OMAKE: Souma Looks for Advice
"Are you seriously asking me how to say 'I like you' through spices?" Hayama says.
Well when he says it so bluntly like that, it makes Souma feel a little foolish for asking.
"Don't act like you wouldn't be overjoyed to get a bouquet of cinnamon sticks," Souma retorts. "And anyway, Tadokoro's a chef, right? So I figured… she'd probably like that better than flowers."
Hayama says nothing, just stops in the middle of grinding spices to pinch the bridge of his nose, as if warding off a headache.
"It's simple," Kurokiba cuts in. "She carved the hell out of that monkfish at the Autumn Election, right? So carve a bigger fish. That would impress her."
That actually sounds like a pretty good idea to Souma. He looks over at Hayama for his opinion and finds that the other boy has walked out of the room entirely.
"What do you want, Yukihira?" Erina demands.
Souma sees no point in beating around the bush. "Nakiri, I need help telling a girl I like her."
Erina flushes red, stammers, "A-And why on earth are you telling me?"
"Because I like a girl at my dorm and I can't ask anyone there for help because they might tell her and I already tried asking Hayama and Kurokiba for advice but they weren't any help either and I'm getting desperate here!"
He didn't mean to unload quite that much, but it's been a long day.
"Besides," he continues, "you've probably had to deal with confessions before since you're like, the most popular person at Tootsuki. And you read those shoujo mangas, right? You must know something."
Erina crosses her arms, reluctant.
"Nakiri, I will beg on your doorstep right now and I don't think either of us want to make that kind of scene."
Erina makes a frustrated sigh. "Oh fine, get in here."
She opens her door wider for Souma and he makes a little fist pump in victory before stepping inside.
"So," she says, "a confession?" Her eyes light up. "There was a confession in volume twelve."
Souma waits patiently while Erina flips through her mangas, marking every pertinent page and scene. It kind of takes a lot more time than he expects, but he appreciates Erina's thoroughness.
He knows confessing to Megumi is worth every bit of research and practice.
