So, steamrolling right through all this I present you chapter 10. Things are going to move quickly, but I hate fluff in stories. Small talk and filler isn't really my forte, so if things seem like they happen rather quickly you can imagine these guys still have their daily lives and antics; I just don't have it in me to pen it out.And unfortunately after that awesome ending to the last chapter, I must burden you with another chapter on exposition! *dun dun dun* Since i'm not good at small talk, and I gotta set the stage for the last chapters, exposition overload incoming. There will be some satisfaction to be found though so it's not all bad. As always, thanks for reading.
Chapter 10: Lost in the Sauce
Yukihira looked up at the clear night sky. He was sitting down, right outside in the lawn because he was to woozy to stand. The fresh, slightly chilled air made him feel relaxed. Here, all alone, with a good buzz he could try to focus his thoughts on everything. He felt good inside, despite all that happened. The idea of Erina being his girlfriend made him all giddy inside. He never had a close intimate relationship with a woman, but dirty thoughts enveloped into his mind.
He could picture her tall slender body climbing out of a pool on a hot summer day. Her scarlet red bikini top covering just the front of her breasts, leaving little to the imagination. Her arms close together at her side as she pushes herself out the pool, squeezing her bust together tightly and they almost pop out. Her silky white skin exposing a defined midriff, and matching thong like bottoms which hugged her curves incredibly. Her honey blonde hair dripping water to one side of her flawless face, exposing her purplish eyes that glimmer in the sun. With a flick of her, the water releases like sparkles all around her, and she is like a goddess to behold.
Yukihira was getting so aroused, he almost felt a crazy nosebleed coming on. It appears that drinking alcohol drew out the more deviant side of Yukihira. He never really entertained intimate ideas because he was always deadset focused on beating his father at being a chef. He never really looked at women in a romantic way. Still, Erina was a long shot romance for him. Even if she did like him, his father's cooking was still better. How could he win her heart, if she knew he wasn't the chef of her dreams. This puzzled Yukihira for a moment.
Yukihira was concentrating really hard on his current predicament, when we heard more footsteps in the grass. He whipped his head back to look at who was wandering around outside. Much to his surprise, it was Nikumi! She spotted him, and started to make her way in his direction. Yukihira quickly shot to his feet to greet his friend, only to be caught with a rush of light headedness.
As Yukihira held his head, trying to refocus his mind, he saw Nikumi standing in the moonlight and fell to the ground. Nikumi seeing Yukihira fall so quickly, prompted her to extend her hand out to him in concern.
"Sōma! Oh my gosh! Are you okay?" Nikumi said with an emphasis of concern.
Yukihira looked up at Nikumi who still standing in front of the moon and a silver lining outlined her body. She was like an angel. Her pure blonde hair reflected the lunar light off her head, making it shine like a bright light. Her green eyes were large and beautiful, like priceless emeralds. Her pink glossy lips, and black leather choker, invited a playful but serious invite to her amazing sharp smooth face. She was wearing her Totsuki academy jacket, wrapped up in knot exposing her toned six pack abs and very large bust.
With her hand extended forward, her chest was practically on display. Two massively fertile breasts tucked tightly into her jacket covered by a plum purple bikini, exposing just the top part with a very defined line of cleavage. Yukihira's eyes locked on them for a moment, unable to resist the incredible sight of her boobs. Yukihira also noticed she was wearing the school uniforms mini skirt, which revealed two soft smooth legs, and her usual knee high boots. Taking in the entire look of Nikumi at the moment made any thought of Erina completely erased from his mind.
The alcohol was definitely playing a factor in his judgement, but Yukihira was enthralled by Nikumi. He helplessly threw his hand up to grab hers. Nikumi reached down and grabbed Yukihira's hand, only to find out he wasn't budging. Yukihira felt Nikumi's soft, delicate hands that felt like they had never seen a day's work in their life. Yukihira knew this wasn't the case, as Nikumi was one of the hardest workers he knew!
"Please Nikumi, I'm a little woozy and just need to sit for a second haha." Yukihira smiled shyly, trying to hide his arousal from Nikumi.
"Eh Yukihira, you fell quite hard there. Fumio's saké must be quite potent! Haha" Nikumi giggled with a light smile.
Nikumi then flopped herself down to Yukihira, with a small distance between her shoulders and his. She let out a deep sigh and then looked up at the sky. In her heart she has feelings for Yukihira, but she was unaware if Yukihira even had feelings for her. She would do anything for Yukihira, and she even fantasized about accepting more lewd requests in private. She blushed at the thought. She had a few doses of liquid courage, and this was her chance to push the hint forward to Yukihira as it was just her and him. Unlike some cliché anime, or manga, she knew she wouldn't get anywhere if she kept her true feelings to herself. Although it would place her at the maximum level of vulnerability, she knew that Yukihira would be a typical anime boy, and not get the message if she just courtsied around the issue.
She thought to herself, how to lead into the conversation. She wanted to open up her heart and let it all flow out, but that was much too scary. Plus, it might make Yukihira think she was a crazy yandere or something like that. She thought carefully.
"Yukihira, remember our summer adventure? Mozuya's Karaage stand?" She asked, trying to see if she could lead Yukihira to see her value as a friend and potential lover.
"Of course! With your help, we were able to save the market area around my diner! You were so clutch with the A5 meat your family donated! I still have to find a way to repay them for that." Yukihira smiled, feeling a nice nostalgic moment.
"Remember our first Shokugeki Nikumi?" Yukihira smiled widely.
"Yes! Haha. I was so cocky and arrogant! I thought for sure I was going to win!" Nikumi recounted, slightly embarrassed she used to hate him.
"You never kept your promise to join to Don Buri club though." Nikumi said, with a hint of disappointment.
"Oh... sorry haha. I get distracted easily. But I have no doubt it's doing just fine with you at the helm. You're an awesome chef." Yukihira quipped.
"Crazy the way things have been going lately. It's good to remind ourselves of the good times. Just so everything doesn't seem so grim." Nikumi said.
"I agree. I've experienced quite a bit since I got here. I've made friends, and rivals. Yet I still wish it could all just be about cooking. You know, in my father's diner, as much as I like to push myself to best my dad; the best feeling was always seeing customers satisfied. If they left with a pleasant experience, I knew I did a good job." Yukihira said.
"That is a chef's ultimate purpose, but don't you think you should also find something to make you happy as well?" Nikumi asked.
"What do you mean?" Yukihira asked with a puzzled expression.
"Well, you work hard to be better than your Dad someday. You spend all your time focusing on that, but what happens when you get there? Or what if you never do? Isn't there something else to pursue than just being better than your father?" Nikumi queried.
"Damian mentioned this before. He said that my cooking was lacking an essence because I was too focused on being better than my dad. I always thought that if I could be a number one chef at an elite culinary school, I'd then have the skills to best him. Now, I'm not quite sure what to do. How do I add something to my cooking, when I always think of creative ways to cook in the first place?" Yukihira answered.
"Well, it is true. You have a lot of talent and skill. I certainly enjoy your food. It's amazing! Still, perhaps if you had a goal you could never reach but were passionate to always try no matter what; then maybe you'd find it altogether?" Nikumi answered, feeling that Yukihira was coming close to a breakthrough.
Nikumi knew that the best goal in the world was to be the best for someone you love. It was natural, because you'd always strive to reach beyond to give them whatever you can without end. True love, makes people do incredible things. Nikumi was sure that Yukihira would draw the connection, then she'd be.able to place herself as the first candidate for his affection. She blushed hard at the thought.
"You know Yukihira, I'm really glad I met you. You aren't like other people I meet. You're humble, and don't act on formality or arrogance. You made me change my opinion on some things and even pushed me to be a better chef myself. I'm glad I have you Yukihira." Nikumi said nervously, as she was right on the borderline of expressing herself completely.
Yukihira looked over at Nikumi, and unbeknownst to him she was intentionally trying to look seductive. Her gold hair still reflected in the moonlight. Her ahoge, which normally looked cute, now enhanced her sex appeal. Nikumi's green eyes invited Yukihira completely. Her chest was also pushed out to draw out a certain arousal in him, for his more carnal desires. In this moment, Yukihira had never seen a woman look so beautiful before. He was definitely still buzzed from the saké, but Nikumi was absolutely stunning. He started to feel something he didn't quite understand.
Normally a sight like this would cause Yukihira to be a horndog, but instead his perverted nature was overpowered by a nervous feeling. Like swarms of butterflies pulsing through his stomach. He felt nauseous but couldn't manage to throw up. His heart was racing, and his mind became melted into blank thoughts. He didn't know what was going on, and before he could stop himself; he spoke.
"I'm glad I met you to Nikumi! You're an awesome friend." Yukihira said shyly.
Nikumi could sense this was her entry point. Yukihira realized that she meant more to him than he realized, and now that he was open to admitting their deep friendship, perhaps he'd cater to a little more than friends idea. Nikumi looked carefully at Yukihira, her emotions surging through her body; a vast mix of unease, anxiety, love, fear, caution, and bravery. All of these shocked her system as she hesitantly was about to confess herself to Yukihira, the man who in one dish changed her whole perception on life. Any man that could leave that impact on her would be the one she would devote herself too.
She slowly motioned towards Yukihira, and Yukihira looked back sensing she was about to say something.
Alright Nikumi, just say it. "Yukihira Sōma, I like you. I like you and I wanted to tell you so many times, but I was unsure how you felt about it. I want to be with you, and support you forever." Say it Nikumi. Just say it!
Nikumi thought to herself, wondering where her liquid courage had gone. She cleared her throat and began to speak.
"Yukihira Sōma, I..."
Bzzt Bzzt*
Nikumi stopped short. Yukihira felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Who could be contacting him this late at night? He looked at his emails, it was a message from Erina!
"Oh, sorry. I got a message from Erina!" Yukihira explained, looking down at his phone.
It was as if someone threw a wrench into Nikumi's machine. A powerful mix of emotions halted all at once, and all of them overpowered by one. Fear. Nikumi was reasonable though, perhaps it wasn't what she thought it was. Maybe she was just giving him info on what was going on with the Elite Council business. She rationalized not to freak, and remain calm.
Yukihira read the message, and flashed a small smile before he put it away. Little did Yukihira know, women were much harder to understand than he realized. He was quite relieved he got a message from Erina, because it distracted him from the moment he was having with Nikumi. He was feeling that same unease and anxiety, though he wasn't aware enough to know what it was. He looked back at Nikumi who had a very solemn look on her face, and wondered what changed. Was something okay?
"Hey Nikumi, is everything okay?" Yukihira asked innocently, clearly clueless as to how women operate.
"Me? Oh yeah, I'm fine. It must be the saké coming back. Little upset stomach is all... Haha." Nikumi said as she flashed the fakest smile she could muster.
"Oh, well we have some medicine in the dorm I can get you." Yukihira sympathetically replied.
"I'll be fine." Nikumi stated, warmed by the kind gesture.
Nikumi knew that if she passed this moment up, it may not come again. Like too many cheesy romance stories, somehow a confession gets muddled and then they leave it at that like some tease. Nikumi knew this moment could be salvaged, but she always was a young teenage girl at heart. As much as she knew about being a mature person, she was still very emotional. Perhaps had she been sober, she would be able to think more rationally; but the fear inside of her pushed her to ask a question she knew she would regret.
"So what did Erina want?" She asked calmly, doing her very best to quell the anxiety and fear that resided in her.
"Oh Erina? She said she wanted to see me tomorrow in private. I was at her place earlier today, after Takumi's match and we were getting to know each other a little more. Then, out of nowhere she told me to leave and didn't say why. She just sent me an email, saying that she was sorry; in her own way I think, and that she had to 'confess' something really important to me." Yukihira explained, painfully oblivious to the situation at hand.
(Poor Yukihira.) Like a volcano, pressured to the point of explosion, Nikumi's heart dropped. The swelling of all her emotions started to erupt into a maelstrom of conflict. Jealousy, rage, despair, anger, pain; all of them tore at her like ravenous beast with no end to its fury. Despite her overwhelming maturity, she couldn't help but be irrational. Her clairvoyance was lost, and a sensible mind would've not panicked and came to a better resolution. However, Nikumi was still a young woman and hearing news that Yukihira possibly made Erina Nakiri, the world renowned jewel of the Nakiri family, fall in love with him. This was too much for Nikumi's naive view on love to handle.
Her mind was completely blank, reason and logic had been replaced by unbridled emotion. Without a second thought, she start to feel tears well up in her eyes and to hide her shame and anger, she ran off into the darkness. She never uttered a word, or made a gesture of any kind.
Yukihira sat there bewildered. He had no idea what to think. Somehow, he started to feel sick as well. A giant gaping pit entered into his chest, and a giant weight overcame him. He was suddenly paralyzed with a feeling of guilt. He recounted the entire evening and conversation he had with Nikumi. Was it food? Saké? Why did he feel absolutely awful, and why did he want to rush after Nikumi so badly. His entire thoughts always centered back to her. As her friend he felt bad that she was hurt, but for reasons he was too oblivious to understand, he felt extreme guilt.
Thwack*
A loud snap rang out in the lawn, as Yukihira immediately clasped the top of his head. Somebody had hit him, and he quickly looked up to see who it was.
"You really are like your father aren't you? Always so absent minded!" Fumio said sharply, as she shook her head in disapproval.
"Fumio? Where did you come from?" Yukihira asked, slightly dazed from the sudden attack.
"My students have been underage drinking in the dormitory. When I awoke, everyone was accounted for except you and Nikumi. I just so happened to look outside and see you two sitting on the lawn. As a warden, it is my duty to make sure my students are safe so I walked outside to observe. That's when your friend suddenly ran off." Fumio explained.
"Did you hear our conversation? Was it something I did, or is she just not feeling well because of the saké?" Yukihira asked innocently.
"Don't blame the saké you buffoon. No I didn't eavesdrop on your conversation, but as a woman who has years and old age, I didn't need to hear your conversation to know what happened." Fumio said sternly.
"What happened? Did I miss something?" Yukihira asked, still painfully oblivious to the situation.
Fumio shook her head in disbelief.
"You really are just like your father. Jōichirō was always so absent minded when he first started at Totsuki academy as well. It's almost adorable in a way, if not also completely moronic." Fumio chuckled.
"What do I do? What did I do?" Yukihira asked, completely naive to his own predicament.
"Well I can't blame you after all, you are your father's child. It's quite remarkable you ended up as well as did with Him as your parent. So i'm sure not having your mother around, bless her sweet soul, means you really have no clue about women. I'll tell you this kid; this isn't some story, or 'manga' that you read. This is real life, and people are typical stereotype characters with predictable feelings and emotions. I'm sure you'll figure it out the hard way, just like your father did." Fumio smiled as she motioned for Yukihira to follow.
Yukihira picked himself up and began to follow Fumio, still taken back by what just happened. While he was very confused, he felt a guilty hole inside his stomach that he couldn't shake. He was so unaware of the emotions of others around him, he couldn't quite grasp the concept of what he was feeling. Its unfortunately apparent that Yukihira did not know what being in love felt like.
The next morning everyone was as groggy as zombies. Several of the students looked awful, as they dragged around the house. The coffee machine was in overdrive that morning, and nobody wanted to do anything. Luckily for them it was a Sunday, and that meant there weren't any classes to attend that day.
As everyone quietly moved about, Fumio just sat in her chair chuckling silently to herself. The atmosphere in the dorm, was what you'd expect from a bunch of people hungover. Everyone was extremely cautious to not make any loud sounds, and all the curtains were nearly sewn shut.
"Ugh... my head is going to split!" Alice said, leaning over the kitchen table trying to find comfort in anything that was stable.
"Who is going to make breakfast? Ugh. I need to eat, my stomach is killing me." Yūki chimed.
"Coffee, I need Coffee!" Ryōko stated as she slowly made her way to the coffee machine.
"Hey, where's Akira? Did Nikumi already go home as well?" Megumi asked innocently, as she was also slumped over the table.
"Jun came to pick Akira up last night. He was in rough shape. Nikumi, well she's home safe i'm sure." Fumio said quietly.
"I think we all got a little rough last night. Fumio, you are insane!" Satoshi muttered.
Ryō was in a chair, near the trash can in the kitchen. You wouldn't be able to tell that he was hungover, because he always looked like he had a hangover, but he definitely felt nauseous. He had a major breakthrough last night, and now he was trying to make sense of it all. With a hangover.
Yukihira walked into the kitchen, with heavy bags under his eyes. He didn't get an ounce of sleep. His mind kept him up all night trying to figure out why he felt so crummy. It was beyond physical sickness, but a well of endless despair and loneliness. His mind was focused on Nikumi, and his only solace to his inner turmoil was remembering how beautiful she looked in the moonlight. He thought he might be able to overcome some of the feelings he was bogged down with, was to make a hearty breakfast. Good food always made him feel better, and from the looks of everyone else. They could use some.
"I'll make breakfast everyone! So hang in there, though I suggest you go in the living room. It's going to get a little noisy in here haha." Yukihira said cheerfully, feigning the idea that he was actually cheerful.
They didn't have to be told twice. Each of them shuffled at a moderately quick pace for zombie like figures, and sat around the open living room. Nobody felt like talking because everyone was still reeling from the night before. Alice and Takumi were sitting on the loveseat. Satoshi, Ryōko, Yūki and Zenji were all comfortably smushed on the large sofa. Megumi and Ryō were sitting in the corner recliners. The T.V was on, and nobody was really invested in the news; but it was nice for them to just loaf around. They all eagerly awaited Yukihira to finish up breakfast so they could eat and clear up the nausea they were all feeling.
Yukihira was slinging ingredients around the room and shuffling pans around as he was making everyone egg souflé, and a diner classic: loaded hashbrowns, which was a dish that combined mushrooms, peppers, sausages, and various sauces with fried potato shreds. While he was working diligently, his mind was still thinking about Nikumi. He can't believe he might've hurt her, or worse. Still, he couldn't connect exactly what he had done. He reasoned with himself that he would do whatever it takes, to make it up to her; if only he could understand what he had to do. He felt oddly alone without her around, and earnestly hoped she'd arrive to eat breakfast like she usually does on Sunday's. If she comes, she'll be impressed by the breakfast he prepared.
The meal was done, and the large dining table was set for the rest of the dorm. It was odd however, usually everyone could tell when Yukihira was done cooking something, because the aroma would be undeniable. Whether it was a dish he was serving, or one of his abominations that everyone shuttered at.
"Hey guys, come on in it's done!" Yukihira exclaimed.
The Polar Star residents shuffled in and eagerly sat down as they saw the large portions of grub. The presentation was nice, but not spectacular. As the residents began to eat, something became very apparent. The food was bland. It wasn't awful, and the taste was okay. That was the problem though, you wouldn't ever get served a meal like this anywhere in Totsuki academy, even from the middle school campus! If it wasn't for everyone's hangover, and the need to eat something they would've not eaten it outright. Everyone was guzzling various juices, teas, water and coffee just to wash down the uninspiring food.
"Is this a joke Yukihira!? Are you trying to toy us with us after we already feel crappy!" Ryō stated aggressively, absolutely mystified that one of his rivals could even pass this food off as serviceable.
Yukihira raised his head blankly. Yukihira hadn't even taken a bite out of his food to see what Ryō was talking about.
"What? It's not a joke." Yukihira answered.
"Yukihira, are you not feeling well? This isn't like you. We can tell when you intentionally make a bad dish." Megumi said softly, trying to be polite.
"Yeah, Yukihira; did you drink a little TOO much last night man?" Satoshi asked, as he guzzled down more juice trying to mask the taste from his mouth.
"What do you guys mean? I made my breakfast special, like I always do. You've never complained before." Yukihira answered, now puzzled at their objections.
"Yukihira, did you even taste your food while cooking? You haven't even touched your plate!" Zenji asked, concerned for his friend.
Yukihira had not touched his food. This dish has been made so many times, it was like second nature to him. He usually never tasted his breakfast special because it was always great, and nobody ever complained about it before. Yukihira, now floored by this news decided to try his own plate. As he began to chew his food, an extreme wave of embarrassment and confusion hit him. They were right. His food was not good.
"What...? But... But... I don't understand!" Yukihira said, now shocked at what he had just tasted.
"This has to be unreal. What's going on?" Yukihira said, being more frantic about his statements.
Yukihira hoped that this was just a bad dream at this point. It was inconceivable to him at this point that his signature breakfast would turn out so underwhelming. It wasn't. Yukihira quickly got up and went back to the stove. He quickly made another egg souflé and took a bite. Bland. Again he made another, and shockingly; it was worse. Yukihira started to get annoyed and decided to shift his focus onto a different food item. Fish. He quickly finished a grilled salmon recipe. Bland. He lunged for the refrigerator again, attempting to make another dish.
Satoshi came up behind Yukihira and grabbed him, to get him out of the kitchen. Yukihira fought frantically, but did not have the ambition to continue. He felt defeated. Worse, the pain in his heart felt even more awful.
What's happening!? Why can't I cook anything? What's wrong with me!
Yukihira thought to himself. Paranoid at the implication, that he lost his ability to cook. What's even more tragic is the aching feeling in his gut only got more burdensome. His world was falling apart. The way he felt now, made his earlier grief at the conclusion of the Autumn elections seem trivial in comparison.
The rest of the residents gathered around the living room where Satoshi was sitting with Yukihira silently. They all felt a slight bit of concern for him. Nobody could believe what was happening right now. Yukihira Sōma could not cook to save his life.
"Fumio! Do you know what's going on? Maybe he's sick or something!" Ryōko asked outloud.
"Should we call a nurse, or maybe the emergency services!?" Megumi stated.
"Maybe we should call a shrine maiden for an exorcism! Maybe Yukihira is possessed by an evil food demon!?" Yūki cried out in hysteria.
"Quiet down, all of you. Yes there is something wrong with Yukihira, but there's nothing any of you can do about it. Yukihira simply has a 'mental block.'" Fumio said sharply, trying to end the hysterical nature of everyone in the room.
"Yes, a mental block. Athletes, musicians, artists and even writer's get struck with this condition. It's usually a psychological impairment, that prevents them from doing things they are well known for. The best way to overcome these blocks, is to have that person go through steps to regaining their ability." Zenji stated, adjusting his glasses.
"But how do we know what's causing the mental block? If Yukihira can't cook, then he won't be able to stay at this academy!" Alice exclaimed.
"I think it's best we give Yukihira some alone time, to focus on this issue. I suggest you call your father Yukihira. He'll want to hear about this." Fumio stated, as she motioned for everyone to leave the room.
"I hope you work it out Yukihira! You know you can come to me if you need any help." Megumi said softly as she patted his shoulder.
"Yeah, we're all here for you Yukihira! We can get through this!" Ryōko said with a soft smile.
As they all left, Yukihira felt alone. For once in his life, Yukihira was in a daze of confusion and loneliness. He was lost, and not even.the comfort of his friends could help him. He started to think about his mother, and wish she could be there to comfort him. As soon as he thought about being comforted, another image popped into his mind. It was Nikumi, standing in the moonlight that made his entire heart feel at ease for just a moment. The thought of Nikumi hugging him warmly, made him feel radically better. Only for a brief moment, as he sunk back into misery. His love of cooking, and his entire life to become the best chef shook his very foundation. If he couldn't cook anymore, what would he do? As much as he hated the thought, he knew he had to call his father.
The phone rang, but nobody answered. Yukihira had lost all hope, afraid his father couldn't be bothered to talk to his son. He felt all alone.
Some Yukihira appropriate ringtone*
Yukihira looked at his phone, it was coming from a private number.
"Hello?" Yukihira said, virtually no emotion in his voice.
"Hey Sōma! Sorry I didn't answer your call, my phone died as I picked it up." Jōichirō said.
"Oh? That's okay." Yukihira said grimly.
"What's the matter son? You don't sound too good!" Jōichirō asked, knowing this could be a serious issue.
Jōichirō always had an eccentric approach to raising Yukihira. He never really coddled him, or showered him with affection but always insisted on acting like an older brother. Still, he knew that Yukihira was his boy and he'd always be the concerned father he needed to be, when he needed to be.
"Dad, I can't cook anymore." Yukihira said bluntly.
"You never really could Sōma! Ahahaha!" Jōichirō joked, trying to fire up his son.
After he didn't get a response, he realized this was more serious than he thought.
"Alright Sōma, I want to know what's going on. Tell me everything." Jōichirō said in a serious tone.
"Well, I placed third at the Autumn Elections because my dish was said it lacked 'essence.' Then, this jerk Tsozin Ikaharu started this whole business with the Elite Council challenging students to shokugeki where they could be expelled; and the request cannot be denied. And I'm just confused because Damian told me to find a girlfriend and my cooking skill would increase greatly! But then I upset a really good friend of mine, and now I feel awful, but I have no idea what I did. I cooked my special breakfast this morning, and it turned out bland. No matter what I tried to cook today, it was just lousy. I don't know what to do now Dad, and i'm not sure why I am even here anymore!" Yukihira poured out, not holding back his frustrations.
The phone was silent for a moment. Jōichirō was considering his next words carefully. He knew what Yukihira had to do, anyone would've, but he also knew this was something Yukihira had to figure out on his own.
"Sōma, you've been working so hard every day of your life since you were a little boy to be a great chef. I tried to get you to realize other careers, but your passion and determination exceeded even my own at your age. I know you can be the best, and I sent you to Totsuki because I believe you can do it. These problems you're facing, they aren't to different from my own experiences I had at that school. Despite how grim things may look, you have to realize the most important thing is always improve. There is another way to overcome your obstacles, and i'm sure you will. You have my complete support, and you make me proud. I've caught wind of your exploits in the academy, and I know you can do better!"
"But why can't I cook anymore Dad? I feel lost, and lousy." Yukihira interjected.
"Sōma, you already know everything you need to succeed and overcome this problem. The ingredients are all right there, put it together like a dish. Figure out what comes first and everything will fall into place. There is a hidden ingredient you aren't acknowledging, and when you do; heh, well maybe I'll let you take another shot at the undefeated champ!" Jōichirō said, trying to spark Yukihira's passion.
"But why do I feel so lousy? This pit in my stomach, it won't go away." Yukihira pleaded.
"Hahaha. My dear boy, I'm not going to spell it out for you. Listen, I'm sure you'll figure it out, and when you do, you'll realize why nobody could tell you. I'm proud of you son, hang in there. And don't you dare lose!" Jōichirō chuckled as he hung up the phone.
Jōichirō thought to himself for a moment. He was very concerned for Sōma, because the Ikaharu family's ties to the Yakuza is very dangerous. It was why he decided to leave Totsuki when he realized the political corrupt side to the chef community. He considered going back to Japan to make sure Yukihira wouldn't get into any real trouble. Then again, he also believed in his son. Jōichirō would never dare to let Sōma know just how impressed he is with what he's accomplished. He's always had to ensure that Sōma remains humble, and respectful of others. Jōichirō then smiled to himself at the denseness of his own son.
Was I that oblivious about you my love?
Yukihira pocketed his phone and tried to concentrate all his thoughts into his father's words. His father never really gave any motivational speeches of wisdom or pep talks, so hearing his father speak as he did knew it merited some reflection. The rest of students decided to go out for ice cream, and hopefully get that taste of breakfast completely out of their buds. While Yukihira was meditating, he heard a knock on the door.
Yukihira broke from his thoughts, and instantly raced to see who was at the door. His heart fluttered with a small glimmer of excitement at the thought that it might be Nikumi. Then his burst of excitement turned to that queasy feeling. He was afraid that maybe she didn't want to be his friend anymore, or maybe she'd ask him to cook and realize his skills are incapacitated at the moment! The sheer thought made him hesitate opening the door.
As the door slowly opened, he recognized a familiar face and slunk back down into his funk. It was Erina, and she was dressed in her usual Autumn school uniform. She did put a little extra effort into her outfit, but was thrown off by Yukihira's lack of awareness. Normally, any man she walked back would try their best to get a quick look at her attire; but the fact that Yukihira refrained made her a little flustered that he wasn't making his admiration known.
"Erina! What brings you by our dorm today?" Yukihira said, trying to emulate a friendly attitude.
"You got my message last night yes? I said I needed to talk to you in private. Is now a bad time?" Erina answered, clearly frustrated that he didn't remember her message. This was a very big deal to her, and.to think Yukihira wasn't taking it seriously made her start to become unnerved.
"Oh yeah! Sorry, I forgot. Things have been really messed up lately." Yukihira said, in a lackluster tone.
Erina wasn't usually one to sympathize with others, but knowing what little she knew of Yukihira, she could sense something was off. Knowing what she knows now, she felt a little bit more compelled to understand the situation. Normally she wouldn't give the time of day; but Yukihira was now a person of interest for her and she felt a slight need to be more accommodating.
"May I come in then? We can drink tea, and talk about it if you want." Erina said, trying to not sound cold like she usually does.
"Yeah, sure. I know you wanted to talk to me. I think you should make the tea though." Yukihira answered, embarrassed that he might screw up even something as simple as tea.
"Uhh, okay." Erina replied, puzzled at the bizarre request.
Erina entered the dorm, and made her way to the kitchen. Luckily there was already a pot of tea sitting on the burner with a small message written in what appeared to be a female's handwriting.
Hope you feel better Yukihira! Tea always warms the soul :)
Erina was now definitely curious as to what was wrong with Yukihira. Just the day before, he seemed normal and today he seemed almost lifeless. She was definitely intrigued about Yukihira.
The two first years sat across from each other, each with a cup of hot ginger tea in front of them. Neither knew where to begin, and both of their minds were filled with an incredible amount of thoughts. Erina was rehearsing her speech about knowing Jōichirōs connection to Sōma. At the same time she was also curious as to what was wrong with Yukihira. On the flipside, Yukihira was still reflecting on his father's words. He also kept thinking back to Nikumi, and hoping she is okay. The very thought that he might have hurt her filled him with anger and sadness. Even worse, the idea that he may never be able to cook again shattered his passionate soul, and continued to make him feel uneasy.
"Ahem..." Erina cleared her throat, trying to open up the conversation.
"Yukihira, do you know who your father is?" Erina exclaimed, but then felt silly at the way she worded it.
"My Dad? Yeah. Jōichirō Yukihira. Alumnus of Totsuki, only he never did graduate. He was also a Polar Star resident and a number two seat on the elite council." Yukihira stated.
"Yukihira? I always that his last name was Saiba?" Erina asked.
"It is. Well, was. He changed his name when he married my mother. I guess he wanted to leave his days of Totsuki behind him." Yukihira answered.
"Well, as you know. Your Dad inspired me to become a chef. I had no idea that someone so incredible, had a son.who went to this academy as well. Much less, realize the connection that you are just like him in many ways. I only thought it was merely a coincidence during your entrance exam, and now I feel slightly guilty about giving you a hard time." Erina remorsed.
"Really? I don't mind. I'm kinda glad you haven't given any special treatment because of my Dad. I don't want people to treat me differently just because he is a prestigious underground chef, I wanna best him someday. If people gave me special favor, i'd never know what to improve on to make me better." Yukihira stated.
"While I do agree, I do feel bad at how I judged you unfairly. Your Dad made a huge impact on my life, and I would never want to disrespect him by demeaning his very own son!" Erina stated heavily as she bowed her head before Yukihira.
"I'm not so sure about that, haha." Yukihira chuckled, scratching the back of his head.
"What do you mean!? You're in the Top 4 amongst your first year classmates! You have clearly established yourself as someone with great skill in this academy. Why would you demean yourself now, especially when you've been.so confident in the past." Erina questioned, taken back by his strange answer.
"Well, honestly I'm kinda in a weird funk. For some reason I can't seem to cook. I made my signature breakfast this morning, and it wasn't even passable as something you'd find in a roadside diner. I don't know why, but I can't seem to cook at the moment and it's very frustrating." Yukihira admitted.
"Yes, I've heard tales of you making appalling food. It's been said your Dad also had a knack for creating appalling food as well. Why is that?" Erina asked, clearly misunderstanding Yukihira's point.
"Oh that? Haha. It's a tradition my Dad started." Yukihira answered, uncomfortable with going into detail about his mental block with cooking. After all this was Erina Nakiri, if she realized that he wasn't able to cook, and how she idolized his father, it could put him back in a negative light.
"Why would your Dad, one of the greatest chef's in the world, have a tradition of making the nastiest food?" Erina asked, intrigued by this bizarre feat of a world class chef.
"It's to honor my mother. She was undoubtedly the worst chef imaginable. She could not cook anything, regardless of how much my father tried to help. It started back when they were younger I think. They were childhood friends growing up, and my Mom would always go over to his house and eat his amazing food. Even at a young age my Dad was really good at cooking. One day, she was determined to make a dish for him because he always cooked for her. She wanted to emulate his unique style and flair, and set out to make a dish better than he could. My Mom was really stubborn, and when she fixated on something; she was very gung-ho about it."
"One day after school my Mom had finally completed, what she believed to be the best meal ever created. My Dad said that even to this day, he has never had a meal that was more foul and disgusting than what she had prepared. My Mom never really wanted to be a chef, but she did want to make him happy and repay him with food as he had always given her. Unfortunately, she was the worst cook in all of history. She tried several times, because she was too stubborn to give up, to make a dish worthy of my father's praise; but time after time they were horrendous. As they grew up, my father went to a different school; which i now realize was Totsuki. It makes sense to me now why they didn't go to the same schools. This school was perhaps the only school my Mom couldn't get into."
"They drifted apart, but my Dad always thought about her from time to time. I guess one day, he got really burned out at school and decided to drop out completely. He stopped cooking for a while, and decided to travel Japan for a while. While out finding himself, he ran across a diner with a familiar hostess at the register. It was my Mom. She said she wanted to open up her own restaurant and that starting in the industry might help her to become a better cook. My Dad stuck around, shuttering at the idea that she could've opened up the world's worst restaurant in existence! Eventually they got married, and I suppose my Mom still tried hard to make my Dad a dish that would satisfy him."
"My Mom was very headstrong and stubborn, and she always promised my Dad: 'One day I will create something that even surpasses your skill!' Unfortunately, she died when I was really young. I guess one of the last things she said to him was 'I'm sorry I couldn't make something that was better than your skills.' To which he replied 'You already have.' He was referring to the meal she first made him when they were young. Ever since then it's always been a tradition to see how in the world my Mom could create something so horrifying, even a master chef couldn't intentionally replicate. Despite some of the grizzly concoctions we've dared to create; my Dad says we have yet to replicate such a loathsome dish."
Yukihira felt a strong sense of nostalgia, recounting memories of his mother. She was a terrible cook no doubt, probably the worst, but she also had a deep love for her family. Jōichirō fell in love with Yukihira's Mom because he never met someone who was so dense and absent minded about their craft, in making the worst food imaginable. It was her stubborn innocence and persistent desire to make him something she couldn't possibly achieve, that won his heart and eternal love. It's also a strong indication as to where Sōma's quirks come from as well.
"Wow! That's a really touching story." Erina stated, trying to not let her heartfelt emotions be known. She was actually really touched by the story of romance.
"Yeap. My Dad has never had a losing record to any chef, except the worst chef of all time. My Mom. The one chef he could never beat at making horrible food." Yukihira laughed, feeling much better for the moment remembering nostalgically all the horrible food he had to eat as kid judge to their frightening dishes.
"So what's going on with you then? You seem off today, not like your normal self. What's going on?" Erina asked, genuinely curious about Yukihira's odd behavior.
"To be honest Erina, I don't know. I can't cook properly right now. My insides are all twisted up, and my mind is completely frazzled. I don't know what to do. I have to fix it fast, or who knows what could happen?" Yukihira stated, clearly frustrated.
"It sounds like a serious problem. I know you're a skilled chef, so for you to not cook properly must be a side effect of something." Erina pondered out loud, recalling all her various training regimens to see if she knew of what could help.
Yukihira was kind of shocked at how Erina was acting towards him. Normally she'd brush him off completely, but now she seemed eager to help. It was slightly comforting, but his thoughts always returned to Nikumi. He thoughts always gravitated to her. He couldn't get her out of his mind and he still felt hopeless in his endeavors to get better.
"Well, yesterday you seemed very much normal. Did something happen between your departure from my place and this morning?" Erina asked, still working out a solution in her mind.
"Well, I found out that both Zenji and Yūki have a private shokugeki against Mitsuru and Hayami tomorrow. I also drank a little bit of saké to make Takumi feel better. And then..." Yukihira said, as he paused right before the end.
"Well the shokugeki wouldn't really unsettle your nerves so easily. Drinking saké would only make you feel like garbage the next day, but not impair your ability to cook. What else happened?" Erina asked, still looking to get to the bottom of it all.
"Well, I was having a nice chat with Nikumi under stars last night. We were talking about our friendship, then she mentioned she wasn't feeling too well, then I got your message. When I told her what the message said, she just ran off. She didn't say why, or where she was going." Yukihira said sadly.
Erina pondered for a moment .
"There is your problem! You're worried about Nikumi, and if she is okay or not. Once you confirm she is okay you'll be able to cook again!" Erina confidently stated. She really was clueless too.
Yukihira suddenly got a brief boost of confidence, and was feeling much better. His feelings longed to see Nikumi again, and just the thought of making her happy dispelled the crushing feeling he had in his body. Erina's advice was very helpful, and Yukihira was glad that it didn't cost him anything this time. Making an ally in Erina would definitely have it's benefits. Plus, having a legend to learn from was a nice sentiment too. They both exited the dorm, and Erina offered to take Yukihira to Nikumi's place. He respectively declined her generous offer, instead reasoning that it would be best to talk with her alone. Plus it would give him time to sort out how he was going to approach the conversation. Erina nodded, and departed with a friendly wave wishing Yukihira luck.
On his way over to Nikumi's dormitory, everything was floating around in his mind. His past, his time at Totsuki, and even recent events. He was trying desperately to understand how to overcome Tsozin and his cronies, how to regain his ability to cook then improve it. He also reflected to the ominous words of Fumio, Damian and Jōichirō. Damian wanted Yukihira to find himself a girlfriend, but how would that help him cook? How could he worry about girls, if he can't seem to cook now? Fumio said that it's a lesson he has to learn the hard way. His father said that he already knows what to do, he just needs to realize it. But if he already knew it, why couldn't he realize it? Yukihira struggled to understand what they were talking about. For all his clever cooking tactics, Yukihira could not realize the painfully obvious. To Yukihira, he just couldn't draw the connection. His naive, and dense mind would continue to skirt the obvious to no avail. He was making some headway though, as he knew making sure Nikumi was okay was the first step.
Gah! Finished with chaptah 10. What did ya think? I know I may catch fire for this chapter, but I really hope you guys like the Nikumi x Sōma pairing!!! Yes, I must confess I only wrote this fanfiction so I could pair them together. Megumi x Ryō as well. Alice x Takumi also a possibility? For you Erina fans, sorry but the O.G writers got it wrong. I will personally P.M you why I believe this, and can back it all up (if you've read the manga of course). Anywho, I am eager to hear your responses to this chapter. I'm sure mistakes are plenty and maybe some parts seem choppy but I don't have an editor so sorry haha. Plus, Sōma's Mom's back story!!!! Ahh, what did you think? Isn't it just perfect? I was so proud of myself when I thought of it while reading the Manga I knew I had to shoehorn it in somewhere! Oh man. So yeah, next chapter will be quite dark and Tsozin will do more douchey things to be a douchebag. Stay tuned, and feedback is always appreciated! Thanks for reading.