Night time at the Nakiri Mansion
*Knock knock*
"Erinaaaa, I'm coming in."
Without another word or thought, Alice swings the door open and finds Erina sitting on the side of her bed while listening to music.
"Erina, are you ready? Are your clothes packed?"
"Yes, Alice."
"Good, maybe this will cheer you up."
"Let me tell you again, I am alright, just tired."
Alice approaches Erina and sits beside her.
"Gonna keep using that excuse, huh?"
"Not an excuse, and did you really come here just to tease me?"
Alice whistles not wanting to answer the question, but directs her attention to the music.
"What is the song you're listening to?"
"If you must know, it's titled I Think I."
"Nice beat, smooth and has a western vibe to it."
After the song ends.
"So you like those kind of songs?"
"I change my playlist from time to time, I don't have a preference."
"I see, well anyway, make sure you have everything you need. Clothes, towels, toothbrush, a deck of cards, your mangas, and maybe make-up."
Erina looks at Alice confused, "Why do I need make-up, we are just going to relax at the beach?"
"Because, Erina", Alice looks at her cousin with a sly grin, "We are going to find you a suitable boyfriend."
"I don't have time for boyfriend girlfriend stuff Alice. I am", Erina gets cut off by Alice.
"The headmistress, future head of the Nakiri household blah blah blah. Tell me this, have you ever thought of wanting to have a boyfriend?"
Erina opens her mouth and seemingly ready to respond but she recalls the girl's night at Polar Star Dorm about the same topic. They discussed their ideal type of man and remembers what she said back then.
Alice looks and waves her hand in front of Erina, "Hello. Earth to Erina come in come in."
Erina snaps back to reality.
"Oh uhm sorry about that."
"It seems that my dear cousin has already thought about having a boyfriend. And here I thought cooking first everything else second."
Erina raises her voice trying to argue, "I did not even say a word, Alice."
"Well, the small pause from you already answered my question. Sooo", she looks at Erina again with an innocent but knowing smile, "Who's the lucky guy?"
"No one.", she answers with a stern expression.
"Really? Sure?", Alice leans trying as if wanting to corner her prey.
"This cousin of mine really is too proud for her own good."
Erina grabs Alice's head with one hand and looks at her with a terrifying stare, she squeezes the head below her hand and replies, "I. AM . SURE."
As Erina release the grip on her cousin's head, "Geez Erina, I'm just messing with you. Your reactions are just so gosh darn cute."
Alice stands up from the bedside, "Well anyway, going back to my room now, be sure you have everything you need.", Alice walks toward the door.
"Yes Alice, now get out."
"And prepare yourself for some fun, goodnight~~~~"
Alice closes the leaves the room and closes the door, leaving Erina alone.
Polar Star Dorm
Everyone is gathered at the dining area table, happily eating dinner when the warden of the dorm opens up a conversation.
"You brats have plans for tomorrow?", the warden of Polar Star asked to the young students
"I plan on staying here, this is my last year after all so I want to soak the essence of Totsuki before I graduate.", responded by the sentimental Isshiki with a smile
"Ew senpai, that sounds gross.", majority of the students gave their senior a look of disgust upon hearing him
"What is?", responded by the said senior
"Nevermind"
"So what about you 2nd years? Any plans?", asked by the warden to shift the attention away from Isshiki's (gross) remark
The second years of the dorm look at each other and smile, shouting in unison, "We are going on a vacation together!"
"That's good to hear, you should enjoy your youth and have fun. I remember back in my day when I would go have fun with my boyfriend, like we had FUN, all kinds of fun. ALL KINDS OF FUN."
Some look at her with confusion while some look at shock because of what she said, understanding the hidden context.
Before she continues with her story, she notices Yukihira who is uncharacteristically quiet.
"What about you, Yukihira? Are you joining them?", the voice of worry is clear, hoping to get through and make the student participate in the conversation
Upon hearing his name, he looks at the warden and tries to put on a smile.
"Still haven't decided, but I'm most likely not going, so…. I guess have fun guys.", Yukihira responded in a tone that is trying to show his usual happiness.
After responding, he stares back at the now empty plate in front of him.
"By the way, are you okay now? This is the first time in a while that you joined us.", asked again by the warden who is still worried about him
"I'm alright, just been… uhhm… studying recipes."
Megumi looks at the boy worried, she knows her best friend well and knows there is something wrong with him. Before she can speak, Ryoko asked
"For Nakiri-san?"
Soma looks up, puts his hand behind his head, and answers without a trace of soul in his voice, "Yeah, something like that."
"Bro, you can do it, I believe in you, you are the greatest chef I have seen in my life, your skills are awesome man. Remember Suzuki-sensei? Gone. Azami? Gone. Because of you brotha.", Daigo stood up and raised his fist in the air to encourage the red-head.
With his encouragement, everyone followed along and gave him words of encouragement as well except for Megumi and Isshiki.
Soma smiles again, but a different smile from what Megumi has known, "Thanks guys, that means a lot." He stands up from his seat, "Thanks for the meal, heading back to my room to do some stuff, good night."
As he closes the door behind him, he proceeds to his table and picks up his pen. Papers filled with different recipes, assignments, recipes, project proposals that were supposed to be submitted to the headmistress, recipes, and poems for his Literature class.
After a few minutes of writing, he stares blankly at the countless papers all over his table. He looks at his knife case and reaches for it, upon opening the case, he holds one of his knives acting as if he is about to cook something, it was like that time Mimasaka enthusiastically practiced being him so he could help him for the Moon Banquet Festival, but unlike Mimasaka, he felt empty, he was just holding the knife.
He sighs to himself, stands up and lies on his bed. With a million thoughts, with a clouded mind, he raises his hand to the ceiling, the troubled boy forces his exhausted body to sleep.
He weakly speaks, "Further"
He closes his eyes and starts sleeping, the open window lets in a cold breeze that makes his slumber comfortable, and a paper flies and falls on the floor.
Draft 13
The courage I've built for this
The fear of hurting you
I live like this again
Hoping for just a chance
The dream of getting close to you
The smile that makes my heart ache
Why can't I go near?
I want to close my eyes
Dream of you
Have a dream that's real for once, I wish
To smile with you again
As I come to you
When the sun shines and I open my eyes
I want to walk beside you
Nakiri Mansion
Erina is going around her room, picking up the essentials and all other things that Alice told her to bring, despite some of those she deems unnecessary. She puts everything in her suitcase.
"Is that everything? Did I forget anything?", she told herself. Thinking of any other stuff to bring and deciding on not putting in anymore, she zips up the suitcase.
She settles on her bed. Staring at blankly at the ceiling, seemingly not yet ready to sleep, she opens her phone to change the song playing, from acoustic songs to soothing ones. At that moment she makes herself comfortable and lies down, letting the music soothe her into slumber.
CUT! That is it for this chapter. Incoming chapters are the last few of this arc. I don't know when I will update, hopefully soon. With reports and stuff.
Don't worry, I'll finish this story. I already have a few ideas on how this will turn out.
Leave a comment on how you want this to progress, I might get some ideas for the stuff I want to put in the middle.
Stay safe, stay healthy, have fun, and see you on the next one.