Cœur Tendre


I do not own Shokugeki no Soma anime and manga or any of the in-series characters. Just my OC's. Please support the official releases of the franchise's manga, anime etc.


Chapter 1: L'inattendu

March 01st, 2016 | SHINO's Tokyo | 7:14 PM

The longtime friends and colleagues of French cuisine chef Shinomiya Kojiro were sitting at their tables.

Inui Hinako, her arms crossed, covering the neckline of her simple long-sleeved, knee-high red dress was about to lay back in her seat yet straightened her position as soon as she remembered that Chapelle-sensei was seated at the neighbouring table to her right.

The twenty-seven-year-old Totsuki alum felt her cheeks get red with each passing second. How rude of you Shinomiya-senpai, to keep invited guests waiting this long! She began to grumble under her breath after her thought.

She one of the cartoonish faces that she was known for among the group."What a narcissistic, boneheaded stubborn mule he is!" Although after a few more seconds had passed, her face had turned back normal the field of vision of her dark purple eyes just revealed her red flat dress shoes. "I hope he's alright," she inadvertently spoke out.

"I also wish the same for him." Chapelle-sensei added. "As many times as I've encountered that young man, he has always been as punctual as one can be." A small half smile momentarily formed on the stern lecturer's face as he reminisced how Shinomiya was always the first student present for each of his taught lectures.

"Perhaps one of should call the hotel again to see if Shinomiya-san has checked in yet?" Donato Gotouda suggested.

"He hasn't picked up any of our calls." Sekimori Hitoshi looked at his phone.

"I admit, for someone with his attitude it this seem all that surprising to me." Mizuhara Fuyumi remarked in her usual deadpan tone. "Still, maybe we should ask Dojima-senpai if he's seen him."

Everyone's attention turned to the sound of the restaurant's front door opening.

"It's great to be back!" A more than familiar from a specific Totsuki student had called out from the doorway.

"Yukihira! You can't blurt out something that in someone else's business, even if you did spend time training here!" Takumi scolded.

"Nii-chan, your voice is just as loud as his was." Isami Aldini pointed out.

"My bad, Isami," the older twin brother said in a quieter tone.

"Hey, something feels a little different about this place." Soma looks around his surroundings with curious golden eyes. "Can't really put my finger on it." He crossed his left arm on his chest while his right hand was balled in a fist with his index finger tapping on the right corner of his mouth.

The kitchen door smoothly glides open not making a single sound. "Welcome to SHINO's Tokyo." Gao Wei greeted the enlarging group of people entering the restaurant with a polite smile.

"Hey, it's been a while." Soma smiled back cheerfully.

"Hey Yukihira," Lucie lightly patted his back. "You didn't forget about us after getting back to Totsuki did you?" The blue haired young woman questioned with a bright smile.

"Of course not." Soma assured in response, expressing an identical quantity of cheeriness.

The two older women began to ask multiple questions along with giving pleasant comments to their former Stagiaire coworker.

"You're looking pretty great in that suit." Lucie's grin showed no sign of fading.

Soma laughed and rubbed the back of his spiky red hair. "Well, I figured since I'm coming back to Master's place I'd do a little dressing up." Although not in his more laid back choice of wardrobe, the second-year high school student was dressed in a black blazer with a very dark red pocket square and dress pants, plain dress shirt, a striped burgundy neck tie under a same coloured vest with white matching buttons.

"Have you been sleeping well? You barely did when you were training here." Wei questioned with a worrying look on her face.

"What about eating? You kids need to keep up your strength while you can." Lucie interjected.

"How are you're grades progressing?" Wei continued the seemingly endless amount of questions.

Is this payback for the questions I asked during the stagiaire? Soma thought to himself.

"You know you and your classmates here are at that age where you have to spend as much being young as you are." Lucie patted his back.

Wei nodded in agreement and raised a finger near the bottom of her chin. "As much fun as it is being a chef. You need to have as much fun being a high school student."

Soma's fellow dorm mates Ryoko and Yuki and friend Ikumi were closely watching the scene. In the manga they would be drawn chibi-style with blank white eyes and whispering comments among them.

"There talking to him like he's their little brother coming home from school." Ryoko whispered among them.

"Well, I guess it's kind of understandable since he does live in a dorm owned by the school." Yuki joked playfully stuck out her tongue, her green eyes where closed and had a smiling formation pointed upright.

"It's a real change from complete strangers challenging him to a shokugeki." Ikumi spoke further.

For a moment there was a buzz of silence among the trio. "It does feel odd."

"So what do you think Megumi?" Yuki asked in her usual cheeriness.

When not receiving an immediate reply, the three looked around.

"Megumi?" Ryoko lightly called out.

"She's over there." Shun pointed to where the blue-haired girl and professor Jun Shiomi were being unwillingly cuddled by an overexcited starry-eyed Hinako.

"You were quick to point out at that weren't you, Ibusaki-kun?" Ryoko teased him.

"Just pointing out the obvious." Shun replied.

The entryway door swinged open.

Totsuki Villa head chef Dojima Gin, former Totsuki academy headmaster Nakiri Senzaemon and The Wandering Chef, Yukihira Joichiro enter.

"Oh grandfather you made it!" Nakiri Alice cheered from across the room with a goofy grin happily grinning.

The eldest Nakiri figure lightly blushed and cleared his throat. "Hello to the both of you." Although he was at the opposite of the large room, he spoke as if he was just inches aways from his grandchildren.

"Alice, this isn't the dorm that you can just blurt out whatever you want to say." The current Totsuki headmaster Nakiri Erina lectured her cousin.

"Oh come Erina, I was just happy to see grandfather after such a long time. Aren't you?" The pale white girl in a simple purple evening gown teased.

We talked to him yesterday. Erina pinched one of the light blue gems on her necklace that matched with her light blue dress and white scarf. "O-of course I am! Why wouldn't I be?!"

"If you really were then you would've said it already." Alice continued with her the goofy chibi expression.

Erina's face turned red. "I'm just saying that it is impolite to be shouting a public place! You should wait for the person to be greeted in a more appropriate volume of voice!"

"It's also impolite to not greet a member of your own family as soon as they come through the door." Alice commented. "Not to mention starting an argument in the middle of a dining room." The elder Nakiri daughter snickered. "It would've been better to it now instead of arguing with me, right? You're talking quite loud you know."

"Oh don't act all high and mighty. You didn't even say hello to Saiba-sama or Chef Dojima."

"That's because family comes first and they should be greeted first~." Alice replied with her typical sing-songy cheerfulness. She then turned to her aide wearing a black dress shirt under a golden-button silver black vest with his blazer resting on his left arm.

"Yes, milday?" Kurokiba Ryo asked in his usual tone of voice.

"Seriously Ryo-kun? Haven't you been paying attention at all since we've got here?"

"Yes, I have."

"Well you know that I'm the one whose right, aren't you?"

"I think you both made some good points." Ryo replied.

The half-Scandinavian girl puffed her cheeks and frowned. "What is the matter with you?!" she began to slap his back loudly and repeatedly.

Ryo moaned in slight annoyance as she continued.

"Why can't you just act more like Hishoko-chan and respect me the way she respects Erina?!" Alice continued to slap his back.

"Don't call me that!" Hisako called out.

In the opposite side of the room there was an additional argument executed between the Yukihira father-son duo.

"Quit messin' with my hair!" Soma shouted.

"C'mon Soma. Is that anyway to talk to your one and only precious dad?" Joichiro laughed as he continued to ruffle his son's spiky locks. "You gotta admit that you like it when I show up once in a while, right?"

"You always show up randomly out of nowhere! How did you even know where I was old man?!" Soma looked at his father with a blank white eyes and bent eyebrows.

Joichiro gave his son a smug grin. "What? You didn't know I was invited?"

Soma scanned his father's clothing ensemble of casual jeans, shirt and light spring jacket. "You got invited and that's what you put on?"

"Geez, give me I break will ya?" Joichiro wrapped his brawny arm around Soma's shoulder. "I ended up getting some work in Madrid and then I hopped on the closest flight I could get on time." Joichiro laughed. "You wouldn't believe how long I had to wait to hitch a ride when I landed over there!"

Lucie and Wei were standing side by side near the kitchen door, watching the occurrences in front of them.

"So much for the demanded request of keeping the volume down." Lucie hung her head below.

"Things are certainly getting lively." Wei chuckled nervously.

"Does this mean we both have to share dish duty?" The two women moaned as the question was thought aloud by the both of them.

Soma frowned. "So you couldn't pick some nicer looking clothes before getting here?" He continued to question his father's laid back choice of clothing.

"Oh, you're still going on about that? Who would've thought that you'd be acting a tightwad after getting the First Seat?"

"This place is important to me Pops, and Master Shinomiya isn't here yet!"

"Well he won't coming here any faster with your yelling!"

"I'm ain't the only one yelling!"

Takumi pointed at Soma in annoyance. "Do you need to be reminded to keep your voices down as Chef Shinomiya requested?!"

"Nii-chan, do you need to?" Isami asked his older twin brother snickering.

"No, l don't Isami." The blonde twin spoke more calmly as he fixed his black bow tie.

The two brothers were among the remaining group to witness the still quarrelling Yukihira family of two who were now arguing about a different topic.

Soma pointed at his father's chest. "Alright there's only to settle this. Let's have a shokugeki right now!"

Joichiro crossed his arm and smirked. "Deal! Loser has to eat an experiment!"

"You're on!" Soma agreed to the condition.

The red-haired teenager turned towards the direction of the restaurant's boucher and costumer service manager. "Wei-san, Lucie-san is it okay if we use the kitchen?"

"No." The two women swiftly rejected the request.

Wei cleared her throat. "Chef Shinomiya, requests others also included not having any cooking battles."

Hinako made a disappointed face and pouted. "So there won't any revenge match for that battle that happened at the training camp?"

Fuyumi gave the brunette woman quick slap in the face.

The last statement caught the attention of Senzaemon. "I don't recall hearing about an event of that nature."

Chappelle-sensei interjected, "I am also not sure why that rumor started."

Senzaemon turned his head looking at his granddaughters and their personal aides, along with Hayama Akira. "You were also present at last year's camp. Do you know anything about this?"

The faces of Gin, Fuyumi, Sekimori, and Donato and Megumi had become nervous. Soma's however, was not as he was enjoying their reaction.

Erina shook her head. "The very thought of a mere student to even request a battle of a graduate would've been expelled immediately..."

"Oh come on Erina," her cousin interrupted. "Even if it did happen, there's nothing wrong with admitting it wouldn't have not been fun to watch."

Erina cheeks grew red. "You knew that I wasn't going to say that, Alice!"

Senzaemon cleared his throat. "Very well, let's put that rumor to rest then, it was a year ago after all."

"Of course, grandfather." Erina responded with a blush, as Alice chimed.

"Speaking of rumors," Gin changed the subject hurriedly, "which ones about Shinomiya are actually true?"

"I apologize, but the only one who can confirm anything is himself." Wei politely dismissed his question.

I wonder what started those rumors anyway. They pretty much came out of nowhere. Soma thought to himself. He's coming back to Tokyo because of them...so they really that serious? What's the big deal?

The restaurant's head chef, Abel Blondin came out of the kitchen with his cellphone in hand. His face appeared weary as his light blue eyes looked strained as a reddish hue overlapped his pupils.

He cleared his throat. "Sorry for keeping you all waiting but Chef Shinomiya informed me that he will be arriving later then expected."

Hinako frowned and pouted. "Who does Shinomiya-senpai think he is?! He's such an arrogant, narcissistic, bonehead poser."

"You forgot to call me a mule this time." Fuyumi commented.

"Weren't you worried about Shinomiya-san a while ago?" Donato asked his batch mate.

"She definitely was." Chef Sekimori added.

"Chef Inui, please control your noise volume to a minimum." Wei politely gave her the reminder.

Hinako sighed. "Your right," she apologized. "I wouldn't want to scare my Megumi-chan." The brunette woman stared with starstruck eyes and a tiny cat smile at the nervous blue-haired girl wearing a yellow dress tied a white ribbon tied to the side, quickly writing the kanji character for 'person' on her hand repeatedly.

"Tadokoro-san," Arato Hisako stood next to her, "you aren't putting enough weight on the stroke and you need to switch from adding weight to your elbow, not your wrist."

"R-right!" Megumi complied with blank white eyes fixated at the palm of her hand.

"Too late..." Ryoko, Yuki, and Ikumi said quietly in unison observing their nervous friend.


More time passed by as they invited parties await for the usually punctual restaurant owner to still arrive. Nearly an hour had already passed since the Soma and company arrival.

Once again, Hinako's worrying feelings took over her thoughts.

Her mind pondered all the way back to nearly a full year prior during the first day of that training camp where the then stagnant Shinomiya called her cell phone, reprimanded the female chef for bringing back her group of students back to the hotel late. The notion of him becoming burnt out after winning the Pluspol Award didn't enter her mind, as she simply wanted to interact with him, similar to their school days.

Next, Hinako's mind flash-backed to that moment nearly eleven years ago, when he revealed his long-kept secret of moving to France right after graduation. The sudden shock of the news caused her to immediately worry for his well being mostly due to his aggressive nature and how it could create a negative reputation in the the land of haute cuisine. His physical response of lifting her by her head was to be expected, however the hopeful smile he made after looking up to the sky above, it slightly reassured her that he would eventually succeed. Nonetheless, her temporary grudge towards him until their food battle hindered her effort of wanting to confess to him.

Being late...is so unlike him. Hinako closed her purple eyes tightly resisting the urge to make any tears. She rested her head on the table. He's hiding something from me again.'Her mind starting to grow weary from the older memories and new worries conjuring one after the other. Is it possible that him coming back to Japan, only because of these rumors, or is this the only way of him telling us that something big happened to him?

While continuing to rest to her head, she clenched the hand sitting freely on her shaking lap. I don't know how long I can keep doing this anymore... Tonight... I have to tell him.

Donato attempted to extend his hand towards his batchmate, but was stopped by Fuyumi.

The aburge owner looked over his shoulder and saw Hitoshi nodding in agreement.


The amount of time that had flown by had now reached was over thirty minutes.

The clock on her phone read that it was nearly eight-thirty, made Hinako sigh to herself again.

A familiar timid voice approached her ears. "Chef Inui, are you alright?"

Hinako simply nodded in response. "I'm just a little tired."

Megumi's smiled in relief. "I'm glad to hear that-!"

Hinako suddenly placed her hands into the blue-haired girl's, causing the teenager to nervously blush. "After all how could I be sad when my Megumi-chan, is this close to me?" The woman's lustful tone followed contradicted the gentle feeling of her hand gestures. "You'd still be a cute menu item to indulge in."

Even when she's tired, she can still be scary... Megumi nervously thought as Hinako pulled her into a forced cuddle.

The teenager still couldn't help but keep feeling that something was still unresolved within the older woman. Megumi tried to think of a certain quality of the woman before her, to help ease herself. At least she's not a bad person.


As the minutes, continue to tick away, Hinako's state of mind remained uneasy. Shinomiya-senpai, if you don't show up soon and explain what's going on... Her face turned cartoonish as it grew red. I'm going to be very upset, with you!

The immature sounding thought then brought up the images of the very grudge she had with him, the memories of ignoring his calls and walking away in a huff, glaring at him during the sushi dinner at their upperclassman's then newly opened restaurant. Then running away from the group with tear-filled eyes only to be challenged to a food battle which determined whether or not Shinomiya stayed in Japan. She recalled the look on his face after that event.

She was still upset about his departure. The way he smally smiled at her and the gentle way he laid his hand on top of her dark brown hair. Those words: "You better catch up to me Hinako", echoed in the back of her mind.

Why? Her clenched her teeth and squeezed her violet-coloured tareme eyes, halting the formation of tears. Why am I having such a hard time with all of this? It wasn't even as hard as it was back then... Does Shinomiya-senpai have such a big announcement...that I won't be able to finally tell him after all?

Hinako continue to feel the heat from her face after she rested her forehead on her arm.

However, she did take some comfort relief that the pink-haired chef did not mention to be in love with another woman, as well as never being involved in any long-term relationship.

Fuyumi, Donato and Hitoshi continue to quietly observe their longtime friend from a short distance.


Each minute that ticked away went by as if it was an eternity.

The nauseating feeling in Hinako's chest was starting to become numb.

Her phone battery was draining as she continued to stare at the unsent, drafted text massage. He still didn't reply to the other ones, what are the chances this one will do any good?

She tilted her head back and sank in her chair, stretching her tired arms. I've got an early day tomorrow. Maybe I should just leave and have somebody else fill me on senpai's announcement.

The sound of the restaurant's front slowly door opening caught the attention of everyone inside, silencing their own personal conversations.

Hinako's eyes widen as she was doubting the sight before her.

Before her, was a sight that she did not except from the stern and extremely uptight chef, especially now of all times.

Hinako's body was frozen into where she stood. I get it now, this is why you arranged all of this.

She placed her right fist in the middle of her chest, trying to prevent another stream of tears- this time as a sign of relief. What could be more important than announcing a new role in your life. Congratulations, Shinomiya-senpai, I hope you get all of the support you need.


Thank you for reading this chapter of my new story. Please provide any review you have no matter how long or short. If you have any questions or even suggestions for the future, please send them to my PM inbox.