Disclaimer: It's a work of fiction and just having fun with my favorite SNS pairing
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Alice-sama, 5:12am Hey hey, Hishoko, how are you?
Those were the first words that I saw on my text notification when I turned on the screen. Alice-sama would sometimes message me to look for Erina-sama. However, I thought it would be safe to assume they'd be together for that family reunion?
Time check: 6:46am, my usual wake up time. A yawn and a stretch...
Hisako, 6:47am I'm alright, thank you for asking. How may I help you, Alice-sama? And please call me Hisako.
Despite her casualness, she's still a Narikiri, and I will address her as such. Seeing the time difference between her message and my reply, I was not expecting her to reply immediately.
Surprisingly:
Alice-sama, 6:47am How could you make me wait? :(
Alice-sama, 6:47am or...
Alice-sama, 6:47am am I interrupting you and Yukihira-kun? :D
I guess Erina-sama had told her about my summer work. I am pretty used to her way of texting, so I just dismissed it off-handedly.
Alice-sama, 6:48am a guy and a girl alone in a beach shack
Alice-sama, 6:48am at least use protection!
(¬_¬)
Hisako, 6:48am Thank you for the consideration, Alice-sama. How may I assist you today?
There was a pause and she didn't reply… oh wait.
Typing…
Typing…
Typing…
...What does she want now?
Typi-
I stared at the status word for a few seconds, waiting for a message that never came.
What? That's it? ...sigh, whatever, I will freshen up first.
Out the door, Yukihira has already started his morning routine on the balcony,
"Hey, *huff* Good Morning *huff*." he greeted while doing push ups without his top, muscles taut with every rep. A sight I can't help but stare while pretending to speak with him.
"Good morning." I replied, "You're sticking to routine even on the last day."
"Yep, no swimming today though, there won't be enough time to dry." he drew his knees in and stood up in one smooth motion, muscles glistened with perspiration, "wanna join me?"
"Well…" it is the last day and we do not have to head down to work.
Perhaps seeing my hesitation, he added, "it's a nice day out here. Let's enjoy this balcony before we head off."
He's right, high clouds filtering a rising sun with a cool morning breeze. I will miss the light give of seasoned wood, calming sound of the waves, smell of the salty sea, and the feel of sand beneath my feet.
Being born relatively well, as well as being in the service of Erina-sama, my life is usually of either soft carpeted ballrooms or mirror polished hard granite floors, steel and concrete buildings, and the stifling air of the city. My respite was an annual return to the sprawling Arato estate which contrasted the usual cramped Tokyo cityscape with an expansive mature traditional Japanese garden with large koi pond, extensive medicinal herb gardens...
...and empty rooms.
"Thanks for the invite... but no." Yukihira pouted for a moment till I continued, "because I'll be preparing breakfast." That made him visibly excited and got him to begin shifting the table out.
I could not help but keep a smile all the way to the bathroom to freshen up.
After the usual necessities, I checked my phone the moment I returned.
Alice-sama, 6:52am naw, wanted to say congratulations!
Alice-sama, 6:53am seems you are doing great
Alice-sama, 6:53am a new drink eh
Alice-sama, 6:53am combination of both your names? ;)
Ah, I better reply to her. Her words suggest that an article from yesterday's interview has come up. I would still need to confirm:
Hisako, 7:04am Thank you for waiting, Alice-sama, I was in the washroom. May I ask where did you get that information from?
I gave it a few seconds but instead of a text, my phone rang, "Hiya, Hishoko-chan!" That upbeat and excitable voice came over the phone. I was kind of impressed as it should be about 12am there. Then again, it's Alice-sama.
"Who are you calling 'Hishoko'?!."
"Naw, Hishoko is 'Hishoko'. It's more interesting!" She continued before I could retort, "so yeh, I read about Shinko Matcha in my feed. At first I was, like, 'Arato Hisako? It can't be right?' Then I saw Yukihira-kun there and I was, like, 'it IS you!'."
"Which article is that?" That reporter works fast.
"It's not published yet, your name just came up in the media monitoring system."
The name is self explanatory. For families like the Nakiris they leverage on systems like this to control their exposure through the media. Besides existing articles, being able to know what is being drafted and to be published while having an option to mold the narrative makes it a powerful tool. Pretty simple system where mainstream journalists shared a networked platform: convenient to share and crosscheck work, but it allows certain high up people to snoop.
"You were using that system to monitor me?" I frowned a little as I returned to the kitchenette to start the meal preparation.
Her shrug came over the phone, "I was bored."
"Hang on to that thought," This was not unexpected of her, she's still Erina-sama's cousin so all she got was a tight lipped tsk while I switched over to my ear piece. "Putting the invasion of privacy aside, we agreed to the interview, so there's no harm in that."
"Yeh, it is just so bold to see it in writing," she teased, "so, whatcha doin'?"
"About to start making breakfast." I filled up the kettle, hoping the sound of water flowing was giving her a hint to cut the call short.
"For Yukihira and yourself?"
"Naturally."
"As natural as a wife making breakfast for her husband." got to admire her quick wit.
"As practical as one person cooking for two people, Alice-sama. So, if there's nothing else?"
There was a pause, while I adjusted the settings for the rice cooker.
"Hey...just between us: have you considered what if you didn't have to…" Alice-sama's voice switched to something more solemn, a contrast to her earlier teasing tone. She paused again and I waited for her to continue. "You know, we have our family names on our shoulders, right?"
"...Yes, Alice-sama."
"And that usually means that we don't have a say in who we settle down with…"
I kept quiet as I tended to the miso soup, curious as to where she was going with that.
"You should have heard about the omiai matter from Erina, right?" I hummed a positive, "and all the time, I was thinking what will happen to Ryo."
Oh?
...OH, "I believe Ryo is more than capable of standing at your level, after all, your parents have approved of him."
"He is. His family background though…" Alice-sama trailed off, knowing it was unnecessary to continue. "When I saw how close you and Yukihira-kun are, perhaps you can understand where I'm coming from…"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh come now: nothing happened between you and him?"
I took a pause from beating the eggs, looking back, there were many things to say, but to dismiss her, "we're just friends."
"'Friends' are just the first step into a relationship." a light chuckle over the line, "hopefully you don't have to choose when THAT time comes."
Her words remained in my mind as I completed our breakfast.
By THAT time, what is she suggesting? That Yukihira and I…
Yukihira Soma: passionate chef with a cheerful and lively personality. His main goal in life is to become a great chef and take over his family restaurant. His lofty ideas and imagination makes him a unique individual.
Me? I am a hard-nosed, grounded, and straight laced follower who needs direction. I only happened to be born in a well-to-do family, albeit an estranged one. I may end up as a pawn in the marriage game; after all, they believed that the Nakiri family association would bring the family some benefit...
What am I thinking about? Yukihira and I are just friends. Yes, we have progressed somewhat in the past two weeks, but who would not?
How far is it? That's the question.
I recall how I felt when we first shared a spoon, now we share it without blinking an eye.
Or how I used to get jumpy on skin contact. Now I didn't seem to mind, even getting a massage from him.
Then there is us exchanging details that we have not told anyone else. The bandanna on my wrist was a physical artifact of this fact. I had unconsciously put it on again; I think it's a habit I have picked up,
So would I dare say… we're more than friends?
...
What does it matter anyway, THAT is not my concern when I'm still schooling. Besides, we are a world apart in background and personalities.
Nonetheless, those thoughts were still there as Yukihira and I settled down for breakfast.
With a hearty "Itadakimasu!" Yukihira dug in with gusto, evidently enjoying the simple meal I made for us.
"Slow down," I advised with a small smile, glad to see someone enjoying what I made.
"It's delicious," he beamed without reservation, "After 2 weeks of living here with you, I'm going to miss the taste of your food."
"We can always have sampling cooks every now and then."
"I won't mind having your miso soup everyday," he said as he took a big gulp.
I don't know if he was aware of it but: that was a traditional marriage proposal. Maybe it was just me to be aware of such things being a reader.
Yeah yeah, call me old fashioned.
Either way, I could not help but warm at those words. "It's just miso soup."
"I dunno, there's something different about yours."
"You like it heavier on the miso." After cooking meals for each other, we pick up the fine details of each other's preferences.
Yukihira grinned appreciatively before a pensive silence fell between us.
I believe we were both considering these final hours before we headed back to our respective lives.
I guess this is it, goodbye to this beach shack that was our residence for 2 weeks.
We were almost done packing and I was making my way back to the scooter where Yukihira was, only to find him speaking with Fujiwara Yumiko. Wow, the nerve of her showing her face after what she did to him.
From their body language though, he seemed to be apologetic while she stood there looking stoic with her arms folded.
What are you doing, Yukihira?
"Hey, my luggage is ready." I said as I approached them, to the relief of Yukihira.
He muttered an "excuse me" and went back to the shack leaving Fujiwara and I in awkward silence.
"So what's your game?" I said as soon as Yukihira was out of earshot.
"What?"
"Are you here to rub salt into his wounds?"
"What are you talking about?" Fujiwara looked genuinely puzzled, "what wounds?"
"Remember what I told you? Yukihira doesn't need your drama...especially not after you dumped him."
"Wait, hang on," Fujiwara said, one hand on the hip while the other holding a hand up, "did he say I dumped him?"
"No?" It was my turn to be puzzled, "why else would he look so down?"
"I don't know what you think really happened: He dumped me"
I began to recall our past conversations about his status with Fujiwara… I then realised not once did he mention that he was dumped. But, "...why was he so upset?"
"I would guess that he felt responsible. He was really apologetic that day."
I see… I had interpreted his guilt of initiating the break up as sorrow for being the one being let go.
Now, I felt sorry for misjudging the girl in front of me; but at the same time, there was a feeling of satisfaction knowing that he initiated the breakup.
On the other side, Fujiwara seemed vindicated, "so you didn't convince him to do it."
"No, I did not."
In that moment, there was a mutual understanding between us as that loose end was tied up.
"And to think, you rejected Aida Shion too...Soma-kun told me." She added before I could ask, "I was surprised when he actually said your name on stage. Heh. Well, I think that settles it then." Fujiwara interlaced her fingers and stretched. "I thought I can convince Soma-kun to consider working here for the summer. My kitchen staff is always happy to have him."
"He has his own restaurant to see to."
"By himself? I know he's a great chef but that is going to be a challenge." She allowed a small smile, "perhaps if he have help, it would make it easier?"
Yes, it would. That concern has been on my mind for awhile. He's going to run a restaurant alone. Being in culinary school, I know that running a kitchen alone is going to be tough. Someone working with him would be able to share the load.
"Why can't it be you?" Fujiwara asked.
It made me think… why can't it be me? There is no one at home and I have no plans anyway. And helping him there would give me other experiences.
Fujiwara must have read my expression, "one more thing: hearing you call him Yukihira seems odd for some reason. Perhaps you should rethink that." And the subject in our discussion arrived with my luggage, smoothly loading it on the trailer. "Well, Soma-kun, I'll see you around." She then nodded to me and I returned it.
There was a moment of silence as both of us watch her stroll off towards her restaurant. It was time.
"So the place is locked up, and all that's left is to return the scooter at the train station. Are you ready to go?"
I gave what Fujiwara said a thought, and finally coming to a decision:
"I would like to help… Soma."
A/N: And so, this is the epilogue of Arc 1 and the prologue of Arc 2. Pretty clear where Hisako is going to be eh?
Thank you for all the reviews! I'm glad you like what I'm doing. This chapter is due to the high amount of reviews that the last one got. It is really motivating!
I hope you continue reading into the second arc!
**Optional reading material**
Arc 1 Notes
There was supposed to be a chapter with the volleyball opponents in the 2nd week but I thought it would be just a filler
Same goes for introducing the two part timers. I wonder if any of you caught they were named after Ayasaki Hayate and Katsura Hinagiku from a certain another series.
Both Fujiwara Yumiko and Aida Shion have parts to play in the development and maturity of our two main characters. As said, they have their roles to play.
And wonder if you noticed the similar phrase between the start of the story, and the end of this ;)
Update on the list of inspirations of the sweet things couples do:
1) Having pillow fights
2) Listening to music together
3) Supporting each other during tough times
4) Greeting each other then we get home from work
5) Dancing together
6) Enjoy being lazy together
7) Cooking together
8) Fooling around in the kitchen
9) Traveling together
10) Going for walks together - Rain or shine
11) Enjoy the moment when we're reunited
12) Spending the day in town together
13) Reading together before bed
14) Falling asleep in each other's arms
15) Having breakfast together each morning
16) Snacking together late into the night
17) Cuddling
18) Going on dates
19) Enjoying the quiet moments together