Disclaimer: I do not own Shokugeki no Sōma.
Preludio
Walking the long, majestic hallway of Tōtsuki Academy with a head down isn't an unusual thing for a girl like Tadokoro Megumi. Her habit of avoiding eye-contact with students passing her by has been adhered to her skin ever since she stepped foot in this lavish cooking school. Even though the bluenette warm and traditional style of cooking is now well-known in the academy, her shy, insecure persona sure is not planning to leave anytime soon.
And with this habit of hers, her sadness often goes unnoticed- just like it is right now.
With her fingers knotting in disarray as she takes slow steps towards the classroom, her mind wanders uneasily through this morning's strange event at the Polar Star dorm, creating scenarios that's not helping her gaining her composure but makes the glisten of sorrow in her yellow eyes becomes more unbearable instead.
Megumi looks up from her seat and breathes a sigh of slight relief- at least right now, she won't be in the same room with both the redhead and the blonde.
What on earth happened back then? Why were they looking at each other as if… No- she can't develop that thought further, but the different heat between those two arch nemesis sure can't be denied, even to Megumi.
More importantly, why did the blonde run after seeing the redhead? And why did the redhead- his redhead- go after her?
She knows very well that it's wrong to refer the Yukihira man as hers when he's not even aware of her feelings… And the fact that the ethereal Nakiri obviously has more chance than she does.
The bluenette is perfectly aware of where she belongs. Compared to the Nakiri princess, her physical features are nothing to be proud of. She hasn't got a lush set of honey blonde hair or a voluptuous figure like she does. Her eyes don't shine a striking hue of the most beautiful purple color and her flawless ivory skin is beyond compare to her dull ones.
Let alone in cooking ability; Megumi would rather be swollen alive by planet earth than to even think about it.
Who is she kidding? Of course Sōma would eventually fall for her, and there's nothing she can do about it- she has missed her chance. Now she feels it: her downfall is her own self.
"Buongiorno, Tadokoro-san."
Megumi's attention diverts to the source of the Italian greet that disrupts her jumbled thoughts, and a warm pair of eyes as blue as the ocean welcome her. With the well-groomed blonde hair framing that dashing face of his, the sight has become familiar to her ever since Hokkaido. Those picturesque features of his hits her all at once even before she realizes he is sitting next to her.
"Ah," Megumi hastily wipes her wet eyes before putting on the friendliest smile she could right now, "Good morning, Aldini-kun."
"I-Is something wrong?" The older Aldini asks cautiously, "Tearing up this early can't be a good sign, isn't it?"
"Oh, n-no. I-It's nothing! Y-You don't have to worry about me, Aldini-kun."
"How many times should I tell you that Takumi is just fine?" The blonde chuckles, "And you are not a good liar, Tadokoro-san."
Silence falls over Megumi prior to Takumi's remark. Gaze collapses over her lap where her nail bed is toyed, unable to shift her attention towards those blue eyes that's eyeing her so intently- the corner of her yellow ones is clearly feeling the heat.
"It's that idiota Yukihira, isn't it?"
She twitches at his rather correct assumption. Maybe her behavior towards Sōma makes it rather obvious to the people around her- though she's kept her feelings to herself, the bluenette knows she should've done a better job hiding it.
"Tadokoro-san," Takumi calls, ignoring her idleness, "Note this: Any gentleman would be lucky to have you, and if he could, he would give you the universe. For example-"
Megumi's interest is piqued at his sudden pause. Her yellow eyes meet his blue ones for a brief moment. But that soft gaze quickly turns sideways to her confusion.
"W-What are you trying to say, Takumi-kun?"
A genuine smile appears within his sharp features before those eyes lock themselves on her once again, "You are a special girl, Tadokoro-san. And if Yukihira can't see that, it's his loss. Because you deserve much better."
And in that instant, she finds herself wordless.
The hint of redness on her cheek is the only thing that's speaking for her apart from her lips that hangs loosely like a Christmas ornament. That timid self within her is having a hard time believing the sweet nothings the half-Italian just said- she's almost certain that he's only saying that to console her.
"T-Takumi-kun, I… I am none of those things. M-Maybe you're speaking of another girl…" The bluenette denies humbly.
"I'm most certainly not." He beams, rising up from the chair, "Meet me at the second floor's kitchen lab during first break, I'll show you then. You will, won't you?"
"S-Sure, b-but if I may ask, what is it for?"
Gathering his books and pencils, he winks, "You'll see, Tadokoro-san. I hope it will cheer you up somehow."
For the first time since she stepped her feet on this class, her face twinkles in excitement- that smile that only Takumi Aldini can put up, and the gladness is drawn clearly over his face by the way he replies that pure smile of hers with his ones.
"I have to go to my class, so I'll see you then?"
"Yes, o-of course."
"Bene." He says before waving her goodbye.
Megumi can only watch his figure slowly descending away from her to the door, thinking that no boy her age has treated her with such earnestness and care.
What a good friend he is, she thought.
"T-Takumi-kun!" She shouts her name when she feels something inside her jumps a sudden urge, and to her relief, the addressed person turns his head immediately, "Thank you."
And he sweetly gleams at her.
»»-¤-««
"Oh, hello Tadokoro-san. I've been waiting for you." The older Aldini warmly greets Megumi once she politely knocks on the already opened door. "Come in, please."
To her, Takumi Aldini is a boy who's never had a day where he only looks half-good. Even right now when his Tōtsuki blazer is off and flour is practically caking him, those blue eyes and tall figure that's wrapped casually in white shirt and black apron doesn't cease to awe her yellow eyes- no wonder he has his own loyal fan club.
"Ah, T-Takumi-kun, it smells really good in here. Are you baking something?" The bluenette asks keenly, taking a seat across the counter where he's creating that magnificent sweet, milky smell that wafts throughout the room.
While cleaning up his bench, Takumi replies, "Si, and you're going to taste-test it for me. It will be ready in a moment."
"Waaah, I'm excited." Megumi glows in anticipation.
"I'm glad you are, Tadokoro-san. I've been working hard on it after a couple of trial and error, and I think this batch will turn out the way I want it to be."
"I'm sure whatever Takumi-kun bakes will taste great. I-I don't think my taste bud will be needed much."
"Don't say that, Tadokoro-san. You're the first one to taste this for a reason." The blonde reassures. "And it's nice to see you light up once again after this morning."
At his remark, Megumi's face turns sweeter than a jar of candy, "Even the scent of Aldini-kun's baked goods is enough to cheer me up."
And there's that smile of Takumi again. How can someone have a smile so proud yet so polite at the same time? Though that does pretty much sums up Takumi Aldini's demeanor. It's hard to think that he's the same person who gets flustered and angry when Yukihira Sōma is around.
Yukihira Sōma.
The name appears in her head and rainbow within her face disappears. The gloom in her yellow eyes glued downwards as her mind recalls her sorrow. She just hope the Italian in front of her doesn't-
Beep beep beep.
"Ah, it's ready!" Takumi shuts the timer off.
Then he pulls the tray out of the oven- Megumi's nostril is mesmerized with a scent of freshly baked cookies mating with luscious cream in a pool of sweetness, and she can't imagine something that would taste as amazing as the smell of whatever this is. She's definitely not ready to be blown away just yet.
Before her, is a tray of a beautifully baked tartelettes. She gulps.
These aren't the typical colorful fruity tartelettes she'd see outside a dainty cake shop's window. There are neither fancy garnishes nor those shiny exterior, but something about these plain dome-shaped tartelettes just call to her like a halo.
The cream-colored tart glows behind the glisten of light amber exterior that tints the surface evenly. With the sand brown cookie crust that cups the custard to a tee, it is as if she's really looking at a miniature of the sun.
Flooding saliva inside her mouth sure can't deny the sweet sight of it.
"Takumi-kun, these look delicious! W-What kind of tarts are these?" She asks, not hiding the excitement in her voice.
"These are Hokkaido baked cheese tart à la Takumi. I was inspired a great deal by our trip to Hokkaido, and these are the living proof. So help yourself for one, Tadokoro-san. It's best eaten warm."
"O-Okay! Itadakimasu!"
Without delaying another second, her slim fingers circle the mini tart. Megumi takes a second to admire the sight of it up close- the filling certainly looks soft and pillowy, and it drives her mind wildly wonders how glorious the texture will be inside her mouth.
A bite is taken, and her expectation has been passed- way passed.
Even the word glorious is not a strong enough word to describe this little tart. Raging inside her is a perfect marriage between a light, crispy cookie and a rich, fluffy cheese mousse. Instead of dimming in the background, the gentle milk flavor coming out from the cookie enhances the silky texture of the filling, making it tastes even more bodied without overpowering her senses.
Second bite in, other flavors are becoming more pronounced to her taste bud. There is a hint of salty, nutty taste of parmesan cheese just enough to make it interesting and fits in with the other lush flavors. But that's not only it- one other flavor slowly rises like a dolphin swimming through the surface of the sea.
Limoncello.
Instantly, the mellow yet present sharpness transports the bluenette to the Bay of Naples. The warmth of the sun sips through her skin as the rustling leaves calms all her sorrow alongside the gentle sea breeze that brushes her hair ever so gently. Underneath the lemon tree, there he is- leaning towards the trunk, looking all handsome with that blonde hair that swings effortlessly while putting on a smile that could easily swept anyone's feet.
Coming back to reality, Megumi finds herself blushing.
She isn't even aware of herself when she's wiping the dripping custard on her lips when her eyes noticed the true consistency of the filling: it's molten lava in her grasp.
"Tadokoro-san, y-you haven't said anything since the first bite… Is it any good?" Takumi chimes into the silence, a slight worry escorting his tone.
"T-Takumi-kun, this tart… it's amazing! E-Especially how you combine every flavor without having one flavor overtakes the whole dish!" Awes Megumi, still admiring the custard's runny consistency that oozes out of the tart just the right amount that she doesn't need a plate to eat it.
"Phew. Grazie, Tadokoro-san. I'm just glad that you enjoyed it." The blonde Italian sighs in relief, "You can take the rest to go if you want to. I'll just have one so I can give it to Isami later."
"Ah, that's very kind of you, b-but… I don't feel like I'm worthy of such generosity…" She turns him down weakly, averting her gaze away from his sharp blue eyes.
"Why are you saying that?"
"B-Because i-it's the best dessert I've ever had… a-and I guess I-I'm… still not sure why you asked me out of all people to b-be the taste tester. I-I'm sure your fans would b-be annoyed if they find out-"
"Hey, Tadokoro-san," He cuts her stuttering bable. She didn't even realize that he has made his way from across the counter to the seat next to her, "Why do you think I made this dessert?"
"Huh? I-I wouldn't know…"
"Because this little tart," He says, holding a piece in his hand, "Reminds me of you."
Megumi feels her heart skips a beat.
Those eyes- eyes of Takumi Aldini whose orbs are the color of Pacific Ocean, and it's looking at her, full of certainty. Her body freezes, only a barely audible, doubtful hum that escapes her lips. Mind wandering aimlessly while the question 'why me?' echoes through her cluelessness.
"You see, Tadokoro-san, when you compare this tart to those shiny, fruity ones, this one seems rather ordinary- it is often overlooked in the long list of selections. Am I right?"
Although still confused, Megumi nods anyway.
"But the truth is, it takes more than just appearance to see the strength and beauty in something. In the case of this 'ordinary' tart, it mostly lies on what's inside and how it shines through the little dome, and that's where you come in, Tadokoro-san."
"I-I still don't get it, Takumi-kun…"
"Oh, Tadokoro-san. Very modest as always." Takumi chuckles, "This tart reflects you- you're more than how you appear to be. Of course, you're kind and lovely like some of the flavor in this tart, but there is a greater strength within you that even yourself don't realize, and they're merging into this… thing so beautiful the naked eyes can't even see."
To her ears, his words sing like a symphony of dawn, rising her from the doom of the night. She's thinking about those times in class where she would recklessly knocks stuffs off her bench, or those time people would bump her when she walks and she'd be the one apologizing- things that make her think that she doesn't deserve even a spare of oxygen in this planet earth.
But then this Italian boy appears like… like an angel, telling her all the things that feels right- things that makes her chest feels light. Things that no boy ever tells her.
"You're a sunshine, Tadokoro-san- nothing can glow without you, and a special girl like you is impossible to find."
And now her body forgets how to move a muscle.
That charming smile over Takumi's face appears at the same time with the blush on both her cheeks, and it grows redder when she finds his hand slowly snakes towards hers on the counter, but despite her abnormal heartbeat and breath that got caught in her throat, Megumi doesn't back down.
In the split second, she thinks about how his hand would feel against hers- would it be soft as it looks? What would she do when their hands intertwined?
Then she comes to her senses: Friends don't do this. 'Just friends' don't make her heart race against the clock or make her cheek flashes a rosy hue when he say nice things to her face. Friends don't reach for each other's hand and look at her the way Takumi is looking at her right now.
But to her shock, the bell rang. Her thoughts tumble down with a slight feeling of disappointment when Takumi retracts his hand as it balls into a fist.
"Ah… break's over." He grunts, obviously trying to hide the dismay but fails.
"Y-Yes…" Megumi replies faintly before rising to her feet, "I-I'm sorry, I must go now… b-but thank you for the food, Takumi-kun."
"You're very welcome, Tadokoro-san." He answers friendly, following her movement. There is a brief pause before he abruptly takes a box on the counter and hands it to the bluenette, "Here, they're for you."
"Eh? T-Thank you, Takumi-kun." Megumi accepts, almost dissipatedly- she doesn't even know when he packed it.
Either way, as Megumi nervously waves goodbye and makes her way towards the exit, her mind has lost its break to limit her thoughts. Like driving a car in an empty road, it continuously goes- searching for an answer about the blonde that mumbles his ciao a few feet behind.
And the effect it does to her.
"T-Takumi-kun," She calls out, taking him by surprise, "M-Megumi is just fine."
»»-¤-««
A/N: This is specially written for you who can feel insecure at times, and you who often doubt themselves. It's normal to have those feelings lingering sometimes, but there will be someone who sees your imperfection as a part of the perfect 'you', and when you find that person, make sure you hold on to him/her. :)
I think I'm going to make this a series since I haven't found a fic that revolves around this pairing, but I'm still not sure. What do you guys think? Don't forget to R&R! I'd love to hear your thoughts :D
And as always, s/o to my homegirl MartengaPop. Can't tell you enough how much I appreciate having you as my soul sister ❤