Until Then

It was too quiet in the car on their way to Polar Star Dorm, and Shinomiya was irritated that he can hear his own conscience babbling about that short intimate moment with Megumi.

He had two choices earlier in the office. Either he stops her and be the lawful man that he is, or he gives in to his weakness just once.

Obviously there's no way to change what he decided. It was solely based off that urgency that he couldn't leave Japan without patching it up with her, but it lead to that... and he didn't even think that she would have the guts to start it. It was even more of a challenge for him to stop too, but at the last moment, his very same conscience cut it to a limit...

...and it's the same one... the same kind of restraint, reiterating of their age, reasoning that he's prying unto something that could be harmful for both of them.

His pupils quickly peeked on Megumi who seems unsettled, slowly caressing her lips with her fingers over and over.

This woman is a natural temptress.

On the other hand, the night escalated too quickly for Megumi. Hours ago she only wanted to clear out if there was something between Tendo and her senpai, but it ended up with...

She bit her lip from shaking, hiding behind the backpack she's been using as a security blanket.

Did it feel good for him? He must have kissed a lot of women at this point, so too many kisses can be compared to this. Not to mention if her mom would even allow this.

"Senpai... Sorry..." She initiated all flustered. "That was too much... Sorry if that was a bad experience for you... Please forget about it."

"Y-you're more worried if you did it right?" Shinomiya responded to her as if she's missing the point. In his mind, he could get jailed for what he did.

"I-I-I don't know!" Her nerves got the best out of her. "I.. I'm sorry if it was bad..."

"No, it was..." Perfect. "...good." A little crude, but strangely, and addictively perfect. "You?"

Definitely not his first kiss, but, it might be, no, it is his first time doing this with someone he genuinely cares for, so much that he's now cautious if he might have hurt her. He does tend to get rough as he was told a few times before, but somehow it wasn't like that with Megumi, or so he hopes.

"I... haven't kissed anyone before... but... it was wonderful..." Megumi shyly responded to him.

They reached a particular stoplight. It was one that they had to wait forever before they could drive again. They both mentally rewinded to that moment, and the red traffic light hid their feverish faces.

Shinomiya cleared his throat. They really need to talk about the elephant in the room, and he couldn't ignore all the misunderstanding that they went through.

"Megumi, about a while ago, don't think of it as a mistake, but, that could be the last time I'll ever do that..." He tried to sound as objective as he could. "And I think you know why."

Megumi has been meaning to talk about this too. A kiss can confirm his affection, but it won't really fix the issue at hand...

"I know, senpai..." said Megumi now more concerned than nervous. "A while ago, Wei felt guilty that she might ruin Shino's for defending herself from Tendo's friends... It makes me think of myself now... of how much controversial it would be if..."

These complications about her being merely a high school student, and him who is out of her league, and far more mature... Megumi couldn't even say it to herself. "Well... bottomline... I don't want to be a source of problem for you... and everyone at Shino's..."

"I guess we're on the same page in that sense... but it's not all for my welfare." Shinomiya already debated with himself over this a million of times.

The traffic light turned green and Shinomiya's vision fully switched back to the road.

Both of them didn't want to open it, but all those reasons point out to one source, the one thing they've been trying to ignore...

And maybe this kind of situation forced her to be at a much higher level of maturity for her age... and she did it for him.

She's probably wasting her youth for me when she could be dating someone her age.

The faces of Yukihira and Aldini popped up as her potential suitors. He burst that thought bubble shooing it all away.

There were other consequences he needed to point out. "That's only one perspective. I'm also concerned about the people around you, especially your mother."

"My mom?" Megumi questioned.

"When you were in a coma, your mom tried her best to act calm infront of us, but every time I visit you, I would always catch her eyes swollen." And it reminded him too much of how his mom looks whenever he's gravely hurt. "I don't think I should add any more reasons for her to worry about you. I don't want to be perceived as a bad influence either. She's already worried that you're far away from home."

"...but... if my mom got to know you better, I'm sure it won't be like that." Megumi retorted.

"Yes, but... what would others think of her?" he argued back. "How you act is a reflection of how she raised you. We can always say it doesn't matter what the world thinks, but it's not all that simple when there's a business tagged with your name."

"Then... I should say the same for your mom..."

"Ugh. She'll kill me now if she finds out what I did to you earlier."

"S-she will?!"

"Of course not but hell she scares me that way!"

Being the only child, and being raised by a single parent is something they both have in common. It was one of those things that they opened up to each other before.

Megumi does not have a clear memory of her father's face. Her mom has been the one constant family presence throughout her life.

Meanwhile, his dad completely left before the start of middle school. Since then, Shinomiya joined and won every contest he could, to partially finance himself so his mom won't have to worry so much about him.

Both of them aware of each other's family life, they debated of other people's perception, versus their feelings being the only thing that matters since it's only supposed to be a relationship between the two of them.

The conversation dove further into deep, and the more they talked about it, the more taxing and complicated it became.

They even questioned their own values too, which they couldn't get passed through. A while ago may have been memorable for both of them, but...

Megumi gloomed. "It would be nice to do that without having to worry about anything after..."

"If circumstances were ideal, for sure." he said bluntly. They wouldn't even be having a conversation right now if that's the case.

Megumi sulked hugging her backpack. Her senpai pointed out so many repercussions she did not think through, and the difference between their maturity resurfaced. "Then... What should we do?"

Sadly it still points back to where they started, and there was no other choice. Everything justified only one possible decision, because there's no way to win at any angle.

Maybe the only reason for this discussion is to force a work-around, a sensible compromise, where it's reasonable for everyone else's eyes, including their own, to be together like any other couple who love each other...

...but that's not how it is.

"We do nothing..." Shinomiya finally answered. "...absolutely nothing." He stepped on the accelerator as they flashed through the empty highway.

And Megumi fully understood as the multi-colored streaks of light from the night lamps traveled with them. "I still won't take back what I have said and done..."

"I know." he said accepting their resolve. "We'll just have to wait for now."

"...but after that..."

"We'll cross the bridge when we get there. You still have your last year at the academy. Third year tends to be a crucial time to realize your goals for the future, so there's no certainty you'll feel the same way about me after you graduate."

"Senpai... It's like you're saying you'll gamble all that time for us to have a chance."

"Megumi, I don't gamble, but I do get what I want. If you have the slightest intention of letting go, I will pull you right back in and have you choose me."

Rediscovering his stubborness in this manner made Megumi feel more reassured. If he's going to fight for them this way...

"W-well... t-then I'll be the kind of person you want so you won't have to choose anyone else." She can be stubborn too if she wills it.

"Idiot. I don't want to be with anyone else!" Shinomiya almost missed another turn because of her.

The seriousness of it all flipped into a little banter, and in the end, they decided that nothing much has to change. They can still talk to each other as usual, but everything else will have to wait. It's the same as what they promised in Paris. The only difference is, that they're more certain now of where they are, that they want to be together, and they will, eventually at the right time where nothing and no one, most especially themselves, can question them anymore.

That kind of agreement made it in time as they reached the dorm. The car parked infront for a while as they exchange conditions of what they can or cannot do, most of which they could probably have done over a message or two.

"Stop." Shinomiya then tapped on her head. "It's already passed your curfew..."

If only he could stay in Japan longer... but then, that would be too troublesome for his restaurant in France.

Megumi unfastened her seatbelt then wore her backpack, and...

"Umm... Senpai... Before you go..." She held up her gift bag. "Here..."

Like a child, Shinomiya wondered and guessed what's inside as he received it.

"It's a little late, but happy birthday..." Megumi greeted anticipating for him to open his gift.

Shinomiya unstrung the ribbon from the bag, then pulled out the gift.

It was a small recipe box. He peered at Megumi, and she seems to be waiting for him to go further into it.

What is she up to?

He then opened the box to find it already half full of recipe cards. He took out one, surprised after reading the title. Handwritten in calligraphy was Herve's Magret de Canard. He could never forget this.

When he decided to go to France to pursue his dream, a rough start awaited him. As soon as he landed, his luggage went missing, he struggled upon getting a job despite his credentials, and when he finally lands on one, he loses it immediately as someone exploited the course he was preparing.

Nothing turned out right, until he met Herve, who offered him a temporary home, and cooked a warm meal to console him that day... That warm meal was Herve's Magret de Canard, and it took a while, but Paris finally welcomed him through that dish.

At the bottom of the recipe card, it says "My first taste of kindness in Paris."

He pulled out another recette, and another... and they were all labeled that way, each of them was tagged with a very significant memory for him.

"My first attempt for French Cuisine"

"A farewell to Tootsuki, the last dish before graduation"

"The dish that started Shino's"

And so on...

Every conversation and story he shared to Megumi, she remembered them, and she noted all the good ones that mattered most to him.

"After my memories returned, I remembered that I actually prepared an early birthday gift for you. This happened before Blue. I guess I was confident that I would at least reach quarter finals to get you to visit me. I asked a bit of help from a few people so I can list all the recettes... I called Herve and Rebecca back then too." Megumi had a sense of nostalgia. "I thought those recettes will remind you that you haven't really been alone all this time. You just need to pay attention to them once in a while."

Shinomiya gawked at her gift. He should have expected this. Of course it wasn't just an ordinary box. It's Megumi for goodness' sake. How he strongly wishes now that he could have reserved their kiss earlier for this moment instead, or if he could have another one right now...

"Senpai? You haven't said anything... If you don't like it then..."

Shinomiya childishly pouted then hogged it on the side so she won't reach it. "You forgot a couple of recettes."

"Hmm?" Megumi got all puzzled.

"Your Rainbow Terrine, and your Breakfast-themed Kaiseki." he said concretely.

"Oh!" Megumi tapped a fist on her palm. "From our first shokugeki at the Training Camp, and the breakfast I made for you during our training for the Regiment de Cuisine..."

"Yeah..."

The Rainbow Terrine, she can understand. He once told her that it was clumsy, but it pulled him out of stagnation for some reason. For the Breakfast-themed Kaiseki though... Why?

"If you feel that they're important then, I'll send it to you later, Senpai."

"Call me Kojirou." he said touching the carving on the recipe box. "When we're alone like this, I'm neither your senpai or your mentor, so you can call me by my name."

Shinomiya turned to Megumi, who was straining herself to utter it.

"K-ko-ji-ro-u..." she spelled it out like a kindergarten trying to learn a new word.

Shinomiya chuckled ruffling her head. "Yeah. That's a start."

They both stared at each other, a little more hopeful for themselves for the days to come.

"Hang on a little longer..." Kojirou held her hand then brought it up to press it against his lips, exactly like how he did it when they parted in Paris. "Until then..."

Megumi nodded and beamed at him, her lower eyelids brimmed in tears. "Until then..."

With that, she got off the car then for the nth time, she watched him drive off not knowing when they'll meet again. For once though, it never felt like it was about being physically distant from him.

Perhaps it's easier if they were born in the same year, be at the same age, or be in a much more favorable circumstance where they can easily be together.

There's a time limit before this wall between them crumbles, and they're waiting for it, so until then...

"Do your best, senpai..."

Training Before the Regiment de Cuisine

(Please refer to Something in Common)

Her dish was like a much awaited sunrise after a long night. Breakfast-themed Kaiseki as she calls it. She used seasonal ingredients that are still appropriate for breakfast, but how she delivered each of the element to its best state, that was the highlight of it all.

It's not perfect, but...

"How is it senpai?" asked Megumi all worried.

"If you can cook like this, then you might have a chance to win at a bout." commented Shinomiya.

Megumi ogled with pride. "Finally!"

Shinomiya couldn't understand her need to impress him with just a breakfast meal. It's not even a part of their training, but... "You're acting like you won a medal."

Megumi shook her head. "Senpai, it doesn't matter if my food is delicious or not... It's meaningless if the one I'm cooking for doesn't like it. That's why, I'm really happy with what you said..."

What kind of amateurish thinking is this? "Don't get too happy. I won't go soft on you today."

She nodded then continued with consuming the eggs benedict he cooked for her. Her eyes sparkled, and joy spread on her cheeks as she ate his dish.

What a weirdo. It's just eggs benedict, and she's celebrating like it's a rare treat.

Now that he thinks about it, when was the last time he had a warm meal prepared for him in the morning? Years ago perhaps?

Shinomiya slowly ate Megumi's dish. The pureness of her intentions seeped through every bite. It was the very definition of a beautiful morning...

This is how a day should begin. This warmth, and the kind of solace that dispels everything irrational in this world... like it's a reason to come home to...

Never would he entertain the concept of settling until this morning.

"Should I brew some coffee for you, senpai?" Megumi calling for him snapped him back to reality.

"Yeah..."

"Black coffee?" She walked off then reached out for the coffee beans from the top shelf.

"Yeah. How did you know?"

"I noticed you didn't put anything in your cup yesterday..."

So she pays attention to those little details.

He now engrossed himself on her checking the coffee filter.

Right there from where she stood, the whole kitchen transformed before him. It remodeled itself to a bolder yet more minimalistic interior, exactly the way he would design a kitchen if he plans to have a house built.

By the stove he saw a projection of himself cooking some sort of soup. Beside him, was a woman preparing coffee.

Meanwhile, little hands were reaching up behind the preparation counter.

He saw himself bend over to the owner of those tiny fingers, only to carry up a small human who looks like him. He helped the little kid sit on a stool.

The child properly held a peeler then started working on a potato. He did it fast then showed it to the Kojirou of this imaginary world. The woman behind them was about to turn around, but...

"Here you go, senpai."

The vision before him vanished with Megumi now serving his black coffee.

It all felt too real. That might have been the first time he envisioned himself having that kind of life. Is it because of this breakfast?

Did she put drugs in it?

"Do you often cook this with your friends every morning?" He tried to investigate what she was thinking upon cooking this dish.

"Not this particular dish... I only do this at home... with my Mom." Megumi settled again beside him.

No wonder. Shinomiya now had a better sense of where that vision came from.

"I know it seems plain, but, it's always nice to have something simple, like having a warm meal with a family. I thought a dish that will remind you of that will comfort you after all the trouble I caused you yesterday..."

Ahh... This again... like her Rainbow Terrine.

"Doujima did say your talent is hospitality." It's a principle that's far from his style of cooking, but her thoughtfulness brought more accuracy, moreover, it heightened the flavors of the soup, the omelette, and everything around it.

I hope Doujima is not teaching me another lesson.

Shinomiya shrugged it off then resumed to finishing his meal, and that vision of that imaginary family popped up again, melting his heart for a tear to escape.

Before he graduated elementary, his father left, and he only had his mother to take care of everything in the household. At that time, he swore to himself that when he decides to have a family in the future, it won't end up the same way.

So far, Shinomiya realized two dreams through her dishes. Her Rainbow Terrine became the initiator of a new goal for his career, and it made him build Shino's Tokyo. She may have been lucky to pull that off, but then this breakfast also presented an unprecedented turn. It reinstated a promise he made to himself as a child.

We're not going to end up like the kind of jerk Dad was, right? His 12-year-old self spoke to him.

Is it time to revive those plans about having a family? Not immediately, but he is at that age where he can be open to it after all, and that irridescent illusion of a son and a woman beside him, was quite pleasant.

The things this dunce makes me think with her dishes...

Kojirou's handwriting sucks compared to Megumi's, and since his printer wasn't working, he had to write the missing recipes himself.

I'll just make her rewrite it for me next time...

His phone beeped for his attention.

Megumi: Goodnight, senpai...

Megumi: or... Kojirou...

Megumi: Goodnight Ko

Megumi: jirou

Megumi: Goodnight Kojirou.

Megumi: Sorry I'm not used to it!

Kojirou: It's just a name!

Megumi: Goodnight Kojirou. Please don't stay up too late...

Kojirou: Goodnight. Sleep already. I'll let you know when I'm off tomorrow.

He now had a closer look at the design of the box. There was a misalligned carving.

It's handcrafted? Did she do this on her own?

It wasn't commercially-made for sure. He hated sentimental items, but it's becoming an exception when it's gifted by Megumi, which reminds him that it's already her birthday next month.

What gift would beat this?

He thought as he reviewed the last recipe card and labeled it at the bottom. He left it on the desk for the ink to dry with some paperweight on its edges, then continued to stuff all his clothes in his luggage. At the bottom of the Breakfast-themed Kaiseki card, a note was written in cursive:

"The image of my future home."

A Really Really Important Note for the Reader:

It's not canon that Megumi and Kojirou have been raised by single parents. Just saying...

I placed it there as a common ground for them. I don't think the manga ever showed Megumi's Dad even when they brought her to the train station on the way to Totsuki. Kojirou's Dad wasn't at the soft opening of Shino's Tokyo, so I thought either he died, or he left them through a divorce.

The breakfast-themed kaiseki is the same one Megumi made in my one-shot fic, Something in Common.

Also, sorry for the late replies on the private messages you've sent me! I already replied to them, and I might have said sorry and thank you too many times.

And much much much thanks to everyone's support. I'll be okay enough to finish this fic, I promise! Two more chapters before I tag this as complete.