Beside Greatness

Entrance Exam

Kitsu's POV:

"What a drag...." I mutter as I walk out of the kitchen. I let my brown hair fall as I walk into the staff only room. Another busy day. My mother walks into the room. "Hello." I say quietly. "Hi." She responds back. "That was a nice service tonight." She compliments. "It could be better." I say. I was working in my hometown restaurant my parents had started their journey at. "Is something wrong?" She asks me. "I'm just tired. That's all." I look up at the ceiling. "Oh. Well, I should tell you this before your father and leave tomorrow morning. We wanted to see if you were interested in applying to Totsuki Culinary Academy." I look at her with a confused glare. "It's where the best up and coming chef's at the high school level go train their abilities." I shrug. "I'll give it a shot." She smiles. "Good. You're already being allowed to take the entrance exam." I laugh. "When does it happen?" I stand up and strech. "Tomorrow is your entrance exam. It's at 3, so you need to leave by 2. You will take a car there. It'll be waiting for you at the front door." I my eyes find the clock, and look at the time.

"When are you guys leaving for the airport?" I ask. "An hour or so. Why?" I tie my hair in a bun. "I'd like for you to try a dish before you go." She smiles and nods in agreement. We make our way to the kitchen, and I grab my ingredients. I work with my ingredients while my mother watches. "What are you making?" She asks. I don't look up at her but respond. "Butter basted steak with sauted garlic broccolini and a red wine demi Glace." She nodded after I said my answer. I seared the steak on all sides, and add rosemary, butter, and garlic. After I was done basting the steak, I let it rest and started working on the demi Glace and broccolini. Everything needed to be done at the same time, as to give the steak enough time to finish cooking and getting the great flavors.

Everything finished on time, and I plate the dish. "Dig in." I say, placing the dish in front of my mother. "It looks great plating wise. Nice sear on the steak, no burnt areas. Nice." I nod and she eats all the components. "It tastes great. But it lacks something. I just can't put my finger on it right now." I raise my eyebrow. "What could be missing?" I mutter to myself. "Underseasoned? Over seasoned?" I list ideas. That's when my mother stands up. "I know what it is now. A struggle. It's good food, but it's lacking a story. You just made it so it tastes good." I stare at her. "Isn't it supposed to taste good?!" I ask. "Yes. But it needs to have a message. Like a journey the chef went through. That's why we're sending you to Totsuki. To help you find what you want to cook." She says while cleaning of the plate she ate off of. "I...... I get it now. Thank you." I said bowing. "But of course. I have to look out for my son, don't I? So the way that Totsuki works, like I said, is that you need to take an entrance exam." I nod. "Once you pass that-"

"You're that confident in me?" I ask her. "It was easy." She says. "Anyways, you'll need a place to stay. Your father and I stayed at Polar Star. Tell the instructor about us, and I'm sure you'll do just fine. O, but I should warn you. You need to take another test to actually get in. I'm sure if you cook that, it'll be a piece of cake." She added with a smile. "Everything else will fall into place. I'm sure that you dorm mates will help you out." I nod and undo my hair. "Thank you. I appreciate it." I say while walking out of the kitchen. "I guess I won't see you guys for a while. I'll make it in. Once I do, I'll give you a call." My mother smiles and walks over and hugs me. "I love you." I hug her back and smile. "I love you too."

As my mother starts to walk out, she turns to me again. "I suggest you make more friends than enemies." She walks off before I could a say another. I take what she says and keep it in mind. I look over at the picture of my parents from whenever they were younger. "You guys look so happy. I hope I can find that happiness soon." I mutter and place my hand over the family name, Ashikan. "But, I don't need you guys to show my talent. I'm not going to let your fame hang over my head. I'll get to the top! Without your name!" I say with determination. I fell on the couch in the staff room, and stared at the ceiling. "I'll go by..... Kitsu Sato." I mutter quietly. I drift off to a dark sleep.