"Sooo… Explain yourselves."
Souma raised an eyebrow at Takumi, Nikumi, and Houjo. Isami sat next to his brother as an honorary member.
"We-well, y'see Yukihira-kun…" Nikumi began, her face already becoming beet red. She squirmed uncomfortably, thinking back to the rather intimate silence they heard after the face slap.
"We just wanted to hear everything," Houjo interrupted flatly. Nikumi glared at her but Houjo continued regardless. "This whole drama isn't just some small spat; it'll affect every student here. Especially if Azami is involved."
Souma sighed. "Yeah, that's for sure… Geez, I didn't think it was something this big when they first called me out of my cooking class."
"Ugh, this is beginning to look really messy… " Takumi said, crossing his arms. "So many people backstage involved."
"But… But that's not as important." Souma looked at the four newcomers with a sharp glance. "The real question is: are you guys going to help us save Nakiri and Arato?"
There was a brief silence before both Nikumi and Takumi leapt to their feet, eyes blazing.
"Of course!" "Obviously!"
Isami gave a nod. Houjo narrowed her eyes before nodding her assent as well. Souma finally grinned, his eyes flickering.
"... Alright!"
"Hmm, but there's just something… that I'm still confused about." Everyone turned to face Megumi, who had a hand held thoughtfully at her chin. She turned her head to one side. "Why was there a Shokugeki to begin with… ?"
"There was something… between Azami and Hisako, at least from Souma's anecdote," Megumi continued. "That's why Hisako said that she 'understood now'. But what was that? And what does it have to do with Souma-kun?"
"Hmm…" Everyone sat back down, deeper in thought.
"It's going to be hard to help without knowing what we're going into," Isami said slowly.
"I guess… but, we don't have any leads either," Nikumi pointed out. She grimaced. "Much as I hate to go into this with no plan, we also don't know how much time we have."
Gripping his fist, Souma stood. He looked at each person in the room, eye to eye, holding onto Megumi's gaze a microsecond longer before turning back to everyone. "There's no real choice. We've gotta go to Tootsuki and find someone directly." Everyone nodded and rose to their feet.
Souma gave a wicked grin. "Time to save Nakiri and Arato. And whoop Azami's ass."
o0o0o0o
"Why are we going from the back?"
"Ssh!" Nikumi hissed at Takumi, who glared back crossly.
The group was huddled in the bushes and trees right outside the main building. The sun had long set, and the sky was a bruised indigo above. Megumi shivered as a cold breeze nipped by.
"We can't go in from the front for obvious reasons," Nikumi began, giving Takumi a pointed look. "Not to mention, access is restricted to the general administration section, which is basically all Nakiri-run anyway. And Erina-sama's room."
"Then how did you get in back when you were her assistant?" Souma asked curiously.
"Special I.D. But that's long been revoked… "
Nikumi nodded towards the window on the third floor. "That's where her private office is. But I have no idea how to get in-"
"Yukihira Souma?"
Blinking, the young cooks looked around in bewilderment for the source of the voice before Souma looked up into the branches. "Oh!"
Sitting in the crook of the tree right above, with her usual binoculars swinging from her neck, was Satasuka Nao. She slithered down the tree. "Ah, it really is you. Welcome to my favorite stalking spot," she snickered. Everyone other than Souma looked back at her unnerved, but Souma gave an easy laugh. "Haha, don't think you should be saying that, but we're all eccentric here."
Some more than others, the rest thought dryily.
"So what brings you lot here?" Nao sniffed in disdain at the ragged group. "I really do not have the time to chat when I cannot locate my dear Hisako-Onee-sama. Imagine, me, a pro-stalker, unable to find my beloved-!"
The others shared a glance before Megumi stepped forward. "Sadatsuka-san, Hisako-san is… She, well, she's actually missing from Tootsuki. We're looking for her, in fact. That's why we're here."
Sadatsuka's face slackened. "What?" she rasped. "Impossible, I only just saw her in Erina-sama's room there a couple days ago."
A couple days ago… "Around what time?" Souma asked. "I was with her and Nakiri in the afternoon."
Sadatsuka shook her head, the black strands of hair swishing like a broom. "Seven thirteen PM. She was there by herself, reshelving and cleanin-" Her eyes popped open. "Now that I think of it, quite more thoroughly than usual. She must have been taking away her things- oh, my poor Onee-sama!" Sadatsuka nearly began to wail before Hojou clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Quiet." When Sadatsuka nodded, unusually meek, Houjo let go. The other girl sighed melodramatically and folded herself into the ground, muttering darkly.
"We need a plan." Takumi nodded up towards the high window. "We're not going to be able to climb in from outside; we'll just have to bust our way through from the front."
"Not to mention we have no idea where they might be… Although I guess we could try the Nakiri residence. But still, can't really go knocking on Azami's front door can we," Nikumi said somberly.
With uneasy glances, they all fell silent other than for Sadatsuka's mumbling. A lone owl hooted ominous, and the bright lights from inside Tootsuki Academy casted even darker shadows around the forest.
Megumi swallowed and then held her fists together. She looked up sharply, eyes flashing. "I-We, we can't give up here! We knew from the start that this wasn't going to be easy, we're trying to find two people important in something Azami's planning. We can't give up here," she repeated, with a tinge of desperation. "I know it seems impossible but, but, there has to be a way!" Megumi glanced frantically at everyone before Takumi lightly patted her shoulder.
"Megumi-san, don't worry. I don't think anyone here's trying to back out." When Megumi looked at him with startled eyes, he coughed. "Oh… uh… Also, I'm sorry for what I said about… you staying in the Virgo Dormitory. It was awful and cold-hearted, especially since I knew you're a good person."
Megumi smiled, a little sadly. "It's alright, Takumi-san. I know I hurt you and a lot of other people who are close with Souma-kun." She glanced at Souma before freezing, eyes wide.
"What's wrong, Tadokoro?" Souma asked, concerned.
"Red bandanna… Nakiri household… That's it! It's been staring at us in the face the whole time!" Megumi exclaimed, her eyes shining brightly. She whirled around towards Sadatsuka, who was still moping on the ground. "Sadatsuka-san! Sadatsuka-san, if you go into Erina-san's room, would you be able to track down Hisako-san?"
The long haired girl sniffled. "Of course," she muttered. "Who do you think I am?"
Takumi, Isamu, and Nikumi stared at Megumi in confusion but Souma's eyes also widened. He facepalmed. "Damn, it was all so easy!" he groaned and Megumi nodded. "Souma-kun, the bandanna on your arm reminded me of him. Or rather, them."
The two exchanged a look.
"Alice."
o0o0o0o
The game was in actually finding the wolf and his wandering girl, whose wonderland was clearly all of Tootsuki Academy. Luckily, Sadatsuka had been keeping a couple tabs on Alice as well since "well, she was always around Erina-sama anyway. The previous fling before Hisako Onee-sama."
They cornered them in the library.
"Nakiri!" Souma called out nonchalantly. Nikumi stared, Takumi groaned, Megumi hid her face furtively, and Isamu simple gave a small laugh from behind the stacks. Houjo looked on passively. Sadatsuka lurked in the shadows of the neighboring bookshelves, the only one who came close to actual stealth.
"Damn it, who was the one who said to leave Alice to him?" Takumi grumbled but he soon quieted as Alice approached Souma.
"Oh! Souma-kun! My, aren't you chipper even though you'll be expelled soon!" The white-haired girl practically pranced over with Ryo trailing after her.
Souma gave a good-natured laugh. "Well, gotta enjoy the last of Tootsuki while I can!"
"Wow truly a man who lives in the moment!" She gave a flirtatious bat of the eye. "How disappointing you won't be able to enjoy my cooking anymore, a true hallmark of Tootsuki's 92nd class."
As the banter continued, Megumi bit her lips nervously. She was getting antsier and antsier with each passing second, like precious gold grains falling through an hourglass. Clearly the others were looking equally uncomfortable; even Isamu looked a bit concerned.
Come on Souma-kun, we can't stay all night—it's nearly six thirty! But as Megumi peered over discretely, she caught glimpse of Souma casually pressing something in his pocket while maintaining the chitchat. She blinked as Alice's phone suddenly buzzed in her pocket She reached in.
"Well, it was nice talking to you for the last time, Nakiri. Since it seems you might be busy, I'll leave now to go back to the Polar Dormitory. Y'know, gotta say my last goodbyes there too."
"Oh. Yes, of course. Take care of yourself, Souma-kun. I still need you alive to one-up you." Although her tone was light, Megumi pricked her ears at the trace of fondness in Alice's voice. Of course, she thinks this might be the last time she'll see him.
Souma gave a grin. "Well, I'm sure you'll see me sooner than you expect." He waved and parted, giving a small nod to everyone else hiding behind the bookstacks, who crept away towards the side entrance.
When they regrouped outside the emergency exit door, where they had planned to meet afterward, Souma broke into a full grin that showed his teeth.
Houjo raised her eyebrows. "So how exactly did you tell her our plan? Seemed like just blatant flirting to me."
Takumi nodded warily. "And I don't think that flirting was coded exactly either."
"Souma-kun, do not AirDrop me something so important like that!"
Tramping from the front of the library was Alice and Ryo. She had her cheeks puffed up and her hands on her hips as she stomped towards them.
"AirDrop?" Megumi stifled a laugh. "Why not just a text?"
"She never gave me her phone number," Souma replied with a mischievous smirk. "Took a risk with anonymous AirDrop but thankfully her's was on."
"Oh you better be grateful, Souma-kun!" Alice fumed, standing on her tiptoes before Souma. "What the hell would some stranger think of if they saw 'you: thinks that Yukihira Souma's saying bye. me, an intellectual: knows that Arato and the other Nakiri are missing. P.S. come to the fire exit'?! And let me tell you, I am the Pinnacle of a gastronomical intellectual at this school!"
"Hey I mean, people AirDrop anonymous memes."
"Augh, this boy!" Alice groaned, and turned towards Ryo in mock despair before quickly facing the others. This time her eyes were steely and the air suddenly became serious. "Anyway, what is this about Hisako and Erina. If you're pulling my leg for a joke, I actually will not forgive you."
"Surely you're aware that Hisako-san's been missing for the past couple days? And that Erina-san's been gone recently as well? Them, who are always at school, without a doubt?" Megumi said imploringly. Alice narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.
"...Yes. Erina's been looking pretty horrendous as well, considering the last time I saw her at school. Hisako would never have let her health fall so badly..." She held a curled hand up to her chin. "I've been trying to look into it actually. But I can't for the life of me figure out why Uncle would want to kick out Hisako. Nor do I know where they are. They're not even at the Nakiri Main House." A flash of nervousness passed her face before she quickly hid it behind the usual calculated expression, but Megumi felt a pang of sympathy.
"Nakiri… You have access to the Nakiri private rooms in the main building at Tootsuki. Sadatsuka might be able to track them down from there. Or, that's our plan." Souma looked at Alice expectantly. Sadatsuka gave a 'friendly' gumless grin.
To his surprise, Alice shook her head. "Well yes but did you think I wouldn't have checked there first? I'm telling you, it's empty. There's nothing there, not even Erina's things."
"What? How can that be, it's not like she was the one expelled," Takumi said with a bewildered look. "Why would she move them out?" Alice shrugged.
"I dunno-"
"Oh. Oh."
Everyone turned to face Ryo, who had been quiet up to that point. He had a finger on his lip thoughtfully.
"Those books… They were from her, huh. They were piled in the trash area the other day. I saw, when I went by the Polar Star Dormitory."
Megumi suddenly stared down in embarrassment but the others continued without noticing.
"The trash, huh? Sounds like it has the fingerprints of Uncle all over it. He always hated books, always saying 'experience is the only worthy teacher'," Alice growled, her voice thick with disgust. "It's clear beyond doubt then that Erina isn't on some kind of vacation. He must've taken her away" Her eyes darkened.
"But this doesn't help us figure out where they are," Houjo pointed out. "And if we have no other leads, there's no way we're going to know either."
"Can't we just bust into the Main House to see?" Souma asked half-jokingly, but his eyes glinted. "Maybe there're hidden doors or rooms."
Megumi's eyes widened. Hidden rooms. 'He always hated books.'
"Don't be stupid," Alice snapped. "Uncle knows every inch of the house, just like how well he knows Tootstuki-"
"What if."
Everyone turned to face Megumi, who was staring straight at the wall behind them.
"What if…?"
"What if… they never left." 'We're currently in the library basement.' "What if they escaped?"
A/N: I was thinking of concluding Starved Dreams in 10 chapters but it might go on a tad bit longer, haha. Anyway, thanks for being patient and for reading! I always appreciate the likes, follows, and reviews; thank you so much!
~LavenderIceCream
