I.
"Imperialism, Isolationism, and Interventionism…. Every single nation, at one point in their history, whether short or spanning the centuries, can be classified under one of these terms." Professor Alain du Tronc stood at the head of his class, a history textbook in one hand and a piece of chalk in the other. He cast his gaze over his students – it seemed like his classes were getting smaller and smaller with each passing year… there were only seven students in this year's history class compared to the eleven of the prior year – before turning around and beginning to write on the blackboard.
"Imperialism: the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas; broadly speaking, it is the extension or imposition of power, authority, or influence on another nation. A prime example of this would be the era of the British Empire during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
"Isolationism: the policy or doctrine of isolating one's country from the affairs of other nations by declining to enter into alliances, foreign economic commitments, international agreements, etc. This type of policy seeks to devote the entire efforts of one's country towards its' own advancement and to remain at peace by avoiding foreign entanglements and responsibilities. Think the Sakoku Japan – or the 214 years of Japan being a closed country where the citizens were banned from leaving Japan and when nearly all foreign nationals were barred from entering our borders.
"Finally, we have Interventionism which is: the practice or policy of a government taking action to become involved in the problems of another country. Think the Red Cross or the United Nations." Alain finished writing and turned to face his class, taking a few steps to the side so that the students could see the notes he had penned.
"… Now, when discussing Interventionism, one must remember that the political, humanitarian, or military intrusion in another country's affairs, regardless of the motivation, is a highly volatile undertaking where the outcomes of said Interventionism – whether they be considered good or bad - will be both praised and criticized by people within and outside the intervening government."
A quick glance towards the clock showed that the school day was drawing to a close. Clearing his throat, Professor du Tronc shut the book he was holding before tucking it under his arm. Beaming at his students, he said, "We will continue discussing what Imperialism, Isolationism, and Interventionism are as well as how they impacted global history in our next class." Just as he finished speaking, the bell chimed over the PA system, signaling the end of the school day. As the professor watched his students began to gather their things and leave, Alain remembered the task he was entrusted with earlier that day.
"Ah! Tadokoro-chan, a moment before you go," Professor du Tronc called out, waving the dark-haired teen over just as she was about to walk out the classroom. "I wanted to take a moment of your time to go over the rough draft of your essay before you submitted the final version."
"Of course, Professor du Tronc!" Tadokoro Megumi said, adjusting the strap of her school bag. "What did you want to go over? Is it the references I used? I knew I should have added in that interview I got with Ono Jiro-san…"
Professor du Tronc chuckled, shaking his head. "No, no your references were fine, Tadokoro-chan. I actually wanted to discuss the overall stance of your essay… While you had clearly stated that Isolationism had positive impact on the development and structure of modern day Japan, by the end of your essay, you begun to contradict yourself – saying that Isolationism had actually stunted the growth and progress of Japan."
Megumi frowned, playing with the end of one of her braids. "I-I see…"
"But, let's continue this discussion in my office, shall we?"
Professor du Tronc turned on his heel and made his way to his adjoining office with Megumi behind him. "Ah, right," he murmured, stopping to turning back towards the teen, "do not be too alarmed with what you see in my office, Tadokoro-chan, okay?"
Megumi blinked. "H-Huh…?"
Alain turned back around and opened the door, stepping through it a moment later, Megumi following after a brief pause.
What she saw in Professor du Tronc's office both shocked and relived her.
"Y-Yukihira-kun?! E-Erina-sama?!" She cried out, stopping in her tracks and staring at the scene before her with wide eyes.
Books upon books were scattered about the relatively large space, some strewn about in haphazard piles and others in towering stacks that appeared just shy of toppling over. Papers. There were sheets of papers everywhere – from the floor to the coffee table to the couch to the walls to the small kitchenette that took up a corner of the room. There were papers crumpled into balls and folded in airplanes, papers with faces drawn onto them while others had lines and lines of neat script written on them, others still were blank. A large whiteboard stood in the back of the room, behind Professor du Tronc's desk, with even more paper taped onto it with writing and lines crisscrossing this way and that way, though a majority of the board hosted what appeared to be a list of dates and events.
Standing at the whiteboard – hair tied back, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and shirt untucked - was the – once more - missing Yukihira Kyou; he was furiously adding to the list: one, two, three, four more lines of dates and events that Megumi couldn't, for the life of her, decipher or even begin to understand what for.
Sitting primly on the cushion office chair behind the professor's desk, drinking from a fine cup of china, and watching the frenzied Yukihira brother write was Nakiri Erina. Unlike Kyou, and by extension the rest of the room, she was as neat and put together as ever, not a single crease on her dress or a hair out of place.
Turning at her outburst, Erina greeted Megumi with stiff nod before returning to watch Kyou add even more lines of numbers and words to the list.
"Wh… What's going on?" Megumi asked, her eyes darting between Kyou, Erina, and Professor du Tronc.
"I understand how surprising this all must be for you, Tadokoro-chan," Professor du Tronc began, gently guiding the shell-shocked Megumi towards the couch, "but please, have a seat and Kyou-kun will explain everything in a moment… Now, would you care for anything to drink or to snack on? I have soda, water, coffee, tea… for snacks I have chips, cookies, chocolate bars…"
"A-A soda would be fine, Professor…"
"Of course, coming right up."
As Professor du Tronc left to grab the drink, Megumi turned her gaze back towards Kyou who had apparently finished his writing spree and was now pacing back and forth in front of the whiteboard, hand on his chin, and muttering something under his breath.
"Here you go, Tadokoro-chan," the professor said, handing Megumi an ice-cold can of cola. "Now then, Erina-chan, Tadokoro-chan, I have a meeting to get to so I must be leaving, please make sure that Kyou-kun takes a break and rests for a while would you, Erina-chan?"
Erina sniffed but nodded.
"Excellent! Like I said before, Tadokoro-chan, Kyou-kun will explain everything once he's out of his… moment. Please listen to what he has to say."
"Of course, Professor."
Professor du Tronc nodded, satisfied at Megumi's answer, cast his gaze about the room before leaving.
An awkward silence descended on the room – only broken by the soft murmur of Kyou and the faint squeak of his marker on the whiteboard.
Megumi opened her can of soda with robotic movements before taking a large gulp. The beverage burned going down her throat but it did ease the nervousness she was feeling… somewhat… actually… not really!
'O-Oh, Oh gosh! Wh-What do I say?! S-Should I try and start a conversation with Erina-sama?! N-No! I-I can't! … But… we were partners for our Stagaire s-so maybe…? Can… Can I be casual with her and ask, How have you been? … No! I-I should stay respectful a-and polite…! Y-Yeah! Y-You can do this Megumi! Just be cool and ask-'
"How have you been, Tadokoro-san?" Erina asked, unintentionally interrupting Megumi's mental pep talk and causing her to squeak in surprise.
"E-EH?! I-I-I've been -!" Megumi paused and took a deep breath, clutching her can of soda in both hands. "… I've been well… thank you for asking, Erina-sama?" She smiled. "A-And how have you been? Hisako actually came by our dorms earlier asking about you and- Huh?!"
At the mere mention of Hisako's name, a cloud of gloom and despair appeared above Erina's head.
"H-Huh?! W-was it something I said?!"
Megumi was struck by an intense cause of déjà vu as she worriedly raised her hands up and down, not sure if she should get up and check on the Nakiri heiress or if it'd be better for her to remain seated. Though perhaps she should put down her soda before she spilled it everywhere…
Erina waved a hand, her eyes downcast. "It's… its fine, Tadokoro-san…"
"… Tadokoro…?" Kyou's voice had Megumi's attention shifting towards the auburn-haired teen.
Blinking rapidly, deep bags under his eyes, Kyou grimaced. "… My apologies, Tadokoro, I didn't even realize you were here…"
"I-It's alright, Yukihira-kun!" Megumi replied, waving a hand. "To be honest, I'm… still in a bit of… shock to see you and Erina-sama here…"
Kyou nodded, pushing up his glasses. "Yes, I supposed Nakiri and I being together is a sight one does not typically see. But, did you bring the book I requested?"
"I did, when I told Marui that you needed it for something, he was more than willing to lend it to me." Megumi opened her school bag and brought out a thick, age worn book.
"That book…!" Erina gasped.
"It's a book that covers the entire history of the Nakiri clan in great, unbiased detail," Kyou explained, crossing the room in a few strides and taking hold of said book. He opened it and began leafing through the yellowed pages with immense care. "It also lists the names, birthdates, birthplaces and other such important details of every single member of the Nakiri clan whether they were born into the clan or married into it." Like your father, went unsaid.
"… Wow… This appears to be to most recent version as well," Kyou said, eyebrows raised and an impressed gleam in his eye. "I'm honestly shocked that Marui had a copy of this…"
"I as well," Erina said, standing up and walking around the desk and towards Kyou until she was looking down at the pages with him. "Only three copies of this book are known to exist… one for the Headmaster of Tōtsuki, one for the Head of the Nakiri clan, and one in the heir or heiress of the Nakiri clan… so how did this… 'Marui' person get a hold of such a priceless piece of Japanese history?"
"I-It's that important?!" Megumi squeaked, thinking back to how she was just walking around with such an important book in her bag all day.
"How Marui got this book isn't important, what's recorded in this book is." Kyou said, still flipping through the pages until he apparently found what he was looking for. "I see…" he murmured, striding back across the room until he was standing in front of the white board once more.
"Yukihira Kyou!" Erina snapped, hands on her hips and violet eyes piercing as she stared Kyou down. "Don't think that I'll just sit back and watch as you start digging around into the Nakiri's personal affairs! That person on the page you were just looking at… leave her out of this!"
Kyou's golden eyes narrowed as he turned around and met the blonde' chilling gaze. "… I want to put a stop to Azami's madness and… teachings," he spat the last word out as if the very word itself was something so vile and evil that he couldn't even bear to speak it, "and in order to do that, I need to know why he started doing what he did to you and me, Nakiri. People don't just start doing things for no reason. There was a reason why he decided to… teach and train us in such a manner… I know the reason for me, what I don't know is the reasoning behind your… teachings... In order to fully understand Nakamura Azami, I need to know and research his history. When he was born, what his childhood was like, what he was like in school, who did he admire, who did he hate, why did he start cooking… who did he love?"
Erina flinched.
Megumi was completely lost.
Kyou turned away. "… When police and detective profile suspects, they need to get into the suspects mindset… become the suspect in order to better understand the suspects' thoughts, motives, and next moves. I'm going to do that in order to better understand Nakamura Azami and stop him before there are even more children like you and me in the world, Nakiri. Traumatized. Hateful. Broken."
Erina crossed her arms – as if to hug herself – and turned away.
"However," Kyou continued, voice carrying throughout the silent office, "I… I now know that I cannot do everything – do this… alone. That's part of the reason why I called you here, Tadokoro. I want to tell you about what I've been through."
"… What you've been through… does… does it have anything to do with the new Headmaster?" Megumi asked, swallowing thickly, heart hammering in her chest and fists trembling – in fear, anticipation or anger, she didn't know, maybe a combination of all three.
Kyou chuckled, a low, hollow sound. "It has everything to do with the new Headmaster."
Megumi's eyes slid shut as she took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She opened her eyes. "… Alright… I'm ready."
.
.
.
II.
Hours after Megumi left – she had left the office with red, puffy eyes but with a determined, resolute look on her face and in her gait, Kyou realized that her anger was quiet, subdued, a freezing force like having to traverse the Arctic Ocean – Erina and Kyou were turning in for the night. She had the couch, Kyou laid a futon on the floor and was sleeping on that.
Right before drifting off the sleep, Kyou posed a question: "Do you have anyone you can confide in about this?"
He didn't need to clarify what 'this' was.
"… No."
"… What about your cousin or that attendant of yours?"
"… They wouldn't understand."
"… Wouldn't they make an effort to though? I used to think that before telling my brother and father and a few others about all this."
Erina didn't reply.
"… I can't force you to talk about your traumas to others, but… take it from me, Nakiri, from someone who has gone through the same hell that you have: talking about it helps you. It… It begins the healing process, like putting a bandage over a bleeding wound it help it heal. It does help."
"… Go to sleep, Yukihira."
"… Think about it, Nakiri… the people who care about you deserve to know, and… you deserve their love and support."
"Go to sleep, Yukihira."
.
.
.
III.
HEADMASTER AZAMI'S NEW REFORMS!
ALL RESEARCH SOCIETIES, SEMINARS, CLUBS & OTHERS BANNED?!
Written by: Sōtsuda Mitsuru
October 12, 20XX
Earlier this morning, the new Headmaster of Tōtsuki Tea Ceremony and Cooking Academy, Nakiri Azami, held a press conference detailing his plans for the future of our illustrious academy. What he unveiled undoubtedly shocked everyone in attendance: the disbandment of all research societies, seminars, clubs, and any other independently operating organization among both students and faculty! Headmaster Azami also said, "[That] future societies and seminars are hereby forbidden."
Unconceivable and unprecedented!
Of course, there were many in attendance that immediately protested these changes, myself included, and one brave second-year student, Godabayashi Kyoshi the former President of the now disbanded Chankonabe Research Society, spoke up and said that, "the research societies and seminars have long been in the domain of the student body," and that, "they were integral to the academy as places to keep traditions of the past alive".
Not only that, but these independently operating bodies were also places where students could gather to further their own styles of cooking!
Headmaster Azami blatantly ignored Godabayashi-senpai's outburst and went on to talk about the new organization he created called Central.
Continued on Page 37
.
.
.
IV.
Kyou scoffed at the magazine he was reading and tossed it onto the coffee table in front of him. He was sitting on the couch in Professor Alain's office, legs crossed and a cup of now cold coffee off to the side. "What a load of drivel," he sneered, casting one last – disgusted – look at the magazine before turning his attention to Erina. "Your father's begun his takeover of the academy, Nakiri, and… you and I both know that he won't stop at just the disbandment of a few after school clubs or the establishment of a totalitarian regime. If he continues what he's doing… the Tōtsuki Culinary Academy… no… the culinary industry as a whole will never be the same. It'll be a dystopia – where only a selected few are given freedom and power while the rest follow like mindless sheep."
Kyou uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, clasping his hands together. "… Are you able to accept a world like that?" He questioned, staring at Erina with a piercing gaze. "One where we have to cater and bend to his every whim, Nakiri? Where no one will be able to remember what it was like before Azami? Before he brainwashed everyone into being obedient little puppets? Because I'm certainly not."
Erina closed her eyes and remained silent.
"… Are you still hesitating because he's your father?"
For a long time, Erina didn't answer. Finally, she sighed – bone-tired and weary. "… Yes…"
"… I believe that you should stand against him because he's your father." Kyou argued. "If someone you care about – someone whose family does something wrong or…or becomes someone you know they shouldn't be, then you should stand up and say something – do something…. Before… before it's too late and they cannot be helped."
Erina frowned sharply at Kyou's words. "That's easy for you to say, Yukihira. You have people that wanted to help you all along."
"You've had your Grandfather and Hisako and your cousin, didn't you?" Kyou countered tersely, relishing in the blonde's flinch. "You've also been surrounded by people who love you, who want to help you, Nakiri, you've just been too stubborn and prideful to see it. To accept it."
Erina continued to glare at Kyou. The bespectacled teen sighed and leaned back against the couch.
"… I… I don't want to go back to how I was when Azami was… teaching me," he admitted in a soft voice, "and I don't want to go back to how I was only a few months ago – withdrawn, scared, traumatized… I don't want that… And I also don't want other people – other children – to have to experience what we've been through." Kyou closed his eyes, his brow furrowed. "I… I can't imagine what my brother would be like if he had been the one to do through what we've experienced. I… I can't imagine my brother doing well in a world where he is restricted and bound by the desires and whims of those in power. He's not the type to just sit back and accept things he doesn't agree with, he will fight and I don't want to see him defeated and broken by Azami…" Kyou paused before tacking on with a wry, jaded smirk, "especially when I fulfill that role more than adequately."
Erina crossed her arms, her nails leaving a trail of crescent-moons across her skin as she mulled over Kyou's words. "… I… I…," she swallowed thickly, her mind flashing back to that dark room and hazy memories she didn't want to remember, "… I… don't want… I don't want that either," she confessed quietly. "I… I don't want to… turn back into that scared little girl… and… I don't want Hisako or Alice to become that little girl either… I want them to be happy… and free."
"… I want us to be happy and free as well… Erina."
Erina's eyes snapped opened at Kyou's usage of her name and she stared at the auburn-haired teen in surprise.
Kyou continued to speak, his voice increasing in fervor with every word. "I want us to finally be free from this goddamned nightmare that's been haunting us for the past ten years! I want us to be able to move on from all… this and to be able to look towards the future – with the people we love and who love us in return!" He stood unexpectedly, holding out a hand to Erina, his eyes were smoldering. "… What… What do you want, Erina?"
Without hesitation, the Nakiri heiress stood and clasped the elder Yukihira brother's hand. "… I want to be free from all this as well."
Kyou held Erina's gaze for an eternity before nodding once, releasing her hand. "Good… I think the next step we should take is-"
"You want me to tell Hisako and Alice about everything, yes?" Erina finished for him, tossing her long man over her shoulder. She crossed the office to where her bag was and pulled out her phone, unlocking the screen and dialing her secretary's phone in a matter of seconds.
"… You aren't going to back out of this because of nerves are you, Erina?" Kyou asked, sitting back down.
"Don't be ridiculous, Kyou," Erina shot back, glancing at him, "once I make up my mind about something, I never go back on my word."
Kyou raised a brow and smirked from his seat. "Oh really?" He drawled. "If memory serves me right, didn't you also say something about getting my brother and I expelled from Tōtsuki? And yet…," he shrugged, unrepentant in the face of Erina's glare, "here we both are. Still enrolled at this… outstanding academy."
"Cease your incessant chatter, Yukihira. Don't you know it's rude to bother a lady when she's on the phone?"
Kyou's mouth twitched at the prospect of delivering another retort, but he decided against it, raising his hands in mock surrender as the blonde began talking on her phone. As Erina continued her conversation with Hisako, Kyou felt his own phone vibrate in his pocket.
He pulled out his phone and, after seeing that it was Soma calling, answer it with, "Yes, Soma?"
Soma's voice came over the phone in a rushed panic. "K-Kyou! Kyou! Y-you aren't gonna…! I-I can't- How could this-?!" In the background, there were sounds of people screaming and what sounded like heavy machinery being operated.
"Soma? Soma!" Kyou barked - his grip on his phone tightening as worst-case scenarios began racing through his mind. "Soma! What's going on?!"
Soma took a deep breath and another before replying, "The… The…. It's- It's our dorm! I-It's being demolished! Right now! As I speak! It's….! The Polar Star dormitory… it's… gone…!"
.
.
.
V.
Kyou's breath came out in heavy pants, sweat dripped down his face and neck, his thighs were burning as he pedaled furiously down the dirt street that would lead to the Polar Star Dorms. He hit the bend right before the dormitory in a steep swerve, his bike flying out from under him as he crashed to the first and rolled a few times. Gritting his teeth and ignoring the blazing streaks of pain that raced up and down the entire right half of his body, Kyou stood and sprinted down the remaining yards.
Already he could see bulldozers and large trucks in the distance, bringing down the few remaining walls of what once was the Polar Star Dormitory.
There was a small group of people gathered around where the former gate used to stand, and as Kyou drew closer, he could hear raised voices and loud sobs.
"SOMA!" Kyou cried out, his golden eyes zeroing onto the fiery locks of his younger brother. The bespectacled teen threw his arms around his brother, near collapsing on the younger teen as he struggled to catch his breath and make sense of what was going on at the same time. "S-Soma…!"
Soma wrapped his arms around Kyou, burying his face in the crook of his brothers' neck. "K-Kyou…" Soma whispered, his shoulder's trembling – in sadness or anger, Kyou couldn't tell. "O-our dorm… it's…!"
Still breathing heavily, Kyou raised his head and locked eyes with probably the only person who could explain the situation. "What's… what's going on, Isshiki-senpai…?" Kyou asked through labored breaths. His body still ached from his fall.
The Seventh Seat had a solemn expression as he answered, "I tried everything in my power to stop this… I'm sorry everyone…."
"… What the fuck…?!" Ibusaki Shun growled, clenching his fists and taking a few steps forward – only to be stopped by a large man dressed in construction clothing. "Get out of my way." He snarled, when the man merely shook his head in denial, Shun visibly bristled. "… That's our home being destroyed right now! What right do you have to stop us from protesting this?!"
"Yeah!" Aoki Daigo and Satō Shōji roared in support, stepping up to flank their fellow first-year.
Daigo leaned into the man's face, sneering, "You better get out the way, Old Man. We're not just gonna sit back and watch you bastards destroy our home!"
Shōji nodded his head and cracked his knuckles. "What he said… though… if you aren't gonna get out of our way… then we'll just hafta make you move!"
"That's enough!" Isshiki yelled, startling the trio into silence as the normally jovial brunet leveled a stern glare at them. "… If you continue to make threats like that or do something to disrupt what's going on… you'll be expelled."
"WHAT?!" The trio exclaimed, moving to crowd around Isshiki.
"That's complete bullshit-!"
"What do you mean we'll be expelled, Isshiki-senpai?!"
"Y-You can't expect us to just let this hap-?!"
As Isshiki began to calm and placate Daigo, Shun, and Shōji, Kyou turned his attention to his remaining dorm mates.
The girls were crying, kneeling on the ground as tears streaming down their faces, their arms around one another in a show of support and comfort. Marui was sitting nearby, watching everything unfold with a pinched expression. Soma had let go of him and had turned around to also watch the destruction of their dorm.
"… Where's Fumio-san?" Kyou asked after realizing that their Dorm Mother was nowhere in sight. When no one answered him, he turned towards Isshiki and repeated his question. "Where's Fumio-san?!"
A pained looked crossed the brunet's features and he looked away, his hands curling into fists. "… Fumio-san… she was… let go from Tōtsuki…," he said, "She no longer works at the academy."
The group stilled as disbelief and anger settled upon them at Isshiki's words.
"How… W-why did this happen…?" Megumi asked, burying her face in her hands with a choked cry. "Wh-Why?!"
No one had an answer for her as the final wall of the former Polar Star dormitory fell.
Well it's certainly been a hot minute since the last update, huh?
As I said in the last chapter, from this point on there I will be making changes to the storyline – like the Polar Star dorm being demolished. It's time for me to get a new computer... luckily I was able to save all my stories on my work flashdrive and to OneDrive and I'm also using my laptop as my main computer for now.
I hope you all are staying safe in these trying times and maybe my stories can bring you all a little bit of comfort during these difficult times.
As always please let me know what you all thought via PM or Review!