Somewhere on Totsuki Campus
Haru had been looking around the school in search of a club specializing in Southern American Cuisine, but there were none to be found.
He suddenly came upon a plot of land and made his way towards it.
It was almost barren. It had weeds growing, dust settling, and time wasting it away.
"Could stand for a fix, but it's doable." Haru murmured.
He was unfazed when a mysterious voice said something behind him.
"A nice spot to establish something like a club, don't you think?" The voice said.
Haru turned his head slightly to see a young man standing next to him.
"Yeah..." Haru said, looking over to the man.
The teen had light orange hair that was paired with blue eyes, along with a well-built figure.
"You're here for a reason, and it's not because of a club. Who are you?" Haru asked, looking over the land once more.
"Isshiki Satoshi, Second Seat of the Elite Ten."
"Haru Tadokoro, Headmaster."
"Is that short for... Haruka?"
"What."
"Oh! Nothing nothing!"
…
"Ahem, so... you and Megumi-chan are siblings, yet the two of you are so different, why is that?"
Haru simply shrugged.
"What caused you to have such an- interesting personality?" Isshiki said.
"Nothing much-"
"Somethings wrong with you, and you're not letting anyone know about it."
That same instant, Haru was mere inches from Isshiki's face.
He could feel intense, cyber yellow eyes stabbing at him from nearly all directions, even though Haru's eyes were clearly focused on the Second Seat's"
"You're a perceptive bastard aren't you?"
Isshiki held his hands up defensively and started chuckling nervously
Finally Haru sighed and backed away.
"Microscopic Polyangiitis." He said after a while
"I'm sorry, layman's terms if you wouldn't mind." Isshiki said, chuckling again.
"I'm dying." Haru responded flatly.
"Oh. My apologies." Isshiki said solemnly.
"I don't blame you, took me an eternity just to get the term down."
The two remained quiet for what seemed like an eternity.
Isshiki finally spoke.
"Forgive my intrusion, but does Megumi know about this?" He asked.
"No, it would kill her, and I'm the one who's supposed to die."
...
"If you tell her, or anyone for that matter, I'll make the rest of your life here and after graduation a living hell."
"Don't worry about me, but how long do you plan on keeping the cat in the bag?"
"As long as I need to."
The two remained silent when Isshiki turned around to leave, but not before speaking one last time.
"You know, whatever it is you came here to do, I would suggest getting it done as quickly as possible, that way you can spend more time with Megumi and the rest of your family before- you know what."
…
"And lastly- my condolences, for you and your family."
Haru simply stood by the asphalt as Isshiki's figure blurred out in the distance.
"Hmph, I guess the annoying orange has a point…"
Nakiri Mansion
Erina was laying on the floor, staring at the ceiling. She thought about what Megumi told her.
I honestly believed he was more sympathetic than he let on. Clearly, he's not, and doesn't deserve anyone's sympathy, least of all Megumi's, and definitely not mine. I don't care what excuse he comes up with, I'll defeat him, and teach him a lesson. For Megumi, myself, and Totsuki.
Suddenly a knock.
"Yes?"
"Erina-sama, there's someone at the door, he claims he's here for the 'Little Nakiri'." A butler said from the other end of the room.
"He- WHAT?!"
…
*SLAM*
The door swung open and Haru was met with a seething Erina Nakiri.
"Hey, there you are! haghhh..." He said, yawning.
"What do you mean, 'there you are'?! And stop calling me 'Little Nakiri'!" She shrieked.
"Yeah, anyway- damn this is one big mansion-" Haru said, completely ignoring Erina as he walked into the mansion.
"H- Hey what are you doing- you can't just walk in here!" Erina stuttered, as Haru began for the kitchen.
"Alright, this seems like a good enough place…" Haru mumbled, seemingly spectating the kitchen.
Erine had enough.
"LISTEN HERE, YOU MONGREL!" She shrieked.
Haru turned his head ever so slightly.
"I knew from the start that you were just a low class, good for nothing, idiot! You barge into my school, take away my position under the basis of what exactly? You then come into my home uninvited and start peeping around like a pervert!"
…
"But- I still thought, even if it was an insignificant thought, I still thought that- that perhaps you had a vulnerable side to your personality. Don't think I forgot about what you did for me in that alley, but- but-"
Haru listened intently, as if he was expecting Erina to say what she was about to say.
...
"I- I TALKED WITH YOUR SISTER, I WOULD'VE NEVER THOUGHT SOMEONE COULD STOOP SO L-"
"Do you know both sides of the story?"
"I- what?"
"I said, do you know both sides. Of. The. Story?"
"Well- no, but-"
"Then please- refrain from making assumptions based on something you heard from just Megumi. I'm not inferring she lied to you, Megumi would never do that. But she herself doesn't know the other side..."
"Then what is your side of the story? If you're so just, why don't you explain what really happened?"
"That's not something that concerns you. It's between me, Megumi, and our family."
"Then I have no reason to believe you're not at fault." Erina huffed and folded her arms across her chest.
"Oh I'm at fault alright…" Haru mumbled.
…
"So, why are you in my kitchen?"
"Hm? Ah yes-" Haru's tone of voice brightened up and he walked around the kitchen, inspecting the stove, cabinets, pantry, oven, and more.
Erina, now more confused than angry, was trying to figure out just what Haru was doing.
...
"Alright. We'll have our next shokugeki here." He said after a while.
"What?! Why?"
"Well, I thought about why you failed to defeat me the first time around, and I figured maybe you didn't do that great because you were under a lot of pressure. You know how it is, being a prodigy has its expectations, especially for a Nakiri. I thought it was an insecurity thing."
She gritted her teeth.
"Maybe if we were within the comforts of your own home, isolated from all of those eyes, you would perform better, you get me?"
"I- What?! Are you doubting my confidence as a chef?!" She demanded.
"No, not at all! But, I didn't lose before now did I? I'm just trying to figure out what works best for you," Haru cocked his head.
"F- Fine. I don't respect you, much less like you, but I acknowledge your skill as a chef. We will hold our next shokugeki here. When will it take place? I'll accept your challenge anytime." Erina announced proudly.
"Oh really? Awesome, then you won't mind if we hold it now, right?" Haru asked as he honed the knife on a whetstone.
"Wha-"
"Perfect, let's begin right away!" Haru said as he began washing his hands at the basin.
Just as Erina was about to react, Haru interjected again.
"By the way, if you lose this time- let's just say you'll be taking some time off school."
Authors note:
Hey guys! That was Chapter 5! Interesting to see who'll win this time around. Anyway, for those of you who don't know, I've finished and uploaded the prologue to my newest fanfic, The Iron Bender! I'm also working on Chapter 1 for that fanfic, so you guys should definitely go check it out if you're into Avatar! Anyway, thanks for reading, and as always, I will see you in the next chapter!
-Kano