Author's Note: Goodness, I just reread my draft- I sure made Sora a jerk in this first chapter. And he sure doesn't think highly of himself either. Better than the personality-less saint-like character than he was though. Bonus points if you know the name of the Shakespeare play I have Sora refer to.

This chapter is slightly shorter than Akane's- this is the first time I've written anything in Sora's perspective, even if it is my own version of Sora- I usually write Akane/Seiya stuff, so this is pretty new. I'm trying not to make Sora too much like Seiya, since that would defeat the purpose of keeping Sora alive.

There's not really much plot development in this chapter anyways- just introduction to a side of Sora that should have existed, and hopefully readers will grow to love.

I honestly don't know how long the whole story is going to be- I have the climax and end planned out already, but the question is the transition there.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kitchen Princess, or its characters. This has not happened in the actual manga, just a spin on what would have happened had Sora not died and been less of a milk-livered personality-less drone.

Strawberries and Milk

Sora

I've always held my tongue because I was required to. I've always done what my father required of me because I'm the 'good son'. I've always befriended everyone because it was an advantage for my father. I'm deceitful and manipulative, and quite frankly, what Daichi said about me is true- that I'm a two-faced cold-hearted and I'm using Najika for my gain. I also harbor my secrets- no one really knows the real Sora, just the person they think is Sora, the perfect prince of a student council president.

The truth is, I've held something to myself that I've never told anyone- a secret that brought me to first resent my brother.

When I was 8, I was convinced that my little brother killed my mother.

Not on purpose, maybe. But he was just so delusional into thinking that she'd be okay, he didn't call us in Hokkaido when she was getting sicker and sicker.

The truth is, sometimes I think that he's the reason for a lot of grief in my life. His stubbornness is why we're not a family. He's the one that made the cloud of grief over my stepmother, who isn't a bad person. She's not my mother, and no one will ever replace her, but she is trying and for that alone, I admire her. It's not easy to deal with one of your stepkids refusing to acknowledge you.

He's also the one that captured the heart of the girl I like.

It's obvious Akane likes him. Why else would she go through the whole watch thing if she didn't? Maybe that's part of the reason I like her- she has passion and she's more stubborn than any girl you'll meet. She isn't without her faults- who is? But she has the drive to give a hundred and ten percent in everything she does, and there aren't many girls like her.

Maybe I'm being mean to my brother. It's not his fault Akane likes him. He was just a good friend to her. You see, Akane and Daichi were also closer friends. Maybe because they were the same age, but Daichi and I both knew that Akane didn't get along very well with her mother. We saw her crying multiple times, and I never knew how to comfort her. Daichi, who was warm and friendly at the time, did.

I can't help but envy him. He may not be able to sort out his own feelings by himself, but he knows his mind, he's not afraid to say what he's feeling, making himself my polar opposite. No one's been able to read me, except one girl, and my brother's just out there, like an open book. To everyone, Daichi is dark, and surly, but in an endearingly sweet way. He wears his heart on his sleeve.

To everyone, I'm the white prince, light, compassionate, caring- of course, by now, you've probably realized I'm not really all that sweet. I get jealous, and all of my feelings are bottled up, so no one can take them and use them against me.

It's easy to persuade girls to do what you want, and even easier to charm them. A smile, a kind word, nice gestures... I got instructions from my dad to convince Najika to join the Confectionary Contest and she was so easy to manipulate, I almost felt a little bad for her.

The thing I never told my father was that I had my own reasons for trying to get Najika on my side. It was obvious from the beginning that Daichi liked her, even if he hadn't figured it out yet, and me getting Najika to like me was just my little revenge on my brother.

I can sincerely say that I felt bad for Akane when she saw Daichi kissing Najika. I watched the scene, almost amused- I almost predicted something like this happening, since Daichi can be rash.

I can also sincerely say that I was a bit happy, just because it meant that I had more of a chance. Of course, I also felt guilty, after I saw her face. There was just such a flurry of emotions in her face that you just couldn't be sure of what would happen when Najika walked back in. Akane's façade reminded me of my own- no wonder I liked her so much. No wonder Akane liked Daichi so much. What was the phrase again? Opposites attract?

Back to my brother and me- any hope of us reconciling really, has been thrown out the window by the messed up love square that we have. I like Akane, Akane likes Daichi, Daichi likes Najika, Najika likes me… It's pretty much like that Shakespearian comedy, except I have no clue how our own little drama is going to end.