Disclaimer: I don't own Shokugeki no Soma. So don't sue me!
Author's note: For this unusual couple, I would like to thank Lady Daitoryu!
The Bitter Victory.
Step1. Take the guy, who thinks he knows how the world works.
Step 2. Add the girl, who can break the former's picture of the world.
Step 3. Find something that they can get only from each other.
Step 4. Give them some time to want more than that.
Money rules the World.
It is such a simple truth which many people have already accepted.
Etsuya Eizan, the Tōtsuki Elite Ten member in in the past and one of the most high-paid information brokers and consultants in the whole Japan, knew this simple truth even before he became part of the culinary world. Forced to work his way up in the food chain, Eizan learnt how to put material gain above everything else: friends, morals and so on. He considered such trait one of the most important in his life. And this very trait had him end up in the current situation.
"YOU NEED ME TO DO WHAT?" All Polar Star Dormitory residents heard the familiar voice. Instantly, everyone, except for Isshiki, barged into the hall only to see a pretty interesting scene.
Yuki Yoshino (3rd year student) was trying her hardest in blocking the door. Unfortunately, despite the time passed, she barely grew in height or strength. That is why every simgle student could perfectly see the figure, trying to get into. As soon as they saw him, Aoki and Sato rushed to assist Yoshino in her attenpt to keep the intruder out of the dormitory. Tick marks started appearing on Eizan's forehead as he was being pushed out.
"Try to be friendly, Kuga said." Eizan mentally cursed the dwarf and his idiotic advice. "They will listen you out, Eishi said... I knew I should have come here with my gang."
Finally, with the combined effort the trio managed to close the door. However, Eizan just knocked on it once more, ignoring the groans from the other side of it. Of course, he didn't expect her to agree so easily. Considering what kind of stunt he and the better part of the Elite Ten tried to pull off during their first year, Eizan perfectly understood this kind of reaction.
"What do you want?" Yoshino asked, not opening the door.
Eizan breathed in. He reminded himself how important his goal was. He just needed to constantly remind himself what was at stake. HEizan grit his teeth, perfectly seeing the other residents looking through the windows at him.
"SO?..." She asked impatiently. Eizan grit his teeth even more. Couldn't she hear him out first and then yell and attract so much attention?
He breathed in, collecting his inner power.
"I am waiting."
"We too!" He heard the residents say in unison, which unnerved him even more.
Why were they even watching?! The information broker took the final breath and braced himself.
"I want you to go with me to the banquet." He said in the calmest voice he could have in this kind of situation. "And only you."
Next moment, Eizan heard the high-pitched scream and the sound of bodies falling. Also, which he was not sure about, the alumni could hear Yukihira laughing his guts out.
Yuki Yoshino has always liked fancy things. Even on her third year of studying in Tōtsuki, the female chef remained a somewhat childish person, who got excited about any opportunity to visit a resort or hotel. Although, most of the times they have been sent there only to work. But Yoshino never lost hope that one day, while she is still a student, she would have a chance to visit one of those places not as part of the staff.
That day was today...
... and she imagined it differently.
"Here is your dress. Here is your lipstick. Here is the address of the beauty shop." She was handed one thing after another. Before, Yoshinher own attire and try one after another until getting the perfect one. But right now she was picturing herself as a soldier or some sort of governmental agent, who was being given instructions how to kill someone. "Here is my phone number, in case something doesn't fit. Questions?"
Eizan looked at her coldly, not even pretending interested.
"Just one." Yoshino said with her cute smile, trying her hardest not to slam the fist into the man's face. "remind me why I am taking part in this scam of yours?"
Eizan sighed annoyed, massaging the bridhe of his nose. He took off his glasses and looked straight into her teal eyes.
"Once again, this is not a scam." He held out his finder. "Do you remember Osaji Kita fron the Autumn Ellections?"
Yoshino nodded, remembering the judge who invited her to visit his club.
"Guess what, you impressed him. Greatly." He said in nonchalant tone. Despite this, however, it was obvious that this situation didn't appeal to him even the slightest. "I need to strike a bargain between and hin and one my clients. The biggest project for me so far. But that guy doesn't trust me very much."
"It's because you helped in Director Nakiri's overthrowal." Yoshino smirked.
"Oh, for real?" Eizan retorted sarcastically. "Anyway, from what I have heard, you are the only one who machef..."
"Hey!"
"... but as a trustworthy figure." Eizan ignored her pout. "If the person, like you, said that I can be trusted, then the deal would be in my pocket."
The silence filled the room.
"And how did you convince me to help you?"
"Do you remember those Karaage Rolls Yukihira treated you to once?" Eizan asked with a bit of annoyance. The memory of his first defeat in restaurant counselling still irritated him. The girl answered with a simple nod. "Before its creation, I helped them Kino Nakamozu with her dish recipe and made Mozuya's Karaage the best one for whole three years. After the defeat by your hot-headed friend, i have been looking for the way to improve the recipe. And that's how I found the special breeding technique for chicken."
Yoshino could only stare at him insuprise. How did he know?
"I know that you are still very far from your dream of making species kind of chicken for Polar Star Dormitory, and that's why I am giving you such offer." He smiled with his usual dealer smile. "Help me with my work, and I will help you accomplish your goal."
Once again, the awkward silence.
"And why are you choosing my dress?" She blurted out. Eizan looked at the petite young girl with a smirk.
"Because I know the best."
"That's hardly the answer."
The bright lights, the crystal clear floors and walls. The people from all over the world, wearing only fanciest suits and dresses. The dishes, cooked ny the best chefs from the best ingredients. That was the place Yoshino always hoped to come in.
But there was one thing she really, really, really hated right now.
"So where did you go on your first date?" Natsume Sendawara asked mischievously.
Yoshino smiled cutely, despite sending murderous aura towards Eizan.
"Oh, it was the romantic drama marathone." Yoshino said in her cheerful tone, surprising everyone and even Eizan himself. She leaned towards the Sendawara sisters and added in loud whisper. "You wouldn't believe how much Eizan was crying during 'The Fault in Our Stars'. And i thought i was a sensitive one."
The trio giggled, embarassing the Alchemist even more. Out of all the people, she just had to pick these two for a small talk. Eizan has mentally said goodbyes to his reputation of cold and emotionless bastard, which he was actually very proud of, since by tomorrow almost everyone would know how "really sensitive" he was.
"And you think you know the guy." Natsume added with a smirk.
"Oh, poor Eizan, and we thought that you didn't have a heart." Her twin sister joined in. While both women were mocking him, behind their backs Yoshino was smiling. But not cutely like before. That was her true smile right now. The devilish grin at how fast she destroyed his credit as a data-broker devil.
"And that's not all." Yoshino instantly won over their attention again. "If after the first date, I saw that he hides behind that mask of ruthless strategist, then after the second date-"
"Excuse me, ladies," Eizan broke into cold sweat. His Yankee Snese was alerting him that whatever Yoshino was going to say his reputation. He grabbed the girl's arm and started pulling her away from the table. "My sweetheart (the word was soaked in venom) and I need to discuss something really important."
Both CEOs tried to protest, not willing to lose such great source of rumours. After the graduation, the only one who kept his personal life completely unknown was the very Eizan. And now, when they had someone with acces to the info, they were not going to let her go.
"But I was about to tell them about your childhood dream!" Yoshino cheered, looking at the twins. But Eizan could clearly see through her facade. As both twins reached into their purses for mobile phones to record this, Yoshino looked at him with th emalevolent smile, which read "SUFFER". "You were so eager to tell mne!"
"And I am!" Eizan faked smile. He tried to mask the venomous intent with honey in his voice."But we need to discuss something really, REALLY important~!"
"Can't it wait for five more minutes~?" She said just as sweetly as he did.
"No, it can't~" The first tick mark appeared on his face.
"What if we try~?"
"No, that won't help~" The second one made its way.
"Why~~~?"
"Because I said so, dear~" The third seemed to pulsate faster than his heart.
"Said what?" Yoshino batted her eyelashes innocently.
"That's it. I am done!" He mentally roared.
"THAT'S IT! I'M DONE!" Well, not so mentally.
Yoshino squealed, when Eizan just straight-up lifted her from the chair, positioned her with his shoulder pressed against her abdomen and ran in the opposite from the table direction. Ignoring the screams of protests and apparently strong biting of girl, Etsuya ran into the corridor. The sound of door being slammed followed next. The people around fell silent at the happened scene. Someone wolf-whistled and added:
"Oh these kids... Such low level fo self-restraints..."
Store Room.
"What the hell were you saying there?" Eizan hissed at the girl, pressing her against the wall. "What kind of childhood dream were you going to make up?"
"That you wanted to become a ballet dancer." She smiled cruelly.
"What in the Kami's name...?"
"Now if you don't mind..." Yoshino tried to slip out of his grip. But he didn't let it happen.
"No." He growled. "There is no way I am letting you go there and destroy the remains of my reputation!"
Yoshino huffed and pouted childishly.
"Serves you right." Yoshino shrugged. "Next time you won't lie to me!"
"I didn't lie!" Eizan protested. "I... just left out a few and very minor details!"
"Minor details?!" Yoshino looked at him incredulously. "We have been dating ever since I started the second year and that's a minor detail?! How can you be so heartless?!"
"All right, maybe..." He was cut off again.
"Not to mention that I was the one who wanted to start this relationship!" She exclaimed, as red as tomato. "Why would you say that?!"
"And what was i supposed to do?" Eizan exclaimed annoyed. He has been here for three hours already and still had no idea whether the contract has been made or not. Add to that the last hour of embarassment he was forced to go through. He looked at her coldly. "Do you honestly think that they would believe me if i said..."
Something deep inside Eizan was screaming. Whatever it was, the voice was yelling not to do this. Eizan's eyes grew even colder, his words rang out in the room silently but unreally clear and loud at the same time.
"...that I fell for someone like you!"
She was shaken by those words.
"S-Someone like me...?" Her voice trembled. Her stance weakened.
The voice inside once more tried to reason with Eizan.
Stop. Please, Eizan, just stop!
"Yes!" Eizan snapped. "Someone so..."
No. Don't.
"... naive,..."
Enough!
"...pathetic,..."
Just stop!
"...idiotically oblivious and dense!"
STOP!
"Like hell" he growled out. "I would fall for someone like this..."
He said with all the venom he had. The weight of words seemed almost tangible in the small space. Eizan was breathing heavily. The rage and frustration slowly left his body. And then the full comprehension of what he has just said sank in.
The forever cheerful expression on her face was gone and replaced by the void. Her eyes, which were slowly filled with tears, no longer had that spunky light. Her body shook weakly. Eizan reached for her, but she simply slapped his arm. The next moment he was all alone here.
BEEP-BEEP
"Eizan Etsuya." He said with no emotion in his voice. The strange feeling of hollowness was bothering greatly.
"Eizan-kun, my dear!" The cheerful and seemingly drunk voice of his client pirced his ears. "You are truly -hic- Alchemist! Osaji-dono signed the contract! He did it! NO catch! You are my savior! You are so getting the bonus to your payment!"
"You do understand that you won't be able to blame your drunk state for this, right?" Eizan questioned with a smirk.
"I know that Eizan-kun!" The man still cheered. Too anoyed to listen to the drunk gibberish, the young man hang up the phone.
Another successful deal. And this time he scored big money!
He always wanted nothing but money.
Those, who have money, rule the world
With money, all doors are open for you!
With money, you are always among the winners!
Then why...
...is his heart aching?
...he can't smirk at the thought of giant paycheck?
...does he feel the guilt?
...isn't he adding this day to his list of victories? If he had won, then why...
"...am I feeling like I have lost?" He whispers, sitting on the floor.
eesh, I was going to make it a comedy chapter more.
Hope i didn't ruin the mood!
No worries, though. Just so everyone knows, this chapter will have a continuation!
I hope I kept Eizan in character. Before they reveal his story in manga, i hope i will show my version in the next part of this drabble.
Up until then, write your opinions, ready your orders for another crack/canon/non-canon-but-clearly-close-to-canon couples!