CHAPTER 20 (PART 2)

    Sunday, December 10th at 3PM sharp, we entered one of the largest cooking facilities in the city.

     Wannabe, using his family's connections, had somehow managed to rally up well-known judges, and a kitchen large enough to suit Hiro and Rack's needs. He even arrived in front of my house this afternoon in a BMW to boot, where the rest of them were already gathered.

     I kept forgetting he was the son of the Hayashi Group boss; a company that owned or were involved in just about every single market or business you could think of across Japan, including the Seisein Academy school board. No wonder Yuji had said Wannabe would easily manage to do this.

     He had status too. A Tamaki-wannabe through and through wasn't he?

     "We're seriously here to save our club," Hiro had grumbled as we fluttered through the fancy halls. "And yet you guys are acting like we're on some kind of field trip!"

     "Wow, it's a painting of food!" I cried, extending my finger towards the wall above us.

     Accordingly, Saki, Wannabe and Yuji dramatically craned their heads in its direction, gasping with their mouths parted.

      "That's such a sophisticating looking burger," Yuji noted.

      "This is so exciting," giggled Saki, her hold on my arm not loosening the slightest despite my relentless tugs for liberation. "Right, Mi-chan?"

      "I've been here multiple times since I was a kid," Wannabe said, grinning from ear to ear as he gestured us forward. "There's this amazing painting of a ketchup bottle around the corner."

      "Ketchup bottle?" I echoed, scrunching my eyebrows together. I had a lot of questions as to how something like that could be 'amazing,' but shrugged it aside and instead fixed my gaze onto the next painting of napkins. Why was I so surprised anyway? This was Wannabe I was talking about; obviously he'd be swayed by odd things like that.

      If only Hinata were here. If he hadn't already made plans to go to the art gallery with his upperclassmen from the art club he probably would've enjoyed these distinct paintings.

       "Guys!"

       Hiro's shout snatched our focus. We pivoted to find him standing ahead, huffing and puffing with his face as red as a tomato.

       "We have no time to be slacking like this! Act properly!"

"Oh look, they even have a chocolate fountain!"

Yuji gained a sparkle in his eye as he approached the thing, where a bunch of workers were catering various platters of in their hands. I was on his heels in pursuit, twinkling at the mouthwatering ripples of white tipping over and pooling out into the bowl below.

"White chocolate?" I drooled.

The worker to the left of us offered us a smile and extended his platter of fruit. Yuji and I didn't hesitate to reach for it.

We chorused, "Thank you—"

Before our fingers could even touch the fruits, we were yanked backwards.

"Hey!" Hiro bellowed. "How many times do I have to tell you two we don't have time for this?"

I sourly pressed my lips together, similarly as did Yuji.

"Why are you so cranky?" we asked simultaneously.

"I'm not cranky!"

We deadpanned.

        "You're under crazy pressure," Yuji said for him as he released us. Saki and the Wannabe approached us as he patted his shoulder. "C'mon, don't stress too much man. I mean, if you just slip up once—and I mean one tiny little detail with the dish—we'll lose our club and all the bonds we've—"

"—you've," I corrected, not enjoying being included.

"We've," Yuji challenged me with a grin, returning his eyes back to Hiro, "ever shared as a group. Nothing too important."

       I expected Hiro to look angry enough to slaughter the guy on the spot but instead he was sweating buckets. He had gone stiller than a statue and I could even spot colour slipping from his face.

"Hey, Yuji," Saki scolded. "Don't put more pressure on him. Hiro will be fine! He's practiced so hard!"

Yuji let go of him, an easygoing smile in play. "Practice doesn't mean results."

"But practice means confidence," Wannabe stated, empowered by a new means of vigour. "If you don't practice and build up confidence how do you expect to win in the first place?"

Hiro had woken up, a swell of hope in his eyes. "Kazuya...!"

He flashed him a thumbs-up. "Don't worry, Hiro! Even if the HC gets disbanded because of your loss we can all still meet up like always. So just go right ahead and give it your best shot, alright?"

        Hiro's body sagged and swayed as he ambled down the carpeted floor. "This is freakin' hopeless..."

        Wannabe froze as Yuji sucked in a breath, grinning from ear to ear.

       "That's our leader. Always pouring more salt on the open wound."

        "B-but I was only trying to—"

         "Jeez, Kazuya!" Saki cried, unlatching my arm and hurrying after him. "Don't worry Hiro, I sincerely believe you can take Hima-chan down and save our club! Easily! Mi-chan believes that you can, too!"

        "...Hoshino does?"

         With an almost hopeful glint, Hiro rotated his head my way. I was already too occupied stuffing my face with the chocolate covered strawberry I'd picked up, and muffled with my mouth full, "Wait, you want me to lie?"

          It didn't take even a second for him to snap. He seized my wrist and was dragging me away from the delicious snacks before I knew it. "You're seriously in a league of your own."

         The others barely kept up with our footing, but I snorted nonetheless. "So are you. But you don't see me complaining."

         Hiro exhaled another heavy sigh, his grip around my wrist loose from the jitters of his fingers. Seeing him up close, drenched head to toe in nerves, I glanced at the uneaten strawberry in my other hand. Then, I stuffed it into his mouth. He stopped abruptly, recoiling and reaching for the fruit which had left a smear of chocolate on his cheek. I couldn't help but laugh.

         "Eat that and chill out," I said, the corners of my lips quirked up. "You can do it. Maybe not as 'easily' as Saki said, but you have a shot."

         Hiro's eyebrows had shot so high on his face, pupils dilated considerably. His odd look—and somewhat tinged cheeks—made me cock a brow of my own and I waved my hand in front of his face.

        "Hiro?"

        He broke from his daze at once and veered his focus. He retrieved the strawberry from his mouth. "You're seriously one of a kind," he sighed. He chewed a bit and instantly made a face of disgust. He quickly used the back of his hand to rub his mouth. "Ugh, I hate chocolate."

         His statement socked me in the gut. I gasped, "Wha— how?"

"It isn't tasty," he reasoned. "Too sweet."

"Bull," I scoffed. "You're lucky Jinguji Ren dislikes chocolate too or else I'd seriously be ready to fight you on that."

Now it was Hiro's turn to break out into a quizzical but amused smile. A genuine one—the type that always succeeded in freezing me in place. I couldn't exactly comprehend why it'd made him react the way that it did, even after the others finally arrived by our sides.

        "Excuse me!"

        The shrill yell snatched our attention entirely. Waiting to greet us was the agitated banshee—aka Himaworm Rakoon I think it was—with her three little minionettes behind her.

        Hiro took a defensive stance, his countenance slipping to one of fear. "Raku? Where'd you—"

        "Hiro!" she exclaimed, racing up to him and seizing him by the collar. I retreated as far back as I could but the tears strolling down her cheeks were hard to ignore. "Why are you smiling at another girl like that? You never smile at me!"

         The girl must've packed a lot of muscle underneath her uniform because she was shaking Hiro so hard I could imagine spirals appearing in replace of his eyes.

       Yuji stepped in to stop it. "Raku—"

        "I hate you so much!" She sobbed as she unhanded him. She collapsed to the floor, covering her face as her shoulders convulsed. "But I still love you! I hate that I still love you!"

       Her minionettes came to her side, concerned. Guilt even covered every inch of Hiro's features as he took a step forward. "Raku..."

"Do not be kind to me!" she snapped, dropping her hands from her face and revealing her running mascara. She narrowed her eyes into a dark glare. "You! Mikuya!"

       "It's Miyuki," I corrected.

She didn't take my response so kindly. Springing to her feet, she extended out her finger and long manicured nail to my chest. "Mikuyi! This will be your final day!"

         I took a moment to look at Hiro and Yuji. "Of seeing you? I'm hoping so."

         She exploded with rage. "You! How dare you talk to me like that!"

        "How dare you!" chorused her entourage, spraying all over my face yet again.

       I wiped off the spit from my skin, furrowing my brows. "What's your issue? If Hiro doesn't like you get over it already."

        All faces had gained a look of horror, but Rack alone looked incredibly devastated.

        "You... You have no right to be saying that!" she shouted, balling her fists. "Hiro and I have known each other since we were little! I know him better than you! I love him way more than you! His quirks and his lifestyle, his habits and various expressions... I... I..."

         The tears that strolled down her face didn't relent, and I was hit in the heart with immediate guilt. Great, maybe I went out of line again...

        "Raku," Hiro started, putting a hand on her shoulder.

        She instantly smacked it away. She spun around, rubbing incessantly at her eyelids. "Don't comfort me," she hissed. "I decided if you weren't going to notice me yourself I'm going to make you!"

Saki stepped in this time, concern breaching her countenance. "Hima-chan..."

"You don't have the right to start with me either!" she spat, forcing Saki to concede a step. "And here I can't be more appalled knowing that someone as lowly as the disgrace of the Yamamoto family is all friendly with my Hiro!"

For the first time since I met her, Saki was speechless. Her mouth shut and she hung her head in unspoken solemnity.

Hiro spared Saki a look before glowering at Rack. "Hey!" he shouted. "That's going too far!"

"No," Saki responded. She bore a lighthearted smile. "Haha... you're so blunt Hima-chan..."

        "C'mon, Himawari-chan, you can settle this with the battle."

        Wannabe's interruption to stop the chaos that was befalling and the peaceful smile he sent to Rack allowed for a shred of apology to envelop her.

      Her body stiffened and she dropped her head. Wannabe's smile expanded at her submission, and Rack shrunk even more. Then, she drew away and aimed a scowl at both Hiro and I.

      "Mark my words, Mikayu!"

"It's Miyuki."

She shrugged me aside. "Today will be the last of your obscure club! And your toxic relationship with people way out of your league!" She glanced at her posse. "Let's go!"

      They each gave me one last look of disgust before strutting after their leader down the hallway.

      Even after they left, that didn't diminish the air of melancholy and frustration circling around us. As if it were a newfound resolve that they all managed to find.

The resolve to win.

       Though, since the beginning of this whole ordeal, we didn't have any other choice.

———————————————————

       When we entered the room where the duel would be taking place, we were surprised to find that it was huge. Loads of bleachers surrounded the room, filled to nearly full with students from the academy despite it being so early on a Sunday. Did they seriously sacrifice a good day to come to an event like this on their own free wills? I couldn't comprehend who in the right mind would. My academy was a warden of special kids alright.

      Kouichi was in a good spot amidst the stands and called us over. I tried to sit as far from him as I could, but Yuji and Saki purposely took up the majority of the space on the benches, making it my only choice to be next to him. Wannabe had been swooped away by his fangirls the moment we arrived so he was stuck sitting with them.

       Needless to say, Kouichi had immediately broken down into a fiddle of awkward greetings and ramblings when he'd tried to make some small talk.

"Hoshino-san, I-I really like what you did with your hair today!"

Reaching to feel my hair kept in a simplistic ponytail, I arched a brow at him. "Um, thanks, Kouichi. Your hair's not too bad yourself."

As if I had promised him a million dollars, Kouichi had brightened up. A wide, goofy smile turned up the corners of his lips as he turned away. Upon his freckle-filled cheeks colour was beginning to seep in, and he laughed to himself, "I can't believe Hoshino-san complimented me...!"

Knowing something as simple as that had allowed for him to be so elated managed to melt my black hole of a heart. Jeez... this guy was just an awkward person all around wasn't he? Kinda reminded me of Kuronuma Sawako now that I thought about it.

A soft nudge on my thigh woke me up from my thoughts. I trained my gaze to my left to find it was Yuji, a mischievous grin slapped onto his face. He gestured to Kouichi and me with his eyes and then made a kissy face. I jabbed him in the stomach with my elbow only for him to voice a pained yelp.

He gripped his abdomen. "Seriously?"

I sent him a warning look. Yuji went mute without argue but that didn't wipe away his amusement. Although it rubbed me the wrong way I didn't say anything. For somebody I deemed to get along so well with me he sure had a terrible hobby of teasing others.

My eyes drifted past Yuji's shoulder where a silent Saki sat. Her typically idiotic smile was nowhere to be found. Moreover, she was somewhat despondent. My memory rewinded to Rack's earlier words. The disgrace of the Yamamoto family?

The girl was always such a pain in the neck the idea of her going through any means of hardship didn't cross my mind.

As if catching my gaze, Saki blinked out of her daze. My heart stopped at once when her trademark beam took over her features.

"Mi-chan!" she cried, throwing her torso over Yuji's lap to grab my arm. "Mi-chan come sit beside me!"

I flinched but her fingers were around me. I tugged for freedom. "No! Let go of me!"

"Pretty please! Us girls need to stick together, right!"

"Hell no! Get away from me!"

        "Hey, hey." Yuji thankfully came to my rescue and pushed Saki away. "You two have to be quiet. They're starting."

I dusted off my sleeve to see that what he had said turned out to be true. There off to the distance were both Hiro and Rack, exiting from their respective sides. Despite Saki's pout, incessant giggles and chatter continued to resound from behind us.

        "Oh my gosh, I didn't know Kazuya-sama would be here!"

        "Kazuya-sama look over here!"

        "No, look at me!"

"Me!"

        I suppressed a gag as the entire crowd of girls bombarded that grinning blond within their large group. All the noise in this room was originating from the girls while majority of the boys were glaring with envy on their faces.

I deadpanned. Forget the Humanity Club, this guy was better off starting a host club.

It wasn't long after the judges were guided to their seats and the emcee for the event began to list the rules. Hiro, bluntly put, was a nervous wreck. Then there was Rack herself who was smirking with utmost confidence. She no longer looked like a mess and had even changed into a proper chef garb.

The main dish had to consist of noodles. They had a time limit of an hour and a half, too. While Rack immediately looked as if she had it in the bag, Hiro was stiff. He hadn't prepared to be watched by this many people, nor a restriction like noodles either.

        The clock started ticking down, and Rack practically dived for the ingredients they put out. Hiro took a more careful approach as if still lost in thought. If Rack were the hare in this race, Hiro was the tortoise. We could only have hope that this would end in the way the story did, but even as Rack began cooking with immense skill and devotion, Hiro was clumsily spilling and dropping his utensils.

       "Go, go, Raku-sama!" chanted the people in the crowd, holding up their own flags and banners they'd made. "Take this win!"

       Thirty minutes in and filled with anticipation, my soul had dropped in devastation.

        "I can't watch this," Saki whined, her legs jostling with nervousness. "What's Hiro doing?"

        The said guy was whipping his head left and right before dashing to pick up eggs. They slipped from his fingers and hit the floor, causing panic to wash over him.

        "Raku-sama's opponent is a piece of cake," cheered one of her minionettes who was gathered together with the largest banner.

         "How pathetic!"

        "This is an easy win. Raku-sama can finally get her happy ending!"

       Kouichi frowned from beside me. "Ikeda-san really doesn't have a chance..."

       Seeing the guy's pathetic state, I inwardly cringed. "Yeah..."

       "Hoshino-san," Kouichi said as we met eyes. "Quick, put your lips against mine so we can encourage him."

       I didn't even bat an eyelash. "Kouichi you'd be better off kissing your ass."

       Yuji snickered in amusement from beside me, and Kouichi hung his head in silence. I dodged staring in his direction. I can't believe he actually made a shot at me...

        "I seriously thought we taught that boy better," Yuji sighed, face-palming when Hiro nearly tipped over the pot of chicken. "Not only will it taste bad, but it'll be rushed too."

        "I guess this is goodbye," I said, scooping up and shaking both Yuji and Saki's hands. "It really was hell with you guys. Thank goodness we can finally be free from extracurricular activities."

        "Don't say that Mi-chan!" Saki scolded, holding up her fists. "We still have hope—"

         "And the boy dropped his eggs yet again!" snickered a student amidst the bleachers. "Now he has to restart!"

         Saki settled in her seat. "We had hope. We really did."

         "Hiro's never been good under pressure," Yuji said. "He always fails when it comes to giving public presentations, too. Why'd we think this time would be any different?"

         Saki pouted. "Then I guess Mi-chan's really happy we won't be hanging out every day..."

        I silently nodded. The bliss!

         "Well, Suzuki-sensei would definitely put her in a different club," Yuji reasoned. "With more work to do."

         I lurched forward in my seat. "A different club...? More work...?"

         Crap! I didn't think of that. If the HC ceased to exist I was so convinced I'd be free but that hag would definitely force me into another club—one that definitely doesn't slack off as much as this one.

        And here I was starting to get used to this one and these annoying people!

        "Go, Raku-sama!"

        "Fight!"

        I stared into the abyss below. Hiro couldn't lose! Imagine what kind of club she'd put me in! I couldn't deal with that!

         I had risen to my feet before I realized it. Nearby eyes darted to me but I ignored them. I covered my mouth with my hands and rose my voice to blow through the adjacent cheers.

         "Stop screwing around already! You better win, Hiro!"

         Even amidst the shouts for Rack around me, Hiro had heard me. His neck snapped in my direction, and awe was evident in his gaze. His composure relaxed significantly and soon he broke out into a smile, flashing me a thumbs-up. My heart skipped a beat, more so at the look I'd caught Rack aim towards me from the corner of my eye.

        Anger, frustration, exasperation—none of that was evident this time around. Her eyes went to Hiro and I then beside me where the rest of the HC members were. Then as if something had clicked, she sent me a final smirk.

         My eyelashes fluttered as I fell into my seat. What was that about?

         "Wow, I knew 'another club' would trigger her," Yuji laughed. "She won't admit it, but deep down she doesn't want the HC to disband."

         I swivelled his way to find both him and Saki smirking. Heat overwhelmed my cheeks straightaway. "Th-that isn't w-why—"

        Saki giggled. "Mi-chan likes being around us!"

        "I-I do n-not, idiots! I-It's not like I did it because I care about the HC, okay! I just don't want to get more work—"

        "Is she what you call a 'tsundere'?" Yuji snorted to Saki. "You know, the term she's mentioned before."

        "Aww, she is! She so is! Deep down she's a soft marshmallow!"

       Their use against me left me speechless. I scowled at them hard, but I guess I wasn't as convincing because of the blush that decided to make its appearance on my cheeks. I folded my arms across my chest. How were they using that term against me? Damn Hiro, he better win!

       The time was down by twenty minutes. The cheering had subsided midway through, so now the stiffness from their intense concentration was the only thing sifting through the air.

Hiro had stopped screwing up so much. He was still not as fluent in his movements as Rack, but he was getting things done. And when the final buzzer went off, signalling the end of the competition, he barely managed to finish.

        The judges sat in anticipation as they rolled their food in on a platter. Hiro sent us a sheepish smile and Rack was convicted.

The tension was high as Hiro placed his noodles before the judges. You could spot a tad bit of disappointment in the judges' eyes.

"What the heck, that's such a simple dish!"

"I guess Raku-sama has gotten an easy win."

I wanted to flip off her minionettes and yell that Hiro's noodles were amazeballs, but one against practically all of the students in this crowd would lead to an uproar I honestly didn't want to be a part of.

I swallowed hard as the judges each took a pair of chopsticks and dug in. And honestly, it was Food Wars all over again. Well, excluding the whole exaggerated naked foodporn, but all the judges did seem to enjoy themselves. His noodles couldn't be as amazing as Ichiraku Ramen's, but maybe they were a close second.

        It was Rack's turn that had summoned all my fears. She set her platters out for the three judges, and when she unveiled her food, simultaneous gasps erupted within the room.

        "Raku-sama..."

        "What is she..."

        Yuji bolted to his feet. "Is this a joke?"

        "Uncooked noodles...?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at the composed girl. They were uncooked. With a small dish of a sauce of some sort. What the hell was she playing at?

        Not wanting to succumb to the whispers picking up, the judges silenced them by reaching to eat the food anyway. They chopped off a piece and dipped it into the sauce, and I watched with butterflies in my stomach. Though, it happened quicker than I imagined.

        With only a bite, the judges put down their bowls with obvious displeasure. They didn't even need to discuss it; they only placed their vote on the chicken ramen.

        "Wh-who would've thought!" Even the commentator cried out our thoughts. "I-Ikeda Hiro is the winner!"

       The room was still, and it even took me awhile for it to settle in. A huge smile twisted up my lips as I whipped my head back and forth between Yuji and them and then down to Hiro. Even Wannabe had risen to his feet and pushed his way over to us.

       Leaning over the railing and making eye-contact with Hiro, the five of us—six including Kouichi—all threw our arms into the air and exclaimed in unison.

        "Yes!"

        I added in another woo-hoo. "Viva freedom!"

———————————————————

        "Hey wait, I don't want to be apart of this!"

       "Now, now, Mi-chan!"

       "Yeah, this is a special moment. At least smile Miyuki."

       "No way, Yuji! I'm—"

       "Stop thrashing so much, Hoshino! And the hell? Stop flaunting your nonexistent muscles, Kazuya! You're causing trouble for Kouichi!"

       "Haha... Don't worry, I'm fine, Ikeda-san."

       I tried my best to pry free from Saki's hold but she wasn't relenting. I was stuck between Yuji and her, Hiro crouched ahead. Wannabe was supposed to be beside him but surprise, surprise, the very narcissist was posing for Kouichi's camera, making the guy blatantly uncomfortable. Needless to say, nobody steered themselves anywhere near our direction.

       This entire situation was all due to Kouichi's elaborate plan to commemorate the moment. Honestly, I was perfectly fine with going home quietly too.

       "You all are very lively aren't you."

       Rack's voice stopped us all in place. We all craned our necks and there she was, a cheeky smile in place without any of her minionettes behind her.

        I took the moment to slip away from the suffocating group. I breathed out in relief once in the clear but that still didn't lessen my guard from this girl's appearance. Her showing up never meant anything good.

"You all don't need to be so on guard," Rack said, her lips tilted upwards. "I come in peace."

"You're an alien?" I gasped.

I was met with a profusion of pointed looks.

"What? Even Migi's an alien parasite."

"Why are you here Raku?" Hiro demanded, braced with caution.

A flicker of pain appeared on her face, but she accepted it. "I was rude, so I understand your hostility. Though, through my loss, I have come to understand many things."

"Is one of them that you can't even cook noodles?"

Again with the looks. Jeez, leave me be okay! I guess this meant she didn't cook them on purpose; she let us win.

"One of them," she enunciated, "is that I realize you are correct, Mikuza."

"It's Miyuki!"

"Makuyi," she said and sent us all a wholesome smile. "The Humanity Club... I shouldn't have taken my frustration out on my Hiro's club and friends because I was too much of a baby to accept the truth. That Hiro's eyes will never, ever fall on someone like me."

Hiro darted his eyes. "That's not..."

"Which is why I have come to apologize," she said. I was startled when she extended out her hand for me. "As promised, I will leave your life, but that doesn't mean I will give up my affection for Hiro. Confrontations aside, let's call it a truce, Mikuyi."

"Miyuki." I stared back and forth from her clothes to her face where no inch of fraudulence was evident. Then, I took her hand. "But alright. And don't worry about the whole making me a lunch thing. I guess I can stop being so lazy and make my own."

She tittered. "Wonderful."

She spun on her heels to offer her hand to Hiro. He stared at it the same way I did but concurred much easier. Before she could dare drop their hands, she suddenly gasped and lurched forward. She knocked Hiro's jaw allowing him to teeter and hit my body. The both of us were sent stumbling. But Hiro reacted fast. Snaking his arm around my waist, Hiro saved me before I could head back first to the ground.

"Hoshino, are you alright?"

He tilted his chin forward, seized with panic. But that only managed to shorten the distance between our faces, leaving our lips to be mere inches apart. His defined jaw and cheekbones and entrancing blue eyes were in close proximity as well. My heart dropped to my gut as heat crept onto my cheeks. Hiro had also begun to equally blush as he lurched away from me.

Spinning around, I pressed my palms against my cheeks to settle my blush. What kind of situation was that? It was so cliché—a never-supposed-to-happen-in-real-life kind of cliché! I shook my head vigorously. Gosh, that was awkward. So, so awkward.

"Hiro, we're in a public place," Yuji chirped. "I know we won and get to keep Miyuki safe and all, but don't you think dipping her is a little inappropriate?"

"Somebody pushed me!" Hiro defended, twisting around and aiming a pointed glare in his cousin's direction. "Raku—"

I placed a hand above my chest. "I've been tainted."

"H-Hoshino? It was an accident! Stop sounding so misleading—"

Saki gasped, as did Wannabe, cutting him off.

"What exactly happened?" she demanded.

Wannabe gaped. "Wait, what did I miss? What did I miss?"

         "What did you try doing to my Hoshino-san?" Kouichi cried.

We both flushed as red as tomatoes.

"Nothing happened!" he shouted.

"At all!" flew out of my mouth.

We both shared a quick, mortified look, and chorused.

"Stop taking this the wrong way!"