Study Date Cooking Date Shopping Date
Disclaimer:
All characters contained within this piece of writing belong to Ken Akamatsu, and this piece is written purely for personal enjoyment. No gains financial or otherwise have been made through the publishing of this fanfic.
Author's Personal Note:
Okay, I am dumb. Arrived to Grand Turk, the dock is some distance from the shore and I could not pick up any WIFI. Do I take my computer with me ashore? Of-course not! Is the welcome center full of people using free WIFI? Of-course it is! Once again, I could not update Fan-Fiction. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
Author's Story Note:
Chef! is modelled on the lead character of the British sitcom Chef!
Prologue:
Keitaro finds each girl now wants to go out on a date with him.
Wednesday-February 9, 2000:
A few minutes later Naru headed back down-stairs. As she headed to the dining area she noticed Mutsumi was not around. While she had not seen where Keitaro placed Mutsumi after she left, she was expecting to see her somewhere on the way to the kitchen area.
Naru returned to the table to get something to finish her morning meal. She could both clearly hear and see Shinobu and Keitaro in the kitchen washing up the dishes. Looking towards the table, she was not surprised to find a number of covered dishes on a tray, ready to take up to her room. "Just like Shinobu-chan,", she thought, "always thinking of others. How could one so young, be so considerate?"
Seating herself at the table, she uncovered her dishes and started to eat. At that same time Shinobu entered from the kitchen, she headed to where she had left the tray.
"Oh, Naru-san, you are down already. I was just going to bring that meal up to you. Are you feeling ok now?", she asked.
"Fine Shinobu-chan, and thank you for thinking of me.", thanked Naru.
"No problem, Naru-san. Besides I wanted to talk to you about something.", Shinobu glanced towards the kitchen to make sure Keitaro was still busy drying and putting up the dishes. "Naru-san, Sempai said he would take me to the Tex-Mex restaurant, would you mind if it was just the two of us?", she asked while blushing the deepest red Naru had ever seen on her face.
Automatically she started to reply, "I don't care what that baka does ...", then realized how Shinobu's expression was starting to change. Quickly changing her tack she said, "I don't mind, really Shinobu-chan. If he will take you, go and have fun.", Naru amended as she also realized why Shinobu asked her.
"Thank you Naru-san.", Shinobu's face now was beaming with happiness. "I have to get to school now.", she called as she dashed off to her room.
About this time, Keitaro had just finished with the dishes and stepped into the dining room. Naru fixed him with a glare that stopped in him dead like a deer in the headlights of a car. "Hurt Shinobu-chan in any way and I will make you pay in ways you will never forget.", she warned.
Keitaro sweat-dropped without knowing why she had targeted him this time, but did replied, "You know I would never do anything to hurt her, how could you think otherwise?"
"HUH, make sure that you do.", she just finished up.
He waited a few seconds more in case she would tell him more about Shinobu. "By the way, are we still studying later?", he finally asked.
"Yes, please meet me at my room in half an hour or so, I just have to finish up here and clean up first.", she confirmed with a smile, relieved that he was still wanting to come and share time with her.
"Okay Naru-san.", said Keitaro while trying to walk to the door, but he could only see that smile, that wonderful smile. At this moment in time his body did not exist, the building did not exist, the universe itself did not exist, only her smile. To say his brains had shut down would be unfair, more to say that it became focused on one thing and one thing only. The next thing he knew he falling towards her, Naru tried to jump out of the way but this only made things worse as this just turned her enough to ensure Keitaro's head landed between her breasts.
"So soft, it is like heaven.", he said as if in a dream.
"Baka, Hentai!", Naru responded in anger as always and punched him through the opened door into the living room, Keitaro continue to slid out of living room into adjoining hall and stopped when he hit the wall. "Ouch, I am sorry Naru-san.", Keitaro called back to her as he got up.
"Baka.", was all she said as she concentrated on eating her meal, trying her best to suppress the memory of his warm breath on her chest, the smell of his hair, his words. "Baka.", she said softly once again to herself.
Mitsune on the other hand was just coming down the stairs to see Keitaro slid past her and then bought to a stop by the wall. Of special interest to her was the fact that after Keitaro got up she could not see any damage to the wall itself. Keitaro did not notice this as he headed to his room.
Later Keitaro knocked lightly at Naru's door. "Come in.", he heard from inside, and entered her room. Naru was already at her table, her study books open, pencil to note paper.
"Well, do you really need to study like the rest of us mortals?", said Naru with a little snip in her voice. "It does not look like you need me anymore, if you ever did.", she continued with a little dig.
"Come on Naru-san.", pleaded Keitaro. "Don't be like that, I could never have done so well without your training, and you know each year's test is updated with new info. If I don't study my grades will start to go down again.", he pointed out and using an internal voice, "and I really want to spend the time with you.", Keitaro admitted to himself.
For the next three hours, they both studied away, and to both Keitaro's and Naru's amazement, Keitaro only had to ask for help once. Basically, Keitaro after all these years of studying already knew the answers, he just needed to know how to apply them, and now he did.
While moving around to work out the kinks in their backs from sitting so long, Shinobu arrived with drinks for them. They both thanked her, and she quickly left with a shy blush on her face. After she had left the room, Keitaro was just about to ask Naru if she knew where Mutsumi was and why she was not studying with them, but Naru reminded by Shinobu's presence asked her own questions first.
"You do know she is expecting a date from you.", Naru tried to remind him.
"Who? Mutsumi-san?", asked Keitaro whose mind was off elsewhere.
"What! No you baka, Shinobu-chan! She thinks you asked her out on a date.", Naru corrected. "Did you?", she asked with suspicion.
"Shinobu-chan!", all thoughts about Mutsumi were driven out of his head. "NO! Why would I do that? I am not that type of pervert.", Keitaro defended himself poorly.
"So, what type are you?", Naru asked with a hint of danger in her voice. Realizing what she was doing, she changed back to the original subject. "Shinobu-chan.", she plodded a little, "She expects you to take to that Tex-Mex restaurant we went to, just the two of you."
"Where did she get the ide... Oh, wait a second, I was referring to everybody, and I just meant that she would be included this time.", Keitaro started to remember the sequence of events.
"Whatever. Well, Shinobu-chan expects only you.", Naru updated him. "Anyway don't disappoint her, or I will make you very sorry."
Keitaro sweat-dropped once more, but also said, "I will remember."
Later that day Keitaro called the same restaurant to make reservations and asked to talk to the manager. The manager who was trying to promote the newly opened restaurant turned out easy to convince for a small favour, agreed with Keitaro's request as long as they stayed out of the way of the staff.
At dinnertime, Keitaro formally invited Shinobu out for dinner, just the two of them the following day. Su and Sarah demanded to come along but were firmly and politely refused. And to the two young girls surprise they found that not even Naru was backing them up to go along as chaperones. Of-course all the girls were surprised that not a single word against Keitaro's date came from Naru. Instead, she announced that Motoko and herself would be away on business for the evening and not to wait up for them. Shinobu just spent the rest of the night in a happy daze.
Meanwhile during the midst of it all, Mitsune sat drinking her sake, and feeling sorry for herself.
Sunday, February 13, 2000:
That morning Shinobu as usual made a breakfast that brought out praises from everyone again. But she barely noticed the praise this time. Her mind was on the future, to a date with Sempai, and tomorrow was the 14th and she wanted to be ready. She reached for the sugar and other ingredients, and then started preparing.
She was not the only one; some of the other girls of Hinata-Sou started their own preparations for tomorrow.
That evening after seeing Shinobu off with Keitaro, Naru and Motoko headed downtown to go shopping. Both did a little private shopping on their own first, but soon they meet up at the agreed upon clothing district. Motoko followed Naru nervously into the stores, "Now I know how Keitaro feels.", she thought to herself surrounded by frilly undergarments. They had never bothered her before when she had been in this department, but that was because she could ignore them and find the type suitable for training or school. But now she was surrounded by them and it seemed that Naru was picking the most outrageous ones she could find.
"What about this sexy number?", Naru called out in a voice that half the store could hear, and Motoko on looking at what she held up blushed from head to toe at the thought of wearing such a thing.
"No, no, I could never wear such a thing. If anyone saw me in that I would die of embarrassment.", Motoko replied in close to horror at the wispy thing in Naru's hand.
"Don't be silly, no-one will see it, you will wear something like this dress and blouse over it.", Naru explained as she held up a dress combo that she thought would bring out the best features of Motoko's figure.
Motoko stared at what Naru held and asked the question usually reserved only for fathers of girls, "Where is the rest of it?", she asked.
"Really, why are you showing me this stuff anyway? I just wanted some other clothes to wear if I go out.", Motoko pointed out.
"Don't you want to look sexy? Get all the boys you want?", Naru asked.
"No, I am not interested in getting the attention of weakling boys. That is not why I was interested in getting the clothes. I just want to fit in when we all go out together. Besides, I don't think it is possible for me to act that way.", Motoko stated.
Naru smiled, "Let me tell you a secret, which is no secret. To be sexy, all you have to do is act it. And to act it, nothing helps more than knowing you are already wearing something hot."
"Well, it's not for me. Is there something more like my school uniforms but not a sailor dress, I seen you wear dresses like that, that is what I would like to get.", Motoko pushed her viewpoint.
"Okay, if that is what you really want.", Naru gave in. Well then, let's tried this section over here and see what you will wear.", she finished with a little dig in her voice.
Later as the girls walked back to the train station, Motoko with a selection of dresses more to her liking, but some in colors she never before imagined wearing, she had to asked, "Do you really think the blue looks good on me?"
Naru responded, "Oh, yes. I know you prefer the black dress, but with your figure and looks it gets a little stark, but you need the blue, it brings life to your eyes."
Motoko thought on it, trying to understand this concept of fashion called balance of color. Why blue for her eyes, they were not blue. And yellow for her height? "I don't think I will ever understand this.", she thought to herself.
A street sign drew her attention.
"Naru-san, doesn't that mean we are near the Tex-Mex restaurant again? Do you want to check on Keitaro-san and Shinobu-chan to see how they are doing?", Motoko asked.
Naru found herself conflicted, she wanted to spy (to check that Keitaro was behaving), but at the same time she was also wanted to change how she had been treating him. But "Well? Aren't you interested?", of addition inquiry from Motoko helped to make up her mind. "Let's go", she said, leading the way to the Tex-Mex.
Peeking in from the front lobby they finally spotted Keitaro and Shinobu well to the back of the restaurant, near the kitchen. "Looks like they are almost done.", Motoko observed. "We don't want to stay here and get caught as they leave.", she noted.
"Just a minute more?", Naru asked/stated.
They watched as the last plates were taken away and Keitaro toasted Shinobu one last time.
"He looks so handsome, and seems to have given her a very romantic dinner. I bet Shinobu-chan had a great time.", Motoko said dreamily, thinking how much fun her date with Keitaro had turned out to be.
Naru nodded her head in agreement, then her attention snapped to Motoko as she realized the way she said it. Even as she realized that she may in-fact been helping a possible rival and was about to ask Motoko what she really thought about Keitaro.
Motoko said, "Finished, hey! Where are they going?"
Naru attention again changed back to the restaurant in time to see Keitaro and Shinobu slipping out a back door.
"Where does he think he is taking her?", she demanded herself. Dragging Motoko after her (Motoko is loaded down with the clothes) she ran around to the back of the establishment. There was no sign of either. "Lost them.", Naru admitted in defeat. "But wait until he gets back.", she prophesied.
The two girls headed back to the trains, Naru steaming, Motoko in thought trying to figure out where they could have gone off to, Shinobu was not a fast runner.
That evening Keitaro had to grin as Shinobu came down the stairs dressed for her date. She was dressed in her most serious clothing, trying to act and look like an adult. Keitaro took her arm at the bottom of the stairs as everyone watched; leading her to the front door and what he hoped would be her dream date.
The trip to the restaurant went fast as Keitaro had just been there and knew the best route. When they arrived their table was all ready for them. Shinobu internally glowed with pride when she noticed at-least two different older girls eyeing her date. And when she picked up her menu there was not kiddie section included.
"You will be getting to be an adult soon.", Keitaro predicted to her, "Might as well start treating you as one now.", then he gave her a silly grin, she had to smile in reply. "And just for the date, please call me Keitaro.", he added with a big smile.
"Yes, Sempai, I mean Keitaro.", Shinobu replied while trying not to blush, and happily for herself she did not.
The meal itself went fine, and Keitaro was able to warn Shinobu from making the same mistakes as him. With an idea of what the different choices were, he was able to guide Shinobu who was too shy to quiz a waiter. And to top it off, Keitaro toasted her, "May you have many more dates.". Again still under-rating her feelings towards him.
As the plates were cleared away, the bill presented and paid for, Shinobu prepared to leave. "Thank you for everything, Sempai, I mean Keitaro.", said Shinobu.
"Well, it's not over yet. Come with us.", grinned Keitaro as he got up and followed a staff member to the back door leading into the kitchen.
Keitaro had made an agreement with the manager to allow Shinobu watch the kitchen in operation. Chef! was of a very different opinion about letting strangers stand about in his kitchen, even if it was in a far-off corner.
As soon as they entered the back of the restaurant Shinobu eyes gleaned as she watched the expert cooks and support staff in their performance. As they stood in a unused corner Shinobu was bobbing her head and standing on tiptoes to see as much as possible. To Chef!'s amusement he noticed that she was subconsciously mimicking the movements of cooks that she was watching, or the smile on her face as a tricky dish was finally assembled. She had to stop herself from clapping in delight when a 'House Birthday Special' was prepared right in front of her.
Weakening under that assault of worship of cooking, Chef! finally relented and had an stool sent to her so that she could watch better. A quick glance from time to time told him that she was drinking in the operation of his (management be dammed IT WAS HIS) kitchen with her eyes like it was a fine wine. To his own surprise Chef! found himself feeling proud from showing off his domain to this young girl.
In time her eyes came to rest on an assistant who seemed to be struggling with his job, at first she could not clearly see what he was doing until he reached for a knife. A small but shrill scream escaped pass her lips as she realize it was all wrong. The knife was the wrong type, he was holding it all wrong and worse THAT WAS KOBE BEEF, and he was going to use the wrong cuts!
As everyone in the kitchen froze from the sound, Chef! head whipped around to admonish this upstart girl for interfering in HIS kitchen. But one sight of the look of horror on her face forced him to look to at the source of her dismay, and he understood instantly her reaction as he found himself roaring as he ploughed his way to the wayward assistant.
"What do you think you are doing!", Chef! demanded.
"Preparing beef stew, Chef!", the unfortunate reply was given.
"Stew! STEW! With $100 per pound beef, and you want to make STEW!", Chef! bellowed. "Wrap that up and put it back where you got it. Then go to that corner and stand there till I have time to deal with you.", he commanded.
Signalling to Shinobu to come over, she and the unfortunate assistant exchanged places. Smiling down at the little girl in front of him, Chef! muttered to himself, "Let's see what you can do in a real kitchen.".
Keitaro watched as Shinobu and the restaurant's chef tried and somehow succeeded in trading cooking ideas. In a way it was fun to watch even from the far corner of the kitchen which was about the only place that he could stand without getting in the way of the staff. Even understanding why they did what they did was a mystery. Sometimes they would just sniff the contents of a container, other times rubbed a pinch between fingers before sniffing, sometimes rubbing between the palms of their hands. Still more times they drop some of the contents on a hot cooking surface before smelling, or mixing with other foods before tasting. No matter that Shinobu only spoke Japanese and was only starting on written English and the chef only Spanish, English and very very little Japanese, they seemed to get along fine.
"I think I found the secret to dating.", Keitaro congratulated himself. "Well, this really isn't a date,", Keitaro fooling himself again, still not understanding how deeply Shinobu felt about him, "but the principle still stands. Take a girl to a place that cover her interests and she will be happy.". He smiled to himself and to Shinobu as she glanced over at that moment. "I am such a Genius.", he thought, really fooling himself.
At the same time the chef was getting more and more impressed with apparent skills and sense of cooking/taste the young girl showed. Taking a chance he handed her some mixed peppers and a knife and signalled her to chop them up. His eyebrows climbed in approval when she not only washed the peppers but also examined the plates and the knife before cutting, the speed and fineness of her cuts were even better, but then she covered the peppers and cleaned the knife again before turning to him with a questioning look. The smile of approval said it all to Shinobu, and the chef gave her a number of chores and it was clear that his approval in her just keep going up. Afterwards the manager translated the chef's praises, "I have seen three year cooking school grads with worse skills than her. And her sense of taste is great; please tell her when she comes of age to look me up. I would hire her in an instant, even if it mean firing one of the careless, lazy bums I am presently stuck with.", the chef glared at one person in particular.
Again the trip home was a quick one.
"We're back.", Keitaro called out after opening the door and letting Shinobu in first. He followed just a few steps behind.
'BAMN' the blow from Naru knocked him flying out the door and down the entrance stairs. Keitaro lay on the ground a little daze, but not much as he had only been hit 6 meters (twenty feet) at most. Naru was haloed by the door, a vision of beauty, but from her expression and pose Keitaro knew what would happen next. A jump, a power punch into the ground, and pain, so much pain.
"Hentai, what foul things have you been doing with Shinobu-chan? Your dinner was finished hours ago and we have been waiting here the whole time.", Naru declared.
"Really, nothing happened, Keitaro-sempai just took me to see some cooking.", pleaded Shinobu who just wanted to run to her room, but now felt to act as an adult she would have defended Keitaro, so she did.
"I know he made you say that. I know what cooking means.", Naru dismissing Shinobu's statement. "Keitaro-san, prepare to die!", she yelled.
"Stop.", a hand appeared on Naru's shoulder and then Motoko moved into the light. "Remember, our earlier discussions? You spent the entire time on the trip back ranting and raving about Urashima-san. I think you should ask him what happened first, before you act against Urashima-san.", Motoko stepped back into the house.
"But, Motoko-san you saw it with your own eyes, and they been gone so long.", Naru defended herself.
"ASK.", and this time it was a command from Motoko.
"Well Keitaro-san, what do you have to say for yourself.", Naru stared down at him.
"It's just like Shinobu-chan said.", Keitaro pleaded his case. Naru turned to look at Shinobu.
"Yes, yes. Keitaro-sempai and I were in the kitchen. I stopped one of the assistants from cutting Kobe beef to make Beef Stew, I got to work with the head chef. He had such great equipment, and the spices. I never seen some of those spices before ... ", and Shinobu launched into a very long description what cooking was like in a Tex-Mex.
Naru was in a daze of horror, she was not listening to what Shinobu was saying like Su was who was drooling where she stood. She was seeing the rapture that was in Shinobu's face as she rambled on. "She looks just like Motoko talking about the swords.", Naru internally wailed to herself. "Why is everyone else having such a great time with him, and he is not making any perverted moves around them. Why can't he be like this around me? I want a date with that baka and I want him to do it right.".
"You!", Naru turned back to face Keitaro climbing the stairs. "We are going on a date tomorrow, right after our study session.", she said as if putting down the law. Keitaro fell back down the stairs in shock.
"Sorry, Naru. You have to make it a little later, we have training tomorrow - remember? And after seeing how you reacted to Urashima -san, again without listening to him first. I think it would be a good idea to start training early and have your first meeting with me today. Please put on a comfortable robe and meet me on the roof in ten minutes.", Motoko also laid down the law.
"But, but, ... okay Motoko-sempai.", Naru agreed.
Mitsune also made her plans. "Well, it seems the easiest way to get a date with Keitaro is to just tell him so. I wonder where he would take me. Oh, please make it a sake tasting contest or if not that, then a drinking match will do.", she thought as she grew another foxy smile.
