Dish.20 – Reunion [part.03]


"It's nice to meet you directly, Nakiri Karen-san."

For the first time, Karen felt her heart beat so fast. Too fast that she was worried that maybe it will burst out. Not only that. She felt that her face was so hot, it was like all of her blood rushed toward it. All of that symptoms came right after that boy took her right hand then kissed it gently.

Kikuchi Yuu.

The number one student of Kyusei High. As well as the crown prince of Kikuchi family and Kyusei Group. In culinary business, his name wasn't a secret anymore. Despite his young age, he has had an incredible business skill which almost rivalled to the veteran ones.

Born with flawless appearance, he also known as prince charming from Kyoto. Rumor had it, countless girls from renowned families around Japan already lined up to be chosen as Kikuchi family's future in-law.

Kikuchi family which well-known as a family excelled in Japanese sweets – wagashi – since so many years ago, that boy also inherited the specialty owned by that family. The recent news about him was that he opened a sweets café in the heart of Kyoto – HAKUREN no dolce.

And... so many other stories about that boy.

But, none of it which made Karen paid attention about the boy named Kikuchi Yuu.

It was his warm violet orbs which got shadowed by his long eyelashes. An interesting object which haunted her since the first time she saw Yuu's picture in the Ryuuseigun's official website. That time, Karen even questioned herself, if such thing could happen. That pair of violet eyes seemed nostalgic that almost felt surreal.

And now, that she saw it directly, she was sure. It was the same violet eyes in her memory.

A familiar object which she used to see back then. When she was little.

"Are you alright? Your face is red, maybe you've caught-"

Karen almost yelled out when she got pulled backward by someone at the same time Yuu's right hand was about to reach her blushing face. She could see a surprised look on Yuu's face.

"What are you going to do to her?"

Karen could hear Souma's voice right behind her. Because of that, she concluded that he's the one who pulled her back just now.

The surprised look on Yuu's face slowly turned into his calm, polite smile. "Nothing. Just... touching her face as she looked incredibly beautiful when she blushed."

That statement only made Karen's face got redder, so she ducked her head. Souma who saw the movement did by her, couldn't help but took a glance over her. Truth to be told, it was his first time seeing Nakiri Karen looked shy. Which mysteriously, he found it a bit amusing. The usual Nakiri Karen he used to see was a laid-back girl with so many hidden tricks behind her sleeves. She always stood tall confidently in front of the opposite gender.

So, she could act like girls in her age.

"Don't you have a business with me, Kikuchi Yuu?"

Haruki suddenly spoke, as if to stop the awkward situation they were in as well as to stop the Kikuchi boy from teasing Karen. Those sudden exclamation, was succeed in making Kikuchi Yuu brought his attention back to Haruki.

"Business, huh?" Yuu questioned himself as he put his hand over his chin, as if trying to remember something. "That's right, have you reconsidered about my offer that time?" He asked, his attention was fully on Haruki. "After coming to each event of Ryuuseigun."

All the freshmen of the group had their confused look over their face. But then, Souma seemed like to understand something behind that sentence. He looked at his Isshiki-senpai as if to confirm his hypothesis. And it got a single nod from the latter as the answer.

"I'm still with my decision." The answer given by Haruki.

Yuu showed a disappointed expression after hearing that answer, then sent his glance over Karen.

"Whereas I value your talent so highly, Kimura Haruki-kun." Yuu started, with his serious look he faced the youngest Kimura kid. "Surely, you will get the best environment to upgrade your talent if you joined us."

Haruki thought that the boy in front of him didn't know how to give up on his desire. And knowing that fact, he was getting irritated by it.

"Say, Kimura Haruki-kun. What should I do... to make you change your decision?"


"Why don't you just say 'yes' to him, Kimura-kun?"

Another ikemen joined them as that boy spoke up. That boy had a resemblance – even it's only a bit – with Kikuchi Yuu. And as soon as he joined them, he put his right hand over Yuu's shoulder. The two looked like a close friend in front of Toutsuki kids' eyes.

"Truth to be told, it's the first time that he is so desperate like this."

That boy added, told that revelation in low voice as not to make other people other than the group to hear that.

"Don't you... talk too much, Chiaki?"

Yuu reminded the boy next to him without looking back at the latter. His face was all seriousness compiled on it, and his gaze was focused on Haruki with intensity Chiaki never seen before. That's why Chiaki chose to pull his right hand off of Yuu's shoulder. But then, not long after that, Yuu's steely gaze soften as he drew a thin smile over his lips.

"Nah, actually it's not too depressing for me that you reject my offer over and over again. That is only show your quality as a man, which is... I appreciate so much. No matter what I use to 'bribe' you, you keep your words."

Haruki's face which showed annoyed expression since several seconds ago got darker as he heard that 'ridiculous' reasoning given by Kikuchi Yuu.

"Are you... testing me?"


For Isshiki, it was really a rare 'show' to be watched. Should he filmed it then showed it to his fellow 91st generation? The usually composed and calm Kimura Haruki had turned into someone who showed an annoyed look as well as a jealousy expression on his face.

And the source of such extreme change was the one and only Kikuchi Yuu.

About the rumor which related to the young master of Kikuchi family, Isshiki didn't know how to judge it. He had heard that the young master of Kikuchi was quite 'unusual'. Some said that the boy named Kikuchi Yuu was more 'dangerous' than the current head family of Kikuchi. That boy often used 'unusual' way to get what he wanted. In term of judging a person, it has been said that the boy used 'bold' route and laid layers of trap beneath it.

To sum it all, Kikuchi Yuu was a mysterious boy.

Isshiki should admitted that Kikuchi Yuu was actually 'special'. It was about three years ago that he got told by Haruki about the offer of joining Kyusei High given to him, then the sudden participation of Kyusei High in Kanto Traditional Cuisine Fest, that VIP ticket of Ryuuseigun. To think that Kikuchi Yuu did all of that things just to test about Haruki's consistency, that boy was in another level.

But, why Kikuchi Yuu should do such a thing?


Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!

"Ladies and gentlemen, attention please. The opening act of 86th Ryuuseigun's Tanabata Fest – Blooming Flame, is about to start. The venue will be opened in two minutes. Please to line according to your ticket's category, and submit your ticket immediately as it is limited to the first 300 tickets to each category."

Just right before they got heard Kikuchi Yuu's answer of Haruki's question earlier, that announcement came. Which also be the sign for Yuu to get ready for the event.

"I'd loved to answer your question, but something more urgent has come. If I have free time later, maybe I will tell you, Kimura Haruki-kun."

And before he left Toutsuki's group, Yuu took a last glance over Karen. Flashing a smile to her, he approached her as he launched the unexpected thing which made all the Toutsuki kids froze in their spots. With a fast, smooth move, Yuu brought Karen into his arms, into his embrace.

"I change my mind." Yuu spoke, as he showed his threatening smile on his face. Both hands held onto Karen's slim figure from behind. "I can give you the answer right now if you let me... have a date with Nakiri Karen-san here, how?"

Haruki didn't like it at all. The way Yuu put his hands over Karen's body, it was sickening in his eyes. Not to forget about how close Yuu's face to Karen's blushing face. Just mere an inch that Yuu can landed his kiss over her right cheek.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt her, if it was what you're worried about."

"Let go of her."

Both Yuu and Haruki looked at Souma whom spilled out those words just now. His golden orbs focused solely on Yuu whom still had Karen in his embrace. There was an annoyed expression on his face.

"Don't use her to get your wish, she isn't a tool."

Such brave words Souma gave to gain Yuu's unfriendly aura the next second.

"For an intruder, you're quite... who are you?"

"Yukihira Souma, Toutsuki Academy's transfer student, my family run a diner called Yukihira Diner." Souma answered confidently, not a single letter got spoken in trembled tone. "Since I ask you politely, let go of Kuro Nakiri."

Instead of doing what Souma has asked, Yuu did the opposite. He tightened his embrace over Karen. "And... what if I objected?"

The atmosphere turned thick, tensed with unpleasant looks both Souma and Yuu exchanged. Chiaki was about to pull back his cousin from that unnecessary talk and let the matter ended when a sudden threat given by Souma to the older Kikuchi boy.

"Shokugeki, between you and me."

Huh?

All the eyes shot the same unbelief looks toward Souma after they heard that exclamation. It included Yuu himself. An unknown transfer student from the rival school barely threw a challenge to him, someone that boy barely met. Yuu thought that maybe he did hear it wrong, but when he saw the red haired boy had a serious look over his face, he concluded that the challenge was not a mere a bluff.

Letting go Karen from his embrace, Yuu casted a small smile over his lips.

"Even not a single freshmen of our school dared to make such a challenge to me." Yuu mumbled at Souma's bravery, then with an amused look in his violet eyes, he answered. "I accept your challenge then. But, you can have it after I finished with Blooming Flame, I hope that you don't mind with it."

"All right. How about-"

"About the theme, we will get it by a lottery right before the Shokugeki began. Of course, about the terms we're agreed in to get the Shokugeki, we will discussed later."


"Do you know the meaning of being the President of Kyusei's Student Council, Yukihira-kun?"

...

"Being the President of Kyusei's Student Council meant that he is the best one in the entire Kyusei High. Not only became the number one in his own major study which is Pastry Faculty, he must stood above the other number ones of other faculties. To sum it all, he is the true embodiment of perfection in Kyusei High. He carried the big name, history, and all the things related to Kyusei High."

"And, as for his cooking ability, with your current ability, you're definitely will lose against him."

"Even if he was just serving a simple looked wagashi in front of the judges."

...

...

...

Souma still had his face blank as he stood like a statue in his spot after the Shokugeki he had against Kikuchi Yuu ended, about thirty minutes before. Haruki's long lecture before the Shokugeki still ringing in his head continuously since he got the result of the battle.

Kikuchi Yuu, how in the world there is a boy like him exist?

When Souma took a single bite of that boy's sweets for the battle, he got lost. The way that boy used each ingredient in his cooking, the way that boy high-lighted each ingredient's potential, it was the first time Souma found something as incredible as Yuu's sweets.

To put it simpler, Yuu's sweets is otherworldly.

"Isn't it obvious that I win and you lose? I'm a senior, while you're still a freshmen. You still have a long way ahead, still have so many things to be learnt. I hope that you get one or two lessons from this challenge you brought to me, so... maybe you can challenge me again in the future, Yukihira Souma."

Souma can't helped but tightened up his fist as he remembered Yuu's words right after the latter's victory got announced.

"Should we leave this place and enjoy the fest, Souma-kun?"

Even at Isshiki's offer, Souma answered it with his silence. There, he saw Kimura Haruki with his unreadable expression stood not far from his Isshiki-senpai.

"Kimura-senpai, I'm sor-"

"There's nothing to be sorry for, Yukihira-kun." The sophomore boy cut off Souma's supposed apology, as he looked at certain spot a bit far from their place. Souma followed Haruki's line of sight which then found Karen walked side by side with the one Souma had challenged earlier.

"After all, letting him get a date with her isn't something you should exaggerated for. It was just a date, it's not a big deal to begin with."

Haruki did say it, but whoever heard his tone will immediately knew that the boy just tried to mask his jealousy. That very reason too, which made Souma had the will to challenge Kikuchi Yuu. Since the beginning of that boy's appearance, Souma already disliked him.

Isshiki who saw his childhood friend left the group, immediately run towards him, caught onto Haruki.

"So, did that boy tell you the answer?" Isshiki asked as he put his left hand over Haruki's shoulder, walked at the same pace as the latter.

"Only a cocky answer I get."

"What's that meant?"

There was several seconds left in silence. Then, Haruki spilled out the truth. "Actually, Ren is his true target since the beginning. It seems that Kikuchi Yuu... has known Ren for years."


"It's really... truly a pleasure for me that you come here, Karen-san."

"Can you... stop speaking formally to me?"

Both Yuu and Karen stopped their steps after Karen asked that thing. Both of them already separated from the crowd, stood at certain spot of the school area. A place which enveloped with serene atmosphere, a place to have a talk without afraid of being interrupted by others.

"Why?"

"It's... just felt wrong."

Yuu was lost of words. Moreover when he saw the shy face Karen made just now. It was reminded him of the first time both of them conversed, years ago.

"I mean... I... you're no need to use formal words to me, just-"

Karen was unable to continue her words when her eyes caught the fact that Kikuchi Yuu kept his gaze on her solely. She got her gaze back on the ground as to hide her blushing face. Never in her life that she felt so nervous just because of someone.

Yuu smiled, realizing that the girl in front of him was still the same. She looked so damn cute when she was blushing, that got him almost jumped at her then hugged her.

"Gomen. It's just... after so long that we got separated, I can't act all friendly to you out of sudden, am I?"

Upon hearing Yuu's words, Karen lifted up her gaze to him. She was surprised, it all was so evident in her eyes. Yuu's smile hadn't falter even for an inch. He can't held on it anymore, as he decided to tell her the truth. He thought that maybe he will get crazy if he held the secret to himself any longer. The burst of happiness he felt when he held her inside his embrace earlier has proven him that he missed Karen so badly.

"It's nice to meet you again... Ren."

Karen can't reined the tears which suddenly came out of her eyes the moment she heard her name got called by Yuu. It felt so different than anyone else who called her nickname. That calling, was the one she missed for years.

"You... you are... Yuu?"

Karen put her hands on her mouth as to prevent the gasp which almost slipped out of it when she saw the boy dressed in dark kimono in front of him nodded his head, answered her question. Flashes of old memories she had with that handsome boy in the past immediately appeared in front of her eyes. This time, it was Karen whom lost of words because of the sudden revelation.

Yuu took several steps ahead, approaching Karen whom still looked like a statue, a beautiful one.

"I'm sorry it took long for me to meet you again, Ren. But, of course I still remember my promise to you."

"Huh?"

Duar! Duar! Duar!

Karen almost jumped when she heard the sudden loud scream of fireworks got shoot to the starless night sky. She shifted her attention from Yuu to the night sky which got decorated with colorful light of fireworks.

"Hanabi?"


...

...

...

Duar! Duar! Duar!

"Kireeei."

"It's your first time seeing fireworks?"

*nods*

"Kawai."

"You said something, Yuu?"

"Uhm... nothing."

"Ah... it's over, hanabi." *pouting*

"Let's get back to your room, Ren."

*shook head* "I want to stay here. My room is boring."

*sigh* "You will catch a cold if you stay here, Ren."

...

"Then, I won't bring you so many packs of fireworks the next time I visit you if you chose to stay out here."

"Huh?!"

"Then, what's your answer, girl?"

"Ugh, alright. I will go back to my room."

"Good girl."

"But, promise me that you will bring so many fireworks the next time you visit me, Yuu!"

"Yes, I promise."

...

...

...


That old promise, she barely remembered it.

"Arigatou. You really bring... so many fireworks, Yuu."

Karen felt like under a spell that evening. Under the colorful light emanated from the fireworks, her eyes can't stop staring at the handsome boy in front of her, as well as can't stop her fierce heartbeat which drumming against her chest. His smiling face, when was the last time she saw it?

And with a bravery which she got from somewhere, she brought her hands to Yuu's kimono. She pulled it, brought him so much closer to her as she stood on her tiptoes and landed a kiss on his left cheek.

Yuu got surprised beyond any of his wild imagination. That simple act, which happened just mere three seconds long, was succeed in making he flied up to the seventh cloud.

"Your reward, for keeping your promise, Yuu."