Notes:
Hey Everyone! Zancrowe Here! With A Special Announcement!
Starting next week, I'll be posting a new update every day, for seven (7) days straight (for different stories mind you). So, you guys will get:
1. On April 28 the Food Wars drabbles A Sixpence In Your Shoe.
2. On April 29 the Frieren x Fire Emblem story Lehren der Zeit.
3. On April 30 the Food Wars crossover story Couverture (A Nouvelle Story).
4. On May 01 the Oshi no Ko story carpe diem.
5. On May 02 the Food Wars one-shot Role Ambiguity.
6. On May 03 the Genshin Impact story Age Of Calamity.
7. On May 04 the Food Wars story Something BLUE.
& the entire week that follows that, from May 05 to May 11, I'll be posting chapters daily for my Gift Fic "Kimiko no Gaiden" that I've been writing for a fandom friend, IceColdSea, based on her own Next-Gen Sorina story posted here on FFN called "Shokugeki no Kimiko". While not connected to the NouVerse, if you're a fan, there are a few things there that may catch your interest!
Special Shoutout! To ScharfrichterV for suggesting these ships for these specific prompts!
Disclaimer: Don't own Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma.
Drabble #29 / 101: "It's been fun. We've had a good run, but you parked in my spot. I'm going to have to kill you now."
Pairing: Shinomiya / Hinako
"It's been fun. We've had a good run, but you parked in my spot. I'm going to have to kill you now."
Shinomiya paused, right eye twitching, as he turned towards the main entrance of her restaurant's kitchen, surprised but not really to see his wife, Hinako, and their baby, Kouko, standing there. Well, Hinako was standing there. Kouko was on her stroller, eyes wide, looking at everything with awe.
"Hinako, sweetheart, you aren't due to return to work yet," Shinomiya quickly told her, as he set his tools aside, and walked towards two of the three most important women in the world to him, "Doctor Arato was specific when he said…"
"Yes, and I was specific when I said I am still a chef," Hinako just cut in, "You're working yourself to death by managing your restaurants and mine. That does not make me a good wife."
"You just created a human being, Hinako," Shinomiya tried, "That goes beyond anything we do at any of these restaurants. The staff, both yours and mine, already know what they need to do, and they are doing quite a decent enough job at it. So…"
"And…?"
And he sighed. Because he knew who else she wanted there, and, damn it, he also wanted them there too.
"…Yes, I have contacted Headmistress Mana Nakiri and asked if I could borrow some of the Elite Ten, a few days or so, to lend us a hand. Both dunces –" he continued, but the moment she glared at him he quickly cleared his throat and corrected his phrasing, "I mean, Yukihira and Megumi have already agreed, and I do believe little Erina also wishes to assist, which is… honestly surprising."
"I mean, they are engaged," Hinako noted, then just grinned so cutely Shinomiya couldn't help but smile, "It's so, so damn lovely and adorable. Gah! I just want to hug them!"
"You'll get your chance. Yukihira and Nakiri will be stationed at Shino's, while, of course, here you'll get your darling Megumi, and, another surprise, one of the Italian boys, the eldest, Takumi."
"Oh!" Hinako quickly beamed, "He did his Stagiaire with me! Yay! I get him too! Can't I ask for Hisako too! Oh, and since Megs will be here, we should also ask for Akira, you know, not split the couples up and all that…"
"Do you want all of Tootsuki in here?!"
"Yes!" she replied with all the authority, hands on her hips, "Problem?"
And he just sighed. Because she had given him the best joys a man could ever ask for, and if she wanted the entire student body of Tootsuki Academy under this one roof, then, damn it all to hell, she was going to get it. Apologies in advance for all the paperwork that was going to fall on Mana's desk…
-0-
Drabble #30 / 101: "It made a difference to me."
Pairing: Hakeem / Ikumi
"On behalf of my family, and by extension, this very Academy, we are very grateful for your extended stay and all the efforts you've put into bettering our academic institution," Hakeem noted, almost out of the blue, to Ikumi, as they both shared a somewhat private lunch during their break.
For as "private" as they could, granted, as Hakeem was insanely popular at Ada Akintola's (much to Ikumi's barely hidden frustration), already on the path to becoming it's next rightful Headmaster despite his notion that he wished to try out for a different career choice first; while Ikumi was something of a novelty to many, this foreign exchange student who hailed from the ever-esteemed Tootsuki Academy and who was every bit as much a culinary princess as the likes of Erina or Alice were. And just as beautiful, many would note, but not vocally.
Not because of Hakeem, per say, as while yes, he was stern, she was his girlfriend, and he made it clear; he didn't actually threaten anyone unless they crossed a line, and given his size, nobody did. No, the problem was the little one, who had taken such a liking to his new sister he had already threatened to stab at least twenty different guys for just looking at her cleavage.
And they were almost certain he would follow-up on that threat. Damn kid was a Noir in all but name.
Ikumi, for her part, just set her plate down for a moment, her mind deep in analysis as she inspected the quality of this particular Nigerian dish and just how masterful it was, and turned towards Hakeem, "Oh? You made that sound particularly fancy and professional. Come on, lighten up a little. I don't want to be treated like a VIP here of all places, especially not by you."
"My apologies, it is difficult to speak to you in an informal manner when I am quite in awe at just how talented and brilliant you truly are," he admitted, and she pouted to avoid blushing.
"Now you're just praising me without any real reasoning…"
"No?" Hakeem noted, eyebrow raised, "In your time here, mere months at that, you've already gotten to the top of the current school year, and you've soundly defeated both Keelan and Dakarai. And even with Aisha…"
"My record with the little bean remains tied," Ikumi was quick to cut in, as her own ego to be the best clashed with the pride she had grown for that precious little boy, "And I've figured out the strategy behind his prowess."
"Oh? And that is…?"
"Kanon."
"Little Kanon?"
"Yes, if she's watching the duel, he wins, hands down," Ikumi noted with a sheepish little laugh, "If she's not currently staying over, then I can take him. Puppy love is a powerful thing, evidently."
"Don't let him hear you say that…"
"Bleh, I've told it to him to his face, her too," Ikumi just brushed off, "They are babies, and it is my duty to watch over them. But, yeah, it doesn't change the fact that every time I surpass him, he comes back swinging even harder."
"Such is your own school's way," Hakeem would note, "Part of me feels Aisha, once he's older, could benefit from going to Tootsuki for a few months, like you are doing here."
"Do you want Tootsuki to be destroyed?!"
Hakeem actually let out a laugh, "He's not that much a menace… somewhat."
"Right," Ikumi just noted, before she turned her eyes back down to the plates, "Still… you mention your brothers, but there's still one Akintola I have yet to best."
"I feel it would be a bigger offense if I held back."
"Oh, don't you dare or I'm dumping you and taking Aisha with me!" she joked (he hoped), before she crossed her arms against her chest, "And your record won't remain untouched for long. Why don't we have a proper Shokugeki tonight? Help make me feel more at home? Heck, win this one, and I'll do anything."
"That's quite the dangerous offer to throw around Ikumi."
"I know you," she countered, "You're one of the few men I trust enough to wager that and rest assured you won't ask for anything lewd. Not that I'm intending to let you win though."
"I appreciate the vote of confidence," he noted, before his eyes sharpened as he looked at her, "But I accept. It shall be arranged as if this were Tootsuki grounds. And from me, the only thing I want from you… Is for you to extend your stay here at Akintola's."
"Huh?!" Ikumi blurted out, eyes wide, now actually blushing, "Y-You mean stay here, for longer? I… I mean, it's not that I wouldn't mind, but studying here, living pretty much in your home, being treated like an heiress of this place even if…"
"I won't force it," he admitted, "Merely, if I win, I will implore you to consider it."
"We started as enemies, our schools I mean," Ikumi admitted, eyes anywhere but at him, "I didn't think our meeting way back at the Don RS would have made such a difference in my life…"
"It made a difference to me," he admitted, taking her hand, and softly kissing her palm, "You are Akintola's Princess, Ikumi, and genuinely, if I had it my way, I wouldn't just keep borrowing you from Erina Nakiri, but outright steal you."
And for the first time in a long time, Ikumi couldn't quite decline how enticing that offer sounded.
-0-
Drabble #31 / 101: "I shouldn't have even been there!"
Pairing: Julius / Yukichiko
Couples counseling was a very important step in many relationships for those who were mature enough to know that it wasn't all flowers and rainbows, but actual commitment, and, in other cases, betrayals of different kinds, some which could be mended, others, not so much. So, while at first Yukichiko scoffed at the idea, it did surprise her when Julius brought the topic up. He wanted to make it clear he meant every word he had said, and that he was willing to go to any length to make things right with her.
So she agreed, hesitantly.
What she didn't expect, that given their line of work, after asking around, they got… not quite a psychologist.
"I am certain this feels just as weird to you both as it does for me," Hisako noted, clapping her hands together, with the sweetest of smiles, "But my father did refer you both to me, and I am very well versed in relationship drama, family angst, and hard-rooted betrayals."
"…Did you have to list it like a novel?" Yukichiko just said, her eyes narrowed at this young Chef / Secretary / Psychiatrist apparently.
"And I feel 'betrayal' is a rather strong word," Julius offered, his tone soft and calm, which just made Hisako smile more.
"Oh? I think that's for Miss Yukichiko to decide," she offered, and it made Julius pause, and Yukichiko raised an eyebrow, "After all, she was the one hurt by your actions, justified as they might have been, so I feel she is more entitled to classifying what the situation was than you are Julius."
'…I think this was a mistake…' Julius could only think as he felt his left eye twitch. Forget his duel with Etsuya, this was the scariest moment of his life so far.
"My, perhaps you are qualified after all," Yukichiko noted, an almost praise directed at the smiling Hisako, "So I shall play along then. Yes, it was betrayal. A pregnancy scare followed by the man of my dreams dropping off the face of the Earth is hard to describe in any other way."
"…I explained why."
"Yes, and it's the only reason we are sitting here, on this couch, still technically together," Yukichiko clarified, "However, there were other ways you could have relayed the message to me about what father was doing without exposing either of us. I refuse to believe a man of your intelligence couldn't have come up with a way to fool my father. It's not like he's… smart."
"I… yes, quite, that is understandable," Julius was forced to admit, "Perhaps I could have maybe sent a discreet message to you, but I didn't want to put you in the position of having to choose me over your own family…"
"I shouldn't have even been there!" Yukichiko called out, "In that scenario, at all! If I was going to have a child, that would have been my priority. My family, and, ideally, you would have been a part of it."
Julius felt a heavy sigh, and just nodded, "Yes, you are, as always, correct. I felt I owed your father so much, for taking me from the streets and offering me such an improved life, that it was my own loyalties that led me to trying to play at it both sides, instead of manning up and confronting him directly, for your sake and the… baby's. Even if…"
"Even if it was a false alarm…" Yukichiko noted, solemnly. Hisako looked on, and gave the two a little nod.
"Good, this is important," she noted, "You both need to stop pretending everything is now fine and not bottle those negative emotions up. Yukichiko felt abandoned in a very vulnerable moment, while Julius felt he was betraying two different people who had offered him two different types of love that he had not experienced prior."
"You're…" Yukichiko began.
"…Surprisingly good at this," Julius concluded.
"I am brilliant, yes," Hisako noted, proudly, "But, as less as your love guru, and more of a… friend, if I could be so bold, you both seem almost… disappointed the pregnancy turned out to be a false alarm…"
"I mean…" they both replied in unison, their eyes widening a bit, before they turned to each other, and then looked away, making Hisako grin.
"You both want to be parents, don't you?"
"It was a horrible experience to have that doubt while still under my father's thumb, but I suppose, now…" Yukichiko muttered, while Julius just looked on.
"I myself wouldn't be opposed to the idea," he admitted.
"You… wouldn't?"
"As I've said," he added, "Whatever you want, whatever it takes, I want to fix this. I failed once; I will not fail again."
Yukichiko said nothing for the longest moment, her hands rested on her lap, before she took a deep breath, and admitted, "Before you left, the few hours when it was only I the one who knew… while I was terrified, I still began to ponder what names I would give the baby, if it were a boy or a girl…"
"…You did?" he asked, genuinely surprised, "Did you come up with…?"
"Jacob, if it were a boy."
"After my father?" Julius asked, actually shocked and… touched. He rarely mentioned his late father at all, a handful of times at most. But for her to remember, and even wish to name their would-be child in his honor, was almost too much. But, even so… "That would have been very sweet Yukichiko, and… I suppose it can still be. Granted, we have no guarantee it will be a boy, and unlike my father, my mother was not someone I wish to honor."
"Oh no, I'm not naming our future daughter after her…" she admitted, smiling, "I want something simpler, to the point. A little warning for anyone who'd ever try anything against her…"
Because using a familiar phrase that everyone knew was the easiest way to convey a message, and it was quite well-known that every Rose has its thorns.
-0-
Drabble #32 / 101: "I don't know why I'm crying."
Pairing: Azami / Milka
"While I understand the silent treatment, I did not force you to accompany me in this endeavor," Azami noted, his eyes on the passenger of his car, as the lovely Milka Dillinger, with her eyes on the road, having just gotten into the car after their current stop, had not much uttered a single word… well, to him at least. She spoke quite a bit to the receptionist and everyone else at that building.
This is where Dove inherited that ice cold shoulder that could outright kill a man.
"…I am aware," she finally spoke, however, "But, and this is not for you, the fact that this is for the baby boy does merit my involvement."
"You've already taken a liking to Loren it would seem…" Azami noted, and sighed, "This is going to prove disastrous for me. With you, Dove, and even Baby Ruth adoring that boy, I will be unable to say 'no' to anything he asks for the rest of my days. I am aware of all I need to do to correct my history of abuse and neglect, but my children show me no mercy."
"Do you genuinely think you deserve an ounce of mercy?"
"…Point taken," Azami replied, and before he could, Milka took hold of the envelope they had been given, and he just eyed her for a moment.
"Eyes on the round pale man," she instructed, and he felt himself flinch. She, however, opened the envelope up, not caring it had been given to him as he was the actual parental guardian, and once she did, she couldn't help but squeal, "Oh my God! So cute!"
At this, Azami, stopping the car on a red light, turned to her, curiosity barely visible on his face, "What did they offer us?"
"Something you're not going to get to keep for long once Dove sees it," Milka told her, "So… enjoy it while it lasts."
And she showed it to him.
It was a picture of Loren.
Aged four.
A little blond kid, with those big, wide blue eyes of his, a little mischievous smile on his face not unlike Ruthie herself. So precious. So innocent. And it was the only surviving photograph of Loren that the orphanage had, before the boy had then run away to live on the streets until Azami found him.
"Dove is going to frame this when she… Oh? Are you…?" Milka began, the paused, then asked, "…actually crying?"
And for once, Azami had not even realized it. "…I don't know why I'm crying."
And Milka gave another pause, and spoke in a slightly softer tone, "…Maybe, because for once, you shouldn't overthink this. This isn't the powerful man who almost singlehandedly altered the culinary landscape after years of plotting, but rather… simply a father who misses his little boy."
"My youngest."
"Our youngest," Milka corrected, and when Azami turned to her with a look of almost shock, she just added, "Again, eyes on the road. The light's green."
And she left it at that. Didn't utter a single other word to him for the rest of the day, no matter what topic he tried to speak to her about. Cold shoulder was all he got. And now, finally, he began to understand.
'…Asahi, son, how did you manage to crack this code…?'
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Memories Of The Past; Eyes On The Future…