Totsuki Headmaster's Office
Haru yawned. He didn't have much to do, not since taking over as headmaster, the change in power wasn't even mentioned to the students of Totsuki.
"Guess I can't just loaf around all day can I?" He said, getting up from his chair and stretching.
Oh I know, I'll check if there's a club for South American cuisine, and if there isn't I'll simply add one.
Speaking of changes, he needed one for his clothes. He went into a room connected to the office and found his extra clothes. It was a royal blue half-zip sweater that fit perfectly, along with black chino pants that cut off around his ankles, he paired these up with his black loafers.
Just as he took off his shirt, he heard someone come in the room, and then a sharp gasp. It sounded female, as well as surprised, with a vast majority of it sounding embarrassed.
He didn't turn around, but simply addressed the young woman behind him.
"What? Never seen triceps before, Little Nakiri?" He sneered.
Erina's hands could not cover what looked like a bright red spot where her face used to be.
"I- I- I- I-" She stammered as she removed her hands from her face.
"Oh relax, would you?" He asked, putting on his sweater.
Erina was having a hard time comprehending what had just happened. The first thing that came to mind were her shoujo mangas and how the girl would sometimes walk in on a guy while he was half-naked, changing.
She herself had the privilege of never running into such a situation by accident before, but that luck had just run out.
Oh, I can't believe I just walked in on him while he was changing! Triceps… WAIT NO, STOP, TRICEPS DO NOTHING IN HIS FAVOR!
Still, Erina couldn't stop thinking about the upper half of Haru's body, he was very well toned. The muscles on his back and shoulders were the most defined. He wasn't buff like bodybuilders were, but he didn't disappoint either, not that it mattered to Erina, not at all.
She didn't notice Haru waving in her face.
"Oi, snap out of it, I already changed into the rest of my clothes. Is there something you need?" He asked.
"I- I simply came here to inform you that- wait." She began.
"What?" Haru asked, some irritation in his voice now.
"Did you just say you changed into the rest of your clothes?" She asked, feeling more heat emanate from her face.
"Uh- yeah? Don't you see?" He replied, turning around to show Erina he had already changed.
"The rest of your clothes… the lower half… I saw your…" She started stuttering again, only to dash out of the room, leaving Haru scratching his head in confusion.
If Erina hadn't ran when she did, she probably would've gone supernova with embarrassment.
"Jeez, what more could you expect from a spoiled 17 year old brat who's never seen underwear besides her own bra and panties before?" He muttered as he walked into a bathroom to brush his teeth.
While brushing teeth was a time consuming pain, Haru loved the minty feeling brushing his teeth would leave in his mouth, so he made it a habit to brush before going out anywhere, it also seemed courteous so it was a win-win.
Right as he was about to start, however, he heard someone come into the room again.
"Criminy, whatever happened to the lost art of knocking? What is it now?" He said angrily.
"Hmph, if I had known you would speak this way to my granddaughter, I'd have never asked for your help." A voice said, much deeper than Erina's, and frankly anyone else's.
"Hm? Oh, it's you Senzaemon, my bad." Haru said dismissively as he began brushing.
The aged man could only chuckle at the response he was given.
"That's the closest I've heard to an apology coming from you Haru, why is that?" Senzaemon asked.
"Becaush I ony apowogize when I do shomething I regret." He said, his mouth beginning to foam with the toothpaste.
"That's right, as a matter of fact, not only do you apologize only when it's convenient, but you don't answer to anyone. You were even reluctant to follow my instructions."
Haru opened his mouth to retort, but simply thought of something else to say.
"You know as well as I do there's only one person who could bring me to my knees in an instant." Haru said after rinsing his mouth.
"Right, your younger sister, Megumi Tadokoro. A bond between siblings is always strong." Senzaemon said, now pacing the room slowly.
Haru stopped, then eyed the former headmaster in suspicion through the mirror.
"You did receive my conditions after we talked right? If I help your precious granddaughter, you help my sister." He said, drying his mouth with a towel.
"Of course, Haru. Should you be successful in your mission in getting Erina back on the path of a successful chef, your sister will be guaranteed our highest recommendations for world-class restaurants, as well as a grant enabling her to open her own restaurant upon graduation."
"Good. By the way those were some really vague instructions. Path to success, what the hell does that even mean?" He said, moving to slip on his loafers.
"It simply means that. Erina-chan has strayed from her former position as a power to be reckoned with, and has dwindled in spirit ever since Soma Yukihira took his... leave of absence."
Haru simply got up from the bed and walked out of the room.
"You sure have high demands for a task as simple as this Haru." Senzaemon said as Haru put on his watch and began for the door.
"Don't play with me Senzaemon, I know your granddaughter was already enough of a prick to scare off that ray of sunshine before he left, but don't worry, I'll finish your job. Besides, I only want what's best for Megumi, otherwise I would've never come back." He said.
"Somehow I doubt that, Haru, I think you'd have come back eventually."
"Hmph."
As he began walking out the door, Senzaemon noticed Haru was rubbing his neck intensely, as if it were cramping.
"Sore neck?" The older man asked.
"Yeah- Guess I slept in a bad position." Haru said sounding strained, the lock finally clicking behind him.
"That man's arrogant ego never ceases to amaze me- then again he has the skills to back it up…"
Senzaemon muttered as he looked around his old office.
He moved to the desk and sat in the chair, lounging back after checking that there was no one in sight.
"Ah, it's nice to let go of that tedious personality once in a while."
He was about to swirl around when a piece of paper on the desk caught his eye.
"Hm? Let's see... M. Saji, L. Bellon... Wait... Saji Culinary Institute?" Senzaemon read aloud as he scanned the paper.
His eyes widened when he made the connection.
…
"THIS IS-"
...
Senzaemon leaned back on the chair and stroked his beard after calming down.
He chuckled to himself.
"Oh, Haru, what were you thinking? Getting involved with these beasts..."
Author's Note: Hey, yall. There was some fanservice, although I don't even know if that counts since you can't see any actual art, but the imagination is powerful. Also some more insight on Senzaemon's relationship with Haru, as well as on Senzaemon himself, very interesting. I personally always thought that when Tsukuda was writing Senzaemon's character, he was just this really old, intimidating guy who sort of towers over everyone, but it's all an act and he's a big ol' softie on the inside haha. You can expect more on Haru's background next chapter though. Anyway, thanks for reading, and a shoutout to the reviewers who left contstructive rather than destructive criticism in the comments, and as always I will see you in the next chapter!
-Kano
^lmao I completely forgot to add that at the end of my A/n's for the first two chapters, I'll be sure to fix it ;]