Chapter 6: Here is to hope for the best!
After making acquaintances with Mukuro and Hifumi, we carry along helping with their belongings. Of course, Hifumi eventually collect his masterpieces before panting continuously. "Wait up, you all... Let me catch my breath, will ya?"
"Come on, Mr Yamada! Try to keep up, will you?" Taka expresses the fanfic writer's lack of stamina and spirit. Hifumi glared at him, and claiming that, "I-it would have been... a whole lot easier, if you help me in the first place." while breathing heavily for gasps of breath.
"And risk our eyes, looking at those perverted work, you call fanfiction? Not a chance." Mukuro sarcastically say in a sassy fassion. Nevertheless, Hifumi gets his stuff packing and picks up the pace, walking alongside us.
Then, Mr Kirigiri is waiting in the hallways on our way to the dormitories. All of us greet the principal respectfully and he shows a faintest smile on his face. "Thank you so much, for being able to join us in Hope's Peak Academy. Truly glad you have already met and got along well with one another."
We just look at one another and give each a cheerful smile, acknowledging the truth in the principal's words. After a series of events which we experienced just then, we have already established a connection between us classmates.
"Now then, I am coming by to inform you that the other students won't be arriving until tomorrow. Until then, you can explore and hang out with one another around the institution. Make yourself at home, as they say. I will expecting you real soon." Mr Kirigiri informs us briefly before taking his leave and we bid him goodbye.
"Well! Looks like it's just arriving for the day. Now then, as the Moral Compass, allow me to lead you all around here." Taka proudly nominates himself to show us the ropes. "But, Taka-san. You just only got here not too long ago. Do you really know the entire place?" Makoto sweats a little while expressing his feeling of uncertainty.
"Yeah, Makoto has been here longer than all of us, even he isn't too familiar with all the facilities." Mukuro acknowledges Makoto's concern, knowing it would be a little embarassing to get lost here.
"No worries, everyone. Mr Kirigiri gave us a device to. Oh..." I just remember that Jin Kirigiri has yet to give them their own digital handbooks, perhaps that is what he meant by expecting us soon, to collect them.
Then, I pull the device from my pocket and show them the usage of this handy handbook. "Pretty neat, don't you think. For the new freshmen, we each get our own handbooks when we see Mr Kirigiri in his office."
"What amazing contraption! Indeed it would be vital to have this for punctuality. For example, to make it into class on time without getting lost!" Kiyotaka acknowledges the necessity of having such useful tech. "Looks pretty high tech. Probably too advanced for me." Mukuro sighed when taking a glimspe of the handbook.
"What makes you say that, Mukuro-san? You don't like it...?" I ask while looking slightly concern. Then, Mukuro just takes out a flip phone from her pocket and say, "Oh no, it's not that, Hanako. I'm not really that great with technology. From where I come from, we make use with what we have, no complaints or excuses, so says the iron-clad rule."
Though it is understandable to fall behind on how new technology works but I explain that it would be good for her to get use to using sophisticated devices, to keep up with the times. "I understand. Maybe... Guess I can try to learn it." Mukuro submits to make a change to picking up new things and give a thumbs up to the idea.
"Oh! Oh! I can help you to work it out, Mukuro-san." Chihiro energetically offer to educate her on how to use it. "Oh, I wouldn't want to trouble you, Chihiro." She expresses her feelings of being troublesome to give help to but Chihiro just shakes her head. "Come on please... It's no problem. I would love to help a friend in need." She wants to help a troubled peer as much to her abilities.
"Oh, all right. Guess I will be counting on you, friend." Mukuro gives a smile, accepting the friendly aid which Chihiro nods to it with a cheery look.
"Okay then! Settled then, Mukuro, Chihiro, Hifumi and I will be heading to see the principal and return shortly, you two." Kiyotaka presents his plan to meet up later to explore the school. "Okay then. We will take a look around the ground floor first." Makoto and I answer before waving goodbye to the four Ultimates.
Makoto and I begin observing the place. Upon closer inspection, we have found a trash room, with the rest rooms next to it. Not interesting but better to be aware of the facilities around here.
In the next area in an open space with silverly-white walls, there are many doors leading into different rooms. Most of them have signs with cool 8-bitz images of the facilities, much like our names on our dorm rooms.
I point at the nearest door on my right, informing Makoto that we could perhaps start with that. As makoto nods with excitement, we open the door to find a room where there are washing machines, hangars, a table with some chairs and a magazine post which one can read one while waiting for the laundry to be done. "Looks like a laundry room, Hanako-san." Makoto says.
"Yep, you're right, Makoto. Well, it is clear that we have to wash our own laundry, all the point of being independent." I answer Makoto while taking one last look and nothing too special here. "Let's move on to the next room." Makoto suggest, seeing that there is more to explore.
"Okay." I reply before heading over to the next room. Upon entering we find a communal bath house, we are then fascinated that we have one built indoors. Although in my mind, I think that it is a little uncomfortable having to spend time, taking a dip with the others. But, if it so that I can make friends with the others, I'm in. There is also a sauna, thinking about it just makes me feel relaxed. After seeing a little, I would really want to try it soon.
Next on our sightseeing list, we are at the dining area where I first met Makoto. I only managed to see a little since I wasn't paying attention to the area that time. Inside, there is a huge kitchen, with all kinds of vegetables, seafood, ingredients, spices and many more. It is like going to a buffet dinner where there is no limit to the food served. "There is so much food here, how did the school afford to get all these?" Makoto feeling impressed of the school being able to afford so much food here. "Yeah, it's insane. The motherload here, just wow..."
In here, one could make any dish they like with a little cooking skill which gives me an idea for later.
It is already 4pm, and we are going to the second floor after visiting the storage room, with shelves of equipment, clothes and items. The school itself has everything it needs to survive apocalypse like a zombie invasion or nuclear war.
On the second floor, we happen to come across a library, some classroom, the boy and girl changing rooms but most interesting of all, an actual swimming pool, installed in a school. "For real?! There is a swimming pool in here. Is there anything this school doesn't have?" Makoto shouts in amazement and even I am blown away as this beyond expectation. "Yeah, no kidding. This place has everything, Ultimate Academy confirmed."
"Ah I thought that I would find you here." A voice calls out to us from behind. We turn around to find Kiyotaka, with an impressed look of the pool area. Following behind him; Chihiro, Mukuro and Hifumi also find it amazing that the school has a built-in pool.
"Guys, you made it. That took a while." I point out. "Well, we're here. So, quite a school, huh." Mukuro reply abruptly while checking out the one of the school's many wonders.
"Hmm... What other fascinating places will we see in this school? I can picture many ideas for my new book." Hifumi focus his sight on the pool while weirdly plans what his next fanfic is about, hopefully something not too appealing.
However, Mukuro notices Chihiro is not as excited as us, she is just playing with the hem of her skirt, pondering over something. "What's wrong, Chihiro? You seem a little troubled."
"Oh, umm... It's nothing actually. I'm just not much of a swimmer." Chihiro anxiously replies which is a little concerning. Mukuro then just encourage her, "Relax, it is fine. Just take a step at a time, and open out to the idea of spending time with us." Taka adds, "Exactly, as fellow friends, we indeed will support each other, there is no need to be embarassed." Makoto also agrees while Hifumi is just paying attention somewhere else, thinking of something ludicrous.
Upon hearing their advice, Chihiro still looks uncertain about something but she tries to be positive to the idea as she smiles brightly while holding her hands together. "Thanks. I will give it a shot. Can't wait for it!" I don't know why but I feel a little happy, whenever I'm around these new friends. "Because they are Ultimates? No, it seems like they are nice people if one gets to know them better." I think to myself. I enjoy the time spent with them on the very first day of our new school life.
Makoto then tells us that it is just a quarter to seven and we should probably get dinner ready. Everyone of us nod abruptly to the idea and we make our way to the dining area on the first floor.
"Alright, now then. Let's get dinner prepared." Taka announces it with anticipation. "That's great but does anyone know how to cook?" Most of us remain silent for a while until Chihiro says that she can cook some spaghetti marinara. Follow by, Mukuro adds that she can prepare some omurice, which is an omelet with fried rice inside it.
Makoto is open to those dishes and about to let the girls handle it since they have some cooking experiences until Taka interupts him by saying to let the guys handle this. "There is no need for the girls to lift a finger cause we will prepare dinner."
"But, Taka. I don't know much about cooking. Do you know how?" Makoto whispers into Taka's ears worringly. Taka then sweats a little before claiming that, "A-as a Moral Compass, I know how to cook, of c-course. Should be easy to deal with." Hifumi looks a little lost when Taka recommends us to cook. "Sure. I can handle things fine in a kitchen, I guess."
Makoto is probably worry about screwing up but he just roll with it, feeling confident to impress all of us. "Well, what could go wrong?" After deciding, Hifumi, Taka with Makoto in tow and I enter the kitchen to start working while Chihiro and Mukuro wait patiently, seeing how this proceed.
In the kitchen, I could see the boys looking around for any food they could grab and start cutting. Taka begin cutting carrots with a butter knife which is the wrong cutlery to use so he is struggling while Makoto is trying to start a fire on the stove but nearly burnt himself. As for Hifumi, he is just fumbling around with a fresh salmon fish as he feels gross carrying it.
It isn't so bad from my point of view but things gets a little out of hand. Suddenly, Taka accidentally loses his grip on the knife and he falls on his back. Hifumi slip and fall hard in the ground with a thud, as he loses his footing. Makoto is still on his feet, working on the soup or something until he turns the stove intensifying the flame until a nearby cabbage catches fire.
While screaming in shock, he quickly try to put out the fire with a cloth but it catches fire too. I help Hifumi and Taka to their feet. Then, I quickly use a nearby extinguisher to put out the flame and on Makoto. "Sorry Makoto about that. Guys, sorry to say but cooking isn't one of your skillset."
"I was doing just fine..." Taka stop his protest when he sees the food they are preapring suddenly catches fire too on top of it which I also then put it out. "You're right. It wasn't easy." Taka admits his failure in cooking.
Hifumi is just a little tired after all that mess. "Guess it wasn't like making instant noodles. Sorry man. What are we going to do to prepare dinner?"
"We're going to need the girls' help. Just admit for help, we are going to get this done as a team." I answer with my honest opinion as the best course of action. Immediately, we ask for the girls' aid and Mukuro is trying to hide her laugh, kinda embarassing. Chihiro looks a little worry about what kind of storm we were cooking in there. We boys humbly ask for their help.
Without wasting any time, we proceed to get dinner started. Mukuro directs Taka and Hifumi to bring the ingredients as she prepares the rice. Meanwhile, she entrusts them with a little task of beating the eggs.
At the same time, Chihiro begin boiling some water in a pot and Makoto brings over some pasta and a bottle of tomato sauce along with some other spices. She then teaches Makoto how to soak the pasta and fried the minced meat in a pan cheerfully.
While they are busy with their dishes, I begin executing my idea of making a dish that I love most - Japanese curry rice. So, I gather some rice, curry powder and onions as welm as some other ingredients since this is different dish that I perfected during my journey. I then handle two stoves of boiling the rice, preparing the curry sauce and chopping onion simultaneously. I couldn't tell but the others then notice me cooking so attentively.
Everyone in the room except Chihiro is surprised to see me handling my own. "Woah awesome, you never told us you can cook, Hanako-san." Makoto exclaimed with an amazed look. "What prowess, how are you able to handle so many things?" Taka asks curiously with Hifumi fixing his glasses, "Hmm... Ah so you are the type of character who plays it cool until you show off your talents; a collective fellow."
While I am handling the ingredients, I answer briefly, "I'm not actually a cook, I just live experimenting new recipes and practice making them. I learn some home cooking from my mom and Chihiro's dad."
"Yep, he is pretty special. Hanako has always been a boy who loves trying lots of things." Chihiro explains and then smiles at me while I am not looking. "Full of surprises, aren't you, Hanako?" Mukuro says while finishing the dish with a bit of spice.
At long last, we have finished preparing dinner and the food smells great. We all hear each other's tummy rumble in order and let out a laugh. "The food looks delicious, you three outdone yourselves."
Makoto complements the Ultimates preapring this delicious dinner.
"Nope, you guys help made this too. Thank you for all of your help." Mukuro honestly thank the six of us in this very room. "I really enjoy it, cooking with my friends." Chihiro cheerfully admits the time spent with each other on this night of the first day in Hope's Peak Academy.
Taka and Hifumi are also happy to have experience this moment. Then, before we eat, I stand up, wanting to say a few words. "Everyone, I have never been so much happier to have meet and spend time with you all. On this very night, we have accomplished something amazing; making this fabulous dinner, together. And with this, I'm looking forward to make more mesmerising memories with you all and the rest of the classmates coming here tomorrow."
I grab a cup filled with water and raise it to the sky, saying, "Here is to hope for the best! Amazing school years to come and we will go through it together, as Ultimate students."
Then, everyone give a big round of applause before raising their cups too. "Hope to us as the best, no, the Ultimate friends in the world." Everyone all cheers and toasts to the days to come and we all dig in.
We talk, we laugh and we have loads of fun with each other. Everyone smiling and I just enjoy everyone's company. "Why didn't I meet them in the beginning? Well, doesn't matter, I wouldn't change it for the world."
I slowly look at them one by one. "Makoto... Taka... Chihiro... Hifumi... Mukuro, I can't wait for more moments with you."
