Totsuki Culinary Academy.
Having been in this world for two months, Kamisaka Yuto naturally knew of this school.
After all, the school was, in a way, related to him... Totsuki was a luxurious academy that taught the culinary arts, and he was a chef.
Moreover, Senzaemon had repeatedly suggested that Yuto should go to Totsuki to further his career.
Although Yuto was unaware of Senzaemon's true identity, from the man's claims that he could arrange for him to get in, he had formed a rough judgment about him: he was a high-ranking figure at the academy.
As for the possibility that the man was a fraud, Yuto didn't really believe it.
The entire aura Senzaemon gave off was undeniably that of someone in a high position.
Still, Yuto had refused Senzaemon's repeated invitations.
His shop was small, and he didn't have many customers, but he just liked staying in that little, shabby place.
Now, Senzaemon's granddaughter was inviting him... what could it be about?
"Kamisaka-san."
Yuto, who had been lost in thought, was interrupted by Arato Hisako's voice.
"What is it?" he asked, turning his head to look at the girl beside him.
The luxury car came with a chauffeur, so Hisako was sitting next to him in the back.
"Can i be bold and ask you a few questions, Kamisaka-san?" Hisako seemed conflicted and hesitant.
She was a well-trained professional secretary, which was why she was so awkward about asking him personal questions.
But the curiosity in her heart was incredibly strong.
Plus, her impression of Yuto was that he was the approachable type, so she finally spoke up.
"Sure. Wait, why do you keep calling me 'Kamisaka-san'? You look to be the same age as me." Yuto had wanted to bring up the Kamisaka-san address even before getting in the car.
The title both puzzled and troubled him, it felt as if he had aged several generations for no reason.
He was, in fact, still a minor!
"It is because your culinary skill has my utmost admiration, Kamisaka-san. I would feel it was disrespectful to address you as a peer casually," Hisako explained solemnly.
Looking at the girl's earnest expression, Yuto sighed helplessly in his heart.
She was dead serious.
"You don't have to. Just call me by my name normally. The 'Kamisaka-san' feels strange to me." Yuto waved his hand dismissively.
He wasn't some big shot, being treated with such formality just made him feel uncomfortable.
"Then, would Kamisaka-kun be acceptable?" Hisako pondered for a moment before speaking.
Yuto nodded.
That address was immediately much easier on the ears than the previous one.
"Alright, what's your question?" He propped his head up with one hand, his gaze settling on her.
"I would like to ask when you started cooking, Kamisaka-kun."
The bowl of Ochazuke that Yuto had made last night was a delicacy the likes of which she had never tasted before.
In that moment, she felt as if she had suddenly seen a towering, insurmountable mountain rise up before her.
She knew then that it was a height she could never hope to scale in her lifetime.
It wasn't that she was putting herself down; it was simply the truth of the matter.
She was a person with clear and far-sighted self-awareness and would not jump to conclusions.
This was also why she was even more curious about him.
They both looked like high school students, so why was his cooking so... distant!
"If we're talking about when I first got into cooking, strictly speaking, it was at fifteen." Yuto recalled his past life.
He had become a kitchen apprentice at fifteen and died in his twenties.
Hearing his answer, Hisako was utterly stunned!
Fifteen!
From the looks of him, Yuto was only about sixteen or seventeen years old.
How could he have only started cooking at fifteen?!
Could it be that he actually had a natural boy-toy face?!
Was he one of those people who still looked like a teenager even in their thirties?!
Otherwise, it just didn't make any sense!
To start cooking at fifteen and reach this level, one would need at least several decades of practice!
"Is something wrong? Why are you so surprised?" Yuto found it a little strange to see the girl fall into a state of shock over a single sentence.
"Kamisaka-kun, how old are you?" Hisako's eyes shone with an extremely solemn and serious light, which even made Yuto feel a bit nervous.
He thought for a moment.
"Sixteen."
Hisako's face completely froze.
"Is... that true...?" the girl asked again, trembling.
"Yes, I'm not lying."
As soon as he said this, the girl turned away and began muttering to herself nonstop.
Her whole body seemed to have lost all hope and vitality; she was extremely gloomy and dejected.
"I must be useless... Maybe I'm not suited for cooking... Are the people around me just lying to me...?"
Yuto's senses had been enhanced, so he could clearly hear the girl's murmurs.
He let out a soft breath and shook his head faintly.
He really wasn't lying.
He had indeed started learning to cook at fifteen.
It was just at fifteen in his previous life.
...
The luxury car drove on.
The borders of Shinjuku Ward were left far behind in the taillights as they headed toward Totsuki Culinary Academy, which was located in Chiyoda Ward.
Chiyoda was a very old and traditional district.
The great nobles of the Meiji Restoration had once resided in this area, and as a result, it was once the place in Tokyo that placed the most emphasis on family and heritage.
However, with the influx of modern ideas, the once-obvious social hierarchies had become more subtle.
As for whether these traditions of hierarchy would ever disappear? No, that was impossible.
As long as the country did not experience any major turmoil, the status of the great noble families hidden in Tokyo's shadows would not be shaken.
They would always be the nation's hidden helmsmen.
Although the Nakiri family couldn't compare to those truly great noble families, they were at least a respectable mid-tier family among the aristocracy.
Relying on the unique Totsuki Culinary Academy in their hands, the Nakiri family had roped in many high-end hotel enterprises, ingredient companies, and the like.
And the Nakiri family residence was located deep within the academy's campus.
The luxury car passed through the main gate of Totsuki.
Yuto was first amazed, then understanding dawned on him.
A place that taught cooking was built so luxuriously—its purpose could hardly be pure.
This extravagant gate was not just a simple school gate; it was also a "gate" that separated social classes.
But none of this had anything to do with him.
He was all alone now, and incredibly carefree.
Wielding so much power, resting on so much wealth... for some reason, the mere thought of such a life made him feel uncomfortable all over.
He really wasn't suited to be a person of high status.
He was only suited for a simple, ordinary life.
They finally arrived before the Nakiri family residence, and Yuto and Hisako both got out of the car.
Yuto sized up the mansion before him.
It was an extremely Japanese-style residence, huge and solemn.
He looked at the two stone lions at the entrance, suspecting for a moment that those two statues alone could buy his entire little shop.
"Kamisaka-kun, please follow me. I will lead the way." Hisako's expression was calm, dignified, and serious.
At this moment, she represented the face of the Nakiri family and could not afford to lose even a shred of dignity.
Yuto nodded and followed behind her.
The girl took light, graceful steps, her footfalls barely making a sound, and he followed steadily in her wake.
...
Meanwhile, in the kitchen—a place of extreme importance within the Nakiri residence—the blonde girl was waiting, dressed in a pure white chef's uniform.
To her left was a table, and sitting behind it was Senzaemon.
The scene was extremely quiet, right up until Hisako's voice sounded from outside the door.
"Senzaemon-sama, Kamisaka-sama has arrived."
Hearing Hisako's words from outside, Yuto's brow couldn't help but twitch.
He had thought it would only be Erina waiting for him.
"Please come in." Senzaemon's steady, powerful, and aged voice rang out.
The door was pushed open by Hisako.
The girl moved to the side, allowing Yuto to enter first.
Standing at the doorway, Yuto saw Erina, who looked as if she was ready for battle.
Putting aside everything else, the girl in the pure white chef's uniform was truly beautiful.
As Yuto stepped into the room, a figure in a wide kimono walked toward him.
"Nakiri-san, what is the meaning of this?" Yuto asked, looking calmly at Senzaemon.
He now knew that this invitation was not as simple as he had originally thought.
"Kamisaka-kun, please have a seat first."
A faint smile played on Senzaemon's lips.
His full head of silver hair, coupled with his dignified face, made him resemble a silver lion.
Yuto sat down across from Senzaemon with a serene expression.
Many of the guests he had received at his shop were figures of extraordinary presence, and Senzaemon's aura was on a completely different level compared to those people.
"Actually, this invitation did not come from Erina, but from this old man. Please forgive my impoliteness, Kamisaka-kun." Senzaemon apologized to him with great sincerity.
He placed his hands on his knees and lowered his head slightly.
Yuto was merely a commoner.
For the head of the Nakiri family to act in such a manner was enough to shock anyone.
Even Hisako, a very competent secretary, couldn't help but be aghast at this moment.
Erina looked utterly astonished too.
She never expected her grandfather to hold Kamisaka Yuto in such remarkably high regard!
"Hm? Is something the matter?" Yuto pursed his lips slightly, his eyes glancing at Erina before he spoke calmly.
From a distance, Erina felt Yuto's glance, and a trace of annoyance rose in her heart.
When had she ever been subjected to such a disrespectful look?
"I hope, Kamisaka-kun, that you can have a Shokugeki with my granddaughter." Senzaemon finally revealed his true purpose.
Yuto said nothing.
The atmosphere grew cold.
Erina's heart was a tangle of complex emotions; she wanted to speak but didn't know what to say.
Senzaemon, meanwhile, stared at Yuto with a serious and sincere expression.
Finally, Yuto slowly opened his mouth.
"A Shokugeki... what's that?"
When he finished speaking, the atmosphere became utterly silent!