"I closed the shop early today... but none of that matters anymore. The main reason I came here this time is to tell you that I've decided to go to Totsuki Culinary Academy, the place my old man keeps talking about.
I'm planning to head to Totsuki Academy tomorrow to take the entrance exam. Do you want to come with me?"
This decision was made after much deliberation by Soma Yukihira.
Because after this summer vacation, they would be entering high school. So, instead of wasting time in some ordinary high school, why not directly enter Totsuki Culinary Academy?
His old man and Seiya both spoke highly of Totsuki Academy, so he wanted to see what was so special about this academy.
Hearing Soma Yukihira's invitation to Seiya, before Seiya could say anything, Yaeiko Minezaki, who was standing next to him, already had a look of disappointment on her face.
She had naturally heard of the famous Totsuki Academy. In fact, in this culinary world, only those students who successfully graduate from Totsuki can be considered the true social elite.
Leaving aside the ridiculously low graduation rate of one percent, just wanting to study at Totsuki Academy is an extremely difficult challenge in itself.
Because if you want to study at Totsuki Academy, you can't rely on back doors. You either have to pass the difficult entrance exam, or you need to be recognized by the Totsuki Director.
However, Minezaki, who had tasted the cooking of both Seiya and Soma, was quite clear that the Totsuki Academy entrance exam might be difficult for ordinary people, but with the strength of Seiya and Soma, passing the entrance exam would not be a problem.
Because Minezaki had once had the good fortune to taste the dishes of a Totsuki graduate.
Although the person was not a prodigy like the "Totsuki Elite Ten," being able to graduate from Totsuki Academy meant that their strength was enough to kill 80% of the chefs in this country.
In Minezaki's opinion, Seiya and Soma's meat dishes from before were no less than that person's, and since that person was able to graduate from Totsuki Academy, she believed that it shouldn't be too difficult for Seiya and Soma to pass an entrance exam.
As for why she was disappointed, the main reason was because she knew that Totsuki Academy was a boarding culinary school that conducted closed education.
In other words, if Seiya really went to Totsuki Academy with Soma, then this 'Wenren Restaurant' would definitely have to temporarily close.
And she, the waitress who had just been hired not long ago, would probably have to face unemployment again soon...
Although she had only worked in the store for a day, and the work was indeed a lot and very tiring, Minezaki liked this extremely fulfilling feeling.
She originally thought that this kind of day could last for a long time, but she didn't expect that it would come to an end so soon.
Regarding Soma Yukihira's invitation, Minezaki didn't think Seiya would refuse. After all, that was Totsuki Academy, the highest institution for young chefs like them.
Compared to people like her, Seiya and Soma were the future's pride, and she and they were ultimately not on the same path...
"Totsuki Academy... what a pity. If my mom hadn't gone back to her hometown, I would have really wanted to go there and show off.
After all, according to the usual routine, going there would definitely slap the faces of many geniuses, and then gain a lot of experience points or something.
But the sad thing is, if I really went to Totsuki Academy, when my mom returns like a king and sees the restaurant closed, I'm afraid I'll be torn into pieces...
And I've also decided that if my mom hasn't come back after a while, I'm planning to go back to my hometown."
Hearing Seiya's words, Soma Yukihira's face showed a look of regret. Although he didn't know how awesome the peer culinary genius mentioned in his father's letter and the "Totsuki Elite Ten" in Seiya's mouth were, after experiencing two defeats, he had already regarded Seiya as a strong rival.
If Seiya also went to Totsuki Academy with him, then he could continue to challenge him.
But now that Seiya chose to stay, then the outcome between them could only be reserved until he graduated from Totsuki Academy.
Compared to the regretful Soma Yukihira, Yaeiko Minezaki, who was next to him, felt a little surprised and secretly pleased when she heard Seiya's choice at this moment.
"Why did you refuse Soma Yukihira's invitation? If it's because of closing the restaurant to go to Totsuki Academy, I believe even if your mother knew, she wouldn't blame you.
After all, Totsuki Academy is almost the highest institution for young chefs, and every parent hopes their child will succeed."
During dinner, Minezaki didn't have the same expectations for Seiya's cooking as she did in the morning and at noon, and didn't even compete with him for food. Instead, she absentmindedly asked the doubts in her heart.
And Soma, who was gobbling up food next to her, unable to compete with Minezaki, the meat-loving woman, and ultimately could only eat leftovers, swallowed the food in his mouth and said, "Totsuki Academy is indeed the highest culinary institution in your eyes.
But don't forget, our family comes from a real culinary country. Totsuki Academy may indeed be a good place to train in the eyes of many chefs, but if it's my mother, she may not think highly of it, because she is...
In short, you just need to understand that there are more than just Totsuki in this world where you can learn cooking well.
You don't have to worry that I'll suddenly change my mind and make you lose your job as soon as you start working, because for me, Totsuki is really not a must-go."
Seeing that Seiya seemed to have understood her hidden meaning, Minezaki's face showed a hint of panic, but after hearing Seiya's guarantee, she was completely relieved.
And once she was relieved, her appetite naturally followed.
But when she looked at the table again, she found that the plates of fragrant dishes that were previously on the table were now just leftovers!
Minezaki: (*｀へ*) So angry, just now I was too concerned about whether Seiya would go to Totsuki, and I actually gave this kid a chance!
"Ms. Minezaki, you seem to be quite yearning for Totsuki Academy, so why didn't you choose to become a chef before, but instead went to become a white-collar worker in a company?"
Minezaki, who was cleaning up the leftovers while eating, looked at him unhappily when she heard Seiya's question and said, "Who doesn't know that being a chef is the most promising thing in this world.
But I'm just a country bumpkin. My family isn't in the culinary world. Do you think Totsuki Academy is a place that just anyone can enter?"
Because it is a culinary world, those chefs value their skills and cooking secrets more than anything else.
The students who can enter Totsuki Academy are either from culinary families or from bigwigs in the catering industry.
When she, Minezaki, graduated and came to the big city, she also thought about becoming a chef in order to climb up, but after working as a handyman for several years, the head chef not only didn't teach her anything, but guarded against her like a thief.
