Shokugeki no Kimiko à la carte Series - The Extended Hand
Author’s Note:
Written for ShokugekiOCWeek, Day 7 (Prompt: Party)
You’ve reached the point where I’d to something for ShigeChi, because of course I would; or the tale of Chieko visiting a party she feels to small for.
(As always, I’m not sure if its good or not haha)
---
Like he loved to do, Satoshi went out early in the morning so he could help his students tend to the garden.
An all-too typical everlasting smile on his face, he opened the heavy door of the dormitory to step out into the fresh, cold air. He took a deep, satisfied breath before he marched on.
Little did he expect however to hear the door opening behind him again.
And even less he expected Hideyoshi Kawashima to be the one coming out of it.
“Hideyoshi-kun?” He questioned. “You’re not on field-duty or cooking-duty today. What gives me the honor to greet you so early in the morning?” Hideyoshi was known for many things but not exactly for being an early riser.
Instead of answering, Hideyoshi only threw a “Good Morning, Satoshi-san” towards the brunette man and rushed straight up to the mail box of the dormitory.
The dorm caretaker had already turned around to walk on to the garden as he heard Hideyoshi’s loud exclaim of joy possibly waking up the last few sleeping birds in the trees. When Satoshi then looked over his shoulder, he saw the black-haired youth sprint back towards the dormitory with a bunch of letters in his hands.
A chuckle escaped Satoshi, as he lightly shook his head. “Youth.” Then he walked on.
-
When he finally came back from field work, all sweaty but filled with the highest spirits after his connecting and conversing with Mother Nature, Satoshi found all of Polar Star’s current highschool first years at their table in the dining hall, hunched together like a group of penguins.
“Good Morning.” He warmly announced in order to get their attention. He ended up being successful as the young teens all lifted their heads with admirable synchronicity.
"Good Morn-" Was all that Hiroshi could say before his friendly greeting was drowned out by Hideyoshi's exclaim. "Satoshi-san! You're not going to believe this!" The addressed adult came closer, chuckling. "My, my, you're truly in a good mood today, Hideyoshi-kun."
"He was invited to a party." Mumbled Daisuke while staring at his omelette, some jealousy swinging in his voice. "Not a party." Hideyoshi immediately corrected and held up an envelope. "THE party." As Satoshi arrived at their table, blue eyes full of interest for what Hideyoshi was so excited over, the emcee began elaborating further. "It's Inoue Eito's party, Satoshi-san! The tenth seat!"
While Daisuke rolled his eyes and Yasu slightly shook his head Hideyoshi took over the tone of a storyteller, weaving myths and legends. "The 114th Generation is famous for their parties and Inoue-senpai is the one who throws the most acclaimed ones by far. Each and every single one of them being iconic. He's not one to invite too many underclassmen. The fact that I got invited…." He proudly puffed out his chest. "Makes me a VIP without a doubt."
"I see…" Satoshi rubbed his chin and then nodded. "I am glad to see you so happy, Hideyoshi-kun." The dorm-warden spread his arms and, as they did many times, the young teens swore to see sparkles and glitters appearing around him. "Parties are a great way to savor your youth!"
"Ever considered that these might have been some prank? Maybe by the underclassmen?" Chieko suddenly spoke up. As the heads turned towards her, Satoshi noted the white envelope in her heads. "Because I can't see why they would invite me…."
The gears in Chieko's brain had been turning ever since Hideyoshi had pushed the invitation into her hands. But all the data and knowledge that she'd stored up over several years could not provide her with an answer to the question on why her, a perfectly normal student of the 115th Generation who looked plain and nerdy, was invited to such a popular, trendy event. In her understanding her name just didn't fit in-between widely-gushed-over emcee Hideyoshi Kawashima, gorgeous Mika Aldini and the school idol's little sister Kimiko Yukihira.
"I don't really get this either. I haven't met this Inoue guy." Kimiko voiced. She had laid her letter away already, so that Hiroshi read it instead while she payed more attention to her omelette.
Hideyoshi was quick to enlighten the blonde. "Please, Yukihira. I thought you were smarter than that. Of course Inoue-senpai would want the sister of the most popular person within the 114th Generation and Totsuki as a whole to be there."
"Hiraku will be there? Yeah, I think I will pass this one." Kimiko shrugged at that and continued eating her breakfast, completely unbothered by Hideyoshi looking at her as if she had personally insulted him. Meanwhile a visible blush had been creeping on Mika's face as she quickly decided to read over invitation again, only now truly realizing that she'd get to meet a certain redhead on the party.
"Maybe it's actually for you." Chieko theorized and pushed her invitation over to Yasu. Good-looking, well-liked Yasu, who never failed to catch several eyes when walking through town wether he was aware of it or not. No way she was chosen over him.
"I don't think a guy that concerned with creating an illustrious guest list would make such a mistake, Chi-chan." He tilted his head slightly. "If you don't want to go, you don't have to." "We can play cards together instead!" Kimiko quickly brought up with a grin.
"No!" Hideyoshi huffed. "No, I'm having enough of this lack of appreciation for this flattering, distinguished chance." He pointed at Chieko. "Marui, I won't allow you to miss out on this. As your friend I can't let you shot yourself in the foot like this!"
—
Despite all of Chieko's skepticism and hesitance, she ended up standing in front of the tenth seat's mansion outside of Totsuki when the day of the rager had come through the sheer force of Hideyoshi's insistence. She even had put on make-up and one of her prettiest dresses.
She felt the house was practically shaking from the booming music that played in it. Hideyoshi next to her bounced on the balls of his feet like some 3 year old who was granted two scoops of ice cream by their mother. Mika had merely crossed her arms as she eyed the scenery in front of her with narrowed eyebrows. Around them, students kept streaming in and out of the house. Some sober, others already smash-drunk.
Chieko could tell right away: this was a very different caliber than the regular Polar Star gatherings.
The insides of the house were loud and crowded. Chatter, laughter, badly sung lyrics to whichever song was playing; those were the sounds that dominated the halls.
The trio began wandering around and inspecting the mansion's ground floor but eventually they split up, as Mika sought to find her prince charming while Hideyoshi aimed for the bar. Chieko meanwhile found herself a corner that was not occupied by some horny couple or a guy about to throw up for her to stand in.
Not many took a notice of her but occasionally she received a couple of confused looks here and there. But what did she expect? Here she had been, dressing up pretty just to stand around in the shadows.
She had just decided to search for Hideyoshi at the bar in order to drown her frustrations in a little bit of cheap wine as said classmate already appeared in front of her, yelling. “Marui! There you are!”
Before Chieko could come up with a response, her dorm mate began to make hasty gestures. “I heard Aldini made it into the upper part of the building! Can you believe it?”
Based on his tone, Chieko knew that he expected some sort of shocked surprise from her but all she gave him was calm confusion. “Huh?”
Hideyoshi gave her a long look before he groaned. “Marui, everybody knows that the real deal of Inoue-senpai’s parties is in the upper part of the mansion. This is where the A-List gathers. The most popular personalities of the school. The true Crème de la Crème!" Knowing her dorm mate and his never-ending chase for a grand social standing well enough, Chieko already feared what will follow next as she listened to his ramble. "If Aldini made it up there, we gotta get there to."
Before Chieko was even given a chance to rationally line out all the reasons on why this was probably a bad idea; she already found herself standing in front the massive staircase that lead up to Hideyoshi's personal Olymp, with Hideyoshi next to her engaging in a broad discussion with the second-year that had been tasked to keep out any mere mortals. "No, there has to be a mistake. I am Kawashima Hideyoshi. Surely, you must have seen me host a Shokugeki already. I belong up there." "All I see is another entitled, little first-year-shrimp."
Chieko felt an immense urge to hide her face in her hands as Hideyoshi just kept on being his ever persistent, irritating self. "Just let us through! You'll thank me later." "Pffh, yeah right." The guard scoffed before crossing his arms to truly complete the image of the strict, incorruptible doorman. "Listen up, you two guppies have no business up there, understand? Now buzz off or I'll throw you out entirely."
To Chieko's sheer horror, she saw Hideyoshi opening his mouth yet again. However before any words could come out a third voice suddenly spoke up. "These two are my guests actually."
Chieko, Hideyoshi and the gatekeeper all turned their heads in surprise. The gatekeeper was the first one to greet the new participant of the discussion, as his face instantly became pale and he shrieked. "Eizan!"
Shigeo was dressed in a white shirt, a waist coat, black trousers and his infamous smirk. Behind him, one could see Umino and Yamada in full casual glory and with burning eyes directed at the gatekeeper. "Let them through." Shigeo purred, with a certain warning edge to it.
"We-Well…..if they're your guests, they should have just said so." The guard stammered in a desperate attempt to defend himself, while simultaneously taking a step to the side to symbolize their free pass.
"Wise choice." Shigeo hummed before turning to Chieko, whose eyebrows had sunken downwards in the meantime. Not imitated the slightest by her glare, Shigeo merely brought out his hand to her. "Greetings Marui. What a pleasure to see you! I am glad my plus-one showed up."
“Plu-Plus-One?!” Chieko snarled. So that's how she received an invitation. She practically heard Hideyoshi's jaw dropping behind her.
"The Boss barely ever brings a plus one!" Umino brought up with a certain gravity in his voice, most likely to make Chieko understand just oh how special and lucky she was.
"It really was not necessary." Chieko replied, not flattered but completely meaning what she had said. It left both Umino and Yamada utterly floored and Chieko could also feel Hideyoshi's disapproving gaze and his fear of his dorm mate ruining his one chance to get upstairs.
But Shigeo's smirk merely grew a bit as that certain amusement glinted in his yellow eyes. "Yet you still showed up. So I don't believe it was a wrong choice inviting you." He nodded towards the staircase. "Now let's go upstairs. What good is an invitation if I don't give you a chance to experience the true party. Not this….gathering of maggots down here."
While Chieko still made no attempt to take his held out hand, Shigeo for the first time shifted his gaze to Hideyoshi. "Your dorm mate can come too if he wants." Chieko didn't have to turn around to know that Hideyoshi's face lightened up at that, not even bothered how both Umino and Yamada made rather displeased grimaces.
A moment of silence ensued in which Chieko wagered cons and pros in her head. Ultimately the knowledge about how badly her friend wanted to hang out with the cool kids pushed a sigh out of her and a curt. "Fine." She then began walking past the hand that Shigeo still held out to her and up the grand stairs. "I suppose a glimpse can't hurt. Come on, Kawashima."
Before Hideyoshi, completely over the moon, followed he gave a quick bow towards Shigeo. "Thank you, Shigeo-senpai." He faked an unsure laugh and made a waving hand gesture. "Don't mind Marui's grumpy tone. She's always like that. I'm sure she's more than happy about your gracious-" "Listen sockpuppet, if I should ever feel the desire to chat with you I'll be sure to let you know, alright?" Shigeo's frosty tone interrupted him and it brought back the smiles on Umino's and Yamada's faces rather quickly.
Hideyoshi gulped, made another bow and then chose to retreat back to Chieko's side. Shigeo and his two companions watched them for a couple more minutes before following as well.
Upstairs and Downstairs truly felt like two different worlds. Chieko could tell as much when she finished climbing the stairs.
The first floor was a lot less crowded and the faces she saw were all faces she recognised instantly. From 7th seat Suzume Hojo dancing alongside the president of the French RS Harumi Tsujimoto to a song, whose lyrics "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich" described the entire atmosphere perfectly, to Kimiko's widely-beloved brother Hiraku sipping whiskey at a bar, much more finer-looking than the one they had down there, with 6th seat Akio Hayama close as ever to him.
Hideyoshi let out a whistle next to her. "That's what I'm talking about, Marui. This is were Totsuki's truly important people can be found." Just as he said so, the duo also spotted their lost dorm member Mika, a glass with some red drink in her hands and in a conversation with Beatrice Shiratsu.
Their reunion seemingly had to wait however as all out of the sudden a blonde upperclassman approached them, spreading his arms and true manner of a host exclaiming. "Eizan and Co! I wondered when you'd show up."
Both Chieko and Hideyoshi turned their heads and saw that Shigeo, Umino and Yamada had arrived as well. "Good evening, Inoue." Shigeo greeted while subtly raising his hand. Umino gave a nod. "Yo" while Yamada just said. "Sup'"
As the tenth seat, Eito Inoue, reached them, he observed with a bit of sorrow in his eyes. "I see Saito-senpai didn't come along this time. What a shame." Shigeo gave a shrug. "Spontaneous shopping-trip to Paris." He said with a nonchalance you'd expect a person who grew up in a world where spontaneous weekend trips to other countries were affordable and completely normal to have.
"Inoue, is Koharu-chan here already?" Umino questioned Eito before he could make any further inquiries over Kiyoko Saito's whereabouts.
"Yoshida-san?" Eito gave a nod. "Yeah, she's here." He then pointed at a large assortment of couches far away and close to a wall. There, waiting, Chieko and Hideyoshi could make out a thin, female figure with blonde hair and clothes in pastel-colors. "She's at you guy's usual spot with the usual amount of vodka."
"Hell yeah." Yamada grinned in anticipation. "Koharu-chan never fails to disappoint." Umino meanwhile turned to Shigeo. "Boss, is it okay if we join Koharu-chan already?" "Go ahead." Shigeo replied. "Tell Yoshida, I'll be there in a second."
"Aye, Boss." The two men answered simultaneously before wandering off to the couches and Koharu Yoshida with her numerous bottles of vodka.
Once they were gone, Shigeo gave Eito a command, disguised as a friendly request. "I'd like the usual brandy, Inoue."
"Sure, sure." Eito nodded. "Just a question."
After having looked over their heads for the last minutes, Eito finally let his grey eyes fall on Hideyoshi and Chieko. "Who are they?"
Before Shigeo could say anything however, Hideyoshi held out his hand and informed. "Kawashima Hideyoshi. Good evening, Inoue-senpai. I'm a large fan of your work."
It was silent for a second but then Eito's eyes grew and he exclaimed. "Oh! Of course! The Shokugeki-Host!" He playfully hit his head. "I knew something was familiar about your face! How did you get up here though?"
Hideyoshi opened his mouth again but this time Shigeo was faster. "I brought him up." It might have been Eito's party but Shigeo's tone showed absolute confidence in the belief that he could do whatever he wants and he was proven right as Eito showed no signs of an intention to call him out over acting on his own behalf.
"I see." Eito merely smiled over Shigeo's lack of respect for his neatly organized VIP-guest-list. "Lucky kid."
Then his eyes fell on Chieko. "And you are?"
Chieko tried her best to resist the urge of nervously fumbling with her skirt as she answered. "My….name is Marui Chieko."
What followed was a minute of silence and Eito just blankly staring at Chieko. With each passing second, she felt smaller and smaller and her lips began to tremble.
Finally Eito monotonously spoke. "Oh, so you're Eizan's plus-one, right?" He finally smiled again, albeit it seemed a little forced. "He told me to invite you. I hope you know that he doesn't do that very oft-" "She knows, don't worry." Shigeo suddenly cut him off, a little harshness in his tone which made Eito flinch subtly.
Chieko meanwhile looked at the floor, her face burning.
"Enjoy the party, then!" Eito exclaimed jollily. "And we'll get you a brandy." He also said towards Shigeo.
As the two upper classmen then moved away, Hideyoshi shifted his gaze to Chieko. "Marui…." He asked. "Everything alright? You've been so quiet suddenly…."
Chieko bit her lips one last time before looking up and giving Hideyoshi a little smile. "Yeah, I'm okay. I think I just need some fresh air right now." Before Hideyoshi could make any further inquires she already began pushing him into the direction of two Italian chefs. "Be a dear and tell Mika-cchi that we're here, alright? I'll be back soon."
With no more explanation left, Chieko then made her escape to the balcony.
As she stepped ousted she was immediately greeted by the cold night air and the stunning sight of Tokyo's sparkling skyscrapers in the distance. Yet she could not take much enjoyment from it as the heart in her chest was close to bursting.
Dazed from her sudden sorrow Chieko staggered to the railing for support. She felt the tears urging to come out, but kept on fighting the battle against them so she would not have to return to her friends with red eyes.
After having observed her for what must have been several minutes, Eito had only been able to recognize her as "Eizan's plus-one". And the way he had said it.
As the memory mercilessly replayed in her head a single tear rolled over Chieko's cheek despite all of her best efforts.
Foolish as she ever was, a part of her had hoped to have fun tonight. To be someone more than the one nerdy girl from Polar Star. She hd put her efforts into dressing up for the occasion but no matter how hard she tried, she'd never be a gorgeous Mika Aldini, a noble Kaori Hayama or a interesting Kimiko Yukihira. She'd always be the girl from the library to everyone else.
"Are you upset that I invited you?"
A lightning bolt was sent through Chieko as she heard Shigeo's voice behind her. Still wide-eyed over the sudden noise, she made a half turn and found the older male standing close to the door of the balcony with crossed arms and an unreadable expression.
Once she had recovered from the initial shock, Chieko managed to press out. "I don't want to talk right now. Go away."
Shigeo however rather took a note of something else and surprise spread on his face mixed with something that seemed identical with actual concern. "Marui….have you been crying?"
Immediately Chieko turned her head away at that, cursing at herself internally. But it was too late, as Shigeo already appeared next to her after a couple of seconds. "If you really hate it around here so much, you could have said something."
Chieko pressed her lips tightly together as she kept averting his sharp gaze. "I…..It's simply that your ever great self made a mistake. I do not belong here."
As Shigeo did not reply, she kept on. "This is a group of people who instantly have all eyes on them whenever they enter a room. I don't fit into that." Her voice shivered slightly. "I'm much too dull and unexciting for that."
What followed was a long silence. But just when Chieko actually thought that Shigeo had just quietly slithered away already, he spoke up again.
"Do you mean to insult me?"
Completely taken by surprise and confusion, Chieko finally turned his head back to him and met a pair of oddly serious eyes. "Marui Chieko, do you honestly think that I, Eizan Shigeo, would waste my time and breath on a type of person you just described?"
Chieko could only blink.
"If you really think that I would even consider to bring some uninteresting bore to a party as my partner, you're a lot badder at reading people than I thought you would be." Shigeo continued.
At first Chieko was only capable of staring at him, robbed off words. But finally a few of them returned in her otherwise so eloquent brain. "I….you…."
Shigeo's solemn look disappeared and made way for a smile. But for a change it wasn't loaded with self-infatuation but rather had a hint of genuineness in it. "I invited you for two reasons, Marui: one being that I earnestly believe that you belong into these ranks given the talent that's sleeping in you. The other one being…" He made a slight pause, letting his eyes trail to Tokyo's skyline for a second before looking back at her with the city lights reflecting in his eyes. "The other one is….that I quite frankly enjoy your company."
Once again, Chieko was at a loss for words as her teal-colored eyes merely widened, her jaw dropped and the blush appeared on her cheeks.
They stood there like this for several minutes. Just staring at each other. Noises of the city on one side and loud music from the other side, but the two didn't seem to hear either of them.
Finally Chieko regained her ability to speak and additionally several facts of her speaking-partner which were about more than him just being a good-looking, charming young man. "Shigeo-senpai, I…." She looked to the side and sighed. "I don't know if I can truly trust you with your words. You're Shigeo-senpai after all." Now she was the one to take a pause before looking back at him. "But for tonight I like to believe they're true…..Thank you."
Once those words were spoken, she immediately looked down to her feet as she felt her face burning hotter and hotter with each second.
Would she come to regret what she had just said? It was impossible knowing with this man.
Another moment of quiet ensued, until it was broken by Shigeo. "May I have the pleasure of dancing with you?"
Chieko's head shot upwards again as she looked at him in disbelief. "You dance on parties?"
"Not normally." Shigeo replied and yet again brought out his hand to her, as finally after all of this uncharacteristic concern and sincerity, his well-known vain smirk appeared back on his face. "But perhaps this is a way to prove to you that you're not just some girl to me." He chuckled. "I believe we two could be quite a sight."
Chieko stared at his held out hand, thinking about wether this was the gloved palm of her Prince Charming, or the dangerous, seducing offer of some mob-boss.
She decided that today was not the night she'd try to solve this question and simply took it.
