"Sigh..."
A sigh sounded on the street.
"Why did my old man make you come with me? I'm not a kid anymore! And it's just an entrance exam, do we really need to make such a big deal out of it?"
On the way to Totsuki Academy, Yukihira Soma glanced at Sato, his lips sticking out high in displeasure as he spoke resentfully.
It was obvious that he was very dissatisfied with Yukihira Joichiro's arrangement. This was clearly treating him like a child.
Sato, who was looking down at the map, raised his head and rolled his eyes.
"You think I wanted to come with you? If it weren't for the boss's request, would I waste a perfectly good weekend wandering around here with you?"
Yukihira Soma muttered a couple of complaints, then seemed to give up.
He leaned over to Sato and looked at his phone. Staring at the complicated, winding roads on the screen, he asked, "Are we there yet?"
Sato frowned slightly in confusion as he looked at the map on the phone.
"The map says we've already reached the area around Totsuki Academy, but..."
Yukihira Soma looked around with him.
Across the street was a residential area. On their side stood a long wall stretching for quite a distance. No one knew what was inside. Several hills were enclosed within it, and among the mountains were many buildings arranged in an orderly manner.
"Could that be Totsuki Academy inside there?"
After checking the map again, Sato looked toward the inside of the wall with suspicion.
"No way!"
Yukihira Soma could not help laughing. With his hands on his hips, he looked at the hills and buildings inside the wall.
"Look at how big that place is. Have you ever seen a culinary school this big?"
Give me a break.
At the end, Yukihira Soma waved his hand confidently.
"There's no way that's it!"
Sato thought about it and felt that made sense. Many of the buildings inside looked more like high-end hotels. Perhaps it was a resort.
"Then let's walk a little further ahead and see."
"Oh right, are you hungry?"
Suddenly, Yukihira Soma seemed to remember something and took a jar out of the bag he was carrying.
Inside the glass jar were tightly packed writhing tentacles. They were coated in some unknown yellow sauce, their suction cups and limbs pressed tightly against the glass.
Ugh. Disgusting.
Sato could not help shivering. What the hell was that thing?
"I peeled squid legs, flipped them one by one and grilled them, then added peanut butter to make a snack. Want to try some?"
Sato thought about it. Maybe it just looked bad.
After hesitating for a moment, he looked at the squid legs that gave off the aura of dark cuisine and said uncertainly, "I'll give it a try."
The corner of Yukihira Soma's mouth lifted slightly.
From the corner of his eye, Sato caught the smile on Yukihira Soma's lips. His heart immediately jumped, and he suddenly withdrew the hand he had been about to extend.
"You aren't trying to mess with me, are you?"
"No!"
Yukihira Soma swore with absolute confidence.
"Forget it. I still don't trust you..."
Sato took two steps back. A faint glint flashed in his eyes as he narrowed them at him.
"I almost forgot that other diners often mention how you and your dad make dark cuisine all the time."
"W-what dark cuisine! Those were just failed dishes!"
Yukihira Soma defended himself. Seeing that Sato had already lowered his hand, he asked unwillingly, "You're really not going to try it?"
Sato twitched his mouth as he looked at him.
"Do I look like an idiot? Even if I'm not some great chef, I still know squid legs and peanut butter don't go together at all."
"Even if there were a chef capable of turning decay into magic and perfectly combining those two ingredients, it wouldn't be you. At least... not the current you."
"Tch. Don't look down on people!"
"Then why don't you taste it yourself first?"
"Cough, cough. Well, about that... huh? Look over there, there seems to be a gate ahead!"
Yukihira Soma suddenly pointed forward and walked over quickly without looking back.
This guy. I almost fell for it.
Sato had long heard stories about the two of them using customers to test dark cuisine. He did not expect to encounter it himself.
Looking at Yukihira Soma's back, Sato quickened his pace as well.
Soon, the two of them stopped in front of a somewhat antique gate. The gate was entirely wooden, with an old and traditional appearance. Above it hung a plaque with several large characters written on it.
[Tōtsuki Tea Ceremony and Cooking Academy]
This was... Totsuki Academy?!
Sato looked at Yukihira Soma with a strange expression. Wasn't this guy the one who had just sworn it was impossible?
Yukihira Soma stared blankly at the plaque. He slowly turned his head toward the vast land enclosed by the wall.
"All of that really belongs to a culinary school?!"
My god.
Have we chefs finally risen up?!
"Um, excuse me... is this Totsuki Academy inside?"
Yukihira Soma asked the guard standing at the gate with little confidence.
No, calling them guards might not be accurate. The large men standing at the entrance were all wearing suits and sunglasses. They looked more like bodyguards.
The guard gave Yukihira Soma a strange look and pointed at the plaque in an unfriendly tone.
"Are you blind? Can't you see those big characters?"
"It really is?!"
Yukihira Soma stood there with his mouth wide open. He had originally thought that the culinary academy Yukihira Joichiro mentioned would just be a place the size of a single building, where some elderly man or woman taught people how to cook.
But this... this was way too exaggerated.
Looking at the completely stunned Yukihira Soma, Sato sighed. This guy really was unreliable.
He asked the guard, "Excuse me, where is the place for the transfer student assessment? Do we need anything?"
The guard kept looking at the two of them strangely, but still answered.
"Those who registered should go to that building first to get the form. The assessment location is further inside. Keep walking straight for about three kilometers."
Three kilometers?!
Even Sato felt shocked. Just how big was this school?
"Oh right, one more reminder. If you're participating in the assessment, you'd better hurry. If you're late, your qualification will be canceled immediately."
Hmm?
Hearing this, Sato quickly slapped Yukihira Soma, who was still in shock.
"Hurry up and move!"
The two of them walked inside, gradually disappearing into the distance.
The guard watched their backs and muttered, "Coming here for the assessment without even knowing this is Totsuki Academy. That's strange..."
Anyone who could come here to take the assessment, who wouldn't know the prestige of Totsuki Academy?