Three years.

It really has been three years since my family moved in to this sector, and at the same time I entered Blue Ink High School as I say my fleeting farewells to the classmates and friends I have made in Wisteria.

I met Gin and many others in this duration, and went through things that I have never expected to be real. But notwithstanding, I fell in love for the first time in my life.

Along that I felt that I was never alone. I wake up every single day knowing that I have friends that I can see as we please. I come to school with the man I came to adore, and sometimes with her younger sister. Everyday, I walk the very same quiet street either following from his back or beside him. I was always given reassurance that I am safe with Gin even with a simple gesture of him walking nearest to the road so that no accident would happen to me.

Even if he is not aware of it, Gin has always been keeping me safe even in the smallest things that he does. Perhaps he doesn't know to what extent his abilities has come to, but his presence itself is already like a shield to me. But I know that no matter how strong a shield can be against blades, it can break eventually.

And that is why I openly extended my arms to him, so that I can shoulder even that portion of his pain.

Indeed, I am overjoyed that I was able to help him on those years, as I am able to walk with him side by side.

But now we even have said our goodbyes and waved our hands to the school that made me grow more than I thought. I suppose… those times where I was able to walk with him on our silent street has come to a stop. Blue Ink is not the path that we will follow anymore, although hard that is to say.

▪ ▪ ▪

June 15.

This day marks my beginning to my college life.

"Ringo~~ Are you done changing already? Gin is looking for you," Mom knocked and announced.

"Now what does he need…"

I miss wearing a uniform.

I guess Cotona Culinary Institute opted for students to be somewhat low profile. Even though I technically have a uniform, it is most common to be worn upon entrance to the school. I certainly remember from the tour in November that I got thanks to Rena giving me a ticket, I was able to look around and saw that there are changing rooms around, and I confirmed that while walking around there before my entrance exam.

Thus, I will be spending my days on civilian, outdoor clothes since our uniform basically signifies as a cook's clothing.

Anyway… I can't say that I am not nervous.

"Something you need, Potato?"

"Oh, are you ready to leave? Let's go then."

Oh my flying apples, it really is time for me to come to the reality that I am going to an environment far beyond my expectations. Our steps are quite fast even at our normal pace, but my heart is letting out even faster beats than my steps, so much that I can hear them.

However, my confidence may be coming to a back and forth, I am slowly calming down with every glance I give to the man beside me. His presence may have been helping me pacify gradually, but that does not mean that my heart has stopped racing. I became nervous for an entirely different reason, and I began to feel feverish on my face.

For some reason… I am acting like how I was on my first months of going out with Gin…

(!)

Wait.

"Why are you walking the same way, Potato?!"

"Huh? Did I not tell you? I'm actually going to be a guest on Division 2's orientation today."

"You never said that!!"

"Ahhh, my bad. Sorry for surprising you."

And here I was being so dramatic that we won't be able to walk our way to the school…! Take my embarrassment away…!! What are you, Ringo Akanami, a child? What, do you wanna hold his hand?!

Let's refrain from that!!!

…

Umm… wait. What was I nervous about again?

~ ~ ~

"We are here, Rin-chan."

"Indeed we are, Gin-kun…"

"Do you know what room you're going to then?"

"Yup… I suppose we'll see each other. Best wishes later, Potato."

"I should be the one telling you that. Well, get along with Rena. I guess I'll go to Division 2's office and meet Kobana there."

And so I am now on my own until 8:30 where my orientation will begin. Obviously, Division 1 and 2's buildings are separated, but they are similarly self-explanatory. Each of them has five floors where the ground floor is intended for public and administrative purposes while the following floors are for respective grades as you go up the lift, or simply the stairs.

Every floor has spacious lecture and demonstration rooms, or kitchens that are openly accessible by students anytime. So while I was sighing on my own in the rather uncrowded hallway of the Division 1 building, I decided to stop by in one of the kitchens and took a picture of inside the room for a reason and abruptly left.

With that, I made my way in front of the lecture room and took a few deep breaths before making my trembling fingers touch the door handle. Then I recalled and asked myself, is this how I was when I first entered the room in Class 4A?

Perhaps, yes. I am once again in a situation where I most likely don't know anyone inside the room, thus met with strangers. Finally, I slid the door open and subtly rolled my eyes around the room, and thankfully, a longhaired beauty that I know was sitting already. With my slight excitement and happiness replacing my unease, I took on quick steps and smiled as I approach the seat beside Rena.

I whispered, "You really could have told me that you actually passed before hearing it from Gin earlier…!"

"Hahahaha, sorry, sorry."

"Ahhh, it's been two months since we last saw each other~ How is Yoru?"

"Lately he has taken a liking to walking a lot. He still cries if he falls over."

"Of course…

Anyway, did you come here early?"

"Not really early… I didn't come with Koba since I have to wake Yoru and wait for mother."

"Oh, right… He always sees you 24/7 for the past two months so he would probably miss you."

"I'm the one missing him, you know? All we did in our vacation was play."

"How nice…"

Before we knew it, time has passed and the instructor entered the room right on schedule. And suddenly, I remembered a phrase as it finally sinks in to me that this is not high school anymore, for the last time.

It is "academic freedom."

"Nice to see that we have fresh faces for this year again, although not a lot as per usual. Anyways, good morning, I'm Toma Kirscht, one of the handfuls of culinary instructors here in CCI's Division 1. As you go on with time, you'll see that instructors from different grades will also be teaching here so be ready for that.

As for me, I have been a licensed chef for twelve years now and got the authority to teach here six years ago. I'll usually be around the vicinity of this floor so expect to see me most of the time. However, that doesn't mean that I can always entertain you.

So with that… I guess I shall give you a background. As you may have known from your admission test, it is not easy to get admitted in this institute, as there is great scrutiny involved in your performance. You all being here was the result of your satisfactory outputs from a few months ago but that doesn't mean that you will get the same results moving on. You have to be flexible even in the errors you make! You have to be sure that you can cover up for them so that your dishes will not have any misalignments!

This is indeed a culinary academy so we will definitely focus on practical and active tasks alongside written ones. In this institute, you are free on how you want to approach culinary arts. May it be scientific, experimental, aesthetic, or anything that is appropriate to human morals, you have the freedom.

Also keep in mind that your examination was hard enough, but it will just get harder from now on. Remember that this is not high school anymore. Different approaches, different system, and different educators. I say that… but I've heard there are a few students coming from Blue Ink High School near here. Some of you may know but they actually have a specialized course for culinary intentions, but I know well that there are also vocational high schools around, so we will definitely expect you to apply your knowledge from there.

Stolen story; please report.

…

Well, I honestly have nothing to say so I suppose I should just get on with it. There is a system going around that we instructors made and proposed."

The instructor then pulled out a bunch of paper strips and began to pass them on from the front towards the back. Upon further inspection, it looked so much like a ticket. No, it is definitely a ticket and not a makeshift one.

"This is our way to motivate the students to do better. The tickets you have on your hand is your free pass to the demo room. If you were able to go beyond our expectations and satisfaction, we would give this ticket so that you can have free use of the kitchens, ingredients included.

We did this because we don't want overcrowding on the kitchens. There are times where they were left with a mess, it smelled like someone died in there, and we want to avoid fights over students. Thus, this system.

Also, there is a ticket scanner inside the computer lab. That's used to register the number of tickets you have inside your ID.

And if you're thinking that you can just enter ticketless because you have someone with you that has them, we actually have turnstiles. You may not have seen them because we opened them intentionally and it is subtle when opened, but trust me, we have them. If ever you exploited it, apologize to your credibility. You people aren't children anymore. Let's be real, doing that is the same thing as putting yourself behind bars.

…

Well, that's that. I've given you your first free pass so use them wisely. You can roam around the campus, but be sure to come back if you hear a broadcast for another orientation.

See you later then."

I looked on my watch that says that a cute twenty minutes have just passed since the start of the orientation… and it has ended already.

"Now what am I supposed to do until 4…"

I said that, because it is requirement in our first day to clock in and out of the campus with the day's duration accomplished. After that, we are free to leave whenever we want. I know that that sounds kinda bad but that's just how it is I guess.

"You seem to know the campus a lot already, Ringo. Can you tour me for a bit?"

"Sure… Not like we have anything to do anyway."

~ ~ ~

And in the process of aimlessly strolling around the grounds of CCI, we took the opportunity to go to the computer lab and got our tickets "baked" inside our IDs. Speaking of baking…

"Does that actually mean that we can stay in the kitchen whenever how long we want as long as we entered without leaving?"

"Can you really do that without a bathroom break?"

"Ahhh… you have a good point."

…

I thought I heard a siren. There was a reverberating sound all around the hallway that seems to be getting louder and louder from our back. To my literal surprise as it almost made my heart and stomach switch places, a woman suddenly jumped from behind.

"Ringooooooooooooo…!"

I vigorously turned around just to see a face with tears overflowing… rather funnily.

"A-Aqua?!"

No, she totally looked like a meme right now, but it is actually Kae.

"Why are you guys not telling me that you passed?!"

"B-Vut I owwy bassed the Diwision 2 exzham sho I'm separated wiv you and Renaaaa…"

"Are you not with Yamaha?"

"He went to a different university."

"Awww, here I though you two were a good ship."

"Ringo, your thoughts are spilling out."

But even if there is a certain separation between the 'divisions,' hence why they are called like that, that doesn't mean that Division 2 students don't have the privilege to enter the Division 1 building and vice versa.

So to satisfy Kae's loneliness, we accompanied her to our building and gave her and ourselves a tour since we have not yet gone up to the other floors. But then again, the floors are identical. The rooms, the kitchens, the restrooms are all in the same place, just in a different floor.

But even before the elevator slid totally open on the fifth floor, we immediately heard a very audible noise.

It seems that one demo room is open in public, regardless of the ticket system, and there seems to be ruckus ongoing.

"Ahh… Flying apples…"

I didn't expect it, but my gut at least told me that it was bound to happen. Pre-senior high school system students did graduate by the time they are 20 or 21, and it was a known fact. But because of the added two more years in high school, that also means that college students would graduate in a four-year course at around 22 or 23.

I guess not anyone can accept that a 20 year-old is already a sous chef in a known restaurant.

"Umm… He was a guest speaker in our room earlier so why the heck is Gin here in Division 1 now?!"

"He probably came to check on Ringo."

"What is he, my parent? Hahahaha.

Ah, no. That's not the concern right now," I said in monotony.

"Can you at least worry a bit about your boyfriend?" Kae almost sarcastically asked.

"Anyway~ I guess he will bring us a bit of entertainment~♪ Let's get in then! I think anyone is allowed to enter."

We asked around and found out that a competition is simmering between the sous chef of Giotto's Restaurant and a fourth year, and it looks like there are other challengers to boot. What's most surprising is that they actually pulled a competition hater in this kind of a fuss. I know to myself that Gin is not a guy that is provoked easily, so he probably just went with the flow.

And so while they aren't starting yet, I gave him a call even though I was just a few meters away from him.

"Hey, Potato-kun~ I'm here at the back."

"Oh, hi there," and then he waved at us.

"Is this really fine? Don't you have work?"

"I have my shift after lunch. Let's all grab a bite before I leave."

"'Kay. How may are actually challenging you?"

"Just two. I guess that's enough time before lunch."

"I see. I hope you lose then."

"Hah. Would I really allow myself to lose when my girlfriend is watching?"

Astonishingly, the two girls with me actually heard that.

~ ~ ~

It was indeed entertaining, fun, and educative all at the same time. Never have I thought that my first pinch of education in this institute is thoroughly observing the dishes that are being made for the two head-to-head against Gin. Just by watching, I got a grasp of what could CCI's approach of teaching through the fourth year students' styles and ways in cooking which I then shared with my two companions.

There are even instructors that gathered to watch. I reckon that their reputation is also at stake if their students lose. But as for us, that means that we don't have any orientation for the rest of the morning since our teachers themselves are slacking off.

And as for the results…

Gin - 2

CCI - 0

~ ~ ~

"Well, isn't this a good rooftop."

My boyfriend is a very rude Potato.

While he was battling with two senior students just earlier in the demo room, he was actually secretly making lunch bit by bit while he is also busy showing the students that it is not age that defines one's ability, but experience. Indeed, I can at least agree with it as I have seen it primarily. While my knees were quietly trembling in the kitchen, he was still standing strong without even a drop of quality in his dishes.

Anyway.

Since there is one more place that I haven't seen in the campus, I suggested eating our lunch on the building's rooftop. CCI definitely didn't disappoint, as if their display of technological advancement is not enough. Aside from the flowers… I honestly feel like the rooftop we've taken care of for three years doesn't hold a candle to this. It has a better view, there is ample shade, and it is furnished with chairs and tables.

Hah, they don't have A4 under their chairs. That's a meh!

Nevertheless, the four of us indulged on the lunch that Gin made for all of us.

"Hey Rin…"

"Hmm?"

"Will you cover for me if I go here to splatter red paint everywhere and make it look like a crime scene?"

"Umm… Don't worry about that. I might actually help you."

"What are you two talking about?!"

"Have you two heard about the story about the old rooftop in Blue Ink? We were actually the culprit on that."

"Is that why Art Club didn't have many members…?"

"Uhh… yes, frankly."

~ ~ ~

Having his stomach stuffed, Gin left for work while we came to a mass orientation in CCI's largest hall that took two hours. It was another free time after that so I sketched the photo I took of the demo room.

Surprisingly, I might be one of the only few people that practices visual arts apart from culinary. But because of that, Rena and I managed to talk and meet the other students as they showed interest.

In the not so bright side, this might be a flag that I will be relied upon on creative things if ever there is an event…

"Ugh… that will suck…"

▪ ▪ ▪

Day two in CCI!

Nothing significant has happened yet!

There was an open campus where food stalls suddenly popped up everywhere in the institute's ground. I ate, ate, ate, ate, and called Gin that we shall run in the weekend. I also found out that a faraway acquaintance of mine is studying as a second year. I then offered to help since I really don't think I have anything to do for that day.

And before I tell a stressful story, I shall tell you what is on my bag since it's so different from my high school rucksack!

For the essentials, I am carrying two notebooks, a spiral sketchbook, and my daily drawing and writing materials. For the non-essentials, I have very random stuff. There is a power bank, wired earphones with a headphone jack, baby wipes, alcohol, facemask and powder.

And so, my stressful story.

"Ringo Akanami, I challenge you to a cook-off…!"

It happened before June ended, where a fellow first year in my class named Chiba Yoya suddenly asked me to a contest. She didn't really have a concrete reason as to why, but I still accepted just "for this one time," and managed to win.

Flying apples… I don't want really want to-

"Ringo Akanami…!"

…to narrate this further.

But then I think that she does not have any bad intentions. Maybe she really just want to-

"Ringo Akanami…!"

…compete with me or something. Actually, she is kinda funny! Probably the reason why I always win in our few matches is because she is a little-

"Ringo Akanami…!"

…careless and all over the place. Honestly, she is a ditz but that makes her cute!

"Ringo Akanami…!"

"Would you shut up for a sec, Chiba-chan?!"

Instead of a classmate, she kinda feels like a little sister to me. Ever since we've had several matches, it felt like she became closer to me… No, she looks like a puppy following its owner… She's cute though so I called her Chiba-chan.

But as cute as I think she is, she is a very relentless girl. Whether she loses or not, she doesn't care as long she gets to have a match with me. I guess… that maybe is our friendship.

But Chiba-chan is a very tiring friend!

It is now the middle of July and we've already had more than thirty bouts already. Heck, she challenged me three times today!

…

"I'm home…"

I repeat, Chiba-chan is so much of a tiring friend…

"Uhh, what… Rin…?"

"…"

How in the world…

How in the world did I twist a key on the wrong house and dropped my stuff so orderly and landed on the couch even though this house has a very different layout from ours…?

Answer: Because you are tired, idiot!

"Ah… s-sorry. I wasn't paying attention when I was walking home…"

"You're don't come home usually at 7. Getting busy?"

"Not that… Chiba-chan challenged me three times today…"

"Her again, huh? Why not let him win then?"

"I did that already, you know? She found out that I let her win intentionally and then she cried liked a kid. I felt bad in the end."

"She's a funny fellow? Why not invite her here some time?"

"Umm… this isn't my house, right…?"

"Don't mind it. I want to know if she's as noisy as your dad.

Anyway, we really haven't been talking a lot since you started school. How's life these days?"

"I guess… even though Chiba-chan is a bit of a pain and is like Ichika-san, her challenging me helps to put my new knowledge into action. In some ways, my life as a college student is fun because of her. She gets along with Rena and Kae too.

Also, I sometimes get some commissions when I have time."

"Good for you then. But you always forget to say no, so keep that in mind."

"Right… I guess I'll have to explain to Chiba-chan soon."

Gin then stood up promptly and came back just to put a plate of his dinner in front of me. Suddenly, his large rigid hand landed on my head.

"Hang in there.

Well, I'm going back to the resto to clean up, alright?

Hey, cheek."

"…

Thanks…"

I guess times like this aren't really that bad.

But just like there is a reason why I am in CCI, I would assume that Chiba-chan also has a reason as to why she challenges me without a stop. I suppose I haven't really opened who I truly am to her and that is probably why she is displaying some kind of vagueness to her actions. Still… I may be around people that do not realize how much they are helping me in their own ways, so I really ought to make my convictions clear.

So perhaps… I just want to know Chiba-chan more to become a better friend to her.

And maybe I'm just acting like a child. It's just a coincidence that I see Gin almost every single day and I may just very well be acting spoiled on the smallest things. Even if I will not be able to walk beside him anymore… metaphorically, we can still take our strides forward side by side until the coming times.

…

And quick realization…

Isn't this chapter like Fo*d Wars but with actual romance?