321 Fuji's visit

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15 chaps ahead on Pat.reon: pat.reon.com/MonkeyGodking

Still not feeling great, not writer's block. I'm just feeling like shit. *sigh*

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The next day

Hiro was cooking breakfast downstairs and humming to himself, Joichiro walked into the kitchen and yawned "Yo, Hiro!" Hiro smiled and said "What's up?" Joichiro scratched his head and grinned "Nothing really." Hiro chuckled and went back to cooking.

Joichiro shuffled over and said "You alright though? You looked upset yesterday..." Hiro paused before smiling happily "I'm fine now. Thank you, Joichiro." Joichiro blinked before grinning "Hey, no problem. You know..."

He chuckled "I would HATE to lose a rival just like that." Hiro snickered and threw pickled plums into the breakfast he was making, Joichiro's eyes flashed and he ran to a station before chuckling evilly as he took out a jar labeled 'J.S. Special Secret Sauce'

Nobody had a good breakfast that morning.

A while later in the afternoon

Hiro was minding his own business, when Fuji came over, asking to talk to him.

Hiro didn't have any reason to refuse, so he invited him in.

They were in the kitchen and Fuji looked around, saying "I didn't think Polar Star's kitchen was so nice." he smiled and turned to Hiro saying "How are you?" Hiro looked at him and said "Fine." Fuji sighed and sat down.

He rubbed his hands and smiled "Yesterday..." he looked at Hiro and explained "I never meant to pity you, I truly meant what I said." He shook his head and said "I didn't expect this outcome either. It was truly shocking, but after I tasted your dessert..."

He sighed and continued "I couldn't let myself win." Hiro looked at Fuji and opened his mouth, but Fuji turned sharp and said seriously "It wasn't for you. I meant what I said. Every word. The 'draw' that should have been MY LOSS, was unfair to begin with."

Hiro shut his mouth and listened quietly as Fuji continued "When you're in your Third Year, you'll be miles better than me. Had you been in the same year as me, I wouldn't even be canon fodder for you." he shook his head and Hiro was just shocked really.

Fuji stood up and looked at Hiro saying "Last night, I might have 'won', we may have 'tied', but what I tasted from your dish was only defeat." he looked right into Hiro's eyes and continued "You woke up the beast inside of me, I have a goal now... For that, I thank you. Before I had no idea what to do with my life. I was too complacent, lazing around with the notion that I was the best and nobody could be better than me."

He narrowed his eyes and added "Perhaps without you, I would've ended up the same way as that Nanamori... Regardless of what that future was like, it is different now." he took out his chef's knife and stabbed it into the cutting board next to Hiro, looking directly into his eyes as he said "I've bought a building in France, I'm going to start a restaurant there."

He looked at Hiro for a few seconds before walking away, adding, "When it's stable, I will be back. I WILL take back my loss... Till then... Make sure, my knife doesn't get rusty." and with a wave over his shoulder, he left the dorm and walked away.

Hiro watched him go, this guy was really something...

Fuji had strong and steady steps, full of confidence and conviction. Hiro had really done more than he said, he realized that he probably would've just rot in the 'pleasure' of being a chef instead of making a name for himself.

His outlook on cooking had changed! He was thoroughly thrashed by Hiro and he vowed that he would come back better than before! He felt free and happy for the first time in a year! He got a new rival and a goal in his life.

Terumi snuck around a corner and Fuji noticed her right away. She froze and sheepishly walked over "Hi!" Fuji smiled warmly, making Terumi tremble, he held her hand and said "Rumi... Do you want to come with me?" she was stunned, but not even a second after he spoke she nodded "That's what I've always wanted."

Fuji smiled brightly and said softly "They let's go." as he led her out, while she blushed heavily with an elated expression, hugging his arm.

Hiro returned to the kitchen and pulled the knife out of the cutting board. It had 'F.H.' engraved on it. He smiled to himself and wrapped it in cloth before storing it away, noticeably not putting it in his cabinet.

Zerotwo jumped down from the ceiling tiles and hugged Hiro, saying "Darling~!" Hiro was stunned and caught her before she fell as he said "Honey... You really gotta stop your 'leaps of faith'... What if you get hurt?" She smiled sweetly "I won't. You'll be there to catch me!"

Hiro choked on his words and looked at her cute smiling face before kissing her deeply and smiling "Of course I will."