Coming back to the present. It was the first day at the Tōtsuki.
The auditorium was packed — hundreds of fresh uniforms, stiff postures, and enough tension to flavor a stew.
I stood somewhere near the middle, hands in my pockets, half-listening, half-trying not to look too out of place.
This was Tōtsuki Culinary Academy, after all — the "culinary battlefield" where 90% of students got expelled before graduation.Sounded like a fun challenge. Or suicide. Depending on the day.
The lights dimmed.
Then the man himself walked on stage — Nakiri Senzaemon.
The room went silent.
His presence alone could've seasoned food.
"Welcome, young chefs!" he thundered, his voice echoing off the high ceiling.
"This is no ordinary school. This is the sacred ground where only the truly elite may stand!"
He paused, letting that sink in.
You could practically hear the students gulping.
"You will dedicate yourselves to perfecting your craft! You will endure failure, humiliation, and exhaustion — yet rise again stronger!
Those without resolve… will be expelled without mercy!"
The man's aura was so intense my Spirit stat probably dropped by ten points.
And then, as if we were all ants, his gaze swept through the hall — cold, heavy, and sharp enough to dice garlic.
When his eyes briefly met mine, I felt like confessing sins I hadn't even committed yet.
Then, after one final rumbling sentence about "devotion and culinary excellence," the hall burst into applause.
Except for me.
I just whispered, "So basically, 'good luck dying,' got it."
Once the applause faded, Senzaemon stepped forward again.
"Now, a few words from one of our newly admitted students."
A stir rippled through the crowd.
Nobody ever dared speak after the Headmaster.
Then, a confident voice came from the seats near the front.
"I'll say something."
All eyes turned.
A boy with messy red hair stood up casually, hands in his pockets.
Sōma Yukihira.
The entire room froze.
Even the upperclassmen blinked like, Is this guy suicidal?
He walked to the stage with a grin, completely ignoring the whispers.
I couldn't help but smirk.
"Alright, protagonist, let's see what kind of mess you make."
He stopped at the podium, his tone relaxed — almost playful.
"Yukihira Sōma. Nice to meet you all."
He looked around at the sea of polished, nervous faces.
"You all seem like serious chefs. That's cool. But, honestly…
I didn't come here to make friends."
A low murmur started spreading — confused, offended, curious.
He continued, eyes burning with determination.
"I came here… to beat all of you.
And one day, I'll be standing at the top of this academy!"
Gasps.
Outrage.
Laughter.
The crowd erupted in disbelief.
"Arrogant!"
"Who does he think he is!?"
"He challenged everyone!?"
Even the teachers on the stage looked caught between amusement and disbelief.
And me?
I just laughed quietly.
"That's some serious main character energy right there."
But then — she stood up.
Nakiri Erina.
Blonde hair perfectly in place, eyes sharp like frost.Her expression screamed 'How dare this peasant breathe in my direction?'
"Such vulgar confidence," she said, her voice cutting through the noise.
"Do you truly believe someone like you can stand here, among the elite?"
Sōma met her gaze — completely unfazed.
"Guess we'll find out, won't we?"
A dangerous silence followed.
Even the Headmaster's mustache twitched slightly — like he was holding back a laugh.
I leaned against my seat, watching the tension unfold.
The clash of pride, arrogance, and pure will — it was almost nostalgic.
'So... now I'm one of the extras...' I thought.
[Sub-Mission: Witness a Protagonist's Declaration
Reward: +1 Spirit]
"Ha," I whispered, as the system window faded. "Even the system's entertained."
The speech ended in chaos — whispers, rumors, shocked faces — but one thing was clear:
The peaceful student life I'd been half-hoping for was officially over.
Because now, Tōtsuki had two anomalies walking its halls.
One, a red-haired idiot destined to shake the culinary world.
And the other…
[New Main Mission Unlocked: Corrupt Nakiri Erina.
Reward: ???]
I sighed.
"Of course..."