Disclaimer: None of the characters...blah blah. I'm not a sports writer but I hope the game was exciting to read.
Lastly: Shokugeki no Soma is a cooking manga
Amid the soothing roll of the waves rhythmically caressing the shore, a warm sea breeze breathed over my exposed skin while I lay prone on my beach blanket under a generous umbrella.
A pair of hands, firm and skilled, pressed into my back, working out the knots at my shoulder blades. I sighed in contentment, a deep breath of the natural salty aromas sea had me falling further into my state of relaxation; all the cares in the world were far, far away.
Don't ask me how I got here; it's a mixture of "I don't know" and "I don't care".
I was appreciating was the pleasure of my stresses getting rubbed away by the motions on my back. It had been a week of working in a restaurant: a labour intensive job of being on our feet the whole day while carrying trays of food takes in toil on the body. It was only natural that I allowed myself to enjoy the feeling of getting pampered this way.
The only thing that I could not wrap my mind around was my oblivity to the identity of the masseuse and the fact that it was not bothering me.
Wait, that isn't right! I... ohhh, right there, at the arch of my lower back, mmm, I love what you're doing so don't stop. Oh someone is getting bold; hands are moving lower, down my thighs and calf, working their magic whilst I bite my lower lip to stifle a moan. Try as I might, some had involuntarily leaked out as my toes clenched whenever the right spot was stimulated.
It was… arousing.
The masseuse leaned forward while I felt myself spellbound, ready to give in to whatever they were going to say.
"Hisako." Wait… that voice… YUKIHIRA?!
My eyes shot open with a start. Taking bearings of my surroundings, I found myself laying tummy side down in bed. With the sun already rising, my face turned away from the light and facing my locked door.
Ah, it was a dream.
"Hey...hey…Hisako." Yukihira's voice came again. I immediately lifted my face off the pillow. Curious: it did not sound like it came through the door, it was as if… "Finally." Yukihira said, "...it's Nakiri." I looked back to the window and the clouds immediately cleared from my mind: Yukihira was outside my bedroom window on the balcony, reaching his cell phone in through the gap.
Instinctively, I took the phone from his hand while wiping off the drool that leaked out due to my sleeping position, all along ignoring the dampness elsewhere… that was some sleep.
"H-ahem-Hello?" there was no answer and I checked the screen, ah, the mute was on. "Hello, Erina-sama?"
"Hisako! Why is our phone not with you?" Erina-sama called out with worry, "is this really Yukihira's phone?"
"I apologise for the inconvenience, Erina-sama. I seem to have misplaced it on my way here but I'll get it back soon. You don't have to worry about your schedules, I have access to them online and our security protocols are in place."
"Security... -what?" came a puzzled query.
"Ah, it's nothing to worry about. Just that all our businesses are secure." well, except for the contact list, but it's a small matter.
"I.. I see," there was a short pause. "So, who is currently holding your phone? Sounds like a gentleman." Erina-sama sounded pleased to have met his acquaintance "I presume he's the one bringing it to you soon?"
"Yes. He would be coming over to perform at the fireworks festival."
"Performing?"
I explained how I met Aida Shion on the train and how I found out who he was while reading the local newsletter. "If anything, this should be something noteworthy isn't it?
"Well, better him than Yukihira." Erina-sama muttered, considering her status, she was understandably unimpressed with small local celebrities. "Speaking of, how's working with that pleb?"
Hearing such a word used on my co-worker caused an odd feeling to surface within me. "It's alright." I pushed aside that emotion in difference to Erina-sama, "We should be having new staff in a few days. So the workload should be reduced."
Erina-sama humph over the phone, "Seems like things are going well on your side... This policy of no phones really disconnected us from the world."
I listened to her rant about the inconvenience. These Nariki family meetings are about cohesion and deep discussions about the family's direction. "Erina-sama, I trust the activities have been keeping you occupied. And hearing from you now, I'm guessing that the gathering is now in recess?"
"It is," her voice trailed off, "...seems "That" topic is beginning to be brought up again."
From her tone, I knew what she was referring to: Omiai, matchmaking with suitors, "I'm sure they can't force you…"
"It's not that," she shifted her phone. "Alice mentioned your family makes the same arrangements too?"
I was speechless, "I… I don't… not that I'm aware of." it was not unexpected for the Nakiri family to subscribe to the custom of Omiai but my family was not influential enough to need such a thing, right? I mean I am the only one in my generation approaching that age...
Erina-sama scoffed, "Well, it's just stupid. I tell you, Hisako, it's going to be a chore." her dismissive attitude was to be expected as it had become a routine for her since it started two years ago. I had personal experience of coordinating such meets and writing subsequent apologetic rejection letters for the way she had treated them during the meetings: a splash of tea to the face is considered mild.
I do not wish to have that for myself. After all, I subscribe to freedom of choice.
The call was capped off with typical business updates and post summer appointments.
Rubbing my face, I made my way out the door and returned the phone to Yukihira, who was reading my completed light novel in his hand while breakfast sat untouched, clearly waiting for me. He barely even looked up as it had become common for me to use his phone to carry out my daily work routine.
After freshening up in the washroom, I joined him at the table, filled my cup of tea before topping his off, and we began our meal. "Slept well?" Yukkihira took a sip of tea, "You weren't answering your door when I knocked. So I went through the window."
"Well, it wasn't expected but... thanks." I'm pretty sure Yukihira is hourable enough not to abuse the access to the window if the past few days were an indication of his decency. I trust him.
Moving the conversation on, he then remarked, "Today's the day."
The volleyball competition is today! In a blink of an eye, it's already our first weekend and we are faced with a challenge that was out of our skill set. Thankfully, Yukihira's friend (girlfriend?) and volleyball player, Fujiiwara Yumiko, had taken a better part of our rest hours to coach us. Despite our sore muscles, I felt we were ready. "Let's do our best."
"Cheers to that!" Yukihira raised his cup and I returned the gesture. "After today, win or not, I intend to head to the hot spring." He stretched a little to make his point. "I could really use a soak."
I thought of it and like the appeal of having my body relaxing in warm spring waters. It was a short walk away from our restaurant but I have not checked it out.
"So, how's Nakiri?" Yukihira asked, naturally bringing up the topic as he filled our cups of tea, "I'm surprised that it took a week before both of you connected."
"Erina-sama's family gathering has its rules and one of them is that phones are not permitted on site." I do not wish to dwell on that but telling him that much is fine.
"Sounds big," Yukihira chewed on an apple slice, "Wonder what families like that discuss?" a crunch punctuated his words. "I'm guessing...WORLD DOMINATION."
I coughed into my miso soup while he chuckled at his joke. I instinctively spoke up for Erina-sama's family, "It's not that sinister, just family bonding, business restructuring, omiai…" it was a slip of the tongue but those latest words piqued his attention.
"Omiai? Really, at this day and age? ...Well, that's the price of being high-born, perhaps."
Now that was unexpected, "I would have thought that you would disapprove." He raised an eyebrow to me, querying me to elaborate, "you're not the type for tradition." we knew I was referring to his cooking style.
He shrugged, "I'm not going to question what her family does. And seeing you're unworried, means Nakiri has a good handle on it." Huh, Yukihira surprised me again with his words... but his next ones gave me pause, "...guess this means yours practise this custom too?"
Our eyes met and, instead of telling him off that it was none of his business, his boyish curiosity got me to respond, "Not that I know of; as the only child of my family, I had never heard any of such arrangement. The last marriage was my aunt who tied the knot before I was born." I waved it off, "It's irrelevant though, my family isn't important enough to make such arrangements."
"Your family is closely linked with Nakiri's, I'm sure it stands for something." a light smile played on his lips, "You're important too."
I felt warm when the moment passed between us and I turned away to hastily finish my breakfast. I placed down my utensils with more strength than I expected. "L-Let's not talk about it anymore. We have a long day ahead of us."
I began to gather up the plates when Yukihira called, "Ah, Hisako," I paused and looked up. He suddenly reached out, deftly picked a grain of rice from my cheek and ate it, "there's something on your cheek."
(﹡ﾟдﾟ﹡)
The restaurant was busy as expected. Our new drink was a hit, the words "Shinko matcha'' were spreading virally that would make any business owner proud. At the corner of our minds, though, Yukihira and I were mentally preparing for the upcoming match.
Despite only having two days of training with an experienced player, there was a healthy nervous edge which kept us on our toes.
A quick lock up after the lunch service, we were at the competition grounds. Two beach volleyball courts and a small tournament bracket suggests that it's going to be a quick tournament while music blasts over the portable sound systems.
"Hello everybody! Welcome to Oarai Beach Volleyball competition, sponsored by Shirodai Hot Springs, and Organised by the Sun Beach Vendor's Association! It's going to be a day of excitement and FUN FUN FUN!" An enthusiastic girl's voice boomed over the speakers, "We are about to start shortly, so all participants please gather at the tables here for a briefing!"
"Hey both of you," Mitamura-san lightly waved at us as we approached. His role as an organizer had him sitting at the scorers table,"all the best!"
"Thank you, Mitamura-san. Conversely, thank you for setting up the court and keeping scores."
Mitamura-san beamed at us, "Just have fun, your entry into the competition is already a favor for the organising committee..."
"Alright, we are going to do a roll call, so please respond when your team is called out…" The emcee's voice cut into our conversation and Mitamura-san threw us a pair of thumbs up before gesturing for us to carry on.
A scan of our opponents suggested Fujiwara may have a point: majority seemed like a random mix of people that are slightly older like Mitamura-san or younger, middle school aged. Besides another team, our Team Shinko (Mitiamura-san insisted) seems to be in the prime age bracket.
The other similarly aged team caught our eye and made a beeline to us. "You guys are from that new shack, aren't cha?" One of them was a black haired early 20s guy, shorter than Yukihira, so the attempt to look intimidating with him looking up at Yukihira was pretty amusing.
"Yup, and it is going well." Yukihira responded in his typical oblivious nature to the prospective tension but I got the subtle pride under his innocuous words.
"I heard you came from some Tooshi school or whatever; you guys think you can just come here and muscle into our territory, eh?" the opponent challenged. His taller game partner, seemingly to be a more level minded guy, stepped up to block further provocation.
"Now, now, we're here to play some volleyball, let's leave the kitchen and focus on the game," Yukihira took the matter in stride, "So, which team are you?" Yukihira nodded to the tournament board.
The shorter one sneered, "It doesn't matter, let's just see if you play as well as you cook." He then looked at me over, to which I responded with folded arms and a frown, "Pity, your girlfriend is wasted on you." he sniped and walked away to blend with the other players, his teammate in tow.
Despite the misunderstanding, Yukihira and I looked at each other, then shrugged simultaneously: that person isn't worth our time, we wordlessly agreed,
When the tournament started, though, their team actually drew attention in the way that they mercilessly swept off the other teams. Their typical move is to have the short hot head setting the ball and the taller one jumping and spiking hard. What made it impressive was their timing and dynamic, clearly very experienced with working together. They would be a big challenge.
What was distasteful was the penchant of showboating after every score. More than a few times, the hot head met my eyes after scoring and smirked smugly, clearly stating "look at what I can do." If anything, it made me more repulsed.
As for Team Shinko, we had adapted to take cues from each other, coordinating our movements pretty naturally that we weren't doing quite bad ourselves, decently scoring and winning games with sportsmanship, all the while generally having fun. Yukihira even led the effort to extend a fist bump to every opponent and name drop our restaurant where possible.
We were taking a break under a palm tree when Fujiwara joined us just before the finals and made a show of walking up to him and holding his hands, barely acknowledging me. A few private words were exchanged and he was pulled away with her for whatever reason. I did not hide my disapproval as our turn was coming up soon while the runner up games were being played.
It was barely a few minutes that they left when hot headed Mr Repulsive snaked over.
"Seems like your boyfriend is being taken away," I could actually hear the smirk, amazing. "Forget him and come hang with me," I turned to face the short hot head, "We can enjoy the prize together," referring to the top prize of a pair of passes to the local hot spring.
Having no interest in being near him, much less the thought of being in a hot spring with him, I simply ignored him. But he is persistent if anything, now positioning himself in front of me, "You can do much better." he moved closer to me, and I backed up to the tree, "Besides, you guys have no chance of winning." My patience was wearing thin, I gripped my bandana covered forearm to steady myself, mentally prepared in case of him pushing things too far. However, he was smarter than that and simply toed the line.
A bottled water was suddenly thrust between us, forcing 'Romeo' in front of me to back off, "Let's have the game speak for itself," Yukihira had returned with a rare displeased expression on his face, with Fujiwara chasing up to him from behind, "besides, getting up close to a lady when your company is unwelcome is pretty harassing, isn't it?"
Mr. Repulsive, noticing that his antics have drawn attention from others around, scrowled and sulked away; his companion who had stonically waited for him a short distance away offered us a nod with a neutral expression, as if acknowledging his friend's behavior and was trying to make amends, before heading off to the same direction.
Yukihira watched them off, "Let's crush them." I nodded, obtaining the bottled water from him and took a swig; that guy needs to be taken a peg or two.
Fujiwara looked between us, curiously quiet.
The announcement for us to get in position for the finals cut into the moment and we complied. "Soma!" Fujiwara called out, giving us pause and turning to her. She pulled him into a hug and a peck on the cheek, "Good luck." Yukihira was stunned for a moment, and immediately beamed brilliantly.
It was then I felt an unusual tug in my chest.
Perhaps it was pre-game jitters?
"TEAM SHINKO!" was announced over the speakers and we got into position in the midst of cheers, even from the teams that we won against, likely from the good karma we got for playing with proper sportsmanship.
This theory was enforced when the other team was called to more jeers than polite applause, Mr Repulsive caught my eye and he had apparently witnessed the exchange between Yukihira and Fujiwara as he leered at me. I frowned but ignored him, focusing on the game.
The whistle blew and I served. The ball flew over the net and was almost immediately shot back with an audible spike.
Our opponents were not here to play friendly.
Yukihira dove, saving it in time, and it was up to me to set it up for him to attack. Yukihira shot it off, aiming to an empty spot on the opponent's side. However, the other team's taller member was there to block and the ball was sent to our court. I pounced but was just a little too late and the ball landed on our side to an audible "Oh!" from the crowd.
1 - 0. Oof, what a start to the final game.
Yukihira helped me up and the crowd cheered encouragingly as we got back to our positions. Yukihira's turn to serve and it flew beautifully towards the middle backline, actually causing our opponents to run into each other in an attempt to intercept the ball.
1 - 1. The crowd howled in laughter while the hot head berated his partner, as if he had no blame at all.
We were pretty evenly matched, trading the ball between us.
2 - 1. Another successful block by our tall opponent had the hot head whooping in excitement. Yukihira and I both understood that our main attacks will have head to the back.
2 - 2. We managed to send the hot head in a tizzy as our attacks had him in the backline running from one side of the court to the other after he had ordered his partner to stand in the front to "BLOCK THEM! BLOCK THEM!" Our scoring had him blaming his partner for not taking the initiative to support him behind.
2 - 3. Our second score in a row was greeted with excited approval but it also prompted our opponents to redeploy themselves for better coverage.
3 - 3. I was too slow on the dive, Yukihira called words of encouragement as I pushed myself up and dusted my knees.
4 - 3. Winning two servings in a row and a point away from the game set, the hot head showboated, attempting to play the crowd. The crowd was not having it but drowned it out with chants of "Shinko", "Gambatte!", "Shinko", "Gambatte! ..."
4 - 4. Upon our score, the crowd cheered and hollered. The hot head was loudly yelling at his teammate, almost boarding on abuse. Yukihira and I exchanged an upper front hand and lower backhand high 5 in perfect synchronization, "Good job" we called out together as we crossed each other.
We were in the zone, the next service will be the last one.
It was their service and the tall one hit the ball to our back and I had managed an interception, passing it to Yukihira who set and I attacked, sending it to the right. It was sent back to us in a two hit attack. Yukihira bumped it, I set, and he attacked.
That was when our opponents struck with their signature hard spike.
I digged, leaping far with arms outstretched, the ball bounced off my fist and towards Yukihira.
"GO!" I yelled, a cue for Yukihira to spike. He leaped when the ball was at his optimal height and distance from the net. It was almost picture perfect the way he had struck the spike...
...it flew past the block and onto the waiting bump of the hot head and with a smack the ball went over the net.
So there I was on the ground, with Yukihira still near the net, I knew neither of us could receive the attack. I looked down and had resigned myself to our defeat, ready to be mocked and hit on by the hot head.
The crowd went wild and the cheers of celebration was deafening, drowning out whatever the announcer was saying. Next thing I knew, I was helped on my feet by Yukihira, "WE WON!" he cheered, pulling me into a victory hug. Huh? How? "Their ball landed out of the court!"
On those words, my reservations were forgotten, I whooped and leaped in the air, a little higher than expected, and in the split second before my thoughts caught up with my actions, I was wrapping my leg around his torso for balance and arms around his neck.
But the euphoria overwrote any care about the optics at that time.
Author's note: So how will Yumiko react to this? Does it have any effect on Soma? and someone is coming to make things alot more interesting! Stay tuned for the next chapter!
And my sincere thanks for the reviews! The are a motivation and tells me that you're still interested to read on!