Chapter 47 - The Denouement
"Urgghhhh…"
"What's wrong with you?"
Isami looked up from his notebook and into Yukihira-kun's curious orbs, which was trained on the person next to him. The broken whine from his right side, muffled by sleeves, made his stomach bubble with traitorous chuckles. That did not go amiss from Fratello who shot him a dangerous glare before burying his head back into arms, adamant to hide from the Japanese diner chef's insistent prodding gaze.
"I don't want to talk about it…"
"Fratello had a very exciting night" offered Isami.
"ISAMI! Ow…"
Takumi clutched at his side and doubled over.
"Couldn't keep it your pants, huh" a knowing smirk worked its way onto Yukihira-kun's face.
"Not like that" Takumi groaned before shooting up in a spasm and collapsing against the back rest of the theatre benches.
Isami slowly put his books and pencil case away while Yukihira-kun inched closer to Fratello with his trademark mischievous smile just egging his twin on to explode and tell-all. But It was just as Takumi said. He and Ayame-chan had done nothing along the lines of what Yukihira-kun was thinking last night. In fact, Fratello returned home late in the night with a completely different story to tell. Isami just thought it would be fun to throw a bone at his elder brother's expense. It was harmless, he thought but the rising temperatures on Fratello's cheek at the audacity of Isami's abrupt and unwanted insinuation only made Yukhira-kun's suspicions take stronger root.
"Shall I?" asked Isami, grinning at the two, pretending to be oblivious to Takumi's annoyance with the whole ordeal.
"Non. You'll just feed the bastardo lies"
"Hurry up and tell me" Yukihira-kun declared.
"Fratello has graciously accepted the offer to train in kendou from Ayame-chan's Pappa!" said Isami gleefully.
Their red-headed classmate paused. "Like what? Wear this uniform, stand over there and let me demonstrate how I beat you with my stick?" Isami honestly couldn't tell if Yukihira-kun was mocking Takumi, or he was being dead-serious.
Takumi huffed in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. The action alone made him wince. Clearly his first lesson had costed him the relaxed use of his body. The stiff gait and tensed muscles as he walked out of their apartment this morning was truly pitiful. However the text messages this morning from Ayame-chan gushing with apologies, promises of retribution against her Pappa and asking Takumi for his well-being was beyond touching. Isami really did feel for him. If he came back after a harsh first lesson after dinner in kendou he too would be sore all over the next morning. The Superintendent General was the antonym of leniency when it came to training the mind and body, it seemed. He would never slack with Fratello.
"I believe it's called a bokken" Isami contributed.
"So… wear this uniform, stand over there and let me demonstrate how I beat you with my bokken?"
"He didn't BEAT me with it!" Fratello yelled back at them in defiance
"This is the Superintendant General we're talking 's okay to say it" said Isami, gently rubbing Takumi's shoulder.
Nobody was believing Takumi.
He fell back into his seat with a string of Italian expletives muttering under his angry breath. Isami could see him grow irater by the second! His hilarious expression was meant to be menacing, but he couldn't help but see him looking so adorable and embarrassed. Was Fratello even aware of Ayame-chan and himself finding him irresistibly funny and cute when he was all agitated and huffy? Yukihira-kun perched on the side of Fratello's desk looking very excited and hungry for more details. It came to Isami's attention that Yukihira was interested in anything and everything to do with Ayame-chan and her friends. His fascination with Kuchiyose-kun's athletic physique (Isami had to add 'get abs' to his bucket list), Ayame-chan's scientific knowledge and Namikaze-chan's gaming skills were what he sought to learn more about after bouts of shokugekis and classes. Whether it be trying to tail the brother's home, asking for contact details and organising group-outings and the such, Yukihira-kun was determined. Takumi leaned forward with stiff muscles, as if he would snap into two brittle pieces should he exerted himself anymore and made a pathetic attempted to shove Yukihira-kun off his desk. The red-head merely swatted his hands away without a bat of his lashes, and not even empathetic towards his brother's plight.
"But why…?"
Yukhira-kun leaned towards Takumi without care for personal space. Takumi scooted back and focused his eyes on anywhere except the two shining golden eyes goading him for an answer. If Isami didn't know any better, Yukihira-kun was most likely asking why Takumi would let another man beat him with a stick, rather than asking him why he was taking kendou lesson's from Ayame-chan's Pappa.
"H-He said no daughter of his will have a boyfriend who doesn't know how to defend and protect" Takumi muttered very quickly, hoping to be done with this. However, one look at Yukihira-kun's widening eyes and gaping mouth meant it was hardly over.
"Ouch… you agreed to this?"
"Well, si! If I want his approval, I have to endure everything he throws at me!" Takumi yelled back.
"Even if he just wants to beat you with his stick? What about Kanda-chan? What was her say in all this?"
"She was busy jumping on her father's back and biting his head to really say anything… then she was video calling her mother, who's in Dubai for business, to get her to tell him off" Takumi sighed.
"Didn't work huh"
"Non…" Takumi deflated.
Yukihira-kun leaned back, finally giving Fratello some reprieve and crossed his arms. A thoughtful expression crossed over his face. Suddenly, he beamed and snapped his fingers with the proverbial lightbulb blasting its incandescence above his head.
"That settles it! I don't think he wants to train you. I think he just wants to beat you with—"
"Stop saying that, Yukihira!"
"It's not about the beating, Aldini-kun. It's about sending a message. Right Ryou-kun?"
"Ousu"
Isami swivelled his head at the sound of Alice-san's chiming voice. She had a spring in her step which somehow was partially masked by how her hips swayed as she commanded the attention in the room by her entrance. Excitement buzzed around her as she saluted to the three of them. She wasn't out done in the least by Kurokiba-kun's ever-vigilant guard whose aura flared in warning to anyone who even looked upon his mistress's way. It was wonder that he could do this while looking sleep-deprived. Alice-san was dressed as usual in her immaculate school uniform. Not a loose thread or a speck of lint to be seen. She sauntered towards the three boys with her chin held high while Kurokiba-kun skulked closely behind with both their book-bags dangling in his grip from over his shoulder. Alice regarded them coolly with a swift nod and a shining smile. She fixed her strong ruby-red gaze on Fratello in mirth. She sighed and patted him on the shoulder, none to gently.
"What are you talking about?" Takumi blinked up at her in confusion.
"About your beating last night"
"Not you too!" Takumi looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him up.
"Ayame-chan and I are real tight. She tells me everything"
"No, she doesn't. You just bribe her with research articles" said Takumi.
She slapped her dainty finger tips onto her chin and giggled from the base of her throat. For the final touch, she threw her head back in obvious melodrama and her silvery tresses swayed with her cheeky presence. Isami watched, loving how this was playing out as she then crossed her two fingers tightly together to exhibit to everyone her close bond to Fratello's girlfriend. She winked at Takumi who grumbled back. Isami didn't know Ayame-chan and Nakiri Alice had become that close. Did he miss something? Well, since they were both girls and into science, he guessed it was bound to happen. These sorts of people always ended up meeting each other, didn't they? He wondered what Namikaze-chan thought about their burgeoning friendship.
"So… what message would that be, Alice-san?" asked Isami.
"That Takumi Aldini needs to step up his game if he wants to continue to be worthy of Ayame-chan" She chirped. She settled right beside Yukihira-kun's seat on Takumi's desk which was over-crowding, but that didn't deter the two who were comfortable side by side, wiggling their brows at Fratello's reddening countenance.
"Takumi's already making her dinner almost every night, how much worthier could he be?" asked Yukihira-kun.
"Learn to fight. Like a real man"
Isami's spine tingled with mixed apprehension as Kurokiba-kun's famous raspy and monotone voice broke the atmosphere and it halted Fratello's snappish remarks and Yukihira-kun's and Alice-san's taunts. He slumped into the seat on the other side of the aisle with a clear birth from everyone. He leaned back and swung his legs onto the writing bench, crossed them as if it was his throne and folded his arms behind his head. Unlike Alice-san, his uniform was thrown on. It was unbuttoned at the top revealing his black undershirt, his shirt wasn't tucked into his pants and his uniform wasn't even ironed. It was a wonder Alice-san allowed him as her aide to walk around so shabbily. The silver-haired Nakiri basically treated him as a servant rather than an aide, and made him serve her hand and foot. Isami guessed where were some things that perhaps even Alice-san had no control over when it came to Kurokiba-kun. The arrogance on his face as he spoke of the masculine responsibility of fighting was borderline feral. His eyes darted to Fratello which flickered with the savageness belying his outer personality.
"Wrong message, Ryou-kun. Protect, not fight. Huge difference" Alice-san sighed and shook her head before resuming her focus onto Takumi.
"Does Ayame-chan really need protection to that extent? I get that her Pappa might have some people out to get him, but it's not like we're living in Feudal Japan" said Isami.
"Non,but I don't have a problem learning kendou. It's just her father sprang it on me literally with no warning. He threw me the kendou stick and basically shoved me into the backyard and started attacking me. He could've at least tell me what to do before he started wielding that thing at me rather than tell me what to do while attacking. But I think he's onto something. It would be good for me to learn to fight for Ayame and protect her. I'd never know when I need it"
"Urgh! Who said it's for you to protect Ayame-chan? I know she could beat you and everyone else with her father's kendou stick if you or they're out of line!"
"…Bokken… It's called a bokken" Isami sighed.
The brunette Italian's comment went ignored as Alice-san crossed her arms under her bust and scoffed at Takumi-kun who gaped at her like a stunned mullet. She glared at him through her lashes and down her aristocratic nose as if he was an ant beneath her shoes. She made her displeasure of Takumi's unwitting audacity to suggest Ayame-chan was a weak little girl who needed a man to depend on, known to everyone. Isami nervously smiled and backed away, hoping Alice-san didn't think he shared in any of that mentality as he left his beloved Fratello to the wolves. Meanwhile Yukihira slapped his knees and howled with laughter, causing his Fratello to shake in fury and mortification for being caught out saying something that was innocent and well-meaning but construed totally by the Danish Nakiri. The whole bench rattled and Isami had to lurch forward to catch his books and pencil cases before it met their makers on top of the other students' heads sitting in the benches below.
"Haha! You can use all your kendou training to protect yourself from Kanda-chan…!" Yukihira gasped once he finished pulling himself together.
"Why the diavolo would I do something like that?!" Takumi sneered back.
"Weren't you listening, Aldini-kun? Ayame-chan can beat you with her father's Kendou stick if she so chooses. Count yourself blessed her Foder is giving you the skill to protect yourself"
"That's beside the point. Her father said I should learn to protect and defend and it's not for that"
"Nah, mate. We settled that he just wants to beat you—"
"You say that ONE. MORE. TIME and—"
"CLASS!"
Isami was in the middle of jumping out of his seat to catch Takumi-kun in mid-strangle before he froze at the booming voice at the front of the lecture theatre. A tall and thin man dressed in all black and shades stood at attention with a clipboard in his leather gloved hand. His face was morose and grim as he stared at the students, daring anyone to make a noise in his presence. Alice-san slid like a cat off the bench and cocked her hips to the side, a displeased frown settled on her delicate features. Isami swore, he could hear Kurokiba-kun growled low in his throat at the intruder to the classroom. Takumi slackened his fingers from Yukihira-kun's throat, enough for the red-head to clamber off the bench. The air brewed with a mixture of tension and utter obedience as one of Nakiri Azami's many watch-dogs clear his throat and flipped the page on the clipboard.
"The following students are removed from this first period class and designated to another classroom. Yukihira Souma. Go to class 5-D. Nakiri Alice and Kurokiba Ryou. Go to class 5-F"
Electricity shot through Isami.
'Oh no, not again'
Isami watched Yukihira bunch up his muscles with aggravation shining through his eyes of molten gold. He rooted himself to the steps in the middle of the aisle and crossed his arms over his chest, letting his white sash snap in the air as if it was a manifestation of his anger at the mad clad in black who had the balls to utter those words in front of the class.
"What gives. This is the third time you're changing our classes around. What's going on"
"The school resources is being audited and it is Director Nakiri's will. Get going, Rebel scum"
"No. Give us the real reason" he said defiantly, unfolding one of his arms for and held it up waiting for an answer
"Director Nakiri doesn't need to explain himself. Go or you will be escorted out"
The coward snapped his fingers and three other men emerged from the class entrance. Looking exactly like one another, only with ear pieces. They were bulkier and taller promising unyielding force if needed. So far Tootsuki's board had approved the Director's method of using physical force on students who were defiant in his authority. Isami could see the gears grinding in Yukihira-kun's head. Would he take on the extra security with the risk of getting physically hurt? Or would he just bend to them? It was a tough choice.
'This is so wrong. Cornering us with the threat of physical violence'
The students around them openly smirked a they twisted in their seat towards Yukihira-kun, Kurokiba-kun, Alice-san, Takumi and himself. The animosity and smug looks of victory directed at him made his skin crawl and honestly a bit scared. He hadn't felt this way since he was in PE class back in Italia where he wasn't exactly the fittest of the boys in his class and was subjected to teasing. Isami gulped down his anxiety as he watched Yukihira grab his bag and swung it over his shoulders. He steeled his eyes soley on the expressionless man and stomped down the stairs, creating loud reverberations coating in anger as he made his way down. The other students, devout followers of by Director Nakiri religious dogma jeered at him, mutters of "traitors", "losers" and "Rebel scum" danced on their tongue. Isami clenched his fists on his lap as fury warred within him. He wasn't quick to anger, but when he was, he wasn't going to let anyone get away with it. He looked to his Fratello who was gripping the edge of the bench pretty hard as well. Next, Alice-san sighed and grabbed the bag offered by Kurokiba-kun who huffed down the steps with dramatic stomping. She closed her eyes and lifted her chin high, as if blocking the other students mocking mutters like a true queen walking amongst her back-stabbing subjects. Kurokiba-kun hissed at anyone who even looked at him. The last thing he saw was the Cerberus of Tootsuki flipping the bird at the men before following his mistress out.
"He's trying to break up our communications" whispered Fratello in Italiano.
"He definitely knows we are up to something"
News had gotten to the twins that Isshiki-senpai was removed from Polar Star dormitory and was placed into the main school building dorms. They actually removed him! It felt almost surreal. There was the sinking suspicion that Director Azami wanted to cut off their head of the alliance to disrupt any further planning to injure the current administration. The good-natured and kind-hearted senpai was practically their brain for their planning, and because of this, it kind of worked too. Takumi and Isami grew anxious of whether anything else was needed from him to pass along to Ayame-chan. What if something cropped up and they needed to switch tactics immediately? What if they couldn't deliver on time? It would ruin their plan! They only had one shot at this. They didn't want Ayame-chan or Kuchiyose-kun to be any more involved than they had to! Isshiki-senpai was hardly in any contact with the rest of them now and Isami suspected Central was trying to keep him as busy and distracted as posisble. They couldn't get a hold of him on the phones either.
'How do you successfully wage war against the enemy... You cut of their water, you cut of their supply, and you cut off their COMMUNICATION'
Communication was their key and the Director had successfully seized it.
Their educator floated into the classroom once all four of Director Azami's men returned to their post, and began instructing everyone to take out their books.
"We're just going to have to assume everything we planned is final. There is no turning back tonight" murmured Isami.
With that, the two brothers took out their books and kept their heads down.
Their hearts beated like African war drums.
Tonight
"Oh! Erina!"
Alice skipped over to her cousin who had just finished up with a dreary conversation with an administration officer. She waved off the woman in the tight pencil skirt before deigning her attention onto Alice. She widened her eyes in surprise.
"Alice… what are you doing in this class?"
"We got kicked out of ours. Uncle is just screwing with us with musical chairs again" she replied.
Her annoyance towards her Uncle Azami's cunning bubbled through her veins. Despite her calm and collected face she showed to the world, she was on edge and she felt the fine hairs on her skin sizzle with static electricity for what was to come. Isshiki-senpai still hadn't completed the last teensy-tiny bit of his plan before they were going to execute it tonight. Hurry up! Because if he couldn't pull through for the last little detail due to whatever cockamamy sabotage the Administration assaulted them with, then her side and part of Ayame-chan's side was a no-go. Alice smiled and took Erina's hand, ready to pull them both into the class.
"Alice, I'm not class 5-F anymore… I'm in 5-A now" she said, tugging her hand back.
"Wh-What?! You too Erina? Even Uncle Azami thinks us cousin shouldn't be together?"
Alice grunted. She snatched Erina's hand back, disgusted with the whole thing and not willing to relinquish her cousin so soon. This farce had to end! She felt Erina squeeze her hand back and her lips formed a thin line. Alice peered into Erina's watering violet eyes. Frustrating and uncertainty brimming in their depths. Alice tutted. Erina couldn't be thinking of backing out now. She was instrumental in the end and Isshiki-senpai was counting on her to be brave.
Scratch that.
Everyone was counting on Erina to be the bravest out of all of them.
Schwing!
Her funky ring tone captured her attention. Alice held out her hand behind her and felt the cold and smooth over of her smart phone plopping onto her palm, courtesy of Ryou-kun's diligence as her aide.
"Hm? Ah. It's from Isshiki-senpai" Alice cooed a she swiped her phone to read from her personal email. There was no subject line or message, only an attachment to it. She opened it and quickly read through until the end and then she smiled a wicked one. "Ah here we go. This is what I need" Alice muttered and she quickly typed her thankful reply overlayed with her reassurance.
"Wh-what is it?" asked Erina.
"The answer to cornering dear Uncle. I'll be passing it on to Ayame-chan because she needs it more than I do"
Alice waved her phone in front of Erina's face. She watched as her eyes widened in surprise and then confusion as she tried to mull over what her statement meant. Alice reached out again and squeezed Erina's soft and calloused hand harder, causing her dear cousin to look up sharply. She held her gaze, refusing to budge. She silently demanded Erina to buck up because the school's future was riding on this…
Tonight
Satoshi sat beneath the old elm tree carefully scanning the sheet of paper stuck inside his school diary. The list of times and designated areas which had been tabulated imprinted themselves in his mind. It was the roster of security posted around the Tootsuki Administration building. He mulled over his plan over and over in his mind. He was sure it would work. It was all in the timing and here he had the times of all the security guards for their target spot.
'At least he pulled through on his end of the deal'
How fortunate for Satoshi that he had a spy on the inside. Somebody he held at arm's length. Not quite trusting, but not distrusting either. They delivered and that was enough of Satoshi. They took the measurements, information and smuggled it to him. They ran with Central, continuing play their part in enforcing the new piece of Central legislation. There was like, a new one each week. Each as ridiculous as the next.
He leaned his auburn head back and raised one knee up to rest his wrist. He fiddled with the edge of paper, being carefully not to get a paper cut while he reflected what had happened and also what had yet come to pass. It had been difficulty not being around his kouhai the last few weeks. Thankfully he could tell them everything he wanted to them and Ayame-chan before he was suddenly notified that he would no longer be staying to Polar Star Dormitory. It had hit him hard, but he refused to show that to his dear kohais or to Director Azami's men. He accepted their decision with no fuss, however his dear friends kicked up a storm. He had to quickly silence them and assured them that everything was going to be fine. The last thing he wanted was morality to drop just because he wasn't going to physically be there with him anymore. Satoshi thought his message came across well because the burning hatred and determination in his kouhais eyes promised that they wouldn't be defeated. Cut of one head and another shall take its place. Yukihira Souma became the next undisputed pillar of support, but it wasn't as if Director Azami was going to really see him as a threat to the administration body. Yes, Souma-kun's cooking prowess was a force to be reckoned with and he was instrumental in Satoshi gaining new resources, arsenal and information from all their shokugekis. But when it came to strategy and tactics, that was where Satoshi reigned. He guessed that automatically made him the leader of the Rebel Alliance.
'This will work. It has to work'
The solution to all their problems birthed from his mind was… unlike anything he had ever thought of before. But it had elements to it that made sense. Despite it being risky, far-fetched and plain unbelievable, the craziness was worth a solid attempt. Souma-kun was the first to respond in agreement as Satoshi knew he would, because craziness was Souma-kun's style. The ex-seventh seater learnt from his example that 'playing safe' never won in the long-term. One had to come in with gun's blazing to get things done. Therefore, he took a leaf out of Souma-kun's book. If his other Polar Star kohais thought this was taking the cake, and Souma-kun was all for it, then it would work. It was as simple as that. It was only a matter of time until Nakiri Azami got around to expelling the Rebel Alliance since he had all the power to do so without qualms from the school board, so they literally had nothing to lose. Now it was the waiting game.
It was only midday and yet it felt like the final stage of his plan was just around the corner. He rehearsed this many times in his head and it was a pity he couldn't do so with his kouhais. He hoped everyone was ready. Especially Nakiri Erina and Kanda-san.
Satoshi snapped a picture of the roster with his phone and emailed it to Alice-san. He used his personal email instead as he knew the school would be monitoring school emails, especially his. Folded the piece of paper away and tucked it back into his school diary. As soon as the message was sent, he deleted the photo. He trusted Alice-san would know what to do with it and he had faith in everybody else.
King Kong Kang!
The bell for next period started and Satoshi wasn't keen on going. The classes to him were useless as he would be expected produce dish after homogenous dish with inane repetition that would mask his true skill as an ingenious chef, all for the sake of conforming to 'supreme gourmet food' as dictated by Nakiri Azami. The isolation he felt from being separated from his usual classes and his kouhais made him despondent, however he would endure it. Until tonight anyway.
Satoshi picked himself up and dusted the stray leaves and grass from his pants. He watched in the distance as students marched in straight lines back into the school buildings with educators following suit.
Ding!
He hummed in delight and read the email on his phone.
From: Nakiri. A
To: Satoshi. I
Subject RE: (no subject)
1 Attachment
Thanks! I'll pass it onto Ayame-chan :)
-A
He deleted it after reading.
He deleted it again from the deleted folder.
He smiled brightly. Yep, he trusted his kouhais to act without further instruction from him. After all, they were all highly capable. It seemed Kanda-san also didn't mind taking and extra role, which was fortunate, he guessed. Satoshi packed up his empty lunch box and made his way serenely after the rest of the students as they all filed into the pristine corridors. He sensed on the edge of his periphery watchful eyes hidden in the shadows, as well as the surveillance cameras. He was almost flattered that the administration was keeping such a close eye on him. It was annoying, but he found a way to work around them. Nakiri Azami's awareness of something significant was going on must have been growing for weeks. That was entirely the reason why he decided they had to act fast and after today, before the Director dipped further into his resources to stop them. All Satoshi had to do was play nice and the administration couldn't touch him. His family was one of the biggest donors to the school, and without them, Tootsuki Academy wouldn't be as well facilitated as they were now.
Satoshi quickly changed into his chef's uniform in the assigned change room, tucking everything neatly into his locker. When he was done, and straightened his uniform, he merged with other students into Kitchen thirty-six. He stood at attention with his arms crossed over his chest, waiting for the chef to hand them their class assignment for the day.
"Students! In this class, we will be re-creating consommé. Even some of the most experienced chefs cannot master the complex clarification process required to make consommé. However, with Director Azami's instruction. You will learn how to do this correctly and perfectly every time. The recipe is on the board. Follow it to the letter. I will be around to make sure nobody strays from it"
Satoshi read every line on the whiteboard and resisted the urge to snort at the precise instructions. He could think of a hundred and ten ways he would change the recipe to suit his own methods, as well as his kohais' specialties.
"You will be graded at the end of the class and it will add to your overall mark at the end of the semester. Take caution otherwise there will be consequences"
Satoshi felt that last remark was directed to him. He let the smile bloom on his face while he stared straight at the class chef. It was strange they students all around the classroom, whether they were supporting the director or not were about to have their futures changed for good in only a few hours. He suddenly felt the air change around him. By the commanding hands of the chef which sliced through the air for the students to begin, Satoshi caught one last gaze out the window.
The sun was shining bright in the sky, but the clouds were moving quickly.
"I think there is an oncoming storm" he commented to nobody in particular
Tonight
"Chizuru-chan, it would be so much easier if you gave Alice-san your email address. That way, we wouldn't have to start off all this chain-mail" said Ayame.
The locker beside hers banged noisily as Chizuru-chan leaned against it, slipping into her outdoor shoes. Ayame closed hers gently and then slipped her book bag over her shoulder. She watched as her best friend's face screwed up in non-commital thought before shrugging her small shoulders. Ayame noticed that had been happening a lot lately. Chizuru-chan was spacing out more often which affected her participation in conversations with herself and Kuchiyose-kun. She would bet anything it was to do with Terunori-san. Out of respect for her friend she decided not to probe into it because it was now becoming a sensitive topic.
"I don't like to clutter up my address book" she replied curtly.
"I'm forwarding you the attachment from her now" said Ayame.
Ayame flipped open her phone and clicked through to her email inbox. She proceeded to click the right button and watched the little bar fill up until the symbol for a letter with wings blinked, confirming the email had be sent straight to Chizuru-chan. The loud bleep from Chizuru-chan's phone sounded out amongst the chatter of her fellow students. Ayame hugged her phone to her chest and practically buzzed in her shoes. It was finally happening! Everything was going to fall into place and the Rebel Alliance will finally strike Nakiri Azami down! Ayame did a fist pump inside. The ingenuity of Isshiki-san's plan was so creative and nothing like she could ever plan herself. She felt in her bones that this would work. Everybody was counting on him and Nakiri Erina-san. She really admired the aurburn-haired upperclassman for his shrewdness, wit and sharp mind. She couldn't imagine what kind of chef he was if he utilised all his mental faculties. She and Chizuru-chan managed to squeeze from the sea of students flooding from the doors and trotted out the front gates. She peeked her shining green eyes to the side and she could also see the adventure brimming in her friend's eyes.
Once Chizuru-chan's hands were free from holding her bag close to her chest, she fished out her phone and swiped it to open the email without looking at the attachment.
"Annndd… a few words and sending it to him now"
After a minute of rapid tapping on the keypad and a flourish on the last tap, her short-haired friend paused, smiled and then stuffed her phone back into her skirt pockets.
"You sure he will read it before tonight falls?" asked Ayame.
"I wrote in the subject bar that it was my new strategy to defeat our opposing team on League of Legends so I'm sure he'll open it. Then I explained what I really wanted him to do in the actual message" Chizuru-chan grinned and stuck out her tongue.
"And you know he'll agree to this?"
"He has to. He owes me for saving his team's arse. He should be damn lucky we're allies on League of Legends"
The wind picked up and Ayame pulled her coat over herself some more.
"Hah. You're actually excited to be finally involved" Ayame smirked.
"Not going to deny it. Kicking someone's butt is always satisfying" Chizuru-chan smirked back.
Ayame shook her head. She hoped Isshiki-san knew how truly lucky it was to have Chizuru-chan as part of his arsenal now. She could be horrific when she needed to be, especially with the resources and connections she had at her disposal as a prominent figure in the gaming platforms. She didn't know why she hadn't mentioned about Chizuru-chan's skill set earlier to Isshiki-san. Perhaps it was because she was so busy with other things, Takumi-kun and pop quizzes, and not to mention her best friend tended to be indifferent to the Tootsuki students' plight anyway. There was slight skip in her step and she fought from walking faster than she needed to. Takumi-kun and Isami-kun said they would meet in front of her house to help her gather all the things she needed before heading to their apartment. She had a secret dream she hadn't spoken to anyone about and this was the perfect moment to make it come true.
'I've always wanted to create my own crisis suite!'
Bleep!
"Oh, I'm buzzing!" Chizuru-chan fished out her phone.
She showed Ayame the prompt reply from her League of Legends friend.
To: Namikaze. C
From: Takagi. F
Subject: RE: FW: THIS TIME WE'LL GANK HIS ASS.
1 Attachement
Dude. All you need is a van, cable ties and an alibi.
But yeah, I'm free tonight so I'll do it.
Send me details
-F
Ayame smiled and nodded. Yep, everything so far was in their favour. The suspense flooded her system. Oh… she was so looking forward to…
Tonight
Darkness cloaked the world. Night time reigned supreme.
He crouched low behind the reception desk feeling utterly cramped. He adjusted the fit-bit wrapped snuggly on his wrist and shifted in his spot but he couldn't move much if he didn't want to risk touching the person beside him more than he had to. The over-powering scent of cinnamon assaulted his nostrils. He sighed. Mi'lady wouldn't let him hear the end of it if he didn't cooperate with the school-dropout nicely.
"Oi Kurokiba. Move your arse"
"Shut your face Hayama, you're the one taking up the most room"
He felt Hayama jerk next to him, trying to release his foot from under his thighs. The sleep-deprived student chef squirmed uncomfortably, silently demanding the stupid receptionist to hurry up and turn out the lights because his legs were starting to fall asleep too.
The two powerhouse chefs growled at one another, shooting electrifying glares between them in the cramped space under the desk, each trying to dominate the most room. Things had been going fine when they snuck into the administration building after working hours. It was easy because the roster Mi'lady supplied told them when and where the security was switching up, which allowed them a few minutes to duck-and-roll into the security camera blind spots while they left, which were also helpfully outlined in the map on the second page of the roster. Shit was about to hit the fan when one of the stupid ladies scurried back into the office because she forgot her coat. So, the dick-head had pulled him under without a moment to lose.
Ryou itched to untie his bandana and wound it around his head so he could have an excuse to bite Hayama's head off. Instead he concentrated on his surroundings not captured by his sharp vision. His keen hearing could still detect the soft shuffling of the receptionist as she put on her coat. He could hear her huddling up with her fellow female colleagues waiting for her, bemoaning about the cold weather as they always do. The loud and shrill beeps of the alarm being set pierced the air and thin the trill from the little keypad signified that it was now armed. He didn't want to, but he listened closely to their conversation for any words they dropped that could provide a hint to Director Azami's current movements that might potentially cock-block Isshiki-senpai's plan. Finally, the door shut and the lights were extinguished and the two were blanketed in utter darkness.
"Don't fuck this up, alright? My job is on the line" warned the Bengali chef under his breath.
"Relax your balls. As long as you stay out of my way, you'll be fine" Ryou growled back, feeling his inner beast shifting without his bandana.
"Are we going yet?"
"No. The alarm is still on. We gotta wait until they shut it off"
'They' meaning the support team who didn't have the guts to infiltrate on the front lines. If Ryou wasn't tied to Mi'lady or was an idealist at heart, he'd turn around right now. He couldn't think of a reward high enough to make him want to skulk around the administration building in the dead of night with Hayama by his side to pave the way for Isshiki-senpai's plan. Isshiki-senpai had somehow Shanghaied Hayama into this ridiculous plot. He had a feeling it didn't take much to convince him and he was operating on some sort of obligation or moral compass. Either way, he was rather glad it was Hayama and not any of the other morons who was partnered with him in this first part of the plan. Hayama and Ryou peered through the darkness towards the blinking red light between the gaps of the office tables from where they hid. It winked at them repeatedly and they waited with baited breath.
Red light
3
Red light
2
Red light
1
Green light.
"The alarm's disarmed. Let's get moving"
"Hn" replied Hayama.
They rolled out from their hiding spot, thankful to be stretching out their limbs and not smelling each other's clothes at such close quarters. Ryou made a mental note to throw everything into the laundry hamper. Or burn it. Whichever was easier. The two students crouched low as they swiftly moved to the next table by the door. Ryou reached out and turned the door knob, seeing that it was unlocked. He and Hayama sped out, tuning their ears and straining their eyes in the darkness. He could see the outlines of furniture highlighted by the shining moon outside. The silence was deafening save for the footsteps down the corridor as the change-over of security was still happening. He knew that their time was slowly running out and they would have to camp in the next blind spot or risk being detected. Ryou lead the way, scaling against the wall as he made it to the door which would open out into the main Administration building corridor.
"First security camera" Hayama breathed from behind him.
Ryou looked up and sought the blinking red light.
It slowly swerved from side to side, like a cautious firefly. He pressed himself closer to the plaster wall, stilling his breathing as much as possible. The camera couldn't see them from this angle, but his instincts continued to flare up violently, licking up his insides.
Red light
3
Red light
2
Red light
1
Nothing
"First corridor security camera is disabled"
Hayama shot out from behind him and scaled along the wall in front of him. The corridor beyond them was still brightly lit, however per Mi'lady's cousin, all administrating staff member should already have clocked off. This meant the skiderik Nakiri was still lurking around doing work, therefore his security was still prowling around too.
Like the one ten metres in front of him.
Hayama and Ryou simultaneously pulled something from beneath their jackets. He snapped it onto his face and strapped it tightly so that it fit snuggly and he breathed through the filter positioned in front of his mouth. Each had Mi'lady's gas mask which was donated to the cause. He peered through the Perspex towards the back of Hayama's back, who pulled out a bottle from the fanny pack strapped to his hips. They crouched and rolled silently towards a large potted plant. Ryou looked up, pleased to see the next security camera lifeless on the ceiling. The man moving back and forth in front of him was too relaxed. Big mistake. One should never let their guard down, no matter what. Another huge mistake. The security guard stopped and decided to check his phone. The trappings of technology let none escape. He could feel Hayama bristling in front of him, ready to pounce. A piece of thick cloth found its way into his other hand. He turned around and nodded quickly to Ryou. The fuck? He didn't need to be told what to do.
Ryou lunged from behind.
THUMP!
He wrapped his muscled arm around the man's neck and brought him down onto the carpeted floor with a muffled crash. The man gasped in surprised, but Ryou grappled his legs around his knees and flipped him onto his stomach. His inner beast growled into his gas mask and continued to roll until he was straddling the man's back. He squeezed the guards neck into the crook of his elbows until his face turned purple.
"The fuck Kurokiba! Just take him down, not kill him! I've brought chloroform for a god damn reason, you know!" Hayama hissed, panic and frantic fear lining his voice.
Ryou shot his head towards Hayama with a snarl. He had forgotten that anything tight placed over his head was enough to bring his inner beast out to the forefront. His blood-lust had rushed at him with no warning and before he knew it, he was exerting more of his strength than what Mi'lady would be happy with. The man gurgled helplessly beneath him until he fell silent. Trails of his saliva coated Ryou's elbow as he reluctantly released the man. He fell limp from his grip with a dull thud, the shaking breathing brought air, bit by bit into the man's lungs, signifying that he was merely unconscious.
"Forget it. Here's some cable ties. Tie him up and shove him in that closet over there" Hayama ordered in exasperation.
Ryou clucked his tongue, feeling feral irritation bleeding into his personality again. He grabbed the man's limbs and dug into his pockets for the cable ties. He secured them over his thick wrists and the ankles. With a might show of strength, he hauled the adult onto his shoulders and Hayama hurried over to support the other side. Hayama opened the nearest closet and they both shoved the man inside. Ryou was about to shut the door on him, but Hayama's arm shot out to stop him. He turned around ready to snap at him from behind his gas mask. The Bengali chef quickly retracted his arm to show him the security guard's phone. He promptly switched it off and threw it at his feet. Next, he yanked the ear-piece out before snatching the door from Ryou's grip and closed it himself.
Hayama twisted the outside lock.
"So, nobody wakes him up" he said. "Now, you just need to restrain them and I'll cover their mouth with— OI!"
Ryou didn't hear the rest of his inane instructions as he felt the presence of another security officer about to turn around the corner. He curled himself up and as soon as a shiny, black leather shoe emerged around the bend, Ryou sprang forward and tackled him to the ground.
"What the-?"
THUMP!
Ryou right hooked him across the face.
"Don't need your stupid chloroform, Hayama"
He watched in delight as the tanned chef ripped the gas-mask from his face and basically gaped at Ryou with incredulity. He could see the blood vessels pulsing on his temple and the veins in his jade-green eyes started to show itself. Hayama was clearly trying to keep himself together and not throttle Ryou on the spot for deviating from the original plan. Ha! As if Ryou listened to anyone other than his instincts. He got up and dusted himself. The security was pathetic. They were just for show. He wished the Director would actually hire real security guards and not wannabes just so he had the satisfaction of having a real fight to the death!
"Hurry up. Put this guy in the other closet"
"Shut up. Don't tell me what to do" Ryou grunted.
He tied up the second man and then he too tossed him into another closet. He unsnapped the latch on his gas-mask and his wild hair fell across his eyes. He could already feel the beast being chained up inside, howling and unwilling to return to the abyss. Not for long anyway. He unlaced his firey bandana from his wrist and secured it around his head. His eyes blazed and his feral aura burst from his body feeling empowered again as the chains which futilely tried to imprison his inner beast snapped again. He howled on the inside.
"There should be two more security guards in the next corridor and that's it. The next few security cameras should be dead too and the pathway to Azami's office will be clear of any trouble for Isshiki-senpai and the Nakiri cous— Hey wait! Where are you going?!"
Fuck Azami! The Cerberus of Tootsuki was out for blood!
"Make sure it gets signed by Doujima-san first thing tomorrow morning. That's all for tonight"
"Yes Director!"
Azami flashed her a friendly and warm smile as he adjusted his supple leather gloves. His secretary blushed profusely and smiled back at him shyly before scampering away to get her duties ready for tomorrow. Upon reflection of the day, he found it to be mundane. Restructuring the teaching staff was ticked off the list months ago, and so far, no problems. He had tackled the harder duties including creating and enforcing the new curriculum and the new school policies. Hardly any resistance since he had a new teaching staff anyway. Everything was running like clock-work. The well-oiled-machine known as Tootsuki was rumbling closer and closer to his realisation. Soon, his vision of the future would be reality.
Azami grinned as he thought of the next course of action. Once he finished remodelling Tootsuki to his image, the next thing was targeting the restaurants in the local district. He would design a contract to propose a 'partnership' with the restaurants in Western Tokyo first.
'Join or die'
The world would see the restaurants making a voluntary decision to join his empire, but really… the art of making the deal was in his favour, just like everything else and for nobody else. Join him and Azami would promise them prospering business, wealth, a seat with him at the pinnacle of his gourmet kingdom. They would be bestowed the honour of creating only the dishes his Central approved of. There was no greater reward for submitting themselves to his rule. If they didn't comply, then he would pressure the suppliers and manipulate the factors to sour their business. That was punishment and would be an exhibition of his vast influences and power, which he would make them wish they had on their side and not had opposed. He would make that crystal clear of course. He already had more than twenty restaurants being driven to the point of closing.
'Next thing will be the Rebels. Now. What to do with them'
The straightforward answer from an uneducated individual was to expel them right now. But that wouldn't be ideal. They would become martyrs to their cause and that wasn't a fly in the ointment he wanted to deal with, nor would it be in his favour should word get out to the media. He wouldn't underestimate the effects of striking down an enemy without just cause because they technically hadn't broken any of the policies. He could tell his niece had helped them to jump through the loops. Instead, he ordered the shokugeki bureau to throw them shokugekis to naturally purge them from his school. He was naturally against shogekis. However he wanted to be done with them with as little mental exercise as possible and the fastest way was through shokugekis and let the chips fall where they may. In his favour of course. So far it was ineffective in the end and it only made the minor war against them more interesting. They named themselves the Rebel Alliance. An unfortunate and boastful name, thinking it would bolster their confidence to rebel against Central.
'Children were so naïve'
They had gained quite a following that was not just Polar Star Dormitory, but other Research Societies which survived the purge as well. Yukihira Souma and Isshiki Satoshi had already inspired those around them and each week, their meager forces were growing at snail's pace. Inconsequential. They were the face of the revolution. Anyhow, the ratio between his loyal students and the trouble makers were four to one. Azami strode across the rich carpet towards his office. The security must be a bit late in changing-over, but no matter. It was very close to winter anyway and were probably ducking out for a quick coffee before returning to their new post.
For months now, he had Isshiki Satoshi tailed. Oh, what an interesting character, he was. It was a pity he declined to join by his side in Central. It was such a waste considering he had talent, pedigree, old wealth and status in the gourmet food world. It was everything Azami could ever want in a strong follower. Yet he decided to foolishly sell himself to the false doctrine that talent should embody creativity rather than perfection. He knew the ex-seventh seater was up to something. He could see it in the way he spoke, the way he looked at people, and the way he walked around the campus through the security feed. The serenity on his young face and the self-assured confidence glittering in his glacier-blue eyes plucked his heart-string in warning. Isshiki Satoshi was...
Intelligent
Witty
Cunning
And merciless
A mirror of himself.
If he couldn't have him, then neither would the Rebel Alliance. Azami permanently separated Isshiki Satoshi from his kohais by designating him into the main building dormitories. Whatever he was planning wouldn't work. There were limitations a minor could do in an adult's world, and Isshiki Satoshi was meddling in business and affairs way out of his league. This was his punishment.
The soft and controlled breathing from his other security behind him at an exact two metres away enveloped him in a serene calm. They were enough for him tonight. He kept these men out of habit rather than for actual protection. Image and representation itself held power and was enough to intimidate and put people in the places, reminding them who was in control. That worked for both the staff and the students.
Finally Azami rounded the corner towards his office. There were a few things he needed to do before he retired to the doujou where he would practice his kenjutsu and meditate. He stepped up to the looming doors and pushed his hands on it. It opened easily and he slithered in, his security maintaining their agreed two metres as he stepped thought the threshold. He opened his onyx-black eyes and looked straight into…
Glacial blue ones
"Good evening Azami-dono, or should I say Azami-jukeisha"
Azami narrowed his eyes. Suspect? He attached the honorific used for police suspects to the end of his name? How strangh. The boy whom he was momentarily thinking about was sitting in his chair, behind his desk. He squared him with cold blue eyes from above slender fingers laced in front of him with his elbows propped onto the antique desk. Such impudence! He dared seat himself in the director's chair. No. stay refined. Azami squelched down the indigence and bile from his throat. He purged himself of such emotions left over from his Academy days as they had no place within him anymore. To the left of his desk was his niece, Alice, his daughter, Erina and her aide, Arato. They were the spitting images of both their mothers, but so much younger, reminding him that they were still children. The seriousness and intensity in their passionate and juvenile eyes stroked amusement within him.
He closed his eyes and smiled condescendingly.
"I see you've made yourself comfortable in my office, Isshiki-kun" he said.
"I suggest you do the same. We have things to talk about"
SLAM!
Azami spun his head around at the clap of thunder behind him, only to see the large doors to his office had been forcefully slammed shut with reverberating beats which shook the ground he stood on. On both sides of ornate frame was Kurokiba Ryou cracking his bulging knuckles looking cruel and hungry for some physical altercation. On the other was Hayama, the composed spice-master who he dusted his hands and fixed a vicious glare on his person. His security also spun around to confront a new threat.
"Why you little-!"
"Halt"
Azami raised his hand and stopped his security from moving a muscle. No. It wouldn't do to harm the children despite their audacity to confront him so boldly in his own office, and make quite a dramatic show of it. Azami tilted his head at Isshiki-kun, his smile widening as he projected a gracious and tranquil aura. My, my, my. They must have gone through such trouble to get here and wait for him. No wonder why not a single of the corridor security was in sight. What had they done to them?
Azami stepped one foot after the other until he was right in front of the boy sitting in his seat. He placed his fingers delicately on the wood and leaned his whole body forward. He watched as Isshiki-kun sucked in a breath through his flaring nostrils and how his body fought him to keep still. Azami released an empty chuckle. Isshiki-kun was human, therefore he was not immune to fear.
"If you insist. Why don't you humour me?" his voice dripped with poisonous honey.
Azami leaned back, not without casting Erina a smile too, reminding her who provided the most love to her in this world where he gifted her with her skill, born from his own ingenuity and hard work so that she could live a life high above the rest. His darling daughter shifted her gaze downwards immediately and she trembled. Suddenly her hands were snatched up by his niece who snarled at him like a little lioness. He eyed his security, making sure that they heeded his instruction and did not touch a single of the students in his office.
"I see how you dance around us, picking the rebels off one by one and separating us from one another, so I'll extend you the same curtesy. Ever since you came back to Tootsuki with Nadeshiko-sama's Last Will and Testament, we had been suspicious of the circumstances surrounding it and the timing of your arrival"
Azami raised an eyebrow.
"We pooled our resources and investigated it. The doctor's report and the coronor's report from Senzaemon-dono was highly suspicious and upon further investigation, we found that Nadeshiko-sama's death was unnatural"
Isshiki-kun lifted himself from his chair. His voice was stone-cold and the muscles in his arms bunched up at the shoulders. Azami's smirk remained plastered on his face as he propped his leather-gloved hands on his hips. Azami leered.
"Nadeshiko-sama was a sickly individual to begin with and often fell ill. Her condition was fragile after Nakiri-kun's birth, and when she suddenly fell ill, the doctors failed to diagnose that the combination of symptoms Nadeshiko presented with conformed to that of hemlock poisoning"
"What a fantastical conclusion Isshiki-kun. Did you need help conjuring that tale?"
Azami couldn't help but laugh lowly under his breath. He could hear his niece growling at him. Isshiki-kun remained undeterred and still watched him carefully from the other side of the desk.
"Does it sound like a tale? Truth can be stranger than fiction. We have all the evidence we need to convict you and have your thrown out of Tootsuki"
Azami threw his head back and his well-groomed hair fell from his place with a mighty snort. The surge of cruel hilarity throttled through him at Isshiki-kun's accusation. He laughed cruelly and cackled with abandon. It was too much to hold in! His shoulders shook and his snide smirk split his face after he emptied himself with that wonderful burst of energy. Dear little Isshiki-kun. He really went over his head this time. He had thrown himself into the shark's cage carelessly and this shark had defeated his foe thousands of time over. These children weren't just naïve. They were also ignorant.
"Huh. You think I'm the murderer? No… You want me to be the murderer. This is your tactic. This is how you plan to get rid of me… By framing me"
Isshiki-kun continued, much to Azami's delight.
"It all started with the information broker, Orihara Izaya, who claimed to have worked for you. By chance, he had revealed to me that he had knowledge of you taking advantage of Nadeshiko-sama's declining health and planned a hasty death so that you could orchestrate her Last Will and Testament to be written in your favour. When Senzaemon-dono found out his daughter chose you to be the director-elect, that threw a spanner into your plans and he rescinded the document from the government and hid it. He forged his own to stop you from taking over. You went into hiding after excommunication, biding your time until you gained enough influence and power for the right moment. That was when you contacted Orihara Izaya to hack, locate and retrieve the real Last Will and Testament that matched your chirographed one"
Azami sucked on his teeth, his smile gone from his pale face. Orihara huh. It looked like he didn't take well to being arrested just shortly after their final meeting. Azami did not think any more of the man after his name was splashed on the headlines and sought peace of mind that the information broker would no longer be a potential threat to his plans. That man's head was not screwed on correctly and tended to be a tricky wild-card, never knowing what he would do next. Azami had a feeling that Orihara would pull strings just as much as he did. Even now, he could still see that all knowing, self-satisfied grin pulling on the information broker's face. This was his revenge act on his client after getting arrested, it seemed.
"Next we had to have solid proof that it was hemlock poisoning. So, with the help of others, we dug out evidence from Lady Nadeshiko's old room which was preserved at the moment of her death, and we interviewed maids who used to work for her. Luckily for us the room was undisturbed for sixteen years, so the evidence was uncontaminated. We found black tea stains on a discarded hand towel which tested positive to small traces of coniine, the prevalent alkaloid found in poison hemlock which gives it, its toxicity. You poisoned her tea"
Isshiki-kun slapped down a manila folder onto the table and pushed it towards Azami. He looked at it coldly. He didn't need to open it to know that it must be an independent report which tested the the so-called black tea stain. Azami instead clasped his arms behind his back. He was amazed at the details laid out before him and spoken so eloquently by the student.
"How could you be sure it was I?" he baited Isshiki-kun.
"You were right there when Nadeshiko-sama drew her last breath. Her blood was on your fingertips when you tore that photo and did nothing. You didn't help, you didn't call the maids, you didn't call the doctor for more than thirty minutes. That's how long it takes for blood to coagulate and split, which was exactly what we found on the tatami mat by her futon. Your bloodied finger-print as well as a productive interview with Chiyo-san, Lady Nadeshiko's lady in waiting from the Nakiri Manor who witnessed you as the last person to leave her room, puts you as the primary suspect"
Isshiki-kun jabbed his finger against the manila folder. Azami felt his fingers ball into fists. A flash of their wedding photo flittered across his mindscape. A momentary sharp stab in his heart made his bones sing and ache.
Deep violet eyes.
Soft pale skin
A cheerful smile.
'No…!'
Azami obliterated it from his memory.
"To find further proof that it was you, I visited Orihara-san again. He directed me to the place where you had originally bought dried poison hemlock"
Isshiki-kun revealed a large, dirty and ratty scroll from under the desk and unfurled it across the expanse of the large desk. A whirlwind of dust smelling musty basements full of herbs and spices tickled his nose. Azami spotted a post-it note marker at a particular entry and he narrowed his eyes at it. He didn't need to lean further to read what Isshiki-kun had marked because he told him anyway.
"April Seventeenth, year 2000… Nakamura Azami… one momme of dried dokuninjin stems. Four thousand yen. This ledger from Goshinboku Pharmacy has your name, date and signed by the black-market poison-trader from sixteen-years-ago"
Suddenly an urgent pull clasped around his lapels and almost yanked him to the floor. He looked down in anger to see his fragile and traitorous daughter clutching desperately onto his suit, ruining the starched fabric. Her golden hair whipped wildly around her and her eyes filled with anguish and confusion. Her face was red and tears began spilling from eyes that reminded him so much of Nadeshiko.
"I-I've seen the evidence with my own eyes! WHY DID YOU DO IT FATHER?! WHY DID YOU KILL HER?! WHAT HAD MOTHER-"
SLAP!
He had no idea what happen. At first Erina was making a disgraceful spectacle of herself and him and suddenly she was on the floor at his feet, pathetically nursing her rapidly swelling cheek. Azami stood frozen slowly becoming aware that his right hand was raised. He looked to it in wonder, squinting his eyes as he scrutinised the leather of his glove that felt slightly warm and slightly stinging as he had just slapped his daughter in the face. He hummed and then clenched and unclenched it before dropping it to his side. So… even though it's been years since he had hit her, the feeling was still the same. It was necessary.
"Erina!"
"Erina-sama!"
The two girls threw themselves to the floor by his daughter's side. Her aide wrapped her arms around Erina's torso to gently hauled her up. Tears were also brimming in her eyes and raging fear paralysed her to the floor, right beside his fallen daughter. Erina was now openly crying and he wanted to roll his eyes. She had endured worse from him in the past, why was she wailing like his now? His niece grabbed her hand and stroked her hair, pain and fury marred her expression until her eyes bled-red. She darted her chin in his direction and her shrill voice left him slightly deaf.
"How dare you!" she shrieked.
"I-I'm okay… Alice… It's nothing I'm unaccustomed too" Erina rasped through her sobs.
'That's my girl'
"No! That is not alright! You have no right to touch you like that. Uncle! You are a vile and despicable man and I'm ashamed to call you my family!"
A tingling sensation rippled across the back of his head, as if fingers had quickly brushed through his hair. Perplexed, he reached around to touch his soft strands. He turned and was genuinely surprised to see Kurokiba Ryou's hands mere centimetres away from him. His fingers were out-stretched, searching to dig themselves into his skin and rip him apart. The other had already dug itself into the solid arms around his waist pulling him back from his person. Azami smiled and took a step back from the feral student, leaving some safe distance. The Danish boy from the ghetto struggled against the tightening hold from one of his strongest bodyguards like an untamed tiger. His eyes were wild and barbaric as it soley trained on Azami and his teeth bared at him like a wild savage. His body guard, Shigure-san, was having some difficulty with the student, but nothing he couldn't handle as he held him in place like a collared dog.
"Brænd i Helvede...!"
Azami smirked at his Danish insult. Well, it looked like his protective instincts extended to Erina as well, not just to Alice. A grunt notified him that Hayama too had his arms twisted roughly behind his back. His long silver hair had escaped his hair tie as he tried his best to shake of his second strongest bodyguard, Tomatsu-san. He huffed from his futile attempts and his over exertion, trying to reach over to Azami. Disgust and horror at his actions burned in the Bengali students eyes as well.
"Now. Where were we?"
Azami merely smirked back at his niece and the other aide, which fuelled her ire. His niece and the aide helped Erina up to her feet and placed her onto the visitor's couch. Both girls bared their teeth at him. The way they tried to defend his daughter from him was remarkable and commendable to say the least. Erina sure knew who to pick as her loyalists. He turned his attention back to Isshiki-kun who was staring at the floor where Erina had lain just a few seconds ago. He couldn't see his face, by her rage was tangible in the air.
"You… are a monster" he seethed.
Finally, he looked up through his auburn fringes and Azami was met with cold fury which personified the arctic storms responsible for taking the lives of many snow explorers. Azami stepped forward again. He relished in seeing Isshiki-kun hold his ground. Such a strong disposition. He glared back at him defiantly and his eyes swam with utter hatred. Well, he was used to it. He didn't get to where he was by being nice and by being well-liked.
"You have all the evidence, you say. Then why do you need to confront me like this?"
Step
"Why not go to the police?"
Step
Isshiki-kun stiffened his jaw. There it was. The true reason why this whole situation was engineered.
"Oh… you want a confession"
His eyes shone under the office lights.
"Then you obviously don't have everything. I guess you can't be as thorough sixteen years after my late wife's death, can you? Since you went through such pains to unearth all this Nakiri anguish, I'll deign you with what you want. But first"
SNAP!
Azami snapped his fingers.
"Search them"
Azami could hear Kurokiba and Hayama plummet to the floor with a loud crash. His bodyguard were trained in take-down methods that would both incapacitate, and keep both those students on the floor and regret they even tried to test their strengths. He watched his niece, daughter and her aide's eyes widened in horror, their mouths in a silent scream. Their trembling hands lifted up towards their face in pathetic attempts for self-preservation. Azami closed his eyes momentarily to hear the snaps of mobile phones echo around the rounds. When he opened his eyes, small and large chunks of metal and an array of wires littered the floor at his feet, ensuring that no such recording devices was permissible in his space.
"Alice. Erina. Arato. Cooperate"
Next his body guards approached the three girls, their muscles flexing as they roughly shoved their all three girls arms up and patted them down. They snatched up three more smartphones and promptly switched them off before throwing them at Azami's feet. Finally, they searched Isshiki-kun. He held his arms up with no question and his chin held high. It was so admirable. In the face of humiliation, Isshiki-kun still endeavoured to maintain his dignity in this unravelling and losing battle. After his men patted down the ex-seventh seater, they procured both his mobile phones…
… and an audio-recorder.
"Hah. I've been playing this game much longer than you have, Isshiki-kun"
He intended to secretly record the confession to add to his growing pile of evidence for the police, did he? Clever. But not clever enough. Azami flipped the audio-recorder in his palm to inspect its quality. It was new. Such a shame. He gripped it with both his hands and snapped it in half. He let the sharp plastic casing crumble in his gloved hands and peered at Isshiki-kun through the falling debris. The crunch made the girls wince and Isshiki-kun remained stone-faced. In his periphery, he could detect Kurokiba and Hayama's ragged breaths on the floor, clutching their arms and body in pain as they writhed there like pathetic worms. Again, let that be a lesson to them to think they could challenge his men.
"Now that's out of the way. I'll tell you what you yearn for. Yes. I did poison my wife"
Erina released a strangled sob.
"Why" Isshiki-kun demanded.
"You already know the reason why"
"No. I mean why did it have to be murder?"
"If someone is in the way, you get rid of them—"
"BUT SHE WAS YOUR WIFE!"
"She was a tool"
Isshiki-kun sucked in a breath. Again. Children were so naïve.
"Nadeshiko was my gateway into the gourmet food world. At one point, I think I did love her. Or maybe I loved the idea of her. Either way, our views conflicted. She wasn't the answer to my dream like she had promised. My dream was something others couldn't see, not ever her. That's when I knew I alone could carry it out. But still wanted to, no, had to make them see and without her there to oppose me. It would be easy and simple"
Azami stepped around the desk, approaching Isshiki-kun. He kept his arms folded behind his back, stepping slowly and deliberately, keeping his eyes on the student behind his desk. He watched like a hawk as the student turned to the side, keeping Azami in his view, as well as the body guards who had their knees pressed heavily against Kurokiba and Hayama's back. If those two boys moved recklessly, they would only snap their own spines.
"My empire is the salvation"
He circled to stand right by the window, trapping Isshiki-kun between himself and the chair.
"There is only one method of cuisine and it is the one that abolishes all the competition that seeks to taint and corrupt you young chefs of the future generations. I've watched my precious people fall prey to the corrupt systems, which are riddled with faults, and the double standards thanks to Tootsuki's old and decrepit methods. They were ruined. But my method presents only one standard where none can stray, therefore none could fail"
"You think you are so right…"
"I am. I care for all of you and your future, and that's why I have faith that my values in the ultimate haute cuisine is the right method" he reached out and stroked Isshiki-kun's jawline. "My gift to the future generation is a culinary empire that will be at its highest in advancement where food of god-like quality will be abundant. That's what everyone strives for in their deepest of hearts and I'm the one that will pave the way to that desire and greatness"
"Kami-sama. I preferred that you were actually a monster"
"What?"
"That would explain your lack of humanity" Isshiki-kun stepped forward "You speak of caring for all the students, when really it's all about yourself. You killed your wife for your selfish desires. You abused your daughter for your selfish desires. You take our school for your selfish desires. You care about none but yourself"
Azami frowned at the student who dared to interrupt him.
"You speak of your precious people falling prey to the corrupt system? What about what you are doing now? Your so-called precious students are suffering and falling the same way by your system. Nobody asked this from you. We were thriving under our creativity and support from the school without you. It isn't about bringing this… this… gift for a utopian culinary world! You just wanted revenge for whatever wrong doing against you in the past, which I don't care to know. Your system it cruel to others because for whatever reason you and your friends were treated cruelly long ago. You just want cruelty to beget cruelty. You're no more superior to the ones that were cruel to you. You and your team are just a whole bunch of new cruel people, being cruel to other people who will be inspired to be cruel to others too"
The brat slammed his hand on the table.
"The evidence in in your daughter. You made her in your image and she was cruel to others. She lived a lonely existence and only surrounded in people who delighted in being cruel with her or only saw her for her prestige. It got her nowhere. Until she met Yukihira Souma and the rest of us, she changed for the better and then she surrounded herself in positive people. People who truly cared and strived. She is happier than she ever was. Her cooking flourished exponentially. Isn't that what you want for her and your students?"
Azami could feel his refined control slipping, but he hung onto it tightly.
"My daugher's excellence is because of me. She wouldn't have her God's Tongue to lead without my doing and my guidance. The ultimate values I've instilled in her is the reason why Tootsuki could still stand and will continue standing on many generations to come"
"And what makes you so sure that your values are worth more than the values of the students? Is it the money? The accident of birth that gives you the prestigious name of Nakamura and then Nakiri?"
"Hmph. I move the culinary empire forward. I move this country forward"
The brat shook his head.
"Human progress isn't measured by industry. It's measured by the value you place on a person's future… an unimportant person… a person without privilege… All those students you've expelled… Their values are your values. That's what defines a prosperous generation"
Azami chuckled darkly. He unlaced one hand from behind his back and caressed the ancient oak which made up his table-top.
"What a beautiful speech. The rhythm and vocabulary is quite outstanding. It's enough to move anyone with an ounce of compassion in their hearts…" he looked up and stared in square in the eyes. "So it's really not your night, is it?"
The brat tensed up.
"Well, I guess you got what you wanted, which was my confession so have peace of mind that you and your little investigative team were right. But still you have no evidence for this night except for a few eye witness accounts from a bunch of vengeful students whom nobody is going to take seriously. All your evidences are circumstantial at best, so it will barely make it past the front desk of the local precinct. You truly have nothing now and all your efforts are wasted, Isshiki-kun"
Azami sneered at him.
"Every member of the Rebel Alliance is hereby expelled. I will make sure none of you will have any access to work in hospitality of any kind while I still draw breath"
As soon as he finished his declaration, something didn't feel right. The brat's spirit was supposed to be crushed. The life and hope in his blue eyes were meant to fall in despair. Instead, it flickered with light. What was going on?
"You're right, Azam-dono. Nobody is going to believe the words of a bunch of teenagers. However…"
He crossed his arms and had the gall to smirk right back at him!
"The police will believe audio and video recordings"
"I destroyed your silly little toy"
"Check your pocket"
Ice dripped down Azami's neck. He furrowed his eyes at the brat, catching for any sign for a bluff. He was still smirking with the same curve of those lips he was so familiar with in the mirror. Azami slowly brushed his hand across his pockets and was startled to feel a small bump in it. He gritted his teeth and dived into it and fished out the damned contraption that somehow escaped his notice! He unfurled his fingers and his teeth was immediately on edge.
"How…"
"Nakiri-kun planted it on you" said the brat.
Azami twisted his head towards his daughter… No… the traitorous and ungrateful wench. She was standing up now with her cousin and the aide flanking her sides. She had her arms wrapped around her stomach in self-defence, but her violet eyes were hard and defiant at him. Ha. So the little wench slipped it into his pockets when she lunged at him and grabbed his suit jacket. The little show of crying was meant to distract him. He was suddenly played the fool and it tasted bitter on his tongue. He stared at the little listening device resting in his palm, mocking him. There was a tiny antenna attached to it, which meant his voice was recorded and was transmitting elsewhere, probably being saved to an active laptop stowed away in a place not too far from here.
Azami crushed the thing in his palm.
"You conniving son of a bitch…"
"You once told me I was very much like yourself when you were younger. Actually, I think I'm much cleverer than you were if you haven't thought of all the back-up I could possibly have" said the brat. "Smile for the camera, Azami-yōgisha"
The brat pointed up behind him into the darkness outside his window. Azami's eyes followed his finger. Suddenly, there was a blinking red light floating just outside his window that wasn't there before, swaying slightly to and fro like an insect with the movements of the elm sprigs in the nightly wind. Suddenly, it started to move closer from the shadow until it was almost flush against the glass pane and the light from the office made it visible.
"Is that..."
"Yes. It's a de-comissioned police mini stealth drone, courtesy of the daughter of the Superintendent General of TMPD"
"Hold it still Chizuru-chan! It's going to crash into one of the branches"
"Excuse me! You're talking to one of the finest gamers in Western Tokyo! My skills with the joy stick are unparalleled. I'll show you my scores on the helicopter flight simulation at the arcade if you don't believe me"
"I'm just telling you to be careful"
"And I'm telling you that I've got this in the bag"
Takumi folded his arms on the kitchen bench as he anxiously watched the screen in front of him. The night was filled with people holding their breaths and forgetting to breathe. The victorious feeling of hearing Azami's confession put their minds at rest and justified the cheers bellowing from the Polar Star Dorm members. The screen was steady against the winds right outside their target window. Megumi-san, Isami, Kuchiyose the whole of Polar Star Dorm, Mito-san, and Yukihira were piled into his and Isami's apartment to spectate. Why their apartment? In case Azami's men were planning to schedule their spying routine around Polar Star Dorms tonight.
Takumi watched and listened to Azami talk, and talk while Isshiki-senpai listened. Namikaze navigated Ayame's police commissioned mini-stealth drone very well despite all odds. The two girls had been spending time after school together testing it out on windy days, practicing their precision control for flying the drone exactly how they wanted it against the harsh and unpredictable winds. Takumi could see the Nakiri cousin's and Arato-san were sitting together apprehensively on the visitor's couch while Kurokiba and Hayama weren't given any reprieve at all, still laying on their stomachs under the body guard's knees. It was a sickening sight.
Even worse still was when the bastardo Azami had slapped Nakiri Erina straight onto the floor. Everyone's jaws had dropped! He had committed the criminal act as if it was nothing! Or as if it was reflex from doing it a hundred times! Vergognoso! Yukihira was thrown into a fit and had run for the door, adamant to rampage on foot back to Tootsuki to save Nakiri Erina from her deranged father. Crazily enough, everyone had believed he would be successful in doing just that and risk exposing Isshiki-senpai's plan to record and capture on video. So, the boys had grabbed each of his limbs and threw him into the bathroom. Kuchiyose had jammed his car keys into the handle to successfully lock Yukihira in. Even now, Takumi could still hear Yukihira banging on the door down the corridor with promises to snap-kick Azami in the throat for daring to lay a finger on Nakiri Erina.
"Hey Salvatore, can you remind your girlfriend who was the one who sprained her finger and therefore can't use the joystick, and therefore had to hire some extra help to navigate this drone in her stead?"
Takumi would rather keep out of it. He could hear Ayame pout beside him and before he knew it, her face morphed into her angry turtle face. So adorable. His kitchen bench was getting crowded with many spectators closing in for what looked like Azami's fuse coming short. Ayame reached over Namikaze's shoulder to remote control adjust the sensitivity of the night vision lens on the drone's camera. This drone didn't fail them in foraging for evidences in Lady Nadeshiko's room, so it wouldn't fail them now.
Ayame turned up the volume.
"Check your pockets"
"Oh here we go!" Yoshino-san beamed.
Takumi was transfixed as Azami hesitantly patted his pocket. The widening of his eyes and flare of his nostril was the sweet cream on top their cake. His hand dived into his pocket and out came the listening devices Nakiri Erina planted on him when she grabbed him. The outrage in his eyes spoke of his utter demise.
"How…"
"Nakiri-kun planted it on you" said Isshiki-senpai.
Suddenly, there was a burst of white noise causing everyone to slap their hands over their ears, except for Namikaze who was well trained in focusing on the joystick. The bastardo had destroyed the listening device, which was also decommissioned by the police and fixed up by Ayame. His girlfriend immediately muted the laptop with a harsh grimace on her beautiful face. Even without sound, Takumi could still tell the gist of what was transpiring. Isshiki-senpai pointed behind him and that was Namikaze's cue. She pushed the button that allow the camera light to blink red to alert anyone that it was operational the whole time and not in stealth-mode any longer. Takumi smirked as Azami's expression caved in with utter fury. The bastardo couldn't do anything further as he finally understood he was being watched and audio recorded since the beginning.
"Let's give him a wave everybody!" jeered Yoshino-san.
Everybody waved their hands at the computer screen, knowing full well that the others couldn't see from the other side.
"HEY! Let me out!"
"Have you calmed down yet, Souma-kun?" Sakaki-san yelled back
"Yeah…" came the defeated reply.
Kuchiyose moved away from the bench and disappeared around the corridor to unjam the bathroom door and let Yukihira back out. Soon the irate red-headed chef returned still steaming, but all his pent-up frustration and anger at seeing Nakiri Erina assaulted was almost gone from his system. Almost. Takumi would admit that nobody was going to let that even slide. The red-headed chef grumbled under his breath. He hid his bruised fist from banging on the door into his pocket and parked himself in his original seat beside Takumi, still shaking with pent-up rage. Takumi shared the exact same sentiment.
"Oh, he's leaving now…" Megumi-san pointed to the screen.
Sure enough Azami marched out of the office with waved his hand furiously for his body guards to follow. The two boys, Kurokiba and Hayama slowly rolled onto their back to stretch their aching muscles and welcome the breath now being allowed back into their body. Nakiri Alice rushed to her aide's side while Arato-san tended to Hayama. They two girls helped them up while Isshiki-senpai rushed over to Nakiri Erina's side, who waved him off to show that she was fine.
"Okay guys, I think that's a wrap"
Namikaze leaned the spy drone away and Ayame reached over to adjust the night vision lens to full against as the midget Karakura student piloted the drone away to the designated safe spot to be picked up later. All the video and audio had been recorded and saved straight onto the laptop. Once The drone was hidden in its designated safe spot, which was outside Nakiri Alice's bedroom balcony, Ayame taped a few keys the drone was turned off and the remote disconnected. The screen returned to the splash screen.
"Wow. That was so suspenseful" commented Mito-san. "What do we do with the video?"
"I give it to Otou-san. He'll know what to do with it. I'm positive his homicide team can build a case around Nakiri Azami and have him thrown in jail because this is pretty damning stuff"
"And your dad is…"
"The Superintendent General of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department" Ayame said casually.
"Holy smokes. Aldini-san, how are you still alive?"
"I'm not going to dignify that with a comment" He was still sore with everyone's assumption he got his arsed kicked by the high-ranking police officer last night.
"Hey, Ayame-chan. You never explained how you could get the alarm in the front part of the administration building to disarm, and the surveillance cameras leading to Azami's office to turn off. How did you do that?" asked Isami.
"Oh Chizuru-chan is the right person to answer. Chizuru-chan?"
All eyes turned to Namikaze who as busy putting away the joystick. Her brown eyes peered up curiously at her name being called.
"What? Oh ah… I've got this friend whom I play League of Legends with. He's a pretty good hacker who goes by the alias Falcon. Anyway, I called him in on a favour and he agreed to help. I asked him to hack into Tootsuki's servers and replace the live feed for the cameras specified in the security roster Ayame-chan forwarded to me, from Nakiri Alice, which was from Isshiki-san who in turn got it from somewhere else—"
"Told you chain-mailing was a hassle to explain" Ayame jumped in.
"Yeah, shut up. He replaced the live feed with a looped one so nobody in security would be none the wiser about what Kurokiba-san and Hayama-san were doing to pave the way for Isshiki-san, Arato-san and Nakiris to corner Azami in his office"
"So, you and this hacker buddy… the Falcon. Are you guys close?" asked Yukihira leaning in. He fiddled with his chin as suspicion coated his words. Why the sudden interest?
"Uh… only through League of Legends, I guess. I've never met him in real life"
"Oh okay! So, does that mean that Terunori-senpai… Uh… Is he a uh—"
"Is he a pussy-hound? Meh, I don't know. Maybe he's a closet one, but I'm not one to judge"
Takumi raised his eyebrows at Namikaze bizarre interruption. Her face was bright red and Ayame was chuckling behind her. Even Kuchiyose had a twinkle in his eye. Namikaze's hurried attempts to deflect the conversation which was twisting against her was amusing and spoke volumes. It seemed Terunori-senpai's insistent attempts to court the volatile midget became a hot topic between Ayame, himself and Kuchiyose. The short-haired girl finished packing up the equipment as per Ayame's instructions and quickly helped her self to Megumi-san's supply of warm barley tea to save her the need to engage back into conversation with Yukihira, or anyone else for that matter.
"I like how you just thought 'He's going to say pussy-hound!' and just ran with it and finished my question for me" replied Yukihira, smirking at her.
"I'm gonna call Terunori-senpai a pussy-hound when I see him next time" sniggered Daigo-san.
Kuchiyose got up and pulled on his jacket, catching everyone's attention from his sudden movements and jangle of his car keys.
"I'm going to go pick them up" he said.
As arranged, Kuchyose was instructed by Nakiri Alice to escort Isshiki-senpai, herself, Nakiri Erina and Arato-san off the campus with his getaway car. He wasn't sure where he was going to take them, but he hoped it was not his and Isami's apartment because there was barely any room and Polar Star had already arranged to sleep over.
"I'm coming with you" Yukihira jumped up and made a mad dash after the lilac-haired giant "Ah! Thank you so much Kanda-chan, Namikaze-chan. We really appreciate all your help!" He waved at them frantically one last time before disappearing out the door.
"We're entrusting the rest to you now Ayame-san, to get this to your father and convince him to open the case" said Mito-san.
Ayame offered a determined salute. "I will. Don't you worry. Once Otou-san sees this, his moral and obligations to the force won't let him rest until justice against the criminal Azami is served"
"YOSH!"
GUYS! I'm sad! Only the epilogue is left!
Damn, Yukihira and Alice could be so ruthless when taking the mickey out of Takumi! I reckon 'beat you with his kendou stick' is going to be Yukihira's go-to response if he feels like teasing Takumi.
I reckon Kurokiba and Hayama in a different world would make great partners as assassins. Hayama would be the level headed, strategic, logical and calm one while Kurokiba would go guns blazing, not listening, not planning not a care and just do the damn job with as much spilt blood as possible. And Hayama would clean up after his mess.
Writing Azami was a tonne of fun. He is a monstrous and cruel person who believes what he is doing is caring and compassionate, and he believes he's god-send. Pretty hard for me to write as I have to present him with these conflicting represetations without making it really obvious to the readers, or make it seem like he is aware he's a bastard through and through. Ah my head hurts from trying to think like Azami :(
And finally Yay! Ayame & Co. pulled through with the drone once again, and finally Chizuru has a purpose with the Rebel Alliance as Ayame's understudy! What did you think of Isshiki's plan throughout the chapter?
AND WHO IS THE SPY ON THE INSIDE OF CENTRAL WORKING FOR ISSHIKI?
Up next is the epilogue (sniff) which I'll make as long as possible too! Let me know what you guys think and I'll see you soon :)
Until next time!
TripWire-dono
