Chapter 3
My OC^^ his name's Hatori
Sayuri
"Lighten up, you blonde idiot. Calm down, you'll survive." Yukihira shakes my shoulders as we talk off to the sidelines of the stage, and I bite my lip nervously, half listening to the speech of the director on stage.
"Easy for you to say, I don't do good in front of crowds!" I argue.
Yes, we both passed the entrance exam. According to Soma, Erina had told him his food was "disgusting" (which it wasn't, it was amazing), but he still ended up getting a letter of acceptance just as I did. I think he took the exam at another place, but I'm not sure yet.
"Here, I'll do all the talking, okay?" He offers as I hesitate, but nod anyways.
"Now, we'll be introducing two students who will be joining your ranks." The girl with the bow in her hair states into the mic, and the crowd immediately stills as Soma grabs my wrist and practically drags me on stage.
Eyes burn holes into both of us, and I begin to shake, but Soma slips his hand into mine instead of holding my wrist, he gives me a tight little squeeze of reassurance. I relax immediately.
Remember when I said I'd let Soma do all the talking? Worst. Idea. Ever.
"Sorry we have to be talking from all the way up here." He scratches his head awkwardly as I glance behind me to see Erina in a state of shock. I stifle a giggle.
"Just get on with it." The girl instructs impatiently as a sly smirk crosses Soma's features.
"Fine. We'll keep it short and sweet. Just a couple of sentences." He responds before leaning in closer to the mic.
"Uh, I'm Yukihira Soma, and this is Sayuri Hatoshi." He starts, and murmur immediately begins to arise from the crowd.
"That's his daughter?"
"She doesn't look like much..."
"Dude, she's still hot though, look at her body!"
"And her hair? How cute!"
I blush at the last comments, and Soma gets an irritated expression before adding, "And she's my best friend! So
if any of you lay a hand on her, I swear-!"
I give him a swift kick in the shin from behind the podium, giving him a look that says don't death threat the crowd.
He rolls his eyes and sighs. "Anyways, to be honest, this academy's just a stepping stone for me. I wasn't planning to transfer here, but I don't plan on losing to folks who've never actually served customers."
I resist the urge to face palm as shouts of annoyance begin to come off the crowd.
"Also...now that I'm here, I'm gonna take the number one spot. I'm gonna take Sayuri up with me, and we'll be the top cooks in the school." He states bluntly as the girl with the bow looks at the two of us in horror.
He then drags me to the center of the stage and bows. "Looking forward to working with all of you for the next three years!"
The crowd continues to radiate anger and pure annoyance as he drags me off the stage, and I almost backhand him through the wall.
"Do you not know what you just did right now?!"
"Erm...telling the truth?" He blinks his gold eyes as death threats continue to come off of the crowd, and I sigh.
"How exactly do you plan on taking me up with you?"
"That's for me to know, and for you to find out." He smiles cheekily as I roll my eyes. "Besides, you won't need my help. I've seen your skills, they almost rival mine."
"Almost? Should I take that as an insult?" I mock as he chuckles and walks into the tent.
"At least I managed to not bite my tongue...oh! It's the examiner!...Nakiri, right?" He finally notices the orange haired girl who still looked like she was in a slight state of shock.
It's quiet for awhile until I awkwardly break it, "Jeez, cut the tension with a knife. I think I'll...leave you two be."
I stalk out of the tent before Soma can drag me back, to see that kids are still leaving, so I decide to walk away from everything and climb a large tree with cherry blossoms dotting the branches and floor. I pick one up and twist it around in my fingers, examining the beautiful shade of pink.
I get a steady seat on the highest branch, and lean back against the bark, closing my eyes as I feel the soft petals between my fingers.
"You know, that's dangerous." My eyes snap open when the unfamiliar voice sounds as I jerk to the side, and I fall of the branch.
I. Fell. Off. A. Branch. THIRTY FEET IN THE AIR.
A yelp escapes my mouth as I lose my grip on the cherry blossom and close my eyes tight, waiting for the impact to hit.
It never comes however, even when I feel myself stop falling, but I was too scared to open my eyes.
"Oi, don't fall asleep." A slight nudge to my head by someone's shoulder.
I slowly open my eyes to see vivid dark green eyes locking onto mine with a stoic expression.
"If you start squealing, I'll hit you." He threatens as I quirk an eyebrow.
"Why the hell would I squeal? Now put me down, will you?" I begin to squirm in his arms, and his eyes widen slightly as his arms grow limp.
"You're...not a fangirl?"
I blink before sweatdropping. Who the hell does this guy think he is?
His raven hair falls messily over his dark green eyes, and his facial structures are manly for a sixteen year old. He's well built, but he kinda seems...
"Well...thanks, again, for not letting me plummet to my death, so...I'm gonna go now..." I successfully manage to get out of his arms, and begin to walk away before he calls me.
"Hey! I didn't get your name!" He calls as I turn around slightly, but not all the way.
"If you turn this into some cheesy ass movie, I'll hit you, but it's Sayuri. Later." I wave before turning around and continuing to walk, his eyes on my back.
Who was he, anyways? I think as I bite my lip and continue to walk.
--
"How did I end up being partners with you?" His voice groans as I grow an irk mark and kick him in the shin.
"Oh suck it up, it's not like I wanted to be partners with you either." I shoot back, rolling my eyes.
"I saved your life."
"Cool story bro, now go make me a sandwich."
He gave me a WTF stare, and I simply smirk in response. "Who are you anyways?"
He doesn't look me in the eye as he tightens his apron. "Hatori Takashima. I saw you and your boyfriend's little speech up there. Top cook huh?"
My face flushes at 'boyfriend' and I get an irritated pout forming on my lips.
"Shut the hell up. Why couldn't I be in the same class as Soma?" I mumble the last part as he smirks.
"So he is your boyfriend?"
"He's not. And even if he was I surely wouldn't come running to tell you about it."
"You're so easy to annoy."
"Thanks. Who's the teacher anyways?" I stop our bickering with a question and he actually looks me in the eye this time.
"She's quite...evil actually." He mumbles as people stare our way, mostly the female chefs, who are staring with envy and hate. "She's the Chef who's never given anything higher than a C rating. We're so unlucky to be put in this class. Oh and she hates kids too."
"Nice to know."
"Sarcastic much?"
I shrug as I glance at the other people around me, girls sending me death glares sharp enough to kill, and guys sending curious glances my way.
"Is there a reason girls are five seconds away from murdering me with one of these kitchen knives?" I sweat drop, not being able to handle the stares.
"I...may or may not be...sort of...popular?"
I sigh. I have to get used to it.
Hatori must've seen the nervous biting of my lip, and my fingers unconsciously drumming on the counter top, because he casts a curiously worried glance my way.
"Are you okay?"
"Um-"
"LISTEN HERE, YOU VILE CHILDREN."
Almost everyone flinches at the sound of the sudden voice.
"THIS IS MY CLASS. YOU WILL RESPECT BOTH ME AND YOUR PEERS, NO MATTER HOW STUPID THEY MAY BE."
"She's talking to you."
He throws me a glare. "Shut up."
"You will prepare a dish that hasn't reached an A rating from every single preparation I've tasted. It hasn't even made it to B rating! I've only given out one A rating in my lifetime!" She rambles on as everyone listens, the occasional sweat drop or cough with the nervous stares.
She finally clears her throat. "You will prepare me a plate of duck. Cook it your own way with your low hopes of impressing my tongue. You have 40 minutes. Work with your partner and begin NOW."
Kids begin to scramble for the utensils and ingredients, and I watch as Hatori keeps his cool and nods to me.
"I'll get the ingredients. Just stay out of my way and get a pot out. If you can finish that one simple task, turn on the stove to medium heat."
I raise an eyebrow as a response, and watches as he rushes off to the ingredient table.
Jerk. I think as I get the right pots out of the cupboard. He thinks he can boss me around? Oh hell to the no.
"Watch and learn princess. I'll show you how you really cook." He says to me once all of our ingredients are chosen.
I watch with a bored stare as he does everything. Sure, he has skill, but come on, he can't even put on a good show?
Twenty minutes later, he triumphantly places the lid on the pot. "Your welcome. I think I got us a B rating."
"Your posture when cooking needs help." I jab at his back, making him flinch and stand up straighter. "You need to spend more time measuring, or you're dish won't turn out the way you want it to. You just poured a handful of sugar in, you think that's gonna help? With your way of rushing through this, it's gonna be lucky if we get a C rating." I finish with a bored tone to my voice.
His face turns red, and his green eyes narrow, but his voice remains the same deep tone. "Like you know anything. I bet you grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth. Your daddy's famous, isn't he?"
I laugh, but there's no humor to it. "You know, it's people like you in this world that make me hate it. You think you know a person based on what you see. It's none of your goddamn business how I grew up, but I can surely tell you that it isn't how you described it. Not even close."
His eyes soften, and he opens his mouth to say something before I gasp at something behind him.
"The pot!" I point hurriedly, and he turns back around in a rush to see black smoke coming out from the pot.
I watch with wide eyes as he pours the dish down the drain and into the garbage disposal, smoke coming off of the burnt food.
"Why's the stove on high?!" He snaps at me, and I look behind him to see it IS on high. I'm sure I put it to the right temperature...
My eyes narrow as I see two girls giggling at me, and I immediately know who the culprits are.
But this is no time to deal with this. I look at Hatori's angry face and sigh, slipping my blue headband off my wrist and tying it around my head, my blonde hair now in a high ponytail. The loose braids that usually hang loose off to my hair, now framing my face.
"I'm going to fix this." I say as he rolls his eyes.
"What are you gonna do?! There's fifteen minutes left and you can't work a damn knob!"
I don't say anything to him, I just grab the the raw piece of duck and begin chopping at the speed of light.
I throw the chopped pieces into a bowl and point to the cupboard. "Get me soy sauce, hoisin, white vinegar, and...chopped peanuts."
"You sound unsure." He says, still not moving.
"Just please!" I stop to look at him with determination in my eyes. "Please."
He hesitates, but nods and goes to the cupboard.
Let's see...I think as I throw the pieces into a wok. It takes at least fifteen minutes to cook duck all the way through. If I cook it with...
My eyes light up. I know what I have to do.
Hatori chops and minces to my direction to the side of me as I begin the process.
Fifteen minutes whizzes by, and Hatori just sprinkles the last herb on as the timer goes off.
"STOP MOVING YOU VILE CREATURES." The teacher snaps loudly, everyone scrambling to wait their turn for judging.
Hatori and I catch our breath as I let my hair down, my blonde locks of hair falling on my shoulders as it returns to its normal style. I tie my headband around my wrist.
"Where'd you learn to cook like that?" Hatori questions between short breaths.
I shrug, a secret smile on my face. "I guess it's because my daddy's famous, right?"
He frowns and opens his mouth to say something-
"YOU TWO! GET OVER HERE SO I CAN GIVE ANOTHER D RATING!" The teacher snaps as both Hatori and I step forward with our dish.
I watch as she unveils it and her eyes widen slightly at what lies underneath.
A concoction of cooked duck meat with minced vegetables lay on a bed of white rice, a sauce spread across the dish in a drizzle. Both sweet and salty aromas waft from the dish as the teacher clears her throat and swallows.
"This looks...I saw you having trouble at your station. Didn't you burn something? If you had started over, the duck meat wouldn't have cooked through all the way. I refuse to sample uncooked meat." She sticks her nose in the air, and Hatori gulps as I smirk.
"I fried it with a mixture of vinegar...and chocolate."
Her eyes widen. "Chocolate?! This technique...creativity...presentation...are you perhaps..."
I bow. "Nice to meet you. I am Sayuri Hatoshi."
She gasps. "Your father was the only person I gave an A rating to..."
My stomach twists, but I keep my smile on. "Won't you sample it?"
She doesn't respond as she picks up her fork and pierces a part of the dish, examining it. "The chocolate breaks down certain parts of the duck quickly, the vinegar gives the chocolate more acid, to which it makes it cook easier. I am thoroughly impressed, miss Hatoshi."
A/N: THIS IS NOT REAL. I MADE IT UP. CARRY ON:)
I smirk at the two girls who messed up our first dish, who only grit their teeth and pour their E rated dish down the drain.
She puts the portion in her mouth and gasps, her eyes lighting up.
"Here. You try it too." I shove a forkful into Hatori's mouth, and his cheeks flush.
I have no idea what happened in our teacher's head, but she smiles in content, the whole class gasping. "The duck meat and chocolate create a whole new flavor along with the zing of the vinegar. The vegetables are extra crisp and just right, and the dish finishes off with this amazing sauce of soy sauce and chopped nuts. Hatori Takashima and Sayuri Hatoshi, A rating!"
I smirk just as the bell rings, and she turns into her usual snappy self. "LEAVE MY CLASSROOM YOU FAILURES OF CHILDREN!"
"She's talking to you." I nudge Hatori's shoulder as we walk side by side out the door, and he sighs and rubs the back of his neck.
"Look, about what happened earlier-"
"Don't mention it." I cut him off as I see a familiar head of red hair leaning against the wall, his gold eyes searching until they find mine and his smile breaks out on his face as he waves me over.
"Let's just say you owe me." I wink. "Looking forward to working with you, Takashima." I flash him a smile and a peace sign before running up to Soma and jumping on his back right as he pushes off the wall.
"Do I need to ask how your first class went?"
"No." I smile as he catches my legs so he's holding me in a piggy back ride.
"Thought so." He looks back at me and smirks. "I made a teacher who doesn't smile, smile."
"I made a teacher who's only given one A rating in her life give another one." I say. "She also hates kids."
"You win." He laughs before he begins to walk down the hall, me still on his back.
SORRY IT TOOK FOREVER TO UPDATE. I'll try to be faster next time :(. I made a list of people who are possible choices of Sayuri ending up with, so let me know your feedback!
Soma
Takumi
Ibusaki
Isshiki
Hatori