Ch: 3 Savior, Safety Winds of Change

Tadokoro Megumi was, in a better word, scared shitless.

Coming in as a last placement on her entrance exams for the academy, she had all the tell-tale signs of a very meek and bully-friendly girl, even though that is one rude thing to be described.

Coming from the hilly regions of Tōhoku, you might imagine a toughened up girl that was ready for any obstacles she faced.

But no.

'I'm tired of this….. I'm definitely going to be the very first one among us to be put on the sacrificial stone list.', was the timid thinking that was going through Megumi's head. She had various thoughts going on as well besides this as she was afraid of disappointing her peers that had sent her here with high hopes.

'Even though I passed to the high school section it only seems to be more mad with those new guys in the orientation. They are scary.' she trembled remembering the event earlier that day.

'At any rate, right now it feels like I am the likeliest one to be dropping out so I should just just calm down and not bring any attention to myself.', she decided and nodded her head in self acknowledgement to that idea.

'Alright!' *cue clapped cheeks* 'I won't get close to those two other rookies that are here as well.'

But it seemed her idea and plan was for naught as half of the students in her class had murder on their minds and with how the atmosphere of the class focused on the two of the new additions, Megumi trembled.

'Uwaaaaahhh!!! This is so not good!'

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

At last, they were here.

Tōtsuki Academy.

Excitement, Thrill, amongst many other feelings were being experienced by one Yukihira Souma. Although the same couldn't be said by almost 99% of the classroom young chads.

"Well, to think that I would one day be able to cook in class. Last time I did this was in one of the cooking self study in one of my older schools home economics classes. Man this is awesome isn't it nii-san?!", he said turning towards the other male that passed with him. Uzumaki Naruto.

"Heh. You're pretty fired up. That is better. If you're happy, who am I to be not as well." was the reply.

Souma grinned back. He looked around and his eyes found one of the girls he had seen around after the orientation ended. She was,

"..erm, Hie! You are Tadokoro-san right?"

He noticed Megumi doing something with her hands that he was kinda familiar with and he further asked,

"Why are you eating the Kanji for "Person" as if you were looking to avenge someone. Your parents perhaps?"

Startled Megumi replied stuttering a bit, "Ahh!.. Th-This is… s-so that I don't get too nervous..Hehe.. Or so I thought.

It's because I fear if I get another E, I might just get expelled…"

"E?" Sousa interrupted. "Now that I think about it, I did seem to read something like, the Quality of your cooking is graded from A to E. Though it might differ from class to class.."

Megumi looked at him as he seemed to continue.

"..I heard this was an elite school but there also seem to be people like you huh?"

Megumi felt as if she was struck straight through her heart with a figurative arrow of "savage". She whimpered.

'Uwwuh, just when I was thinking to survive this time peacefully and secretly, of all people I had to meet was him.'

He extended a greeting hand forward.

"I'm Yukihira Souma by the way. You can call me Souma. And…" he pointed to the blonde and continued.

"...that's nii-san. Uzumaki Naruto. Although we're almost around the same age, I still call him nii-san. Nice to meet you." he grinned and stopped.

Megumi whimpered and took the greeting hand shakily as she felt numerous piercing gazes upon both of them.

"Hhh-hi…"

"Attention!"

Was the shout that came and in the classroom an older middle-aged man stepped in and seemed to critically analyze everyone. He spoke,

"Good Morning Young Apprentis."

This man was Roland Chapelle, one of Tōtsuki Academy's decorated Lecturer and also the French Cuisine Division Chief. He looked around again and Souma looked on with excitement. Roland's eyes lingered around the blonde Uzumaki for a second longer, then he continued, "You're responsible to make delicacies from the moment you stand in a kitchen. For that, in this institution, neither your experience nor position matter.

In my classes, any dishes that don't make an A will get an E. Make sure to remember that."

That was the proverbial last straw and one Tadokoro Megumi's whole of dreams and hopes came crashing down. She procrastinated over how it was unlucky of her to have had Roland as her very first teacher. She had heard about his scary reputation as a strict teacher. Of how, last year, he had given an entire class E and how amongst all of them, 18 were expelled. Of how this strict verdict and teaching had earned the lecturer the nickname,

'The Chef that Doesn't Smile'

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Naruto was expecting the glares and stares after the Orientation.

It seemed that to him, it was more of an entitled attention. He shook his head at the dumbness of it all. Instead of hating him they should instead be putting that same effort on their own cooking. It was a shame really. He knew a few of the students' families and their spawns were less than acceptable.

He saw Souma talking to that meek Megumi girl he was briefly introduced to.

She seemed to be jumpy and just out of place. Naruto chalked it up to extreme nervousness and there was absolutely no other way than to get over it by oneself. But it seemed Souma was trying a bit. That was good.

"Attention"

And he watched as their first teacher arrived. Naruto smiled as the teacher, Roland, lingered his gaze for a second longer on him. He proceeded to listen to his evaluation system and he raised and eyebrow at that. Naruto wasn't sure if he was really serious but he did remember the sheer number of students expelled last year from Senzaimon.

Naruto's attention shifted to Roland again when he spoke,

"Today's menu is "Bœuf Bourguignon". A standard French dish. Just in case, I'll write down the recipe on the white board."

He proceeded to write down the recipe. Naruto looked on and nodded. Roland continued,

"The time limit is two hours. Submit your dishes as soon as you're finished. Are we clear? Then let's start…" he clapped for the commencing.

"Commencez à cuire!"

Naruto nodded and got ready. His orange scarf whimpering a bit but mellowing down as Naruto kisses it.

"Eh! Nii-san, you don't have a partner!", he heard Souma exclaim, and sure enough, Naruto was alone and everyone was paired. He raised an eyebrow and teased.

"Why Souma-kun, you left me for a cute girl like Megumi-chan?! How sly of you."

Megumi and Souma both blushed and sputtered. Naruto smiled and said, "Don't worry.

I'll do something."

He turned towards Roland and went to him and excused himself and proceeded to say, "Sir, since I have been singled out, may I be your Sous-Apprentis for this task. I shall be doing this on my own under your unbiased attention."

Roland raised an eyebrow but he sighed as he knew everyone had already been paired so it was an inevitable request. He was never opposed to requests such as this, just that students were truly terrified to approach him for it. He nodded. Naruto smiled and began to prepare his dish.

The sounds of cutlery, sizzling spices, steam and the wafting smell of spices were all over the classroom. The students were all being diligent. Naruto smiled as he raised his lid to the stew and took in the aroma once. He nodded and smiled. He put the lid back in and proceeded to wait for another two minutes when he saw both Souma and Megumi have a small trouble on their hands. His slightly jarred hearing could make out things like Salt, More, Honey.

Naruto was worried but then he remembered it was Souma that was there. His confidence increased and he smiled saying, "Souma will figure it out."

He proceeded to start his own plating. He garnished it with all the essential ingredients and proceeded to present it right as Roland handed another E to another pair. He presented his dish.

"Sir, A plate for one serving of Bœuf Bourguignon."

Roland nodded and proceeded to eat it and he went into a daze. His eyes slowly glazed over and all of a sudden he had already eaten everything that was served in the plate. Empty. Naruto smiled as he saw Roland wipe his mouth with a napkin. Roland turned to him and spoke,

"In all my career, such a rejuvenating and pleasing Bœuf was given to me by a student of all people. Naruto my boy, you will go places. A!"

Naruto smiled and he slowly moved out of the way as Souma and Megumi presented their own plating of the dish.

Roland was impressed for a while but then when he slowly pressured the meat, his eyes fell in wonder.

"It's so tender..." he whispered in silent amazement.

"..It's as if the fork just bounced off and on it."

Naruto grinned as he could make out the shocked faces of many students that were nearby and present. Roland turned to Souma and Megumi and asked in a knowing tone,

"I had a hunch your team had an accident. How did you come out with and complete this?!"

Souma took out a bottle and showed it to Roland saying, "I used Honey.

I rubbed it on the meat before boiling.I also added it as seasoning.."

The gears in Roland's mind kicked into gear as he remembered that Honey had Protease, an enzyme that helped in the breakdown of Proteins, which was how he had such an effect on the meat, making it tender in a short time for them.

Megumi asked with wonder, "H-How did, how did you know that you could use Honey?!"

Souma replied, "Oh, I read it in a cooking book once, a long time ago, that said that you could use pineapple to make meat tender, but you don't have much opportunities nor money to buy a pineapple at crucial times.

So I tested various things to see if one of them could make the meat tender. Then I realised one day, Honey can be preserved and it's the easiest to also use by far. Well, you will only understand if you eat it Tadokoro."

With that said, Souma gave both of them a fork each to have a taste. And they both exploded in bright smiles as half of the class stared in amazement and turn of events. Roland started,

"Yukihira. Tadokoro. I give you both an A, however, it is a shame that I cannot give you higher than that if you will only get better than this. Both of you for that matter. Tadokoro. Smile, you both passed."

Souma grinned as he swung open his head band exclaiming, "It wasn't much!"

It wasn't long before Naruto smiled as he arrived with his packed materials and bag and greeted both Souma and a distraught Megumi. It was only later he would realize how Souma had fed poor Megumi his dried squid experimental dishes. Poor girl must have been suffocating and crying for help. She parted ways with them as they reached outside the campus and waved their goodbyes.

"So nii-san, where you gonna stay?", Souma asked.

"Hmmm, I don't know. I'm definitely not staying inside the academy campus because of that old coot.", Naruto replied.

"Nii-san! He is the director of this academy. Give some respect.!"

"Pfft, he will eat my foot. No respect."

Souma looked at Naruto in a weird way and then continued to say, "Well I'm going to go to the Administration to see for a Dormitory. You coming?"

Naruto shook his head and said, "It's time you have an adventure of your own Souma. Learn more. Grow more. I told you, I will not be staying near the campus any time soon. But don't worry, I will always come to school."

Naruto ruffled Souma in the head and patted.

"I'm gonna hit up Teuchi-jii for tonight. I want to give him the good news. You know how he is like right?"

Souma whimpered. "His hugs are scary."

Naruto laughed. "So yeah, I'm gonna go to their new place. It will be late probably when I reach but don't worry. I will come tomorrow to class. See you then."

Souma smiled. "Don't be late nii-san."

"I won't."

And one last hug later, both of them had parted ways, for one to have an introspective space, and for the other, his own identity and personification.

'Something big is coming after all'

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Mayuuuuuuu! Aren't you gonna come?"

Kurase Mayumi, childhood friend and former classmate of one Yukihira Souma, turned to the voice of one of her classmates gaining her attention from that call.

"Eh?" she replied meekly.

"It seems the boys want to go around the lane of Yukihira chan so that they may get a glimpse or, if lucky, a taste of something new from him and the boss. They called us too and are waiting!"

"If I remember correctly, you haven't been there since, I don't know, never. So let's go get a taste of something delicious!", another girl chimed in.

"Yukihira-kun?" she pondered.

'Yukihira-kun's house huh?

I've been together with Yukihira-kun since kindergarten but we've never talked much to each other.

He would make his friends eat the lunches he cooked and they would cry a lot.

Before I even realised it, I saw him as he was mingling with the cafeteria chefs. Over time, I just watched him do amazing things all the time.

Yukihira-kun's home is a 'Special-of-the-Day' restaurant and I see him helping there everyday. Now that I think about it, wasn't there a blonde boy working there too for a few months? I remember him coming to pick up Yukihira-kun with his Dad too.

But taking all this in, from the perspective of a plain simple girl like me with no special talents or hobbies, I can't even imagine how he is now among the professionals of the world. I really think…

I really think he is amazing.'

Few moments later, as Mayumi reached the lanes that led to the Yukihira house, one of her male classmates spoke out,

"It's closed."

And there actually, she saw, was a "Closed" sign written crudely in paper and posted on the up front of the shop shutter.

"Seems like the boss going abroad and Yukihira-chan staying in a dorm is true. Man, he went to that amazing top-end cooking school in Japan right?! Damn!"

"Sheh, now that Yukihira is taking a break, just where should we go to eat after club activities?"

"I even miss his new dish gambles now."

"Can't be helped. Mayu!"

Mayumi was startled out of some of her thoughts as she was called by her friends.

"W-wait!" she called out and soon took up pace to join them.

'I wanted us to go to the same school. As I was always watching you. And that that one squid dish he made me eat was actually very good.', she fidgeted physically as embarrassment filled her.

'This are just some things I never told you. Now that I think about it, I guess I'm pretty weird.'

"Oh! Uzumaki!"

Mayumi shifted her head as she heard that name being called out, and there right in front of her was the other person who was also a part of the Yukihira family; although he was rarely around but Yukihira's father had already introduced him as his family to his known and regular customers.

"Ah! You guys! Friends of Souma-kun right?!"

There he was, Uzumaki Naruto. With his blonde hair, whisker-like birthmarks, and permanent happiness etched on his face, alongwith his trademark furry orange muffler, Mayumi was pretty sure that was no ordinary muffler.

"What are you doing here Uzumaki-kun? I thought the shop was closed." one of the girls asked.

"Actually, I'm going towards the other end of the city to meet someone and live for the night. This was the road that was the fastest so I took it."

"So Yukihira-chan got into the school huh?" one of the boys said.

"Yeah, we both got in and so he's gone to find his Dorm."

"Wow, you too! I didn't know you applied there as well!" the second girl spoke in wonder.

"Well, tou-san enrolled both of us so I guess we just passed with what we did. The best we could. Also, the head honcho of that school is built!" Naruto guffowed.

Everybody laughed.

Then Naruto spoke again, "It's not that the shop will stay closed just because Sōma's in another school now. Drop by or just mingle around, you might just get to see it open and you'll be surprised."

Everybody there slowly smiled and thanked him as he, Naruto, greeted his farewells with well wishes. Mayumi couldn't help but wonder.

'Even Uzumaki-kun got into that school even though I have never seen him attend any school before. Actually, I don't even know a thing about you Uzumaki-kun. You only came and stayed around once in a while in the shop and that one dish that you made that day. I wish I would've tasted it to know about you as well.

You are a certain mystery Uzumaki-kun. And OH MY GOD! Why am I thinking so much about both of them?! I am weird.'

And with those thoughts in her mind, a flustered Mayumi kept march to her home straight to her room with a heavy blush.

Aah the joys of youth.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hōkkaido was a place of dreams for many.

The northern island of Japan.

A place of its own.

It was also where one of the other top Culinary Institutes of Japan, and second in world to only Tōtsuki, Geiki(芸炊, Art of Cooking) Culinary Institute and Research Facility, was situated.

The institute was less a single whole institute but more of a conglomerate of the different culinary based schools of the whole Hokkaido region. The main building for the Authority was situated in Sapporo, but every school had an exclusive administrative body for themselves. They had good ties with Tōtsuki.

Amongst this many institutes was one that was situated in the southernmost side of Hokkaido, in Hakodate, and it was the Konoha Culinary Academy. Said to be one of the most dominant and hardest cooking academies to get into, this is where we see one red head going nuts in her dorm rooms with her roommate sighing in desperate pleas.

"That Stupid Ass Jerk!" cue a pillow thrown over to the wall.

"He actually went and took the exams and got admitted there when I specifically told him we were the better choice!"

"C'mon Tayuya-sama enough! We get it you're upset that your incestous imaginary boyfriend didn't come here and get admitted." spoke one Kin Tsuchi, the sous-chef for the aforementioned Tayuya, better known as Uzumaki Tayuya.

"Technically I was adopted so it won't be incest, only in name." came the reply.

Of course this was no secret that one of the patrons of the Uzumaki household had adopted Tayuya, former child slave chef Akameru Tayuya.

"Excuses and more excuses in denial." was the comeback.

Tayuya pouted and slowly laid down on her bed. She started,

"It was funny when the family met him in the end. It all felt like a nightmare was washed away. Never to return. Everyone broke into such a positive mood that it was just, mmmMMMmFf! Even though there was tragedy we did not lose our sun. Isn't it amazing Kin-chan?"

The Uzumaki name was a very old title. Passed down and surviving since the Shogunate era, the Uzumaki clan were one of the most important families that were revered in the world as one of the most influential clans.

Starting off from a simple merchant house name into what they were now, controlling more than half of the import and export business of the whole of Hokkaido as well as having their own chain of fast food restaurants of all things, the Uzumaki clan were a powerful household, rivaling many royalties and nobles of the country. The reason why they had rescinded from public eye in the last decade or two was due to their own policy of not interfering with their own business, letting the companies that were blooming under them to operate in full independence and with open doors.

Tsuchi Kin only let a small smile show. Tayuya continued,

"I'm sad that tou-san didn't have a picture of his family as he was not in contact with anyone for a long while. I hope he gets to meet the rest of the family soon. I heard jii-jii was thinking of introducing themselves during an event. I can't wait!"

Kin nodded as she stood up more rigid and said.

"Tayuya-sama, even though he took admission there and with everything you stated, that is no excuse to shirk away from your duty as the president of the Sound Cooking Research club. You have also been tasked with arranging a meeting with the editor-in-chief of our Academy Magazine Club for your father as well, since he would like to extend a proposal to the authority on a budget cut.

So please Tayuya-sama, I hope you will get ready now or else."

Tayuya grumbled and slowly, but surely, started to dress up for her activities. Finishing up with a short ponytail, she turned to Kin and spoke,

"Well, let us go do our job. Just because that dumbass decided to join there doesn't mean he will be safe and I won't meet him. Autumn is coming." Both of them kept walking the halls of the Academy as Tayuya continued with mirth.

"This year, the wind feels different don't you think?", she said as she gazed longingly towards the distant setting sun in the horizon.

Embracing the breeze with galore, Tayuya and Kin reached the club room she had under her authority.

The Sound Cooking Research club was not only a special style of cooking club but was also more of a psychological research club that was under the jurisdiction of one of the many research facilities part of the whole Geiki Institute. As its name suggests, the main purpose of the culinary cum research club was to study the manipulation/changes in emotions and psycho-active functions through various sounds, here it was based on the sound of cooking and consumption. It was basically a broader study on the effects of ASMRs on the tasting and experiencing of food in oneself.

Tayuya entered the wide hallroom that was her club room/research block and everyone present gave her and Kin their utmost attention.

"Buchō! Welcome to the Club!" came a shout and everyone in the vicinity stood at attention and bowed.

Tayuya sighed, "I think I need a change of style."

Kin raised an eyebrow.

Tayuya turned to everyone present and barked, "Listen up! No Buchō Bullshit! I don't want any of you giving me this kind of stupid attention shit! Change of style. You'll only silently bow once and get back to your fucking work or I'll pound your fucking brains you get me!"

Kin smiled irritably as a chorus of "Hai Buchō!" rang in the four walls of the huge hall that was their research club room.

'A different kind of wind huh?'

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