“Yeah, yeah. I love you, too.” Souma mutters under his breath as he twists the door knob and let’s himself in the room. “Didn’t even give me a kiss before leaving…”
**
Once settled in their rooms, the group had went their separated ways. There were a variety of things to do in the resort so they agreed to freestyle until evening. That should be more than enough time for them to do what they want to do before dinner.
While going around the resort to check in on the staff, Ayano had stumbled upon her friends. She’d stay with them for a few minutes then would be on her way to not intrude much.
There’s less than an hour before their planned dinner time.
Takumi, Megumi and Souma are walking back to the lobby together after a stroll outside. As the trio walked, they caught a glimpse of Ayano and Kiro talking amongst themselves.
“Ayano-chan has been really busy,” Megumi mentions to start a new conversation with her two best friends. “She told me earlier that it’s about the Special Event later this evening.”
“It is the New Year, after all.” Takumi nodded, glancing at the female and the way her hair fell down her back. “I wonder if there’s a shrine nearby? Isami and I have to go try it out ourselves.”
“There must be!” Megumi seems more excited than the blond himself. “It’s a great way to start the year!”
A pink hue spreads across his cheeks, so he looks away to hide it. “Y-You’re welcome to join us, of course, Megumi.”
“Yes, I’d love that.” There’s a light blush dusting her cheeks as well.
But, amidst their lovely atmosphere, she notices that their other companion isn’t saying a word.
“Souma-kun? Is everything alright?”
Takumi looks over at the redhead as they trudged without stopping. “You’re oddly quiet now.”
Souma shakes his head with a sigh, pocketing his gloved hands. “… It’s nothing.” He lies through his teeth.
Though, of course, the other two catch on quickly.
“It can’t be about nothing.”
“Is it about Ayano?”
Souma doesn’t answer at Takumi’s guess. Bullseye.
“Did they fight?” Megumi whispers to Takumi the question with furrowed brows.
“I think we would know if they did.” But Takumi shrugs his shoulders anyway, unsure.
Souma pushes his long hair back, taking a deep breath. “I can still hear you both, you know.”
“Then tell us what’s wrong, Souma-kun. We wouldn’t want you to act out again later when we’re with the rest of our friends.” Megumi did have a point at that. Souma hates how easy to read is he to them.
“It’s not about Aya. It’s about that guy always sticking close to her.”
“Kiro-san?” Takumi and Megumi guesses simultaneously. They ignore the heat rising to their cheeks for now.
“Yeah, him. He just gives off this weird vibe to me.”
“Yukihira, perhaps, you’re jeal–“
“No way I’m jealous of that guy,” Souma is quick to dismiss the assumption. “Plus I know when I get jealous. This Kiro guy is just plain weird to me.”
The two have no choice but to believe him. They don’t have any reason not to, anyway, since they do know how a jealous Souma is. They’ve witnessed it because of Ando Kenji, one of their underclassmen in the Dorm.
“Well..” Megumi carefully thinks of what she would say to the redhead, knowing that saying something wrong and Souma would just get more uneasy.
“It’s most likely because you aren’t exactly fond of other guys around Ayano, right?” Takumi says his own two cents. “If it isn’t jealousy, then you might be uncomfortable because he’s someone you aren’t well acquainted with.”
“Hm, yeah.” Souma nodded slowly, agreeing. “That just might be it.”
Megumi doesn’t add to what Takumi says. She knows that it’s enough. Instead, she reminds them to hurry up back to the resort building.
**
The special event that evening had turned out to be a surprise cook off to the students of Tootsuki.
They were all surprised when Ayano had announced it.
Coming to the resort was suppose to be for relaxation. For them to be able to lay back and enjoy their time off from Elite Ten duties and anything school related. However…
One “I suppose it can’t be helped when the best chef is here in this resort” from Erina is all it took for basically everyone else to get fired up.
Seeing them go all out for the first time in a long while, Ayano had enjoyed the so called special event herself. The employees of the resort were the judges, and they get to vote five dishes to their liking. Whoever gets to have the most votes would have bragging rights forever, and a gift card to a high end clothing brand—most of them didn’t care about that and simply wanted to win, though.
It was a competition to see, indeed. There were no themes, no requests from the employees; it’s to make the whole thing even more difficult for them. Though, it isn’t that difficult of a task because, of course, they are third year Tootsuki students already. This was basically a walk in the park for them.
Still, Ayano had willed herself to focus and enjoy herself. At first, Kiro didn’t want her to put her own votes to avoid biased voting, but she reassured him once more that she can draw the line between personal and work life. She placed a vote each for Megumi, Hisako, Isami, Alice and Souma. It was quite tough, really, to choose between them. How she managed is beyond her already.
It was a tie between Souma, Erina and Akira.
“I was actually expecting your boyfriend to win.” Kiro stands beside Ayano, watching as the three winners stood their ground in a small circle and argued amongst themselves about who really won the competition.
Ayano hums, then, nodding her head while unable to retort a proper response back. She still couldn’t figure out what’s with him and his deal with Souma.
The three winners eventually dispersed, telling everyone that it’s still a tie—but whoever wanted the gift card could have it—because they’re all too stubborn to admit defeat unless a real judge had spoken.
“This isn’t a Shokugeki, you know?” Ayano shakes her head as Souma approaches her. They share a secret smile amongst themselves, forgetting about Kiro for a split moment.
“As First Seat, I must take my title!” Souma attempts to explain himself, full of passion. “I can’t help myself whenever anyone tries to challenge me, you know.”
“I know.” Ayano takes a breath, nodding. “Take it easy for now, at least. You’re here to relax and celebrate New Years.”
“Oh! That reminds me!” The redhead perks up, suddenly remembering something which makes him crane his neck and look around the huge room.
Alarmed, Kiro joins in on their conversation. “Is something the matter?”
Souma shakes his head. “Uh, that’s not exactly it. It’s just that Sakaki brought some rice juice for everyone to drink…”
“Oh, really?”
Kiro doesn’t fail to notice how his partner also lightens up at the news. What in the world is with rice juice that makes them this happy? Was there something he didn’t know about? He inhales deeply, awaiting for the couple to somehow explain to him what’s going on.
“Did you want to get some? I can ask her now.” Souma is considerate enough to offer, looking down at his girlfriend with furrowed brows.
She’s already walking to where Ryouko is—she’s passing cups of her infamous rice juice to anyone who wants—making Souma unable to protest. “I’ll be back in a bit!”
Now it’s just Souma and Kiro.
“Ryouko’s rice juice is beyond this world, you see,” Souma decides to briefly explain to the older male. But he doesn’t keep eye contact with him. “I still haven’t figured out how exactly does she make them even if it’s been three years since I’ve known her.”
Kiro sounds out a appreciative hum as a response. “Ayano seems to like it as well. Is it that good of a drink?”
“Something like alcohol.” The redhead crosses his arms over his torso, shrugging his shoulders. “It’s what helps us students stay sane in a crazy school like Tootsuki.”
Silence follows afterwards between them as they idly stood and watched the people around them mingling with one another.
It made Kiro happy that his employees were having fun, enjoying themselves for the first time in awhile. It’s a great way to loosen up, especially with different kinds of people with them.
“Yukihira Souma, can we talk?”
Souma finally tears his gaze away from Ayano—who was talking with Takumi and Megumi—and locks eyes with Kiro. The serious look in his eyes meant that he didn’t mind at all.
“Let’s talk somewhere a bit quiet, so that we can hear ourselves better.” Kiro turns his back and leads the way to another corridor that led to the exterior of the resort.
The sky is considerably dark now. It must be close to midnight already, since they took a longer time than expected in having dinner and choosing their favorite dishes for the competition.
Souma’s hands is in his pockets as they stood with a comfortable space between one another. The cold air pierced his skin the moment they stepped out of the building. He could see the visibly puff of smoke from when he breathes in and out. With his chef uniform and a jacket that aided in bringing him warmth, he could only stay for so long outside.
“What did you want to talk about?” He looks up at the sky, already having expectations of what the older male would say to him.
It felt like long minutes—hours, years—before Kiro could even muster the courage to open his mouth and speak. He seemed to have quite much on his mind at the moment.
“… How do you do it, Yukihira Souma?” Kiro keeps his gaze forward into the outdoor nature in front of them. “How do you… manage to keep your relationship?”
“Well… ” Now, Souma did not expect that question, at all. “We trust each other, that’s all there is to it, I think.”
“Yes, that’s what she told me as well.” Kiro nodded, but still not satisfied. “However, how do you yourself do it? How do you maintain that relationship with her while knowing that you’re holding her back from so, so many opportunities in life?”
Souma swears he stopped breathing for the tiniest bit. He held her back?
“Ayano has a great future ahead of her, you see. She started out young and is making a name for herself and her family now. But, I think she can do more.”
“And you think she doesn’t because I’m holding her back?”
“Unknowingly, I suppose.”
“Look, you’re making yourself confused for nothing.” Souma somehow is able to chuckle despite the serious atmosphere around them. “I get that you’re concerned for her because you work together now, but it’s nothing to be worried about.”
Kiro stays silent, trying to find the right words to say back.
“Ayano is just a bit special in her own way, you know?” The student’s gaze on the sky softens considerably. “She doesn’t have a life that most people have, it’s both a good and bad thing. But, I’ve grown to love her anyway. I think it’s because she chose me.”
Even if she could have done something else; even if she could have destroyed her relationship with her family, even if she could have chosen to agree on that arranged marriage with Takumi. Still, she chose me, and that made me fall for her even more.
“Hm. I see.”
“Did I get to answer your question?”
“Quite.”
That makes Souma smile, somehow, amused at the whole situation he’s in.
“Maybe, one day, you’ll understand if you find something or someone special that you’ll devote your everything to.”
Isn’t that right, Pops?
“I apologize for keeping you out here for so long.” Kiro then had the audacity to stop his questioning, for now. “Shall we head back in?”
“Nah.” Souma digs his hand deeper in his pockets, clenching his fists to take as much warmth as he can from himself. “I’ll stay out a bit more. I’ll head in a bit. Tell Aya not to worry about me if she asks, by the way.”
Souma was too occupied with speaking and focusing at what’s in front of him that he failed to see Ayano had already found them.
“There’s no need for that.”
Kiro takes this as his cue to leave the scene as soon as possible.
“I’ll see you two back inside.” He shares a curt nod at Souma and Ayano before briskly walking inside the resort building.
Now, the couple has some time for themselves. Alone.
Ayano takes the spot next to the redhead, pulling her thick coat around her. At least she’s prepared for the cold.
She peers over at his face, raising a brow curiously. “Why are you looking so sentimental all of a sudden?” She questions him.
He immediately relaxes his face, shaking his head. “Nothing. I guess it’s just cold.” He slowly raises his arms to stretch them, discreetly trying to act as normal as possible.
“Well, if you’d actually look at me, you’ll find that I have this coat for you.”
He shifts his eyes to her to, indeed, see that she holds a neatly folded coat in her arms in front of her. He smiles, recomposing himself to properly face her.
“Did you say that just for me to pay attention to you?” He couldn’t help but tease—almost automatically—his lips upward in a cheeky grin again.
Ayano shoves her arms forward, rolling her eyes playfully. The cold had already did a good job in making her face slightly pink. “No. Stop reading too much into things and just take this.”
Souma genuinely laughs, gradually taking the coat from her. “Alright, whatever you say, princess.”
He puts on the coat himself, instantly feeling much more warmer than earlier. It really helped with the cold.
He was too relieved to notice Ayano coming a bit more closer and putting something else on him.
“What…?” Souma states at the green cloth that is slowly, carefully being wrapped around his neck. It’s a familiar accessory to them both.
It’s either the cold or the blood rushing to her cheeks that makes Souma smile at the pretty color. (It’s actually neither, but he doesn’t know that).
“I thought of what I could give you as a gift. For compensation.” Ayano began to say, patting the scarf down on him and making sure it kept him warm. “I couldn’t give a proper gift to you last Christmas because we weren’t together. Plus, I wanted to give you something extra special besides the free ticket here.”
“Oh…” Souma is at a loss for words at the moment.
“But you don’t have to give me anything in return!” Ayano is quick to dismiss. “It’s not like I expected anything, anyway!” Her voice is a tad bit louder than she wants to be—she blames it on the extra rice juice that Ryouko had given her earlier—as she talks and tries to save face.
Souma messes up his hair, heaving a heavy sigh. “No, no. I have–I had something.” He protested, calm but still nervous. “But I left it in the dorm. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
The pout she made with her lips is too adorable. Heck, he could kiss her right there.
“What? That’s too bad. I kinda regret not saying anything now.” Her sigh is regretful as she rocks on her heels back and forth. Almost like a child. “I’m curious as to what you’ll give me.”
Souma doesn’t hold back a cackle now in seeing Ayano act so unlike herself. “Oh, hell, you’re suddenly so cute now, Aya!” It sounds like a whine—a complain. “Did you miss me that much? You weren’t like this when we first came here.”
“Maybe I do.” Her honest answer catches Souma off guard. “And, maybe it’s the juice? I already had three cups or something.”
That explains everything now.
Souma takes his hand out of his pocket and presents it to her, sighing with a smile still on his face. “Let’s get inside now, then. It’s cold, anyway.”
“Not yet!” Ayano is quick to disagree, accepting Souma’s hand to take ahold of hers. “Any minute now, it’ll be New Years!”
Souma, suddenly realizing, looks up at the sky yet again. He’s expecting a few fireworks to appear if that’s what Ayano says now.
“Five! Four! Three! Two! One!” Distant shouting of the countdown from their friends resound from a place they didn’t bother to think about. Almost like a reminder that they aren’t exactly alone.
It takes only a few moments next for colorful fireworks to appear in the sky. The loud claps and bangs make the couple huddle closer and watch the whole thing together so closely.
Then, Souma realizes that maybe he was the tiniest bit jealous of Kiro. But after having their conversation not too long ago, he figures that Ayano is simply working with another odd one that they don’t have to worry about at the moment.
He looks down at Ayano whilst she was still looking at the sky and watching the fireworks. Under the colorful lights and the effect of the rice juice, she glowed radiantly. This made him smile as he eventually took ahold of her face in his hands to divert her attention to him.
“S-Souma?”
At that moment, he knew that the reddening of her cheeks is because of him. Then he presses their foreheads together, not breaking eye contact with her.
“Happy New Year, Aya.”
The shy smile on her lips has Souma holding her a bit more firmly. She was just too adorable now—he decides that he likes seeing her this way—with a bit of rice juice in her system.
Instead of planting his lips on hers, she makes the first move and tiptoes to kiss the top of his nose while placing her hands on his shoulders to support herself.
She giggles, putting her hands on top of his to be able to pull her face away and hold onto him afterwards. “Happy New Year, Souma!”
Well, he didn’t expect that. But he isn’t going to admit that it was a pleasant surprise.
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