Chapter 5- Declaration

About a month has passed since the entrance exam.

[April]

"We'll proceed to give the award for the best cook of the year. Representative of the first year, Nakiri Erina" said the announcer.

"Yes" replied Erina as she walked up to the podium full of confidence.

"Ah.. Erina-sama looks more beautiful today" said Mob 1 praising Erina for her looks.

"She's beautiful and a top student...truly a goddess" said by Mob 2 praising Erina by her academic scores.

"It seems she was first in every subject of the internal entrance exam by far."said Mob 3 praising Erina about her achievements.

"I could die happy if I could have a date with her,"said Mob 1, dreaming about having a date with Erina.

"Shhhh! Idiot, if you say something that reckless you'll get erased from here" said Mob 2 as a warning for his friend.

Erina, after receiving her award, moves away from the podium, passing her grandfather, and returning to the backstage.

There she saw Soma sitting on a chair and eating one of his horrendous experiments.

Squid with strawberry jam and peanut butter.

She tasted one of his experimental dishes before after the entrance exam, it was squid and strawberry jam, a downgrade of what he was eating today.

It was one of the times where she regretted having her unique gift as it showed her the image of what the food tasted.

And it was horrendous experience, it was like a giant squid covered in strawberry jam ripped her clothes off like the day she was born, the squid wrapped it's jam covered tentacles on her around her boobs and ass lifting her up in the air and shoving three of it's slimy tentacles down her throat.

A horrible experience, one that she doesn't want to experience again, she was traumatized after that incident, it took her a month to get over her fear.

But seeing that experimental food again but this time it was more terrifying than the last one, flashbacks of her experience coming to her mind. She wanted to puke, but she held it in fear of embarrassing herself yet again in front of her crush.

"Soma-kun, you should stop eating that, it will hurt your stomach." she said looking into his eyes, not breaking contact as she doesn't want to look at that 'Thing' in his mouth.

Soma heard her, turned his head to face her, standing up, swallowing the food in his mouth, realising a teasing grin and said, "Oya~ is the princess worried about her knight? How cute"

Erina, hearing his teasing tone turned her head to the side and said, "HMPH! Baka!" it's not like she doesn't like his teasing. It's just that she doesn't know how to answer back so she turned full on tsundere like the ones she read in the manga.

Soma then walks up to her and pats her head,"Don't worry Erina-chan, with a father like mine, I've had worse than this."

"Hmph! It's not like I'm worried about you or anything, it's just that I don't want you to die before I beat you in a match!" She replied contradicting herself and still in Tsundere mode.

" Yes yes , whatever you say princess" Soma said as he still continued to pat her head. While Erina didn't swat it away and seems to be enjoying it.

"Anyway it seems like it's grandfather's speech." Soma said as he moved his hand away from Erina's head leaving her disappointed.

'Wait! Did he say "Grandfather",is this his way of saying that he wants to m-marry me… and do adult stuff… and have...children with me?!?!?!? Soma Baka!' Erina thought to herself as her whole head turned red and smoke came out of it, misunderstanding a single word Soma had said.

At the podium Nakiri Senzaemon, Erina's grandfather was about to give his speech to the 92nd generation.

[Nakiri Senzaemon P.O.V]

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Congratulations on entering the highschool section,"

"In your three years of middle section, you've deepened your knowledge about the basics of food preparation and it's ingredients."

"You've had classes with cooking drills where you actually cooked and all sorts of lectures about, Cooking Theory, Nutrition, Sanitation, Agriculture, and Management"

"And now you're standing at the entrance of the highschool section, but what will be tested now isn't your knowledge or technique."

"It's if you have the guts to live as a chef." I then point my finger towards them. "99% of you are sacrificial stones to polish the remaining 1% gems"

"Out of all the 812 new first years from last last year, the number of students that passed the second year is 76"

"We'll mercilessly cast away the incompetent and the ordinary people, by the time 1000 first years reach their second year they will become 100."

" To count the number of people that will graduate, One hand will be enough"

"You, you will become one of those handful chefs." as I said that the kids grinned

"Devote to your study and prove to me that you deserve to be called the 'Jewel Generations' that's all." I walked out of the podium, but I turned my head back and seeing the kids eyes filled with hope, confidence, and determination, I let out a small smile.

"To finish, we'll introduce the student who was admitted to the high school section." Said the announcer

[Soma P.O.V]

"I guess I'm up." I then walk towards the podium

"Wish me luck." I said to Erina without looking back.

As I walked toward the podium, some students who recognized me murmured.

"I-its him!", "I can't believe it", "I get to finally see him in person"

I then reached the podium and tapped the mic, waiting for the students to stop speaking.

"Uhum!I'll keep this short and simple. Some of you may or may not know but I'm Yukihira Soma, truth be told I'm kinda disappointed but it is what it is." I paused for a moment for dramatic effect.

I then raise nine fingers, "Out of 812 students here only nine pose somewhat of a challenge to me... You're given 3 years for a chance to struggle, struggle to survive, struggle to win and struggle to reach the top..It's getting lonely being alone at the top, so I'll be waiting" I paused yet again to add suspense

"Don't make me wait for too long." I was met with silence after I said that.

I then move out of the podium and head back towards the backstage with Erina and the newly arrived Hisako.

As I entered the backstage, loud cheers could be heard from the students.

"You know you've just made all the first years including me and Hisako your enemy right?"Erina said to me as I arrived backstage.

"Oh dear Erina~, you know more than I that only a handful of students out there could pose somewhat of a challenge for me" I said.

"Anyway Erina-chan, and Hisako-chan I'm Off to my first class bye-bye" waving my hands as I left them behind.