Disclaimer: I own neither Naruto nor Danganronpa.


Chapter 12:
The Tastiest Ingredient

"Hmm…..so that's the Reserve Department over there…..doesn't look too different to me."

"B-But the boys are wearing suits…..and the girl's uniform is different too."

The skirt was of a different color, being black rather than brown.

"Hm, that's right. Good eye, Mikan!"

"Hehehe….."

While Mikan giggled softly at being praised and having her head patted some more, Naruto continued watching more of the Reserve Course students trickle into their school building, which was set apart from the main building on campus.

After what Mahiru had said yesterday, the blond had gotten curious about this "Reserve Course" and decided to check it out for myself. He had bumped into Mikan along the way. After telling her what he was up to, she had asked to come along, and here they were.

There were some murmurs and pointing from the Reserve Course students, but Naruto just chalked it up to them being curious. It was the same way at work. With news of Ultimates hanging around in the ramen shop, more and more customers were showing up just to see if they could spot them. The old man had been extremely pleased by this. It meant more money for him, after all. Greedy old man.

Naruto really didn't understand this behavior, though. It's not like they were aliens or anything. They were people too. All of his new friends had incredible skills to be sure, but that shouldn't warrant this kind of reaction from other people. But then again, he had always been fascinated with his dad before he knew who he was. So on some level, maybe he could understand it a bit.

Just maybe.

That, or maybe it was because he and Mikan were on top of a tree, standing on one of its branches and watching them from up there. Naruto already had a pretty good idea that most people in this dimension weren't like him. They didn't have his physical prowess. Akane, Nekomaru, and Peko were the exceptions to the rule. So to them, jumping to the top of a tree like it was an everyday occurrence was quite literally from another world.

And Naruto could do much more than that.

Mikan clung to Naruto's side. It was for balance and comfort. She didn't seem to enjoy the stares too much. It made her feel like they were all judging her, a feeling she detested. It reminded her of some painful memories she'd rather forget.

"I guess we should be getting back," Naruto said, looking over toward the main building. "Class is about to start for us too, and I don't want Mahiru yelling at me for being late."

She might be the most "normal" out of all of them, but she sure knew how to keep them in line.

Mikan giggled at that. "Koizumi-san does love to check up on you."

'Check up,' sure…..more like imprisonment.

"She enjoys it far too much if you ask me."

"Maybe it's because you're too unpredictable sometimes, Naruto-san."

"Hah, that's true. But I don't cause too much trouble. Not like when I was younger anyway. Mahiru would already be insane if she met the younger me."

Mikan looked curious at that. "You were different?"

She couldn't picture Naruto any other way.

"Yeah, you could say that." Naruto thought back to all the mischief he used to get into during his Academy days, and even before that too. "I used to prank people a lot. I was real good at it too. I kept people on their toes, always making them be on the defensive. No one came close to my greatness. I was the pranking king of my village. You might even be able to call me the Ultimate Prankster if you want!"

Mikan smiled. "Sure, that sounds pretty cool."

Naruto was very happy to hear that. He held his pranks in high regard. Not that he had done any in a while. His life hadn't allowed him to focus on stuff like that. It was still fun to think back on those days, though. It was a simpler time, but also a darker time as well. He would rather forget about the latter.

Naruto scooped up Mikan in his arms, bridal style, and jumped down from the tree branch. Mikan enjoyed being this close to the blond, but she kept her excitement to herself as Naruto let her down once they were on solid ground again. Kurama decided to poke his head out from inside Naruto's bag to see what all the commotion was about. He did a quick scan of his surroundings, his ears twitching. Once he was satisfied, he went back inside. The little fox seemed to enjoy being in there now, for whatever reason. Naruto didn't question it.

"By the way, Naruto-san, why were you so curious about the Reserve Course anyway?" Mikan asked. The girl was more bold when speaking to Naruto now. She still stuttered now and then, but it wasn't as bad. Maybe she was growing more confident around him? She was still a nervous wreck around other people, though. For Naruto, it was an interesting contrast to see.

"I just wanted to see what it was all about," Naruto answered. "No one told me that place existed, so I got curious. You don't want to know more, Mikan?"

The nurse shook her head. "Not really, no." She didn't want to be mean, but she honestly held no interest for the Reserve Course or the people there. That was probably true for most Ultimates as well.

"Mahiru said she had a friend there," Naruto added with a hum. "It'd be cool if she could hang out with us, but apparently they aren't allowed to go in the main building."

Mikan had heard something similar, about that rule. She didn't know any specifics really. But again, she didn't really give it much thought. It wasn't her place, and she didn't know anyone from the Reserve Course anyway. Thinking on it now, the nurse could definitely see how unfair and irrational the rule was. The school chose to enforce it, though, so there wasn't much she could do about it. That said, she didn't think that would satisfy her friend.

The two arrived at the front gates of the main building, where they found Fuyuhiko standing there with his arms crossed.

"About time you showed up," the yakuza said, looking a bit miffed. Maybe it was because he had been waiting for them for a while? "What are you two doing? On a date?"

Cue blushing from Mikan and a confused head tilt from Naruto.

"No. We were just checking out the Reserve Course together."

"The Reserve Course?" Fuyuhiko had heard enough about that place to last a life time. A certain sister of his had seen to that. "Why the sudden interest in that place?"

"I just wanted to check it out," Naruto said and shrugged. "It looks pretty normal."

The students were 'normal,' so yeah.

"Whatever." Fuyuhiko decided to leave that topic there. "I wanted to ask you something, and it felt more appropriate to do it in person than over the phone."

Naruto was curious. "Something wrong?"

"It's nothing like that. The old man just wanted to see if you wanted to come over for dinner tomorrow night."

Naruto was taken back by the invitation. It wasn't everyday you were asked to have dinner with the leader of a yakuza group. Hell, this was the yakuza leader as far as the world was concerned.

"What brought this on? You're not trying to kill me, are you?"

It was a joke, but still.

Fuyuhiko scoffed. "If he wanted to kill you, you would already be dead. Having a dinner would just be a waste of time." That was reassuring…..but at the same time, it wasn't. "It's more like…...he took a liking to you, I guess. And he wanted to talk to you some more. That's what he told me anyway. Can't say I understand his curiosity. You're 50% ramen and 50% idiot."

"Ha-ha-ha, you're so original, Fuyuhiko." Naruto's sarcasm was so heavy, you could cut it with a knife.

Fuyuhiko just smirked. If it worked, it worked. Especially when his description was so accurate.

"You're named after ramen too, so you know I'm right."

"You make it sound like that's a problem."

Naruto would have corrected Fuyuhiko on the meaning of his name, but he was going to stand on the side of ramen!

Fuyuhiko simply shook his head at this. 'Goddamn idiot.'

Mikan watched the two boys in silence, finally getting some context about their behavior toward one another recently. If Naruto had met Fuyuhiko's family and was on good terms with them, it was only natural that the friendship between the two of them would deepen. She understood that now.

How nice. Of course, Mikan could never introduce her family to Naruto. Not ever. She just couldn't bear to let that happen.

"Dinner, huh?" It wasn't hard for Naruto to come to a decision. "I've been practicing real hard all week. I guess I can take Friday off."

Ibuki wouldn't get mad…..probably.

Fuyuhiko didn't show it, but he was glad to see the blond accept the invitation. Not something he could do before coming to this school. He then glanced at Mikan for a second and started to smirk again.

"The old man also said that if you had a date, you could bring them along too."

"Huh?" Naruto's face displayed pure confusion, not understanding where this was coming from. There was no way he could have someone like that. He hadn't been in this world for that long, so for someone to even be remotely interested in him would be far-fetched at best.

Mikan gave Fuyuhiko a pleading look as she started to blush. He couldn't be teasing her at a time like this. Especially when he was being so obvious about it!

Fuyuhiko mentally snorted. As if the idiot would catch on like this. He was far too oblivious for something like that.

"Just think about it. I'll see you guys in the classroom." The yakuza gave them a short wave before walking off toward the main hall, all the while shaking his head at his friends' situation.

"I swear, people are always saying some weird stuff to me," Naruto muttered as he scratched his head.

"R-Really?" Mikan started to fiddle with her thumbs. She had managed to hear him. "What kind of stuff?"

"Nothing you have to worry about. Just…..don't let Kazuichi trick you with his weird comments. That guy is always thinking up random stuff to annoy me with."

That didn't give Mikan much to go off, but she still nodded. She didn't speak to Kazuichi much, but she had a real good understanding of the kind of guy he was. Sonia was always saying how weird he was, now that she thought about it. Not that Mikan knew too much about that either.

Anyway, the two followed Fuyuhiko inside the building and made their way to the classroom, where a hungover Koichi was waiting for them. The others were all just staring at the man with the same pitiful expressions.

"D-Don't do that now," Koichi said while waving his hand. He couldn't even raise his head, not unless he wanted to throw up. "I-I don't deserve all of this disdain, right Uzumaki?"

Naruto, who stood by the doorway with Mikan next to him, sighed. "At this point, I think we're better off with a log as a teacher."

"I second that," Mahiru deadpanned.

Koichi grimaced. Whether it was from Naruto's words or the hangover he was experiencing, it was hard to tell.

"You guys don't r-respect me, huh?"

Was there any reason to?

Shaking his head, Naruto found his seat next to Sonia while Mikan went to hers.

"We're not going to sit here with this guy, are we?" Kazuichi asked with a hand over his cap. "No offense, but I'd rather be working on the setup for the festival."

It got his hands dirty, and he could spend time with Miss Sonia. It was a double win for him!

"H'mph, for once, you've said something worth a shit," Fuyuhiko remarked from his seat.

Behind him, Peko nodded. "It does seem more prudent for us to do that if we want to meet our schedule."

"Y-You guys know I-I can hear you, right?" Koichi asked weakly, but no one bothered to respond. Sonia did mentally apologize to the man, though. She was nice like that.

"Ibuki's performance is going to be the best the world has ever seen!" Ibuki announced with a proud look. "That is why we should skip class for more practice!"

Hiyoko rolled her eyes. "It's only because I'm helping you. Don't forget that!"

Those two were the same as always.

"We should go then." Naruto began to rise from his seat, the others following suit. "We should probably do the same tomorrow. No reason to meet in class."

Not when a hungover middle-aged man was waiting for them.

"I think that's for the best too," Peko said, nodding again.

The others were all in agreement as well and began to scatter for their individual jobs.

"W-Wait!" Koichi somehow managed to raise his head, but all that did was make his hangover worse, his eyes blurring.

And then, the vomiting came. There was so much vomit.

For a second, Mikan looked liked she wanted to help him, to check if he was okay. Sonia pushed her out of the classroom, though, so she didn't get a chance to do anything.

…..okay, so maybe Sonia wasn't that nice.

Naruto was also being pushed, but not by Sonia but by an excited Ibuki. He had more drum lessons waiting for him today.


"R-Really? Y-You're playing…...t-the drums?"

"If you're going to laugh, then no pictures!"

"I-I'm sorry! I-It's just so f-funny!"

"What's so funny about it!?"

"I-I mean….you in the drums? Pfft-ahahaha!"

"Alright, that does it!"

Hiyoko and Ibuki watched from the stage in the music room as Naruto grabbed Mahiru into a headlock. It was a playful headlock, but with Naruto's strength, there was no way the photographer was getting out of it.

"Hahaha! I-I'm sorry, okay!" Mahiru couldn't speak without letting out her laughter, even in this situation. It was the first time she had ever been this close to a boy, so this feeling was somewhat foreign to her. The reddening of her cheeks was proof of that.

"If you're still laughing, that tells me you're not sorry!" Naruto's blush stemmed from his embarrassment. It wasn't his fault that he looked "weird" playing the drums! It was the first time he was doing something like this, so Mahiru should cut him so slack!

"Hahahaha, you guys seem to be having fun."

The four Ultimates all paused and turned to the entrance of the music room just as Nagito walked inside, his face adorned with another one of his smiles.

Hiyoko felt her skin crawl a little bit. This guy…..the only one of her classmates who still scared her a little bit. Fuyuhiko wasn't threatening anymore. The yakuza had already shown himself to be one of them. But Nagito was different. He was…..weird. Just plain weird. Naruto didn't seem to mind him, which was the only reason Hiyoko was willing to tolerate his presence.

"What are you doing here, Komaeda? We're in the middle of practice, you know."

"Yes, so I've heard. That's why I came to see if I could listen in on your performance for a bit. Hanamura-kun doesn't need any help from someone like me at the moment." Nagito's eyes drifted to the set of the drums. "It seems Uzumaki-kun is taking part too. How wonderful."

Was that sarcasm? Goddammit.

"Tell Mahiru that." Naruto finally let Mahiru free, but not before poking her on the cheek, much to her growing embarrassment. She tried to swat his hand away, but Naruto was too fast for that. "She thinks it's soooooo funny that I'm helping Hiyoko and Ibuki."

"I didn't say it like that!" the blushing Mahiru denied, even though it was true. "I just thought you looked…..sorta cute, okay!"

Oh.

Realizing what she had blurted out, Mahiru began to blush even harder. Steam was practically pouring out of her ears by this point. It was the first time she had ever called a boy "cute," so her reaction was understandable but also funny.

Hiyoko felt second-hand embarrassment for her best friend while Ibuki giggled.

"Oh my, oh my~ Ibuki thinks we have ourselves a steamy development here."

Nagito chuckled. "This is a rather intense scene. I wonder if I should even be present for it."

Naruto glanced at the others and shrugged. "Well, that's better than being called weird. So thanks, Mahiru."

Groaning, Ibuki placed a hand over her head. "And this guy reacts to it like anything else. Ibuki is super disappointed with this. You disappoint Ibuki, Naruto-chan."

Oi.

"B-Big Bro is kind of an idiot," Hiyoko said with one of her hands over her mouth.

"Hmm, I didn't want to admit it, but it seems Uzumaki-kun doesn't understand anything at all," Nagito said and nodded to himself.

A tick mark appeared on the blond. "Oi, do you all want to suffer under my wrath!? Because you can! I don't discriminate!"

Nagito raised his hands in a placating manner. "It's quite alright, Uzumaki-kun. We were just teasing you a little."

A little? More like a lot.

"T-That's enough already," Mahiru mumbled, finding the strength in her voice once again. But her cheeks were still red. "I only came here to take pictures of you guys to further advertise the event."

Ah, that sounded like a good idea. More people would come that way, especially if they knew popular performers like Ibuki and Hiyoko were going to be there. Naruto's part in the group was irrelevant in that regard. It was just Ibuki's wish to perform on stage with him, and there was no way Naruto could say no to that.

The girl was too persuasive.

Ibuki winked. "Then you can take as many shots as you need, Mahiru-chan~ This goddess is sure to blind all those who see her~"

"Huh? What goddess? All I see is a music junkie." Hiyoko snickered at her own joke.

Ibuki didn't seem to mind it and shrugged it off. She was one of the few who had been comfortable with Hiyoko's personality from the get-go. In fact, Teruteru's perversion was the only personality trait that had taken her a bit to get used to.

"Ah, pictures from Koizumi-san?" Nagito seemed excited. "I can't wait to see them. I'm sure they'll be wonderful."

"Yes, thank you." Mahiru accepted the compliment, but she didn't look overly excited by it.

Nagito didn't seem put off by that, but that was per the course with him.

"Alright, the great Ibuki will now make this room go wild with excitement!" Ibuki did a quick jump, her guitar in hand. "Nagito-chan will be our judge here!"

"Hmm, I'll definitely try my best."

Naruto almost sweatdropped when he saw how seriously Nagito took Ibuki's words. For someone who could be really smart, he went along with too many stupid things.

"Over here, Big Sis!" Hiyoko was guiding Mahiru to take pictures of her, rather than everyone. "I'm sure my moves will elevate your pictures to a whole new world!"

"Hehehe, Hiyoko-chan is taking the spotlight." Ibuki winked back at Naruto. "Come on, we can't let her beat us!"

Naruto didn't mind, but he was here to play too. And so he did. He started slow, which was in total contrast to Ibuki's fast tempo. The guitarist was brutal like that, though. She expected Naruto to keep up with her, and wouldn't hold his hand at all.

Naruto took it as a challenge.

Because of this, Mahiru and Nagito were treated to a battle between than two while Hiyoko did her own thing, too lost in her dance to pay attention to the other two. Or maybe she was paying attention but just didn't care. The smile on her face was left for interpretation.

'I wonder if this will be okay?' Mahiru thought, sweatdropping at this bizarre sight. Still, she couldn't say she hated it. Far from it, seeing the trio like this just made her feel warm inside. A feeling she got more and more as she spent time with her class, and she was sure it was something the others experienced as well.

Nagito just stood in silence as he took all of this in.

'Hope…..it's really here.'

If only it could sound a little better.


It was near lunchtime, and the practice session for their band had concluded for the time being. Naruto had debated texting Teruteru for some food, but there was something else he was curious to see first before then.

"You don't have to follow me…."

"I'm just curious. I've never seen this type of stuff before. You don't mind, do you?"

"It's not that. It's just a camera. Nothing fancy. Didn't they have cameras in your village?"

"They did. They were just…..not as advanced as this, I guess."

Mahiru mulled this over. From the sound of things, Naruto's village was definitely not very modern-like. No cars, no phones, and no cameras like her own? She wondered what else they lacked. Hopefully not something too important, like medicine. Otherwise, she had to wonder how he'd survived for this long.

"Cameras were only used for very important moments," Naruto said, snapping her out of her thoughts. The two were walking together, going down one of the halls of the school. "Like graduation or a family portrait."

Totally different from here then.

"I guess the photographers in your village would find me weird then," Mahiru said with a small faraway smile. "I take pictures of just about everything."

Yes, she did. Naruto recalled her talking about that before, about how much the present meant to her. Her photos were a record of that. It was a sentiment Naruto could get behind.

The pair arrived at the first floor, where they headed for the AV room. It was the first time Naruto was stepping in here. Once again, he was taken back by all the different machines inside. He couldn't begin to fathom what their purpose could be.

'Definitely need to study some more.'

A gloomy thought. Studying was still boring, but he didn't like being in the dark about stuff like this.

"We're not going to use any of the monitors." Mahiru said that like he was supposed to understand what they even did. "I set up my laptop here, since it felt appropriate. The silence is also nice."

Silence? It sort of made sense. Mahiru was the type of girl that would value silence when working.

Naruto followed the redhead to one of the monitors near the front of the room, where she indeed had a laptop set up with a bunch of wires. Again, Naruto was totally lost on what all of this was.

His confusion aside, Mahiru began her work. She connected one of the wires, or cables, to her camera. This established the connection between the computer and the camera, exactly what she needed.

"I got a new camera after our trip. It's more useful for this type of work."

Naruto really didn't see a difference. "It looks just like your old camera."

Mahiru rolled her eyes. "It wouldn't hurt you to pay more attention. This one is totally different. For one thing, it can upload pictures unlike the other model." Her eyes softened. "I'll still be using the other one, though. I don't think I can part with it just yet."

Ah. So there was a personal connection. Naruto wasn't all that surprised, nor was it hard for him to understand. It was probably the way a swordsman would feel about their sword. Or a master with their techniques.

Silence followed as Mahiru continued with her upload. It got to the point where the redhead began to feel awkward. Naruto's gaze had that effect, since it felt like he was judging her work.

"Y-You don't have to look so serious," she managed to say as another photo was uploaded. This one was a group shot of Naruto, Ibuki, and Hiyoko. They three were smiling, with Naruto and Ibuki staring each other down. Probably because of their little contest. "The photos aren't that exciting."

"Really?" Naruto looked at the girl. "I think they're beautiful."

Beautiful? That was…..new.

She needed to know more. "What do you mean?"

Naruto detected something in Mahiru's voice, almost like she was she hoping for something. But what could that be? He certainly didn't know, but being honest was probably the best way to go.

"Your photos. I think you called them a record before. I think I get it now, what you meant. You're able to preserve the smiles of your friends, of people, so that they can see them later. It's definitely a great thing to have when you're feeling down. It reminds you that not everything is bad, that you have some happiness in your life. Sometimes, that's all you need to get out of whatever despair you may find yourself in. That's what I think anyway."

Mahiru was left feeling a little overwhelmed. She didn't think that someone like Naruto would be able to say something like that. But that's how he was, wasn't he? It had been the same way back on their trip. How he had easily declared that he wanted to bring peace to the world. Many would say that it was a childish dream, and a part of Mahiru had certainly thought that. Still, she hadn't been able to fully dismiss him. Not when he looked so full of conviction, much like how he was right now.

"I didn't think I would hear someone say that about my photos," she admitted while smiling. "To tell you the truth, most people consider my photos boring. They think that there isn't any worth in them. That I can do something more exciting. Kind of like my mother. She's a war photographer. Her photos are the exact opposite of mine."

Naruto listened, letting the girl speak to her heart's content.

"But she would never show me the gruesome stuff." Mahiru continued to smile as she remembered those times. "Just photos of people's smiles. It made me happy to see them. Like their happiness was transferring through the photo and going to me. That's why I want to do the same with my photos. What my mother made me feel…...that pure emotion. If just one person can feel happy because of my pictures, then that's more than enough for me."

Passion. The girl before him was passionate. It was blinding, but also inspiring. If nothing else, it showed him that Mahiru really did love her photos.

The girl started to blush after realizing what she'd admitted. "I-I mean. I-It's stupid and s-silly. You don't have to give it much thought. Hahahaha…..."

The laugh was so fake Naruto almost laughed out loud.

"You don't have to get embarrassed, Mahiru. I think it's a wonderful dream. Your photos can definitely bring people together. Don't let anyone discourage you from that."

"I-I wasn't!" She sat straighter. "I'm definitely going to pursue my dream. And if it so happens to help you with yours, then it can't be helped."

So she said, but she did have her doubts before. About whether or not it was truly worth it to keep going. After so many people telling her the same thing, about her pictures being boring, it was easy to get discouraged. Not that she would admit to that. She already made one slip up. She couldn't afford another.

'Being encouraged by a boy…...so embarrassing.'

Still, Mahiru didn't feel annoyed by it. Far from it. Instead, she was happy. And that only embarrassed her further.

"Well, I'm good with that." Naruto sounded very amused, probably because he was able to see right through her. He was oddly perceptive like that, Mahiru noted. Of course, he was still dense in other areas. It was a sort of cute dynamic in her opinion.

…...wait, no it wasn't! Not cute at all. Just stupid. Yes, stupid. That's what it was. Just another dumb boy who could understand her.

...dammit.

The two would continue in silence, only it wasn't awkward this time. It was more comfortable than before, as Naruto really enjoyed watching all the pictures Mahiru had managed to take. Seeing Ibuki, Hiyoko, and even Nagito smiling, looking like they were having the time of their lives. It was simply uplifting. It was as Mahiru said. Photos could convey a strong message, perhaps stronger than words if done properly. Almost like…...ninshū, connecting the world without words. Just as Super Gramps had wanted.

"You can totally change the world with pictures," Naruto muttered in realization. He didn't notice that he said that out loud, or that Mahiru began to blush at the unexpected praise.

Sometimes, being oblivious was probably the right thing. It just made you more honest.


"Mhmm, I'm happy that you would come to me today, Uzumaki-kun. The others all said they didn't need lunch today. I was worried I was being forgotten. I'm so glad I'm still in your thoughts."

"For some reason, I don't like the way you said that…."

And even Akane had skipped? What a surprise. Nekomaru had probably kept her from coming somehow.

"It's just your imagination, I assure you."

Sure, sure.

Apprehensions aside, Naruto still wolfed down the meal prepared for him by Teruteru, the two boys alone in the cafeteria. It was beef stew. A simple but still delicious meal as far as he was concerned. The cook had even been nice enough to prepare some for Kurama as well who was happily eating on the floor with a plate of his own. From the way his tail was wagging, he was definitely enjoying it.

"It pleases me to see how much you enjoy my cooking~" Teruteru laughed like he usually did. "But I'm surprised. I was sure that you would prefer something more refined."

Refined?

"I thought all your cooking was refined?" That's what the cook had said before anyway.

"Oh, but of course!" Teruteru patted his chest. "All my dishes are cooked to perfection! But this is still a dish for the common folk."

Naruto looked confused. "I really have no idea what you mean sometimes, Teruteru."

"Is that so?" The short boy started to giggle. "That's only because I'm surrounded by mysteries, Uzumaki-kun. But feel free to look under the hood, so to speak. I'm sure you'll like what you find."

Again, Naruto didn't know how to respond to Teruteru's comment. Speaking to Teruteru was sometimes more baffling than Ibuki if he was being honest, which was saying something.

"But I am being serious," Teruteru said. "Dishes like this are not usually what I prepare. Even ramen is orthodox for me to make."

"Why?"

"I come from a higher status in society, Uzumaki-kun." Teruteru shot him a wink. "Doesn't my aura give that away? My uniform even. I am completely refine from top to bottom."

Was he? Naruto had never noticed it. "I don't really give it much thought."

"Oh, come now. Don't be bashful. Surely you see that Miss Sonia and I are quite a pair. She, a princess. I, a well-refined chef meant for royalty and nothing less." He then paused for a moment. "But you and the others are an exception of course. I don't mind cooking for you guys at all."

And Naruto appreciated that. As for that other stuff…...

"Don't you get tired of doing stuff like that, Teruteru?"

"Doing what?"

"Pretending to be something you're not."

Teruteru went silent for a moment before chuckles escaped him. They were a little forced, Naruto noted.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Uzumaki-kun. Why are we talking about this anyway?"

His dismissal to the accusation didn't dissuade Naruto. Not one bit.

"I'm only saying this as an outsider looking in, but it feels to me like you're putting on airs. Especially with your food." He looked down at the now empty plate. What had he called it? Something Versailles or whatever. Naruto already forgot. It had sounded complicated, but in the end he served something that even Naruto was familiar with. It was something he had picked up in their trip as well. The food Teruteru cooked…...Naruto couldn't explain it, but it was the sort of food that made him feel at home. Comfortable. Almost like he was with his family. Not something he could get at a random or even luxurious restaurant. Which was weird, because Naruto had never experienced that before in his life. And yet, it was still there, in his heart.

"You wound me, Uzumaki-kun." Teruteru pretended to pout. But then a thought occurred to him. "Although that's precisely what I wanted to talk to you about."

Oh?

Naruto eyed the cook. "Is this why you went to the old man's ramen shop before? Were you looking to talk to me about this?"

"Maybe…..but who cares about that!" Teruteru waved his hand in dismissal. "It's in the past, and we need to move on to the future!"

Sure, sure.

"What did you want to talk about?" Might as well hear it now.

"Well, it's not a weird question I assure you." When you put it like that, it made it sound like it was going to be a weird question. Naruto didn't voice those concerns, though, and let Teruteru continue. "When I went to the ramen shop to defe-I mean, look for you, the shop owner there told me something very interesting about you, Uzumaki-kun. About the tastiest dish you've ever eaten."

That slip-up aside, Naruto knew what Teruteru was talking about. It was something he had told Jiro after the man had asked him what he thought about his ramen. Naruto being Naruto had told the truth.

"Yeah? What about it?"

"Is my food not the best?"

Naruto had sort of expected the question, but he was still surprised somehow. It was mostly because of Teruteru. He looked serious now, the complete opposite of how he usually was. It was a rare sight indeed, but it didn't stop Naruto from being truthful.

"No, it's not. Even your ramen, which was delicious, is not the best ramen I've tasted."

That was true for Jiro's ramen too.

"I see." Teruteru didn't look shocked by the answer. He too had been ready to hear what Naruto had to say. "So it's just as that man said. There is a dish out there that I haven't been able to reach. Is it because of the ingredients? Presentation? Or the actual taste?"

Naruto shook his head. "It's not that. Your cooking is definitely amazing, Teruteru. Especially the beef stew you just made. It felt like the meal was actually dancing in my heart, or something like that." Again, it was difficulty to put into words. "If you ask me, what you made for me just now is the best dish you've ever made In what I've tasted anyway."

Now this did shock Teruteru, and it showed on his face. "That….." He quickly calmed down again, his face looking almost peaceful. "Ah, you totally say the weirdest things sometimes, Uzumaki-kun. So much so that I don't really know what to say now…..."

He didn't sound angry, or anything of the sort. More like…...delighted, or elated. Like he was content with Naruto's answer despite not being what he had wanted to hear. Once again, it was difficult to explain. The meaning was still conveyed between the two, though.

"Then what is the tastiest dish you've ever eaten?" Teruteru asked. It was something he needed to know.

Naruto closed his eyes as he remembered that day. It had been a stormy night, and he had been out looking for food. Back then, nobody in the village wanted to serve him anything, and he had been low on money. That's when he had happened to meet Teuchi, who had invited him to his little ramen shop, free of charge. The ramen was nothing fancy, and deep down Naruto knew this. The ingredients hadn't been anything special either, and he was sure that Teruteru cultivated only the best. But it wasn't about that at all. It was simply the first time that anyone had been kind to him. That meal had meant much more than just dinner. It was like Mahiru's pictures, or the dish Teruteru had made for him today. Teuchi's ramen had conveyed a message more powerful than words.

"It was a bowl of ramen someone served to me years ago." Naruto opened his eyes to look at Teruteru. "It was very special to me, but I'm sure to you it wouldn't be. You could probably find many faults with it, and you'd probably be right. But it wouldn't change a thing. It would still be the best dish I've ever eaten."

What Naruto didn't know was that Teruteru understood exactly what he was getting at. Of course, it was a sentiment that the cook had abandoned, something that he was beginning to see now.

It's why his mother's recipe still trumped his, why Naruto had declared it as the best dish he'd made. It wasn't about the "fancy" elements at all.

"I get it." Teruteru began to smile. "You've made me realize something very important, Uzumaki-kun. Something my mother taught me a long time ago."

His family's diner was nothing especial, but to Teruteru it meant the world. It was the best. That's exactly what Naruto was talking about just now. The tastiest ingredient in food…..it wasn't something that could be quantified or perfected. It had to be understood. It was conveyed differently from person to person. But if it could be shared…...

"Your mother?" Naruto grinned. "My mom taught me some stuff too, things I can never forget. I think you should follow your mom's words too, Teruteru."

As they say, moms know best.

"Mhmm, I think you're right." Teruteru started to chuckle. "Even now, I still haven't been able to surpass her. Mostly because of what a fool I've been."

He's been fixating on the wrong things. That's why his cooking still wasn't perfect. If he wanted to move forward, he needed to keep his mother's words close to his heart. Then, and only then, could he possibly spread that feeling to others, just as he'd done with his mother's dish just now.

Teruteru then started to inch closer to the blond, who leaned back out of instinct.

"Hohohoho, I'm very excited now, Uzumaki-kun. Care to see just how much~"

Naruto suddenly got the feeling that he should run. And very fast.

Even if some things changed, others would remain the same. And Teruteru would always be Teruteru.


"Hmm, you say some weird stuff sometimes, Uzumaki-kun."

Naruto wasn't prepared to be ambushed by Nagito the moment he stepped out of the cafeteria. Kurama was plopped on top of his head, resting comfortably as he enjoyed a nap after a very good meal.

"Nagito? What the hell, man. I couldn't even sense you!"

Nagito chuckled. "I've been told that I don't stand out that much. Compared to you guys, I think that's only more obvious."

That so? Again, Naruto didn't really get it, but he just brushed it aside. Nagito was always spouting gibberish. Nothing new here.

"I didn't expect to hear you say all of that, though," Nagito said, getting back to the point. "I almost missed it too. How lucky of me to arrive in time."

"You were listening in?"

"Ah, I'm sorry." Nagito looked down in disdain. "You probably didn't want someone like me to hear your conversation, but I was too curious and couldn't help myself."

"You don't have to go that far…."

It wasn't like Naruto was going to hold it against him. He wasn't that petty.

Nagito looked pleased. "Really? I must thank your kindness, Uzumaki-kun. Although I do have to wonder about what you said….."

He had been with Teruteru when Jiro had shared that information, after all. He wanted to know what dish could possibly surpass that of the Ultimate Cook's. It's why he had been planning on accompanying Teruteru later today to the ramen shop, to hear Naruto's response. Not that it was needed anymore.

"I think I was being fair with my words," Naruto replied, shrugging. He still loved Teruteru's cooking, but Ichiraku Ramen would always be number one in his heart.

"Even so, I believe that talent can trump sentiments like that," Nagito said in return, his arms crossed. The smile left his face as well. "Just because you have personal attachments to something does not necessarily make it better."

"I think most people would disagree with you on that, if not all." Naruto was sure of this. "Personal biases do exist, Nagito. Even if you can admit to something being technically better, in reality, it does not mean that you will consider it that way."

Everyone had something they cherished, and this could be for any reason, no matter how small. To replace those feelings with something 'better'…..it just wasn't possible as far as Naruto was concerned.

"How strange." Nagito still wasn't convinced. "Don't you believe that talent comes first above all?"

That was an easy one.

"Of course not."

Advantages existed, sure. One of those being talent. But it wasn't everything either. Being talented was only the beginning stage, that's all. It could help you, it can even place you ahead at first. But if it wasn't accompanied with hard work, then it wouldn't get you far. That's why Naruto admired all of his classmates. They were certainly gifted, and they enjoyed what they did. But they also put in the effort, which only elevated them further.

As for Nagito, it was almost like he was seeing Naruto in a different light for the first time. Not one of admiration, but…..uncertainty. Almost as if he couldn't understand Naruto at all.

But that's precisely what it was. Naruto and Nagito didn't share the same beliefs, and it was something Nagito was seeing the first time. It was honestly…..unsettling to the pale boy.

'I don't get it. You're hope itself, so why are you…..'

New thoughts began to emerge in Komaeda Nagito, all dealing with the blond before him.

Needless to say, Nagito's worldview was beginning to crack, even if only a tiny bit.


This chapter was meant to come out like two weeks ago, but then I found a copy of Black Flag installed in my Xbox One. I have no idea how it got there. Maybe it came with the console. Regardless, since Black Flag is my favorite Assassin's Creed game, I couldn't help but start a new game on this copy. Start from the bottom up again. And it was totally worth it.

So yeah. Blame that for my lateness.

But yes, I named a chapter after Teruteru. Why? Because the short guy doesn't get enough love in this fandom. I need to spread some around since I actually like the guy. I also paired him up with Mahiru because their development with the blond dealt with the same message: their talents can spread love or hope stronger than words can. At least, in a more direct and impactful way. So can Hiyoko, but unlike with her Mahiru and Teruteru needed some form of encouragement to help them. That's also another reason why the two share the same chapter. Nagito also got some love, but it's still only the beginning with him. I believe there are two chapters left for this little arc, which will help me finish off the others. After that…well, that's a surprise.

Anyway, that's all from me. Happy days to you all.

Till next time.