"So, uh, how do you guys know each other?" Hisako finally broke her silence.

The two stared back at the pinkette as she awaited a response.

"Well you see," Erina began to explain to her friend how she knew the applicant, in this case Souma. "We met a long time ago."

"Almost 8 years ago to be precise," Souma added. "She and her grandfather whom I currently forgot the name to had gone and visited our diner."

"Diner? Like a five star one, right? Or at the very least, a very prestigious one?" Hisako raised an eyebrow.

"No, none of that fancy, smancy restaurant stuff," Souma cleared that up. "Just your own typical diner of a sorts."

"I don't believe you! The Erina I know would've never gone to such an outrageous place!" Hisako blasted.

"No, Hisako, it's true." Erina conveyed the truth to her. It would be the only way to convince the pinkette in front of her.

"What?" Hisako was left speechless. Having hear the words come out of Erina had only left her with more questions, more answers needed to know.

"Here," Souma brought the Furikake closer to them. "This was the exact same dish I made for her when I met her, granted that we didn't actually use grade A eggs like these." The red haired boy scratched the side of his face, letting go a nervous laugh.

"What? You mean to tell me you used common eggs?" Erina had no clue of that.

"Dad and I would always use local ingredients," Souma let out a wry laugh. "Here both of you try it, I'm sure this taste would be even better than last time now, eh, Nakiri?"

"S-Shut it!" Erina could hear the cockiness behind his voice.

She and Hisako got their chopsticks and began to mow down the plate.

It's… it's like heaven! Hisako couldn't believe the taste of the Furikake. Like river flowing down through the forest, Hisako felt paradise with each bite. This… taste! I can't get enough of it!

So rich! Erina now remembered her faint memory, remembered the first time she actually enjoyed the food as a small girl. It definitely tastes much better a second time! She couldn't get enough of it.

And like that seeing both women satisfied with his food, Souma took off his headband, feeling relieved of their mellow contemplation. "So, how was it?"

Before the girls knew it they had devoured every inch of the plate. Only small bits and pieces of rice and a puddle of the broth laid dormant on the plate.

"I'm sorry for misjudging you, Yukihira Souma." Hisako apologized for her crude behavior earlier.

"I mean it's nothing, I've been getting looks and looked down upon since the moment I got here for just being a diner boy." Souma, like he always did, shrugged it off.

"Must've been difficult." Erina wiped her mouth with a napkin, cleaning after herself.

"Eh, I've had worse." Souma now had a goofy face, having an inside joke of his own.

"Well, I guess this concludes your application for today, eh, Souma-kun." Erina grabbed his transcripts and now started to walk away with Hisako to the next room.

"So did I pass?" Souma asked about, hoping he did.

"You'll know when you get your letter of acceptance, now." Erina answered.

"Awesome!" Souma was all hyped up now for the stellar news.

"Be wary now, Totsuki has a horrible passing rate of 8%," Hisako added. "From here on out, it will get harder."

…

Erina and Hisako were now in a different department at Totsuki.

The shades from the windows were up and from where they can see, the sun was finally setting.

"That Yukihira fellow, he's a strange one." Hisako was the first to break the silence as Erina continued to do her end part of the paperwork.

"I'm guessing that's just how his character is." Erina assumed much.

"Thought you guys knew each other though, would you not know how he is?" Hisako raised an eyebrow. She would've thought Erina would know his character, his personality.

"Tell you the truth, my grandfather and I only gone to his diner once…" Erina stopped typing. "And that was a long time ago…"

"Hmm?" Hisako could see Erina had stopped everything she was doing. Was she trembling? From what?

"After that ordeal… my father said I could no longer go anywhere with my grandfather…" The mere mention of Erina's father always changed the atmosphere.

"Your father?" Hisako knew how that man was. The stories Erina would tell her about him ever since they were children.

"Yes, now if you excuse me, I have to finish this paperwork." Erina now acted like nothing.

"I could-"

"Alone." Hisako could see the pain in Erina's eyes. Always with the topic of her father.

"Erina-sama…" Hisako gave her friend one last look before obeying the orders she was given.

And with that, Hisako closed the door that separated her from her dear friend, whom she knew was in pain.

One month later…

A month had finally passed since the entrance exams. It was now April and the ceremony for those who have passed middle school to finally become first years was now commencing.

"Erina Nakiri." Her name, the first of many to be called, walked the stage as every middle schooler who'd passed stared at her elegance. Elected as the representative for the first years, she was well known.

"Oh my God, it's her!" "Look at her, more beautiful than ever!" "I've heard she aced all of her exams!" "She's number one in all subjects!" The crowd whispered amongst each other, envying the granddaughter of the Director of Totsuki, Senzaemon Nakiri, also revered as the Don of Food Mafia.

Erina expected no less of herself to be the first to be called. Figured much.

She looked around the crowd, hoping to see him. Especially since she personally took care of his application and such. Still, she had a long day ahead of her before she can see him.

Erina took a seat in a near by camp, right next to the stage where her grandfather began to say the same speech he has said from time and time again.

I hope that man doesn't make a fool of himself… Erina continued to think about Souma. The mere thought of him made her cheeks a rather shade of pink. Or doesn't say anything stupid, like declaring war against everybody at Totsuki.

Just as she was thinking, she began to hear someone else's voice on the mic. She turned to her left, seeing the person on her mind right there and then. Oh crap.

"Oh well, my name is Yukihira Souma," he introduced himself. "Truth be told, I only think of this Academy as a stepping stone."

That caught everyone's attention.

"Now, I didn't know how my dish performed for a certain someone but I do know that it was enough for her to get me admitted to this place," Souma continued. "But I don't plan on losing against of bunch of nobodies who've never stood in front of a customer before!" His speech began to rile up everyone. "Now that I'm in, I'm taking the number one spot! Best regards to everyone for the next three years!"

And like that, he finished his speech, getting off the stage.

"HEY YOU BASTARD!" "I'LL KILL YOU ROOKIE!" The crowd now insulted the transfer student as he had mocked them.

"Phew," Souma let out a relieved sigh. "I think I nailed it."

"Souma-kun," Erina greeted him as he entered. "I see you've managed to rile up everyone in a matter of seconds." She had an irritating look to her.

"Oh, Erina-san, what a surprise, didn't expect to see you around so soon." Souma was delighted to see a familiar face, an irritating one at that, seeing as the honey blonde girl had her arms crossed.

"Just so you know, I'm the one going for the top," Erina affirmed her status. "So you sit back and watch from the sidelines as this able bodied woman gets to it!"

It was finally on. "Oh really?" Souma grinned. "Just because I wasn't born in a prestigious place like this can you just leave me out!"

"Hmm?" Erina could see the fire in the boy's eyes.

"Just you wait Nakiri! I will be number one in this place and make you say that my cooking is finally better than my dad's!"

With thin walls like those, Senzaemon stood right next to it, hearing every bit from both children, smiling as he did.

…

"I wonder who passed that boy…" "Who the hell those that transfer kid think he is…" "He won't do any better than any of us here…" Every student whispered as they stare at the transfer student in their class.

Souma didn't bother as he melancholy thought to himself. Let's see here, Souma looked around the class, seeing where everything was. This is far different than any other school… Last time I cooked in class was back in my Economics class, and they didn't have that many ingredients as oppose to this place…

As Souma was taking in his new change of environment, he didn't even notice that his partner had been standing right next to him and in a panic state. "Huh?"

"OhmygodifIfailanotherclassi'llgetexpelled…" Her words were a mumble mess.

"Eh, hello, are you by any chance Megumi Tadokoro-san?" Souma greeted the bluenette.

"Eek!" Megumi jumped, her thoughts were scattered and Souma greeting her spooked her out of that focus. "I'm sorry!"

"What are you apologizing for?" Souma started to get worried for the girl.

"I haven't properly introduced myself," flustered, Megumi was all a shade of red. "Yes, my name is Megumi Tadokoro, and I'm know you from the entrance ceremony." She continued. "Yukihira Souma, correct?"

"Yes and there's nothing to worry about Megumi." Souma tried to comfort the bluenette.

"I'm sorry! I'm just so nervous, that's all!" She blurted out.

The teacher had finally appeared, in front of the class. "Good morning, young apprentis." He said with a thick French accent.

"You're responsible to make delicacies from the moment you stand in the kitchen," the teacher explained. "For that, your position nor your experience matter to me." He continued. "For my classes, any dishes that can't take an A will get an E, make sure you take a mental note on that."

"Oh no…" Megumi started to sulk. I had to get Roland in my first class… if I get another E, I will get expelled…

"That man sure looks like he's never smiled in his life before, eh, Megumi?" Souma joked while Megumi continued to mentally panic.

Roland Chappelle picked up a board. "Today on the menu is Boeuf Bourguignon, a standard French dish," he began to instruct. "In case no one knows how to prepare it, I'll write it down the board." He did. "You have 2 hours to submit your dish, start now."

Okay maybe not all hope is lost, Megumi began to think to herself. Maybe Souma know-

"The hell is Boe- Bo- I can't even properly pronounce," Souma had a dumbfound look on his face. "Sounds like Cow Line Stew if you ask me."

And all hope is lost… Megumi stared at Souma in defeat, having no confidence whatsoever.

"Come on Megumi, let's go take a look at the recipe."

After 20 minutes, the duo of both Megumi and Souma we're not quite with their dish.

Souma went towards the back of the class, looking for more spices to add to the meat while Megumi tended to the boiling meat in the pot. Okay, this is good… She thought to herself.

"Hey Megumi, come and check out all these cool spices they have back here!" Souma excitedly said as he called out to the bluenette.

Every little thing the transfer student did made Megumi worried. I feel like an idiot being worried about this.

"The nerve of that guy…" One of the neighbouring tables stared at Souma. "Who the hell does he think he is?"

"You know partner," one of the boys stared at the unattended pot. "We could teach that bastard a lesson." The two boys grinned.

After ten minutes of just looking and admiring each spice, both Souma and Megumi returned to tend their meat. "What the-?" Souma could see the lid open. Not too much, but enough to affect the meat. "Megumi, did you by any chance left the lid open?"

"WHAT!?" Once again, the bluenette panicked. "I was careful, there is no way I left the lid open."

Souma investigated their pot further. "What's this white powder on the meat?"

The two tasted the powder. "Salt?"

It didn't take a genius to figure out that someone had purposely tainted their food.

Though Souma can't accuse anyone if he didn't see it, he knew the boys to their left had done this. Their stupid grins told the story wide and obvious.

"What are we gonna do?" Poor Megumi could only panic some more. She knew if the pair didn't do anything, they'd get an E, which will get her expelled.

"Megumi, I gathered extra ingredients in case this happened," Souma did his signature move and tied on his headband, getting serious. "Come help me."

"But Souma, the meat needs at least 40 minutes to boil," Megumi can see the clock. "We don't have enough time-"

"Megumi, just follow my lead." And with that confidence in Souma, somehow, Megumi had regain some hope. And as she was told, she assisted Souma.

After 30 minutes, the evil culprits that tainted the meat earlier continued to smirk. "Did you see the look on their faces? Those two will definitely get an E!"

"A!" Roland graded. "Next pair please."

"It's time for us to finish our plate." One of the boys began to plate.

"Now we wait for our sauce-"

"Please evaluate us next!"

The two boys turned to see the next pair, only to be surprised. "WHAT!? THERE'S NO WAY THEY COULD'VE BOILED THEIR MEAT IN THAT NICK OF TIME!"

Souma had placed the well done Boeuf Bourguignon in front of the instructor. Roland use his fork to test the tenderness of the meat and to his surprise, the fork can bounce on the meat. "It's very tender."

Roland remembered that Souma and Megumi pair had an accident beforehand with the meat. "If I recall correctly, your team had an accident with the meat, how on Earth did you complete this?"

"By using this," Souma held out a small container in his hand. "Honey." He explained. "I rubbed it on the meat before boiling it."

"Souma-kun, how did you know to use honey to make the meat this tender in a short amount of time?" Megumi questioned.

"Well, a long time ago as a kid, I read that pineapple is a good source to make the meat tender," he answered. "But at the time I didn't have much opportunities to buy some pineapples, so I experimented, having come up with Honey that gave the same results." Souma took a piece of meat, handing it to Megumi. "Here, you'll understand if you taste it."

And at that same moment, both Megumi and instructor Roland took a bite of the meat. "C'est merviellex!" "It's amazing!"

"No way!" "Roland sensei." "He just smiled!" Roland was known as the instructor who never smiled, it was a rare feat no one can pull off and yet, Souma did the impossible once more.

"Yukihira! Tadokoro!" Roland straightened himself after that magnificent meal. "I give you both an A, and it's a shame I don't have the authority to give you a higher grade."

"It wasn't much." Souma took his headband off.

"No way!" "That transfer kid is something!" "I can't believe he got a higher grade than us!" The students were astounded to hear Roland's words.

"Hmm, what's that smell?" Souma turned to look back and saw that the two boys who tried to sabotage their work had their sauce burn. "Ugh, your sauce guys."

"Huh?" One of them turned to look back at their stove. "SHIT! OUR SAUCE, MAN!"

"OH CRAP, IT'S BURNT TO A CRISP!"

…

After a long day of school, Souma now began to look for his dormitory.

Souma had walked around Totsuki, looking around. "I feel really lost…"

"Souma-kun!" A familiar voice called from behind.

Souma turned to look and it was none other than Erina. "Oh, what's up Nakiri?" He stopped in his tracks , awaiting for the honey blonde to walk towards him.

"So I heard you managed to get the highest grade possible in Roland Chappelle's class, I see." Erina placed her hair behind her ear, fixing it as she conversed with Souma.

"Oh, it was nothing." Souma chuckled at his achievement.

"And what's more is that you made that senile man smile." Erina continued.

"Oh it was nothing, pretty sure a well done meal would've done the trick to begin with." Souma had a dumbfound look ok his face.

"Well just so you know, I had done the very same thing, way before you showed up around." Erina bragged.

"Oh that's nice." It didn't seem to bother Souma in the very least.

"What's going on over there?" "Is that Erina-sama?" "What is she doing with the transfer kid?" Students who walked by began to whisper to each other as they saw the two stand out amongst them.

"So, is that all you wanted to tell me?" Souma asked Erina.

"No-"

"Erina-sama!" Hisako showed up, interrupting their conversation. "Oh, glad I found you- oh, hello there Souma."

"Hey there, uh, Hisako, was it?" Souma couldn't recall her name.

"Yes," Hisako answered. "Erina-sama, it's getting late we should be heading back to our dormitory."

"Oh right," the two now headed their separate way from Souma. "We shall talk another time, Souma-kun."

"Sure," Souma now returned back to his map. "Okay now, where the hell is this place?"

Back to Erina and Hisako, the two had returned back to their dormitory after a long day of school. "So, what were you and Yukihira-kun talking about?"

Erina slightly blushed at the woman's question. "W-What do you mean?"

"You guys were talking before I interrupted, were you not?" Hisako recalled the memory from not too long ago.

"I m-mean, we were just conversing about our first day, that's all." Erina answered.

Hisako could see that the woman has easily become flustered with the mere mention of that red haired boy. "So then, how was his first day? Anything interesting?"

"Well, just like I did back in middle school, he managed to make instructor Chappelle smile with his cooking." Erina answered.

"Oh, that doesn't surprise me, considering how well that Furikake tasted," Hisako can still remember the taste of that dish. "I'm surprise that the mighty Erina has some sort of… interest in Yukihira Souma."

"W-What are you implying Hisako!?" And again, Erina began to fluster once more.

"Oh nothing."

Author's Note: Holy crap, I didn't realize how much traction this story has reached ALREADY! 20 reviews, almost 200 follows! Thanks guys!

Anyways, as anyone can tell, yes, the story has some retelling moments from the manga/anime. Although, the story won't converge to it's own thing until maybe after Training Camp arc, still following some of the arcs.

Either way though, I appreciate you guys keeping up with the story so far right now. I also have a new SnS fanfic, a fantasy one as well called Three Monkeys, you can go check that out as well.

Well, until I can update again, see you guys soon!