Disclaimer : I don't own Skip Beat!
Chapter 3 : Teacher and Student (Part I)
"Teacher and student?" Cain repeated what she had just said.
She nodded happily.
"Who's going to be the teacher?"
"Me. I wanted to. Moreover, we've played teacher and student before with you as teacher, right?"
"Ah, right," Cain said. She must have meant in Dark Moon.
"I'm not going to call for action now. I have something planned for this role," she said with a grin. Tomorrow night should be fine right? Tomorrow he only got his day scheduled till 5 pm. I have the morning for Dangerous Mission and I've promised to help in Daruma-ya for the lunch rush.
"What kind of teacher and student do you have in mind, Setsu?"
"Hehe… you'll have to wait and see. I'll inform you by phone when I'll be arriving at hotel tomorrow. Don't worry! I have your schedule from Mr Glasses." She smiled mischievously.
"Sounds interesting about whatever you were planning," he began. "It must be something extraordinary but don't abort it in half way like the last time when you chose that costume." He smirked.
"Oh come on, niisan." She grinned widely. "It will be really fun. Don't keep guessing around. You'll like the idea, that I'm sure. At least let me be the leading this time, okay? You've scored one point for the previous role."
"I've got one NG from you," he reminded her.
She giggled. "Well, maybe if we had played this role before that butler role, you wouldn't get any NG?"
He frowned. He was confused with her statement but decided to let it pass. I just have to find out what she has been planning for tomorrow's role. She always has something in mind. Like when she acted Mio for the first time, then her new character in her current drama but that's Mogami-san. We're talking about Setsu here. Even though she is Mogami-san inside, with Setsu on the surface, I wonder what it will be. Maybe something surprising like the last time she applauded Cain's acting as BJ and took photographs of him? It is bound to be interesting! Bring it on, Kyouko!
Kyouko rang the hotel room's bell impatiently. She waited for Cain outside the door. She had already confused people with the way she was dressed. Appearing in a hotel dressed in a yukata was really mismatching. She was still dressed in her Daruma-ya's uniform. She had just finished with helping Daruma-ya with dinner rush preparation before she realised that it was already 6 in the afternoon. She had told Cain that she would be there at 6.30pm. She managed to arrive just on time.
Cain opened the door and was surprised when he saw Kyouko instead of Setsu. He still managed to act as Cain. "I'm sorry but who are you?"
Kyouko gasped and looked at how she dressed. Oh no! I forgot to change! Tsuruga-san is great. I just knew he wouldn't slip at all. She opened her bag and pulled out Setsu's blonde pink highlighted wig. She put it on in a hurry. Her expression changed to Setsu's cold and bored expression. She sighed. "Niisan, honestly… you've forgotten your little sister?"
"Ah, Setsu. Why are you wearing a yukata? Are you doing a cosplay?"
"Just let me in for now, niisan," she said with a smile.
She didn't bother to explain. She pushed him aside and got into the room. She closed the door and faced him.
"Um… then?" he asked, waiting for her further explanation.
She took off the wig and said, "Let's start, shall we? I'm Mogami-sensei now. I'm going to teach you how to make a fine omurice dish."
"Omurice?" Cain lifted his brows, confused with her statement.
"Yes, so we won't have Maui Omurice anymore," she said with a smile. "Ah, the one I want to teach is Tsuruga Ren-kun. Can you please call him?"
"Why omurice, Mogami-sensei?" Cain turned back to Ren and immediately responded to her acting.
"Cause it seems to me that you're familiar with the basic. You just weren't able to do it right. Shall we go, Tsuruga-kun?" She smiled. "But well, we need to change into more proper clothes first. We'll go shopping for the ingredients. It's just around the corner."
She called me Tsuruga-kun? With –kun? And have been twice at that. It was usually –san. He thought incredulously and then realised. Right! She's playing a teacher of mine. Of course she would call me with honorific –kun. Trust her to always use a proper honorific.
In his mind, little Kyouko was scolding him for calling her without honorific. Yet she called me Corn that time. It is indeed rude for a girl to call an older guy with –kun in the usual manner. I'm 4 years older than her in reality. Not that I mind about it but she's seriously into her acting. He smiled. She's getting better and better in acting the more she acts. I have to work hard too. I don't want second NG.
"Tsuruga-kun?" she called. I hope he doesn't mind me calling him with honorific –kun. Bou does it all the time but this time I am me. That's how most teachers call her male students here.
"Yes, sensei. I'm sorry. I'll go change my clothes."
They were in the supermarket near the hotel 20 minutes later.
They were playing cooking class teacher and her student this time, based on how Kyouko first acted. Kyouko was dressed in her chef attires minus the hats, so was Ren. The chef attires were white in colour with blue stripes on the mid sleeves.
Kyouko didn't disguise herself since she was confident that no one would recognise her. They looked like chef and her apprentice instead. Ren didn't entirely change his appearance. He only styled his hair a little and took off the contacts and revealed his green eyes. He also put on a black frame glasses. He looked like an ordinary guy in his own perspective, at least not very Cain and certainly not Ren-like.
Kyouko pushed the shopping trolley and headed to meat and seafood section, followed by Ren.
"How do we determine the better meat?" she asked, hoping he remembered what she had told him before.
"Look at the texture, not price?" he answered, sounded unsure.
"That's correct, Tsuruga-kun. Now tell me, which one of these is better?" She held out two plastic wrapped chicken breast fillets in front of him. She smiled meaningfully. She was confident that he would remember anything she had told him including how to recognize the texture. He's got a good memory in everything related to acting. He should be able to answer this simple question right?
Is this a test from her? Uh, what had she told me the last time aside from that? He pressed one finger on the chicken breasts. He didn't really know how to differentiate it but he'd give it a try. The fresher one's got more smooth appearance, just like children. Kyouko's voice came into his mind. He recalled the night when he was shopping with her. Something clicked inside his mind. He looked carefully and then pointed to the right one, "This one?"
Kyouko smiled and nodded. Yay! He remembers! She almost shouted in glee when he pointed the right one. "Correct! Hmm… now shall we head for the vegetable section?"
"Sensei," he called out.
"Yes?" She turned back to him and frowned. "What is it, Tsuruga-kun?"
"Don't we need shrimp as well?"
"Ah, no, Tsuruga-kun. Omurice is chicken fried rice wrapped in omelette. We don't need shrimp for that. Do you want to add the shrimp? I don't mind if you want to improvise," Kyouko said with a smile.
"Eh, really? I think my father used shrimp?" he sounded unsure.
"Your father? Is he any good in cooking, Tsuruga-kun? Was he the one who teach you how to cook omurice?" Kyouko asked. She was interested in what he said about his father. It's rare of him. He rarely talks about himself. Teacher usually asks this kind of thing sometimes, usually when in a parent-teacher-student meeting.
"Yes, he's good. No, I only watched him cook," Ren said. His face darkened. I should have watched him more seriously, so then no one would 'die' from my poisonous cooking. Maybe I'm just not talented, just like mom. Even though I thought that I cooked it like he did, but why was it still mazui? Can I be better this time after this session?
Kyouko was surprised upon seeing his glum expression. Was he not on good terms with his father like me with my mother? If yes, if we ever got that role, it would be a disaster. Argh, I shouldn't have written that role. "Tsuruga-kun, do you want to add the shrimp?" she asked, averted back his attention to their main topic since she didn't want to pry into his matters.
"Can I?"
"Sure. I've told you I don't mind the improvisation. Let's pick up some shrimp then." She flashed him a smile.
She told him how to choose the fresh shrimp and that it was better to use the fresh ones rather than the frozen ones. They headed to vegetable section afterwards and picked onions, green peppers and white mushrooms. She let him chose those veggies since it was easier and she was sure he could do it well.
He did pick some good ones and she gave him an okay for that. They also got a bottle of tomato sauce, a bag of koshihikari rice, salt and peppers. Kyouko took one kilogram of eggs since they had run out eggs, and because they also needed eggs for the dish. She asked him to pick shokupan for tomorrow morning's breakfast.
Many whispers went around the couple when they shopped.
"See, that two must be newlyweds. They must be shopping for their dinner. Let's guess what it is."
"Those two seem like they are shopping for omurice. Such a simple dish."
"They must be the chef and his or her apprentice. Look at their attires. The chef must be that tall guy. He is the one who picks the ingredients."
"No, you're wrong. I heard the girl called the guy with –kun, so she must be the chef. Wow, I don't know there's such a young chef. She's probably 17 or 18. Hmm… maybe she isn't as young as she looks. She's probably still a sous chef."
"Ah, they're probably boyfriend and girlfriend working in the same restaurant. The girl looks younger than the guy, well, perhaps the same age since she calls him with -kun?"
"That tall guy is so handsome, but I see that his eye colour is green. Is he a gaijin or Japanese? He doesn't look like Japanese at all."
"It seems to me that they are playing dress up. But… um… the girl looks like an expert in cooking. She gave advice to that guy just like a pro."
"What an adorable couple."
Kyouko and Ren heard what the others said. Kyouko was horrified when she heard some of them guessed that she and Ren were newlyweds or boyfriend and girlfriend. How could they think like that? It must be an insult for Tsuruga-san to be paired with me even if it just a talk. She sighed inwardly. They were almost right about the chef and apprentice thing. It is supposed to be cooking class teacher and her student. We are playing that right now.
Ren smiled inwardly upon hearing all the guesses. He was kind of happy about that. If playing a teacher and student made people think that we are couple, I wonder what would people thought if we get to those roles. Especially that one... I really hope she will get it this time. I know that I can't rush her. She despises love because of that guy. His face darkened. He knitted his brows. He felt frustrated whenever the thought of Shou came into his mind. I have to go with snail pace and get her to understand. I don't want her to freak out or I'll be the goner very fast. He almost let out a deep sigh before he realised that he was supposed to listen to her teaching. She picked more utensils for the cooking lessons.
When they finally finished and he was about to pay, she had already paid all of it. He was about to protest but he knew that it would be useless. She was in charge of everything. She would give him an 'NG' for intercepting her if he ever done that. He could only sigh inwardly and let the game roll.
They arrived at the hotel and Mogami sensei put everything on the kitchenette counter. Ren helped her unpacked the groceries and washed the utensils. Meanwhile, Kyouko proceeded with washing the veggies. The counter was small so the two of them had to stand close to each other. Their arms almost touched and both of them were nervous.
I'm not supposed to feel nervous. What is it with me? Pull yourself together, Kyouko. You're a teacher and he's your student. Don't think of something unnecessary. Kyouko let out a deep sigh and it caught Ren's attention. He watched her in amusement and smiled at her nervous state.
"Shall we begin, Tsuruga-kun?"
"Yes, Sensei."
"Okay then please cook the rice."
"Okay." Ren took the rice and pour two cups into the pot and Kyouko stopped him before he started to wash the rice.
"Tsuruga-kun, I think one cup is enough. I don't think we can eat that much, plus tomorrow morning, we'll redo the butler's cooking."
"Eh? Do you mean sunny side up and toasts?" Ren asked, surprised that she had even planned for tomorrow morning's act.
"Yes, especially the sunny side up."
"Now I am hoping that this role was done before that role."
She laughed. "Well, let bygones be bygones, Tsuruga-kun."
Ren took up one cup by using the measuring cup then hurriedly washed the rice and put it on the rice cooker. Kyouko looked down at the ingredients on the counter and contemplated on what she would have him to do next. Ren waited for her next instruction patiently.
"Sensei?" he called out to her.
Kyouko snapped up her head, smiled and gave him a knife. He took the knife and she gave him an onion as a starter. He peeled the onion's skin and about to chop it when…
"STOP!" Kyouko exclaimed.
Ren jumped in surprise. He almost dropped the knife. "What's wrong?"
"The way you grip your knife is wrong. Don't grip it that hard. You'll hurt your hand."
"Eh? But I did it just fine before," he said confusedly. This is wrong?
"I was horrified at that time. You seemed like you were chopping someone head down." She giggled.
"Really? So how do I do it?" he asked. He was still gripping the knife firmly with the onion on the cutting board left part.
"Hmm… Pardon me…" She reached for his right hand and made him grip it the way she wanted. She pointed to his left hand, "Not like that, Tsuruga-kun. You'll definitely cut your fingers and well… the onion will fly and scatter around the counter. It will look messy. We have to pay attention to tidiness and cleanliness when we cook."
He cringed. He was reminded of how messy he was. I wonder what she thought of me after seeing the way I cooked. Is this why she thought of this role? "Yes, sensei. I'm sorry."
She smiled and put on a serious face. "I'm glad you understand." She then reached for his left hand and folded it like a cat paw and put it on the onion. "There… all set. Try to chop like this," she said with a smile and gave him an example with some gestures whilst she cursed herself inwardly for doing something bold –in her opinion— like holding his hands casually. But this is how I was taught when I was in Fuwa Ryokan.
He followed her example and chopped the onion slowly. Kyouko smiled when she saw how he was doing with chopping the onion. His movement was strained but he managed to do it well. It took quite some time till he finished. Kyouko compared the chopping he did in the past and the one in front of her eyes in her head. She smiled contently. She didn't realise that Ren watched her silently whilst doing his best with the onion.
"I'm finished, Mogami-sensei. What's next?" he slowly said.
"Chop the pepper first, then the mushroom."
The chopping went smoothly since she gave him example how to do it. When it was time to chop the chicken breast, Ren was confused. Kyouko had wanted to laugh at first. She remembered what he did to the chicken in the past. Last time, he bought a whole chicken with bones. This time, what they had bought was boneless chicken breast fillets.
"Tsuruga-kun, chop the meat," Kyouko said. "You can chop it like the pepper and made it into dices. And no, I won't tolerate it if you are to use your bare hand and snapped the chicken out of its bones. We don't have bones this time." She grinned.
Ren smiled sheepishly. "Was it that bad?"
"Well, it looked wild to me. I found it amusing. It seemed to me that you lived in a jungle for your entire life," Kyouko said, still grinning.
Jungle? Did she think of me as Tarzan or something? He laughed. "So how do I do it, Mogami-sensei? I think it's a bit different with the veggies."
"I'll show you how to. Lend me the knife!" she said and held out her hand, asking for the knife.
He gave her the knife. She took the knife and put one fillet of the chicken breast on the cutting board. She moved the cutting board so it was before her then started to chop the meat in steady speed. Even though he knew that she was skilled in cooking, he was still amused.
Kyouko felt his eyes on her and felt nervous suddenly. Her hands shook a little. The knife cut her index finger. She didn't let out a voice. She calmly lifted her left hand's index finger and about to wash away the blood when Ren took her finger and sucked on it. His action surprised her. She blushed at it. She felt her body was hot. She could felt his lips and tongue on her finger. It tickled her and made her spine tingle. She shivered a bit. Something is wrong. What is this feeling? I have to stop him. And it's…
"Tsu… Tsuruga-san… it's dirty. You shouldn't…" she tried to say. She had completely broken character. She was trying to pull her finger from his mouth. She blushed redder.
"Mogami-san, that was what my father did when my mother hurt her fingers. She often hurt her fingers when she cooked. She's a bad cook after all," Ren broke character as well, without realising it. He was still holding her hand in his.
"Eh? But…" she tried to argue. His mother is a bad cook? Another thing I uncovered about Tsuruga-san, but…
He looked into her eyes and smiled tenderly to her. "I'm just trying to help you clean it…" He let go of her hand and she quickly washed her hands. She then excused herself and left the kitchenette. She headed to the bedroom. Not long after, she came back.
He smiled when he noticed her bandaged finger. Kyouko smiled back awkwardly. "About earlier, thank you and I think you shouldn't have done it. I was holding raw chicken meat and you…" she couldn't continue her words. Her face was all red even though she tried to suppress it. She tried to compose herself and quickly said, "Raw meat contains salmonella, and you will probably get stomach-ache because of that."
Ren found her blushing face adorable. He was worried and only did what he thought the best. She actually blushed over trivial matters. He chuckled inwardly. He was stunned second later upon realising that both of them had broken characters. "Um… well, hopefully not. I should have called an 'NG' for you earlier. So that's it. How could a teacher of a cooking class be so careless?"
"Well, it's because…" she stopped. No way would I tell him it was all because he kept looking at my movement. I felt awkward with him watching me. I failed as a teacher. She sighed. How could I ever reach his level if I kept breaking character?
"Because?" He was waiting.
She kept silent and let out a deep sigh. She didn't want to answer the question. "Well, let's just resume the role," she said with a smile. She went back into her character. "Now, let's have you do the same, Tsuruga-kun."
She didn't answer my question. Is she running away from something? He sighed inwardly then smiled. But… she actually blushed. Can I get my hopes up?
The rest of the cooking lesson went well. Ren managed to chop the chicken just alright. Kyouko gave him 6 points in total for chopping. She told him to practise more. When the rice was cooked, they continued with cooking the fried rice. She was standing beside him. She didn't say anything more because she was sure he knew the basic steps. She was ready if she had to tell him if he made a mistake.
"No, don't put in the veggies just now," Kyouko said when Ren was about to put the veggies. "Sautee the chicken first! I'll let you know when to put in the veggies and rice. We won't put it all at once. It will have to be one at a time."
"Okay." So, it's like that. No wonder I failed it before.
He put the veggies when she told him to. He stirred fry the sautéed chicken and veggies till it softened. Kyouko's eyes were fixed on the sauté pan. "Put in the rice now, Tsuruga-kun."
He put the rice and stirred slowly. When he was about to lift the pan, he felt her hand on him. She smiled and said, "Slowly, okay? We don't want the counter to looks messy afterwards. Don't use too much power!"
"Yes, sensei," He said, lifted the sauté pan and flipped it like a pro. Kyouko smiled contently. He can do just fine. Maybe he was too distracted at that time?
Kyouko took the pepper and salt shakers. "Sprinkle the white pepper and salt slowly."
He nodded and did as she said. He was careful with the pepper and salt. He knew her intention when he heard how she emphasised on the word 'slowly'. He smiled. He remembered the golden sand on his maui omurice.
She asked him to put the ketchup in. Not long after, the fried rice was finished cooking. Ren cooked the omelette after Kyouko cooked him an example. He imitated the way she did it and managed to cook a passable omelette. The omurice was finished when they put the omelette on top of the fried rice.
"It looks really nice," Ren said.
"Yes, and I can say this is your best creation." Kyouko giggled.
"I have to agree," he chuckled at her remarks. "Practice makes perfect."
"That's right. Let's garnish it with ketchup. Can you?" she asked. "Ah, about the infinity sign before, is there any meaning?"
Ren sighed inwardly. He was reminded of Rick once again. "Actually, it was something my friend taught me. He said if we have someone we love to cast the ketchup magic onto it, and wished upon it, it would bring us closer towards our goal."
Kyouko was stunned upon hearing it. She laughed softly. "Wow… I never knew about that. Then, can you do it for me too? I also have something I'm wishing for."
"Sure. Can I have you garnish for me as well?" Ren asked. Because it has to be the girl I love. Eh, but did she actually understand what I have just said to her? She asked me to do it for her. I said clearly someone we love, did she hear that? He felt hopeful but when he looked at her dreamy state. Guess not huh? He sighed in disappointment. I have to try harder. My words didn't seem to get into her head entirely.
He took the ketchup bottle and asked, "What do you want me to write on it?"
"The infinity sign," she answered.
He smiled and did as she wished. I want to be an actress that can stand equal to Tsuruga-san. I can do it! Kyouko thought when she saw him draw the sign.
I will win against Kuon and win her heart. I can do it! Ren thought when he saw her drew the sign.
A/N : It got part two cause if I continue this here, it will gets very long. Thanks for reading. Review if you'd like to tell me what you think.
Note on Terms :
Shokupan = bread
Koshihikari = variety of rice in Japan.