The venue was, by no means, modest. Truthfully, it was the most luxurious place I'd ever stepped into.

While the building itself oozed millionaire vibes—fancy red carpets, expensive paintings, stereotypical security and all—the area where the cooking was taking place was like stepping into another world.

The bleachers were extensive. It stretched for quite the distance, filled to the brim with countless adolescents, and stood ways above the main floor where the competition would be held—almost like we were on some kind of grand balcony. Everyone had trained their gazes to the set-up below, where shiny marble counters, high-class utensils and appliances, and ingredients lying in bulk were situated.

"Is this really the place?" I demanded, eyes bulged as I surveyed the room. "This competition really is top-class. And they let us in for free?"

"Where's the ice cream?" Chiaki mumbled from behind me.

"Th-there's so many people," Hayate whimpered, trudging after us.

I scanned the completely still room, not a single peep to be heard. For a crowd this large, that in itself was bizarre. Typically a person or two would be whispering at the least.

But, regardless of that given fact, the entire venue was completely still, and every individual I passed on my way to an open seat near the front were gawking like idiots.

It took me a while to comprehend why.

The final competition of the day had ended only moments ago, and the contestants were still idling by their stations.

Posted on either side of this kitchen divided directly in half were four people.

A girl with long red hair tied in a side braid stood on one end with her chin jutted high in the air. Another dark-skinned girl occupied her side, wearing a contrasting grin on her face.

The other side consisted of both a male and female who equally appeared to have had the life sucked out of them.

For the explanation behind both the silence in the room and those contestants' demoralized countenances, it became apparent after staring at the large monitor hanging at the frontmost portion of the bleachers. They'd been swept by a whopping eighty-five point lead.

"What's wrong, Teru?" Chiaki's words were distant in my ear. "You're open-mouthed like everyone else. Why?"

"Aki." Hayate hid firmly behind him, gripping his t-shirt for good measure. "Th-the monitor."

Bewildered, he lifted his head to face what I was already gawking at.

"I... I cannot believe this!" the MC in charge of the event shrieked loud enough to pierce my eardrums. "Did we just witness what we think we did? Third-year students from Soetsu High's Middle School branch, Eru Onitsuka and Kohmi Hiroka, have taken the win by an utter landslide! Out of the total one hundred points available to score, they've tallied a whopping ninety-five to ten against their competitors from Rokura High School! This isn't the first time today either. They've defeated all their competitors in this year's bake-off only to emerge victorious in the last round! Would some judges like to comment on this monumental moment... I... I guess not! The bliss of Team Hiroka and Onitsuka's dessert is still too much for them to handle!"

The enthusiasm of the MC surged through the crowd. A series of whoops and cheers swept the room. Even all of the judges' faces depicted on the monitor were contentedly splayed out against their chairs, plates cleaned until they shone.

"The Soetsu Cooking Club is amazing!"

"Their baking and cooking is heavenly, like always!"

"I have to try their desserts first when they give them out!"

People lurched to their feet, scrambling for the exit. Considering Chiaki, Hayate and I were smack dab in the middle of the stands, we were overwhelmed. I couldn't even call out to notify them to stick together. We were all carried off by the surging crowd until I'd somehow ended up outside the venue with the two of them nowhere to be found.

Blinking rapidly, I steadied my balance, wheedling from the masses and allowing oxygen to fill my lungs again. Everyone had fled the premises, darting to the already huge line to cash in on the free desserts—most definitely starting with the leftovers of the Cooking Club's. Even the reporters who were huddled outside had flagged down some of the viewers, intent on getting some background information on everything that had happened inside.

I straightened my posture, my mind still in shambles. What exactly happened? Those two girls won with such an impossible score. Not only was their desserts that good, but they were from Soetsu as well.

Were they possibly the newest members who would be joining the high school division this upcoming year? I was well aware that it was nearly the start of a new school year, meaning the existing upperclassman of the Cooking Club were leaving to attend university. Also that, exactly as the cycle repeated, they would scout new members to fill in those missing gaps.

Next year would be a completely different club from the one I wanted to upstage. One more powerful and skilled. And Okito who was the vice president now would most likely become the next president as well.

Goosebumps darted up my arms. I only came here for the free desserts. Nobody told me I'd run into that club. Moreover, have new names to add to the list of Cooking Club members I cursed to fall to illness every day.

Exactly how good was the dessert those two made?

Rubbing my forearms to stifle a shudder, I ambled forward, toward the free dessert area. I needed something sweet.

There were different tables set up depending on the participant as well as a petite or large line of people waiting to try them. Unsurprisingly, the hugest line that stretched for quite the distance was the Cooking Club's. Possibly because of their domineering victory, but little to no one gathered by any of the other tables to taste their desserts. I realized then that the second most packed area was for another boy's desserts, one I hadn't exactly met.

"Nori's confections are always so delicious!"

"Not only that, but he's extremely gorgeous as well."

"Ah, it's no wonder he won third place! I'm in paradise!"

I staggered up to the line, jumping over the heads of the female population gathered to catch a glimpse. Unfortunately, all of the plates had been swiped clean. But from what I could put together from listening to the chatter was that they were Japanese confections. Everyone who was eating them were extremely giddy as well.

His baking ability really won third place? It must've been by a staggering amount, but it proved his talent nevertheless. Considering this station was nearly as packed as the Cooking Club's, it must've been an intense match that moved the spectators into wanting to taste it.

'Nori', huh? I wonder what school he went to?

Taking that as my cue, I swarmed the empty stations and scooped as many desserts and confections into a plastic plate as I possibly could. For the most part, I inhaled them, too. Each and every table offered unique designs and ingredients, but none were the work of an amateur. They were each meticulously made and were able to place grand smiles on my face.

That girl and boy who'd lost to the Cooking Club was exceptionally delicious. There was a reason they'd made it to the finals. But, knowing that their amazing Swiss roll—oozing professionalism and skill—had been completely overtaken put a terrible aftertaste in my mouth. In any other circumstance, I wouldn't have been surprised if they won. It was the tastiest of all that I'd eaten so far, after all. And yet it had been entirely creamed.

There was no hope of tasting the Cooking Club's desserts with its ginormous line so I didn't bother. As much as I wanted to, I prioritized finding Chiaki and Hayate so we all could gush about how great the free desserts were.

Right after tossing out my empty plate, my cheeks stuffed to the brim, I slipped out my cell.

I didn't even have the leisure of turning it on before somebody crashed into me.

With a started gasp, I was sent back. Before I could hit the floor, however, their arm snaked around my waist. My head jerked upwards.

It was the handsomest boy I'd ever seen. Tallest, too. Tufts of his bright red hair were held in a short ponytail draping his left shoulder, and his eyes were stunning—a smooth gold colour that melted into a vibrant green.

"Whoops, my apologies," he said, a fickle grin upturning the corners of his perfect lips. "Are you all right?"

Now, this would be the type of situation where I'd get flustered and push him away, but with his gorgeous face so dangerously close, and his hands wrapped around my waist, my mind could only run a blank. Sure I'd gotten close to Koyuki and the rest of them from my habit, but this was a whole other level of nerve-wracking. He had to be an idol—a celebrity or something.

As if understanding my speechlessness, the boy eased me back onto my feet. A shout resounded in the distance, instantly seizing his focus. He inched back, clearly tense.

"They're very persistent..."

I blinked to my senses when his hold on my hand tightened. "They...?"

He swivelled my way. Another charming smile poked its way into his cheeks. "Come with me."

I wasn't allowed the time to process his request before he squeezed my hand harder in his and ran. I lagged behind for the most part, too stunned to make sense of the blurring scenery and gawking onlookers. Truthfully, I didn't truly regain an understanding of what was happening until this stranger led me into an empty hall in the middle of nowhere and hugged me close. Heat splurged to my cheeks. His focus, however, wasn't on the embarrassment this situation gave me. With his back to the wall, he gazed out in the direction we'd come from, eyebrows furrowed in intense concentration.

He momentarily craned his neck downwards. "You okay?"

"S-smothered," I voiced against his chest.

"Sorry." He kept his palm firm on my lower back and once more peered out into the hall. "Just a bit longer."

How much was 'a bit'? I couldn't hold my breath forever. Regardless, I paid an attentive ear to the footsteps pattering against the linoleum floors until rippling out to one. Silence filled the air. This boy's rapid heart rate levelling out was all I could really hear from my position. My own chest pleaded for air. I flailed my arms vehemently, already feeling myself turning blue.

He released me at once.

Bent over, I panted heavily, inhaling and exhaling as much air as I could to work my lungs.

He was surprisingly shocked.

"What's... wrong?"

I placed a hand above my heart, concentrating on settling its exhilarating rate. "I... I couldn't... breathe..."

First Koyuki and now him? What were boy's arms made of to constrict someone's airways that effortlessly?

The boy's eyes were wide for a good period of time. Then, they softened considerably.

"You should've told me so, silly." His palm cupped my cheek and he gently ran the pad of his thumb across it. "What a cute angel I've found."

My jaw went slack, heat enveloping my face. "A-Angel?"

"Your looks are heavenly as well," he prodded, smiling sincerely. "It's extremely rare for my interests to be snatched by a single girl. Consider yourself special, Angel."

Oh no! This guy was a total playboy!

I could handle any other type of personality—I dealt with my own spontaneity on a daily basis—but these bold, flirtatious types were a huge no-no. I didn't fare well against pressure or compliments, and these types gave them out like nobody's business.

Mouth floundering for coherent words, I raked over every inch of his facial features. A small birthmark underneath his eyelid, wowing irises and silky hair and bangs shielding the left side of his face. No matter how I looked at him, he was attractive. Which was why the familiarity of it hit me like a brick to the face.

I knew who he was.

"Sir Yokan!"

Puzzlement breached his features. "Sir..."

"The guy in the magazine!" I shouted in newfound eureka. The one Miko brought to class that day—the boy and Japanese confection I couldn't stop ogling. "Your yokan was chosen across countless Japanese connectionists to be featured in that baking magazine," I continued excitedly. "I couldn't remember your name so I went and named you 'Sir Yokan' in my head."

No way. Who'd had thought here of all peoples I'd run into that idol confectionist? Did he participate in today's competition?

I gave him a swift look over. He was donned in a sleet white chef uniform. All he was missing was the hat. So he really did participate? What did he make? Did I eat it already?

His lengthy eyelashes fluttered open and closed, evidently caught off guard by my sudden burst of enthusiasm. The definite stars in my eyes weren't helping either. Eventually, though, his bafflement faded. In its place, he produced an awkward laugh.

"I see," he said. "You have quite the naming sense. Still, I can't believe I've dragged away a little fan."

Right as I parted my lips to rave about who knows what, his arm wrapped around me again. I was thwarted into his chest for the second time.

Footsteps erupted once more, this time a lot closer and audible than before. Even after he peered out to confirm if the coast was clear and he unhanded me, I wasn't overwhelmed with as much awkwardness as before.

I shuffled beside him, poking out my head into the hall alongside him.

"Who are you running away from?"

He sighed. "Some pests who won't leave me alone."

Wait. "If you're being chased... why did you kidnap me?"

"I figured getting rid of all witnesses who saw me would lessen the chances of them finding me. But they still aren't giving up."

Perplexed, I rotated my head up to look at him. He even had people chasing after him. Exactly what kind of guy was he?

"Nori Yamashiro. There you are."

I nearly jumped from my skin. The boy beside me recoiled as well. We swerved around only to be brought face to face with three individuals.

All of whom I recognized in a heartbeat.

Eru Onitsuka and Kohmi Hiroka—the two girls who'd completely stole the spotlight in today's competition—stood at the forefront. While Eru was grinning her trademark, bubbly grin, Kohmi couldn't have looked any more stony-faced. The dark sunglasses she wore above her eyes and white chef uniform didn't help to make her less intimidating.

The boy standing to the left of them was another calibre of skin-crawling. His dark hair was matted to his forehead, onyx black eyes boring a hole through my soul. Ryoma Fukui was renowned for a lot of things at Soetsu High—primarily his pivotal status in the Cooking Club—but his black look was especially popular. It was utterly terrifying.

What was the Cooking Club doing here? And by 'Nori' were they referring to the handsome guy beside me? That was the name those girls were gushing about near the free desserts area.

My complexion blanched. Not only did he get featured in that magazine, but he won third place in this competition as well? But that didn't explain why the Cooking Club members were tracking him down.

Unless...

"Oh no," Nori said, despite wearing a tight smile. "You found me."

"We said we had something to discuss with you," Ryoma said. "Why did you run?"

"Well, you didn't exactly approach me looking like 'discussing' was all that you wanted to do. Either way, I have somewhere to be, so I'll be excusing myself—"

"Wait." Lowering his arms to his sides, Ryoma's glower intensified. "We don't have a lot of time. You're better off giving in to our proposal sooner rather than later."

"Fuku," Eru cried, clasping her hands together. "Are we really scouting him for the Cooking Club this upcoming year?"

Kohmi lifted her shades, revealing her light honey-coloured eyes. "I guess I can let him be my servant for the entirety of my high school career."

Simultaneously, they took large steps forward, enclosing us within our cramped location. There was no longer the option to escape—for either of us.

Ryoma's eyebrows furrowed even harder. "You aren't getting away this time."

***

Nori has finally made an appearance! The Cooking Club members we haven't gotten to meet yet, too. How exciting.

Why do you think the Cooking Club members are chasing Nori down anyway?

Vote & Comment!