Father Revealed
Chapter 5
Most of the class already knew of the legend that stood in front of the room with the Director and teacher; of course this class consisted of mostly Polar Stars although there was some exceptions. Putting the Polar Stars aside the class also included the Aldini twins, both Totsuki princess' and their aides, and Ikumi Mito. While everyone except Ikumi and Isami knew of this man's relationship with a certain student, it didn't mean that some didn't react to actually meeting said man in person. To say that Ikumi and Isami were shocked would be an understatement. Isami looked at his twin, who didn't seem to bat an eye when the Director introduced the man.
"Bro, what is going on? Why does he have the same name as Soma?", questioned the younger twin.
"If you would like to know ask the man himself. This is information that shouldn't be spread around the school.", Takumi said in a serious tone. "I have had a hard time coming to terms with it myself when we were informed yesterday."
"What? Informed yesterday, but that means during the meeting with the Elite Ten.", Isami replied, but noticing the look in his brother's eyes decided to either drop it or ask one of the people in front. "Excuse me Director. I have a question?"
"Go ahead, Isami Aldini."
Taking a big breath, the younger Aldini twin asked, "What is the relationship between that man and Yukihira Soma?"
What the boy didn't know is that everyone besides himself and Ikumi tensed and waited for the man's answer. Joichiro looked at the young boy with a smirk and said, "Yukihira Soma is my son. Now, before you two throw a fit over this just know that he didn't know until after the training camp. He entered this academy with only his cooking technique and his arrogance, knowing nothing of his lineage. Don't judge him over this, he is still the same person he was before. Nothing's changed."
"Alright, pops. No need to scare my class." ,Soma said from the back row; rolling his eyes at his father.
"Yeah, yeah Soma. Calm down, I was only trying to help. Later we can have another match, how about it? Director, can we use one of the kitchens?"
The Director looked amused when he answered. "You may use the arena that we use for the Autumn Elections,that way we can watch a match between Asura and his son. May I invite some people to come and watch?"
"NO!"
"Yes."
"Pops, come on."
"Oh, Soma it's fine. Most of the people in the room now was there for the match after the training camp so it shouldn't be a big deal. But Director, who else were you planning on inviting?"
"Ugh! I guess I have no say in this."
The Director gave a small laugh at the younger Yukihira before turning to the father and replying, "Just Gin and the others that were there yesterday during the festival. Is that acceptable, Joichiro?"
The heated glare that both men felt from the younger Yukihira spoke volumes of what said young man thought of this idea. The two began to sweat a little, but all of a sudden the heat disappeared. The two looked up only to find Erina standing behind Soma and Soma clutching his head in his hands. The two men shared a look and then a laugh at the funny picture in the back row. Of course they were not the only ones who found the scene amusing.
"Damn, Erina. Why did you hit me?", questioned Soma. Glaring at the blonde Totsuki princess.
"I don't know, Soma. Would you like to explain to me why you are being childish?", Erina stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at the boy.
"Me being childish does not deserve a slap to the back of the head! Also I am not being childish, just don't want the whole match to cause a big stir, is that so bad. Another thing, hit me like that again and I will do the same to you!", Soma rose from his seat, and crossed his arms across his chest.
"You will do no such thing! I do think you are being childish, since no one but the students who already know of your situation will watch. You're just being a baby about this whole thing.", Erina stated; drawing a little bit closer to Soma.
Seeing where this was going to go both the Director and Joichiro coughed, effectively bringing the attention back to themselves. "We are sorry to interrupt you two, but we have a match to set up for and students to inform so we will take our leave. Please meet us at the building used for the Autumn Elections after your classes are through. Yukihira-kun, I will have to you excused from your last two classes so that you can prepare for your match." With that both men made their way to the exit, not even bothering to hear the protests from Soma.
"Ugh, I hope this doesn't grow to be a complicated situation. It's already stressful enough.", Soma stated while leaning back in his chair.
"It's not like you haven't been doing this since primary school, Soma-kun. You didn't seem to hesitate when you had three people from the Polar Stars as judges. What's different now?", Megumi replied with a warm smile.
Soma didn't know how to explain it to her, when he didn't know exactly why himself. He felt uncomfortable in this situation. but he had been battling his father since primary school, like Megumi said in front of the whole neighborhood and it never made him this nervous. Maybe the answer lies with the woman who was as we speak running her hands through his hair in a comforting gesture. Closing his eyes to the gentleness of her touch he replied to Megumi, "I don't know how to explain it. I have battled him since primary school while having the whole neighborhood watch and never felt this nervous before."
The silence in the room was disconcerting to him, but he ignored it in favor of the pleasure he was receiving from the usually cold Ice Queen. The teacher cleared his throat to draw everyone's attention before launching into a short math lesson, since his time was drastically cut short after the arrival of the director and Joichiro Yukihira.
The bell finally rang, and the class gathered their belongings and head for the door, all except for the four in the back row.
"Erina, it's lunch time.", Hisako said quietly; trying not to disturb the sleeping Soma.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Hisako. Time must have gotten away from me.", Erina pulled her hand from Soma's hair receiving a groan in return; before turning to Megumi, "Megumi- chan, you have all the remaining classes with Soma-kun, correct?", receiving a nod, Erina continued, "Since I do not, I would like to ask you a favor? My grandfather asked me this morning to watch out for Soma-kun and make sure that people don't act different towards him. Since you have the remaining classes with him, would you do so in my stead?"
Megumi was shocked, but eagerly nodded her head, "Of course, Erina-chan. I will see you at the match after classes are through. Unless you would like to eat lunch with us, we usually eat with the other Polar Stars, though."
Erina smiled before accepting, "Yes, I would like to eat lunch with you, if that's okay. And thank you for looking after him." The girls looked over at the sleeping Yukihira and smiled. He really hadn't been getting enough sleep since he returned. Gently nudging him awake, Erina waited for the young man to respond so they could go eat. After a few minutes he awoke, the girls motioned him to follow them as the walked out of the class and down the stairs to the cafeteria.
As the four walked to the cafeteria talking about the match without saying any names so they wouldn't give anything away, finally reaching said area the conversation dropped as they got food and found their way to the table with the rest of the Polar Stars minus a certain sempai(who should remain nameless). Soma and Megumi sat down and offered a welcoming smile to the two ladies. Those at the table welcomed them and told them to sit, before starting another conversation up.
Not that those at the Polar Stars table noticed, but the whole cafeteria went silent as the Totsuki princess and her aide were welcomed at the table. There seemed to be no awkwardness between the two and the rest of the table, which puzzled all the first years. All though those that had been in class with them and had witnessed the change in the atmosphere that Yukihira Soma and Nakiri Erina exuded towards one another, did not seem surprised. Lunch was over in no time and classes resumed. For those that awaited the upcoming closed battle between father and son, the time remaining before the match seemed to slip by unnoticed. They talked secretly, gave winks and smirks to the other while wishing for classes to be over. As the last bell rang, the elite first years along with a few others' rushed out of their classes down the hall and out of the school building before anyone could tell them to stop running in the halls. All of them meet in front of the closed building, coming from all directions. Sharing a secretive smile the group pushed open the doors, but before they got too far into the building the group stopped in shock , for what stood in front of them were some of the alumni that tested them during the training camp.
The director had looked up from a piece of paper when he heard the main door the building open, and couldn't help but laugh as he seen the faces of said students when they laid eyes on the alumni. It had been hard to get them to come, since he didn't want to divulge anything over the phone. Once the alumni got here and seen the two competitors, their mood changed drastically, now the group looked positively excited. Gaining control, he walked towards the students. "Welcome. The alumni are here for the same reason you are, to watch. Please take a seat, since we are waiting on the Elite Ten to make their appearance. Once they come we will begin." The director pointed to the stands and the students followed the alumni up to where the Director pointed, grumbling slightly. The Director laughed again.
Once the group was seated, the students on the first and second rows and the alumni on the third. Chatter broke out among mostly the students, with a question or two directed at the alumni behind them. It was awkward at first but the atmosphere soon relaxed.
Chef Shinomiya looked around the arena, remembering his battles here. He had been called here, but still didn't know the reason and now he had to put up with babbling children on top of it all, so before he got too annoyed he asked, "You all wouldn't know the reason for us being here would you?"
The students went silent for a moment, before the group started whispering to each other, after a time someone stood to address him, "We are here to see a battle between father and son. The son is a first year student while the father attended as a '69th generation student. The father didn't not graduate, however before he left he had obtained the second seat." The Totsuki princess turned away and sat back down with her aide.
The alumni were shocked to say the least, for their to be a son of a second seat here at Totsuki and they had never heard of it. "Please explain, Nakiri-san?"
'God's Tongue' sighed before standing up again to face the alumni, "The reason you have not heard this information is because it has just been revealed to a select few yesterday. While the people in the son's dorm knew since after the training camp the information did not reach the Director until a couple of days ago. The match was set up today during the third period, apparently this is a custom for the two of them since the son was in primary school. If you would like to know who they both are I suggest either you ask my grandfather or Dojima-Senpai." Again she turned away from the alumni and made a move to sit down before she caught her grandfather trying to catch her eye. Excusing herself she made her way to the stairs then to where her grandfather was standing. Once she arrived, they held a whispered conversation; before Erina let out a sigh, brushed her hair out of her face and stomped out of the arena.