superiority towards the weak. Not good at all.

Then i smiled before i opened my mouth.

"Well, greetings all of you, my name is Hyoujou Akira. I'd like to apologize for my friend's words." I said, pointing at the direction where Souma came out.

I saw the anger of the students had subsided, but too bad...

"But well, he is right. Being good at cooking doesn't mean you're a good chef, and i humbly believe that i'm better than 90% of you as a chef. "

When I said that, their faces turned ugly. Such a nice view.

"I will say one thing to all of you here, cooking is an unlimited Desert, and whether you will be strong to deal with it is depending on your determination, that's all, I hope you can survive in that desert, okay ~ for the next 3 years, Onegaishimasu~ " I waved at them with a smile before walking down from the stages.

"Don't be arrogant, you fucking !!!"

" You Son of a Bitch, Come Here!!!"

That's a pretty good speech, at least for me hehe.

When I got off the stage, I saw two people who were familiar, the first person is Souma and the other was a blonde-haired examiner, they were seen chatting, when I got off the stairs, I interrupted their conversation.

"Yo, blonde-haired examiner who can't be honest to herself." I said with a smile.

"What did you just say!!! Don't call me like that, and also, Hyoujou Akira, how can you be here, I've obviously refused you, your food and you!" Said the blond-haired examiner coldly while swaying her hair dramatically. I don't know why she do that but whatever.

"Huh? So you're not the one who send the letter? Come on, just admit it that my dish is delicious and also beautiful."

"Hehe, Nakiri, you such a prankster hehe," said Souma with a stupid smile on his face.

"Shut up both of you!!!" The woman yelled at me and Souma. She then began to talked about how we are a low class chef that don't deserve to be here and all. But me and Souma couldn't care less about that.

And after that, we separated and went to our respective classes.

___________________

Right now I'm in a kitchen, or maybe this is the one they called class in a culinary school? I'm looked around quite impressed by the equipment and ingredients that available here, ignoring the eyes of other students who looking at me with killing intent.

'Heh. '

I just chuckled to myself, how cute this situation is, it's a pity that I'm not in the same class as Souma, it would be interesting if that happened.

When I looked here and there, I found an interesting couple, a white-haired girl and black-haired guy.

The reason why they caught my attention is because i know. Both of them are different from the other students in this class, whether it's in terms of talent, passion, or just by the cooking ability itself.

In my eyes, the genius and talent is more dominant in the white-haired girl, while passion is more dominant in the black-haired guy even though it doesn't shown in those dead fish eye, but I know, deep down inside, he has burning passion for cooking, maybe one of the biggest i've seen in my life.

I still don't understand, why i can't see Souma's talent, genius, and passion, it's like a height that I can't see through my experience. Of course it shown by his cooking, but usually i can see the true form of those three inside of someone. But with Souma i can't, but i guess thats what makes him so interesting.

Hmmm ... right now I've got my partner, well because this is a paired class session. Then i looked at the girl whose gonna be my partner in this class.

She has a short purple hair, pretty tall and an athletic body.

"Hello, my name is Hyoujou Akira, nice to meet you," I said while stretching my hand, hoping there is a hand that gonna shake it. But there is none, it seems like my nice introduction isn't succed.

Tthe woman then speak up while i just looking at her with a thin smile on my face.

" Hyoujou Akira, you don't need to introduce yourself, thanks to your AMAZING speech this morning you become famous now. How does it feels to make a whole school as your enemy?" She said with a mocking smile.

"Are you curious?" I said while pulling back my hand.

"Hmph!"

After that, I saw a teacher coming in, he wearing a regular chef outfit, he looking old with a lot of wrinkles, beards and mustaches on his face, he is also wearing glasses.

"Hello everyone, my name is Miyazoto Takao, I'm the one whose gonna be in charge for today class as your teacher, or rather... a judge." He said with a gentle smile.

"Today we will cook a southeast asian dish from Indonesia, Beef Rendang."

When i heard that, most of the students were confused because they never heard of that dish before even though its very well known in the world.

Of course, even though i'm japanese, i know how to make Beef Rendang. Its a typical Indonesian beef dish, which is famous for its strong and rich flavour and the large amount of spices it requires.

When i'm still thinking about the ingredients that I need for my rendang, i heard the voice of the white-haired girl.

"Rendang, what is that Ryo-kun?" Asked the white-haired girl. She seems genuinely don't know what it is. Well to be fair, she doesn't look asian, so i guess its understandable that she doesn't know anything about Beef Rendang.

"It's a beef dish, Ojou." When I heard that the girl is called Ojou by the black-haired guy, i was clear about their relationship.

And then Miyazoto-sensei is begin to explain what is Beef Rendang in a very surface level.

"Rendang, i guess from your reaction, most of you never have a chance to taste it or even just heard about it. Beef Rendang is a very complex dish with tons of spices that complementing each other. Its also has a very long duration to cook it till very end. But its not an easy dish by any mean, you need to be careful about the step by step especially the spices thatyou put into it. Aftar all, some people considered it to be the most delicious dish in the world."

When they heard that, everyone is both shocked and amazed at the same time, i agree that Rendang is one of the most flavorful dish in the world, but to call it the most delicious dish in the world? It depends on who is the chef.

And since this is just a regular class, I decided not to paint my dish. And also I don't even know what to paint using Rendang.

And then Miyazoto-sensei spoke again.

"If you have understand, please take a look at the recipe." After he said that, everyone immediately began to swell the blackboard in front of him, including my purple-haired partner.

Of course I didn't do that, there is no need to do that anyway, i've memorize the recipe in my mind, just the execution. Instead of brush that i usually use to cook, i only took my knife from my bag.

Its a quite unique shaped knife with shiny and very thin blade. The blade itself is even shorter than a regular knife and its handle wrapped in a white bands. Then I put my black headband on my head so that the bangs don't covered my eyes. Even though i will turn into an arrogant bastard with my focus increased by 5 times than usual.

"Yosh, it's time to show Japan, what is the real beef Rendang."