Arato Hisako was never number one. In fact, she was far from it: at best, she was only ever number two.

Living a life behind the power of the God's Tongue left her in awe and respect. And yet, it also gave her a mindset of inferiority: she would never overcome that which she admired.

It is simply part of human mentality. One cannot surpass that which they revere.

And without a doubt, Arato Hisako reveres Erina Nakiri.

Anybody paying attention would notice it right away. From the loving way that she calls her "Erina-sama" to the very fact that she is voluntarily employed as a secretary, Hisako looks up to Erina.

Yet these thoughts aren't ones that are constantly thought about by Hisako. Rather, she's currently looking through a schedule to find Erina's next event to go to.

"Ah, Erina-sama. Next up for the day is the test for the new applicants for Tootsuki."

Erina flips her hair. "Alright, though I don't know why I should go. There's probably nothing there but third rate cooks. How could they possibly please my God's Tongue?"

Hisako clasps her clipboard to her chest. "Well, your grandfather wanted it so we shouldn't make him upset..."

Erina sighs tiredly. "All these events and tastings... What exactly does he want from me? Half the time, all this food I'm trying isn't even close to worthy of my palette."

As the car that Hisako called for arrives, she and Erina both step into the back seat. The driver begins the drive towards the testing facility.

"Erina-sama, I'm sure he's doing it for you. You are family, after all."

Erina seems to shudder a little bit. "Family, huh?" She shakes her head and rests her chin on her hands, looking outside the window at the passing scenery. "But, yeah, I guess I'll just go with it for now..."

Hisako smiles at the sight of Erina's acceptance. "That's the spirit, Erina-sama! I'm sure he'll be proud of you."

Erina turns to face her loyal secretary. Seeing her eager support, she can't help but return the smile, ever so slightly. "Thanks, Hisako. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

Seeing Erina smile, Hisako is ecstatic. In her opinion, making Erina-sama smile is one of the few things that's even better than her cooking.

As if remembering something, Hisako perks up. "Ah, that's right. Erina-sama, here are the profiles for all the applicants."

Erina doesn't even bother to turn her head. "I don't need to see them. Their background and such won't matter when all of them give up. They're nothing but third rate cooks, so I doubt any of them will even have the courage to take my test."

Hisako, wide eyed at Erina's confidence and grace, only nods. "O-ok, Erina-sama. As you wish."

And so the rest of the ride proceeds in peace and quiet, just as Erina likes it.

Yukihira Souma looked at the crowd in disbelief.

"Wooow, there sure are a lot of people here. Are they all chefs?"

Someone to his left speaks up.

"Yeah, we're all here to take the Tootsuki entrance test. We have people from some of the most distinguished cooking families in the world applying here."

As the speaker steps into view, Souma rubs the back of his head. "That so? Man, it sure looks like it's gonna be tough to beat all of these people..."

The other guy crosses his arms. "Hah? What do you mean, beat people? These people are the best of the best. I bet you won't even pass the exam."

Souma looks him in the eye. "Yeah, maybe not, hehe. But if I don't, I won't ever be able to show my face at Yukihira's ever again."

"Yukihira's? What's that?"

"Oh, it's my family's restaurant. A nice little diner, I guess."

"Hahahaha! A family diner? Get lost, kid. You've got no chance against the rest of us! Hahaha!"

Souma smiles blankly. "That so? Well, good luck to you I guess!" Then his eyes grow serious. "But don't be too surprised when I beat you guys."

"Hah! Whatever, kid."

The jerk makes his way to the front of the crowd, leaving Souma behind. Before he has any time to react, though, a black car pulls up in front of the crowd. As the door opens, a girl with long blond hair emerges. Following her is a reddish short haired girl who looks rather intense.

At the sight of the pair, almost every student cries out in terror and runs away from the exam location. What're they so afraid of?

Souma sights the guy he was talking to earlier running away as well. Grabbing his arm, Souma asks him about what's going on.

"Don't you know her?!" The guy sputters in a half craze. "That's Nakiri Erina! The wielder of the God's Tongue! They say that if she rejects your dish, you'll be blacklisted in the cooking world forever! Ah, get me out of here!"

The poor guy, snot dripping and tears falling, scampers his way out of the room.

Souma, on the other hand, stands his ground. All I have to do is make her say my food tastes good? Well, should be easy enough...

Hisako stood there nonchalantly. Again, every student ran away from the glory that is Erina-sama. She had been right. There were no students worthy of challenging her God's Tongue.

"Well, Hisako, looks like I was right. They all ran away, so there's no one to test. I suppose I have a bit of free time now, right?"

Flipping through her papers, Hisako nods. "Yup, Erina-sama! You're free for the next hour or so."

Erina smiles devilishly. Raising a hand to her chin, she ponders aloud. "Perhaps I should begin working on a new dish..." Reaching out said hand to caress Hisako's cheek, she continues speaking. "How would you like to get the first taste, Hisako?"

Hisako, completely stunned in Erina-sama's glory, licks her lips and takes a gulp of air, finding herself short on breath. Erina-sama's new dish... She can already feel herself drooling at the thought. What will it be? Something sweet? Savory? Regardless, it will be something delicious...

"E-Erina-sama..."

"Um, hello? This is where I take the entrance test, right?"

Erina takes her hand from Hisako's face in a hurry. Hisako also moves to turn away from Erina and see the new challenger.

Um, who is this guy?

Hisako and Erina both look on at this spiky haired redhead who's wearing a goofy smile.

Erina begins talking while Hisako opens the file with the applicants and begins searching through them.

"W-what? You want to t-take the challenge?"

The challenger scratches his cheek. "Well, yeah. Why else would I be here? This is where it is, right? Do I have wrong building?"

They're not sure why, but this redheaded goofball is really starting to piss both of them off.

"Y-you do know that if you fail in my challenge, then the entire cooking world will shun you for the rest of your life, right? No restaurant will hire you, and you'll never be trusted with food again."

He pulls a headband from his wrist and begins tying it around his forehead. "Well, all I have to do is make you say it tastes good, right? Should be easy enough."

Erina's eye twitches a little. Does this guy have any idea what he's going up against? I can't wait to see him fail. She smiles mischievously.

"Alright, fine, you can take my test. The rules are simple." Pulling an egg from the ingredient cart behind her, she displays it for him. "Make a dish using egg in any way you'd like. As long egg is a focus of the dish, anything works."

As he ascends to the cooking area, he seems to be thinking to himself. "Hmm... Eggs, huh? I guess I'll make that!"

Hisako, listening in the background, can't help but feel a pique of interest. That? What could he possibly making to challenge Erina-sama?

The boy steps up to the stove top, carrying a tray with several ingredients. Hisako didn't see them clearly, but they didn't look all that special. Going back to her papers, she flips through more profiles until the same goofy face shows up. She pokes Erina on the back while the boy starts cooking.

"What is it, Hisako?"

"Erina-sama, look..."

Yukihira Souma, huh? He's nothing special, coming from a family diner by the name Yukihira's... Just what is he thinking? Is he stupid?

Erina must be thinking the same things, as she mutters some thoughts. "A family diner? What is this Yukihira guy thinking?"

Hisako observes the multitude of the pots going on the stove top at the moment. Pots of concealed secrets, boiling on high heat. Yet she still hasn't seen what he plans on doing. There's a pot of rice cooking as well... What is he going to do? There's almost an anticipation, as Hisako can't imagine what Yukihira could possibly pull to please Erina-sama... In fact, she doubts that he'll pass at all.

But she can't help but have a sliver a doubt. Yukihira has a strange determination set in his eyes, one that she wasn't used to seeing. There was so much confidence, even in the face of someone as great as Erina-sama... How could he, knowing now the power that she holds in the cooking world?

Yukihira opens the lid of one of the pots, releasing a cloud of steam as he takes a taste of it.

The scent almost instantly brings Hisako to her knees. She clutches the clipboard to her chest, feeling her knees go weak. She leans on the counter to support herself. W-what was that? That was... Just chicken, wasn't it? But that scent was so strong and packed with flavor... Just who is this guy?

"Hm, seems about right!" Yukihira nods as he begins whisking the eggs. So he's finally preparing the eggs...

Erina speaks up first. "Yukihira, just what exactly are you making?"

He turns and looks her in the eye.

"Do you really want to know?"

There's an intensity in his eyes and voice that makes both Erina and Hisako gulp.

"J-just hurry up and tell me!"

He holds up a finger. "Furikake gohan!"

Wearing the same goofy smile, Erina's mouth hangs open in disbelief.

Hisako, too can't believe it. Furikake gohan? That's commoner food! It surely isn't worthy of Erina-sama!

Erina flips her hair. "Come on, Hisako. We're leaving. This is a joke."

Hisako moves to leave with her, but Yukihira speaks up.

"Oh, really?"

Erina turns to face him. "Yes, really. This is a farce. Commoner food won't satisfy my palette. I live at the pinnacle of gourmet foods and haute cuisine. How could something as simple as furikake gohan please me?"

Yukihira smiles. "I don't know. But you won't either until you try it."

Hisako puts in her opinion. "Erina-sama, it is your job to stay and try. I don't think it can hurt..."

Erina crosses her arms and flips her hair again. "Fine, but I'm telling you it'll be a waste of time."

Yukihira gives a triumphant grin as he turns back to his station.

The sounds and smells of cooking fill the room, as Yukihira pulls out a small bowl. He starts chopping some green onions, with a surprising amount of speed and precision. He may not be that bad of a chef after all...

But when he sets the finished product in front of Erina and Hisako, they both stand there in disbelief. It's the most plain looking egg I've ever seen...

Erina sighs and begins walking away. "I told you, it would be a joke. Let's go."

Yukihira leans on the counter. "Is that so? Man, it sure would be a shame if you were to not try it..."

Looking at Erina, Hisako knows that she's tempted. The smell is tantalizing. It looks so plain, but the smell is almost too great to bear... I want to try it too...

Erina pauses, clearly conflicted. In the end, she turns her back. "It's just a plain egg. It won't be anything special."

Yukihira chuckles. "Oh? But you know, the true beauty of furikake gohan is only seen when it's served..." He takes the bowl and tips it over onto a bowl of white rice. "Over a bed of hot white rice! We call it 'Transforming Furikake Gohan!'"

Transforming? Hisako peers closely at the bowl of rice, seeing something glimmering. Wait, what is that?

Erina looks unamused. "Its bouillon, isn't it? That chicken stock you had going earlier."

Yukihira snaps his fingers. "Ah, you got it! Nice! I used wing tips and boiled them for a long time to create a flavorful stock, which I refrigerated to make into bouillon cubes. The hot rice and egg melts the bouillon, spreading the chicken flavor throughout the fluffy egg and steamy rice, creating an entirely new texture and flavor."

Hisako finds herself drooling a little. That actually sounds delicious... What kind of cooking is that? I've never seen something like it, but I want... I want to try it...

Erina looks to be the same way. "F-fine, I guess a little bit wouldn't hurt..."

Breaking a pair of chopsticks, she carefully lifts a piece of egg and rice to her mouth. Both Yukihira and Hisako look on in anticipation. Hisako especially is curious to see Erina-sama's reaction.

Slowly chewing the bite, Erina closes her eyes and scowls.

Yukihira pokes fun at Erina, much to Hisako's annoyance. "So? Is it good or not? It's pretty good, isn't it?"

Erina scowls as she continues chewing, leaning on the counter as her knees seem to go weak. "Shut up!"

Hisako hasn't tasted it, but she can only imagine what it must taste like. The flavors of the chicken and egg, with the hot rice... I'm sure that it tastes good...

Erina sets down the chopsticks. "It... It..."

Yukihira smiles. "What? Was delicious?"

Erina opens her eyes. "It... Was disgusting! You fail!"

And with that, she runs out the room. Yukihira looks shocked. "Oh. Well, that's too bad, I guess."

Hisako calls out to Erina. "Erina-sama, wait!"

She's going to chase after her, but Yukihira stops her.

"Hey, Ms. Erina's friend, do you want to try a bite too?"

Hisako pauses. "Yukihira..." This guy pisses her off for some reason... But he interests her at the same time. "I have a name. It's Arato Hisako. Don't forget it!"

"Ah, then Arato. Do you want to try it?"

Hisako glances down at the bowl of uneaten rice. "I... Just give me a pair of chopsticks."

Yukihira smiles aloofly. "Haha, here you go."

Breaking open the pair of chopsticks, Hisako carefully picks up a bite. Hands trembling, she lifts the bite to her mouth. Taking the bite, she shudders a little. The flavor of the chicken is so strong, which sweetly envelopes the fluffy egg, which is complimented by the hot rice...

"So, how is it, Arato?"

Hisako supports herself. "It's..." She has to choose. Between following Erina-sama or this boy, Yukihira. This food, or Erina-sama...

It's easily Erina-sama. After all, she's the wielder of the God's Tongue. She swore to follow and help Erina-sama through any time, and any struggle. How could she abandon her best friend for some new boy? And yet, she can't help but ponder the question.

"It's not very good. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go find Erina-sama!"

Running out of the room, she leaves Yukihira alone, standing in the kitchen.

After finding Erina-sama, Hisako went to finish up the rest of the daily tasks. Now, lying in her room, she can't help but reflect on the event involving that one Yukihira Souma. He was a boy unlike she had ever seen. Someone who had reckless abandon, who was so willing to challenge the holder of God's Tongue... Certainly, he had confidence unlike that of any other. Something that Hisako knew she didn't have.

They always said that you could never surpass that which you admired, and clearly, Hisako admired Erina-sama. She could grow as a chef until she stopped idolizing Erina-sama.

But she didn't want to.

Erina-sama was her best friend, and her closest companion. How could she abandon her like that?

And yet, the chance to become a better chef... To gain the confidence in her own ability... Perhaps it was something that only Yukihira Souma could help her with. Something he had that she needed as well...

But no, her place was next to Erina-sama. And that was that.

Content with her decision, Arato Hisako drifted off to sleep.

A/N: First time writing for Shokugeki, so please bear with any particularly bad moments.

I felt the desire to do this after I saw that Hisako wasn't even on the characters list for this story. Like, come on, guys. I loved Hisako. This is planned as a oneshot, but if it gets enough support and popularity I may continue it. I'm sorry for any OOC moments, but hopefully you guys can still enjoy it. If you can't tell, the focus is on Hisako and her relationship with Yukihira. Most events stayed the same, but I changed things to mostly be in her perspective with a few new events for her. If it continues, it will most definitely go AU, since I don't really want to go about recreating the series in a different perspective.

But it might not even continue. Regardless, hope you guys enjoyed this little experiment of mine!

-Rohasshiki