However, Hyuga agreed, although he was confused. Which club was the one she was in? She led the way, while he followed her, hands in his pockets. To be honest, it was very funny to see the short, childish girl being followed by the tall, tanned soccer captain. They walked until the arrived at a classroom in the first floor, and they went in.
-Takenouchi… For heaven's sake! Look who you brought! -a girl with brown ponytails said.
-What's up with that?
-For Pete's sake, if it isn't Hyuga Kojiro, captain of the soccer team! -said a guy with a languid face and straight hair.
-Well… It was really hard to convince him, but it seems I made it. He has his own reasons to be here, and since I hate gossip, I won't tell them -Maya said, smiling.
-Er… Who are they, and what club is this supposed to be? –asked Kojiro, his little patience dangerously low.
-Chill out, Hyuga-san…
-But I need to know where I am.
-This is Toho Junior High's Culinary Club -the old club teacher said, entering the classroom. -By the way, I am glad to see there is a boy out of Kousuke that likes to cook.
Hyuga was as pale as the classroom's wall.
-The, the… The Culinary Club? -he gasped, more than perplexed.
-Yes… You're right. Sorry for not telling you about it, but if I had said it, you wouldn't have agreed to come in.
-God, I must be crazy. I'll never, ever in my life agree to something without reading the small print…
-Anyway, now that we have the soccer team's captain with us, we could bring more people here, and we could even win the other clubs' envy, including the Fists and Sweat Club -Kousuke, the languid dude said.
-Erm…Before you ask, Hyuga-san, fact is that Kousuke calls the Martial Arts club by that name, since he was rejected by it.
-He'd rather be careful, since my best friend's in the club.
-Well… Whatever. It seems we have new blood in the club -the girl of the ponytails said, whose name was Murata Hitomi. -At any rate, we'll have to test you, Hyuga-kun.
-Test?
-Not anyone can enter. At least you should know how to peel potatoes, if you know what I mean. At least Mayako passed the test easily; I can still remember how good her sushi is -Kousuke said, smirking.
-Stop calling me Mayako, Kousuke! -the girl answered, annoyed.
-Stop fighting you two. Let's see… There are several ingredients and utensils. Let's see how well you fare at cooking, young man -the teacher said, handing an apron to the very confused captain of the Toho Soccer Team.
"Gee whiz, Ken… It seems that your words were premonitory… Just look; just because I was a bit distracted I ended in the place where you said…" -he thought, while he looked at the stuff he in front of him. However, in his mind he listened to a voice he loved: his mother's voice.
"Remember, Kojiro: The trick to a good soup is to peel the potatoes completely and stop the dashi from boiling…" -he still remembered when he prepared dinner for Takeru, Masaru and Naoko, when he still lived in Saitama. Remembering everything, he began to peel potatoes, cut vegetables, cook… until he made a simple but tasty vegetable soup, just as the one his mother taught him to do.
And while all that happened, the youth recovered the ability he had acquired without knowing it when he was but a kid: Cooking.
When he finished, he served the soup to the students and the teacher, waiting the verdict.
-Let's see… This is a simple vegetable soup, but we'll see how the young candidate fared -the teacher said, before putting the tablespoon in the dish. Slowly the 'judges' took the tablespoon to their mouths and tasted carefully. Kojiro looked fearfully at Maya, and gave him thumbs up.
-Exquisite! -Hitomi said, smiling.
-What a flavor… This isn't an ordinary soup.
However, it was the old teacher the one that received the major surprise.
-I am completely sure that this young man is a born chef; he has the secret touch, the one that may take us to the city's cooking contest's first place.
A while later, Hyuga left the classroom, still annoyed.
-Shoot… If it wasn't for Takeshi's stupid challenge, I'd still be a free guy… I swear I'll give him the beating of his life when I see him…
-Hi, Hyuga-san. Did you enter a club? –talk of the Devil… the guy Hyuga was muttering about said behind him.
-Ah, Takeshi… Well, I did, go into a club. You happy?
-C'mon, tell me where you got into.
-I won't tell you.
-If you don't tell me, I won't consider the challenge complete, captain.
-I won't say it and that's all.
-Is it something embarrassing? Don't tell me you entered the Culinary Club by mere accident!
The captain of the soccer team was in shock when he saw that Takeshi had guessed. He was paralyzed for an instant, but later he went back to normal.
-Are you a fortune teller or what?
-What do you mean?
-Well, bull's-eye. I ended up in the school's Culinary Club because I was on the moon. What? Are you gonna laugh?
But Takeshi was mute.
-And what the heck got him? Oo…
-No, don't tell me… Don't tell me that you are in the Culinary Club … -Takeshi couldn't believe it at all. -That is to say… You're in the reject's club.
-You even DARE to think I wanted to enter there, Takeshi?
-No, but… -Takeshi made a tremendous effort to avoid laughing.
-Look. You'd rather not say a single word about this, or you'll pay it dearly, understand? -Hyuga was quite angry.
-Fine by me.
While the boy went to his room, Hyuga went to the soccer field to vent out his fury, where he met with Kazuki, who was practicing alone with a soccer ball.
-Hyuga-san! What happened? You look as if misfortune had hit you -the brown-haired guy said when he met Kojiro.
-Don't mention it, Eirina -he answered, receiving a poisoned look from the forward.
-Captain, how many times do I have to say, repeat, insist and say again that I hate it when you call me Eirina?
-No idea, but almost nobody remembers your name.
-And once again… ORE NO NAMAE HA SORIMACHI KAZUKI! (My name is Sorimachi Kazuki!) –the one mentioned exclaimed on the verge of the tears TT.
-But believe us… We don't intend to insult you.
-Doesn't seem so. Well, whatever… Did you enter a club?
-Yes -and once again the Toho Soccer team's captain's temper flared up.
-Ah, great…
-Ah, great?
-Yup dee-doo… I'm not worried about knowing which club you're member of; I'm only glad to know that at least you won't only be devoted to soccer for a term.
Hyuga allowed a sigh of relief to escape from him, while he practiced with his school and teammate.
However…
-Kazuki-san! -exclaimed a long-haired, bespectacled girl that both boys knew well: Kooda Eri, the soccer team's assistant. -Hi!
-Hi there, Eri -san! -the guy exclaimed, as he was the girl's best friend.
-Kazuki-san, Hyuga-san… Kitadzume-san called to say that he couldn't come, so there's no training.
-Ah, wonderful. Anyway, I had only come to inscribe myself once again in the Music club -Kazuki said, smiling. For him, Eri was his best friend, almost his twin sister.
-Really? I entered the Arts club again.
-Martial Arts? -Hyuga asked, confused.
-No, Hyuga-san. Arts as in Plastic Arts; don't forget I like to draw and paint.
-Ah, right.
-And where did you go in?
-Er, I…
-Ah, I've forgotten you're a soccer addict, Hyuga-san.
Hyuga sighed in relief once again.
Later, at lunchtime, Kojiro, Ken and Takeshi sat down in their usual spot, eating in silence, as their captain was still in a bad mood. He hadn't said anything to Ken, since he knew that if he told him, he'd suffer Ken's sour jeers, and by God were they sour.
However…
-Oi, Hyuga… Do you want me to lend you an apron? -a high school student said while he passed by. –I mean, so your clothes don't get stained.
-What did you say? -the Tiger answered, standing up with a jump.
-Hyuga-kun, chill out… -Ken said, standing up too. -Oi, if you don't have anything better to do than bothering my pal here, then scram. Besides, you're talking nonsense.
-Don't you know it, Wakashimadzu?
-Know what?
-Do you know into what mischief you pal the soccer captain got himself into this time?
-That matter doesn't concern you -Hyuga said threateningly.
-Gee, now the cook's angry…
-Cook? –Ken mumbled, confused and looking at Hyuga.
-You remember what you said this morning?
-Don't tell me that… You got distracted and…
-Yes… Culinary Club.
Ken's face was as pale as the T-shirt he had on.
-YOU ENTERED THE SCHOOL'S COOKING CLUB! –he exclaimed without breathing, making the other people there turn and stare at the table where the students from Saitama were.
-And up to now you figure it out, Wakashimadzu? Careful; you'd better be careful, or Hyuga'll poison your food.
-Leave us alone! -and Hyuga pushed the high school student to the floor, furious, while Ken's face was still unhinged out of mere astonishment. Takeshi hurried to force the Karate Keeper to sit down.
-OK, OK, but you don't have to be so violent, Hyuga -and laughing the senpai left, leaving the Tiger as furious as he could be, Ken in an absolute shock and Takeshi struggling to avoid any other troubles.
-I think that Toho Chuu's peace has come to an end -said Takeshi timidly.
-Did you say something about this, Takeshi? I think I was very clear when I told you that you would pay it dearly if you said something!
-I haven't said a word! You know that a gossiper I am not, Hyuga-san! –Takeshi retorted, angry. But…
-If you're going to scream, then leave the place –the chief cook said, a lady of muscular arms.
The two students went as mute as Ken when they saw that the kitchen boss had a knife in a hand and a ladle in the other one.
-Yes, Ma'am -they answered.
Some time later, everyone was minding his or her own business, but Kojiro was in the bedroom, chewing out his fury.
"If it wasn't for Takeshi…" -he thought, eyes closed and frown creased. A while later Ken entered the room after having gone to look for something in the library.
-You came to make fun of me? -Hyuga asked.
-Please don't judge me before I say a thing.
-Then?
-We're roommates, and I guess I'm your pal. Why didn't you tell me, dude?
-Because your sarcasm is unbearable when you want to.
-No comments, then. However, I can't still believe it.
-Are you a fortune teller or what?
-Dunno… I meant that as a joke, but who'd ever imagine that it'd be true?
-Yes, and it's my fault.
-Your fault?
-Yeah. I accepted Takeshi's challenge and I let Takenouchi convince me.
-Takenouchi? Heh, if it wasn't because you're you, it'd even be laughable.
-What do you mean with that?
-If it wasn't because you are you, and knowing what and how you think, I would even think that you didn't go into the Culinary Club by accident, but because you like Takenouchi… -and Ken laughed at his own idea.
-And what the heck got him? Oo…