Author note: I do not own Yakitate! Japan nor do I own the song 'Turn Up the Love' by Far East Movement ft. Cover Drive, which inspired the fic.

...I'm aware that it's been forever since I've really written anything Yakitate! related, but I guess you could call this my return to this fandom after a long absence. Of course, updates will be sporadic and probably super-delayed and all, but this is definitely a fic I want to focus on for this fandom. So all patience, reviews and views are appreciated. :)

Warning: Takes place post-manga, Meister-centric, spoilers for the manga, possible violence, possible anything, basically.

Constructive Criticism would be great, and I hope that you read, review and enjoy! Thanks!

Turn Up the Love

The Week Before

He was so sick of it.

He was sick of the paparazzi. He was sick of the stress, sick of sleepless nights.

He was just...stressed. And sick of it.

Maybe he needed a break. A long break. A vacation.

"Maybe you should take a vacation."

Kuroyanagi was on the other end of the line. Meister Kirisaki gripped the phone tightly in his hand, but thankfully not hard enough to break it. Meister knew that he wouldn't usually rant to Kuroyanagi about this, especially while Kuroyanagi was filming his show about finding the 'ultimate deliciousness' and all, but this was urgent. Normally he would call Matsushiro, but the afro-yakuza leader was out drinking with his buddies.

"That's what I was thinking," Meister responded, "but I just can't-I just can't leave for thirty-ish days. I'm the owner of St. Pierre..."

"Well, maybe you just should. Get one of your subordinate people to look after St. Pierre while you're gone, tell them you're going on a vacation. Even the owners of companies need to get away from the rat race."

"I'm...highly considering that option."

"Well, do you actually want to? How do you plan on going about it? Go back to France, visit your sister? Retreat to some other foreign country and pray the paparazzi don't catch you?"

"...I was thinking more of going on a bit of a tour of Japan, actually. By myself."

"A tour of Japan?"

"Yeah. I never really got to run around this country in the past when I first came here, because I was working so hard at Pantasia to support myself here and my sister back in France back then. I rarely took any days off...so now since things have settled, I might as well take the opportunity, correct?"

"Erm...right."

"I know you're skeptical about it, Kuroyanagi-kun. Admit it."

"Okay, I am. Because, I mean...then the paparazzi will try to chase you. And fangirls, if they see you..."

Meister facepalmed himself. "Kuroyanagi-kun, I was thinking I wouldn't go and wear the...fanciful clothing that people usually see me wearing. Or the mask. Without them, I think I look like your everyday, normal person...I was also planning on cutting my hair shorter than it is currently, if you're wondering."

"That will probably help."

"If you're worried, I'll let you call me. Once I get a new phone that doesn't have everyone else's numbers in it. That way you can know if I'm alive and safe and stuff."

"Okay..."

"You really do sound worried, Kuroyanagi-kun. Do you love me that much?" Meister joked after a moment, remembering back at the Newcomers Tournament when he and Kuroyanagi had almost kissed each other twice due to Kuroyanagi having his weird bread reactions.

"Sh-shut up!"

Meister laughed. He had come to see Kuroyanagi as a friend, a good friend-better than Matsushiro and the others, at least. And it was always fun to tease friends. Always. "I'm going to miss you and the others while I'm gone, but I think this trip will do me good. I'll go in a week from now..."

"Okay." Kuroyanagi sounded a bit relieved. "Just make sure to give me your number for the phone you're using for the trip and stuff. You know, so I can check if you're alive."

"Of course, of course. See you."

Meister put the phone down. The smile he had turned to a small frown as he stood. Walking up to a nearby mirror, he ripped off the mask that had concealed his face.

A stranger's face stared back at him through the reflection. He had gotten so used to wearing the mask that even he didn't recognize himself, not at first. Blue eyes bore into their reflection, and then gazed at the rest of the reflection altogether. He doubted anyone could recognize him without the mask on, maybe except for Kuroyanagi and Matsushiro...

He then looked around, before rummaging at his desk and retrieving a pair of scissors. He rushed back to the mirror, glancing at his own hair, before doing his best to cut.

snip

snip

snip

Strands of blond hair fell to the ground. His hair no longer went down to his waist, it merely ended a little bit past the collarbone.

"Better than nothing..." He muttered to himself. "What else to pack...? Where to go...?"

He already couldn't wait to go.

And maybe, just maybe, he could figure out more things during the trip than just getting out of the rat race for a while.