in two seconds

02.

rated t, erina is beautiful and souma finally takes notice.


Erina is a sight to behold.

He's known this for as long as he's known her and really, it hasn't been that long, but the sentiment is still the same. The thought a sound fact at this point, considering he knows he's not the only one thinking it, he's heard Suzuki sensei say just as much. The cocky bastard was probably traipsing up and down the halls trying to spare a glance, but Souma keeps his bearings and smiles because the coast is clear and for this small silver of a moment – only he sees her, and something has him feeling the ebbing pricks of satisfaction at the thought.

Of course, it's short-lived because he knows, deeply, that he's sailing on coat-tails of an afterthought because he's known her this long and it's just hitting him. It's a bashful thought but it works its way into the forefront of his mind; becoming like the rest. Maybe Suzuki sensei was getting into his head – filling his mind with pitiful games, crafty teasers to distract him? But he knows, that's not the case. He's known her for this long and as unfortunately dim-witted he could be, finally coming to notice what was before him was a revelation that astounds him to his core. He knows this and yet, he allows his mind to run away with it anyways.

In two seconds, nearly two seconds, the thought barrels into him and he's left winded and shocked and completely enthralled that he's stuck in place.

Because everyone knows this, he's not completely ignorant, but always one in the same – a combined effort because everyone knew this and yet, Souma finds himself dumbstruck for thinking the same, after the year they've had, because – he was Souma Yukihira and he had so many, more important things to dwell on than the idea of beauty and its perspective in the eyes of its beholder.

But, here he is: thinking that sound fact all the same because, well perhaps, maybe, just because -

Erina is a sight to behold.

And it was true, no matter how many times he's tried to shake the thought in the last minute he's left standing in the corridor; tin-can poise at his lips and golden eyes widen, drinking her in. The moonlight shining in the slightest, a sliver of light dances across her features; basking her and her alone in white. Of fair skin and blonde and hidden amethyst he knows would sparkle just as bright as her volatile personality.

She's a sight left to stun. A marvel to the world and he knows he's intruding on her peace – the quiet burdens him and he's itching to speak his thoughts, but he also knows: the moment lips part and his voice breaks her trance; it'll be over. The magic spell she has on his eyes will dwindle and the moonlight dancing on downcast eyes, blonde hair and a humbled expression will be no longer.

He'll have broken the spell and some part of him doesn't want it to end, at least- not yet.

So, he gives himself the two seconds. Any longer and he thinks she'll notice.

No, a second longer, left lingering, wondering, staring, and he knows she'll notice. That's just how he's come to know her. Nothing gets past her, she was, after all, Erina Nakiri.

In those two seconds, his eyes convey every emotion he doesn't quite know of yet. Of feelings that don't make much sense, of ideas his own body is surprised have sprung in the matter of minutes of vague wonderment. He's known her for this – not that – long and only now, do these feelings spring on him and he's confused, more-so than the usual. Two seconds are all he gives himself because he isn't sure he deserves much more than the two. Golden stalking the height of blonde and beauty and a whirlwind of unknown flutters within him that have him dizzy and tongue-tied and downright, confused.

He doesn't know what to make of these feelings but just like they come, they go – in those two seconds because any longer, he knows she'll catch on.

Any longer and perhaps, a little part of him is surprised to be hoping, the second she catches on: he'll want her to.


A little something to celebrate the beautiful moment we got in Chapter 278!