Food Feelings

Chapter 5

Everyone was now sorted into pairs at their cooking station in one of the cooking rooms wearing their chef outfit. Your chef outfit was similar to Eishi's but it was black. While you were preparing your station you could see that everyone was looking at one spot 'What are they looking at?' Your question is answered when you follow their gaze, you sigh 'Ah they're staring down Soma. He just had to make enemies with almost everyone on his first day.' You sweatdrop realizing that he doesn't even know what he has down and that everyone is glaring at him.

Soma and the blue-haired girl are talking and you listen in partway through, "If I get another E, I'll be expelled... The quality of your cooking is graded from A to E, though it differs from class to class..." the girl said. You felt bad for her having that pressure especially being in Chapelle's class and having the person most people were now enemies with as a partner. You didn't feel bad for long though knowing that Soma's cooking will for sure make them pass.

"I heard this was an elite school, but there are people like you too," Soma says totally oblivious to the fact that what he said hurt the girl. 'So blunt, poor girl' You think. Soma then introduces himself to the girl but it wasn't really needed because after his introduction at the opening ceremony earlier most people knew him.

"Good morning, young apprentices. You're responsible to make delicacies from the moment you stand in a kitchen. In my classes, any dishes that can't take an A will get an E" After Chapelle says this Soma's partner looks like she's dying. 'With Chapelle's nickname "The chef that doesn't smile" and his reputation of him giving a whole class of 50 an E getting 18 of them expelled must be freaking the girl out' You frown as you look at the blue-haired girl. "Today's menu is Boeuf Bourguignon. A standard french dish, I'll write the recipe on the board. The time limit is two hours! You'll submit your dishes when you finish. Commencez a cuire (start cooking)." Once Chapelle finishes everyone starts cooking.

"Boeuf... bour-what?" Soma says in confusion, you hear this and turn to Soma 'How the hell do you not know what Boeuf Bourguignon is?!' You think remembering back to all the times you've made this dish. After Soma talks to his partner, he leaves to go check the recipe.

You walk over to the blue-haired girl hoping to calm her down "Hey, it's going to be ok. Don't worry," you say with a smile and you put your hand on her shoulder "believe it or not Soma's actually a pretty good cook. You guys will pass, trust me." The blue-haired girl smiled and nodded gaining a bit of confidence. "My name is (Y/n) (L/n) by the way, but you can call me (Y/n), what's your name?"

"My name is Megumi Tadokoro" Megumi responds.

"Well nice to meet you Megumi. Keep up the good work!" You start to walk back to your cooking station, you look over your shoulder at Megumi and give her a closed eye smile and a wave bye. Megumi blushes and her eyes sparkle 'She's like an angel. Too bright!' Megumi thinks. You get back over to your cooking station and chill for a bit before getting started on your Boeuf Bourguignon giving others a head start. You then get in the zone and everything else becomes a blur.

After thirty minutes your dish is done and your the first one to finish. You bring your dish up to Chapelle, "That was fast (L/n)" you nod. He takes a bite and instantly wants to eat more. The feeling that you had put into the dish was mothers love. Your mother had taught you how to cook this dish when you were three and you remember that moment vividly. It was the first dish you learned, it's the dish that started your journey as a chef. Chapelle has a face full of bliss. You weren't going full out for this, if you had gone full out you would have used a different feeling that's stronger and is more impactful. "(L/n) you have earned an A, as always it's a pleasure to have your cooking" Chapelle smiles and you head back to your cooking station. You had cooked with Chapelle a bit when you wanted to learn more about French cuisine after your friend had graduated.

On your way back you could hear people talking "How did she finish first?", "Woah she got Chapelle to smile!", "She's badass", and "What? This white powder" You smirk at the praise, 'Wait what was that last one?' You turn and look to see Megumi freaking out and Soma tasting something, "It's salt!" 'Someone must have sabotaged their food, that's messed up' you hear people giggling and you turned to see who it was 'They must be the people who put the salt in".

You walk over to the two boys who messed with your friends' dish and went in between them grabbing their shoulders, you glared sharply and whispered with as much venom as you could muster "Do that again and I'll get you two expelled." They shivered feeling the authority radiating from your voice.

"Heh? It's not like you can do that." One of the guys responds with a laugh.

"Oh, really? Challenge me to a food war and we'll find out. Although I think we both know who would win" You smile smugly and then walk away to your cooking station. They're nervous but they deserve it, what they did was unfair. You smile seeing that Soma and Megumi are figuring things out and are getting back on their feet.

After 30 mins Soma and Megumi bring their dish to Chapelle. Chapelle takes a bite and everyone was shocked. Chapelle complimented them on the tenderness and he smiled. "Yukihira, Tadokoro, I'll give you an A. It's a shame that I don't have the authority to give you something higher...!" Chapelle says. You hear a commotion and see the people who put salt in Soma's and Megumi's dish freaking out because their sauce is burning 'Serves them right' you think.

As your about to head out of the classroom you see that Soma has found another victim for his weird food combinations "Rest in peace Megumi, I'll remember you." You say and they both face you. Megumi has a confused expression on her face.

"Huh? What?" She asks before Soma quickly puts the dried squid dressed in honey in her mouth. Megumi tastes the most awful thing she has ever eaten. You notice Soma start to walk over to you holding the honey squid with his chopsticks. You start to back away.

"Come here (Y/n), come and try my dish," Soma says creepily with a smile on his face. You swear he's some sort of devil.

"I'm sorry Megumi!" You shout and then book it out of there.