Chapter 24: Megumi's Tears, Sōma's Heart

When she had returned to Polar Star, accompanied by Erina, Megumi had felt in dire need for a bath and a bed. But once the god tongue had departed, whispering something to Isshiki, all Megumi wanted was to just curl up into a ball and wait to see Sōma again, and cry into his arms. To feel safe and loved.

Isshiki and Fumio had both tried to get her to open up about what had happened to shake her up so much, unfortunately she had refused to speak and simply stared out off the window clutching her portrait of her family. Eventually, Isshiki had managed to elicit some form of utterance from her by telling her that Sōma was on his way back, and was worried about her. "Huh..." that was all she managed to utter, before tears began to fall anew, and she was swept into Isshiki's arms.

As the black sedan car turned off the highway and then entered the Tōtsuki Academy grounds, Sōma could feel his heart beating loudly in his chest. He was interrupted from his worrying by the sight of several Tōtsuki students exiting the main lecture hall clutching booklets scrawled with black ink characters that spelt out the phrase:

'Fall Leaf Viewing Festival'.

For the briefest of moments he was suddenly curious but he forced himself to remember Isshiki's text to him... Megumi was in some sort of emotional distress and needed him. And from the sounds of it, Erina had really come through for her. 'I need to thank her' he mused to himself as the car made its way further into the Tōtsuki grounds. 'Maybe Hisako can advise me on a gratitude present for her'.

Sōma blinked as he began to recognise familiar buildings on the way to Kyokusei dorm: the tall pagoda, the food research society that Zenji spent a lot of his time at and adored and the lecture halls. Then further down the road, drawing into view, was the familiar ivy and jasmine clad brick manor-like building with its acres of land holdings surrounded it.

As the car drove past the iron gates and into the grounds of the Polar Star dormitory, Sōma couldn't help but feel home. As the driver stopped outside the main entrance, Sōma thanked him for drive back before climbing out of the car and staring up at the building. His home away from home. It was then that he immediately saw, standing on the front steps, under the small porch, Isshiki. Clad in nothing but an apron, which was being buffeted around by the wind, and yet miraculously keeping everything out of view, the seventh seat was beaming with pride as he enthusiastically waved.

—

Removing his rucksack, and a bag of books given to him by Kojirō in hand, from the boot of the car, Sōma found himself pulled into a joyous embrace with the council's seventh seat. "Oh Sōma", Isshiki exclaimed. "You look so culinary grown up. I do hope you will still be available to enjoy the rest of school with us youthful students!" Patting his friend on the back, the redhead grinned, "you know me Isshiki. I am going to take the top spot at Tōtsuki!"

Slinging his arm over Sōma's shoulders, Isshiki immediately began to explain what Erina had told him. "Erina said that it was inadvertently her fault..." Isshiki stated, "which is strange in its own way. Erina Nakiri has always been kinda socially awkward. But I digress". Pushing open the doors and walking into the entrance way, at the bottom of the huge grand staircase, the setting was explained.

"Erina... why is she blaming herself?" Sōma enquired. Isshiki sighed, "apparently she took control of the kitchen away from the restaurants chef owner. Who unleashed his fury and jealousy onto Megumi when she attempted to bring a perfectly valid improvement to his attention".

Clenching his fists, to the point that they hurt, Sōma took several deep breaths as tried to dissipate his anger. "Isshiki, where is Megumi now?" Sōma asked unclenching his hands. "She's in her room. Fumio and I have brought her food, and tried to talk to her... but we think that she just wants you right now".

"What did the chef do to Megumi?" Sōma growled, looking straight into Isshiki's eyes with a dulled but still simmering fury. For a moment Isshiki considered not telling him, but he relented by telling himself that Megumi probably wasn't ready to talk about it herself yet, so Sōma knowing would help him comfort her.

"The chef slapped her, hard enough to result in cutting her face. It won't scar but Megumi is really torn up about the whole experience. That's why Erina feels partly to blame because she, inadvertently, created the anger and jealousy in this so called chef".

Walking past the seventh seat and halfway up the stairs, Sōma suddenly stopped and turned around at hearing Isshiki's voice again. "If Kensuke were here I would have called him to be here with you... but he's not". Annoyance and anger were replaced by curiosity in Sōma's voice, as he took in that statement and stared, wide eyed, at Isshiki. "You know Kensuke?"

—

A sly smile crept onto Isshiki's face, dodging the question with his one of his own, Isshiki simpler stated. "We are second years together, so it makes sense that we know each other. Wouldn't you agree?" Nodding his head in the direction of up, the seventh seat reminded Sōma that he had somewhere more important to be. 'Megumi'. Turning around, with his rucksack in his back, and carrying his books, Sōma bolted up the stairs towards room 301. Anger, frustration and guilt all vying for dominance.

Once he reached his and Megumi's floor, he made his way along the corridor, briefly stopping off at his room to drop off his things, before moving across the hall to knock gently on his girlfriends door. And then announcing himself.

Dressed in black shorts and a large grey T-shirt, that fell to her knees, adorned with the tongue and lips logo of the Rolling Stones, Megumi snuggled face down on her bed and cocooned herself within duvet, away from anyone who might try to hurt her again.

Flitting between fear and depression, her thoughts were running rampant and as much as she tried to calm herself down she just couldn't stop crying, and for the first time in her life she now kinda of understood her brothers mental state whenever he relapsed into depression. Erina's kindness, whilst welcome and much needed at the time as well as on the journey back to Tōtsuki, was now not doing much for her anymore.

She was just about to roll over and try for the umpteenth time to get some sleep, when someone knocked on her door. Instinctively, she tried to say she didn't want to see anyone but she flinched at how broken and miserable she sounded. "Leave me alone... please. I-I just want to left alone..." she whimpered. But then the voice of the one person she desperately needed right now answered back.

"Megumi... please let me in..."

Quick as lightning, she bolted out of bed and wrenched open her bedroom door before flinging herself into Sōma's arms, not even caring or realising that her large T-shirt had fallen off her shoulder and was showing her bra strap. More so, the blush on Sōma's face was immediately gone by her wrapping her wand around him. "Sōma!" Hearing her anguished cry and seeing the plaster on her cheek simultaneously broke both his heart and enraged him.

'If I ever meet the so-called chef responsible for Megumi's tears, I'll fricking kill him!'

Wrapping his arms around her, he carried her back into her room whereupon he sat down on her bed and cuddled her as he whispered comforting things in her ears, whilst twirling his fingers around her pigtails.

"I love you Megumi, don't ever forget that", he whispered placing a soft kiss to her forehead. "You are a great chef. If I ever find out that bastard who hit you is... I swear I'll break his nose!" A strangled whimper escaped Megumi's lungs, as she both blushed and cried. "Stay with me... please" she murmured, leaning into Sōma's chest. "I don't want to be alone..."

Nodding his head, Sōma sat with his back against the wall and held her close as her breathing evened out, and they both fell asleep in each other's arms.

—

Meanwhile, downstairs, in the dining room, Isshiki was busy excitedly welcoming back to Polar Star: Yuki, Ryōko, Zenji, Shun, Daigo and Shōji. And whilst he had showered them with praise and encouragement for their continued success at Tōtsuki, he had also given a brief summation of Megumi's upset, and why she and Sōma were absent. "That son of a..." Daigo angrily exclaimed. "That bastard should be prosecuted for grievous bodily harm! Not to mention assault!"

"Not before I get my hands on him", Yuki growled, having to be restrained by Ryōko and Shun. "I'll break every bone in his body for what he did! Megumi was only fulfilling the requirements for the stagiaire, its not her fault that guy is a total prick!"

"Whilst I agree with you all", Isshiki uttered before reeling himself back. "Apart from any sort of vicious revenge attacks... Yuki. I want you all to be comforting and supportive of Megumi right now". The response he received was well rounded and thoroughly agreed upon. "See you guys tonight, a round of cards and snacks in Zenji's room", Shōji and Daigo proclaimed racing up to their rooms. "No way in hell!" Zenji yelled chasing after the two meatheads.

"Well I'm gonna go have an bath", Yuki sighed, "after a week of internships, I need relaxation". The orange haired girl, together with Ryōko departed, and not too soon after Shun stated that he was going to prepare something some late night snacks for the party in Zenji's room.

—

Left alone in the dining room, Isshiki smiled softly to himself, revelling in how lucky he was to have such a close-knit group of friends.

He was about to head upstairs when he realised that he should probably let Kenosuke know about the situation with Megumi. Another sly smile broke across his face, as he withdrew his phone and was about to hash out a quick text, when he decided that he should call him personally. Kenosuke was Megumi's brother, he needed to know preferably from a voice not by text. He was about to dial the number when he was abruptly taken by surprise by the voice of Mistress Fumio entering the dining room and placing a large box of vegetables from the garden, down on the table.

"Your looking rather pleased with yourself, Isshiki", Fumio spoke raising a quizzical eyebrow. "Is there perhaps... something you would like to divulge to me..." Momentarily startled, Isshiki turned to face the 'dorm mother', and with a smile across his own face the seventh seat grinningly announced.

"He's been away too long, and whilst I recognise why he needs this time off... its about time that Sōma finally meets Kensuke".

—

R.I.P. Olivia De Havilland