The first day of the new semester at Tōtsuki Academy always carried a certain electricity.
The air was brisk, cherry blossoms fluttered in the breeze, and the campus was alive with the clatter of knives, the hiss of burners, and the low hum of anticipation.
For Yukihira Soma, it was a familiar thrill, a stage set for new challenges, new rivals, and, if he was lucky, new friends.
He strolled through the main gates, hands in his pockets, a lazy grin on his face. The world felt right when he was here, surrounded by people who lived and breathed food.
He was already thinking about what he'd cook for breakfast when a strange scent caught his attention.
It was sharp, earthy, and almost… blue? He paused, nose twitching, and glanced around.
The usual aromas of miso, dashi, and fresh bread were there, but this was something else, something wild and foreign.
He followed the scent through the halls, past clusters of students gossiping about the new semester's lineup.
The closer he got to the first-year kitchen, the stronger the smell became. It was like a storm of flavors, fermented, pungent, and oddly inviting.
He pushed open the door and was met with a scene of chaos.
Students were gathered in uneasy knots, some with their hands over their mouths, others leaning in with morbid curiosity.
At the center of it all stood a boy Soma had never seen before. He was tall and lean, with hair the color of black tea and eyes like polished steel.
His uniform was immaculate, but there was something about the way he stood, rigid, precise, as if he were measuring the world and finding it wanting.
On the counter before him was a bowl of ramen, but not like any ramen Soma had ever seen.
The broth was cloudy, streaked with veins of blue, and crowned with a delicate foam that shimmered in the fluorescent light.
The noodles glistened, and a single slice of pork, aged to a translucent pink, rested on top like a jewel.
Megumi Tadokoro, standing near the back, caught Soma's eye and waved him over. "Soma-kun! You made it!"
He grinned. "Wouldn't miss it for the world. What's going on?"
She leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's the new transfer student. Kaoru Yukishima. He's… um… making something really strange. Some people say it smells like feet. Others say it's amazing."
Soma laughed, but the tension in the room was palpable. He watched as Kaoru finished plating, his movements almost ritualistic. When he finally looked up, his gaze swept the room, cold and unblinking.
"Who will taste?" Kaoru's voice was low, but it cut through the murmurs like a knife.
No one moved. The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable. Some students looked away, others shuffled their feet. Even the more adventurous types hesitated, caught between curiosity and fear.
Soma stepped forward, his grin widening. "I'll try it."
All eyes turned to him. Kaoru's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of interest in his eyes. "You're the one who smells of miso and smoke."
Soma blinked, then laughed. "Guess I can't hide it, huh? My dad runs a diner. I grew up around the stuff."
Kaoru nodded, as if filing the information away. He gestured to the bowl. "Eat."
Soma picked up the chopsticks, his heart pounding with anticipation. He lifted the bowl and inhaled deeply. The scent was overwhelming, funky, earthy, with a citrus tang that made his mouth water and his eyes sting. He slurped the noodles, letting the flavors wash over him.
The first taste was a shock: pungent, almost rotten, like the strongest blue cheese he'd ever encountered. For a split second, he thought he might gag. But then the yuzu foam exploded on his tongue, cutting through the richness with a bright, electric zing.
The pork melted in his mouth, leaving a lingering umami that made his heart race. It was like being dragged to the edge of a cliff and then pulled back at the last second, exhilarated and breathless.
He set the bowl down, eyes wide. The room was silent, waiting." That's… insane," Soma said finally, a grin spreading across his face. "But good. Like, really good. I've never tasted anything like it."
The class erupted, some in relief, others in disbelief. A few students edged closer, emboldened by Soma's reaction, while others shook their heads and backed away.
Kaoru's lips curled in the faintest of smiles. "The truth of food lies in your reaction, not your approval."
From the back of the room, Erina Nakiri watched, arms crossed, golden eyes narrowed. She was the undisputed queen of Tōtsuki, her God Tongue both a blessing and a curse.
She prided herself on her discerning palate, but this… this was something else. The aroma alone was enough to make her stomach clench, but she couldn't look away. There was a danger here, a challenge she hadn't expected.
As the crowd dispersed, Soma lingered. He studied Kaoru, trying to read the boy's expression. "You're not like anyone I've met here. Where'd you learn to cook like that?"
Kaoru's gaze was distant, almost haunted. "In places where food is a weapon. Where pleasure and pain are the same."
Soma's grin widened. "Sounds fun. Let's see what you've got."
Kaoru's eyes met his, and for a heartbeat, something unspoken passed between them, rivalry, challenge, and the faintest spark of something more. The air between them crackled with possibility.
Megumi approached, her voice tentative. "Um, Kaoru-kun? That was… really interesting. I've never tasted anything like it."
Kaoru regarded her for a moment, then nodded. "Fermentation is about transformation. It's not always pleasant, but it's always honest."
Megumi smiled, encouraged by his response. "I'd like to learn more, if you don't mind."He considered her request, then shrugged. "If you're willing to risk it."
Soma laughed. "That's the spirit! Hey, maybe you can show us some of your techniques. I bet there's a lot we could learn from each other." Kaoru's expression softened, just a fraction. "Perhaps."
From across the room, Erina watched the exchange, her curiosity warring with her pride. She told herself she was only interested in evaluating the new student's skills, but deep down, she knew it was more than that.
There was something about Kaoru that unsettled her, something she couldn't quite name.
As the morning wore on, the story of Kaoru Yukishima's fermented blue cheese ramen spread through the academy like wildfire. Some called it genius, others madness. But one thing was certain, Tōtsuki had never seen anything like him.
Outside, the cherry blossoms continued to fall, painting the campus in shades of pink and white. The new semester had begun, and with it, a new kind of fire had been lit.
Soma glanced back at Kaoru as he left the kitchen, a sense of excitement thrumming in his veins. He knew, without a doubt, that this was only the beginning.
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Please gimme your power stones tehee.
Leave some reviews to let me know what went wrong in the writings and I'll try to fix it when I have time, or you can comment it down below.
P.S English is not my first language, it should be the third or fourth if I remember my languages correctly. xD