Senzaemon Nakiri scanned the Students and finally said, “Study hard!”
Having finished, he turned around and strode off the podium.
Meanwhile, the Students in the plaza remained immersed in that passionate fervor, heads held high and eyes shining.
“Finally, let us welcome the two new transfer Students with warm applause!”
The host’s voice rang out at the perfect moment, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
Haruto tilted his chin toward Yukihira Soma beside him.
“Let’s go, it’s our turn.”
Soma perked up immediately, rubbing his hands together with an eager expression.
The two then walked out of the waiting room, one after the other, stepping onto the podium while facing hundreds of gazes from the plaza—some curious, some appraising, others disdainful.
Haruto walked to the microphone first.
Before coming here, he had already agreed with Yukihira Soma that he would speak first.
There was no help for it; he knew exactly what Soma was planning to say.
If he spoke after Soma, there was no telling if he would get dragged into it and end up with a heap of trouble for no reason.
Although he wasn’t afraid of trouble, his main purpose in coming to Totsuki Academy was to learn cooking.
“My name is Haruto.”
Haruto’s voice carried clearly through the microphone across the entire plaza.
“I love food, and my cooking skills are decent enough.”
“I am very happy to be able to enter Totsuki Academy to study.”
“Let us work hard together from now on.”
He paused, then added another sentence.
“Also, I hope to see you all in three years.”
“Although there isn’t much hope, don’t give up.”
As his voice faded, Haruto decisively handed the microphone to the eager Soma and turned to walk off the podium.
The plaza was silent for a full three seconds.
Immediately after, countless stunned gazes were fixed simultaneously on Haruto, who had already stepped off the stage.
What did he mean by ‘I hope to see you all in three years.
Although there isn’t much hope, don’t give up’?
Wasn’t it obvious he thought he would certainly graduate smoothly, while they, the rest of the Students, would most likely not last three years?
Arrogant!
Truly too arrogant!
The expressions of many Students darkened instantly, and their gazes toward Haruto’s retreating back were filled with a hint of anger.
Only Haruto knew that he had been subtle enough with those words.
At least, much more subtle than Soma, who was about to speak.
Hearing the door open, Nakiri Erina looked up, her gaze falling on Haruto.
“Long time no see, Nakiri Erina.”
Haruto nodded slightly at her in greeting.
“Hmm.”
Nakiri Erina just nodded coldly.
She just looked at Haruto, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, but she held it back.
Ever since the last exam, she had been pondering that orange flavored flaky crust custard tart of Haruto’s.
However, no matter how she recalled the taste of that dish, she could never figure out what method he used to infuse that crisp orange fragrance into the tart crust.
This made her increasingly curious.
Seeing Haruto now, she almost subconsciously wanted to ask.
But she hesitated.
Haruto, however, didn’t notice Nakiri Erina’s expression.
At this moment, he was looking at the podium with great interest, a smile of anticipation for a good show tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Next was Soma’s ‘highlight’ moment.
Haruto’s actions naturally caught Nakiri Erina’s attention.
So, following Haruto’s gaze, she happened to see Soma standing in the center of the podium, holding the microphone in one hand and scratching his hair with the other.
“Ah, well… let me say a few brief words as well.”
“My name is Yukihira Soma.”
“To be honest, this school is just a stepping stone for me.”
“Although I didn’t expect to get in, I won’t lose to a bunch of guys who have never even faced a customer!”
“As for what I want to say! In short, since I’m here, I’m going to stand above everyone else!”
Soma said this while looking at the Students with a calm expression.
Finally, he bowed properly to the Students below the stage and added.
“Please treat me well for the next three years.”
Having finished, Soma didn’t care at all about the atmosphere below, which was about to explode.
He put down the microphone and strode toward the backstage.
As for the angry denunciations from those Students, he let them go in one ear and out the other, not taking them to heart at all.
“Whew—finally done talking!”
Soma walked into the rest area, let out a long breath, raised his hand to pat his chest, and looked relieved.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve never had any luck with things like certificates or giving speeches.”
As he spoke, he leaned over to Haruto and asked with a worried look.
“By the way, how did I do just now? Was there anything weird? I think I did pretty well!”
“Nervous?”
Haruto looked at Soma and couldn’t help but smile.
“I actually think you did quite well; you were full of spirit.”
Just then, Soma suddenly saw Nakiri Erina to the side.
He was stunned for a moment, then awkwardly raised his hand to scratch the back of his head.
He said somewhat uncertainly.
“Ah, you are that… Nakiri-san, right?”
Seeing that Soma didn’t seem to remember her name, Nakiri Erina was secretly annoyed.
So she looked at Soma and mocked.
“You said you want to stand above everyone else? It’s so ridiculous it makes me want to laugh.”
“Those who passed the internal assessment from the Junior High Division to get here have all received top-tier Superior education.”
“You don’t even have the qualifications to look up to them.”
“A layman like you could never defeat anyone.”
Facing Nakiri Erina’s mockery, the smile on Soma’s face faded.
His eyes, previously somewhat laid-back, suddenly became sharp.
“Three years of junior high…”
“The first time I held a kitchen knife was when I was three years old.”
“For the twelve years since then, I have spent my time in the kitchen.”
In those twelve years, every day he faced all kinds of customers—picky office workers, gluttonous Students, old people with discerning tastes.
A group of Students, how could he possibly not be better than them?
Nakiri Erina’s eyes flashed with a trace of surprise, and the mockery on her face faded slightly.
But it was only slightly.
In her view, Soma’s practical experience, limited to a small diner, was ultimately too narrow.
The stage of Totsuki Academy was far broader than Soma imagined.
Just as Nakiri Erina was preparing to retort.
A voice full of’sheepishness’ suddenly cut in.
“Wow—you guys are all so amazing!”
Haruto scratched his head, his face wearing a perfectly timed look of ‘helplessness’.
“I’ve only officially started learning to cook for two months; I can’t compare to you guys at all!”