In the principal's office, a meeting was underway. Several staff members were seated around the table, discussing an ongoing issue.
"Our school's graduation rate has been declining for three consecutive years," said the vice-principal, a middle-aged man with black-framed glasses, a bald head, and a stout figure. "There are even students who've been held back for three years and still can't graduate. This is unacceptable for a prestigious institution like ours—it's turning us into a laughing stock among other schools."
The man sitting at the head of the table, a middle-aged principal with gold-rimmed glasses and a gentle demeanor, glanced at him. "So, Vice Principal, what are your suggestions?"
"I propose we expel the underperforming students. They're not going to graduate anyway, and their presence only drags down the school's graduation rate. If we remove them, we can reverse the trend and improve our standing."
"Isn't that too harsh?" a female teacher, Ms. Muto, who taught Japanese cuisine, asked hesitantly. "Expelling students would have a huge impact on their lives."
Another teacher, a dashing young man named Mitaka, who taught French cuisine, chuckled. "I agree with the vice-principal. Instead of letting these students waste time here, it's better they find other paths."
The principal thought for a moment before speaking. "So, you believe expelling them is the right solution?"
"Yes," the vice-principal nodded. "Take, for example, a student named Sui Mizushima. He's been absent for more than fifteen consecutive days, has a bad attitude, and was always at the bottom of his junior high class. I'm sure he won't graduate. It would be best to expel him now."
The principal frowned. "And where is he now?"
"I've already called for him," replied the vice-principal.
Just then, Sui walked into the office.
"Speak of the devil," the vice-principal said, casting a disdainful glance at Sui. The vice-principal had always disliked him, as he did with most underperforming students. His goal was to push them out of the school.
Sui had overheard the conversation and knew they were discussing his expulsion. Although he had been considering withdrawing from the school on his own, being expelled like some kind of pest didn't sit well with him.
The principal greeted him with a kind smile. "Sui, can you explain why you've been absent for so many days?"
Sui hesitated for a moment before answering honestly. "Because I feel like I can't learn anything here."
While time management was part of the issue, the main reason was that Sui genuinely believed there was nothing left for him to gain from the school. Some of the teachers probably weren't as skilled as he was in the kitchen.
The people in the room burst into laughter upon hearing his words.
The vice-principal was so enraged that he laughed sarcastically. "I told you. Students with bad attitudes and no sense of the real world should be expelled."
Even the principal, who had initially wanted to give Sui a chance, frowned in disappointment.
At that moment, Sui's homeroom teacher, who had just entered the office, quickly interjected. "Wait, please! Sui's parents died when he was very young, and his life has been difficult. He's been working to support himself, which is why he's missed so much school. Please, Principal, give him a chance."
The principal's expression softened as he turned his gaze back to Sui. "I understand."
The homeroom teacher continued, "And Sui is incredibly talented. He was personally invited by Kagura Sakaya to work as an apprentice chef."
"What? An apprentice chef at Kagura Sakaya?" several teachers exclaimed, clearly impressed by the achievement.
The vice-principal scoffed, refusing to be impressed. "But as I understand it, he hasn't worked there for long. He was probably fired, right? He just got lucky with one good dish. His real abilities will be exposed soon enough."
"Is that true, Sui?" the homeroom teacher asked, visibly concerned.
"Yes," Sui confirmed. "I'm no longer an apprentice there."
Disappointment flashed across the homeroom teacher's face, while the vice-principal smirked, as if he had expected this outcome all along.
"It's just as I thought," the vice-principal said smugly.
Teacher Mitaka shook his head. "Since even he admits that he can't learn anything here, I think we should expel him. There's no place in this school for arrogance."
The principal hesitated, weighing the decision carefully. At that moment, the door opened, and Shizunoya Yuzuki entered.
"Father, are you really planning to expel Sui?" she asked, her expression serious.
"We're still discussing it," the principal replied, though he was leaning towards giving Sui another chance.
"Why would you expel him? Is it just because he's taken leave?" she pressed.
"That's part of it," the vice-principal replied. "But his expulsion from Kagura Sakaya shows that he's not suitable to remain here."
Yuzuki frowned. "Expelled? No, Sui is now an honorary chef at Kagura Sakaya."
"What? An honorary chef?" The room was stunned.
An honorary chef held a much higher status than a regular chef, often a figurehead in prestigious restaurants, only preparing dishes on special occasions. Typically, only renowned chefs earned such a title.
"Exactly," Yuzuki confirmed. "And Ms. Hanaya is one of his biggest fans. She insists on eating dishes he prepares every day."
"Ms. Hanaya? The famous food critic?" the principal asked, wide-eyed.
The other teachers were equally shocked. It seemed almost unbelievable that a student had achieved such recognition.
"Yes," Yuzuki nodded firmly. "So, are you still planning to expel him?"
The principal's stance softened further as he weighed the extraordinary news.