Seat Number Zero

Part 9

"She sure is in a bad mood," Izumi said.

"Wow what gave that away. Was is her scowl, the yelling, or was it the storm that just passed by." Aiko said rolling her eyes. He glared at her in response.

"Well, I dont feel like dying today." Saito shook his head, barely able to carry his stuff. "And I left my spatula in there." He then turned towards his senior and in a hopeful tone he asked, "Care to retrieve it for me."

Isshiki smiled bitterly, "Sorry you're on your own."

"I figured as much..." Saito sighed dejectedly.

Izumi just patted his shoulders, "I hoped you said your goodbye, 'cause you're never seeing it again." Aiko also decided to comfort her poor junior.

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"Is this the best I can do?" Yumi frowns in disappointment, glaring at her creations. "These are pathetic."

"So this is why you monopolize the kitchen." Ms. Fumio spoke appearing out of nowhere picking up a spoon for a taste. "Not bad."

"I'm taking that as an insult." She scoffs, then stared at her hands. "I just dont know what's wrong with me, I can cook just fine before. But now I..."

"I'll tell you what's wrong with you," Ms. Fumio said pointing her spoon at her, "You lack motivation."

Yumi just stared blankly at her.

"Sure anyone can whip up a dish as good as this one. Granted not just anyone can do it as fast as you." Ms. Fumio shrugs. Yumi nodded with a faint smug look on her face. "But you..." Fumio continues to scold her with a spoon, "You don't seem to have any motive for cooking."

"..." Yumi averted her eyes and shifted uncomfortably.

"well it's not for me to pry," Ms. Fumio waved her hand dismissively and made her way out of the kitchen.

She was left alone, again glaring at her dish. "I already know what's wrong with me... and my 'motivation' is my problem."

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Later that evening, Yumi finally gave up trying to solve the problems that prick at her ego and decided to do some light reading. In her nest that's carefully weaved using pillows and blankets, she sat with a thick textbook on her lap, something about cooking theories.

"So this is where you are," Isshiki popped into her view of vision out of nowhere.

"You need to stop doing that its not good for my heart." Yumi gasped brandishing a pillow towards him, which he caught before it hit his face. "And why were you looking for me?"

"No reason I thought you were still monopolizing the kitchen, but it was too quiet so I went to check on you." He answers. "I heard you talking to Ms. Fumio."

Her movement paused for a moment before glancing away from her 'light reading'. "How much did you hear."

"Enough to blackmail you." He jokes.

"... Is that so," Yumi sighs. "I dont think any of the stuff I said is good enough to gossip about much less blackmail me with."

"Guilty." He raised his hands in defeat. "Though what Ms. Fumio said was interesting, why are you cooking? What is your reason."

She averted her eyes from him then flips another page of her textbook. "Food is a necessity in life."

"Then all you would need is an abundant amount of instant food."

"I prefer something healthier." She flipped another page without even reading it.

"sure, but why go through the trouble of becoming a chef?"

"because I'm an idiot and want to waste my time?" She faked a smile. "Don't you already know the answer? My family runs a diner."

"Why did you agreed to all those shokugekis?"

"The first one is because they insulted my family's diner, all the other time was just me letting off some steam." She rolled her eyes. "Well I suppose that wasn't the only reason, they helped me gain lots of valuable experience. But alas, that's all they're good for, I have no use for them after our battle."

'I won't say it out loud but I'm glad that he put an end to my rampages.' Yumi thought, tossing the textbook to the side. "Is that all? I kind of want to get back to researching my next dish."

"you're one scary lady, you know that," Isshiki told her. "Able to say something like that without batting an eye."

Yumi liked a few times then cracked a smile. "Everyone in this academy is my personal stepping stone, if I feel the need to I will go and gain myself some experience."

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