Author's Note: I was writing this half-asleep, so there might be small changes after a week or so... Nothing big if ever. The past two chapters were a little disappointing for me so they'll be edited too. Again, nothing major. I just need some fresh eyes so I can proceed with those minor changes.
After Autumn Elections
Megumi and Shinomiya were expecting at least Fumio-san to greet them, but when they stepped in the Polar Star Dormitory, only crickets welcomed them.
"So where is everyone?" Shinomiya scanned everything from their position.
"Let me have a look, Senpai."
Megumi raced upstairs, knocked on each door, and even used the dorm's communication channel to find anyone, but nobody popped out.
She returned to her senpai whose arms folded not even concealing his impatience.
"They might still be in school, but I'll start cooking now." Megumi remained positive even though she was awkwardly distracted that she was alone with a man.
"Okay. We have the whole place for ourselves again." Shinomiya aloofly made his way through the hallway as he removed his blazer.
"Again, senpai?" Megumi now followed him who was on his way to the kitchen. Has he been here?
"It's not my first time to be here at your dorm." He nonchalantly opened the kitchen door.
"I see..." Megumi inwardly prayed for her safety. As long as nothing happens, I can still be a bride to my future husband...
Shinomiya then hung his blazer on the back of a chair then sat down and propped his head against the back of his hand as if it was an old habit.
Senpai surely knows his way around...
"What are you planning to make?" He stanced himself ready to observe.
"Uhmm... I have a few ideas in mind, but I need to check the fridge." Megumi wore an apron then washed her hands. "Make yourself comfortable... Uhmm... I'm going to start preparing the ingredients."
She opened the fridge then picked out everything she needed for her planned dinner.
"Are you sure you're up for it?" He sounded doubtful.
"Yes, of course, Senpai." Megumi had her knives and chopping board ready, then mimed in diligently rechecking mentally if all the meat and vegetables for her recipe are present.
Twenty tomatoes?
The number of produce doubled, as well as the meat, and everything infront of her. She let go of the knife she was holding, and it clanged on the marble counter. She took a step back to look around raising her head. The ceiling is spiraling, like she was riding a spinning cup from the amusement park. Her feet couldn't stay flat on the ground.
Expecting to fall, her eyes squinted. Her body braced itself for the impact, but then she didn't fall flat, but landed hard against something firm, and she was so sure it's neither the tiles on the floor, or the wall, or anything in the room. Her upper body was leaning on soft fabric, and a pleasant recognizable scent exuded from it. She then unsquinted her sight and became more aware that she landed on a person. Her shoulders were clamped by a firm grip aiding her to steady herself.
"Careful." A whisper tickled her ear.
She looked up only to see a blurred view of Shinomiya.
"S-sorry, Senpai..." She tried to gain her balance, her senpai still supporting her. "I... I've been so tired lately... I..." Megumi reasoned to him, who was staring back at her intently.
Her dizziness settled a bit, but the whole room was still swaying and as she attempted to take one step, she fell once again on her senpai's chest. She now felt herself snuggly being blanketed by the same pair of arms that saved her, and the odd part was, she wasn't appalled by it. If anything, she questions her body for openly wanting this.
Senpai... I'm okay now...
She wanted to say that, but she never moved, and even relaxed to give in and rest on his chest a little longer. Shinomiya even held her tighter. Her cheek brushed on the fabric, and the smell of his cologne mixed with his natural scent lazed her lightheaded state.
After a few moments, feeling more stable she slowly pulled herself away then tried to stand up on her own without holding unto him.
"How are you feeling?" He asked troubled.
The usual serious, smugged face did not exist on her senpai.
Before a syllable came out, Megumi's phone alerted a notification. She apologetically bowed. "Sorry, senpai. Let me check on this."
She took out her phone from her pocket and her eyes widened as she read the message.
Oh no!
"What's wrong?" Shinomiya pried.
"Senpai... This is so embarrassing..." she said anxiously. "It seems that everyone is at the Nakiri mansion having a spontaneous party. Would you like to join them? Doujima-san and Senzaemon-san are there."
Megumi, deflated over the message, tried to think of a way to make up for her senpai for all the inconveniences. He would probably leave now. There's no reason to stay, but she can only hope that he's up for the party.
"No." Shinomiya replied in chagrin.
"Oh... I'm sure nobody will mind if you come. Also, Erina and Souma prepared the courses." Megumi still wanted to push her only chance of consoling him.
"Is your landlady with them?" Shinomiya now approached the counter picking up a leek.
"Yes. They mentioned everyone is there, and Fumio-san as well."
"Good. We'll have dinner for two then."
Megumi's brain did not want to register what he just said. "Senpai? I may have heard it wrong but..."
"Again, we'll have dinner for two." he said sternly checking the knives, after which he faced her again.
Her brain still couldn't process it. "We'll eat before we go?"
"Dummy, no!" He now charged at her and roughly shuffled the top of her head irritated. "You should sit down. I'll cook."
"Are you sure, senpai? I mean, I wouldn't want you to--"
"Why? Do you prefer having a dish made by one who has the God Tongue?" Shinomiya argued.
"It's not that at all!" She couldn't refuse. He was too adamant about it. "Uhmm... Let me help--"
Shinomiya glowered at her. "I want you to back off and wait until I finish cooking."
She flinched in fear. "But, Senpai, I couldn't possibly let you... You're my guest and--"
"You haven't been taking care of yourself, have you?" He cut her off again, his arms crossed. "When was the last time you had at least 6-8hrs of sleep?
"It was... last night..." Megumi badly lied. She herself was unconvinced.
"Oh? Again, when was the last time you had a full sleep?" he interrogated once again.
Megumi imagined him as an intimidating detective forcing a criminal to confess.
"Two weeks ago..." she answered now afraid if telling the truth will now have consequences. "...but senpai... I..."
"Enough with your stubborness!"
Megumi stiffened as she felt herself being lifted, a pair of firm arms sunk on her skin. Before she knew it she was being princess-carried to the farthest side of the table in the room and got dropped on the chair.
She cowered as her senpai held unto the chair's top rails side by side behind her, trapping her like a box as he bent over to level his face infront of hers. He was so close that if she breathed out, she might fog his glasses.
"Don't do anything." he warned headstrongly eyeing at her like she has no other choice. "Come near me while I'm preparing our meal and I'll make sure you'll regret it. Understand?"
Megumi nodded hard retreating to lean at the backrest of her chair. "Y-yes sir..."
Shinomiya slightly grinned at his prey's submission. He then went behind her chair to untangle the knot of Megumi's apron from behind, then pulled it up from her.
"Why don't you take a quick nap?" Shinomiya suggested as he wore the apron in her place, tying a final knot.
"I'm supposed to prepare dinner though..." She faintly remarked. "I was very thankful that senpai took the time to listen to me the other day..."
"You can show your thanks by taking care of yourself. I do worry." There was a 180 degree turn on his tone. Megumi watched her senpai examine each of the produce on the counter.
"Also, you do realize that you might hurt yourself while cooking in your condition right now." he continued.
Megumi never answered back, then rested her chin on her arms on the table. He's right. She's too tired to even apologize for giving him so much trouble. During the training camp, he once called her a dunce for it.
I guess, I still am...
Shinomiya had a hunch what she was planning for dinner, but still, better ask. "What were you planning to make again?"
He picked up a knife and positioned the chopping board. "Megumi?"
He looked back to see her fully napping on her arms. He then laid the knife flat on the chopping board, then untugged his blazer from the seat where it was hanging. He shrouded it around Megumi, then sat on the other chair adjacent to her.
Her batch is currently tagged as the Jewel Generation. Megumi, for sure, is a cut above the rest, but suddenly placing her at the top, beside the others who are as naturally talented as she is (maybe even more), that might have been too much.
Usually someone who earned a seat made a hell of a jumpstart in school, like Yukihira and the rest of her peers. On the other hand, a country hick who used to be at the bottom, leaping up to the 10th seat, is rare, so it's normal for pretentious cooks to be skeptical about it.
He gently stroke her hair. She was already breathing deeply, exhaling all her exhaustion.
People don't understand that there is no substitution for hardwork, and if there are those who are more naturally talented than her, she needs to at least make up for it with diligence.
Bet you had to do a lot more than everyone else.
He took another minute to gaze at every detail of that face he fondly missed for such a long time, then unwillingly ended it to start with the recipe he has in mind.
