Chapter 34 - Inferno
"Damn! I thought Alice-san should win!" Ayame fisted her hands against the window.
Isami-kun placed a hand on her shoulder. "Kobayashi-senpai is actually a second seater from last year. So don't take it to heart"
"Last year?"
"Ah didn't Fratello, explain it to you? Kobayashi-senpai is actually a recent graduate. She'd moved to New York to start her career as a high end chef shortly after graduation. Isshiki-senpai asked her to come back because there's an uneven number of competitors"
"Oh I see... It's not that… It's just, I thought Alice-san's dessert was a lot more complex, more technical, she must have used flavour profile pairing. It has eleven elements! Eleven! And-and-and there was liquid nitrogen too…"
Isami chuckled behind her. Fine! She admitted it! She was biased because of the science and chemistry aspects to the dish, whereas Kobayashi-senpai's dish wasn't that exciting-looking to make compared to Alice-san's. She needed to breathe. What's done is done and there was nothing she or anyone could do about this outrageous turn of events. The last time she felt this frustrated was when Otou-san skipped out on his turn to wash the dishes. After her breathing was back to normal, Isami-kun was talking about something, but Ayame's attention wandered elsewhere to calm the manic rage she was about to unleash. She wondered where Takumi-kun went. Thinking about Takumi-kun always made her happy. She looked around and saw him discussing something with Yukihira-san, Hayama-san and Erina-san.
'Ah… He looks different there too…'
She tilted her head, letting Isami-kun's happy voice wash over her. She was listening half-attentively but was concentrating more on what's changed with Takumi-kun. She'd noticed small changes in him here and there. His back was straighter and tall. His arms were crossed powerfully over his chest as he was saying something to Yukihira-san. His hips were slightly jutted out. He wasn't standing like the usual stick in the mud with his arms stiff by his side before. His jaw didn't seem to clench tightenly anymore, but rather was solid and firm. His presence was more alive and stronger than it was before. His blue eyes twinkled with understanding from whatever topic they were discussing and his lips were frozen in a languid smirk, rather than being tight-lipped around Yukihira-san. Ayame found herself trailing her eyes along his neck. His tendons there were pronounced and it dipped past his shirt collar and joined to his defined collar-bone. Ayame gulped…
"Earth to Ayame-chan~"
"Huh? A-Ah, sorry I just drifted there. It happens sometimes… Um, thinking about hissing pneumatics and bio-sensors… so uh, what were you saying about the Director Nakiri Senzaemon?"
Thankfully, that name stood out for her amongst Isami-kun's chatter when she was sort-of-not-sort-of listening to him. His eyes narrowed in mischief and he smirked which made her feel a bit guilty and wary.
"He's changed hasn't he?" he said.
"Who are you talking about?"
"Fratello. He's more confident now" he nodded his head in her boyfriend's direction.
Ayame blushed profusely. Isami-kun was too observant. He caught her out from oogling Takumi-kun from across the room. The younger Italian seemed well versed in the dying art of embarrassing someone without sounding like he meant it. Ayame bunched her hands in her skirt.
"Not to sound crude or anything, but that night you slept over? He's transformed into a man!"
"AYA?!"
She took that back. Isami-kun was shameless.
Ayame flew back and shrunk at Isami-kun's laughing face as he clutched his stomach. Tears were leaking from his eyes, but he quickly recomposed himself. She had more tears brimming in her eyes, blurring her vision and she wasn't composing herself anytime soon.
"No, no. I'm sorry. What I meant to say is when a man becomes one with his woman, it really changes him. Sure Fratello has been a bit more dazed these days. Daydreaming and stuff with a stupid smile on his face. But he's taken on this zeal for life even more than usual. He's cooking style is faster, more concentrated, less clumsy, he smiles more when he cooks and Dio mio, his flavours now are just astounding! He's a lot more confident when he cooks under pressure and when he talks with our friends too. Like, he doesn't trip over his words anymore which is amazing haha. He's also more calm and tolerant of things he'd usually bust a vein for"
The Karakura student blinked several times, her mouth slightly agape. So she wasn't the only one who noticed something was up with Takumi-kun? But of course! How stupid of her, Isami-kun would notice more of these smaller, but significant details about his brother than anybody else would.
"It's like another part of himself has opened up and it's thanks to you, Ayame-chan" Isami-kun smiled at her.
Ayame could only blush at the compliment. If Chizuru-chan was here, the subtext she'd read would be along the lines of 'Thanks for getting my brother laid!' Ayame directed her eyes at her shoes, her hot blush ever present on his face. Did anyone ever tell Isami-kun that he was a little bit to direct in his words? But she didn't mind this once because he was genuinely happy with her being together with his brother. She too was just happy she brought out the best in Takumi-kun.
"I-I see. Then I guess, I'm glad I could make Takumi-kun happy" she smiled up at Isami-kun.
He opened his piercing blue eyes. "I can see you're just as happy too. You glow when you smile around him"
Both teenagers chuckled and Ayame playfully smacked Isami-kun on the arm. It was just so easy to get along with him.
"And what are you two laughing about?"
Ayame turned around to find Takumi-kun was standing behind her with his hands on his hips. He was done with his conversation with Yukihira-san, Hayama-san and Erina-san. He smiled down at her and smiled up at his brother.
"Nothing Fratello. Just hissing pneumatics and bio-sensors" said Isami-kun offhandedly.
"What?"
Ayame suppressed a snort."I'm going to visit the bathroom. I'll be back in a tick" she said.
The Karakura student planted a quick kiss on Takumi-kun's cheek before he could ask what the hell those were, and relished in the blush that bloomed across his face. It was too adorable! She should kiss him more in public. Ayame left her book-bag with them and made herself scarce. These building were utterly confusing. It winded down different corridors and essentially it was a maze. She could probably get lost in here and die of starvation. Ayame was about to round the corner when a series of strained whispers caught her ears. It wasn't the plotting or scheming whispers between best friends ready to enact vengeance on an unsuspecting bugger, nor was it giggling about a piece of juicy celebrity heart throb gossip. It was a really distressed, angry and irritated voice of a fed-up female for some reason, and her whispers were quickly become shrieks. The second voice belonged male which remained levelled and smooth and the overbearing smugness lining his cadence incited the female's rage further.
The female's voice sounded familiar… didn't she hear her just naught but an hour ago?
Kobayashi-san?
'This is going to be awkward…'
The Karakura student peddled back and forth on the spot, not wanting to interrupt such a heated moment between who she was sure was today's contestant and a random guy. She couldn't help listening to their argument and at the same time thinking about a safer and less embarrassing route she should take, or she should just crab walk around them pretending that nothing was going on. That's how much they echoed in the corridor. That bathroom at the end of the corridor was the closest one she knew… oh man…
"How did you know I was gonna be here?"
"You know how I am. Keeping tabs on people is what I do"
This was intriguing… but it was none of her business… but it was intriguing! She found herself being plunked in the middle of a classic suspense and thriller spy movie. Drat! Chizuru-chan must be spending too many movie nights at her place. This was not the time! The familiar rush of adrenaline of placing herself in a character's shoes insinuated itself in her and she lost the feeling of going to the bathroom. Uneasiness settled in her stomach, telling her there was something wrong with this conversation and if she left now, she had a feeling something bad was going to happen. Maybe she was going 'method' style. Who knew, this would ultimately be a bad decision on her part but the curiosity of the nerd and an aspiring engineer refused to release her common sense and just leave. Ayame pressed herself tightly around the corner and slid down to the floor and pulled her knees up. She adjusted her hearing like a pair of parabolic dishes to listen further.
"I LEFT Japan because of YOU. Get it?!"
"Left the country, moved next door, it's all the same to me, Rindou-chan. But you came back!"
"I owed Isshiki-kun a favour. Nothing more"
"Keep telling yourself that, doll. I'm surprised you thought I'd forgotten you after your little stunt. My sources were onto you as soon as your plane landed"
The plot thickened! So it wasn't only the international job prospects which attracted Kobayashi-san to make a sudden sea-change straight after graduation?
"What? You couldn't find another play thing that's interesting enough for you? Couldn't find some other simple human being to obsess over?"
"You were never just a play thing to me, doll" The male's voice softened just enough to make Ayame blush slightly.
"Well that's a first. All those times you stalked me, subjected me to mind games, forced me on dates, sexually harass me, and all-round made my life a living hell, was supposed to be your fucked up way of showing me affection?"
Kobayashi-san snorted in derision. A rough mocking chuckle was her only reply which seemed to confirm to Ayame that this guy she was arguing with was a hundred percent twisted.
"I think 'affection' is too weak a word. Don't you?"
"…What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"That first day you worked in Simon's Russian Sushi shop in Ikebukuro for that silly, little Stagiare of yours when you were a Tootsuki First Year. You were interesting and a puzzle, unlike the simpletons polluting the city. I couldn't let a rare beauty slip from me before I solved her, could I? You were already mine to break and put back together before anything began, Rindou-chan"
Footsteps sounded three times before they stopped.
"You burned me… right here"
Ayame's wild imagination ran away with her and conjured up the scenario of the mysterious man moving closer to Kobayashi-san and tapping exactly where the cavity where his heart was supposed to be.
"For fuck's sake, don't tell me you actually FELT something deep and mushy for me…"
"Saying blatantly asinine things doesn't suit you, doll" he sniggered.
Ayame clasped her hands over her mouth, convinced that they'd find her if her breath escaped. She could feel Kobayashi-san reaching the end of her rope and the man was eager to push her even further. So far from what she gathered the beautiful red-headed chef had been continuously hounded by a super-creepy stalker who was obsessed with her. She shivered and felt utterly grossed out. Whoever this man was, he was very dangerous. His voice, although quiet and smooth possessed some sort of hidden dominating power. The type that didn't need to be raised a decibel to silence a room full of bickering politicians. Then his voice grew eerily tender.
"How've you been?"
"Don't do this"
"You're right. I already know what you've been up to in New York"
"You don't get to ask me that after EVERYTHING you've put me through"
"Then at least say my name"
"What the fuck?"
"For old time's sake. I like to hear you say it"
"Not this again. I won't say it THEN and I won't say it NOW. Find other ways to jack off!"
"Awwww~ You're cock-blocking me here, doll!"
"That's the point, you freaky bastard"
"Man, I miss this. I really do. You may have left the country, but you've never TRULY left me—"
"DON'T TOUCH ME!"
SLAP!
Ayame sprung out as soon as the sound of flesh connecting flesh. She faced the back of Kobayashi's bright red hair, just in time for the senior to slap a man's hand away from her face. Her skidding shoes instantly stopped the out-of-control interaction before her. The man's sharp eyes instantly locked onto hers and so did Kobayashi-san as she whipped around in a panic state. Now it was Ayame's turn to panic, and she panicked hard.
'Wh-What did I get myself into!"
Her pulse raced and her hands started shaking as she ransacked her mind for something to say. What do spies say as soon as they fabulously blow their cover?! She mentally chastised herself that this wasn't a plot for a movie, this was real and this situation was real. The man was about half a head taller than Kobayashi-san. He was quite good-looking and in his twenties, but his sly and menacing expression stopped Ayame from providing him anymore nice and flattering physical descriptions. He had short black hair and pale skin, like he hadn't been in the sun for a long time. His lips were paused in an 'O' shape from his surprise at her jumping out of nowhere, but soon morphed into a calculating smirk. He was dressed oddly for summer. He wore an old black hooded jacket with aging fur around the collar, hood, cuffs and hem. Underneath was a black v-neck shirt, black pants and black shoes. He had one arm hanging awkwardly in the air as Kobayashi-san had slapped it away from her face in his rude attempt to touch her. His silver ring on his finger wasn't the only thing gleaming in the hallway. His rust coloured eyes held a certain bright, spine-tingling malice which Ayame couldn't find the strength to rip her eyes from. It was devious, malicious, cold and devoid of sanity.
Lethal and dangerous.
Ayame's instincts screamed at her to run away, but the distraught look on Kobayashi-san's face kept her rooted to the spot. She gulped and clenched her fists, mustering what was left of her dwindling courage.
"Step away from her" Ayame bit out.
He merely looked at her up and down with no consequence.
"I'm fine. This has nothing to do with you" Kobayashi-san huffed at her as if Ayame was insignificant and turned back around to face the man, but he kept staring straight at Ayame.
He seemed to be studying her as a blank façade took over his face. His eyes started glazing over, pulling into the depths of serious thoughts. Did he just zone out? In a few pain-staking moments his rust-coloured eyes suddenly livened up again and they took on a blood-red glow which scared Ayame more than it should. His thin lips spread into a wide and devilish grin.
"Interesting… I'm surprised he would allow you anywhere near this school…"
Ayame furrowed her brows together in confusion. He? He? What is he talking about? Who is this 'he' the creepy man just spoke of? Was the man implying that she wasn't supposed to be visiting this school? The man looked at her like he finally recognised her from somewhere, but Ayame had never met, much less have seen this man in her life! This freaked her out even more. A euphoric expression which one got from an epiphany suddenly possessed him.
"Ayame! What took you so long? I thought you were just—"
It was Takumi-kun. Ayame remained motionless as she continued to be trapped by the serpentine-looking man's gaze even when Takumi-kun's worried voice came out from behind her. She had forgotten about her destination to the bathroom and instead had prolonged her journey to be caught up in this mess, which had nothing to do with her but she ignorantly landed herself in now. She reached out behind to grope for any part of Takumi-kun for security and gripped his hand as soon as she brushed his fingertips. She clasped it tightly as if he were her only life-line.
"Mio caro? What's wrong?... Ah! It's you!"
The man finally looked away from her to her boyfriend. He quirked a dark eyebrow as if offended and then it darkened into amusement.
"Do I know you?" he said nonchalantly at him.
Suddenly Takumi-kun had stepped around in front of Ayame, partially covering her body as his arm started to push her back behind him. Ayame dumbly watched his back muscles tense beneath his school shirt, and suspicion and wariness cascaded off of him. He didn't speak a word as he continued to pin the man behind Kobayashi-san with a stiff glare, refusing to answer his mocking question. She'd never seen Takumi-kun look at anyone with so much apprehension before. She was confused yet again! Did Takumi-kun know this guy?! She was definitely out of the loop for something, she could feel it and it frustrated her to no end as to what they hell she wasn't understanding!
"If you leave now, I won't call the police" said Kobayashi-san in a low voice.
That got the man's attention again and he lowered his face towards her. Ayame could've sworn that they soften ever so slightly when he looked down at her, but his eyes quickly resumed a hungry and predatory look like he wanted to devour her on the spot and dance on her bones.
"Yeah. Three's a crowd. Now we're a faceless mass of four. I gotta bounce anyway" he shrugged his shoulders and cocked his head to the side. He appeared utterly relaxed and immune to the tension choking the atmosphere and spun around once on his heels. His sudden carefree nature sent Ayame's mind into a spin. Was he just a really whimsical guy or was he just… changeable like that? It couldn't be normal. He slipped his hands into his jacket pockets and slowly backed away, his shoes echoing on the linoleum. Takumi-kun still remained rigid as he continued to adamantly shield Ayame's body from any threats this man could throw.
"Every single day, every move you make, every word you say, I'll know. It doesn't matter how far you are. You could be on the other side of the universe! But it'll remain the same… You'll~ always~ be~ mine~ and~ I'll~ always~ find~ you~"
He grinned at her, his syrupy voice did little to mask his menacing threat and it made Ayame's blood run cold on Kobayashi-san's behalf. He sang as if the beautiful red-headed chef was the centre of his universe.
"And you" he glanced back up at Ayame, breaking the magic spell, which made her breath hitch in panic and Takumi-kun to narrow his blue eyes.
"Say 'hi' to your dad for me"
And then he was gone around the corner in a blink of an eye.
Ayame released a shaky breath and closed her eyes, feeling a mild headache coming on. So many questions were stampeding through her head, but the first question was why did Takumi-kun seem to recognise him? Why did all these Tootsuki students seem to be involved in these strange events, which now included her friends? First it was Alice-san's and Kuchiyose-kun's sketchy past and now it's Takumi-kun, Kobayashi-san and this stranger. One way to find out…
"Takumi-kun, who was that guy?" she asked.
The blonde-chef sighed and rubbed his head. He grimaced and refused to meet her eyes.
"Remember the time I told you about the police visiting the school and questioning students, including me, about Eizan-senpai's case?"
"Yeah, I remember… vaguely" Ayame murmured. The names of two police officer's; Shouseki and Rii bobbed up and down in her mind.
"They showed me a picture of that guy and asked if I ever see him around campus, that I should let them know immediately. They think he's connected to Eizan-senpai's case. The guy I told you about who got arrested for insider-trading" said Takumi-kun
"But who is he?"
"His name is Orihara Izaya" said Kobayashi-san.
The crimson-haired girl approached them. Her eyes flared with distinct ire and hate as she spat out his name in venomous contempt. Her shoulders slouched and she dragged her feet towards them. She crossed her arms across her chest and chewed on her lips. She stopped short about a metre away and released an aggravated sigh "He's an underground information broker from Ikebukuro, whom I'm cursed to be associated with"
'It sounds to me they were once-upon-a-time more than just 'associates' if that argument was anything to go by'
However, Ayame kept those thoughts to herself.
"Did he just say 'say hi to your dad for me'? And who are you, anyway?" asked Kobayashi-san curiously.
Ayame nodded, she was as shocked to hear those parting words as much as Kobayashi-san was. "M-My name is Kanda Ayame, I'm Takumi-kun's girlfriend. I wanted to visit and watch Alice-san today, so yeah… Umm, my dad's the super—I mean, he's part of TMPD. I don't know Orihara-san at all, but since he's an information broker like you said... I guess he knows a few officers at the main precinct?"
'… and their families'
That thought alone scared the living daylights out of her. Ayame didn't need anyone to explain to her how an information broker worked. She knew enough to be extremely cautious. This man knew Otou-san. That meant he also knew Otou-san was the leading commander of the TMPD. Ayame didn't really like to talk about what his job really entailed with people she didn't trust and Otou-san made that a point ever since she was old enough to be allowed to know what he did. Kobayashi-san regarded her a bit suspiciously. She wasn't really buying into her explanation but she didn't say anything else.
"Well, I'm calling the police anyway" Takumi-kun fished out his phone and was about to dial when the beautiful red-headed chef's arm shot out and clamped it over his hand before he could even flip it open. Takumi's head shot up with confusion and alarm, but the girl shook her head.
"Don't. It'll only cause more trouble"
"Why?!"
"By the time they arrive, the wonder-cunt would be long gone and the noisy cop-cars and the police will freak out the students and everything will be a mess. On the other hand, if he's still prowling about, trust me he will raise hell with the police with other students around for the heck of it and that won't be a pretty sight either"
Takumi-kun grinded his teeth and considered for a moment and grunted. He pulled a pained expression meaning he conceded.
"But what is he doing here?" Takumi-kun yanked his hand back from her roughly but still refused to put his phone back in his pocket, holding it tightly and ready to flip it open again.
"Knowing him, he's probably scouting the area"
"What for?"
"For a client"
Ayame shuffled nervously. Orihara-san is an information broker and was scouting Tootsuki for a client? This reeked already of criminal activity and she dreaded to think what would happen to her boyfriend and the students here. But then they had a scandal with Eizan Etsuya quite recently and Tootsuki took a pretty nasty hit. Tiny pieces of jigsaw puzzles floated before her. The edges didn't quite fit but the sockets and tabs were roughly the same shape. She hated when the pieces almost fit but didn't and to make it worse she couldn't see the picture. Ayame mentally waved her mental projections away and came back into the real world. She didn't know how many more legs Tootsuki was standing on, but another involvement in a crime, whether it was there fault or not could crumble the school's image into dust and release that dreaded domino effect, affecting the students, the Tootsuki resort, the Nakiri family and any other assets they held. She knew first hand that there was no such thing as a crime ending in a clean arrest, especially involving a man who knew her and her father.
"You mean, someone's paid him to gather information about Tootsuki on their behalf?" asked Takumi-kun in disbelief, making sure he got the facts straight.
"That's his job. Duh"
"Then why was he talking to you like that, Kobayashi-san?" began Ayame.
Ayame tried to organise the information quickly in her head, hoping to make the jigsaw pictures clearer. Was he here for the client, or was he actually here for Kobayashi-san? Was it coincidence he bumped into Kobayashi-san today? Hell no. What exactly was he scouting within Tootsuki?
This wasn't the same vibrant, exuberant, confident and arrogant girl she had witness unfold at the stadium. She had portrayed such a lively, strong personality and was completely thick-skinned against Alice-san's jabs at her exquisite Chocolate Forest Floor dessert. On the stadium she possessed a maturity of a sultry model and at the same time was playful, using her charms to drawing in the attention of the audience and the judges with little effort. But right now, all Ayame could see was a woman covered in healing scars and a heart too hardened and guarded it was difficult to tell if she had one at all. Now those scars were on the verge of reopening. Whatever Orihara Izaya had done to her in the past was traumatizing enough to break her façade of a self-assured confidence to reveal a poor, troubled soul.
"That's another story which I don't care to tell you about. Let's just say he's a manipulative son-of-a-bitch with a fetish for scrambling people's mind and doesn't know how to be normal, and leave it at that, shall we?" Kobayashi-san flicked her hair over her shoulder.
She was back to being that impenetrable girl again.
"We have to at least go tell Isshiki-senpai. He's the one who's been taking care of Eizan-senpai's mess from the very start" Takumi-kun was adamant that somebody of higher authority should know this.
"What's Isshiki-kun going to do?" challenged Kobayashi-san.
"I don't know, but he's been in contact with the police more than the rest of us"
"I guess, he'll come up with something reasonable. That pretty-boy is the expert on looking like he's sitting on his hands, when he's actually really planning your social suicide"
Ayame didn't think Isshiki-san was as scheming and conniving as Kobayashi-san made him out to be. He'd been nothing but amiable, polite, generous and respectful since their first meeting. But as far as first impressions went… yeah, she had to get used to the idea of somebody with a deep, dark, petroleum persona lurking beneath the rainbow surface with all these confusing events folding in front of her. The sound of car engines leaked through the windows
"You said he was scouting for a client. Do you know who?" asked Ayame.
Kobayashi-san shook her head once and then she looked out the window. She guessed she was being too hopeful that Orihara-san would divulge confidential information to Kobayashi-san. The rumbling engines began to sound like rolling thunder, loud enough to pique Ayame's, Kobayashi-san's and Takumi-kun's interest. She didn't see cars often at Tootsuki as even the teachers resided in their workplace and the students boarded in the dormitories, where all their material necessities are covered and delivered by their tuition. Also their private coaches had their own station, which Takumi-kun had shown her before. Ayame gingerly walked over to the window with Takumi-kun following close behind. A long, sleek and limousine pulled over at the front of the Shokugeki stadium. Ayame had to squint to see who the people were. So far they all looked identical. Black suit and tie, cropped hair, black shades. They all walked and moved the same. Stiff and if their hands weren't doing anything, it was clasped behind their backs.
"Che diavolo?" Takumi-kun whispered behind her.
'Something's not right'
One of the men in black opened the limousine door and stepped out in one fluid motion was a tall and thin man. He had an expensive wardrobe. Around him was a long, black designer trench coat that fitted his thin frame to perfection. It billowed behind him and with a quick snap it fluttered back to rest against his calves. He wore leather gloves that gave Ayame the impression of a stylish hitman ready for a wet-job soon. She couldn't see is face, per se, but he looked incredibly pale. Almost sickly looking. His hair was slicked back again his scalp. She could see there was a tress of silver hair curved stylishly against his head. The way the other men parted out of his way gave her a sinking feeling that this man held authority, but not the good kind.
Then Orihara-san's furry jacket came into view as he stepped out of a hidden entrance from the Shokugeki Stadium up to the man and appeared to have a short talk before getting into a different but equally expensive and noxious looking vehicle.
'Is this... the client?'
So he wasn't actually only scouting, but he'd been waiting for his ride before his 'job' was done?
'There were no exchanges between them… Job's not finished yet? Or he already got paid and really didn't need to be here at all…'
Ayame took a quick peep at Kobayashi-san and her facial expression told her all she needed to know
'Oh hell yeah, Orihara-san only came to see her. He didn't need to scout anything at all'
The car Orihara-san stepped into drove away, leaving this second mysterious, but opulent man in their wake who was quickly striding up to Tootsuki's front entrance with a foreboding determination, his Third Reich marching behind him.
"Looks like we'll find out soon enough" said Kobayashi-san.
'Right… the Chocolate RS wishes to extend their budget'
Satoshi re-read the document he was supposed to sign. He really wished he could be out there to see the match between his old upperclassman and Nakiri Alice. But alas it was not his fate! He hadn't seen Kobayashi Rindou in so long and really wanted to see where her skill level was up to. He'll wait for the recording. He didn't get much of a chance to catch up with her because of the new burden he's taken on alongside Kinokuni-san being the senior members of the Elite Ten. 'Senior' as in actually knowing what to do and how to run the whole council. He wondered if it was a mistake to ask Rindou-senpai to come back. All the other Elite Ten that were below her seat had declined the invitation as they were busy setting up their new restaurants or were hard pressed training under another chef, or were plain not interested. He had decided not to use the current seats as he wanted to preserve the element of surprise for the Round Two.
The auburn haired student remembered hearing some sort of hitch in her voice when he proposed that idea over a long distance phone call. That confused him greatly. At the same time, it raised suspicion in him. Not the type of suspicion that something underhanded was about to happen, but rather concern for his former Elite Ten fellow. Visits after visits with Eizan-kun at the Tokyo detention centre had forced him to become too sensitive to the tiny details and running of Tootsuki.
Yep. He rather be elsewhere than doing paperwork. Ah, the sun was nice and bright. A nice invigorating time hoeing the fields in Polar Star Plantations would be the perfect exercise to fix the office-back he was gaining. Nothing like a good sweaty workout to release all the body's toxins! Satoshi plastered on a smile, a habit he formed which was supposed to be in the presence of others, but when dealing with droll paperwork, he might as well force some enjoyment out of this.
Running footsteps peeled his attention away.
"Isshiki-senpai!"
BAM!
His stunning blue eyes flew open and latched onto the abrupt scene in front of him.
"Aldini-kun? Kanda-san?"
The two teens battered down his heavy doors and were reduced to huffing and puffing. Their uniforms were a mess as if they'd run a marathon. Judging by the distance of the Elite Ten offices and the main school buildings, they probably had done the Iron-man race. What on Earth happened? The first thing he thought of was something was going on at the Stadium. Aldini-kun trudged over to his desk and gripped the plush arm chair but refused to sit in it. Kanda-san was nearly crawling on the floor, in a worse state than Aldini-kun, gasping for breath painfully.
"SSSStairs…n-never…a-again" she choked out from her position on the floor.
"I-Isshiki-senpai…" Aldini-kun coughed into his hand, still trying to catch his breath. "Orihara Izaya was h-here!"
A chill went down his spine. After all this time, now the information broker had emerged from the rock he'd been hiding under?
"Is he still here?" asked Satoshi. He whipped out his red pre-paid phone and started dialling for Shoseki-san, the policeman with the eyepatch. Aldini-kun shook his head. It didn't matter, Orihara couldn't have gotten far.
"Hello? Isshiki-kun?"
Satoshi held up his hand to silence the students before they could say anything so he could concentrate on Shoseki-san.
"Orihara Izaya had been spotted on campus, but I'm afraid he's already left" he said, waiting with bated breath for the next plant of action.
His concentration didn't last long as Aldini-kun and Kanda-san burst out again.
"And he's brought other people to our school too. I don't know who they are but, they don't look good!" said Aldini-kun, panic evident in his voice.
"And the car Orihara-san drove off in was a black Lexus IS250 F-sport 2009 model. Chrome wheels, eighteen inches. Fifty percent tinted windows. Number plate is Adachi three-five-six ta one-seven dash double four.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Umm… Otou-san gave me tips and tricks in case I ever got kidnapped. Like memorising car…stuff?" Kanda-san blushed and fidgeted on the spot.
"… What's the girl's name?" came the smooth reply.
That was certainly loud enough for Chief Inspector Shoseki to hear. The seventh seater pretended that what just happened didn't sound bizarre to him at all.
"Kanda Ayame sir, just a visitor to our school" Satoshi furrowed his eyebrows wondering why the Chief Inspector her name would be relevant. He tried to swivel away in his chair hoping to avoid sudden outbursts into the receiver.
"Oh hooo? She'd make daddy proud, won't she. Anything else?"
What on Earth did he mean by that? Satoshi schooled his face as he glanced towards Kanda-san as she continued to fidget on the spot. There didn't seem to be anything special about her apart from her seemingly eidetic memory. The Italian student was rubbing her back, trying to calm her nerves. Hmm, for some reason Aldini-kun seemed more held together than he thought. One mystery at a time. Satoshi shook his head and got back into the matter at hand
"…Yes sir. He's brought potential trespassers to Tootsuki too. The car he took off in was—"
"Yeah, yeah I already got that down. Just dispatched my best team for Orihara and contacted the local precinct. I'm going to come down right now to interview witnesses too and check out these special guest of yours. Make sure nobody leaves the school. Keep your classes running as per normal" he said. Satoshi could tell he was walking somewhere "Do you know who he's brought?"
"I'm afraid not. But I will look into that myself"
Satoshi snapped his fingers at the two students and pointed to the door. They instantly flew to attention. He pushed himself out of the over-soft chair and ushered the two students in front of him out of the office and he locked the doors behind them. This was getting serious now. Satoshi had prepared himself for a situation like this, but he didn't think it would actually happen. Now that it dawned on him, he wasn't sure how capable he'd manage this chaos threatening to spill into the school. But he had no time to think of the repercussions. He had to focus on the now and hoped for the best that everything will turn out fine. Aldini-kun grabbed Kanda-san's hands and Satoshi lead them down to the limousine holding area. The three of them quickly filed into the nearest limo, which was already running which was convenient. With a quick bark at the limo driver to get them to the main Shokugeki stadium at full speed, they were shooting off.
"Takumi-kun, what about your bicycle?" Kanda-san pointed out the window.
Satoshi glanced outside and spotted a sports bike resting at the bicycle rack with two sets of helmets hanging on the handlebars before it disappeared from view. Ah, so that's how they made it here so quickly. They came on bicycle. He guessed Aldini-kun's constant biking routine from commuting between classes had paid off wonderfully.
"Not to worry, I'll have somebody send your bike back to your locking area, Aldini-kun"
"Ah… grazie. Isshiki-senpai. Oh! And please make sure the police interview Kobayashi-senpai too" said Aldini-kun. "She knows him"
"Will do" said Satoshi curtly.
He switched his red pre-paid phone into his usual school cellphone.
"Hello security? This is Isshiki Satoshi, seventh seat of the Elite Ten Council. Yes, make sure Kobayashi Rindou doesn't leave campus. Also, who authorised additional visitors today?"
"… He had an Nakiri Familiy edict Isshiki-san"
"Who?"
Beep Beep
He never got his answer.
Satoshi yanked his phone from his ears and sighed loudly. Great. His phone battery was flat. If his day wasn't getting worse... Didn't matter. He'd soon find out what's going on. The auburn haired upperclassman straightened his tie and raked his hands through his soft hair to ease the mounting tension coiling in his gut. It was then he suddenly noticed that Aldini-kun and Kanda-san were looking at him weirdly, as if he'd grown two heads. So he eased a comforting smile onto his face. The shining happy face most students were familiar with. They'd probably never seen him when he was getting serious over something. Well, if Aldini-kun ever got to be part of the Elite Ten in the future, he too would develop a façade himself to deal with the stress and diplomacy with the board of directors. Speaking of the board of directors, they were going to blow the roof and call as many lawyers needed to fill Polar Star plantations.
'Which is exactly why the police doesn't trust them...'
Once they've arrived at the main Shokugeki stadium, the seventh seater lead the charge. He didn't wait for the two students to catch up to him. He noticed another limo parked right outside the main entrance of the Shokugeki stadium and other smaller black cars parked carelessly around it. A wealthy trespasser meant trouble. He narrowed his eyes and shoved the disgust down his throat. He shoved the doors open and strode briskly into the foyer. He turned sharply up the stairs until he could get into the upstairs viewing box exclusive to competitors.
"What's going on?" he ordered as soon as he reached the viewing box. He glanced around hoping to find Rindou but to his disappointment, she wasn't there.
"Isshiki-senpai! No idea, but out of nowhere these guys just showed up" said Yukihira-kun, pointing to the windows.
"A-And Nakiri-san… something's wrong with her" said Tadokoro-kun scuttling up to him.
The blunette's lips quivered with tears of worry threating to spill and her voice wavered with fright. She pointed a shaking finger at the Nakiri heiress. Satoshi's confusion widened. Nakiri Erina was petrified in her chair, her fingers bunched tightly together on her legs and if she bunched further her hands would bleed. She was sweating uncontrollably Her face was completely drained of colour. Her pale pink lips were slightly opened and quivering. But her eyes… those deep purple eyes which were usually bright and arrogant were swirling in fear. Pure, unadulterated fear. It was like she was seeing a terrifying nightmare monster from her childhood manifested into a corporeal being as large as life itself. Nothing could possible break her from her sudden spell. Her frightened gaze was glued onto the intruder on the stadium centre.
He pursed his lips and went to take a look himself. Satoshi wasn't one to swear at all even the direst of consequences, but if he did, he'd say 'We're fucked'.
"Is that who I think it is?" he asked Arato-san.
"Yes, senpai…" she whispered.
It was him
Nakiri Azami.
Shit is about to go down. The two subplots were always fated to intertwine and now they are. This is where my story is taking the AU version of Nakiri Azami's introduction in the manga. It took me 36 chapters to get there, but here we frickin' are!
Ooohhh Orihara and Rindou share a past, stemming all the way from her own Stagiare in his Ikebukuro territory, back when she was a itty bitty first year. Will we ever get to know what happened between them?
Looks like Takumi has become a bit of a changed person. Well... that's only according to Ayame's, Isami's and Isshiki's perspective hehe. Will we be seeing changes in Ayame after their 'Paradiso' I wonder?
Once again, you readers have been super amazing! You guys motivate me and are the real champions here. Until next time, see you soon!
Signing-off
-TripWire-dono
