How do Dropouts love? Part 1

Four months have flown like the flick of a turned page.

The third years have graduated , the second and first years have advanced up to their next years.

Under the reign of the beautiful, charismatic Nakiri Erina, and the reformed Elite ten of former rebels, the academy was slowly but surely going back to its peaceful old days. With the Shokugeki becoming more than just a challenge between students, but a confrontation of wills and prides that are not bound to any regulations or administrative documents. A battle of creative and ambitious chefs willing to hone their skills to new heights.

AAAHHHH. Soma-kun's words are the heart and core of this revolution. And Ishikki-senpai couldn't be any prouder of his kouhai. He knew he was the trigger to Tootsuki's revolution.

He literally called it since the very beginning.

His instincts were never went wrong.

Well, with everything except a certain childhood friend of his…

-" Ishikki…" the subject of his thoughts called for him from the desk behind him. That slight, almost shy nudge almost had him crack out a laugh. He turned to look at her and smiled that one smile of his. Carefree. Honest.

They were third years now in one of their theory classes. And with five students per classroom. Their interaction was easily caught by all their comrades.

-"Kinokuni-kun, is there something bugging you about this Nutrition text." He joked. He's sure that wasn't what got her to call him. He actually knew why.

-" Are you making fun of me?" she retorted with her signature ice cold glare. How could that death glare be so seductive? " You know why. I just wanted to ask what are the terms."

This time, her words made his chuckle, already picturing her face when they will announce the wager in their shokugeki that day.

Yes, ever since that probable confession in the RdC, their already stiff relationship, became rougher than dry old wooden board.

Yep. Their everyday formal greeting became extremely awkward, with his clingy happy-go-lucky attitude and her cold, blushing face each morning. Their joint Elite ten works due to their successive seats, which will turn into a backlash of shouts and insults. And their continuous shokugeki every week or so. Nene never won even one , with Ishikki marking a streak of victories against her.

And today is no exception. But this time something is different.


It's Ishikki who's putting the bet. And how excited is he to win and have her finally abide to his year-long request.

-" the winner is second seat Ishikki Satoshi with an unanimous 3-0 for the genius Wachoku chef. We remind that the theme for the match was fugu. A classic sachimi fish. The two Japanese specialized chefs both showed great ingenuity in their creations. Leaving all old techniques and bringing innovation to the table. And at that, the Ishiki emerged victorious over the ninth Kinokuni Nene. The wager for this match was kept confidential, and its realization will be supervised by our dear Shokugeki bureau chief. It was such an amazing match today. Maybe even one of the best in the long list of continuous Elite shokugekis. With you was Yua-san. Have a nice day." The cute hostess spoke shyly to the cheering audience.

The match between the two third years have just come to a close with the usual winner announced, getting most of the pupil railed up and thirty for challenge.

It was one of the shokugeki popularity's advantages. It encourages challenge, innovation and freedom. All under the caring hands of the new Yukihira Elite ten, and the blond Nakiri headmistress.

Meanwhile, and behind the screams of excitement, in one of the waiting room, Ishikki was standing before his pouting challengers. According to the terms they agreed upon on their cook-off, if he had lost, he would give up his seat to her and admit her superiority before the whole student body in the Chandra hall while wearing a yukata. And if she lost, which she disgracefully did, she will have to…

-"Ata, Kinukoni-kun. The deal is the deal." He smiled like usual. How reminiscent of him. Always carefree, like nothing is worth a speck of his effort.

She sighed. What a pain in the neck this was.

-" When should I come? What should I wear?" she asked his, her eyes as the placidity of her words.

-" 8PM. Nothing formal. Just your uniform, if you were in a haste all day." He happily declared, turning to leave the room in hurry.

Just as he walked a few steps away, he suddenly peeked his head from the doorframe, muttering lowly: " Finally, I get to show you my home, Nene-chan."

He would've got his head demolished by the flying knife case if he hadn't some damn good reflexes.


It was 7:45 when she finally arrived at the Polar star dorm gates.

As one of the Elite ten, her status allowed her an access to the academy's automobile service, so she wasn't forced to come over by foot.

This place is so far and isolated anyway. And actually, she wasn't surprised to know that Ishikki lived in this rat hole.

She made an effort to look presentable. She took off her sweaty chef outfit, and changed a comfy knee-length jean shorts and a white blouse.

From the outside, the building resembled an old western ghost house. The vines were climbing up the walls with the rusty gate that squeaked at the action of it being opened.

Walking steadily up the three steps on the front door, she held her hand for a knock. But the door instantly opened revealing Satoshi, still in his uniform minus his blazer, greeting her like usually with…

A smile.

He looked at his arm watch and grinned.

-" Sasuga, Nene-chan. Before the assigned time, like I expected from you." He said, moving to the side to let her in.

The inside was neater and cleaner than she had thought. A large chandelier hanging from the ceiling and the old wood that shone like it has just been watched.

Feeling a slight nudge on her shoulder, she looked at the all-smiling male walking her upstairs. He was taking her on a tour around the rooms, showing her his room, the kitchen, the living room, and his pride: the garden.

She did notice. The way he spoke about each furniture and vegetable in his garden. It was passion. He loved it wholeheartedly. It was all precious to him.

And for him it might be a first to feel this way.

Going way back, when they were kids, even though his genius, he always looked disinterested and bored. For her, her passion was soba. The way her fingers would dance on the wooden bowl, the dough gathering under her palm, and the feeling of the smooth kneaded dough on her skin.

She loved it all.

But him, she never saw him speak this passionately about something. He devotes himself to his dorm and kouhai. And she got to admit, that seeing him like this, kinda brought joy to her day. She smiled gently but just imperceptibly.

She doubts she would've caught on his change, or even got here if it wasn't for the RdC. So she is grateful, that she made that mistake of judgment and was saved by him.

Maybe mistakes aren't that bad after all.

As the walked down the second floor rooms, he purposefully stopped on the door numbered 205. He motioned to her to stop too.

From behind the door, she could hear laughs and cries as if a party is going there. And here she thought she was the guest of honor.

Ishikki opened the door slowly, revealing their gang of second year rebels cracking laughs over a certain a redhead's attempt to feed a blonde one of his concoctions.

-"Come on, Nakiri. Just a bite. It won't kill you if you try."

-"Like hell it will. Back off Yukihira."

-" Yukihira, get away Erina-sama."

-"Soma-kun, you're having so much fun torturing Nakiri-san, aren't you?"

-" Why always my room?"

-"Hm hm."

-" Yukihira, I'm challenging you tomorrow."

-" Step back, pretty boy. I'm next. You wait your turn."

-"Hahaha, Erina, you're scared. Hahaha."

-"…"

It was ultimate chaos. Nene couldn't help but gasp at the fuss that was going on before her very eyes.

The red, enraged blonde. The frustrated secretary. The amused Nakiri cousin. The laughing Polar stars and the mischievous redhead.

She momentary started questioning the reason why she got herself in this.

Oh… She remembers why.

-"Everyone…" With a slight clap, all the dorm residents turned to look at their senpais. She can't clearly see the expressions of their shocked reactions at seeing her there, no matter how hard they tried to hide it.

-"Ishikki-senpai, where have you been? Ahh, Kinokuni-senpai, Oyasumiii." The redhead was the first to talk to his senpai, finally letting the blonde headmaster flee for her dear life to the farthest corner from him.

-" I was just waiting by the door." Wait, he was? " You see, Soma-kun, miina. After my victory in this morning's shokugeki against Kinonuni-kun, the terms were to have her spend a whole night at the Polar star dorms with us. So.."

-" I got no other choice." She finally spoke in frustration. How much she hated herself at these kinds of moments.

-" Waaah, Ishikki-senpai, does that mean…" Yuki squeaked giddily. She knew where this was about.

-" Hai, Yuki-kun. Today, everyone, the dorm is having a special guest. It's at these kinds of moments of our lives that our youth flourishes. Now; let party to our heart content." He cheered followed by a loud 'Yeahhhhh." By literally everyone in the room ( Even the Nakiri heiress, much to her surprise.)

The party started like any innocent celebration. Food being taken around the room, a mysterious brew that she never resented tasting due to how damn addictive it is. Fun card games with a dash of Nakiri blushes and Yukihira laughs. It was extremely fun.

She might have just over reacted to this outcome. It might have been the best for herself.


He regrets it. He really does.

He never thought he will ever regret anything in his life. No even did he regret leaving his family back. Nor did he regret trusting his kouhai during their rebellious purge the year before.

But he regrets it now. He regrets ever asking Nene in to the dorm. He should've asked Ryoko about her new prototype or supervised her work from now one. Even worst, what kind of senpai lets his kouhai consume sake before his eyes?

Rice juice my ass.

And there he was. Being trapped against the wall by the girl he admired, her lips violating his feverously.

After a few rounds of rice and some wiggles from Ishikki's fine butt, the alcohol effect started to get the best out of the youths. Some like the Nakiri cousins, have already fainted on Marui's bed in a …position that could be wrongly interpreted.

Takumi Aldini, after a cup or two, ran along his brother to the nearest bathroom to empty their reservoir, clearly not used to the brew. Hisako, right after seeing her mistress off to sleep, had excused herself to the balcony to get some fresh air. As for Megumi, the worried girl went after the Italian twins to check on them and maybe give them some cold water. The ones still standing were a fairly distracted rival trio, the mildly tipsy Polar star group attempting to give Ibusaki a hair cut. And surprisingly enough, his special guest was the last one to finish off their fifth bottle of sake. She loudly sighed after emptying the bottles content to its last drop. Her glasses were long tucked in the pockets of her pants.

Her new hairstyle was all messed up by sweat and the little group hug the other girls gave her before. Her cheeks were flushed and blushed. She looked like every pure, helpless girl in her age. Nothing like the cold, emotionless heiress of his everyday.

Putting the now empty bottle down on the floor, she slowly turned her face to look straight at his face. Her rosy eyes glistened with something he couldn't exactly put his finger on.

He kept his slit eyes closed staring back at her in response. Although, her eyes didn't seem to flicker as she just kept to look at him intently.

He was questioning what was cooking in her mind. He was quickly answered as she hazily stood on her feet, almost stumbling in the process, and walked to his side.

-" I'm tired, is there any free rooms in this place?" she asked lowly of him. Her voice barely a whisper audible.

He cheerfully agreed, and proceeded to lead her down to one of the dorms free rooms. The one next to his.

She was walking quietly behind him, her bangs hiding her eyes, providing him from dissevering her expression nor thoughts. As they reached the last turn that led to the rooms, he purposefully slowed his pace to match hers.

-"See, that room is mine and this is yours. I'll be nearby whenever you need me." She jolts. " Forever and ever, Nene-chan."

-" You blockhead idiot." He heard her murmur.

Actually he couldn't hear anything but the drumming of his heartbeat the moment she trapped him between her body and the wall, and when her usually scornful lips interlocked with his.

And thus he found himself here, fight against his instincts as she all but pushed herself towards him.

Reminder: He is still naked in only an apron.

From what his eyes could decipher in their proximity, is that her eyes where closed as she pushed her face more toward his.

As she released him for a moment to catch her breath, he backed more to the wall. His eyes blurry with shock.

What did she just do? Was it the alcohol? Must be. Must be it.

-"Why?" Tears began falling down her face. " Why can't I get anything?" She shouted at the top of her lungs.

Her outburst shocking him even more than he's ever been. Is that possible?

-" First I hated you. You always topped me in everything. Always besting me in it, and you weren't even trying. I was scared. Scared that one day, I will be beaten by you, that I won't be the best in something anymore. I couldn't bear it. My pride couldn't. So I kept working myself to the bone. In hopes that one day, I'll beat you in something. I admit that I might've even sided with Nakiri Azami knowing you would oppose him. I'm the worst, am I not?" she wailed in a cracked desperate voice.

As for Ishikki, he just watched mouth shut. He never expected this. And if it goes that way, he admits he won't be able to control it any longer.

-"But…. Why am I so confused right now? Ever since my match against Yukihira, your match against Tsukasa-senpai. And what you said back then…" she took a fistful of her bangs in her hand. " I don't know what are these feelings anymore? I really do still want to beat you, but now, I want to have you more by my side. Always standing before me with that smile of yours, always teasing me with your quirkiness. And when you invited me to the dorm. I hated it. I hated myself for losing to you once again, I hated having to face those feelings once again. Even your naked apron, you seemed so stunning to me. What is wrong with me? What is this? I'm stupid, am I not? Always following the norms to the point that I don't understand my feelings. You're right. You've always been right."

-"No, you're not." Her sobs were soon enough silenced by his tight hug. She quietly cried into his pink apron, she could feel the forehead that rested over her head. " You aren't. You never were. Me too, you know. I feel confused about everything. These alien sensations. I can't recognize what they are. However, I think we can find out what that is together. Don't you agree?" He slightly brushed his thumb over a stream of tears and gave her a peck. Another. Yet another. A deep French kiss came after.

When he found himself all tangled around her, her taking his previous position by the door of his room. He could sense her fingers struggling to untie his apron's knot. His tips fiddling with her blouse's buttons as he stretched the piece of worthless fabric sideways. She gasped at his forwardness.

Maybe it was the alcohol's effect that made her so daring and submissive.

Yeah. The alcohol. Because there is no way she'll…

He stopped on his tracks hesitantly, but resumed with more desire at the time.

For him this must be a dream, an illusion. Maybe that pile of clothes on his floor was just his dirty laundry, or maybe the soft hands that were running down his spine were nothing but the feeling of his new warm blanket.

Yeah. It isn't real. It isn't…

-"Satoshi…" she woke him out of his daze, and all he could see was the visage of a feeble girl laying willingly between his limbs. "Please be gentle."

-"I will." He responded before linking their lips once again. And their bodies for the first time in many.

He knew what he should do.

As the night grew older between the two, he gently lifted her body to rest on his lap. She sat erotically on his crotch, her legs locking his waist strongly. They could feel their mingling fluids blending and dripping down sheets. He held her straight with his arms supporting her sides and she affectionately hugged his neck.

-"Why does it have to be so complicated? Can't we just have this along." She desperately asked, her teary eyes looking at his darkened ones hungrily.

-"No. Because, we don't know what we really want from this ultimately. Now we're just following a youthful whim. For you, by tomorrow, none of this would've happened." He instantly kissed her down to the mattress before she could respond.

For you…


What a headache!

Self-note: Never trust someone who calls hand labelled sake rice juice. It's clearly a lie.

Kinokuni Nene woke up to the dazzling summer sun shacking her out of her dreamland.

She felt different. She really did. Like she had fulfilled something that she missed.

Maybe a good sleep.

Because for such an old dorm, these mattresses are really comfy.

Checking herself out, she looked less awful than she expected herself to be. Her blouse was still fully buttoned, with not a stain on her pants or shirt. Her glasses neatly resting on the bedside.

Her hair was a mess though. She will have to go back home to restyle it.

Walking out of the room, she realized that she was one of those few early birds in this dorm. The hallways were still quiet and peaceful while the sunlight seeped through large window.

Walking down the stairs that led to the exit. She bypasses a dripping wet, fresh out of the shower Ishikki. She deadpanned at his relaxed posture. What does he think his doing?

-"Ah, Kinokuni-kun. Up already? You were pretty tipsy last night, I didn't think you'll wake up this early. Anyway, this is Nene-chan for you." He chuckled.

What an annoyance! No time to deal with this with her migraine.

-" Whatever. I'll be going. Thank everyone for last nigh. It was decent." She said adjusting her glasses and rapidly walking past him.

As soon as the door closed behind her, he murmured: " That is how it is supposed to be, isn't it?"

Decent, huh?