'Wow....the cherry blossoms are really pretty this year...' [Y/n] thought while looking at the tress aimlessly.

"We will present the new students with their class budget. Incoming valedictorian, Nakiri Erina."

"Here."

"[Y/n]-sama, you're being called next." Maki informed, and [Y/n] nodded. Her friend gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder and went back to get in line. "Incoming salutatorian, Nakiri [Y/n]."

"Here!" [Y/n] said and walked onto the stage. She felt kind of nervous to have all eyes on her.

"Ah, [Y/n]-sama...Adorable as always... If I could go on a date with her for even a single day, I'd die happy." Males cooed over her.

"Idiot! Watch your mouth! You'll get kicked out of the academy!"

"We will now welcome our keynote speaker: the director of Totsuki Academy, Nakiri Senzaemon-sama." Everyone freaked out.

[Y/n] got back to the tent where Erina was. Things were awkward. [Y/n] has spoken to her since she rejected Soma from coming to this school. [Y/n] sat down a couple of seats away from her sister while trying to listen to their grandfather's speech.

"Are you still angry with me?" Erina asked, and [Y/n] huffed, pouting like a child. "You're such a child." She muttered. [Y/n] just stuck her tongue out at Erina.

"Finally, we'd like to introduce one transfer student who'll be joining your ranks today."

[Y/n]'s interest pecked, remembering the red-headed boy. The food he made [Y/n] melt. She loved it. "I'll keep it short and sweet then. Just a couple sentences." She heard his sweet voice, and her eyes filled with hope while Erina was shocked.

"Um, I'm Yukihira Soma. To be honest, this academy's just a stepping stone for me! I wasn't expecting to transfer here, but I don't plan on losing to folks who've never actually served customers. Anyway, what I'm getting at is...Basically, now that I'm here, I'm gonna take the number one spot!" Soma said, and [Y/n]'s eyes widened.

'He's done it now...' [Y/n] thought and giggled, 'But, he might just make thing interesting here.' She could feel the fire of anticipation in the pit of her stomach.

Soma walked off the stage, "Phew, I managed not to bite my tongue." He muttered and noticed the two sisters, "Oh...hey, you're the one from the exam. Uh, Nakiri, right?" Erina was surprised that Soma knew her name, "Oh, and [Y/n]." He noticed that [h/c] haired girl and she smiled at him.

"Man, that was nerve-wracking. It's not like I've ever had to stand up to get awards and stuff like that. How was I? Was I weird?"

"Who cares about that?! Yukihira-kun! Why are you here?!" Erina yelled.

"Huh? Why?" Soma questioned and reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled out an acceptance letter, "Wouldn't you come if you got an acceptance letter?"

"How?" Erina questioned, and [Y/n] gave a questioning look. 'If Nee-chan didn't accept him...then who...?' [Y/n] thought. "Man, you had me scared shitless. You said it was disgusting. If it was good, you shoulda said so." Soma said.

"No!" Erina flipped her hair over her shoulder, "I'll say one thing! I haven't accepted you! Neither you, nor your cooking! This is a mistake! A mistake, okay! you came here to Totsuki because there was a mistake! Taking the number one spot? Don't make me laugh. Everyone who's been a student since junior high has been learning cutting-edge gastronomy! I can already tell that an outsider transfer student like you wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell of beating them!" She began to walk past him.

"Three years in junior high, huh..." Soma muttered.

"So?"

"I first held a kitchen knife at age three. I've been practically living in the kitchen ever since for the past 12 years. I can't let you smear mud on our restaurant by leaving after you said my cooking's disgusting. Just you wait. I'll make you say 'delicious'! I'll use everything I've got in my cooking arsenal!" Soma declared.

[Y/n] smirked a little. After the assembly, students slowly filed out. "Hey, hey, Kii-chan. We should go get some ice cream." [Y/n] said to her pink-haired friend.

"We have class." Maki said, and [Y/n] pouted. Maki sighed and placed a hand on [Y/n] head. "Maybe after school." She said, and [Y/n]'s smile grew bright. The two friends walked until [Y/n] noticed Megumi sitting by herself.

"Megumi-chan?" [Y/n] called as she jogging over to the blue-haired girl.

"Na-Nakiri-san?" Megumi said, nervously, as she stood up.

The two never really talked to each other. [Y/n] was always at the top of the class with her sister while Megumi was just scraping by at the bottom. [Y/n] did always greeted Megumi when they passed each other in the halls in junior high, but [Y/n] did that to almost everyone, so Megumi didn't think much of it.

[Y/n] pouted a bit. "It's [Y/n]-chan. You don't have to be so formal with me." She said with a small smile, "Is there something wrong? You look so nervous."

Megumi forced a smile. "Just a little nervous about entering high school." She said.

"Me too." [Y/n] said and leaned in to whisper, "You might not see it, but Kii-chan is nervous as well."

Maki heard this and hit [Y/n] in the head with her planner. "Stop lying." She said.

[Y/n] puffed out her cheeks and rubbed her head, "Jeez, Kii-chan, at least say something to make her feel better." She whined.

"Your nervousness will eventually turn into excitement for the future. From there, things will seem easier. Keep calm and collected until then." Maki said, blankly.

"Yes, and if you are feeling super nervous just write the 'man' character on your hand and eat it." [Y/n] said in a matter-of-fact tone, "The good thing about being at the bottom is the only way to go is up!"

Maki gave [Y/n] a deadpanned look. "That really doesn't help." She said.

"Yes, it does! Anyway, I'm rooting for you, Megumi-chan."

Megumi looked at them in awe for a moment then she smiled. "Thank you."

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"You'll be splitting off into different classes and starting your coursework right off the bat. Today, you'll be cooking in pairs with your current partner. Got it?"

Everyone got changed into their chef attire. Students were glaring out at Soma and talking about him. "So...Tadokoro-san, was it? Why're you writing the 'man' character on your hand over and over again?" Soma asked while looking at the girl on the floor.

"Oh! Th-That's so I won't get nervous." Megumi said.

"Nervous? Why?"

"If I get even one more E rating, I'll be expelled." Megumi said.

"Huh. I'd heard this is an elite school, but I guess they even have people like you." Soma said, which hurt Megumi's feelings. "Oh, I'm Yukihira Soma. Soma's fine, though. Nice to meet you."

"Oh...Nice to...meet you, too." Megumi muttered. Soma took a moment to look around.

"I wonder where [Y/n] is..." Soma muttered. A few students glared. How dare he be so casual to their [Y/n]-sama. "Y-You're friends with Nakiri-san?" Megumi asked.

Soma hummed, rubbing his chin with his finger and thumb, thinking. "I think she considers me a friend, so yeah, I think we are. She's really nice and cute, too." He said as he grinned, which added fuel to the fire.

[Y/n] was nice to everyone, but it has been an unspoken rule among the students in the same year as the [e/c] eyed beauty at Totsuki Academy, no one goes after [Y/n] romantically.

There was nothing they could do about the second or third years' interaction with [Y/n], but within their own class, they'd go to war. And it's not only the males who are willing to fight for [Y/n]'s love and her affection. A lot of the female population would enlist in said battle.

As if by chance, [Y/n] stumbled into the class with her partner. The atmosphere completely changed now that all eyes were on her. [Y/n] blushed from the embarrassment of almost falling, and she hid behind Maki's tall frame. "Do you think anyone saw?" [Y/n] whispered.

"Everyone saw." Maki said as she walked to their station with [Y/n] being attached to her like a child. "Oh, man." [Y/n] whined, wanting to hide in a hole.

"There is no point of being embarrassed now. We arrived before the teacher. Stop trying to talk to everyone in the hall." Maki said.

"But, Kuga-senpai wanted to talk to me."

"Simply ignore him." Maki said.  [Y/n] looked around the room and noticed a certain red-head, and he smiles then waved at her.

[Y/n] smiled back and waved at him. "Attention." The teacher walked in, "Good morning, my young apprentis."

"Good morning."

"A...A...Apple tea?" Soma muttered.

"That's Ronald Chapelle-sensei." Megumi said.

"You become responsible for creating a delectable dish the moment you step into a kitchen. Neither experience nor status can excuse you from this duty. In my class, any dish that fails to deserve an A rating will automatically receive an E rating. Remember that." Chapelle said and checked attendance.

"Chapelle-sensei on our first day?" [Y/n] muttered with a smirk on her face. It wasn't anything [Y/n] really worried about. She's passed his class with flying colors before.

"Today's menu item is beef bourguignon. It can be said to be a staple in French Cuisine, but I'll put the recipe up on the whiteboard, anyway. Two hours is your time limit. each time should serve the dish as soon as it's complete. Let us begin. Start cooking."

Everyone began to scrabble to gather ingredients. Soma casually strolled over to look at the recipe. "Start oiling the pan and cook the bacon. I'll get the rest of the ingredients" Maki said.

"Why do I have to do the boring work?" [Y/n] whined.

"Because you'll forget something." Maki said as she walked away.

[Y/n] began to cook while a few girls shot dirty looks at her. "How can she be known as the 'Mother of Cooking' when she acts like a child?"

"I know right. She is so whiny and annoying. I feel bad that Nekomata-san has to be her partner."

"I would really hate to put up with her."

[Y/n]'s eyes saddened a bit when hearing the conversation. 'I know I always cause trouble for Kii-chan...but...she never lashed out at me or complained very much. Does...she hate me?'

"I'm back." Maki said while sitting down ingredients.

"Welcome back! How was your trip?" [Y/n] said playfully.

"What's the matter?" Maki asked while tying her long pink hair into a ponytail. [Y/n] gave a curious look while Maki moved her pink headband, so it would hold her bangs back. "What do you mean?" She asked.

"Your stove isn't even on." Maki pointed out. [Y/n] frantically turned it on. The two girls could hear the others giggling. Maki's blue eyes narrowed while [Y/n] sulked a bit.

"I'm not going to say 'don't let it bother you' because I know it is hard to let it go because I know you. You want everyone to like you for some reason." Maki said as she cut up some mushrooms, "Most of the people here are all talk and no action. Just beat them with your own skill." Then Maki smiled a little. "Besides, I like you better when you're being yourself, [Y/n]-chan."

[Y/n]'s eyes widened at the rare sight, and she gave a beaming smile. "Okay! Let's do this!" She cheered.

"Don't cheer like that...We're still in class." Maki said in a monotone.

"Right..." [Y/n] said and took a deep breath.

Maki smirked, 'There's a reason she's called the Mother of Cooking. She's studied hard in various cooking styles and is very in tune with the ingredients she uses. All five senses play a part in everything she makes. Every ounce of effort she puts into making a dish is fuelled with love. Her food makes you feel warm inside...like a mother's cooking.'

It was like [Y/n]'s personality did a 180. She went was a loud, bubbly child to a stoic, mature adult. Maki and [Y/n] worked in sync. Even when waiting for the beef to tenderize. [Y/n] kept quiet, completely focused on the scent and sound of the beef cooking. 'By using honey and pineapple juice it shouldn't take as long for the meat to tenderize...' [Y/n] thought to herself, and looked at the clock. 30 minutes were left.

"What's this white stuff?!" Megumi questioned which popped [Y/n]'s 'concentration bubble'.

"It's salt." Soma said after tasting it.

"H-How?! Wh-What are we going to do?!" Megumi said, "We can't use this meat anymore!"

[Y/n]'s eyes narrowed. She knew this school was corrupt, but she didn't expect someone to stump as low as sabotage. It disgusted her.

"I'm going to serve this dish, no matter what." Soma declared while tying his headband.

[Y/n] smiled at his determination and grabbed her jar of honey. "Soma-chan." She called to him, "Here." She slid the jar on his workstation.

Soma smiled. "Just looking for this. Thank you, [Y/n]." He said, and [Y/n] blushed a little.

"Of course." She said and went back to her stove.

"Are you aware that you help someone who wants to take your place at the top?" Maki asked, and [Y/n] nodded.

"You know I don't care much for the competition here." [Y/n] said, "Besides, I'm always second best to Nee-chan, so Soma might just knock me down to third."

"Second place is not terrible, you know. It allows you to fight harder to be better than the person you compared to. As you said, the only way to go is up." Maki said.

"I know," [Y/n] said then smirked, "It'll just be a greater challenge to overcome. It'll keep things interesting." [Y/n] loved to be challenged when it came to cooking. The harder the challenge the more eager it made [Y/n].

Once their food was cooked, Maki plated the dish. [Y/n] admired how pretty it looks. The aroma was intoxicating and the beef was so tender that it looked like it was sparkling. Maki and [Y/n] stood in line after Megumi and Soma as Soma explained his usage of the honey.

"[Y/n]...." Soma turned to her with a fork in his hand, offering to feed her some of his dish. [Y/n] blushed a bit and ate it. [Y/n]'s eyes widened a bit as she chews. Her whole body was tingling. It felt like she was melting.

Even Chapelle was smiling. "Yukihira and Tadokoro. I'll be giving you an A rating. However...I regret the fact that I do not have the authority to grant you a higher rating." Chapelle said.

"Glad you liked it." Soma said.

Everyone was shocked. "That's a difficult act to follow." Maki said, and [Y/n] smiled more.

"I believe in us." She said, and they presented their dish to Chapelle. "Nakiri and Nekomata."

[Y/n] smiled at the man. "It's a pleasure to have you taste our food again, Sensei." She said. He was the chef that never smiled while [Y/n] was named as the chef that always smiled. But, today, [Y/n] determined to make him cry because of how good their food is like many others have.

Chapelle admires the color of their beef and how tender it was. He cut into it, and it practically fell apart. He took a bite and his eyes widened.

[Y/n] grinned as a bright smile appeared on his face and tears of joy in his eyes. He was speechless. There were no words that could describe how immaculate the beef dish. Maki and [Y/n] received an A rating.

After everyone presented their dishes, [Y/n] and Maki began to clean their station. [Y/n] was eager to leave to get ice cream with her friend. While wiping the countertop, [Y/n] noticed Megumi crying and quivering in the corner while Some walked over to her with an evil grin.

"[Y/n]~" He sang, menacingly.

"Wha-" Soma stoved something in her mouth. "It's honey pickled squid." He said as his grin grew. [Y/n]'s eyes widened at the thick and slimy texture. It was a disgusting mouthfeel. It was like she was being violated by the tentacles of the squid. Her body refused to swallow it. [Y/n] wanted to spit it out, but Soma was holding it in her mouth with chopsticks.

[Y/n] forced it to go down her throat, and Soma let her go. "Kii-chan!" [Y/n] cried and clung to her friend like a baby, "I-It was so-so di-disgusting. The squid-The squid, Kii-chan!" She continued to cry.

Maki sigh while staring blankly at the ceiling. "I really appreciate this, Yukihira-san." She said, sarcastically.

"I have calamari with peanut butter, too. Want some?" Soma said with an evil look while holding many containers, "I have so much more..."

"No! I don't wanna!" [Y/n] whined while she and Soma both ran around Maki, who sighed. 'I just wanna go home.' She thought.

After school that day, [Y/n] and Maki went out for ice cream. The [h/c] haired girl was still traumatized by the disgusting seafood that shoved her mouth by the red-headed Soma boy. [Y/n] licked her [fav. flavor] ice cream to get the taste out of her mouth on the car ride back to their dorms.

"You didn't do anything to stop him, Kii-chan." [Y/n] whined.

"I thought it was amusing." Maki said and licked her mint chocolate chip ice cream. {A/n: It's my favorite flavor,  don't drag me.}

"You're so mean~" [Y/n] whined.

Once they got back to their dorm, they were welcomed by a few of their dormmates. "Aww, you guys went to get ice cream without me." Yuki whined and pouted as [Y/n] finished her ice cream cone.

"You know, whatever [Y/n]-chan whats, she gives." Satoshi said.

"You make me sound spoiled, Isshiki-senpai." [Y/n] whined.

"You are." Maki chimed in.

"Ki-chan is so mean to me, senpai." [Y/n] whined and hugged burying her face in Satoshi's chest.

"There, there." He said while patting her head.

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[Y/n] sighed as she sat in the bathtub. The warm water feeling good on [Y/n]'s skin. She was a little upset that Maki refused to bathe with her, but the alone time was nice as well. "I should have requested to stay here in junior high. Everyone is so nice." [Y/n] muttered to herself.

"A bath! Let's start with a hot bath!" The door opened to reveal Soma. He and [Y/n] stared at each other in shock for a moment while covered herself. Then she screamed, "GET OUT!" and threw a bucket at him.

After [Y/n]'s bath, she went straight to Maki's room. "It was horrible, Kii-chan! I can't get married anymore!" [Y/n] cried on her friend's shoulder.

"You're being overdramatic." Maki said.

The ceiling tile above them moved, revealing Satoshi's smiling face. "Hey, girls." He greeted.

"Please, stop doing that, Senpai." Maki said, blankly.

"C'mon, we're having a welcoming party for the transfer student." Satoshi said and put the tile back. [Y/n]'s mood brightened up. "Party! Come on, Kii-chan!" She cheered and ran into the hall.

"I really just want to sleep." Maki muttered as she stood up.

"Like I said, I'm busy studying for the written exam! Go have a party in some other room." Marui complained, "Why do you always have to party in my room?"

[Y/n] smiled as she sat down next to Ibusaki. He silently handed her a drink. "Thank you, Shun-chan." [Y/n] said with a smile, and he nodded, blushing a little at his nickname.

"What choice do we have? You have to biggest room." Yuki said while sitting on Marui's bed.

"Who said you could sit on my bed?!"

"Your rooms always clean, too." Ryoko said.

"I just finished cleaning up."

"There were books scattered about earlier." Shoji said.

"That's because you guys were on a rampage in my room!"

"Anyway, you should have more chairs around." Aoki said, making Marui madder.

[Y/n] laughed. "Zen-chan's mad." She said, and Maki took away her cup. "No more drinking for you." She said. "You're a party-pooper, Kii-chan." [Y/n] grumbled.

"Still, are you sure we're not going to get in trouble for partying this late at night?" Soma asked.

"It's fine. The dorm's in the middle of a forest." Ryoko said.

"Well, but...There's that dorm lady..."

"Hey, guys...I have some buri daikon. Come get some." Fumio said through the little speakers.

"Yeah!"

"I love that hag!" Shoji and Aoki went to go get it.

"Seriously?" Soma questioned.

"Just come back before Fumio-san starts her spiel about the Elite Eleven." Yuki said to the males before they closed the door. Soma remembered what was said about Erina being one of the youngest members in the Elite Eleven. "Hey, what's this Elite Eleven thing?" Soma asked.

"Huh? Are you seriously asking that question?" Ryoko said.

"You really came here without a clue, huh?" Yuki said, "Marui, explain."

"Why me?" He questioned.

"Quit winning. It's for the newbie." Ryoko said.

"Fine." Marui said, "The Totsuki Elite Eleven Council is a committee composed of the top eleven students within the academy. Students are allowed to decide many of the academy's affairs, so a wide variety of issues are settled by the Council. They are, in effect, the academy's highest decision-making body. In the academy's hierarchy, they are second only to the director himself, and not even the directors can disobey their decision."

"Decades ago, when the dorm was consistently at maximum capacity, a bunch of Elite Eleven members was from Polar Star. There were even years were all eleven were here." Yuki added.

"Once Fumio-san gets going about those times, it turns into a long story." Ryoko said.

'So Nakiri Erina is currently one of those Eleven.' Soma thought and looked over at [Y/n], Maki, and Ibusaki playing cards, 'Could she be the other youngest member?'

{A/n: Tell me your thoughts!!😊}