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“Akanegakubo, it is nearly time for the Elite Council of Ten’s meeting,” Somei reminded.
The patissier was completely engrossed in photographing the chocolate peacock sculpture she made in the morning. She wouldn’t have even eaten lunch if he didn’t force her to sample his latest omakase lineup. “Momo’s busy,” she replied.
“You are the fourth seat. You can not skip.”
She shot an icy glare at him before melting her face into a practiced, cat-like smile for the camera. Somei stepped forward and blocked the camera. “What are you doing Somyan?!?” she whined while smacking his arm.
“We shouldn’t keep the others waiting.”
Momo grabbed Bucchi with a huff. She reluctantly trudged out of the kitchen and down the hall while gnawing on her plush. Somei followed close behind her, making sure she didn’t turn around at any point.
Eishi, Megishima, Nene, and Erina were already seated at the table when they arrived. Somei took his seat besides Nene and his underclassman gave him a respectful greeting.
Momo stared at him for a brief moment before plopping herself down on his lap rather than her own chair, throwing her legs across his as she oriented herself sideways. She made herself comfortable, propping her torso up with his arm and resting her cheek on his chest. She nonchalantly took out her phone and began applying different types of filters to the photos she just took. A trace of her pout still remained on her lips.
?! Somei was utterly bewildered. He permitted Momo to sit on his shoulder and even on the sheath of his prized Isanakiri, but his lap was crossing a line they hadn’t before. Should I say something? … She’s not going to talk. In fact, Momo seemed to be purposefully ignoring him. There was absolutely no intention of acknowledging their current seating arrangement. I see, how cunning, Akanegakubo. This level of physical proximity must be his punishment for interrupting her. Still, this amount of intimacy wasn’t appropriate for friends. Somei was unsure how Momo possessed the confidence required to claim his lap so shamelessly without second guessing herself. I mustn’t move even a centimeter. Not his face, arms, chest, hands, and definitely not his legs. There were many positions, if she was disturbed from her perch, he would rather not end up in. He willed himself to maintain his composure, to burry his inner turmoil beneath a still surface.
Somei fooled most people except for the observant Megishima, who noticed the fifth seat’s distress. Hang in there, Saito, Megishima thought to himself.
Eishi side-eyed the two, wondering if he should tell them off for sitting improperly in the council room. He didn’t on account of him lacking the energy to speak up after the pile of paperwork he slogged through. Besides, he knew Rindo would kill him if he interfered with a couple she was actively trying to set up.
Nene’s and Erina’s internal worlds were completely upturned, believing they’ve received a revelation. Are Chef Saito and Momo… Nene’s mind raced through thousands of thoughts and memories.
How could they be so open with their affection? Erina thought, becoming dizzy.
Eizan sat at the table, looked at the duo, averted his gaze, then looked again. If I value my life, I’ll keep my mouth shut, he decided.
Isshiki passed by with his fox-like smile, opting not to acknowledge his upperclassmen at all on the way to his seat.
Rindo and Kuga were quick to point and shout when they arrived at the meeting, having just crossed paths in the hall.
“Oh? What is this, what is this?” Kuga exclaimed as he slid next to Somei.
“Saito, you dog!” Rindo said while nudging Somei with her elbow. Her mischievous grin spread across her entire face.
“Kobayashi, we have business to attend to,” Megishima said.
Rindo put her hands on her hips. “Right now?”
“Yes Rindo, right now,” Eishi said. Rindo took her seat with disappointment.
Kuga leaned in. “So, Saito, are you two pregaming for tonight?”
Somei internally flinched at the eight seat’s probe but not a singe one of his muscles twitched. He noticed Momo was unbothered. Does Akanegakubo care about what the others are speculating? If she did, she didn’t show even a hint of it.
“Kuga, sit down!” Nene hissed. The look she gave him almost said ‘I’m going to drag you outside for a fistfight then leave you to die.’ “We’re starting the meeting.”
The ten of them discussed how to restructure the ingredient supply chain for second year teaching kitchens.
“I penned a proposal after talking with our suppliers. Have a look over it,” Eizan said when he presented a stack of papers.
“Nice one, Eizan!” Rindo said while grabbing a few copies before running back to her side of the table to distribute them. “For you,” Rindo snickered as she put two copies in front of Somei.
Momo looked up from her phone and grabbed one. She pulled her legs up so her feet were planted on Somei’s arm and leaned the papers against her thighs to prop it up.
“We’ll probably have to make some adjustments,” Isshiki said while skimming the papers. His comment prompted a ‘tsk’ of irritation from Eizan.
Somei sat staring blankly at the paper laid out in front of him on the table. He would continue reading it but he couldn’t move his arms to flip the page.
Kuga peeked at Somei out of the corner of his eyes. Hah! He can’t see page two! Wait… did he even read page one? His eyes are closed all the time.
Nene, having grown aware of Somei’s plight, flipped the page for him. Somei wanted to thank her but his larynx, along with the rest of his body, was frozen in place.
“I think we need to cut this warehouse out of the system. The ingredients would sit for two hours too long,” Eishi mumbled.
“It would allow us to bypass high traffic hours,” Eizan said. “They’ll be sitting either way.”
“All in favor of keeping it?” Rindo asked. Five hands went up. “Half and half huh?” she said.
“I don’t think Saitochin should count as a non vote. He hasn’t moved since he got here,” Kuga said, unsatisfied with the outcome.
Kuga… Somei internally groaned for being put on the spot.
“Somyan should count,” Momo commented. Her eyes flicked up to make contact with his in a leer. “He chose not to raise his hand.” Somei felt a chill run down his spine. Say something, her glower dared him.
He swallowed, breaking his tenseness. “I believe it should be cut from the route.”
Momo gave Kuga a pleased smirk. “See?”
Their meeting continued on until the entire document was poured over and edited. After final approval, their meeting was over. Somei’s lower body and extremities were entirely numb, having not moved them for the entire duration. The council dispersed from the table but few stuck around.
“Hey, Momo,” Rindo greeted. “You looked comfy during the meeting.”
“I wouldn’t say comfy,” Momo said. “But my chair was pretty good.”
“Do you prefer this one?” Rindo asked. Momo shot her a disapproving look. “Why’re you so invested in my choice of seating, Rindo?”
“Just curious~” she replied. “How about you, Saito? Were your legs warm?”
“…”
“My bad, it was a weird question to ask after a meeting. See ya later!” Rindo waved goodbye as she sprinted out into the hall, trying to catch up with Eishi and Megishima who left earlier.
“Shall we go, Somyan?” Momo asked. She was, however, still in his lap.
“Lead the way,” he responded.
The atmosphere of the room chilled.
“Don’t feel like it,” she said defiantly.
Is she trying to be difficult? Somei pondered. Her gaze was as apathetic as it was intimidating.
“You know nothing’s stopping you from leaving, Somyan.”
Somei decided to bite the bullet. “Fine. You will be coming to my kitchen where you will try everything I give you and provide me with feedback to improve my cooking.” He scooped her up into his arms, bridal style, and took her.
“Put me down Somyan!” Momo whined as she was whisked away. “I have to show the world how cute my sculpture is!”
“No.” Somei said firmly.
She was nearly in tears when they passed by her kitchen. “I’m sorry…” she said in a tiny voice.
“You reap what you sew, Akanegakubo.”
Her tearful pout in response to a whole sushi boat being placed in front of her spoke volumes but Somei felt no guilt. Momo pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of herself in front of the sushi boat and Somei. She posted it with the caption: I got kidnapped (╥﹏╥) The likes and comments poured in.
Momo is cute even when she’s upset!
The sushi looks so good _(´ཀ`」 ∠)_
Stealing everything ψ(｀∇´)ψ
Totsuki is really fun
I want to be kidnapped by Chef Saito too (*/ω＼*)
Adorable!
Momo and Chef Saito, so cute (˶‾᷄ ⁻̫ ‾᷅˵)
Momo read the comments, initially vexed, but then stared at the photo for a while. She broke out into a laugh and giggled until she was blushing. It’s pretty cute, she admitted.
Somei cleared his throat, “you still haven’t tried anything I’ve made.”
Momo leaned on the counter, rested her head in her palms, and smiled at him. “You’re the one with the chopsticks.”
Somei sighed, finding it difficult to resist her cuteness, which was accentuated by her squished cheeks. He picked up an grilled unagi nigiri. “Open wide.” Momo ate happily, enjoying the moment and the flavors bursting forth on her tongue. Somei leaned over the counter with his head hung. I’ve been defeated.