Disclaimer: I don't own Kitchen Princess, or its characters. Natsumi Ando does.
Story: She missed Sora and he reminded her of him. He hadn't felt such kindness or caring for himself since his late wife. Daichi just wants to support them both, but doesn't know how. Akane is just trying to be a good friend.
Set as an AU after Najika gives the Director the salted sweets, and no Daichi/Najika parts.
Spoilers: Yes, for the whole series.
Warnings: ?
Pairings: The Director/Najika, strong past Sora/Najika, side (minor?) Seiya/Najika, and Daichi/Akane…

Salted Caramel Chocolates
Chapter Eight: The Game of Chance

Masahiko was entirely too pleased and admittedly happy with the night before. Najika had all but confessed her feelings to him, as new and blossoming as they were, and they had made love and been together in such a way that it felt right.

He couldn't imagine life without her and being with anyone but her for the rest of his life.

He shuffled around the room sleepily, frowning when he noticed Najika was missing. He was quick to find her note though, smiling to himself while also rolling his eyes when he saw that she'd written that she'd gone to get ingredients to practice the recipe she planned on doing for the last of the contest. It was so like her that it made him laugh quietly. She'd probably steamroll him into being her guinea pig for her cooking, despite the fact it was a dessert and he wasn't into sweets. Still, he'd do it for her and it wasn't like he didn't enjoy her cooking, sweet things or not. He didn't mind it from her after all.

His phone rang –his cell phone –and he wondered who it could be. He did leave the academy and his home in a hurry and without a word to anyone, but he didn't think he'd be missed this quickly. He'd barely been gone.

Looking at his phone, he didn't recognize the number and hesitated to answer it. But he did and nearly stopped breathing as he listened.

"Hello, is this Masahiko Kitazawa?"

"Yes? This is he," he answered unsurely.

"This is the Paris General Hospital. We're calling to inform you that one of your students has been in a car accident and is now being treated here in intensive care. Being that you're listed as her primary contact, we wanted to call you."

Then he had to listen to whoever it was tell him how and when it happened (An hour ago? But where was he, what was he doing?), and that she hadn't yet been stabilized.

"I'll be there," he told them quickly. "I'm at her hotel. I can be there in a few minutes."

So he tossed on some clothes, reluctantly called the lobby to have them call Seiya and inform him to meet Masahiko down there, and hurried.

"Director!" Seiya said in surprise, confused and taken aback at seeing him there. "What are you doing here for?"

"I was here for the contest," he semi-lied. "But Najika was in an accident. She's in the hospital."

Seiya's eyes widened before a solemn look stole over the blond's face, and Masahiko was uncomfortably reminded of Sora's face. Pushing that thought away, he turned on his heel and headed out of the hotel lobby and to where his rental car was, letting Seiya tag along. With the way he was driving, they made it in no time to the hospital, where they were directed to the ICU and had to wait outside.

He felt so numb. He didn't want to lose Najika. He couldn't lose her. Not another person that he loved –first Ruriko, his beloved friend and wife, and then his son Sora. Did he have to lose Najika too? He just gained her. It wasn't…fair.

"What do I do?"

For a moment, he thought he'd said that aloud, lost in his despair. But then he realized that Seiya had said it and was clenching his eyes and hands tightly. Then he opened them and looked straight at Masahiko.

"I'm sorry, sir. I know that this competition is important to you and your cooking school, but Najika's hurt and I don't know what to do."

Masahiko swallowed harshly, looking away from Sora. "What would she want you to do?"

He could see the other thinking before Seiya bit his lip. "She would want me to compete," he whispered.

Masahiko looked at his phone, seeing the time. "The competition starts in an hour. Can you make it?"

"Yes," Seiya said determinedly.

"I'll call you a cab and get them to take you there," he said, already dialing a number. "Do you know what you're going to cook?"

"Excuse me?" they heard and looked to see a nurse come towards them. "Are you here for Najika Kazami?"

"What's she saying?" Seiya asked him in a panicked voice, seeing as the nurse was speaking in French. Masahiko did business often overseas, so he at least understood.

"We are," Masahiko confirmed, focusing on the nurse.

The nurse handed a piece of paper to him. "She was clutching this in her hand. I think it's a recipe? I recognize her –she's from that cooking competition, yes?"

"She is," Masahiko answered, accepting it and trying to not flinch at the sight of dried blood on the paper. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," she smiled at him before she left.

Masahiko looked at the paper, seeing the recipe for a rainbow cake. "This is Najika's recipe she was going to use for the competition," he said before Seiya could ask any more questions.

"Can I have it?" Seiya asked softly and Masahiko looked at him sharply. "I want to make it for her. I want to win this in her name and with what she came up with, so we can consider it a joint-win…"

His fingers twitched and held onto the recipe a little longer before he reluctantly handed it over.

"Sir," Seiya bowed. "I know you don't like her and blame her for your son's death, but please do everything you can for her and help her make it through this."

Masahiko irritably looked away. "That's old news," he said severely. "It's not like that anymore."

The other probably confused and surprised, he knew that Seiya wanted to ask further, but he hurried him away and to wait for the cab in front of the hospital. After a while, he found out Najika was heading into surgery and he waited fearfully in the hallway outside the operating room.

He put his hands together and clasped them tightly. He took a deep, shaky breath and closed his eyes.

"Sora…Ruriko…please, please hear me…If you two can hear me now, please help me. Look after Najika and bring her back. Don't let her go to where you are. I don't want to lose her. Oh God, I can't lose her. I can't lose anyone else. I don't think I can take it."

He bit down on his lip, hard enough he drew blood.

"Please recover safely, Najika," he whispered.


He carefully put the last strawberry in place before straightening up and scrutinizing his work. He smiled widely and nodded, satisfied and proud of the cake he'd made.

"Good work, Nakama-san! It looks delicious. I'm sure the customer will be proud."

"Thank you!" Kousuke waved to his boss as he left him. Kousuke's smile turned thoughtful then.

This was the same strawberry cake that he'd had to make and compete against Kazami Najika that one time at the confectionary competition at Seika Academy. It brought a small and fond smile he made at the memory, as well at the remembrance of that girl.

He'd been so confident then, thinking he could breeze on by and that not even that small slip of a girl could best him. But those ingredients…he'd been so put off and hesitant about them, and that had been his downfall. It was such a shame, but yet…it also wasn't. It led him to finding out about her and meeting her, and he couldn't be any gladder about it.

Najika was beyond talented and it was amazing how she had managed to pull off recreating the owner's cake with those inferior and cheap ingredients. She was also kind of pretty and very sweet and kind, so it made him admire her all the more for it.

But remembering her brought to mind that visit to Hokkaido, where he'd surprisingly ran into her and, of all people, the Director of Seika Academy. The two of them looked nice and yet also casual, like they were just out on an outing. He could also almost say that they looked like they were on a-a-a date.

"Say, didn't you say that that girl you competed against at that school was in the new junior cooking contest in Paris?" his friend asked distractedly, looking at his phone.

"Yeah, what of it, Shinji?" Kousuke rolled his eyes.

"I think she was in an accident."

Kousuke blinked before he dived towards his phone and barely pulled up the internet before he saw the "Breaking News."

Najika Kazami in Hospital – Tragic Accident Mirrors Her Parents?

This couldn't be happening. He'd just seen her not too long ago! He felt dazed and confused, and uncertain what it meant for this to happen. She had been so healthy and happy looking the last time he'd seen her, so this news was jolting and felt surreal.

He wondered if that man was with her right now, Seika Academy's Director.

Last he heard, the other had hated her and blamed her for his son's death. But it hadn't looked like that last time he'd seen them both –they'd been together and looked at ease and on good terms. In fact…

They didn't look like they were friends either. It looked much more intimate than that…

Kousuke's head was all over the place. Maybe he was just…imagining things.


Akane hadn't been feeling well all day. It wasn't even like a sick feeling. It was more like a…uneasy feeling had settled inside of her and refused to leave. She had gone to school, went class to class, and gone through the day like that, and she hadn't felt okay about anything.

"What's wrong?" Daichi asked her in concern while they milled about in Fujita Diner.

She smiled at him weakly. "Probably nothing. Just not feeling too well."

"I could whip out some warm soup," Fujita mentioned blithely, reading the newspaper.

"You going to actually cook?" Daichi asked, tone sarcastic.

"Watch it, brat! Just because I prefer to laze around doesn't mean I'm not still a cook!"

As the two began to squabble, Akane felt herself barely smile. She looked down at the floor and hoped that what it was would go away soon and she could go back to feeling normal.

"Akane, you sure you're alright?" Daichi asked again, looking to her and seeing she was still out of it.

Fujita frowned at her. "Hey, I'm sure she wouldn't mind, so if you want to lay down, you could use Najika's bed."

Akane hesitated before nodding. "Yeah, I think a nap could help."

He led her to where it was, with Daichi following curiously, and Fujita pulled down a ladder from the ceiling. Akane climbed up it and went straight to the bed. The place was cramped and she wondered how on earth could Najika be able to stay and live there? The dorm room had been small, but not like this!

She also wondered if the Director would ever give her better accommodations, maybe in his own home…

Right then, Akane yawned and was about to try going to sleep when she caught sight of the watch that Sora had given Najika when the other girl's watch had broken. Akane reached out to it and took a look at the clock face, stilling the moment that she did though.

It wasn't working, the hands frozen in place and as if it was stuck in time. The uneasy feeling in her became worse.

Akane hoped that everything was okay and was terrified that it wasn't.

Started 12/27/16 – Completed 1/1/17

A/n: Er, I the Nakama and Akane parts weren't originally planned to be in here, but the whole beginning was too short, so…Long time, no see, eh? Still my beloved pet project, so thanks to those still reading and especially to those who leave a review, since this thing is so obscure and not many people would read it much less take the time to review. Thanks, guys!