A/N: Not mine.
"These scores are outstanding, Kotoko," Naoki said, perusing her report card.
"You mean in comparison to what they used to be?" she asked with a half smile.
"Well, yes, but still they are high enough that you should consider taking the nationwide exam in January."
"What good will that do me?" she questioned, setting the test results on the coffee table and relaxing back into the couch cushions. "I'm planning to go to Tonan U and these grades will get me in there, no problem."
"But with the national results you could possibly get into a better school."
"Eh, what would be the purpose of that? I'd have to leave my friends and family, plus try to find my way around a new city in addition to a new campus. I'd rather stay with a sure thing."
"But the quality of Tonan is average at best."
"Naoki," she leaned over and placed a hand on his arm, "I am average at best. You are the one with the brain that makes normal geniuses look like they're only half trying. I am satisfied."
"Have you discussed this with your father?"
"Yes, and he agrees with me. Plus, it will be more economical for me to live at home. No extra rent or other living expenses."
"I suppose so. Between Aihara-san and Mother, you certainly won't starve."
Kotoko's forehead crinkled. "That reminds me: why are Otosan and me still living here? Shouldn't our house be repaired by now?"
"Don't worry about it. We're in no hurry for you to move out." He pulled her close, and they cuddled on the couch. "You'll be missing this by not taking that test," he teased.
"Shoot, Naoki-kun, I've known you were going to go to a top school for the past three years. And no matter how good I might have done on that national test, there's no way I would have made it into one of the elites like you. Besides," she wiggled closer, "there are always the holidays."
"I suppose so… Say, what happened to the dork who didn't attend the tutoring sessions?"
"A bunch of suck-ups is what you are." Kinnosuke's loudly voiced opinion delivered an uncomfortable silence to the class's Christmas party.
"What gives you the right to say that?" Jinko sneered.
"You guys just wanna hang onto the shirt tails of Irie and the rest of that Class A bunch. D'you think they're going to let you do that forever? I bet it won't be long before they look at you like you're dogshit on their shoes."
"What a disgusting thing to say while we're eating," Satomi said as she laid down her chopsticks.
"And they may have taught us," Nemeto spoke up, "but we're the ones who took the tests."
"And passed them!" added Ruri, a girl who had once admired Kinnosuke before realizing that he had a one-track mind leading only to Kotoko. "Class A wasn't in our room pointing out the answers."
"Yeah," retorted another, "they just gave us the tools to be able to understand the questions."
"And the answers!" was called out laughingly.
"I suppose it just goes to show that the only tools Kin-chan is able to wield are the ones he'll be using to dig ditches," Satomi stated snidely, "since that's all he's good for."
"Or did the counselor give you any other options?" jibed Jinko.
"Isn't that sort of mean?" Kotoko weakly protested.
"Nah," Gintaro unexpectedly denied. "He's been insulting us for weeks, so it's only fair that he gets a little back."
"Yeah," Kinnosuke stuck out his chin pugnaciously, "I can take whatever you assholes dish out. But at least I'm not one of those prissy pretty boys who are going to college because they're not courageous enough to venture into the world of work."
"What drugs is he on?" Kotoko asked Satomi in a low voice. "I'm pretty sure I remember Naoki-kun beating him in a physical race."
"I'll have you know that I am going to have a most honorable career, one that my Kotoko–"
"She's/I'm not yours!" was roared by several voices.
"–will respect."
"And what's that?" someone catcalled.
"She'll be the first to find out. Well, once I've got all the wrinkles ironed out about it."
"See there, Kotoko?" Jinko commented in a sarcastic tone. "You can have all the free dry cleaning you want. Of course, you'll have to put up with Kin-chan for life, though."
"Okay, okay, make fun of old Kin all you want. But just you wait," he began to stomp out, "I'll show you all."
"That does it," Satomi declared with a fake gag, "just the thought of seeing 'all' of Kin-chan has definitely spoiled my appetite."
Mrs. Irie raised her glass. "I would like to propose a toast to my dearest son Naoki."
"Please, Ma."
"Non, non, you have shown yourself to be a most estimable young man this past year. Not only did you take it upon yourself to tutor my dear Kotoko-chan–"
"You must give some credit to her," Naoki interposed.
"Hear, hear!" Mr. Aihara agreed.
"Otosan!" she murmured, pink flushing her cheeks.
"Yes, yes, and her performance si magnifique inspired others to discern my son's excellent pedagogical technique, and he almost single-handedly–"
"Please don't forget the 'almost'."
"–assisted an entire class to achieve a milestone which augurs well for their ultimate success in life. L'excellence sans comparaison!"
"Naoki," Kotoko whispered, "I don't understand all those words she just used."
"Don't worry. I doubt she does either."
"Yeah," Yuuki snickered, "I saw her practicing that speech in the den, and every so often she would look up something on the computer and replace a word with a longer one, or one in French."
"How much French does Obasama know?"
"Just enough to be annoying," Naoki replied in a deadpan tone. "She really doesn't speak it, and those 'art films' she watches–she uses Japanese subtitles."
Kotoko's giggles had barely subsided when Odawara brought the next course to the table. Mr. Irie began to speak to keep his wife from continuing. "It's most generous of you to join us in our celebration. Are you sure that we are not keeping you from important duties in the kitchen? In your younger days you would never have let control of the situation leave your hands."
"You know me so well, Iri-chan," Aihara grinned, "but I have made my mark in the restaurant business and am now working to cement my legacy. I have personally trained the chefs back there, and this is their opportunity to 'wow' me. They are well aware that I prize consistent quality here at Fugu-kichi."
"I know I am not the only one at the table to feel that they have done an exemplary job this evening. I am sure that with your reputation you have the pick of culinary wunderkinds."
He let out a half-hearty laugh. "Ah, well, at least those who value traditional Japanese food. Some of these young whippersnappers want to come in and 'Frenchify' my recipes."
"And what, Ai-san," Mrs. Irie stabbed a not-completely-steady finger at him, "is wrong with French?"
"Nothing if that is the cuisine for which a restaurant is known. Plenty if it is mine."
"Oh." She sat back and blinked blearily. "That makes sense."
"And here we thought she couldn't recognize it," Naoki muttered to Kotoko and his brother.
"Some of those arrogant ones just show up here and practically insist that I employ them." He shook his head sadly, not noticing his assistant approaching with some trepidation. "Young people these days…!"
"Uh, Boss?" Odawara bent down. "Speaking of which," discordant voices could be heard in the main dining room beyond the privacy curtain, "that crazy guy's shown up again and is raising a right ruckus, demanding to see you."
Aihara rolled his eyes. "See what I have to put up with? My staff has kept him from bothering me thus far, but," he rose and placed a hand on Odawara's shoulder, "it seems that your loyal defense has not been enough to dissuade him. I suppose I now will have to lay down the law myself."
Before he could make his way to the exit, Kinnosuke burst through. "Now, looky here, Mr. Kotoko's father... Well, I might as well skip all that and just call you Dad since you'll leave me your restaurant seeing that I'll be your son."
"Where in the world did you get that idea? Haven't you been told that there are no vacancies? And besides not having experience and training, you definitely do not show proper respect for either who you would like to be your boss or patrons of my establishment."
"You gotta hire me so I can support my darling wife in the future. I'm gonna marry your daughter, you know." He rocked back on his heels in smug satisfaction.
"My daughter–!" He turned. "Kotoko, do you know this oaf? Wait a minute," his brow creased in concentration before he twirled back to him and roared, "you're the mangy dog who dared to molest my daughter after knocking her and my friend's son to the ground."
"Huh?" The teen squinted. "Have we met before? You look kinda familiar but I can't place you."
"That's because he was half hidden behind a camera, you idiot," Naoki drawled. "Of course, your face was plain to see."
"And easy to recognize," Yuuki chipped in, "along with the moronic drool coming out of your mouth."
"Boys!" Kotoko reprimanded, trying to choke back laughter as the brothers gave each other high fives.
"Well, now, uh," Kinnosuke was beginning to quail under the irate glares of Mr. Aihara and both Irie parents. "You see, what happened was–"
"Out!" Mr. Aihara roared, a finger pointed towards the curtain. "And I don't mean just out of this room. I mean out of this restaurant and out of our lives!"
"Now, let's not be hasty," the boy tried to speak in a placating manner as he backed away. "Kotoko and I still gotta go to school together, and who knows? Maybe she'll change her mind about me–"
"Not hardly," she snorted.
"–and when we get together," his voice became more confident, "then you'll welcome me with open arms into the family. But," as her father began to advance on him, "we can discuss this at that time. Bye, Kotoko!" he hollered. "I'm not giving up on you! You'll still be mine!"
"Lord Buddha, give me strength," Kotoko moaned as she banged her head on the table. Naoki pushed the food dish out of the way so her hair would not fall into it.
"Daughter, I absolutely forbid you to have a relationship with that-that abominable boy!"
"I second the motion!" Mrs. Irie cried.
"Otosan, Obasama, there is no other relationship other than classmate, I promise you."
"And why would she want him when she can have Onii-chan?" Yuuki remarked, to Kotoko's further embarrassment.
"Not the right time!" Naoki hissed at his brother as their mother went into maudlin raptures at the thought.
T/N: Non=no; si magnifique=so wonderful; l'excellence sans comparaison!=excellence without comparison!