Disclaimer: None of these fine characters belong to me. It's call Fanfiction for a reason ¬_¬
A/N: This chapter is inspired by a HisakoxSoma doujin created by Sakake Asobi. I would paste the link to the doujin here but the site would not allow me to. Please enjoy and review!
The school term is coming to the close and there is a hum of excitement in the air as everyone discussed their summer plans: There is talk of concerts, conventions, travel… anything to get a breather from the stress to perform well in this school.
Whereas for me? Well, my typical summer is usually time for me to catch up on reading my favourite novels as there isn't anyone else at home and Erina-sama would be with her family. Not that I'm complaining; I'm pretty used to this arrangement… besides, I like some alone time.
Alone like I am now, in an empty classroom, hovering a pen above a blank strip of paper as I try to draw inspiration on what to write on it. Oh, it has nothing to do with my light novels but because of today's festival: Tanabata.
Yes, I am aware that it's an elementary school celebration that was not recognized by a culinary school like Tootsuki, but I have my reasons for writing them:
It was a long time ago when Erina-sama and I were only recently acquainted. At that time, I was afraid to address her directly as I was in awe by her family name and I saw the way my parents behaved in front of the Nakiris: reverence and respect.
It was on Tanabata when I was by myself writing my tanzaku that Erina-sama approached and addressed me directly by name for the first time… I could still recall how happy I felt for someone of her stature to remember my name. I had shot up immediately to apologize for sitting in her presence, to which she dismissed my worry and honestly queried what I was doing.
I had explained to her the meaning of Tanabata and the practice of writing a tanzaku for wishes of a good future or just something to be thankful for. Upon hearing my explanation, she was so excited on the prospect to join writing her very own tanzaku.
"Oh, if it isn't Arato," I started a little and looked up to find Yukihira standing in front of me, holding a hand up in greeting.
"Yukihira... what brings you here?" our summer job will only start in 2 weeks' time and we were given clear instructions on what to prepare by the school so there wasn't anything that we need to do for now.
"I was just happened by when I saw you by yourself… where's Nakiri?" he folded his arms casually, with a slight rise in an eyebrow.
"Erina-sama has a meeting with the Elite Ten council. I'm waiting for her here."
"I see." His face took a little frown but didn't press his issue, "So, what are you doing?" he leaned over my table to get a closer look at my strip of paper.
"HEY!" I immediately pressed my forearms onto the desk to shield his view, "Don't be rude to look at what someone is writing without their permission!"
He pulled back a little to his side of the table, head tilted in curiosity, "what's wrong? It was just an empty piece of paper."
"That's not the point!" I felt my cheeks flush; I had a writer's block for a while before he arrived so I was a little self-conscious.
I then realised I may have overreacted a little... I should share what I was doing to be fair to him:
I told him about the story of a young farmer and a goddess who fell in love and wedded but was separated by a simple lie that brought them together in the first place.
As punishment, the farmer was made to weave a thousand pair of straw shoes and bury under a bamboo tree that will grow towards heaven for every pair under it. He missed by one but was still lifted up by the goddess which angered her father who gave the farmer a challenge to watch a melon field for three day and nights without touching a single melon.
The farmer however became thirsty and touched a melon which immediately turned into a flowing river, forever separating the farmer and the goddess. The goddess then pleaded with her father to let her see her lover again.
Feeling sorry for his daughter, her father allows them to see each other on the 7th day of the 7th month every year by connecting that last step on the bamboo tree to the heavens. It was on this belief that earth and heaven would be connect on this day that that the custom of writing sincere wishes to be brought to heaven on a bamboo tree was born.
"That's very interesting." Yukihira remarked after I've finished speaking. "So you've an interest in folklore and stories?"
"In reading actually," I replied, "but yes, I think that such stories are fascinating and the customs seems fun! That is why I'm writing a tanzaku." Upon realising what I have revealed in my excitement of storytelling, I felt a little flustered letting another person know that I subscribe to fiction and fantasy.
I was expecting that I was going to be teased for my confession that I prepared myself for his response. "So what kind of medium do you read?"
I was slightly taken aback. I had wholeheartedly expected for him to laugh at me but instead, he asked me that with sincerity in his voice. Well, I've gotten this far, no harm telling him now. "Light novels… I read light novels." I glanced around, avoiding his gaze... but it felt liberating in letting another person know something that I have not even told Erina-sama.
He gave a little smile and nod in encouragement: actions that told me that he gets that this was something I don't share with others and what I had said was safe with him.
He must have known that I didn't want to open up that quickly as he changed the topic: "So, about the tanzaku, how does it work? Is there a specific requirement?" his demeanor changed to curiosity.
"It is meant to be a short message to the gods on what you sincerely would want to wish for: Fame, Fortune, Luck, Good Health… I've heard of people actually wishing for materialistic goods too."
"Now that sounds like a fantastic wish for them to come true" he joked while I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Please don't go there," I deadpanned; Though there are no restrictions for wishes, following the spirit of the custom, asking for an 82-in flat screen TV from the heavens is a rather simple-minded, isn't it?
He stroked his chin for a moment as if in thought. "Oh! I know what I want to wish for," he pound his left palm with his right fist as inspiration struck him. "Hey, would you spare me a piece of paper? And to clarify, as you said, I can write any wish I want?"
"Try to keep your wishes realistic," I had an impression what his wish might be like but I was intending to manage his expectations.
He grinned widely, as if to assure me, and reached out his hand, "c'mon, and lend me a pen too." he was really into this.
I have my reservations on his intentions but I decided to humor him by taking a fresh strip of paper out and handed over to him. It's just a wish; I'm not going to prevent him from making one.
He accepted the paper and immediately got to writing. Hmm, perhaps I should too.
Picking up my pen, I met with the same writer's block I had before. My mind was a blank as to what would be a good wish.
Looking for a distraction, I considered the person in front of me and I recalled his words that left an impact to me on the last day of our stagiaire. "From now on, don't be behind Erina. Change yourself; let yourself be able to stand 'beside' her and walk forward together. Isn't that better?"
His words were full of meaning and had made me pause. He actually said the same thing to that effect the last time we met: to see myself as more than a secretary. Perhaps that was why he seemed frustrated; that I apparently had not taken his advice at all. Who knew that this person, who was currently writing down his wish with his tongue slightly sticking out at the side of his lips, could be so perceptive?
Perhaps I should write a tanzaku for him as appreciation.
Ah, I got it.
"I'm done" I declared once I've finished writing.
"Already?" He looked up, surprised for a moment then smirked, "are you sure you have given it much thought?"
"Of course I have!" I was miffed at the suggestion that I was being frivolous but I knew that he was just being a tease as usual.
"So what did you wish for?"
"Well," I didn't say it out but passed the paper to him to read.
His eye widened at my words, "Eh?"
'Wishing for Yukihira's wish to come true – Arato Hisako'
"Yukihira has always been a person who is resourceful, creative and brave. Perhaps no one has ever told you that you are very perceptive and selfless too." I explained. "So as appreciation, my wish is for your wish to come true; with double the sincerity, I'm sure your wish will surely come true, won't it?"
"Double the sincerity…?" he seemed a little bewildered and that made me pause.
I wonder if I have offended him somehow…he wouldn't have taken it the wrong way, would he? "That's wrong? Don't you want it? I can change it if you prefer."
"Oh, it is fine as it is; thank you." He looked up with a gleeful expression and continued, "So, you say with two persons making the same wish, it would be more effective; that it will come true?"
"Yup," curious on what he wrote.
"If that's the case then I'll stop calling you 'Arato' from now on."
Huh? "Why is that?" I was confused at what he was saying.
"Here it is; my tanzaku!" He offered his slip of paper to me.
Now I'm really curious at what his wish was. But my curiosity turned into surprise when I read it:
'Wishing to be good friends with Arato. – Yukihira Soma'
"Being 'good friends', this means we can stop calling each other by our last names, right?" He grinned, "And hearing a side of you that no-one else knows qualifies as a 'close-friend'-ship point, doesn't it?"
"Wha- don't...don't make assumptions!" I was red with embarrassment; oh my goodness, is... is he actually shinning with glee?
He rested his chin on his palm propped up by his forearm. "And since you have sincerely wished for my wishes to come true; with double the sincerity, my wish is already as good as granted, isn't it?"
Though dumbfounded, I can see where this is going. Don't say it, please don't say it!
"From now on, I'll be in your care, Hishoko-chan"
"I…" What?! So to him it's justified to tease once we are friends?! "Arato Hisako!" I angrily reminded him as I stood up and got ready to leave; hearing someone other than Erina-sama call me by my first name had an effect on me... Why won't my blush just go away?
"Then I look forward to working with you in summer, Hisako!" He playfully called after me as I hurried out of the room.
Once past the doorway, I leaned against the wall outside the classroom doorway to gather myself as I clutched my chest to still my beating heart. "What is he thinking, writing that kind of wish?" He could have wished for anything: First Seat of the Elite Ten; some special kitchen appliance; maybe for Erina-sama to finally approve his food… I was ready to even bet that he would wish that his new dish would be a great success!
But instead, he made a wish for friendship. Why though?
Then a memory came to me… of the first time Erina-sama wanted to write her own tanzaku and I had demonstrated to her an example of what to write:
"Wishing for a memorable experience with someone." she recited my words. At that time, I was drawn deep into the world of fiction and I had the fantasy of meeting an interesting character similar to those in my stories that will change my life forever.
But I didn't tell Erina-sama that.
I instead confessed to her that I do not know when or if it would come true at all as it took more than a year for my wish to be closer with my family to be somewhat fulfilled when I finally got to tag along with my parents into the Nakiri Household to observe their service; Of course recognising who I was speaking to, I affirmed her that my primary goal is to be a chef in service to her family
"Hisako, whether our wishes come true or not depends on whether we can recognise the opportunity that life brings and if we have the courage seize it.
"My wish is to be the chef that will revolutionise the culinary world; and as life had it, I was born with the opportunity to do so. But if I did not seize it, my wish will never become a reality.
"I know that your wish will be granted someday: it may not be today, may not be tomorrow, but keep writing your wishes and it will surely come true so don't lose faith; it's going to be ok, Hisako!"
Now that I recalled the tanzaku that I wrote a long time ago, I find that it would be amusing if perhaps this may all be related… then again, maybe not.
Life is not a fairytale.
I peeked into the room and found him gazing out the window with a light smile on his lips.
Yukihira Soma… I wonder how this summer will turn out to be.
A/N: I was considering the fact that a request to the school would logically come about one month in advance from the actual working day (so that the employer may recruit people in case the request cannot be fulfilled) so this story bridges a gap for the job offer and the work day. Additionally, summer holidays in japan start from 20th July onwards till end August leaving the opportunity for the Tanabata (7/7) festival to occur just before they head to the beach.
For those who do not know: In Japanese culture, calling someone by their first name is only used to denote close relationships. I try to keep that line by restricting them addressing each other only by their last names in previous chapters as the culture practices.
Thanks for the reviews! Please leave a review on how you think of the story, it's a motivation for me to continue!
As a challenge and fun, leave a review on any scenes you like to see and I'll work it into the story somehow. I'll make sure to acknowledge you is I do so!
You can look forward to the following ideas:
Mine: Soma standing up for Hisako, Hisako in a chinese dress
Skyyy209: Making new dishes for the restaurant will happen; I already have something in mind as for your other suggestion... I don't really write sex scenes here. Maybe on another site? ha
Johnny Walker: yandere ice queen? hmm... but Hisako in a Bikini is a must!
Saint Danielle: a trove of suggestions! Soma unknowingly doing stuff boyfriends do, mistaken couple, new recipe and what romantic comedy will it be without a little jealousy? ;)
Soul Pucker: Ah nurse Hisako, won't we all want to see that? :D
Thanks to the above for participating to contribute suggestions! I'll work it in as much as I can but I may have to take some artistic flexibility. Look forward to your suggestions turned into a plot point!
aGoldenLion: Something awesome will happen, look out for it :)
evolvelove: I can make some lemonade with what I have in mind but...not here. haha
JeGosu: You asked and you receive! :)
Looking forward to more reviews!
Seaside arch starts in the next chapter!