Disclaimer : I don't own Skip Beat!
Chapter 4 : Teacher and Student (Part 2)
"Oishii," Kyouko said gleefully. "Even the taste is confirmed. It's an 8 for you."
Ren smiled upon seeing her eating the omurice they had just made with childlike expression. "I got an 8 for the cooking? Thanks, sensei."
"Yes, why don't you eat it now?"
"Ah, sorry. I guess I'm too happy with the result." He smiled and started to scoop the omurice. "Umai."
She smiled when she saw him eating happily. "Eating something we made by ourselves brings happiness even though it wasn't well cooked."
"Hmm… since now I can make a passable omurice, I don't want to eat the maui one anymore. It's all thanks to you, sensei," he said whilst looking at her tenderly.
Kyouko stiffened and tried desperately to act casual. She heard the lock inside her heart clicking furiously. The locks were blown off. The last lock was left once again, and it was clicked open. This man, he had blown off my box countless times. I have to re-lock it. I don't want to feel that dreadful emotion ever again… She saw the demons and the angels were fighting inside her mind.
"Sensei," Ren called out. He was confused with her sudden silence.
No reaction.
"Sensei," he tried again.
"Y—yes. Sorry, I'm eating," she said whilst eating in super speed. She wanted to finish it fast and buried herself somewhere. "I'm finished. Thank you for the food."
"Sensei, you can put it down. I'll wash it later," he said when he saw her about to leave.
"Eh, but you cook so…" she tried to argue.
"I'm your student. I'll do the washing too."
Is that a warning for an 'NG'? she thought and gave up. "Okay, thank you then."
"Sensei, I want to learn how to make hamburger and eggs for tomorrow night, will it be fine with you?"
"Eh tomorrow? Um…" She thought back to her schedule and said, "Ah, I'm afraid it's not possible for tomorrow night. I have Love Me job at 6.30 pm and will be finished around 9 pm. Tomorrow we don't have to stay at the hotel, right? Because the day after tomorrow, there isn't schedule for Tragic Marker, and we will be moving to another hotel on Sunday."
"You have job tomorrow night? Can we just do it in my apartment then? I'll pick you up."
"Eh but weren't you the one who said if you eat late at night, you'll get fat?" Kyouko argued. No! If he came to pick me up, he'll know that I'm Bou. I've to do my best to make him change the time to day after tomorrow instead.
"I want to try to make your favourite food, sensei. Hamburger is your favourite, right?"
"Yes it is, but…" Kyouko hesitated. Hamburger sounded nice in her mind. Was I that obvious? I didn't say it was my favourite, how can he be so sure that it's my favourite? She almost agreed to it. "No still not possible. And you…"
"Sensei, I don't mind late supper. It was Cain who was afraid of being fat, not me." He smiled. "I invited you late at night the last time I cooked omurice, remember?"
That's right! What should I answer him? Maybe… "O…okay, but you don't have to pick me up from my job. Why don't you shop for the ingredients according to my list and I'll see whether you can do it well or not?" she suggested, crossing her fingers for luck.
"Hmm… okay then," he answered with a smile. I'll still go pick you up, Kyouko… and I don't need to tell her that. I'll ask Yashiro-san to get her schedule for me.
NO! Why is he here? Did he find out about Bou? Kyouko was horrified when she saw Ren wandering around TBM studio. She was still in her Bou's suit.
The thought of Bou being grilled and snapped by Ren scared her. She was stupefied in place especially after she heard him calling for Bou.
"Ya, rooster guy, how are you?" Ren asked whilst walking faster towards Bou.
"Oh hello, isn't this Tsuruga-kun? To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"I'm just picking up my teacher here. It's such a coincidence meeting you again."
"Teacher?" Bou asked. He must have meant me. Good grief! Now, I am wishing that I have finished and we can just leave. She grimaced inside her Bou suit. Now, I'm stuck with him as Bou.
"Yes, my cooking teacher. Sensei asked me to shop for the ingredients and I've finished it earlier. I think I still have enough time left to pick her up."
Kyouko cringed. I've told him not to pick me up though… How did he know my schedule? He doesn't know Bou is me, I hope? "Ah, good for you. What'll you cook?" Silly me! Why do I have to ask him this?
"Hamburger and egg," he answered happily.
"Heh," Kyouko made herself sounded amused. "Ah, I haven't congratulated you. Congratulations, I heard Dark Moon managed to beat Tsukigomori in rating?"
"Ah, thank you very much. It's all thanks to you."
"No, no you're too kind," Bou brushed him off.
"If it's not because of you, I would never have realised my feelings for her and acted out Katsuki well."
"Good for you then. No, no, it's not because of me. Ah I have to say I'm sorry. I shouldn't have given you such lame advises. I saw that you were quite disturbed before," Bou sounded apologetic.
"No. You didn't. Well, the part when you told me to seduce her was a bit too extreme for my own comfort, but I decided to pursue her seriously. And it's all thanks to you too," Ren admitted earnestly.
"Really? Good for you, Tsuruga-kun. I wish you all the best."
PAIN! PAIN! She felt a bit pain was pricking her heart. She was confused of the sudden pain. I'm hungry perhaps? My stomach is upset and my chest feels tight as well. What kind of disease is this?
"Thank you, rooster…" Ren stopped. "Um, I don't think it's good that I keep calling you rooster guy. Do you have any other name?"
"You can call me Bou," Kyouko immediately replied.
"Okay, Bou-san."
"Didn't you say you'll have to go pick up your teacher?"
"You're right. Please excuse me. I'd better go find her now."
Bou waved him goodbye. Kyouko sighed after Ren was out from her sight. I've got to hurry!
"How is it, sensei?" Ren asked.
Kyouko was still checking the ingredients he had picked. "It's okay. Good job, Tsuruga-kun!" She smiled.
They proceeded with mincing the beef. Kyouko helped Ren with the mincing. She chopped the meat at first –hard. It surprised Ren but seeing how she smiled and assured him that she was fine, he let it go. They chopped the meat together and had fun whilst they were on it.
They also laughed and smiled a lot when they kneaded the meat dough and shaped it into patties. Ren playfully made a super big patty of hamburger for fun. He laughed out loud when he saw Kyouko's dreamy expression upon seeing the big patty. In his mind, he could almost imagine she'd do a salutation towards the 'hamburger ousama'.
Ren was the one making the sunny side up. He was not really able to do make it well earlier morning. He gave it another try and managed a passable sunny side up.
When the hamburgers were finally finished, they settled themselves in his living room. Kyouko took the first bite and gave him a thumb up.
"It has been a while, I'm so happy you suggested this dish," Kyouko said. She looked very happy.
Ren chuckled at her dreamy state. "Well, so how many points will I get this time?"
"10 for ingredients, 6.5 for chopping, 8.5 for the cooking," she said with a smile. "You'll get better the more you practice it."
"Sensei, are you being generous because I chose hamburger?" Ren teased.
"You can say so. It's my favourite."
"I know." He smiled and she blushed.
"Do you have anything in mind?" Kyouko asked, trying to break the awkward silent.
"Yes. I am hoping that I can learn anything you cooked for me before."
"Eh? That's a lot." Kyouko bit her lower lip. "Well, we'll see. If the time and place match, I think we can manage."
They played the roles for almost two weeks. They cooked almost every day and at every chance they had. Sometimes they cooked in hotel, and sometimes in Ren's apartment. When Ren had got better with cooking, he asked Kyouko to let him make the breakfast. Not every lesson was a success. Ren failed the baking entirely.
"The sponge is hard like stone, Tsuruga-kun. And the cream, not creamy enough, it also lacks sugar. Did you really measure the ingredients right?" Kyouko asked when she was trying the freshly made strawberry short cake.
"Um… I think so," he didn't sound very convincing.
"You think so? Did you add or subtract anything else? I could tell actually, but did you remember anything?"
He cringed. He didn't sure whether he measured it right. He might as well confess. "Mogami-sensei, actually…"
"Ah, okay… we'll try again next time." Kyouko huffed desperately after she listened to his short explanation. "You can just tell me if you don't want it to be so sweet. I can tell you what to do about it." She laughed.
"I'm terribly sorry, sensei." He looked regretful.
"This is our third attempt on strawberry short cake. I guess we should move on to next dish. We've been hanging onto this recipe for too long."
"Okay. Sensei, I have a suggestion," Ren suddenly said.
Kyouko waited for his next lines.
"How about I prepare dinner for tomorrow night? I'll need help with the dessert though."
"Heh, you will be the one preparing it all?" Kyouko asked, sounded unsure with his suggestion.
"Yes, I think it's time to move on to next roles. What do you think? And I'll make you a dinner for my graduation."
She felt lonely all of a sudden. She liked the role a lot and she felt comfortable when she was with him. She felt she had got closer to him and she was happy that he seemed cheerful these days. He didn't even seem to have nightmares. "Tomorrow? But…"
"I know. You have a job in TBM, right? I'll go pick you up after I've finished shopping for the ingredients then."
EH? He really knows my schedule? OH no! Don't tell me… Kyouko started to panic inside.
"That's Love Me job right? What kind of job is that?"
It seems to me that he doesn't know. She sighed inwardly in relief. "Nothing interesting, just usual Love Me work."
"Okay then… is it a deal?" He asked sweetly.
"O…okay." No way would I reject it. He wouldn't listen anyway.
They also made those on the Tragic Marker set confused once again with their sudden change of attitude.
"They talk about food all the time. It made me hungry," Murasame said.
"Eh, you understand what they are talking about?" Manaka asked.
"No. Actually, I only caught the food's names. Yesterday was um… I don't know how to say it. Their British accents are really thick and hard on my ears. It's supposed to be strawberry something. Today, they talk about main course? I assumed that those were foods related talks."
"Maybe strawberry short cake? I heard that foreigner likes Strawberry Short Cake a lot."
Murasame nodded. He looked at the two at the corner and sighed. If she likes strawberry short cake, I'll ask her out for one. He eyed Cain who sat beside her. Seems impossible… Her brother is too fierce.
"You again!" Bou said.
"Ya, Bou-san. Yes, me again. I'm picking up my teacher," Ren said with a smile.
"Hoho, so how's your cooking lesson? I bet you can cook many delicious foods by now?" Bou said cheekily. I feel stupid saying this. I knew for the best that he can cook whatever I taught him to except that cake.
"I'm not sure if I can call it delicious. It's passable. Well, at least sensei gave me good points."
Bou nodded. "What's your best dish so far? What's your favourite?"
"Hamburger and egg. Then omurice, and I'll ask sensei to teach me how to make gelee au vin tonight."
Gelee au vin? Oh wow… we'll need wine for that. I knew we talked about the food order like starter, main course and dessert. So this is the dessert he meant when he said he needed my help? "Heh… hamburger and egg? Why?"
"Um, I enjoyed making it and that dish is that girl's favourite food. I'm glad that she liked the hamburger I cooked for her."
Pain! Pain! Pain! She felt herself was attacked by endless pain upon hearing his reply. Her breath hitched and she felt suffocated. She still didn't know why she felt so. "I take that that girl you meant is the girl you love?" Bou said calmly.
"Yeah," he said with a slight blush on his face.
"Oh ho… the Great Tsuruga is blushing like a high school girl again." Bou teased.
"Don't tease me, Bou-san."
"So, when will we hear the celebrity buzz that the Great Tsuruga got a girlfriend?" Bou teased him more. Meanwhile, Kyouko was feeling uneasy. She felt her stomach was upset again. Her chest was feeling tighter. I must be really hungry. I can feel bile rising in my throat. I have to end this conversation quick…
"Um… I don't think it will be that fast," Ren answered. His face darkened.
"Why? Don't tell me you don't know how to seduce a girl? With your body and face, I think you can get any women you want."
Ren's face darkened more.
"Ah, sorry. I shouldn't have used the word 'seduce'." Bou felt guilty over his rude words. "As you said, she's still a high school girl after all."
"It's not that. If I'm not careful, I'll be the goner instead. I have to go with snail pace for this girl." He sighed.
"Oh, is she playing hard to get with you? Poor Tsuruga-kun! I will think that it is easy for you to get any…"
"Bou-san, you're overestimated me. I, for one, don't know how to please a girl. I was dumped several times and I've told you that I have no intention to fall in love in entertainment world or in anywhere. And thanks to you, I decided to pursue this girl. I don't want to lose her but I am clueless. She's the first and maybe the last woman I've ever loved. I will appreciate any advice you could give me, just not the extreme one." Ren then added, "She's not playing hard to get."
"Unexpectedly long!" Bou sounded amused. NO WAY! ISN'T HE A PLAYBOY? Kyouko wanted to shout these words out loud but managed to suppress it.
"What do you mean?" Ren asked. He frowned.
"Your speech, Tsuruga-kun." Bou laughed. "Well, then… if she's not playing hard to get, what's so difficult for you?"
"She hates the idea of love. Well, some guy had broken her heart badly. My words didn't seem to reach her as well." Ren sighed.
"Hmm… if she hates the idea of love, then you'll just have to try harder," Bou said. What the…? Such a difficult girl! There's actually a girl like that? Ah, if some guy just broke her heart badly, maybe... She was reminded of Shoutarou and felt really angry. In her mind, she saw herself trampling evil looking Shoutarou in full force whilst shouted 'Die, Shoutarou!' She then gasped in realisation and continued, "I don't know how to help you. Did you at least show her your intention? Your playboy tricks or…"
"Bou-san, I think we've settled that I…" Ren was getting frustrated with his chicken friend's words of accusations. "am clueless when it comes to please a girl."
"Yeah, sorry sorry. My bad." Bou sounded apologetic. "Well then, I'm not really experienced in this matter either." Of course right? I'm a girl. But I can tell him what a girl wants? My version though… "Um, well, you can pay attention to her favourites. Just like what you did with that hamburger and egg. I think it's quite good." Yeah, I'd like that for sure. I don't know with that girl.
"Ah, I noticed that much. I just thought that maybe you have another idea. You seem to be full of ideas. Well, I think I have to go now. It's nice talking to you," Ren said with a smile. "See you around!"
"Yeah, see you around."
Kyouko sighed in relief. My chest and stomach are getting really hurt. Guess I'm really hungry. I don't want to get stomach ulcer because of late dinner. Phew… got to get hurry. I really don't understand why did he appear at this time again? Thankfully I didn't get caught.
"Oh wow… hamburger and egg for the graduation?" Kyouko asked when she helped Ren unpacked the groceries.
"Yes, because it's your favourite food and I think I can make it better than the other dishes," Ren answered. "Anyway, as for dessert, I have one request."
"What is it?" Kyouko asked back. Must be gelee au vin. She nodded inwardly.
"Can you teach me how to make gelee au vin?"
BINGO! she shouted inwardly. She sighed. I feel so dirty. I knew his next move just because I was Bou. "You'll need wine for that."
"I know. I have some in my collection."
"COLLECTION? Are you Cain niisan who drink wine as substitute for meal? Geez, you're hopeless," Kyouko shot him a stern look.
"It's an NG for you, Mogami-san. A cooking teacher shouldn't pry on student's private life."
"Eh? Sorry," Kyouko said. She almost did a dogeza but Ren stopped her.
The hamburger and eggs were finally finished some time later. They put it aside and proceeded with making gelee au vin. Kyouko was surprised when she saw his collection of liqueurs. She shook her head and tried to hold herself from scolding him upright. She sighed when she noticed some bottles only got half contents left. Some even empty. She knew that Cain drank quite a lot but never once expected that Ren was just the same, from what she could conclude after she saw that collection. He must be really happy with his characterisation as Cain Heel. I'll do my best to prevent him from drinking too much. It won't be good for his health. Kyouko sighed.
"What do you think?" Ren held out a spoon with slightly warm gelee au vin. The gelee hadn't been frozen and was just out poured into small glasses for tasting.
Without thinking, Kyouko ate directly from the spoon. "Hmm… it's okay for me."
"Really?" Ren scooped another and tasted it. "Hmm… I think it's okay too. Is the taste as same the gelee au vin you made before?" He scooped again and held out to her.
She tasted it again and said, "Not really the same. But I think if it suits your taste, it's o…" She gasped and Ren jumped in surprise.
"What's wrong, Mogami-sensei?"
Did we just… eat the gelee au vin using the same spoon? And twice at that. Isn't that called an indirect kiss? She didn't dare to look at him. She felt blush threatening to creep onto her cheek. He will notice it. NO! Stay calm! Stay calm! I'm a teacher.
"Nothing. I just think, if you like that kind of taste, then my version of gelee au vin wasn't really to your taste? I'm sorry," Kyouko said calmly.
"No. Don't misunderstand me, sensei. It's not like that. I like your version of it. That's why I asked you to taste it whether it got the same taste as yours or not." He scooped another unfrozen gelee and ate it.
Kyouko was horrified when she saw him ate from the spoon before her eyes for the second time.
"Sensei, what possibly made it so different?" Ren asked, didn't notice Kyouko's horrified expression at all.
"The wine. I used different wine. Well, the cheaper one. I'm really sorry," Kyouko answered sheepishly.
"Eh? The wine?" Ren said. He sounded surprised. "Really? I think all wines taste the same. Well, then I have to pay attention to that as well. Do you want to try again before I put it in the fridge?" He scooped another spoon of gelee and held out the spoon towards her lips.
She hesitated since she had realised they had been sharing a spoon. Ren sensed her hesitation and frowned. He wondered what went wrong. She ate it just fine, why the sudden… He almost gasped when he realised it as well. He was surprised when she ate from the spoon again. She eats it? For the sake of role? His breath hitched when he notice the slight blushes on her cheeks. His heart fluttered with happiness. She's blushing. I don't care whether it's the role she's playing or not.
Uwa, it's really delicious! Kyouko ate the hamburger happily. It's a bit different with the first time he cooked it. That girl is lucky because she got him to cook it for her. What a lucky girl, I hope she realises his feelings and accepts him.
It seems that she likes it a lot. Will I pass with flying colours this time? Ren watched her eating the hamburger with a smile on her face.
"Tsuruga-kun, it's perfect! I like it a lot. It's more delicious than the last time." Kyouko beamed with happiness.
"If that makes you happy then I'm happy as well, sensei." He smiled.
"Is this a bribe?" Kyouko teased.
"No, it's a reward from me to you. Thank you for bearing with my clumsiness and stupidity in cooking. I still failed that cake though," he said whilst laughing softly.
"Thank you for bearing with my stiff attitude as teacher as well. I hope I didn't offend you," Kyouko said with a smile.
"We sounded like we will part anytime soon," he joked.
"We do. You said that it's time to move on to next roles. I hope you'll really take care of your meal since you can cook by yourself now," she said sternly.
He laughed. "Okay. But… would you mind to teach me more? I still owe you the cake, sensei," Ren said. "I meant aside from the roles."
Kyouko stopped eating. He still wants to learn aside from the roles? She didn't know why but she felt her heart warmed with happiness. She nodded. "Sure."
"Thank you."
A/N : The part 2 is finally over. I will still go with the more innocent and fluff chapters but well it will gradually level up by roles thus the M rating. The next one will be their new roles. Thanks for reading. Review if you'd like to tell me what you think.
I have never heard Ren called Bou for his name in anime, Bou. He's only called him "Niwatori Otoko" (rooster guy), so I made him asked for the rooster's name. :) Sorry if I got wrong. With 185 chapters, it's impossible to memorise it all.
*sigh* Sorry, I forgot one line. Fixed.
Note on terms :
Oishii/Umai : delicious
Ousama : king
Gelee au vin : wine jelly