Disclaimer: I don't own anything and some information included within the following context may be subject to copyright, therefore I claim nothing if so.

Summary: Symbiosis between chefs in the cooking world meant that a common ground must be found in order for both to work in perfect harmony. It called for growth, interdependence, and perhaps even something more than that?

Pairing: Soma Yukihira, Ryoko Sakaki

Rating: T (will go up to M in future chapters)

Chapter 1: Prelude

As night descended upon the city of Tokyo veiling the towering buildings in darkness, the bustling streets from the morning somehow seemed to come alive with a different scene. Buildings scintillated under the shrouded sky, coming alive in exchange with colorful lights and different sights and sounds.

It was a fast paced and buzzing scene with a myriad of night owls emerging from the deep, dark depths of their mundane mornings, while the husbands and wives settled back into their well-lit homes.

Tokyo was by far one of the most technologically advanced and metropolitan-like cities in the world during the mornings, but at night –a whole new side was revealed, a more vibrant side some would say.

But there were many aspects to Japan's revered shining city and it wasn't simply for the technology and urban atmosphere acting as some of the most integral components that made the city up as a whole, there was more to it than simply those aspects alone. One of the other most integral being that Tokyo housed some of the most elite fine dining restaurants in the world.

And Tokyo was indeed filled with a sparkling, glimmering, neon canopy of fast cars, bright lights and inebriated hedonists ready to get their fill – of food that is.

Despite all this, Ryoko Sakaki had turned down the many offers she was given to work in some of its finest restaurants renowned throughout the city, moreover the world.

She didn't want to work in the most snootiest institutions of haute cuisine in Japan, she was no "God-Tongue" Nakiri, no purebred chef bred to work in the most distinguished kitchen's of the world. Food was an art, yes, and she believed in this principle wholeheartedly, but to be frank, she didn't want to spend the rest of her career in some upscale kitchen that lacked in what she so desperately wished for, intimacy.

There was a certain level of intimacy she wished to achieve with her meals with dishes that catered to the customer's tastes and personality, haute cuisine couldn't do that. She wanted to be able to cook the way she could around the Polar Star dormitories, the way she could after spending so many years in a small fishing province in France. She yearned for that level of closeness between herself as a chef and her customers. That was what she believed cooking should be, to be able to share your art and please others.

She supposed she had gotten this silly idea stuck in her head after being surrounded with such good people for so long, Soma, Yuki, Megumi - those were only some of the few names that ingrained themselves in her memory and stood out through the test of time. Being a woman of Twenty-Four, budding chef, and artist Ryoko, had long since forgotten most of her adolescent years.

Although her memories in Totsuki, particularly in Polar Star, were some of the most beautiful ones she held thus far in this point of her life, Ryoko had exchanged that all for the new memories she possessed - ones that involved her many travels around the world seeking to discover new techniques in gastronomy.

Geneva, Switzerland was where she learned how to prepare a classic fondue and sophisticated raclette and where she later went to Crissier to train under the chefs at Restaurant de L'Hôtel de Ville - a three-star Michelin rated restaurant. After a year and a half in Switzerland, Ryoko went to Saint Tropez in France, a village located in a small province in the southeastern region where she learned about French cuisine with a rural twist.

She worked as a saucier and poissonnier in one of St. Tropez's more upscale bistros, but kept close contact with the head chef Sophie Troisgros, of La Vague d'Or, another three-star Michelin restaurant from her close ties with her last position in Crissier. Her time in St. Tropez was where some of her most fondest memories were made and being around the friendly locals for three years influenced her cooking style immensely. This is where she believed she took part of that intimacy she yearned for so dearly between meals. She wanted to bring a taste of that small southeastern province in France, even in Japan.

It had only been a month since she returned to Japan after all those years, and restaurants from all over Tokyo and even Kyoto had offered her a multitude of rewarding positions, yet, Ryoko was still at odds.

She wanted to reestablish herself as a chef in her beloved hometown, but she didn't want to do so in that way. She didn't want to obtain yet another impersonal position in some elite restaurant. Working in Switzerland gave her a bittersweet taste of what that was like and Ryoko realized that, that was what she didn't want at all. She had so many options to pick from upon her return to Japan, but she didn't know exactly what she wanted to do.

Her family's fermented goods shop was still running and her father had even begged her to come back to Nagasaki and prepare the koji dishes the shop was well-known for, however, the offer didn't seem to spark her interest either. Just the other day, she spoke to Yuki who also asked her to come to her newly established restaurant that specialized in game located in the Sumiredōri Shopping District where she could quote,"Help me innovate some dishes after all those years prancing around in your fancy European restaurants" because she needed the inspiration or something of the sort.

But in truth, she believed that Yuki needed more of a support system rather than another hand of help since she was still on the first few steps of opening her restaurant. A big sister figure was what she needed, not a sous chef... And the offer itself hadn't sounded so bad either, thus Ryoko found herself juggling the idea in her head.

After almost a week of lounging around in the Totsuki resort for nearly a month now and doing absolutely nothing, Ryoko found herself on a taxi headed straight to that very shopping district in Sumire Town and finally in front of a trendy little eatery aptly named Yukimono - a pun on grilled dishes, yakimono. Upon seeing this, Ryoko chuckled to herself, Yuki was always a silly girl and the name was something she'd expect out of her.

Once she stepped into the threshold of the restaurant, she was greeted by a young and very pretty hostess, probably the same age as herself.

"Welcome, how many will you be seating? Or will you be dining alone today?" She greeted cheerily."Actually, I'm here to see the chef," she replied in a polite tone. "My name is Ryoko Sakaki, umm... Did Yuki-chan mention anything about me... Or if I'd be arriving this morning?"

"Oh! You're Ryoko-san? Yuki-sama has been waiting for you all morning!" The woman chirped. "Alright, I'll lead you to the kitchen. Follow me!"

The woman then proceeded to lead her down a narrow walkway of tables filled with people conversing lightly with each other and then towards the kitchen where she could see Yuki hustling and bustling around along with another cook through the window.

"Yuki!" She shouted amongst the kitchen conundrum and said woman's head shot up from plating a dish. Ryoko waved happily at her and Yuki dropped her utensils, seemingly stopping everything just to eagerly run towards her.

Ryoko was enveloped by a bone crushing hug courtesy of the head chef herself. "Oh kami, Ryoko-donno! I haven't seen you in forever!" She squealed in delight. "Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for coming out here to help me!"

Ryoko laughed in turn at the familiar term of endearment," Donno?" She questioned. "I thought we left those silly names back in our Polar Star days?"

"Why ever would we do that?" A new voice chimed in, startling Ryoko at the more masculine timbre it held. Her eyes quickly averted to the second figure in the kitchen, the other cook she failed to notice before she entered through the door.

He came up to his full towering height, from having been bending slightly to pick out a few spices from a drawer. His frame was well-built and lean and he was donning a black ensemble with a white apron wrapped around his waist. She looked up to see that the man's hair was a familiar shade of red and Ryoko's eyes widened at the sight of it.

"...Yukihira-kun, is that you?" She queried in a mixture of awe and bewilderment at how handsome he had grown since their academy days. He always possessed a boyish charm, but now his features had hardened a bit, giving him more of an angular jawline and prominent cheek bones.

"The one and only," Soma replied with an eye-blinding grin.

"I haven't seen you in ages!" Ryoko exclaimed, rushing towards him to throw her arms around his tall form. "Where have you been?"

"Oh, you know, here and there," he said vaguely.

Ryoko then turned to Yuki," You didn't tell me Soma-kun would be here! Had I known I would've brought a bottle of that champagne I told you I got at La Champs-Élysées for this little reunion you put together!"

"Figured you'd still be a drinker," Soma laughed as he continued to bustle around the kitchen. "From drinking rice malt in the Polar Star common room to popping bottles of France's finest champagne, now that's an upgrade for sure."

Yuki joined in with the laughter and soon, so did Ryoko. "So are you working for Yuki-chan too, Soma-kun?" She asked as her giggles died down.

"Nah, I'm just here for the same reason as you. Yuki-chan needed a little help in the kitchen since it is the week of her grand opening and all, so she called me up since my own restaurant is down the block," he said gesturing a thumb out towards who knows where.

"Business looks booming," Ryoko remarked as she peaked out of the kitchen window to see a nearly full house. People from all walks of life occupied the many tables that lined the restaurant's interior and it put a smile on her face to know that Yuki was doing successfully.

"I know, isn't it amazing?" Yuki gushed as she finally plated a few dishes only for them to be carried out by one of the servers running in and out of the kitchen.

"And you, Soma-kun, how's your restaurant?" She turned towards the man who was currently searing two steaks of rabbit cutlets on a pan with what seemed to be rosemary and butter.

"Business is doing great," he said without looking up," Resturant Yukihira has paved its way as a legend among the district!" He finished proudly.

"Yeah, it really has," Yuki gushed. "When I first came here to the district, I had tons and tons of the locals raving about Soma-kun's restaurant, so I went to check it out myself and my gosh, you should have seen it! It was a full house lemme tell ya, and there was even a long waiting list. It's crazy!"

"Now, then why aren't you there attending to your restaurant?"

"Like I said, I came here to give Yuki-chan a hand. I closed up shop early for today," he shrugged in response.

"Alrighty then, I should be helping too," Ryoko's voice took a more stoic tone as her countenance switched dramatically. The more professional side of her began to kick in as she watched her other two fellow chefs running around the kitchen. "What do you want me to do?" She asked Yuki as she made her way towards the sink and promptly rolled her sleeves up before washing her hands.

"There's a pile of order receipts up on the window. I know you're a seasoned chef and my dishes range in the more simple side as of right now, so I'm positive you can help prepare some... And also, they may or may not be some that you're very familiar with," Yuki said with a knowing wink as she pointed towards the line of orders before going back to continue on concentrating on her own work.

"Slow-Roasted lamb in a rich miso glaze?" She read out loud as she picked the small script up while simultaneously throwing a clean apron on. She was surprised to find that Yuki opted on a more Western-style take on her dishes and she found herself even more surprised at the fact that most, if not all, of the dishes on the menu were dishes that she helped Yuki experiment with and create back in their Academy days.

"The lamb racks have already been curing in the storage, just grab them," Yuki supplied.

She nodded her head before making her way towards the cooler where she grabbed the lamb, chicken stock, miso paste, and blue cheese as the recipe called for. Ryoko pulled out one of the stainless steel skillets that hung on the ceiling and heated up one of the stovetops before pouring the fresh chicken stock into the sauce pan all in one swift movement. She felt someone brush up behind her and quickly turned, only to find Soma gazing down at her with a quizzical expression.

"Do you want me to the heat the oil up for the lamb to smoke point while you make the sauce?" He asked.

"Yes please, that would be great," she replied before returning to the pan to whip up a quick miso glaze. She idly reached toward her side to grab the miso paste and a hand had reflexively shot up to place the container in her own hand.

"Thanks," she called out, impressed at how efficient Soma was at multitasking with his own dish and heating her oil, all the while acting as her de-facto sous chef. She remembered how well they worked together when she helped him prepare a perfect bento for the preliminary rounds of the main tournament in their first year all those years ago and her heart swelled slightly at the memory.

She whisked the glaze until all the mirin, soy sauce, and cheese was fully incorporated and put the burner on low-heat to allow it to simmer for a minute. Quickly now, she turned to find the grapeseed oil just at the peak of smoke point and the lamb racks already cut in precise chops courtesy of Soma. The man in question was busying himself with his own devices and was chopping up some vegetables.

She smiled before placing the racks on the skillet, fat side down, to sear for five minutes. The sauce had finished and Ryoko switched the burner off before hurriedly walking towards the window to pick up another order. "Panko encrusted rabbit filet stuffed with a ginger, soy, and red pepper purée," she read to herself before smiling," Aww, that was the recipe Yuki and I improvised for Chapelle-sensei's rabbit dish challenge back in our third year..."

When she returned, she found the lamb racks already browned on both sides and waiting to be placed in the oven. Knowing it was Soma's doing yet again, she thanked him before quickly preparing the next dish.

They continued on like this, with Soma lending a hand with her dishes and vice versa, all in a symbiotic rhythm as the two chefs reveled in their natural habitat, where beautiful creations were being made and issued out for customers to enjoy. The kitchen was where Ryoko felt most at home and she had a feeling that Soma felt the same way too, maybe even more so than herself.

At the end of the day, when all three chefs including some of the staff were closing up shop, Soma remained in the kitchen and asked Ryoko to stay as well, while Yuki bid the last remaining customers a personal farewell. The two chefs were now lounging around the kitchen after having cleaned up with the help of the kitchen boy.

"We make a pretty good team, huh Yukihira-kun?" Ryoko beamed as she nudged him on the side. Memories of the two working side by side in Polar Star's very own kitchen resonated within her mind as she said this and she smiled at the thought.

"Yeah, we do," he grinned back. "Remember when you helped me out on perfecting my evolved nori bento for the preliminary rounds of the Main Tournament our first year?"

"Of course I do! You beat out Alice Nakiri's dish, now that was a competition to remember."

"Yeah, that was one of the most memorable shokugeki's I've had throughout my academy career I might add -" he paused "- you really helped me out you know... When you broke down Alice's cooking style for me."

"Well, you did help me perfect a few of my own dishes after that especially in our third year too. Remember when I was trying to find a new way to prepare my Soy-Sauce Shiokōji? That was the same sauce I used for my own dish in the preliminary rounds of the Main Tournament during our first year. Ever since you helped me perfect it, I've been using the same recipe for all the dishes I incorporate it in even through my travels in Europe!"

"You used your Soy-Sauce Shiokōji in some of your dishes in Europe?" He queried.

"Yeah, back when I worked in Switzerland, the head chef of L'Hôtel de Ville made me improvise a traditional Swiss dish with a Japanese twist. I used the Shiokōji as a base for a veal dish I made and paired it with some rice, it was a hit."

"Hmm, that's innovative... I like that you incorporated two cultures together - I've been experimenting myself, with a fusion of Japanese and Thai cuisine and a whole lot of other cultures back in Yukihira. You should come over one day and give it a try!"

"That's an interesting mix. I definitely want to see you work in your own kitchen... So, I'm guessing you went off to travel the world to learn new gastronomic techniques as well Soma-kun?"

"Of course I did," he laughed.

"So what did you find in your travels?" She questioned, wanting to gain more knowledge on the methods he learned. From the small glimpse of seemingly endless talent he showcased today in the kitchen and all those years before back in their academy days, she wanted to gauge his skill and hear from the mind of the genius himself. He was only twenty-four years old and cooked with a talent on par with some of the most well-renowned and elite chefs of the industry. Loathe to admit it, he had far surpassed her by miles, even more than that. His technique, his form, the way he was able to combine different ingredients to all harmonize together in one dish was a sight to behold.

"I started off in Vietnam and developed a more refined form in grilling, then I went to China to learn more about frying and braising cured meats, Indonesia was my next stop, after that it was Thailand - now that's where I spent my most time at. They had this special way of fusing oriental cuisine with more tropical ingredients and the flavors they came out with were out of this world!" He sighed dreamily. "I realized then that I wanted to assimilate all different forms of Asian cooking methods into one type. That's how I was able to rebuild Yukihira from the ground up, I've been experimenting with new dishes ever since and I've still got so much more to learn."

"You always were ambitious," she remarked. "Hmm, but wait... Didn't you...?" Her voice trailed off as she idly tapped her chin.

"Didn't I what?"

"I've heard of you back when I was still working in Geneva...some of my colleagues over there were talking about you... Hey, weren't you working in The French Laundry back in the U.S.?"

"I was, yeah, but that was right after I left Totsuki. I learned a lot about French-American contemporary cuisine in Napa. And in America there are so many cultures coming together, especially in the state I was living in, California - diversity was everywhere! I befriended a Vietnamese chef who ran an illegal underground restaurant, you should've seen it! These guys were preparing fine dining in their home and setting up the whole place, it gave me a glimpse of how raw a chef's work space conditions could be. The chef himself inspired me to go off to Vietnam to return to the root of things and that's when I started traveling around Asia."

"Wow, that's amazing Soma-kun... You have to show me some of the new things you've learned!"

"Sure, just come by my restaurant tomorrow and..." He began before an inquisitive look crossed his features. "Actually, you know what?"

"What?" She queried, arching her brow.

"We haven't eaten all day. Why don't I take you back to Yukihira and cook you something up? I'm starving too..."

"Alright! I'll go tell Yuki then..." Ryoko replied happily as she ambled towards the kitchen door.

Suddenly, the woman in question popped up from behind the window leading to the dining room. "Tell me what?" Yuki asked casually.

"Oh, I think Soma-kun and I are going to head down the street to Yukihira," Ryoko chirped. "Wanna come with?"

"Ummm... I'd rather we just..." Soma's voice trailed off and a perturbed look crossed his face.

Yuki glanced over at him and gave him a pointed look, before smirking," Nah, it's alright. I have to close down properly anyway. You two go ahead without me." This exchange however, went past Ryoko's attention as she instead decided to choose that time to check the time.

"If you say so," Ryoko shrugged before following Soma out the door.

It was a bit chilly when they walked outside, being that it was nearing midnight and Ryoko cursed herself for not coming with proper attire. Soma, noticing this, slipped off his black long sleeved shirt revealing another shirt under it, before passing the long sleeved one to her. "Here, you look cold," he said as he eyed her shivering form. With a quickly murmured thanks she took his proffered shirt and slipped it on. She had been clutching her arms and had wrapped them tightly around herself. She then blushed in embarrassment realizing that it made her already large bust protrude even more from her shirt. However, she never noticed how long his eyes had lingered on her...

He lead her down a few blocks until they made it towards a modern looking restaurant building. "Here we are!" He exclaimed as he gestured out towards the building," Welcome to Restaurant Yukihara 2.0."

"It's nice," she said honestly as she marveled at the quaint exterior. He managed to make such a small space into an upscale bistro, it was commendable.

He fished in his pockets and procured a small golden key before opening the doors and switching the lights on. The inside was sparsely furnished, but in a very minimalistic and elegant way, with a set of linen-clothed tables with candles and a bouquet of white chrysanthemums acting as center pieces that littered the space of the interior. "Thanks. I got the idea from that underground restaurant I told you about back in Napa. It was sparse, but in an oddly sophisticated way and I wanted to capture that same setting for Yukihira." And sophisticated it was.

"You really put some thought into everything you did, it's amazing..." She gushed as she scanned around the interior.

"Here," he said as he ushered her towards a table and pulled a chair out for her. "Stay put and wait for just a moment, Ryoko-chan. I'll be back with a meal in no time!"

She nodded and obediently sat on her perch. Usually, the more inquisitive side of Ryoko would've taken the better part of her and she would've trailed after Soma to watch him cook or help even, but for some odd reason, she felt obliged to sit out and obey his orders to wait.

And just as he said, Soma returned only fifteen minutes later with two steaming bowls. He presented both of them on the table before promptly sitting himself across her. "I call this Yukihira-style Matsutake and Truffle Gohan," he said proudly before handing her a pair of chopsticks. "Since it's Autumn and all, I've purchased some fresh matsutake mushrooms from my produce vendor. I wanted to try and capture the taste of autumn but add a twist to it by incorporating truffle oil with the matsutake. The egg also has a mixture of mitsuba and sudachi to boost the level of umami and harmonize with the delicate flavor of the mushrooms."

Ryoko eyed it hungrily, enticed by the fragrant aroma of the gohan, and smiled," It looks delicious. Itadakimasu!"

One bite and she was immediately lost in its flavor, words could not express how delicious the simple rice bowl was. That was always Soma's specialty, turning seemingly simple dishes into complex and flavorful masterpieces - and with the unique fusion of flavor, she couldn't help but think how much skill went into the preparation of the dish itself. Of all her years in Switzerland, France, and even around Japan, Ryoko had never experienced a dish that could wow her like this.

She looked up to see Soma smirking at her with his arms crossed. "You like it?"

"It's- It's marvelous! I can't get over how well the mushroom and egg blend together in a unique harmony. It's light, delicate, but also rich from the egg. Different flavors all come together and assimilate into an all-new remarkable one - from the delicate fragrance of the mushrooms, to the richness of the eggs, to the freshness of the mitsuba, and the tartness of the sudachi... It's brilliant, simply put!" she beamed. "... And is that a hint of dashi I taste?

"Yeah, it is! I'm surprised you detected it. Either way, I'm glad you liked it," he replied before digging into his own bowl. "...However, I feel like it's missing something...?" He finished before taking another bite.

"Well the flavors are all there, it's simple, yet refined...Though it is lacking in any meat component... I think this dish stands alone with simply the mushroom and egg. The mitsuba adds depth to the matsutake being that it is a very fresh herb, while the sudachi also compliments the freshness by adding a more citrusy touch. And.." Ryoko mused before Soma had interjected.

"That's it!"

"That's... W-What?" She questioned in obvious confusion.

"You're a genius Ryoko-chan! That's what I was missing!" He said again. "I was missing... a meat component!"

"I mean, it doesn't necessarily need it. The dish itself is perfect on its own and it could stand alone as a strictly vegetarian dish too since..."

"I know, but I feel like I need to add that extra depth of flavor only meat can give - maybe I could add in chicken? It's light and tender, not too heavy... Enough to compliment the fresh and delicate flavors... And I think that's what I used in one of my older dishes from the past, what was it called again? Oh! The Transforming Furrikake Gohan! I remember now..." The man began to ramble on.

"Actually, yeah... if you do add chicken, it would indeed add a new depth of flavor to it... But, texture wise, I feel like it may obstruct or otherwise change the whole palate altogether if you do," Ryoko supplied as she began to ponder his words.

"That's a valid point, so how would I go about adding it?"

"Well, have you ever dabbled in molecular gastronomy?...What I propose you can do is distill the flavor essence of the chicken, sort of like capturing the richness of it much like the way bouillon does... But suppose, you boil a broth, strain it, and freeze it below temperature at negative ten degrees Celsius right at the exact moment you make the broth. That way, you distill the flavor to its full potential, without the extra salt. It'd be perfect!"

"Wow, Ryoko-chan that's an amazing idea! Where'd you learn about molecular gastronomy? I've only heard of it myself, but never really tried to do it," he said in awe.

"Back in Switzerland, one of the chefs I worked with used to work in a restaurant in the U.S. That specialized in molecular gastronomy, it was called Alinea. The way they would create their food was through various methods of science and they made it into an art form! It was playful and a true mark of ingenuity, so of course I had her teach me a few tricks!"

Soma gazed at her for a long time and she felt as if the air in the room had suddenly become thick. His face was placid, yet contemplative at the same time from the odd twinkle his golden eyes had held at that very moment and his lips were also pursed and formed into a very thin line of concentration. He looked to be thinking about something. But that look he gave... It was so intense and almost raw, it caused shivers to go down her spine at how fixed his eyes were on her. It was utterly arousing, yet extremely intimidating. Ryoko, in all her life, had never felt so small.

Finally Soma moved to make his mouth open and the words came tumbling out all in one breath. "You should work with me in Yukihira!" It sounded more like a command rather than a suggestion.

"B-But..." Ryoko was at loss for words. He actually wanted her?

"Before you protest, hear me out," he said, putting a finger to her lips. "Did you see what just happened? We clicked! Our collective minds clicked when it came to the dish I prepared... You deciphered every ingredient I used and analyzed each of its importance to the dish as a whole, and then... I had a problem and you proposed a solution, a very, very clever solution! I mean, molecular gastronomy, who would've thought? I need that brilliance, that ingenuity that you can offer to my dishes Ryoko-chan - especially since you have a vast knowledge of methods that I could use at my disposal. You're brilliant Ryoko-chan, utterly brilliant!"

Ryoko blushed at his words. Being complimented by a true genius was nothing to take lightly and it gave her a sense of validation, as if to say that, yes, she was a truly brilliant chef. Of course she would never be on par with Soma or most of the elite chefs of the world, but she knew for a fact that she did possess an arsenal of unconventional cooking methods that in conjunction with the right technique, would be a monster in it of itself. And Soma was just the right chef to test such talent and technique with her own vast knowledge. With their combined efforts, they could create something new, something beautiful. She could imagine it now, their food would ascend all forms of conventionality, it would become pure, refined art. And with the added benefit of working in a small and very intimate setting such as Yukihira, how could she not accept his offer? This was what she wanted, to be able to provide art in the form of food in an intimate way. This was it.

He gestured his hand out for her to shake on it, for her to cast all inhibitions away and make a choice. To him, it would be the mark of a new partnership and to her, it would be a way of signifying something special even beyond her comprehension. With one last thought, Ryoko tossed it all away - all her worries, her insecurities, and above all, her complacency. She took his hand in hers and firmly shook it.

"I'll do it," she affirmed.

And that had signified the blossoming of something beautiful, something more than that even - of a partnership more meaningful than any of them could ever imagine...

Author's Note: Hi all! I wrote this because I genuinely believe that my girl Ryoko needs some lovin too! If you're reading this, I hope that all the cooking information and food preparation aspects of the story weren't too bothersome for you to read. I simply incorporated them since cooking and food are the most integral parts of Shokugeki no Souma, and I add emphasis on how integral they are. Some of the restaurants mentioned within the story that were italicized are actually real Michelin-starred restaurants and the cooking terms are real as well. Oh, and the underground restaurant I mentioned was an actual thing and you can look up a video of it on the Vice YouTube channel! I wanted this story to be as realistic, yet unrealistic and over-the-top and flashy as the anime itself, so some of the things mentioned may or may not come off as contrived or otherwise - and I'm sorry! In pertains to the stuff mentioned, that is the courtesy of watching way too many food documentaries and cooking shows lol! Extensive research was also made for this fic as well.

Any questions or comments? Please leave a lovely little review down below and I would be eager to read it! Thanks for reading!