Sweet Heart Of A Shy Boy;;Food Wars

Chapter 1

✿Sairento P.O.V✿

Amid a dreary afternoon, rain poured relentlessly from the heavens, drenching everything in its path. I found myself sprawled on the cold, unforgiving pavement, a desolate figure shrouded in abandonment. 

Loneliness was my constant companion, a relentless shadow that had trailed me since as far back as my memory stretched. An orphanage, the closest semblance of home I'd ever known, had unceremoniously cast me aside, citing an excuse as feeble as "lack of space for adoptable children".

For an entire month, I roamed the streets, a wretched soul surviving on scraps scavenged from refuse bins, evading the clutches of menacing thugs. Yet, in that moment, the precarious equilibrium of my existence faltered, and I sensed that my time on this unforgiving earth was drawing to a close. 

As raindrops mingled with my tears, the bitter realization washed over me: I had never known joy or the embrace of love.

In my final, desperate moments, a miracle materialized before me—an outstretched hand, an unexpected lifeline. My gaze was drawn to a man with hair the colour of chestnuts and eyes a deep, molten gold. His smile, gentle and compassionate, defied the harshness of the world.

 "Do you need help, boy?" he inquired, his voice a beacon of warmth in the surrounding chill. Overwhelmed by an inexplicable sense of security, I grasped his hand weakly, surrendering to the soothing embrace of oblivion.

Suddenly, I found myself adrift in darkness, a realm of profound solitude. Confusion gripped me as voices called out, pulling me from the depths of slumber. 

"-Rento, wake up" a voice urged, its tone familiar yet distant.

 "Sairento, wake up" another voice echoed, tugging at the threads of my consciousness.

"Sairento Sora, wake up!" A cry pierced the void, jolting me awake. I tumbled from the chair where I had unknowingly succumbed to sleep. My surroundings gradually came into focus, revealing the ordinary yet comforting interior of my family's small cafe. It was then that I noticed Yukihira Soma, my childhood friend, his eyes etched with concern.

"Sai, how many times must I remind you not to doze off behind the counter?" Soma's words carried both exasperation and affection. "Dad tried calling you multiple times, and when you didn't answer, I figured you'd fallen asleep. I rushed over as soon as I could to wake you up".

I sighed in response, the remnants of the dream still lingering in my mind, a stark contrast to the reality that now surrounded me. Little did I know that this encounter with a stranger, even if only in my dreams, would come to symbolize the flicker of hope in my otherwise desolate existence.

With a heavy heart, I met Soma's worried gaze, my voice barely above a whisper as I apologized, "Soma... sorry for worrying you. Jou-san called... because it's Thursday, right? Let me close the shop, and then... we will go together". Soma nodded understandingly, his usual infectious smile returning. "Here, let me give you a hand; it's much quicker this way. Everyone else is waiting for you" he said, his words infused with a reassuring warmth that made me smile despite my weariness. 

Together, we swiftly closed the shop, ensuring to gather the remaining pieces of cake I had prepared that day. After locking the front doors, we made our way toward the bustling shopping district.

"How was your day, Soma?" I inquired, attempting to lift the mood as we strolled side by side. Soma's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "It was good, and today I made a new dish—squid tentacles with peanut butter. Anyway, today's judge is gonna be Mayu, okay?" He grinned mischievously, and I couldn't help but sweatdrop at his audacious culinary experiments.