Okay, I've spent sometime to myself, to my life outside the screen, to be honest it was a really busy week plus my terrible lack of inspiration, but I got my head to work properly again, and used some spare time to fix some mistakes(there are still plenty left I'm sure). With that out of the way, I can now proudly present you chapter 8.
Reviews...
Writer Nightpen: That's an interesting trivia. Well, I hope you don't mind my lack of knowledge, I'm just your regular everyday guy.
a.k.a Kusabi: That's a horrible idea. I love it! It will certainly take some tweaks and changes to make it feels better to the flow, but I'm up to the challenge. That 'shoujo' in chapter 7 was actually an original fic of mine. Just bend it here and there so it sounds corny like a shoujo then blam.
Now, the much awaited continuation!
Please fav and review! Helps me out alot!
Yukihira Souma excitedly strolls through the empty halls.
To think that he was the first to complete the 50 portions test and was allowed to use the bath first.
His so-called rival Takumi is close behind with 40 portions, but a first is a first.
As Souma was getting close to the turn, he met up with another person.
"..."-Nakiri Erina groaned annoyingly-"Why is it that it has to be you..."
Why always him?! Why can't she ever by coincidence meet a different person? To think that in this wide world of Toosuki, they, two person with different positions and jobs, keep running into each other on many more than one occasions.
"Oh, Erina. You finished the 50 rations too?"
"Hmph! To me that is as simple as child's play, Yukihira-kun."
"...Well, you seem to be in a good mood"-Souma noticed she was hapily humming before noticing him.
"?! W-who's happy?! I'm not! All of this is just a waste of time to me!"
"C'mon, don't be so stiff!"-The oblivious boy scratches his nose-"I do bring cards and hanafuda! Want to play after we took a bath?"
"No! Who'd want to play with the likes of you anyway!"
"Hm...is that so..Isshiki-senpai said last year his group played strip poker...that sounds fun..."
"How is that fun?!"-And to be honest, Erina wondered with Isshiki's strange dressing sense, just what hilarity would ensues.-"If you are inviting me to play such a game..."-The girl trembled as she spoke.
But, a sudden thought brought her expression over to a different one all together.
"Fufu...but with the likes of you, this 'hellish' training should do fine...I wonder how many days it'd take for you to get kicked out...Fufu..."
"...If you, the so-called prodigy is here, then that means if I go now, I'll be the first to enjoy the baths!"-Souma completely ignored the threat.
"?! Are you ignoring me?!"-What matters worse is that Erina herself wanted to be the first as well.
The two locked eyes, seemingly realizing something.
"I'm going in first."-Souma grinned.
"Yukihira-kun, your worthless struggle will be noted."-Erina waved her fan over her mouth.
And so, the two sprinted full dash to the baths.
Despite giving the challenge, Erina could not compare herself athletically to Souma. But by pure luck, the redhead tripped over a basket laying around and fell head first to the wooden floor, with the blonde laughing as she run past him.
"Damn! Hold up there Erina! ! !"
"That's as far as you can get Yukihira-kun!"-The girl yelled back, still laughing.
As the two ran through the halls, the staffs had the strangest feeling, as if seeing a couple doing love chase.
Touching the doors to the baths at the same time, the two decides to call it a draw.
"N-next time, I'll win for sure...if only the basket..."-Souma panted as he leaned on the left side of the door.
"P-please Yukihira-kun. Next time I'll walk towards the bath, and you would not actually started yet, still uselessly trying to finish the test."
"Hah...hah...but still, for a sheltered ojou...you can run..."
"I'm not that sheltered!"-Erina blushed. It is true that she is pretty much sheltered from pretty much everything, but being a cook requires a certain degree of stamina.-"Well, now that you've made me actually sweat, I'm gonna go enjoy the baths. You just stays outside and pant your life out."
The two then entered the changing room.
"Seriously, that Yukihira..."-Erina muttered as she took off her uniform blazer.-"I wish he would just disappear."
"Sorry Erina. I'll be here for the whole three years."
"Hah! Just you wait. A few more days and you'll be leaving Tootsuki."-Next, her skirt.
"Why do you want me out so badly anyway?"
"Because you are a pain to deal with! And if I kick you out, I'm sure you'll simply go back to that shavy shop of yours anyway!"
"C'mon, Erina."-Souma laughed slightly-"I felt like staying here and meeting you...is really fun. Everyday is enjoyable."
"W-what are you saying Y-Yukihira!"-Erina blushes as she takes off her tie and begins to unbutton her shirt.-"Someone like you don't belong here in Toosuki!"
"Well...I just feels fine. Fun people, exciting things happening all around, and... well..."-Souma stopped for a momment before continuing-"...You too."
"! ! !"-That sent a wave of blush towards the blonde as she unhooked her bra-"W-what are you saying now, Stupid Yukihira! Don't you see that I hat-"
Wait wait wait wait wait.
How the hell are they talking right now? She was sure he went to the men side and she went to the woman side. So why...
Slowly turning around, the half dressed Nakiri Erina met her gaze with the half dressed Yukihira Souma, who had just noticed the same thing.
While Erina's face burned with embrassment, Yukihira Souma had a different reaction. He eyed her up and down, his gaze so intense Erina felt like he was trying to burn the remaining pieces of fabric on her with it. With her body somewhat exposed, the cleavage of her two breast can clearly be seen, the white shirts grips onto her flawless curves and white skin, making the redhead's gaze even stronger.
Finally, after a momment of intense staring, Yukihira Souma spoke his last words.
"Front hook."
Needless to say, he got a 'hook' of his own soon after. A right hook to be precise.
...
...
...
"Well, from time to time, students and guests do confuse themselves between the seperate baths and the mixed bath..."-Doujima Gin wondered to himself.
The slide door opened with less vigor, as a redhead Souma entered.
"Oh, it seems this year too had some promising-"-Doujima turned to greet the boy, but then switched to-"What's that red mark on your face?"
"...I...I think I've graduated something bigger than Tootsuki, Doujima-senpai..."-The boy said, still dazed to the core by the image of an angelic half dressed Nakiri Erina.
"?"
"That-That Yukihira..."-Erina grumled as she undress, now in the proper woman's bath-"To think that he dare lays his eyes on my...my..."-She muttered something incorehently-"Unforgivable!"-Punching the wall next to her, Erina soon crouches down on the floor, mending her pained hand cutely-"Uuuuuuu~"
'S-stupid Souma...how could he not...recognize...such...such a thing...'
There was her own part about not realizing sooner, all the while chatting to the redhead herself, but the situation was so surreal that both thought they were dreaming for a momment after that.
And, now that Erina cleared her head, she had just as much fault in it as him, so while the boy got a flaming slap and forced to bow and apologize, perhaps she should at least...
'No. That idiot deserves it! ! ! No way am I going to apologize for something like that! Me, Nakiri Erina? Saying sorry to the likes of him? Impossible! ! !'
It didn't help that while he was bowing, he actually had a decent angle to accidentally look under her already short shirt, which resulted in the blonde stomping his face to the floor repeatedly like a hammer hitting down on a nail.
"Sorry Erina-sama! That test took longer than I expected..."-Hisako appeared.
Thankfully, that was enough to get Erina off the current matter and open a small smile.
"Uhm? Erina-sama, your face is red. Did you stay in the bath for too long?"
"?! I haven't entered yet! It-it's nothing so don't worry about it!"
"Ah? Then, did you catch a cold? Forgive me Erina-sama, allow me to check!"
"No, I feel fine! It's just...nothing..."-The blonde turned away as she entered the bath first.
"Eh...?"
...
...
...
"You're expelled."-Shinomiya Koujirou pointed Tadokoro to the door.
Before him, the shocked, horrified and helpless Tadokoro Megumi stood.
"Uhm...uhm...was my dish...not good enough?"
"...You used wine vinegar to fix the cauliflower that has started turning bad right? To both bleach the color, making it beautiful, at the same time used it as a seasoning to make the vegetables tastes more sweet."
If he is complimenting the dish, why did he marked Megumi's dish a failure?
"But who said you can change the recipe?"-Shinomiya stated something that made everyone felt although sound like common sense, it also meant too crazy to be true.-"I didn't say you could make something like this, using advantage of the sourness in the dish. What you made, tastes well, but it is not the dish I ordered, a different dish, so naturally, you are disqualified."-Each explanation seems to tramples over common sense with common sense itself.
With the duty of explaning to the small brats over, Shinomiya turned to leave.
"I can't accept that."
At the challenging tone, Shinomiya Koujirou turned around to find one of the cooks he passed earlier, a redhead boy with gold eyes.
What is this?
Here even Nakiri Erina would comply to his conditions, yet who is this brat who decided to challenge his authority?
"The use of wine vinegar was inevitable! The ingredients, the part, you, 'chef' Shinomiya is in charge of, is already in the state of decline. Tadokoro managed to counter it, and even made it tastes better. So I won't accept that. Isn't here the fault belong to the chef rather than the cook?"-Yukihira Souma spoke his reason, seeming more understandable than Shinomiya's.
"You little brat...who do you think you are talking to?!"-Shinomiya spat with the look of hell down at the redhead as he slammed the table.-"I'll tell you the reason for that, since you did not seem to understand. The bad ingredients were mixed in on purpose!"
"What?"-Not only Souma and Megumi but even other students gasped.
"Using that, fools who made poor judgements under pressure and dunces who starts late will automatically show themselves."
"Like I'm telling you, Tadokoro countered that lateness with an original ide-"
"I'm the chef. There's no way my underling can have any revision on my dishes, my recipes, my decisions."
That angered Souma.
Noticing his glare, Shinomiya spoke reality.
"Then, should I 'fire' you with the authority of a chef?"
"What?! You-"
"Souma-kun! That's enough already...If you continue you'll get expelled too...So...stop it..."
"Tadakoro! Now isn't the time to speak like..."
"It's okay."
Yukihira Souma had a clear look at Megumi's face.
It was from someone pathetic, sad, heart broken, but because of him, because of her kind heart, she still smiled as tears flowed from her eyes.
"I...can take it."
With that, Souma's resolve increased.
"Shinomiya-senpai."
"What is it brat? If you want to apologize then no need. Just freaking learn your plac-"
"Does Tootsuki's rules applies to you too?"
"What?"
"What I'm saying is..."
Shokugeki.
"If I win against you in a Shokugeki match. Will you take back Megumi's explusion?"
"Hum...I guess I should go take another bath..."
"Erina-sama!"-Hisako rounded the corner hastily as she reaches the Tootsuki's princess.
"What is it Hisako? You don't have to apologize, it's fine to be a tad bit late compared to me..."
"No, not it Erina-sama! Haven't you heard the rumors going around?!"
"What rumor? If it's about me..."-Erina's expression darkens.
"No, it's Yukihira Souma, Erina-sama!"
"Eh?"-Her face soon switched expression, one of both confusion and a slight hint of worried.
"He...he challenged Shinomiya Koujirou-senpai to a Shokugeki!"
"He challenged who to what?!"
Nakiri Erina did had a test under the Japan-born French chef. The guy had some serious talents, but a very strict rules and guidelines despite his relatively young age. She passed without incidents, but it was a narrow gate compared to others.
And now, for some reason, that stupid redhead Yukihira just has to create trouble with that person.
"The rules doesn't allow such a match to happen...but...there are things known as unofficial Shokugeki matches."
"Knowing that idiot...what about the match?!"
"Yes, um...both Yukihira Souma and Tadokoro Megumi haven't came back yet, and last seen with some of the Tootsuki's graduates."
"That means they really are hosting an unofficial Shokugeki..."-Erina turned her feet.-"There's a location that provides such secrecy. Come on, Hisako."
"Wait, Erina-sama."
"What is it, Hisako? We have to-"
"I...I'm not stopping you Erina-sama. But I must be clear of something."
"? What is it Hisako?"-Her aide wasn't the type to show doubt in her actions, so why...
"What will you do when you get there, Erina-sama?"
The question brought over reality to Nakiri Erina.
"I...I..."
"Do you plan on stopping the match, observe the match, or simply just go in and drag Yukihira Souma out?"
"That's..."
"If the boy loses, which he will, then he would be expelled from Tootsuki. If you desire to witness the momment, I won't stop you."
"I-I'm just going there to watch, Hisako! There's...no way that I could care for that stupid Yukihira Souma!"-Erina said, but somehow it doesn't sound truthful even to herself.
There's just that feeling of complete insecurity. She just had to go there to witness herself. And although she would not admit it now, but the idea of stopping the match to save that idiotic Yukihira did came across her mind more than once.
"...Of course, I...understand. You won't be reported as long as you keep a secret yourself, Erina-sama."
"...Okay. I'm going then."-Silently nodding a thank you, Nakiri Erina head for the secluded kitchen.
By the time Erina reached the building, the match is already over. As she was heading in, Erina met both Souma and Megumi, the two already leaving.
"Oh, hey Erina!"-Souma smiled as always, but for some reason it felt less wide, maybe even less radiant than before.
"You two...!"-Erina stumbled, thinking if she should speak like she knows about the match or not.-"You both...are still here?"
"Uhm...yeah. We haven't got kicked out yet. Man, it's already this late...?"
"We-we should head back Souma-kun...everybody's probably really worried."-Megumi tugged his shirt slightly.
"Uhm, yeah! I'll just talk to Erina here for a second. You go on ahead."
"U-uhm."-With that, the frail girl nodded as she leaves first.-"Uhm...I'll see you around then, Nakiri-san."
"Un."-Erina nodded as the girl got out of sight.
Before she could ask what Souma wanted to talk about however...
BLAM!
There was a sound of something cracking behind her, Erina wasn't sure what, but when she turned around, she was faced with a very angry, depressed Yukihira Souma, his fist against the wall.
"I lost..."-He murmured in a very low voice.
"Huh...?"-Erina asked, slightly confused-"Yukihira...kun?"
"I really did lost..."-It seems his knees was giving way as he knelt down in depression.
He lost? Then how is it that he is still here?!
She wasn't sure, but since it is an unofficial Shokugeki, the rules could actually bend somewhat. Like a tie result for example.
A part of Erina wanted to outright humiliate him, but for some reason, she spoke with a soft voice.
"Do you see now, Yukihira-kun? As you are now, it is impossible for you to catch up to the top. Today, I don't know what happened in there, but if you said you lose but are still here, then that means they showed a decent amount of mercy on you. Such things won't come again. Not from me, or from anyone else in the culinary world. One failure"-Erina bit her lip at that word-"Just one failure, Yukihira-kun. That's all it takes for you to lose in this cruel world. As a chef, you are not allowed to fail."
She wasn't sure why she was lecturing him. Her greatest joy was supposed to be his downfall. A person that don't belong, a thorn removed.
So why is she helping him up?
Erina don't have an answer.
"How can you even think of reaching me if you just charge in without knowing your limitations? I told you, as you are now, you have no chance in this culinary world, despite your rare talents."
"..."
"Think clearly about your next and every move, Yukihira Souma, it could very well be your last."
With that, seeing the redhead having no intention of replying, Nakiri Erina left him there to lick his wounds.
I know, I know, not romantic. But it was needed. I'm building up a total mess, that I realized from long ago, but as long as the connections between events stands firm, then nothing should feel wrong...I'm begining to think of an ending, I'm just not sure when I'll decides to end. It's no where close to right now, but I'm the type who likes to have the entire thing all figured out before writing. But I'll note again that I'm unstable, my inspirations runs on different directions sometimes, so updates are unstable. Hopefully you all will continue to enjoy my fic despite of that, and it is always a pleasure to write something for you guys! Give me suggestions, ideas and fixes, I'll gladly listen, fix and consider.
Until next chapter
DsCrystalEyes.