Fire and Ice

Winter Solstice

"Oh, these napkins... we don't use this kind anymore.." Tsuki bent down as she was rummaging old boxes in the morning.

"I could have hired people to do this work for you Kii-chan." Erina stood at the counter of Yukihira's before turning to her friend.

"No, I should do it." Tsuki shook her head. "It'll be easier for Soma and Papa to go through things if they come back to open the place."

"...What're gonna do after closing up Yukihira's?" Erina asked.

"Well... I'm gonna start thinking about that now. I'm not so sure myself." Tsuki laughed. "I applied to be Dojima-san's assistant so we'll see if I can considered."

"You should take it easy for a while. Get some rest. Go travel too!" Erina pouted. "You could teach some classes at Totsuki if you don't get accepted, you know or even be my assistant!"

"I feel like Hishoko-chan would get jealous if I did." Tsuki chuckled. "Teaching... on the other hand..." Tsuki looked up to the window. "Sounds fun."

"You look exhausted, Kii-chan." Erina looked at Tsuki's face as she was kneeling down in the back room, getting things set up. "I'll go get you some water."

"I no longer have any plans going forward." Tsuki thought. "It'll be hard to get a career outside of cooking since I don't have the necessary qualifications at my age... so I might have to cook again."

"But... right now, I don't know if I want to cook. I've spent nearly all my life following people's dreams, claiming them as mine... from Mama's, to even Azami's. I want... a smaller life... where I don't have to meet many people."

"I want to be a person that people pass through in their life... instead of lingering for long. Someone that doesn't attract much attention."

"Oh!" Erina's voice could be heard at the top as Tsuki started heading towards the front house to see what surprised Erina.

"Tsukasa-senpai!" Erina spoke rather loudly for Tsuki to stop in her tracks.

"Oh... hello." Tsukasa's voice could be heard as Tsuki ducked out of view.

"Tsukasa-san, is this someone you know?" a female voice could be heard.

"Oh, yes. A little bit." Tsukasa answered. "Um..." Tsukasa glanced around Yukihira's.

"Is... Tsuki not here?" 

"She's..." Erina peeked over to Tsuki's direction, seeing her childhood's head shaking her head frantically. "...actually not here. She left. I'm helping Soma clean up Yukihira's after he gave me a call." Erina faked a smile.

"Would you like to order something?" Tsukasa could barely hear Erina's voice.

"I'll have a hot tea." the girl answered. "Tsukasa-san? Your order." the girl tugged on Tsukasa's sleeve.

"Oh. I..." Tsukasa broke out of his trance.

"Eishi doesn't like sweet things, so he'll order something bitter."

"Tsukasa-san! Can you get a yogurt smoothie? I want a sip!" the girl smiled.

"Okay." Tsukasa nodded.

"I'm not sure I'm supposed to be doing this but I'll go get them ready. One plain yogurt smoothie?" Erina asked.

"Yes." the girl nodded.

"I'll let you know once I figure stuff out around here. Were you going to stay here?" Erina asked.

"I think we're gonna leave soon." Tsukasa answered awkwardly.

"Alright."

While the two took a seat at one of the tables, Erina ran towards Tsuki and sighed. "Are you going to stay there forever?" Erina asked.