For as long as Erina was alive she knew her life was bound to the responsibilities of the Nakiri family. Even at the tender age of 6.

She spent most of her time and days tasting dishes from renowned chefs from all over the world. All they sought was recognition from the God's Tongue itself, nothing more, nothing less. This is what Erina hated about her life.

God's Tongue this, God's Tongue that. Her life was all about her special gift. That was all that seemed to be within her to most people, except for her close family, such as her grandfather and Alice.

"Erina, stand tall! We have a special guest and friend of mine visiting today." her grandfather teased, knowing she didn't like to be ordered around.

Erina grew a small pout on her face, small enough that her grandfather couldn't notice. Pouts were for the weak!

"Does this friend of yours just want me to taste their dishes?"

"No, no. I get to taste the guest's dish this time. It's been a long time since I was able to talk to this man. He doesn't need recognition from the God's Tongue anyway!" Erina's grandfather laughed cheerfully, having to cough after too much of it.

"Someone who doesn't need me to approve of their cooking?" Erina thought.

It was a strange feeling knowing that there was actually someone who had come to visit, not with the intention of having Erina taste their food. She was happy about it but also intrigued by this man as well.

She and her grandfather made their way to the front entrance of the Nakiri Mansion. Upon arrival, a certain man and young boy stepped out of a limousine.

The young boy stepped out of the car first. He got out and stood casually in front of the car as his father got out.

Erina meanwhile was analysing every bit of him. Red hair. Scar on left eyebrow. Golden eyes. Cheeky smirk. He looked like your average joe. Meanwhile as his father stepped out of the car, he looked charming and handsome.

"Yo! Senzaemon! Long time no see!" the man said laughingly.

"Indeed it has been a while… Joichiro."

"You don't mind that I brought my son with me? I thought I could introduce him to your granddaughter. After all they are the same age and I would rather my son socialise with his family friends instead of wasting time."

"Not at all. I hope they both get along well."

And with that both men shared a laugh.

The adults began to chatter as they entered the mansion. Erina and the boy had their eyes locked onto each other the whole time as they traversed the immensely large house, aiming to reach the garden.

"You're pretty." the boy thought.

Or so he had thought.

Young Erina immediately broke sight of him, too embarrassed to look at him, but to also hide her blushing face.

The boy cursed himself for thinking out aloud. He averted his eyes from her as well, a small blush added as well.

They arrived at the garden where Senzaemon and Joichiro sat down to continue their friendly chat. Talking about Joichiro's trip around the world and learning new cuisine.

"You two can hurry along. Make sure not to hurt yourselves or get into trouble." Joichiro said with his son's trademark cheeky grin.

"I-I don't hurt myself! OR get into trouble!" Erina almost shouted.

She covered her mouth and furiously blushed at what she just did.

Everyone else however had a good laugh from it, including her new "friend". She shot him a deadly gaze but blushed even more than she had before when he just smiled at her.

Erina ran away from all the embarrassment.

"Go on son, make sure she's alright." Senzaemon ordered him nicely.

"Roger that." the boy said as he took off.

He searched high and low for the missing girl. This massive garden wasn't making it any easier as well.

"Oh man. I thought this huge mansion was gonna be tons of fun but I'm stuck here searching for this girl. Why did she run away in the first place?" he thought, but as usual his thick-headedness couldn't tell why Erina ran away.

Just before he was about to give up he could heart faint pants coming from somewhere. He traced the noise using his young ears back to a tree he had already went past. He found the girl there.

*Pant* *Pant* Pant*. Erina thought she was safely hidden behind her favourite oak tree. It was large, brown and very grown up looking, as if it was the king of trees. She was plopped in the middle of it, due to the inside naturally growing to be hollow from the bottom. This was her little hidey hole from everything in her life.

"Yo!" the boy said energetically and quite loud, making his way into the little hole to sit beside the girl. "Scooch over would ya."

"W-What are you doing!?" the girl said with horrified expression on her face.

How could this boy act so casually around a person of such prestige as Erina? It was unheard of!

"Woah! This tree is pretty cool. I can understand why you like sitting here."

"I-I never said anything about liking this spot in particular!" even though she did love her little tree spot.

"Why did you run off like that, before? I thought you wanted to play a bit." the boy asked

"None of your business! I don't want to play anyway! You can do that by yourself!"

She was showing no signs of complying with the boy's offer, so it was up to him to force her into it.

"Tag, you're it!" he said as he lightly tapped her on the shoulder, bolting out of the tree.

"I said I'm not playing!"

"That, or you're afraid you can't beat me!" he retorted rudely, but meant no harm.

That was it. This was the last straw. NO ONE BEATS NAKIRI ERINA AT ANYTHING. NO ONE.

Erina bolted out of the tree as well, as fast as a hyena, but she was nothing against the lightning-eyed speed demon.

They chased each other around all day. Switching between garden and mansion. Sometimes stumbling into those rooms that the young ones were not allowed in. Sometimes using the maids as pillars to hide around. Leaving everything behind in ruins.

"Lady Erina-sama!" the maids would say in surprise when the lightning fast duo would whip past them.

They finally came to a halt when Erina could keep up no more. She fell to her knees, exhausted from their marathon.

"So… *pant*… I thought you… *pant*… said you could… *pant*… beat me?

Erina eyed him furiously. She was flustered to the point her cheeks hurt from all her blushing. She couldn't help but smile though. This was the first time ever that she interacted with someone else like that.

She could feel her heart racing from the excitement. But some of it was also out of a liking she had now conjured for the boy, though she didn't know it.

She walked up closer to him slowly. He looked surprised for a bit… "what's she gonna do?" he thought… when she karate chopped him on his head.

It was a weak chop that definitely did not hurt the boy in any way, and it was pretty obvious, so the girl just grew an even more flustered-looking face and blushed harder than before it this awkward turn of events. She then shouted;

"Tag, you're it!" before racing away.

The boy took a second to process what had just happened but nonetheless came to his senses and took on his trademark cheeky grin.

"I'm coming for you!" he laughed.

Erina could only reply in a giggle that she had rarely, if not ever, shared with anyone.

They ran and ran as fast as they could once again, running out of the front entrance of the house, and being greeted by something unpleasant.

"Oh, so you're both here." Senzaemon greeted them.

"Well, it's time to go home. I'm making your favourite for tonight!" Joichiro said with a smile.

Erina and the boy looked at each other ill-faced. They both grew frowns on their face, Erina a bit shy to show hers, but nonetheless they began to say their goodbyes.

"I guess I have to go now." the boy said.

"Yeah." the girl replied"

"I-I had a lot of fun though." the girl added on in almost a whisper.

The boy heard and smiled to that.

"I don't know if we can seen each other again" he said, his smile vanishing.

"T-Then y-you need to write to me! Write many, many letters! Please!" she stuttered out nervously.

"Alright then!" he replied.

The boy quickly hugged her in a warm embrace. Erina felt her face get hot from the turn of events. It was very pleasant for her though. The boy's warmth blended with hers and gave her a feeling of comfort, something she wasn't use to. But he let go before she could savour the moment.

"Cya!" he shouted back as he had already made it back to the limousine to escort him home.

"W-wait! What's your name!?" Erina asked desperately, wanting to bang her head onto something for not asking before.

The boy stuck his head out of the car window and said "I'll let you know when I send you a letter!" he shouted out as the limousine had already started driving. "You tell me your name when you reply to my letter!" he added on.

Erina watched as her newfound friend drove away into the distance, until he became nothing but a speck. At that moment she felt a dreadful feeling in her heart, knowing they won't meet again for some time, but it was overcome with the fact that he would send her a letter some time soon.

She grabbed onto her grandfather's arm, out of embarrassment from herself, and he noticed the blush on her face. He grinned at the sight of his displeased granddaughter, though he knew once they were old enough they would be meeting once again. At a certain culinary school.

*1 month later*

Ever since Erina met that boy on that fateful day, she was checking her letterbox every day for any letters, but none were to be found.

She began to think that the boy she shared a great time with had forgotten all about her. It broke her heart at the thought of it and brought her to the brink of tears. Until one day she did receive a letter.

It read: To my friend on it.

Erina hastily ripped open the packaging of the letter and read its content inside. The wait was well worth it.

"Hi, I'm Yukihira Souma. What's your name, friend?"

Erina basked in the warmth that word gave her, taking a minute to stop the tears rolling down her cheeks. Friend huh? That sounded very nice indee


Hey, author here. Hope you enjoyed my first shot at a Shokugeki no Soma fic. I don't know when I'll update but I'll try to hopefully. Cheers for stopping by!