Chapter 13: Sternly Embarrassed

The 'Talk'

As soon as they got back home the two young chefs trudged upstairs, said goodnight to each other and then collapsed into their respective beds as the raucous drunken laughter and chuckling of Shirō and Emiko continued from downstairs.

Tired, and too full up with food and drink, the entire Tadokoro residence was asleep within one hour of all their indoor lights being switched off, but to be fair they had all returned home at 4 in the morning and were hardly in any condition to do anything other than sleep.

And apart from the sound of a late face time call going off followed by a massive squeal of joy, a good nights sleep was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone in the house.

Megumi didn't awaken until one o'clock in the afternoon the following day, and apparently the others had all slept in as well. Fortunately, none of the inns guests were having an in house breakfast today opting instead to venture into either Hachinohe or further afield.

By the time she had dragged herself out of bed and into the bathroom, it was quarter to two, which immediately made her panic as she remembered that she and Sōma were due down by the train station for their return train to Tokyo at four o'clock. Time as still an ally to them at this point but her nerves about missing the train we're not. It was a little known policy for some Tōtsuki teachers to expel students that returned late back from off peak term time breaks, especially when the return would mark the beginning of the coming Stagiaire Internships.

An immense pressure was put on students these next couple of weeks. Representing Tōtsuki academy in an actual restaurant. Two weeks split between two restaurants. Working for, and hopefully learning from whomever they went to work for. They could either be a chef restauranteur or anyone involved in the food industry. The only criteria that was given was to 'leave an indelible mark' on the work ethic or practice of both employers, in each of the two weeks. Succeed the students would continue onwards in Tōtsuki, fail and it really would be sayonara.

Fear gripped at her heart as she quivered at the thought of being asked to contribute something of intrinsic value to industry bosses. Such insurmountable pressure was terrifying, and the more she thought about it the more she realised that she didn't want this break to end. And yet, simultaneously she realised that her dream of being a chef would end if she didn't go back.

Standing before the mirror in the bathroom, as after her shower, Megumi wrapped a towel around herself and then blow dried and platted her hair. "Hey, sweetie", her mother announced from the other side of the closed door, "what time do you want me to take you to the station?" She was about to answer when Sōma's voice joined the conversation. "Hey, Megumi, do you think we'll get back in time to see everyone before we all receive our work placements?"

Hearing his voice directly outside the bathroom, made her wish that she was fully dressed so she could open the door and answer him face to face, however as she was wearing nought but a bathrobe, she held back. "I hope so", she replied, tying her hair into her twin pigtails, "I promised Yuki and Ryōko that I would bring back souvenirs for the whole dorm. And I would like to give them out before we find out where we're being sent".

From outside the door, she heard her boyfriend respond with a mention of "probably with a party in Zenji's room". Megumi couldn't help but laugh at that, as much as she loved her fellow dorm mates she sometimes did feel sorry for how they all did just congregate in Zenji's room. Yet, this time she could guess that the bookish chef would most likely allow a party.

Suddenly remembering that her mother was still waiting for an answer, Megumi stammered, "sorry mom... I think could you take me and Sōma to the station at half past three, as its not far from here. We can then say farewell before we board the train". From behind the closed door, Megumi heard her mother's response of "sure. I'll in the inn all day, managing the kitchen and waitering staff, grab me when it's time to go".

Once she heard footsteps fading away, the blue haired girl exhaled before slipping off her bath robe and pulling on her clothes: underwear, bra, blue and pink striped T-shirt and navy coloured denim dungarees, with a green cardigan pink cherry blossoms embroidered across the front of the material. The design had been made by a childhood friend of hers, whom had moved to New York to study fashion. The designed cardigan had been sent to Megumi for her fourteenth birthday, and was something that the girl treasured greatly.

The friend in question, Alix Mihara, lived in New York studying fashion but had also studied at the London School of Fashion, and often traveled between London and New York. When both girls had realised that they were going to be so far apart they had promised each other that they would always keep in touch via email and Skype. Talking about fashion, photography, food and boys in their lives.

The most recent email had been sent from Paris, where Alix and her parents had visited, had spoken of a really amazing restaurant owned by a Japanese chef whom was receiving rave reviews from critics, clientele, famous glitzy stars and the general media. Upon reading that message, and realising whom the chef was, Megumi was brought out in cold sweats remembering her unofficial food war against chef Kojirō Shinōmiya.

Shaking her head, and turning back to back bathroom door, Megumi made her way back to her room only to find her mother sitting on the bed and patting beside her indicating that she wanted to talk. "Mom..." she began, making her way into the room. As she sat down on the bed Emiko held out a letter, with the Tōtsuki crest stamped on it. "Your school sent this", Emiko stated firmly before reading:

"Miss Tadokoro,

We have recently become aware that you have begun a relationship with one of your fellow students; who coincidentally is a dorm mate of yours. As a result, we, the members of staff, wish to point out that sexual relationships are strictly frowned upon at campus..."

The look on her mother's face was of overt concern and just as Emiko was about to further read the letter, and question her daughter, said daughter interrupted her with a red faced and resolute rebuttal.

"Mum, it's not what you think", Megumi stammered red faced, "me and Sōma only just recently got together... it was on the train coming here. But we were told in a FaceTime call with our friends back at the dorm, that someone else from school had seen and photographed us kissing..." Megumi explained, as she saw a frown grace her mother's face.

"This person doesn't sound like a friend to me. It sounds like they violated your privacy", Emiko replied. "But this still doesn't explain why the school thinks your having sex" she continued firmly.

"Sōma seems like a good boy, and it's blatant to all to see that your two love each other but you're far too young..."

"Mom..." Megumi choked out, trying with all her might to not stutter. Her face bright red with sheer embarrassment about this subject. "I'm not-we're not having sex".

A sudden realisation struck her, through the words of Yuki on the FaceTime call on the train, 'Apparently, Alice Nakiri was on the train and she disembarked at Morioka'.

"The person who noticed us kissing on the train is a friend of ours, who I remember was heading to Morioka. She happens to be the school director's granddaughter, thats probably why school sent this letter".

As daughter studied her mother's face trying to calm her nerves, she was then pulled into a tight embrace. "I know you're a teenager, and a growing into a young woman but I still see you as my baby girl... I just don't want you to rush into these things". Emiko tearfully stated patting her daughters back. "You and Sōma really do complement each other", she mused, "I really am glad you found someone who cares so deeply about you. Now all I have to do is hope that Kenosuke finds someone as well".

Four-thirty came by so fast that Megumi nearly forget about wrapping the few presents and souvenirs, she had bought for Ryōko and Yuki, plus the others for Isshiki, Shun, Zenji, Daigo and Shōji. As she rushed down the stairs carrying her suitcase and rucksack on her back, she caught sight of her out of breath blushing face in the hallway mirror and managed to compose herself for rejoining her mother and Sōma outside. Thankfully this time the train was a straight line all the way back to Tokyo with no stop off at Morioka, so they would be back in time for preparation for the workplace assignments, as well as any partying that Isshiki and Yuki would no doubt have planned.

"Are you ready?" Sōma asked, taking the suitcase from her hands and loading it into the back of the small Suzuki jeep, which Emiko was sitting in the front of. Megumi smiled and nodded her head, as she removed her rucksack and placed it too in the jeep. "Jump in you two", Emiko laughed from behind the steering wheel, "you can flirt and cuddle as much as you like onboard the train".

Thoroughly red faced, Megumi said a quick goodbyes to her grandfather before moving off to the jeep. "Goodbye Shirō", Sōma exclaimed shaking the older mans hand, "thank you for the fishing trip. I hope to put some lessons leant from cooking flounder to use at Tōtsuki". In response, Shirō chuckled "I'm sure you will. Just let me know how much credit I get for your next food battle victory".

Climbing into the jeep, Sōma grinned as he saw Megumi holding in her hands the two return tickets to Tokyo and their Tōtsuki student IDs. "Looking forward to the Stagiaire?" He asked, fastening his seat belt, and then waving out of the window to Shirō. Resting her head against his shoulder, the blue haired girl closed her eyes and gently smiled. "The old me would be catatonic with fear about hearing the words Stagiaire Internship challenge but now..." she turned her head and kissed Sōma on the cheek. "I'm quietly confident and a little excited. I want to further my culinary skills to the level of my brother".

Sōma placed an arm around and over her shoulders, and rested his head against hers. "I can't wait to meet Kenosuke, if he's as good and quirky a chef as you and your mother say he is, then I'm sure we're going to get on really well".

Megumi shuddered as she perished the thought. Between her brother the inventive oddball and then Sōma's creative diversions, Tōtsuki didn't stand a chance. And yet, she couldn't help but return her facial expression to a grin of anticipation. "Your better send me a detailed email of their meeting. And the inevitable cooking battle following", Emiko laughed as she drove out into the main road down towards the station.

Looking in the driving mirror, Emiko took in the sight of both Megumi and Sōma cuddled up in the back seat, both looking so adorably content. And she truly hoped that they were going to be together for the rest of their lives.