Dish.18 – Reunion [part.01]
Kikuchi Shouji opened the curtain of the double windows in his rented hotel room. The beauty of Kyoto outside the window's glass met his old eyes – the ones which colored in magenta. After almost five seconds stood by the window gazing at the city which began its activity, the old Kikuchi Shouji walked toward his bed. He sat on it as his right hand reached on the telephone which sat on the table next to his bed. He dialed for the room service, precisely to send his morning tea set to his room.
His magenta eyes then shifted its focus to the small photo frames he set on the table. The bigger one was his old photo he had with his deceased daughter – Kikuchi Kaede – when the latter still in her first year of middle school. Then, the smaller one beside it was the photo of a beautiful girl in her first day of school at Toutsuki Culinary Academy – Middle School Division.
"She is... really took after your eyes, Kaede." He muttered as he took the smaller photo frame. "Time... is really fly so fast, my dear daughter. The first also the last time I met your daughter was at your funeral day." The old Kikuchi Shouji began reminiscing his old memory as he closed his eyes. A small smile emerged on his lips when he remembered how cute and lovely his granddaughter back then. But then, those smile turned into frown. He opened his eyes, stared hard on the photo frame as he held it tightly. "They have dared to take her from her biological family, yet they didn't shower her with so much love they should did. Nakiri family... they must pay for making her shed her tears."
"Ne, ne, Otou-san. What is that giant thing? It has many tails spread out from it!"
Karen snapped her eyes opened once she got a scene of an old memory in her short nap. She sighed as she sent her sight over the panorama behind the glass window of the train. The Shinkansen still running toward its destination, she didn't know just how long she has taken the nap. Her dream earlier, it was her memory when she had the first train ride with her father. The little Karen was so curious about any single thing she saw from behind the glass window. So, she asked about it nonstop just like the train which she had ride on, and her father with so much patient answered all of her questions without exception. It was... one of her happiest memories.
The little her was always wondered, how was the world outside of Nakiri's giant mansion looked like? Back then, it was only once in a month that her father will brought her out of the mansion.
One day date with Otou-san.
She even had named that special day and marked on each same date over her table calendar. 7th day of each month. Each night before she drift off, she stared at her table calendar then prayed for the date to come faster. Waiting for that special day, even felt more exciting than waiting for her birthday to come.
But, when? When that special day stopped coming?
She didn't remember it. Precisely, she didn't want to remember it. In the back of her head, she remembered it clearly. When... that special day stopped coming. But, she chose to forget it. As she remembered it, it only brought her heartache. It will brought her into endless cry. So, she chose to forget it as she tried to substitute it with another thing. Another thing which brought happiness to her.
It was... the first train ride she had after the long session of therapy back then. That time, her father brought her to her dreamt city – Kyoto.
"This is JR Kyoto station. To all the passengers, please to check all of your things before you board off the train. Thank you."
The announcement followed as the Shinkansen train made its stop. It brought back Karen from her reverie. After collecting herself, she got up from her seat as she brought her small luggage together with her, positioned her in line with other passengers to get out of the train. Once she got off of the train, she got greeted by foreign faces walked here and there, aimed for different places.
"Ren-chaaan!"
Karen looked for the one who voiced out her nickname so cheerfully. There, she found the oldest of the triplet sisters of Kimura siblings – Kimura Ayumi – waved her hands, which not only gained her attention, but others too.
"Hooontou... hisashiburi, Ren-chan."
The older one greeted Karen with her energetic feminine voice as well as her warm smile which turned her jade eyes into crescent moon, once Karen made a stop in front of her. She even brought Karen into a tight hug after that.
"Hisashiburidesu, Ayu-nee." Karen greeted back after Ayumi releasing her from the hug.
"Is she that famous Chef Ayumi?"
"Heh? You must be kidding!"
"She's the real Chef Ayumi."
The unpleasant feeling of being the center of attention started building inside Karen, which made her had an annoyed cross over her temple. While the one who became the main course of the passerby's talks still wearing her cheerful smile as if nothing happened.
"Are you ready for summer holiday?!"
But, before Karen could answer it, Ayumi already dragged her out of the station. Placed the luggage inside the trunk at the back of Ayumi's car, Karen immediately went to the passenger seat while the owner of that car already sat on the driver seat. After putting the safety belt on, the car left the station with smooth move.
"Seriously, Ayu-nee. You should put on disguise when you go outside." Karen commented when the car made a stop because of the traffic sign turned red.
"Hai, hai." Ayumi replied casually, almost animatedly.
Karen sighed. She was sure that Ayumi already got the same advice countless times, but she still did the same thing such as being the center of attention in the middle of crowd. Nah, it was her old habit which hard to be killed after all. Even after being the celebrity chef. It was when Ayumi made the car moved as the traffic sign turned green, a call came into her phone.
"Hai, Ayumi-desu. Oh, Rumi-chan, it has been long... uhm? No, you're not disturbing at all..."
As Ayumi was busy with her phone call, Karen decided to enjoy the city's beautiful panorama through the car's window. The dense, tall, giant buildings with glass panels were similar to the ones she saw back in Tokyo. But, for some reasons it looked different too.
It wasn't her first visit over that beautiful city, but Kyoto always gave her different atmosphere whenever she made a visit there. It felt refreshing. Slowly, she closed her eyes. The ride till Kimura residence still took time, so she decided to take a short nap. Also, her Ayu-nee was still enjoying her merry phone call.
Did the short trip from Tokyo to Kyoto really tire her body? In those short nap, she dreamed. An old fragment of her memories. It was probably eight years ago... in a hospital room which the windows got opened, let the summer breeze blew the curtain hung on its rail.
"Say, what's your name?"
"I'm Yuu. What's yours?"
...
"Uh... you know, I can read your name which is written on the board name, but... it's kind of..."
"Re... Ren. It's... Karen."
...
"Then... nice to meet you, Ren."
"Are you listening to me, Azami-san?"
Nakiri Azami got back to the earth once he heard the older man in front of him called. He looked at the older one then back to the old photo in his right hand. A photo of a boy and girl in a hospital room. A photo which got taken about eight years ago.
"How... do you get this photo, Shouji-dono? I'm pretty sure that it was only me who have this old photo."
The older man – Kikuchi Shouji – smirked as he heard Azami's question. "It's not a difficult thing to do when it comes to my dear granddaughter, Azami-san." Kikuchi Shouji replied, then he sipped his tea. As he put back the cup on the table, he continued. "I don't know if it was fate or not, but Kikuchi Yuu's interest toward Karen is the key for our plan."
Azami stayed silence after hearing such words came from Kikuchi Shouji. Take a benefit from youngster' feeling, such a heartless move. But, Azami couldn't reject that proposal either. Like Kikuchi Shouji has said before, the two – Yuu and Karen – are the key for their great plan. Both Yuu and Karen already became 'important' figure in Kyusei Group and Toutsuki. Both had their influences, and getting a hold over the two made they – Azami and Shouji – got a hold over Kyusei Group as well as Toutsuki at the same time. Such a promising plan.
Just, something that was bothering Azami.
"Are you sure about that, Shouji-dono?" Azami asked, as he put the photo next to his own cup filled with espresso. The one who got asked didn't answer it immediately, just asked Azami back through his gaze.
"Unlike Karen whom being ignored by Nakiri elders, it is a different story with Kikuchi Yuu. Despite his origin, he is always under spotlight. I've heard that Kikuchi elders as well as the board of director of Kyusei Group already made a definite decision that Yuu is the one who will take the leader's baton of both Kikuchi family and Kyusei Group." Azami took a short pause as he took a sip of his espresso. "I think, Hideyoshi-sama won't let you alive if he knew that you're intended to play with his dear grandson's feeling."
The old Kikuchi Shouji let out a crisp laughter after hearing Azami's speculation. It was true. There was no guarantee that he will come back alive once the Kikuchi's head family knew about his plan. But, experience has taught him. His failure in the past won't happened again. He has sworn on that.
"If it was the old me, Azami-san." Shouji said confidently. "I've taken careful steps since I started formulating this plan." Shouji started. "Kikuchi Yuu, being under Hideyoshi's upbringing, he is prepared to be Kikuchi's leader. Yuu is far more ambitious than his deceased father, that made he is the perfect one to be put into my plan." He paused, as he leaned on his chair looking up at Azami. "We just... need to make the situation takes our side."
At the same time,
Kyoto – Kimura Residence
"Haaah?! Are you out of your mind, Ayumi!"
All the servants as well as the family members stopped their activity for a second when they heard the sudden outburst made by no other than Kimura Ikuya. The situation got back into normal once they realized that it was just ordinary thing. They came into the same conclusion – Kimura Ikuya had a conversation with Kimura Ayumi. The two has labelled as the cat and mouse of the Kimura family.
Kimura Ichiya – being the oldest of the siblings, didn't really care about the two's bickering as they usually fought for unnecessary things. But not for the other two of triplet sisters – Ayaka and Aiha, and the youngest – Haruki. The three opened their ears widely as they waited for the continuation of the debate between Ikuya and Ayumi.
"We have decided to hold the welcoming party for Ren-chan and now you are monopolizing her for your own business?!" Another shout came from the second child.
"Ikuya-nii baka. We all know that Ayumi-nee will got carried away when it came to Ren-chan, yet he delegated her to fetch Ren-chan." The youngest of the triplet – Aiha – commented as she took a bite of her favorite strawberry pocky.
"Hontou, baka." Ayaka agreed on her younger sister.
Haruki sighed at his siblings' antics. As he still had works to do, he chose to leave the room where they gathered – the living room – to his room. It was when he took two steps from the sofa, his mother – Kimura Misaki – appeared, with a shock expression on her beautiful face.
"What?! I even have made Ren-chan's favorite sweets." The lady spoke with her disappointed face.
"Okaa-san, stop being exaggerate. It's not like the welcoming party can't be held later in the evening." Haruki commented as he was about to resume his walk toward his room to arrange his things there.
"Ki-kun, wait." His mother stopped him as the older one held onto his right arm. "Go fetch Ren-chan now."
"Huh? Nande ore..."
"Because you're Ayumi's favorite." Ikuya cut Haruki's unfinished words immediately as he ended his call with his sister. "She'll definitely listen to your words, Haru. Also, the place where she brought our beloved Ren isn't far from here. It's... HAKUREN."
"Damn, Ikuya. Can't he stop being a mother hen which lost its chick?!"
Karen stayed silent, pretended that she didn't hear any shout and curse words came out from Ayumi when the latter had the call just now. Nah, the oldest of the triplet sisters always turned into green monster when it came to have a talk with the second child of Kimura house. It wasn't surprising at all.
"Sorry for the interruption, Ren-chan. Let's go in."
Karen just followed her Ayu-nee without any comment. Earlier, Ayumi has said that she wanted to try the latest summer's sweets menu owned by HAKUREN no dolce – the popular sweets café in the heart of Kyoto.
"Ayu-nee, are you sure that you didn't get the wrong place?" Karen asked with low voice as she walked faster so she was side by side with the older one. She asked that question wasn't without a reason. As all she saw inside the shop was countless refined kimono be it for ladies or men, from child till elder.
"Of course not, Ren-chan." Ayumi answered spontaneously. "It's not here, but there." She added as she pointed at the far end of the room.
There was a pair of wooden doors. Once Karen went through it, she found many sets of table and chair, the front counter which displayed the sweets in the showcase. Not only that. Next to the front counter was a set of tea and coffee brewing tools.
Ayumi walked passing the front counter which made Karen whom followed her had a confused look over her face. It was when Ayumi made a stop on a set of table and chair near the beautiful arranged green bushes that Karen realized where Ayumi has brought her. The outdoor café space – the courtyard, where the customer can enjoyed not only the view of the courtyard but also to see the place where the pastry chef made sweets at the confectionery workshop in the back.
"It's... into your liking, right, Ren-chan?" Ayumi asked as both of them already seated on their assigned seat, facing each other.
"I barely know there is a lovely café like this in Kyoto, Ayu-nee."
That place, suddenly reminded Karen of her old days back in Nakiri mansion. The setting of that outdoor café space itself was almost similar with the setting of the small garden next to her room in Nakiri mansion. Once in a while, in her date with her father back then, got enjoyed just at that small garden. Her father will made a special sweets for her. The fragrance of the freshly baked cake, caramelized sugar and freshly cut fruits, she even could smell it before the dish got served in front of her.
"What do you want to eat, Ren-chan?"
The sudden call from Ayumi brought Karen from her own reverie. The menu book already got shoved in front of her. She was about to take it, but stopped.
It took several seconds of silence before she answered. "Same as you, Ayu-nee."
About fifteen minutes later...
In front of HAKUREN
Kimura Haruki eyed the big board with the shop's name crafted on it. HAKUREN, with its white ripple picture at the back of the letters. As expected of the famous kimono shop and rent. It was crowded by the customers, in various age. The summer holiday has started, so it was normal that many came to that shop to rent or buy several beautiful pieces of kimono. To be worn in several occasions related to that warm season.
Haruki saw his Ayumi Nee-san's car got parked there, at the shop's parking lot. But, seeing the sea of people inside the shop made him thought double times before got himself in.
"Need some help?"
Someone asked him from behind. Haruki almost jumped out of surprise by that. So, he turned and found a nostalgic face. Kyusei's student with yellow badge on his uniform back in the Kanto fest, Kikuchi Chiaki.
"Oya~ it's you, uhm... Kimura-kun, right?" Chiaki asked as he tried to remember that name. "What a surprise, to see you here." He said as he showed his boyish smile which unfortunately caught the attention of teenage girls as well as young ladies whom passed the two. "Do you have something to do here?" He asked Haruki whom still silent since the beginning till that second.
"Yeah. Looking for my sister." Haruki answered right to the point.
"Heh~ it will be... a bit difficult, I guess?" Chiaki replied as he referred to the crowded shop in front of them. Just then, an idea popped in. "Follow me, Kimura-kun. I know another route to get into the shop."
Haruki just followed Chiaki without any comment. It was when both of them walked to the alley a block away from the shop that Haruki started making small talks with the other party.
"You're quite familiar with this place, Kikuchi-san." Haruki started.
"Kind of. It's all thank to Yuu whom has brought me here countless times. Also, just call me Chiaki." Chiaki replied with happy tone without looking back at Haruki.
"Both of you become regular at HAKUREN?" Haruki brought another question as both of them made a left turn.
"It would be correct that Yuu has business at HAKUREN." Chiaki answered shortly, still led the way to the shop.
What kind of business? Haruki wanted to ask that, but he stopped before those question slipped out of his mouth. Kikuchi Yuu with his Japanese sweets background and Hakuren with its Japanese traditional fashion business, both will be an odd collaboration.
"It's not the actual HAKUREN, but the branch business of HAKUREN." Chiaki spilled out the surprising news to Haruki.
Haruki stopped once he realized something from Chiaki's words just now. HAKUREN's branch business, which meant... HAKUREN no dolce – the sweets café in the heart of Kyoto which became hot topic recently.
"Ara, Yuu will kill me if he knew that I spilled out those secret." Chiaki whom realized his own careless deed stopped his step too. Then, he took a short glance over Haruki whom miraculously – or not – looking back at him with a questioned look on his face. "Can you pretend that you aren't hear anything about that, Kimura-kun?"
Haruki resumed his walk as he replied. "Don't worry. Moreover, it's not my business in the first place."
Not long after that, both Chiaki and Haruki already arrived at their destination. At HAKUREN's back door, or it would be better to call it as they arrived at HAKUREN no dolce – the sweets café which located right at the back of HAKUREN. It was when both of them passed the gate, that Haruki spotted both his Ayumi Nee-san and Karen.
"I have found her." Haruki said suddenly, which made Chiaki stopped and looked back at Haruki. "Thank you for your guidance, Chiaki-san." Haruki added as he bowed lightly to the light blue haired Kikuchi boy.
Chiaki nodded as his reply, as he got into the shop. While Haruki walked toward his sister's table. He knocked on the wooden table to gain his sister's attention as the older girl was into endless talk with her companion – Nakiri Karen.
"Oh, Haru. How did you... ah, it must be Ikuya, right?"
It wasn't a question, the three of them already knew it. Haruki chose to not reply to that question.
"Let's go home. They have prepared all of the things for the welcoming party." Haruki whispered to his sister, as he didn't want Karen to hear it. Moreover, the thing he talked with his sister is supposed to be a secret from the jet-black haired Nakiri girl.
Ayumi frowned a bit after hearing it, hated the fact that her 'date' with her youngest 'sister' has to be ended.
"Okay, but... let us finish this first, will you, Haru?"
Haruki took the vacant seat between the two girls. "Do what you want, Nee-san."
While at Hakuren no dolce - confectionery workshop
"Yuu-kun, there is someone looking for you." A waitress in her early thirties – Hoshino – called the platinum blonde haired Kikuchi boy as she put the new order note on the counter.
Before replying to that waitress, Kikuchi Yuu looked at the watch on his left wrist. It was actually the promised time for him to meet his cousin – Chiaki – and headed for another place. He walked toward the head pastry chef.
"I'm sorry that I have to take my leave for the day, Chef Yanagi."
"Don't be sorry, kid. You have helped a lot today. So, enjoy your time. Be careful on your way."
Yuu gave his respectful bow toward the older man, then got out of the workshop. There, at the front counter of the café, he found Chiaki who was about to take his first sip of his mocca late.
"Should we go now or..."
"No. Enjoy your drink. I need to change first."
It was when Yuu took a turn after informing his cousin, his violet eyes caught the unforgettable sight from the opened door which became the border line between the café with the outdoor space – even it was just mere three seconds. His step got frozen immediately, as his heartbeat was going crazy just by seeing her smiling face from afar.
"What's wrong, Yuu?"
Chiaki's question seemed got to a deaf person as the one who got asked didn't answer. Yuu walked toward the door, then opened it abruptly as he dashed out of the café toward the courtyard.
Pyaaar!
The plate which the beautifully arranged sweets on it broke into pieces once Yuu got out of the café as he bumped against a waiter on his way brought the ordered sweets to the customer. Yuu immediately bent down to help the poor waiter picked up the broken plate to the tray.
While at the front gate of the café, Karen halted her step once she heard the small commotion in front of the door which separated the café and courtyard. There, she saw a waiter and a young man dressed in black chef uniform were busy picked up the mess on the ground.
"What's wrong, Ren-chan?" Ayumi asked, which made Karen shifted her attention to Ayumi.
"Nothing. Let's go, can't wait to enjoy Misaki Oba-san's ganache." Karen replied happily as she walked away from the café together with Ayumi and Haruki.
Chiaki who also heard the small ruckus behind the door left his mocca late, walked toward there and found his cousin barely finished helping the poor waiter. Both Yuu and the waiter apologized for their clumsiness. The waiter walked back to the confectionery workshop to get the ordered sweets being made again by the chef, while Yuu looked blankly at the courtyard as if looking for something or rather – someone.
"What's gotten into you, Yuu?" Chiaki asked as he put his right hand to Yuu's shoulder. It was unusual of Yuu being careless like that.
"I'm sure that she was there." Yuu mumbled incoherently.
"She? Who?" Chiaki asked for more. It was unusual too, for someone like Kikuchi talked about a girl.
Yuu looked at his cousin who still demanded an answer from him. "It's not your business." He replied coldly as he walked away from that place, headed toward the changing room placed next to the workshop.
Chiaki who didn't get proper answer from the older Kikuchi boy frowned. But then, he remembered something. Something that maybe will caught his cousin's attention. "I met him on my way here." It was like he has got the bull's eye, Yuu stopped without looking back at him. So, Chiaki continued. "That Toutsuki student, the one from Kimura house."
At the mention of that family name, Yuu turned around. "Do you mean, Haruki?"
Chiaki nodded with a victorious smile on his handsome face. He walked towards Yuu. "He said that he was looking for his sister." Chiaki gave more information to Yuu.
So, he didn't seeing things. Yuu thought. He was right, that he saw that girl there.
"Yuu?" Chiaki called which got nothing as the reply. He started questioning himself in his own head once he saw his cousin walked away without giving him a word or two.
Yuu, what have happened to you?
