Chapter 46: First Night of Advancement Exams

[3rd Person's Point of View]

You helped to judge the dishes the students made. Meanwhile there were only 45 minutes left before sundown,

"Soma-kun look at that." Megumi said pointing at a familiar guy.

"Isn't that the Yamaguchi Family's men?" Alice asked so they ran to them.

"Excuse me, are you willing to buy our salmon?" the man that you talked to; said.

Kurokiba and Soma looked at the salmon the guy was selling. "So, this is what (Reader) meant about helping us." Yuki said as they hurried back to the examination room.

'Fufufu~ So, (Reader) took advantage of Uncle Azami's plan. Uncle Azami thought he was able to control (Reader)-chan, but what's happening is vice versa.' Alice thought smiling while looking at the trees being blown by the wind.

'She's a genius~ That's why I love her~' Alice thought happilly.

🍽 🍽 🍽 🍽 🍽

"I have succeeded in eradicating the rebels, per Director Azami's orders." Hiroi said smiling. Then the door busted open, you looked up to see Soma's group.

"It seems you're done with your useless resistance. And what were the results?" Hiroi mocked. "I'm sure you only found off-season salm-"

You smirked when you saw Hiroi's smile fade. The students and Hiroi's face plastered a surprised reaction.

"High-quality salmon! / What firm flesh! / What glistening skin! / It's top notch for sure!" the students murmured.

"Tokishirazu salmon, a very rare salmon that's caught between spring and summer." you explained. "All available nutrients are evenly spread throughout its body."

"In other words, it's salmon at its ultimate best!" Hiroi exclaimed. "But it's caught in summer! How is it available right now?" she asked.

Alice then giggled. "You are aware of the brine freezing method, aren't you? There is no loss in quality. In other words, it's a freezing method that freezes time a technique that epitomized the combined wisdom of science and gourmet cuisine." Alice explained.

"Yeah, we were lucky to find a 'vendor' using the brining method 'nearby'." Soma said emphasizing each word.

"I'm glad 'they' had 'Tokishirazu salmon' in stock!" Megumi replied while smiling at you.

Hiroi laughed, "That's basic knowledge to anyone in the cutting-edge gourmet cuisine industry! So, what if you procured the ingredient? If you can't finish a dish in time, it's pointless!" she said smiling.

"You have less than 30 minutes before the sunset deadline! There's no way you can make a dec-"

"Is it thawed enough?" Soma asked.

"The fish itself is small, it works. It's easier to prepare when it's half-frozen." Kurokiba replied.

"Who would've thought that we'd be in the same team, Yukihira-kun?" Alice asked while holding a knife.

"Kurokiba, can you prep that fish ultra-fast?" Soma asked while tying his headband.

Kurokiba then tied his bandana on, "Who do you think I am?!" he then quickly sliced the salmon. "Don't tell me what to do!" he yelled.

"I guess I'm sorry." Soma exclaimed while slicing the lemons.

"What demonic speed!"

"There's no pause in their workflow. / Are they really a team newly put together?" the students thought.

"All right, done!" Soma yelled. "Yuan-style Grilled Tokishirazu Salmon!" he introduced. "Well, have a tas-"

"Please, have a taste." Alice cut Soma. You stood up and took your chopsticks.

"T-This can't be." Hiroi muttered.

"Itadakimasu." You said then took a bite of the dish. "Hiroi." you called out as Hiroi haven't recovered from the punch of the dish.

"Hey, examiner. Maybe you underestimated us, huh?" Soma asked as he approached Hiroi.

"At least, I don't let something like this get me down. This sort of thing is just part of my daily life. I fight it out with vendors to get good ingredients under any circumstance then get the dished out to the costumer. That's what a diner does." Soma said.

"You pass the first stage!" Hiroi said.

Soma then removed his bandana, "Glad you enjoyed it!"

"Mou! Stop acting like you're the leader!" Alice whined.

[Your Point of View]

"We did it Erina cchi, (Reader)! We passed!" Yuki said hugging both of us.

"Why are you smiling?" Erina asked them.

"You only got through the first stage." I said then yawned. "Ah, I want to drink coffee after eating many dishes." I said.

"Do you think you have time to celebrate?" Erina asked Soma and the others.

"Hey Nakiri, do you want to eat Tokishirazu salmon, too?" Soma asked giving Erina a plate.

"Shut up Yukihira-kun!" Erina yelled.

"To those of you who passed stage one, you will be travelling to the stage two examination hall by train. You will board the train after dinner." the speaker said.

🌙 It was already night time when we went to ride the train.

"Wow! / Amazing!" Yuki and Soma said in unison.

"It's the Tsukikage, a luxury sleeper train owned by Totsuki." Taku said.

"Sure, looks like it'd cost a lot of money." Isa said.

"Travelling across Hokkaido in style on a sleeper train?" Yuki asked. "If not for the advancement exams, it'd be the best trip ever!" Yuki said as she cried tears of blood.

"We'll still continue supplementary lessons on the Hokkaido seminar until lights out." Hisako said.

"Damn it all!" Yuki said as she and Shun were being pulled by Hisako.

[3rd Person's Point of View]

~💕~

You were currently sitting by the window while strumming the guitar when you heard a knock. "It's not locked." you said then the door opened revealing Takumi.

"H-hey (Reader)." Takumi said then came in and sat on a chair. "Oh? You're playing your guitar again?" he asked.

"Yeah, it helps me to relieve stress." you replied then smiled. "What's up? Why did you suddenly visit me?" you asked.

"Uh.. Etto.. Huh.." Takumi then started panicking.

"What? Don't tell me you just wanted to see my face?" you joked then laughed.

"Well yeah." Takumi replied so you looked at him surprised. "Ah! It's not like... I like you or anything!" he yelled blushing while you laughed

"Yeah, yeah. Why would someone like me anyway?" you asked then started strumming your guitar.

"Y-you're an amazing person (Reader)!" Takumi suddenly said so you smiled while looking at the sky through the window.

"Thanks? You're an amazing person too Taku-chan. Ah, the sky is so pretty." You said as he sat beside you.

"Yeah it really is, can you sing a song for me (Reader)?" Takumi asked.

"What song do you like to hear then?" you asked.

"Anything, as long as it's you singing." Takumi replied so you laughed and strummed your guitar. You were looking at Takumi who was looking outside the window.

"It's one of my favorite songs so I'm going to record it." you said then took your phone out and started recording.

"This song is dedicated for Takumi Aldini." you said and giggled before clearing your throat.

/A-N: 1D's song again! (Reader) can skip this~ ❤. Song not mine.

/A-N: Song Title: One Thing by One Direction.

🎶 "I've tried playing it cool, But when I'm looking at you.~"

🎶 "I can't ever be brave, cause you make my heart race~"

🎶 "Shot me out of the sky, you're my kryptonite~"

🎶 "You keep making me weak, yeah frozen and can't breathe~"

You grinned when Takumi looked at you.

🎶 "Something gotta get loud, cause I'm dying, just to make you see~"

🎶 "That I need you here with me now, Cause you've got that one thing~"

🎶 "So get out, get out, get out of my head~"

🎶 "And fall into my arms instead. I don't, I don't, don't know what is is~"

🎶 "But I need that one thing~"

🎶 "And you've got that one thing~"

You stopped strumming while Takumi was standing there blushing. "(R-R-Reader) ..." he called out to you stuttering so you stopped recording.

"Hmm? How was it?" you asked then placed your phone down.

"Can you sing it again?" Takumi asked so you laughed. "I'll sing too!"

"But you should give me a coffee in return?" you replied so he nodded. "Alright, here's the lyrics. You're not deaf-tone, are you?" you teased.

"What no!" he yelled so you laughed.

"I was kidding." you replied grinning which made him blush.

"Stop it! P-Please start on the chorus." Takumi said so you nodded and started strumming.

You both started singing the chorus and you were taken aback by what Takumi did and said.

"(Reader) I like you." Takumi said while holding both of your hands.

{Aldini Takumi's Ending Story: Unlocked}

You got surprised and didn't know how to react. "Ah... AHH!!" Takumi yelled then ran out.

Then you heard a knock on your door again. "I-It's not locked." you said and cleared your throat then the door opened revealing Isami.

"(Reader)-chan, did something happen?" Isami asked so you raised a brow. "I saw Nii-chan running out of your room while blushing." he said then you laughed.

"Nah, it's nothing." you replied as he gave you two canned coffees. "Thank you, Isa-chan." you replied before taking them.

"You should rest, maybe you're tired." Isami said then excused himself and got out of your room.

{Aldini Isami's Ending Story: Unlocked}

After some minutes while you were drinking your coffee someone knocked again.

'I know Erina's the only who should have visitors right now. Why am I getting visitors too?'' you thought confused.