Chapter 1
Sayuri
(Two years later)
"Ryuu! Get back here!" I shout in annoyance as I chase my seventeen year old brother around my Grandma's house. He chuckles in response.
"Sorry little sis, but if you want it, you gotta come get it." He says tauntingly, waving my sketch book in the air as I sigh and pout just as my Grandma walks in.
"What's going on in here?" She blinks in confusion as I point an accusing finger at Ryuu, who merely smirks in response.
"Not my fault you're so short." Ryuu snickers as I glare at him.
"I'm not short! You're just tall!" I protest as he rolls his eyes and hands me my sketchbook back.
"Fine. Take it. I saw those drawings you keep of your favorite anime characters. Why're they all shirtless?" He smirks in amusement as my eyes widen.
"You looked through my drawings?!"
"How could I not?" He chuckles before dashing away as I grow an irk mark, my Grandma chuckling in amusement.
"It's not funny Grandma!" I whine as she shakes her head and laughs.
"Come on dear, help me with dinner, will you?" This immediately perks up my mood, and I nod eagerly before following her into the kitchen.
Ryuu and I have spent one whole year living with our Grandma on our mother's side of the family, which is good, because her whole house is fairly big, and over that time, she won custody over Ryuu and I, my father not even trying to get us back.
Grandma watches in amazement as I chop, mince, and cook at the speed of light, my long hair tied back in a ponytail while my blue eyes remain focused as I prepare the meal.
"You really are your father's daughter." She says to me with a small smile as I freeze mid-chop, my stomach twisting as I begin to chop again.
"I guess there was a good thing about him after all." I say bitterly, slicing faster at the cut of meat in front of me. "He passed down his abilities to me." My voice begins to crack.
She's quiet as she rubs soothing circles on my back as I drop the knife and begin to shake.
Tears begin to stream down my face as Grandma holds me in her arms, the ingredients for dinner laying temporarily forgotten.
It's strange, seeing I could break down this easily just by the mention of his name. His words and abuse all come back to me at once, and it's just too much to handle. This happened a lot when we first moved in.
"I-I'm okay." I offer her a weak smile as she smiles back reassuringly. "Don't tell Ryuu it happened again, okay?"
Grandma nods and kisses my cheeks before I begin to cook again, my eyes slightly puffy.
--
"So I have a question," Ryuu states when we all sit down at the table that night at dinner. "How the hell are you able to cook all this, but I can somehow manage to burn water?"
I smirk as I bring a pitcher of water to the table. "Because I'm better than you."
He rolls his eyes playfully as Grandma smiles at the two of us before we all dig in, the flavors blending well together and bursting in our mouths, sounds of enjoyment coming from Ryuu and my Grandmother as I giggle and continue my meal, wondering what fantasies are going through their heads right now.
"Wanna explain how you made this, dear?" Grandma asks as Ryuu groans.
"No! Not again! She's gonna go into one of her food speeches-!"
"I took the cut of beef and tenderized it before seasoning it with herbs, garlic powder, black pepper, and garlic salt." I cut him off smoothly. "I sautéed it in a mushroom sauce that's mixed with red wine, and tossed with garlic before letting it roast in the oven. The roast beef has hints of rosemary and slices of charred garlic added to the flavor of the beef. I made the mixed vegetables by chopping fresh grown plants from the garden and tossing it in a soy sauce and vinegar mixture and letting it soak the sauce for about fifteen minutes before serving it." I finish proudly as Grandma beams at me and Ryuu rolls his eyes.
"Show off." He mumbles as I giggle and get up from my seat.
"I think I'm gonna head to bed." I stretch before smirking at Ryuu.
"It's your day to do dishes~" He groans and I chuckle before walking up to my room, where a stack of papers lay on my desk as I stare at them questioningly before looking through them.
My eyes widen when I read the papers.
To Sayuri Hatoshi,
We are pleased to announce that the tests to get into Totsuki will be three days from now. You show promise to
many important people out there, based on your father's work, and we wish you the best of luck.
-Totsuki Academy
I have to squint my eyes to read it, because of the ridiculously fancy handwriting, and my Grandma's voice sounds when I finish.
"I see you've found my surprise." Grandma smiles as I slowly look up at her, and then back down at the papers.
"Why...?" I whisper as my Grandma envelops me in a hug.
"I sent them a letter about you, asking for enrollment." She says with a smile. "You've heard of Totsuki, right?"
"Isn't it that big culinary school in Japan that...my father went to?" I ask in a quiet voice as she nods.
"I already booked your flight. You leave two days from now, and you're expected to arrive at the entrance exams." She says as I begin to protest.
"Grandma! I don't even know if I want to go-"
"Don't you want your father's acceptance, child?" She cuts me off with a serious stare as my eyes widen.
"I...I..." I trail off with wide eyes. Would this really make him accept me?
"The graduation rate is less than 10%." Grandma explains. "If you graduate, I'm positive it'll change his feelings about you."
"I-I'll go." I stammer quietly. "C-can I just be by myself for now?"
She nods and exits the room, and I crawl under my covers before hugging a pillow to my chest, feeling tears of pressure and nervousness stream down my face as I fall asleep.
--
Two days later
"Again, why do you have to go?" Ryuu questions as I walk down the stairs two days later, my bags packed and ready to go.
I sigh. "Grandma really wants me to, and I...I guess I kind of want to as well."
He stands up from the couch and envelops me in a hug, hugging me close to his chest as tears well up in my eyes once again.
"Be brave, little sister." He says as I blink the tears back. Ryuu was always there for me. He protected me. He made me feel safe.
I nod and he lets go of me as I offer a reassuring smile. "I'll be back before you know it. I probably won't last long. They weed out the students quickly."
He chuckles. "Have more confidence in yourself, sheesh." He noogies my hair one last time before I walk over to my Grandma, who gives me a tight squeeze.
"Goodbye child, remember I'll always be proud of you no matter what."
"Thank you for everything...Grandma." I whisper as I clutch her tighter, not wanting to leave this place I now called home.
I leave without looking back, knowing I'll probably chicken out if I did.
--
"Yes Ryuu, I landed safe. You can calm down now." I sigh into my phone as I set my bag on the bed in the hotel room. "I bet I'll be back soon though, I might not even make it past the entrance exams."
"Don't beat yourself up." Ryuu sighs. "What did I say about more confidence? I know you can do it, Sayuri, just don't let your nerves get ahead of you."
"Thanks." I let a small smile cross my face before it turns into an annoyed expression. "Oh, and Ryuu?"
"Yeah?"
"Try not to burn the house down. Let Grandma cook." I say with a slight smirk as I can imagine him glaring playfully at the air.
"Ha-Ha, very funny short stuff, now what time is it there?"
"It's about eleven at night." I shrug. "Why?"
"Get some sleep. I'll call tomorrow after you take your exam. Good luck!"
With that, my phone beeps, signaling the end of the call, and I crawl into bed without question, my stomach fluttering nervously for tomorrow.