Oh no I'm panicking. I know Erwin said everything was under control and had planned everything but....no one else was!

At least I don't think.

"Can you sit the fuck down? You're stressing me out with your pacing."

Despite how much I wanted to lash back at Levi, he was right. I walk over to where he sat in the kitchen, taking a spot beside him.

"I need to calm down. I..." I let out a long breath. "Sorry. I just don't think I'm ready for tonight."

Levi stands up to face me fully. "Tch. I don't understand why you're so flustered; you trust everyone here, right?"

Everyone except you..."Yeah."

"Then isn't that good enough? If you take matters all for yourself, with no support...you'll only find yourself in more shit."

I break eye contact from the man in front of me, considering his words.

"Ya...I guess you're right." Our restaurant doesn't need special training for tonight's competition, we've been cooking all year! We just need...

"Do you know if Erwin made all the preparations?"

"How the fuck should I know?" Oh, right. Levi just became employed here. He wouldn't know.

"Let's just assume he did. Now we just need to plan a final dish that will blow the judges away." I put a finger to my chin, thinking of all the possible menus items we could use.

"How are you so sure we'll even make it to the Finals?" Levi asks.

"The earlier rounds are simple things such as serving, dicing and mincing, baking, frying, and performance. We only accept the best chefs at our restaurant, so of course we've got that in the bag..." I answer, half out of it since I was still lost in thought.

Fuck. I can't think of any meals that stand out. We've already used most of the--

I flinch when I feel a hand clasp my shoulder. Turning my head, I see that Levi now stood a mere few inches away.

"Stop."

I blink a couple times, confused. "Huh?"

"You keep stressing for no reason. I think--"

"No reason?! I don't think you understand the importance of this whole event! If you fail, your ratings could drop! We usually practice at least a month in advance, and unless the restaurant decided to practice while leaving out the head waiter then--"

My words are cut off by something soft pressed against my lips. My eyes slowly widen in realisation when I see that Levi's lips were what was pressed against my own.

Levi pulls back slowly, and I stay frozen in my spot, with wide eyes. The shorter male wipes a sleeve across his mouth. "Don't get the wrong idea. I needed a way to shut you up."

I nod slowly, my brain jumbled from what had just happened. Though, I still couldn't fully process what just happened. It happened too fast....

"Listen kid, stop stressing about the final dish. I've got it covered." Levi says, carrying on as if nothing happened.

My reaction was slightly delayed but I finally processed his words.

"Oh, got what covered? The creme brûlée pan? O-Or the entrée?" I look over his shoulder to see if he's already been preparing something for later today. If he's already covered the dish, it must mean he's at least half way done!

"Tch. Idiot." The shorter man let his hands fall back down to his side, and he takes a step back from me. "You may not know Erwin's motives for hiring me, but I do. And I'm not here to let him down. Partially because he's paying me,  but that's not the point."

He waves a dismissive hand, walking over to the kitchen's sink to wash his hands. "Point being: I can't stand to loose."

"I appreciate it, but just because you don't like loosing won't change anything."

Levi only smirks in response, walking across the kitchen to grab something from a cupboard. I watch in my spot as he begins collecting multiple supplies before heading over to the fridge.

"You just going to stand there all day, or actually start getting ready for tonight?"

Levi's words snap me back out of my daze. Shit! He's right!

I guess right now I should probably collect the cooks and waiters we should bring to the competition.

I leave the part of the kitchen I was in, in favour of entering the main dining hall. "Has anyone seen Jean?!" I exclaim.

As much as I hated his guts, I have to admit: when he takes his job seriously, Jean's one of the best workers this restaurant has.

That's why he was my first choice.

"What do you want?"

I turn around upon hearing Jean's voice. "Perfect! Head to the kitchen and wait there. I'll explain everything in a bit."

"Why should I--" I shoot Jean a glare, showing him this was different from one of my usual orders.

"Whatever." To my surprise, Jean heads to the kitchen, without another word.

Why can't he be like that everyday?

I shake off the thought. Now isn't the time, I need to find others. Weaving through tables to the front of the restaurant, I call out to Petra, who was in charge of reservations and taking down names.

"Petra! Close the restaurant early. Also, if you see Ymir or Armin tell them to head to the kitchen; Code: Garrison."

The shorter girl nods, getting busy. Okay, that's three people, plus Levi; making four. The competition calls for teams of seven....

Sasha! Duh, obviously we'll need our head cook. But still, we need one more team mate, since I'll be competing as well....

I decide to head back to the kitchen. I'll just ask for suggestions on who the last member should be.

Pushing the kitchen doors open, I see both Armin and Ymir stood inside, along with Jean. Levi was still bustling around, preparing something.

My eyes scan the large kitchen until I spot Sasha moving beside the other working chefs. "Sasha! We need you over here!" She looks up, her cheeks filled with food.

I cringe at the sight. "Are you eating the left overs...again?"

She walks over, swallowing down what was in her mouth before smiling. "What? Being wasteful isn't healthy." Yeah, and so is eating other people's leftovers...

I shake my head, dismissing her actions.

"Alright so I'm guessing you all know what I called you in here for."

The small group stays dead silent, staring at me intently. "Really?! No one?"

Ymir half heartedly raises her hand. Oh thank god. "Are you giving us a raise?"

I face palm myself. That's gonna leave a mark. "The Garrison league competition between restaurants...it's tonight!" I exclaim.

The small group in front of me exchange glances with each other before looking at me again. "WHAT?!"

"Listen, before any of you panic, let me explain something. Erwin said he has some things planned. I know he talked to Sasha about it, but I'm just here to let you know that you're the selected few that get to participate this year."

"Yeah, the one year we're not prepared." Jean mumbles. "I want out. There's no way I'm publicly embarrassing myself."

I roll my eyes. This isn't going well.

"I'm sure after Erwin explains--"

"--how can you be so sure?! You expect us to be able to preform something that takes a month perfectly in a couple of hours?!"

Why does Jean always have to turn everything into an argument?!

"I know this may be your first time entering, but it's not mine--"

"Oh, so you're bragging now?! I can be sure you won't mess up out there, but what about me, huh?!"

"Oi."

Everyone's attention turns toward the opposite end of the kitchen. Levi, wiping off his hands with a cloth, makes his way over to us. "Can you just shut the hell up and listen to the kid. If you'd listen, you would see that the fact that you're working here right now means you're already fit to win tonight."

Everyone stared with wide eyes at the shorter man. Even I was surprised by his words. Just exactly who are you, Levi?

"Who's this?" Jean asks, pointing a thumb at Levi.

"This," I say, pushing past the small group to sling an arm around Levi's shoulder, "is our key to winning tonight."