A sigh of relief arises form the country girl as she pulls out the wrinkled tomatoes from the oven. Her eyes grow soft and with a smile she begins prepping the meat.

After finally coming back home from the friendship and rapport trip, Megumi had gained so much confidence that she felt happy when cooking , even in her natural, non-stressful, and non-class setting.

She decided to make the rainbow terrine for her friends to show much she had grown. But secretly, she was doing this for herself too; this recipe was somewhat of a reminder to not be afraid of what others think, even if they own high class restaurants. Despite this resolution she found herself mainly thinking about a red-haired boy.

" Megumi focus!" she said to herself, reaching for the skillet.

To clear her mind she thinks about her other dorm mates while cooking. 'Ryoko-chan is elegant and kind. Yuki-chan is energetic and outgoing. They'll like the rainbow-like arrangement. Marui-kun needs to eat more meat! I should add more chicken liver for his dish. Ah! I'm using Isshiki-san's vegetables. I have to thank him later. Ibusaki-san is always so quiet. I wonder how'll react. I hope Soma likes it too.'

A flush color appears on her cheeks and she bites her lip. She felt angry at herself. 'This is for my friends; not only Soma-kun' she thought. It was natural to think about Soma, he had helped her with this dish but Megumi thought this was wrong. To her, these thoughts were inappropriate; they would contaminate the food and make it taste different. Her message, her strength, her change ; they wouldn't feel that if her thoughts were preoccupied with Soma.

She sighs and takes a bite of the terrine. Thoughts of Soma flooded her mind. For a while his horrible food, his brazen speech he said in the beginning, his stubbornness, and his warm hands sends her into a euphoric daydream. 'Hehehe , I can't give this to them' she thinks.

On her second bite she realizes that it tastes different. She felt the one she made with Soma was better. He had made no mistakes in that shokugeki while in polar star's kitchen, she had cooked it a little longer and thus, the meat was not as tender.

On her third bite she makes a sad smile and wishes she was stronger. She resolves to cook the second batch better and without contaminating it with thoughts of Soma but in the meantime; she'll enjoy these thoughts the terrine gives her secretly.