084 – Step Up (1)

January 6.

"I guess that that's enough dilly-dallying…

Ungh…!"

The White Street is as silent as ever, but Gin broke a very small portion of it as he mumbled to himself and stretched his upper body while walking the dry road.

Indeed, winter has ended.

Rin in a way understood the context of Gin's words, and unnecessary replied, rather bitterly at that.

"You don't really do much, though."

Anna was beginning to get confused. She has been observing the short exchange of words as though they were actually talking in their minds in guise of their physical talk. But knowing that she will not be able to make a sense of it even if she asked, she stayed fused with the quietness of the street.

Gin in exchange also understood Rin's words. What she was saying is that he does not experience what a WT student is going through, especially in Giotto's where they are working for four consecutive days a week while continuously updating the reports and portfolio. Gin on the other hand is legitimately working and earning without being WT student, thus not really doing much in a different sense.

He released a guilty sigh and diverted the topic unintentionally.

"Ah, Anna. I haven't really thanked you for taking care of my house. Sorry about that."

"It's fine~ I was rather busy at the time so having Haku as my only company got me more productive since it was quiet. Numbers and graphs are hard."

"Wait, you're still doing school work even in the holiday?"

"That's not it, Nii. I was just curious of what will be our lessons next so I took a peek and I suddenly got absorbed to it in the end.

Ah, the spreadsheet was still on your PC."

"I'm glad that my little sister is studious unlike me…

Alright, use the keys if you're going later."

Rin leaned down and whispered to Anna, "I actually have never touched your brother's PC."

"Hehe. I'll give you the password. Don't expect anything in there, though," she replied back in the same manner.

※ A reminder to not simply disclose your computer password to anyone.

~ ~ ~

"Morning~"

Immediately after entering the classroom of the VA department, his eyes met with Ginji's who has a whole mug of steaming coffee on his desk.

"I'm not exactly sure how you can drink dark hot chocolate. I still prefer the bitterness of coffee.

Wait, you drink it, right?"

"Yeah, I started after his memories. Anyway, what's up?"

Apart from the coffee, he also noticed a flipped paper on Ginji's desk that looked like a painting on the other side.

"Ah, this. Our boss tipped me to practice watercolor for some stuff in the studio. I don't have the bucks to buy so many so I just made do with watercolor pencils."

"Ohhh. I actually haven't tried using that. How was it?"

"Go look at this."

Ginji raised the paper to the level of Gin's face. He saw, what indeed, a watercolor painting. His mind was processing that this was made with the said medium after having the obvious stated, but in truth, Gin still does not know how to use them as they don't have it in classes or in the club.

"I seriously don't know how this looked exactly like a watercolor painting…"

"There are many ways, man. What I like the most is using my water brush pen and dabbing it on the pencil itself when I'm not blending.

Anyway, just watch YouCube."

"Ahh… The beauty and joy of being self-taught, I see."

"Haha. That's how I have always been on my third and fourth year. I threw away my first sketchbook from back then, though."

"Ahhhh. I also did when my hand drawings literally looked like poop."

"That's disgusting, but what a coincidence."

"Indeed."

Still, they wondered. Is it actually somewhat blasphemous to throw one's very first sketchbook?

"By the way, have you decided on which college you'll go to, Gin?" suddenly, the topic popped out from the blatant conversation.

"College, huh…

Dunno."

"Eh?"

"How about you? You applied for CSU last September, right? When's your exam?"

"It's on the 2nd next month. Still, though. I'll have to try on other schools if I don't get accepted even in the reconsideration."

"Huh. We've pretty much got so many theories carved in our brains by now."

"That's the problem—I heard that the exam is general, or rather, the art applicants that had already taken their exam said that they took many questions from science which got me nervous."

The reason for Ginji's simmering agony is that he had discovered of that information whether factual or not, is that art students barely touch scientific concepts in their course. Up to this point, he had little knowledge from what he can remember in his physics classes back in his fourth year, but he only slept on the topics concerning balancing of chemical reactions in chemistry and he does not even know what moles are.

And perhaps the majority of the VA class might even consider those as jargon.

"But isn't that how it is to be admitted—to have flexible knowledge?"

"I get your point, but it sounds extremely weird coming from a guy who's not even considering going to college."

"Well, I've pretty much got the adequate knowledge I need, so I think that pursuing higher education is frankly a waste of time for me.

And I could just use that time to work and have fun while cooking."

"Yeah, you're definitely influenced by Sir Tenth's notions at this point.

Actually… I'm pretty sure that you know Kobana Azuki?"

"Uhh, yeah?"

"Oh, right. He doesn't know Rena's circumstances apart from being Anew's potential subject."

"And I have heard that you are friends with Jean's brother."

"Alex? Yep.

…!"

Gin felt a spark on his head.

"Don't tell me that you're going to farm so hard to level up ahead of everyone?!"

"In RPG terms, yes. I plan to take college for two or three years if things go well."

"But that will mean that you might become a dean's lister or a top student, you know?"

"…Hah.

'I decline,' is what I'll say on their faces."

Even after having known that they are coinciding existences, Gin however does not have that thick of a face.

"Yep. You're insane."

"Gee, thanks~"

Why has the bell not rung yet?

▪ ▪ ▪

12:36pm.

"Good afternoon. Thank you for having us again this year."

Rin led the group of five from the back of the restaurant towards the inside and confidently greeted. Her timidity towards her superiors have greatly waned even after not seeing them for two weeks.

"No one's late. That's a good start."

Gin met them halfway in his short walk and gave them a thumbs up.

"Oh, yeah. Kae and Yamaha, remain on the break room after getting ready."

~ ~ ~

"Yoohoo? Are you two here?"

"Yes, chef."

Gin opened the door with a sight of nervousness coming from the two youths. Their complexion has slightly darkened as they stood on each other's sides like a statue with how still they are.

Gin then took out a carton of chocolate from the fridge. Before even taking out his hand from the cold box, he hesitated for a moment. But he was not the only one who felt the deja vu.

"Oh. The chocolate is sweeter this time."

"Chef Gin…?" Kae's voice trembled. "How many orders have you made for the day?"

The WT students realized an unwritten system among the cooks. Periodically in a day, they announce how much orders they have done, and give way to the chef who has the least number. That is done to be equal on their work.

Thus, it was not really weird for that question to suddenly surface.

"Hmm. I timed in at 12:12pm earlier and it is now 1 o'clock. Let's see, I have done six already. It's not a very busy day today, I guess.

Anyway, Chef Yuzu is announcing the rotation this week. Pretty much Rin and Rena will be on the office while Jean will be on the kitchen."

Gin stood up from the couch and opened the door without looking at the two and said:

"Come to the kitchen with Jean. Let loose, but don't intentionally spill stuff again. Do that again and you'll be under the risk of not graduating."

Their corners of the lips arched up with a very obvious tremble on them.

"…!

Yes, chef…!"

~ ~ ~

"Hey, Sis. Crashing in to work.

Good afternoon, Sir Sean."

"I already said not to call me that, Ringo. I'm pretty much your brother too, you know."

Finally, Rena realized Rin's gap when talking to her superiors and to her sister. Nonetheless, Yuna is still her superior.

"Want some snacks, lil sis?"

"Did you gain weight, Sis?"

"Gin encouraged me to start running, so I did run here from our house."

"I see. I guess I can now run since winter is over. I now know what I'll do this Saturday."

"Eat?"

"Run, stupid."

The fellow wife let out a chuckle after once again thinking about the gap getting somewhat wider.

▪ ▪ ▪

January 16.

The long days of the work training students in the restaurant have finally ended on the day before that had passed. It was not a written rule, and it should not necessarily be, but it was at least a role of WT students to express their gratitude to the institution that accepted them. The five from Giotto's have thought of it deeply, and they all agreed to do one certain thing.

And so, they are seen sneaking around the school at as early as nine in the morning.

Today is the last day that they will be exiting the school at around noon, but they have gotten the permission to step out even before the arms of the clock hit 12.

"Excuse me…! Can we now borrow the keys for the HE Room?"

Yamaha had hurriedly walked to the administrative office and raised his voice in a moderate volume while catching his breath.

Coincidentally, the HE teacher was present in the office.

"You made sure that you put a label on your things, right?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Try not to make a mess, then," the teacher smiled brightly and placed the keys on Yamaha's open hands.

"Thank you very much!"

With the key finally on the grasp of his hands, he headed immediately to the room where the other four are waiting in front of the door. The twisting of the key to the doorknob reflected on the pupils of their exhilarated eyes. At this very moment, their minds were already stuck with a mindset very similar to Giotto's environment. Blazers are taken off, sleeves are folded, and aprons are worn. They took out all the equipment they will need and organized them neatly on top of the counter.

In a blink of an eye, the density of the air suddenly thickened.

"LET'S START!!" shouted Rin enthusiastically.

"Ringo…! Kamichi-san will scold you again with the unnecessary enthusiasm!"

"Oh, sorry!"

And the dense pressure suddenly disappeared. Nevertheless, they started as if in the guise of being a Giotto's employee inside the kitchen—emulating how the chefs in the restaurant work without wasting a single second to serve and satisfy their customers. For this instance of their imagination, their customers will be those who they wish to express their appreciation.

And at the same time in the VA Room…

"Huh… I wonder where Rin went to."

Gin almost silently mumbled to himself while looking at the unoccupied desk on his right while the classes are ongoing. It is safe to say that the man does not have an idea of what is going to happen in a few hours' time, and it helped that he doesn't have classes in CA for today so not a bud of suspicion is growing on his mind.

~ ~ ~

11:16am.

The VA class is currently having their physical education classes in the gymnasium… while Gin is still sitting alone on the corner-most desk inside the classroom, staring into nothingness with a blank visage. But his head abruptly turned as he heard the sliding door's clatter, revealing Rin with her blazer on her arm, walking straight to the room with a damp hair.

"R-Rin? Did you wash your head?"

"Yep."

"I can't say that I freshened up because I was exposed to the stove…"

"Haven't seen you much this morning. Where have you been?" asked Gin while at the same time tossing a towel from Rin's bag.

"Thanks," and silence after that. She did not bother to answer Gin's tiny inquiry.

"…?"

"Umm, Potato?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask your permission to kidnap you?"

"…

Nani?"

Gin's bag flawlessly went on his shoulder as Rin moved like flowing water passing in front and behind the confused man like a relentless but accurate stream. Even he was astonished with how Rin maneuvered around him.

Suddenly, Gin's left wrist was caught by slender but rather strong hands of Rin and began treading wordlessly in wide and fast steps. Perhaps, this could be the only time that he felt truly disconcerted after many months, but that did not stop his outward observation as the cold hair of Rin that was led by the wind touched and somehow tickled his face. He knew that Rin was not unreasonable to just pull him anywhere, and so he did not utter a single word. Instead, he kept himself busy while trying to dry Rin's hair with the towel on his hand.

Needless to say, they indeed caught people's attention.

Several minutes after.

"So why are we going to Giotto's?" he asked, while still wearing the same blank face.

But then, he had a very quick glance towards the restaurant's door which peeled his eyes wider.

"Wh-Wha?! Rin?! What was that?!"

He was once again ignored. Rin, still holding on to the wrist, entered the back door of the restaurant and expressed his greetings in a normal tone.

"Good morning, head chef!"

One of the owners of the restaurant shuddered on his shoulder after hearing the raised voice of his sister-in-law.

"R-Ringo?! Geez, don't scare me like that… Wait, why is Gin also with you-

Ah. Makes sense. I'll give you ten minutes to get changed later, sous chef."

"That's plenty of time.

No wait…!"

Finally, Gin was given the answers to his questions and confusion.

A just-put-together signage was posted in front of the restaurant door saying that the establishment will be closed for an hour or so beginning from 11:15. Hiro was very much aware that the students they took care will be coming for the very last time as WT students, and they teased that they have something for the crew. But even before the excited students hinted, the executive chef had already asked if they will be doing something, hence, pausing the business temporarily for the day just to give way to whatever he was kept on the dark.

"Thanks for having us again…!"

A few minutes after the silver apple's arrival, the other four students entered with plastic bags on their arms, brimming with food. The staff of Giotto's very well knows how it is everyday inside the place. Every time the service prepares to close up at night, the fragrant scent of the kitchen quickly disappears when the work gradually decreases.

Their noses have unconsciously developed a mannerism, or rather, instincts, due to that.

But just upon the bags got placed down on a table, the aroma had already diffused to the hall, making the persons instinctively gather around it.

No one inside the restaurant has had their lunch yet, even including Yuzuri who just got inside. It was an extremely rare situation where the people of Giotto's got to have their meal earlier than their customers.

"Hahahahahahahahahaha…!"

Such a scene was as rare as finding gold in a mine.

The company, while savoring the sudden feast, "feasted" their eyes upon a silver-haired man that is laughing in a rather confident way from the ends of his throat. Rin's eyes twitched as it was also the very first time that heard Gin let out a laughter as loud as that.

But on his side, that laughter was brought by amazement and elation. That was because of the viands laid out in front of them resembled a very familiar taste and style of cooking which was placed in different renditions of food. He was proud enough that he gets to savor the versed cooking in Giotto's in a guise of being applied to dishes outside the menu. He found such a thing utterly astonishing that his endeavor to master the ways of the restaurant took him half a year, and yet it was brought forth in the dishes in front of him which was a fruit of accumulated knowledge for just over a month.

…

All of sudden, Rena approached Gin on his seat and caved her hand to his ear so as to whisper.

"Chef?"

"Hmm?"

"I think it's just me but I have been noticing something ever since we came back to work this year."

A question mark appeared on his head.

"Can you elaborate?"

"Uhhh… It just feels like… Ringo was acting strange towards you? I've grown to know you two and I at least see how you usually are. I just felt like Ringo was rather distant. Don't you think so too?"

"Well, I see that she is quite polite to the team, and even to me. Isn't that just part of the job?

If she ever had any trouble, she will tell it to me. But sometimes her wordlessness means that she's just fine even if she looks a bit weird for others. She would rather use her actions as her language to convey what she means especially with the great efforts she's making to reach her goal."

"…

What are we talking about again, chef?"

It's not that Rena actually forgot, but it was Gin who had gone sidetracked with the latter things that he said.

"Uhhh… Man, I spoke a lot again…"

…

While they are in the midst of going through all the food, the five students stood up on a single row facing the crew. They lowered their head and all in one voice…

"Thank you very much for having us…!"

They felt the incredible sincerity on the oneness of their expression, but as astonishing the volume of their gratitude can be, one voice out of the five was not heard.

Gin with a very subtle smile wondered what face Jean is making right now under his bow.

~ ~ ~

The restaurant resumed its operation shortly after the vicinity was emptied. The students parted ways in the restaurant, as Yamada and Katae went back to school, Rin and Jean remained to help out with work, while Rena decided to go home to take care of Yoru along with her mother-in-law. Simply said, she didn't attend half of the school as frankly, not many teachers have the time to teach while other students are still on their work training.

"I really thought that you would go ham in the kitchen right this time," Yuna started upon Rin's entry to the office.

"Have you ever seen me move around in a fast-paced environment with a knee-length skirt, Sis?"

"…

But let's have a real talk, Ringo. Now that you have finished your work training, what are you planning to do next?"

"Sis, I'm already doing the best I can," she confidently smiled as she occupied a desk beside her sister.

"Really… I can already feel Gin's influence from you."

"Shouldn't that be Ginfluence?"

"…

I take that back."

The work processed on the restaurant as usual, and so the time hits five in the afternoon.

The door of the office opened with a clear voice echoing in.

"Rin~ You should go home for the day."

"Ah, right. I guess this isn't recorded in my DTR."

"If it was, then you'd have exceed the one 100 hours."

Without notice, Gin placed his hand on Rin's head.

"Thanks for all the work, Rin. Now let's do our better best."

"Yes…!"

…

Not long after that, a familiar face entered the dining hall and sat on an empty table. It just so happened, that Gin was following up on a waiter and saw the person with a pinch of surprise.

"Alex? It's been a little while since we last saw each other, huh? How's life?"

"Already got a job last November since I'm already a graduate unofficially. Thank goodness a company accepted a former detainee."

"You kid, as always."

"I'm not going to stay for long since I'm waiting for Jean. Is he still here?"

"I think. He's about to leave from work."

"I see. I'll wait for him then."

"Sure. I'll go back now."

~ ~ ~

Jean has signed off from Giotto's as a work training student and stepped out with his school uniform for the last time.

While walking on the dimming streets, he pulled his phone and signed his brother that he will make a call.

"Hello, Ai?"

"Hi, Jin. How's your WT?"

"It just ended. My only worry now will be graduating."

"Fufu, I see, congratulations. Why did you call anyway?"

"I just want to tell you that… we might not be able to meet usually from now on."

"…"

"But I'm pretty sure that you already know what I mean by that, right?"

"Yes," somehow Ai's tone changed. "But I'm glad that you have finally made your decision, Jin. I will support you."

"Thank you, Ai."

"That's Ai-san, right? Hello, Ai-san!"

"Oh, Alex-nii."

"Hey, Ai-san. I'm quite sure that my younger brother will be an amazing guy for the years to come. Can you still wait for this guy even after all that?"

"Yes, Alex-nii. I believe that I'll still like him by then."

"Hahahaha. Quite the assertive one, are you?"

"Man, don't mind how nosy my brother is. But I really can't promise what he said just now, alright?"

"Still, I wish you success."

"Hahaha… Thanks again, Ai."

"You're welcome!"

▪ ▪ ▪

0122; 3:30pm.

"You're quite the cheeky one, aren't you, Jean?" Hiro smirked while standing in front of him with his arms crossed.

"I have always known that every Wednesday is Gin's day off. And I know how much he loves his family. That's just how he is now.

But he's forgetful sometimes, so I want to see how he'll react when he finally sees me here, boss."

"Ahahahahaha… You're really making history for my restaurant as the only person who didn't have to go through the application trial to get in this place."

"It's been two years or so, but I think I finally understand why Gin said that this guy can potentially go beyond Sean and I. (Normal in Parenthesis, chapter 27)

I'll be looking forward to the future of the business I started, then."

"Well, I guess that's enough dilly-dallying for you. I officially welcome you to Giotto's as a regular member of our team! Now get inside and start your debut!"

"Sì…!"

"I said we don't use that anymore!"

Chapter Message:

Something has probably gone wrong in me somewhere for me to consistently die laughing every time I see a perfectly cut scream clip.

Thank you for reading!

Next

085: In the middle of the entrance exam, someone said: "Let her cook."