Shokugeki No Souma (Fanfiction)

Chapter 49

???'s POV

I wonder if she's already done.
I want to see her.
Her outburst last night was so sudden even I was shocked and frozen until the moment she walked away.
But even so, just seeing her makes my heart beats faster than normal.
And I am aware that there are some people who are also chasing her, which makes my situation a little bit difficult.

But right now, I want to taste her dish.
The first one that I've tasted was...the very definition of her.

Perfection.

But something is not right.
**************

Sakaki's POV

"Time's up! Stop! This is to those of you who completed 200 servings!"

Almost all of us sighed from relief at the announcement, though the remaining students cried in frustration and disappointment from the fact that they didn't passed. And yet... I glanced at Akashii Kurumi looking bored and troubled even though she had accomplished 410 dishes. I thought she'd be happier but based on her expression, something is definitely troubling her. I wonder what is it. I only met her a few times but she's already part of Polar Star Dormitory, maybe I should talk to her. She's a friend, right?
I was about to go to her when...

"The next task is scheduled four hours from now. Until then, you are free to do as you wish."

"Eh?" I look at Ibusaki.

"We should go." He said calmly while the other students cried because of lack of sleep. I nod at him then I glanced back at Kurumi only to find her station empty.

"Now where did she go?" I mumbled.

"She already left." Ibusaki answered beside me. Even with his eyes covered, I can sense that he's also worried.
"She's a mystery. She is."

We walked out of the hall.
"I know."

**************
Kurumi's POV

I grind my teeth while dashing to the main kitchen.

"Seriously! I'd rather take the next task!" I huffed and puffed, feeling a little dizzy and annoyed.

"You'll be exempted from the next task but you have to come straight here after this task. Just think of it as a gift for those who will pass this training camp. Cheer up! They all get to taste your work!" Dojima-san said to me with enthusiasm.

Wearing a skirt while running makes it more difficult. I hope no one sees me like this with bags under my eyes and messed up hair.

---timeskip---

"I'm finished..."
"I can barely move my legs..."
"I want to lie down..."
"I'm totally spent..."

I can hear them whining in the lobby, those students who finally succeeded. Despite being greatly annoyed, I can't help but to smile and feel a little proud like they are my kids, how weird is that? Thinking aside, they finally did it. Though they were put in difficult situations, they surpassed all the tasks while dealing with pressure and uncertainty.

They might be confused right now.

I balanced the plate on my hand with my dish on it and stole a glance at Shinomiya beside me looking smugly.
"Nee Shinomiya-senpai. I bet my dish is better than yours." I taunted him, mentally praised myself and feeling greatly satisfied as he looked at me with a irritated grin plastered on his face.

"Tch. Shut your mouth, brat. This isn't a contest." He hissed at me giving a deadly glare.

I could hear Hinako-nee's giggle in front of me making Shinomiya-senpai's glare and aura deadlier.

"Hinako-nee..pfft.. Yamette.. Pfft... He's already on beastmode.. Pffft." I contained my laughter as I poked Hinako-nee repeatedly at the back with my free hand.

"Oi! Stop it you three!" Sekimori-san's stern voice put us to keel. We stopped immidiately.

Then we heard Dojima-san spoke.

"Yosh!.. It seems all of you are here. Before I get into why you're here, I'd like to say a few things."
--
I had the sudden urge to eat the dish on my hand...
"I'm hungry... Shinomiya-senpai... Feed me..." I groaned.

"Can't you wait a little longer? You're so handful." He sighed.

"Princess-chan, hang in there..."

"Tch. Don't call her Princess-chan."

"Shinomiya-senpai is just jealous 'cause he can't call Kurumi-chan his."

"Shut up, brat!"
--
back to Dojima's speech

"At this point in time, 352 students have dropped out, and only 628 students remain. This may seem cruel, but this training camp is a microcosm? of what it means to choose cooking as your career. You'll need to stay calm when facing the unknown, and commune with your ingredients. If you become the chef, there will be pressure. You'll have to endure countless nights filled with anxiety and indecision, adapt to a wide range of situations and overcome those challenges..."

I nod at what Dojima-san had said...although out there in the real world of cooking... All I can say is, it is far more cruel than most of those who stood there in the next room had imagined. A lot harder and full of obstacles.

"This life is akin to wandering alone through a wind-torn barren wasteland. The more you climb, the more you stumble and the more your goal will become unclear. Before you know it, you may reach a standstill after reaching the pinnacle and lose sight of how to return..."

I stiffled a small yawn as I put my weight on my other foot relaxing the other one.

"Now then, let us begin the final program of this camp."

Then they began to panic.