Chapter 19: Assembly of Champions
Little Falcon: So sorry for the long delay. Did you miss me? Just kidding. So much for my incessant blabbering, here's the update you're waiting for. Just like always, read and review please…
Standard Disclaimer: I don't own this series. If I did, I'd be the happiest person on earth. All I own is the idea.
She shook her head while holding the phone away from her ear. The nagging voice on the other line was still heard from where she held it. "I still can't believe you, Sakuno," her manager's lecture was drowned by a reporter's voice from large overhead television.
"The winter Olympics are near and who better to represent us than Kyoko Yamaguchi," a young skater with short brown hair in stylish locks skating majestically on a wide rink was shown while the reporter's voice narrating her dramatic win over every other candidates for the spot in the said competition.
Her chestnut eyes softened as she replaced the phone at her ear. "It's my loss. Her love for the sport overthrows mine in so many levels," shrugging her shoulders, she said casually. Ending the call before another bout of lecture began. Sakuno listened attentively to the news about the new Japanese representative and finally turned away when the topic changed.
A young waiter burst from the main kitchen's double doors and ran towards her like a bull to a red cape. "Sakuno-san, where were you? The head chef is furious!" he held her shoulders then pushed her inside the noisy kitchen.
In front of her stood a middle aged man, his muscular arms crossed at his chest while his beady eyes narrowed upon her arrival. "I'm so sorry, Aki-san. I'll get to work right away," she bowed lowly before she put on her apron and start managing the stoves. Everyone in the kitchen made side glances at each other before they exchanged light smiles. Aki-san, the head chef, only sighed in defeat as he resumed barking orders as if nothing had happened.
"Sakuno-san, you're unbelievable. The head chef can't even get mad at you," another chef muttered as she expertly cut the vegetables. Tossing and catching the fried rice on a large wok, Sakuno replied while stirring the nearly cooked dish.
"He's not so bad once you get to know him,"
"It's not only that, you managed to get a part-time job here in one of the country's famous five-star hotel! They don't even allow part timers in three star hotels and yet you were able to pull it off!" Another chef joined the quiet conversation.
"Nah, I'm just lucky," shrugging her shoulders, Sakuno put on her earphones and played the music that she uses while skating. Of course, this wasn't allowed because one won't be able to communicate with the others but with Sakuno, she can perfectly hear every order addressed to her and work efficiently. All the while, her earphones were plugged in her ear.
"Sakuno-san's so modest. But let me tell you why she was hired as the head chef's right hand…" one chef bid the other to come closer. "You see, Aki-san tasted one of her dishes accidentally in the restaurant she was working in. After that, the head chef couldn't let her go,"
"You mean, Aki-san stole her from that restaurant?"
"No, no, no! Sakuno-san still works there. That's why she's only a part-timer here," her friend's mouth formed an 'o' in understanding.
"Enough gossip for one day! Get back to work!" Aki-san's presence made the two stood at attention before mechanically resuming to their duties. "There would be a lot of guests today so save your energy for them," the staff's reply was a crisp 'Hai'.
As expected, guests started pouring in and dishes began pouring out. Piercing through her music, the crowd's growing noise outside rivaled that of the kitchen's. From the time she started her shift, this was the first time she looked at the people outside her work room.
Her pupils dilated as she caught sight of familiar faces. Her hand blindly reached for the pot while her eyes remained frozen in shock. The searing heat from the hot metal pot got her attention instantly. "Ow!" she was able to remove her hand right away but upon closer inspection; it was a second degree burn which would mean painful blisters later on.
"Burns are a chef's medal of honor," Aki-san pulled her hand without permission and looked at it shortly before letting it go.
"I'll remember that," she tried to continue her work but her eyes kept on returning to the sight outside. "Aki-san… the guests today are…"
"Well known tennis teams from all-over Japan! They sure look different when they're not wearing their uniform," it was one of the talkative chefs who replied and immediately got a tiger look from the head chef to shut him up.
Her heart felt like it plummeted to the bottom of the earth. She thought she was just hallucinating. She IS, after all, several miles away from people who CAN recognize her. But now, it seems that fate was playing a trick on her. Right now, Sakuno already named several of the present guests. Some were acquaintances, most were former opponents and all of them would undoubtedly know her upon sight.
Kamio from Fudomine, Hyotei's Kabaji, Eishirou Kite from Higa… her mind was panicking despite her body's complete lack of reaction. Then that means that… Onii-san's here too… and… him too. She swallowed with difficulty as she tore her gaze away from the kitchen's swinging doors. All the clanging of lids and the chops of knives were drowned by the beating of her racing heart.
"Are you alright, Sakuno-san? You look pale," her friend approached her in concern.
Literally shaking her head, Sakuno forced a smile. "No need to worry. I'll be all right," That's right. I'll be fine. I'm here in the kitchen. No one will know I'm here unless. This day will pass just like any other busy working day. She inhaled a long comforting breath as she controlled her wild heart. Within minutes, she was back to her old workaholic self again. The event outside was almost forgotten. However, the day wasn't done yet.
One waiter entered the kitchen and specifically searched for her. "Sakuno-san, one guest would like to meet the chef who made his dessert," he politely whispered then grinned. To a chef, this kind of request is very flattering but to Sakuno it was the complete opposite.
Instantly, her face lost all of its color. She barely heard the waiter asking if she's okay or saw his hand as he waved it in front of her eyes. "Where is this guest? I'll meet him," the head chef tapped the waiter's shoulder and let him lead the way. Sakuno let out a sigh of relief soon after. When Aki-san glanced back, he found his assistant bowing in deep gratitude.
His cat-like eyes looked at the head chef accusingly. "Are you really the one who made this?" The young protégé's tone was arrogant to those who don't know him but it was his usual voice to those who do. The head chef remained calm and didn't even mind answering all his unrelated questions.
"May I ask your name, sir?" Aki-san's polite request was simple enough.
"Echizen… Ryoma," it was weird that when their conversation was already ending it was only then did they knew each other's name.
"Echizen-san, if you don't mind me asking. It seems you have neither compliment not complaint about your dessert. Why did you even ask for the chef who made it?" Years of experience had taught him how to read people and with almost two decades in the kitchen, he's as sharp as his knife.
Of course, Ryoma being Ryoma, didn't allow the chef to notice his surprise. Instead, he just looked at the half eaten dessert on his plate. "I just thought… you're method of cooking is strangely familiar," he almost ate his words as he explained. Aki-san just accepted his explanation with a wrinkled smile before returning to the kitchen.
"What the hell was that about o-chibi?" His acrobatic teammate, Eiji, elbowed him playfully.
Ryoma didn't even acknowledge his senior. He was too busy glaring at his dessert. I was so sure this was her cooking. Maybe I'm overanalyzing things. Running his hands through his unruly dark green hair, he stood up and left the table without a word.
Her chestnut brown eyes glared at the minute hand as it refused to move, to signal the end of her shift. Without a second of delay, her time card was punched out. Taking her coat, she put on her hood as soon as she left by the kitchen's back door. Beeline out of the hotel and towards her next part time job: that was her plan but a particular conversation caught her attention.
Two guys, apparently, from different universities engaged in a discussion about Universities and their tennis team. Unknowingly, Sakuno was already following them back to the hotel.
"Ryuugan Univeristy?" One said in a sarcastic tone. "Yeah, they were great when that so called 'prince', Saiga Toushiro was around. But now, I wouldn't even bother. What can a dead guy do for them anyway?" They laughed out loud.
Throwing her hood back, she was marching right up to them and was about to yell at them but "That's big talk for someone whose University can't even win a preliminary match," that conceited tone made her stop.
"What did you say?" One retorted but when his friend recognized the famous tennis protégé , they made an intellectual retreat.
Hmmm… Mada mada dane… his amber eyes lazily stared after the two. Somehow, he was able to release a bit of his tension by that show of pride.
Ryoma-kun… her eyes softened as she took into detail every part of him. His dark green hair remained unkempt on contrary to his formal attire but he looked like a run away prince with his black tuxedo and dashingly handsome face. A serene smile appeared on her face as she stared at him from a safe distance.
That event gave only little distraction, his mind went back to sinking depression. Retrieving his phone from his pocket, he chose the only voicemail message saved in his phone. "I'm fine so stop wasting your time looking for me," her voice was still melodic even though she was imparting those painful words. It had been three months exactly since she left this message. Not a word from her since. He was furious at first… then he became worried… disappointed… and all those emotions along that line. But in those three months… he never denied to himself that he misses her greatly. A thing he'll never tell anyone but himself. Hearing her voice saying the same message again and again was the only way he can get rid that incredible squeezing in his chest. Nothing else… no one else could.
Like a physical blow, she flinched upon seeing the pain in his eyes while he listened to something in his phone. Somehow, Sakuno was so sure that it was that message she left him months ago. Her guilt made her feel suffocated. She had been so cruel to him, so unfair. Biting her lower lip, tears brimmed on her brown eyes. How can I even begin to say I'm sorry? In the time they were apart, she missed him terribly, so much that she thought of coming back right away but when she remembered the painful thing she said to him… her guilt outweighed her love. Taking one last look, she turned away.
"Sakuno-san!" Her friend called from the kitchen. "You forgot your phone," the waiter ran towards her and handed it to her.
She turned around in automatic response. Her breathing stopped instantly as she realized what had happened. Her hand received her phone. Something dropped on the floor so her eyes slowly wandered to its source and finally met his eyes.
His head shot up upon hearing her name. Following the waiter's line of sight, his heart made a big leap before falling into a racing rhythm. "I'm fine so stop wasting your time looking for me," the message repeated for the countless time. His eyes didn't dare blink as he knew that long wavy hair… that porcelain skin… that very form. The phone slid out of his hand and hit the floor loudly but he didn't care. Like a bolt of electricity ran through his entire body when her eyes reluctantly met his.
"H…hey there," her voice was shaking and was barely audible. Her tears trickled down her chin.
Ryoma was about to react when "Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for indulge my foolish request," the huge speakers placed at every corner of the large hall echoed. With it, the stage lights turned on and the owner of the voice came into view.
Her heart almost gave way in shock. Her tears stopped falling together with her breathing as her chocolate brown eyes reflected the man on stage. His short unruly hair was in a crimson shade and his eyes were midnight blue. Unconsciously, Sakuno stepped back as she almost forgot about Ryoma. "He's…"
Echizen made a mad dash upon seeing her face lose its color. He caught her just in time before she fainted. "Sakuno, what's wrong?" he took one last look at the person on stage before carrying her off.
"Saiga Toushiro… isn't he supposed to be dead?"
Little Falcon: Read and review please…