Dimwit || Shinomiya Kojiro

cinq

(Ishikawa Juno POV)

After finding out about the Emperor's Sense, I had decided to forget about it. I was a bit shaken, but more than a year had passed since I found out about it and it didn't really change anything about my current life, so I swept everything under the rug.

The first year of my high school experience passed by quickly and I made it to the second-year with Hinako and Donato who are currently 6th and 7th seat in the Elite Ten. As for me, I surprisingly was able to get a spot as 3rd seat, but what was even more surprising that the three of us became quite close with Mizuhara-senpai and Shinomiya-senpai. That's right, I've come to respect his skills and vice versa, but we still argue frequently on sight; consider it friendly bickering.

"The annual Moon Festival is approaching and several of our sponsors would like the Elite Ten to open various booths at the event. They particularly requested the 1st and 3rd seat to team up together," Mizuhara-senpai, the 2nd seat informed at our meeting.

"SAY WHAT?! I'M NOT GOING TO TEAM UP WITH THAT NARCISSIST/DIMWIT!" Shinomiya and I both shouted and glared at each other at the same time.

Hinako giggled, "You guys are in sync like a couple."

"WE ARE NOT A COUPLE!" we exclaimed simultaneously.

"Whether you guys claim to be a couple or not, it's a good idea that you two team up. French is both of your guys' forte. It would be easier to come up with dishes and prepare them," Mizuhara-senpai noted.

Despite our protests, Mizuhara-senpai went ahead and registered the both of us at a spot in the Yamanote Area, a high-class area where the Elite Ten usually set up their booths.

With the remaining days until the Moon Festival, Shinomiya and I began planning and preparing, or at least tried to.

"You're going to be supporting me alright," Shinomiya clarified.

"No fair! That means you get to have all the fun," I argued.

"If both of us mix up the tasks, we'll get confused and mess up the orders."

"Puuu, fine!"

"Eh? I didn't expect you to give in this quickly."

"I admit you're better than me at this point, but mainly it's because we still haven't come up with what dishes we'll be serving. I assume we're going to be arguing more on that than anything, so bring it."

After more heated arguments, we finally decided on doing three set menus where the customer can choose. Each set would include a 4 course menu.

On each day of the Moon Festival, our booth was fully booked with reservations. VIP Totsuki sponsors streamed in, excited for what was in store. It was pretty hectic, since it was just Shinomiya and I doing the main cooking.

"Here are the carrots julienned and the onions cut mirepoix," I handed Shinomiya the vegetables. "The fish will be finished frying in 12 seconds while the meat will take 2 more minutes to be fully cooked."

"Good, can you prep the asparagus now for Table 3 and start the dessert for Table 5?" Shinomiya asked, while finishing up the other dishes.

"Yes, the asparagus is almost done too," I replied as I went to prepare the creme brulee.

Outside of the kitchen, we butted heads on nearly everything, but in the kitchen, it was a completely different story. I was able to support him with ease and we were fully synchronized; we managed to handle 10 tables just between the two of us. The week went by pretty smoothly aside from some minor disagreements.

"Hi hi! I just wanted to drop by to see if I could help with anything," Hinako pushed the kitchen doors open.

"Hinako shut up, we're still cooking," Shinomiya muttered in frustration. "Shouldn't you be at your booth?"

"Hey hey don't be such a meanie, you only have two tables left. I wrapped up my booth early to see how you two were fairing," Hinako said in her free-spirited voice. "You two seem to be destined for each other in the kitchen."

'Destined for each other huh?' I thought to myself. To be completely honest, even though we bicker on sight, I grew somewhat attached to Shinomiya, but I knew that if I told him, he would never let me hear the end of it.

"Haaah, destined? With Juno? No way." Shinomiya didn't even look up from the pan, but little did I know that a slight blush flushed onto his face.

'Yup, he definitely doesn't see me more than a dim-witted underclassman,' I let out a small sigh.

After we finished wrapping up and cleaning out the space we used for the Moon Festival, it had gotten quite dark. "It's 11P.M. already??" I gasped. Wrapping up took longer than expected.

"Juno, I'll take you back to your dorm. It's pretty dark," Shinomiya-senpai offered.

"Uwa, Shinomiya-senpai, are you sick? Why are you so kind now?" I teased.

"Tch, don't come complaining to me if you get lost."

"Hey! I never refused your offer."

"Then let's go."

When we reached the Polar Star Dormitory, I saw a tall shadowy figure. My eyes widened and I suddenly stopped walking when I saw the signature bright red bandana on his neck. Shinomiya-senpai looked at me, confused. "Oi, what are you doing?"

The figure approached the two of us. "Suzuki...Kento." I flinched a bit and held onto Shinomiya's sleeve.

"It seems as if you learned of what my real identity is, my empress." Suzuki smiled suspiciously. "There's no need to be afraid, I'm just checking up on how you're doing. I can't have my future partner get harmed." Suzuki reached for me, but Shinomiya stood in front of me.

"Shinomiya-senpai, or should I say the First Seat of Totsuki? Don't get in my way. I just need her to complete my cooking and rule the underworld," Suzuki began.

"Sorry, but she's already taken. She's going to be my sous chef when I open up my restaurant in France," Shinomiya interrupted.

"Oh? I thought you didn't want to be anyone's assistant, Ishikawa-san," Suzuki began, "Well anyway, I think I have overstayed my welcome. I just wanted to let you know that my father wants you back. Even if you refuse now, we'll get you back into Noir someday."

After Suzuki had left, I let out a sigh of relief. "Who is he really?" Shinomiya asked.

"Ah, it's a long story for another day. More importantly, sous chef?" I raised my eyebrows in amusement, "When did I agree to be your sous chef huh?"

Shinomiya averted his gaze, "Well what was up with you holding my sleeve huh? Have you transformed from a dimwit to a scaredy-cat?"

My face blushed a rosy red. "A-anyways, let's call it a day. Thanks for taking me back"

"Yea yea whatever, see you tomorrow dimwit."