Author's Note: Sorry... I may have written the whole Autumn Elections idea much longer than it should be so I chopped it into four parts.


The Promised Dish

As Megumi took a spoonful of the dish, her soul ressurrected from all the fatigue. It was oozing out sensational flavors in her mouth, that it made her want to fly, like that scene in Howl's Moving Castle where Howl and Sophie were walking in the air. The taste ended like a pleasant landing on a seaside at a provincial area in France.

"How is it?" Shinomiya's voice diffused her fantasy back to reality.

Megumi's consciousness transported back to the dorm's dining area where her senpai was seated on the adjacent side of the table.

"Heavenly... I love it so much! Thank you, senpai!" Megumi's smile radiated so much satisfaction that it almost blinded him.

This was the kind of reaction Shinomiya wanted from her.

"It's bouillabaisse, right..?" She had another spoonful then savored it more. "The texture... and the taste... It's something I've always wanted to achieve myself."

"There's a lot more to it than you think. Dig in." Pleased with himself, he proceeded to his own meal.

It was greedy of him to deprive her of her time with some friends tonight, but then, he could have missed this. Megumi eating with so much gusto is now one of his favorite scenes in life.

It's a little disappointing, that it probably wouldn't mean anything to her if he stayed longer. Even if he could, his time will have to juggle between her and what could be the peak of his career. There's no way he could sacrifice his years of building his restaurant, especially Shino's France. He has his own duties as a chef, as a businessman, and any other role he's taken to be this successful.

If he was just an ordinary hometown chef in Tokyo, he might have pursued Megumi to create new memories with her, but that's not the case. He doesn't have the luxury of time.

He humored himself at the thought. Megumi with an ordinary chef? What a joke.

For him, she deserves so much more.

Before his spoon overflowed with stew, a finger daintily brushed his cheek, and it was too late for his consciousness to catch that Megumi already breached his personal space.

"There were a couple of breadcrumbs..." she leaned closer examining him. "All gone now I think..."

Their eyes met. Shinomiya hasn't seen those captivating eyes up close for ages. He held her hand that was still near his face, which stopped her from returning to her seat.

"Are you alright, senpai?" A little blush painted her cheeks.

As her pink lips moved to speak, Shinomiya swallowed hoping this growing desire to touch them with his could flee, but that didn't happen. Her distance is quite dangerous for him again.

So troublesome...

Before he succumbed to trouble, they heard a ruckus from the hallways, by which Megumi disengaged and returned to her seat. In a few seconds, the Polar Star Dorm kids barged in the dining hall, followed by the rest of the Elite 10 Council members, Erina, Senzaemon, Doujima, and Fumio.

"Everyone... what are you all doing here? I thought there's a party at the mansion?" Megumi still stunned at the wave of people coming in the room. She stood up and Shinomiya followed.

"Well, Yuki saw you with Shinomiya-senpai, and we thought you two might be cooking again." Souma reasoned.

"Cooking again?" Megumi all puzzled then turned to Shinomiya.

"I told you it's not my first time here." said Shinomiya who seems to be trying to retrieve his poise.

"Yeah. One of the best lunch we've had here at the dorm was the dish you and Shinomiya-senpai made the first time." Isshiki stated.

"So we all figured, we wanted to try something like that again." continued Souma.

"Don't worry. We all have our share for this feast. We prepared a few courses at the mansion and brought them here." Alice pointed out at Kurokiba who was carrying food containers.

"Erina-sama also wanted to try your food." Hisako handed Megumi a thermos. "I also brought some tea for you Tadokoro-chan. You've been sleepy lately right? Akira-kun got some herbs from the lab and we both came up with this."

"Yeah, Megumi, we were a little worried." Yuki leered at Shinomiya.

"Did this guy hurt you, Megumi?" Ryoko stood between her and Shinomiya.

"You're a respectable chef, Shinomiya-senpai, but you're still a man." Yuki pierced at him. "When Megumi texted she'll be having dinner alone with you, it was too suspicious."

She's not completely wrong about that, but... "If you were that worried about Megumi, you should have come for her sooner, not almost three hours later." Shinomiya sneered at Yuki.

A raging electricity formed between their glares. Shinomiya wanted to poke her head, but Megumi stood between them.

"What are you two talking about?" Megumi didn't hear much but she already sensed a conflict.

"So is this what you've come up with?" Doujima approached Megumi's bowl that was now only half-full.

"Oh! Yes, but Shinomiya-senpai cooked it alone this time..." Megumi said gleefully.

"A specialty at Shino's?" Senzaemon eagerly peeked.

"Not exactly. Why don't you try for yourself, Senzaemon-san?" offered Shinomiya.

"Shinomiya-senpai used up all the ingredients so I think there's enough for a small serving for everyone..." said Megumi.

The whole room celebrated and everyone got their own bowls.


Senzaemon fully stripped, even his fundoshi came off and so Fumio-san had to quickly lend the nearest spare robe she could find. Doujima on the other hand, travelled at a breathtaking seaside with a sunset on the horizon, then plunged into the sea transforming into a legendary merman.

The crowded dining hall has been set up like an arena with one exclusive table for the judges. Shinomiya stood before them, and Megumi stayed right behind him.

Yuki hosted with a pretend-mic. "Our three main judges Erina-chan, Doujima-san, and Senzaemon-san will now share their critiques on Shinomiya-senpai's dish! Let's start with the bearer of the god tongue herself, Erina-chan!"

Erina had another spoonful before speaking. "It's good, but Shinomiya-senpai, I think you almost overboiled it for a few seconds from its optimal taste."

"Five seconds to be precise, it was almost at the threshold before the dish comes into ruin. I know." Shinomiya revealed. "Plus, maybe, another major element that's missing... It's optional, but crucial."

The Polar Star Dorm kids were at awe. Shinomiya defined the huge gap of an evaluation between a pro and an ordinary student at Totsuki.

"Oh..." Erina almost forgot that Shinomiya should be more knowledgeable about it. She has been taste-testing dishes from various restaurants, but she was infront of one who is way above and beyond all these chefs she met in the past. He has clearly set himself apart from all those chefs.

"It wasn't intentional. I... got distracted." There was a part of the recipe where the stew had to boil for two minutes, so while waiting he took a minute to check up on Megumi who was uncomfortably squirming in her sleep. Took longer for sure...

"Wow. To think you'd admit your mistake, Shinomiya. That's a huge growth on your end since I had your Chou Farci last year." Doujima taunted.

"Hmph. Don't get too cocky to think it was because of you, Doujima." Shinomiya rebutted. Then again, he did push for that unofficial shokugeki against Megumi. Doujima can take credit for that.

"This is a French dish, but by taste, it's closer to Japanese. Quite a feat you have achieved here." commended Doujima.

"There is something about this dish though..." Senzaemon tasted again.

"I think our headmistress was on point. Other than that, it's superb. Is there something wrong, Senzaemon-san?" Doujima exclaimed.

"Oh no. Even with that little critic, I think it's the best bouibaillaise I've had in my life..." Senzaemon complimented. "I feel though, as if this dish wasn't fully made by you, Shinomiya-san."

"I understand what you mean. I have tasted some of Shinomiya's dishes before. You didn't make this on your own, did you Shinomiya?" Doujima now turned to the Totsuki alumni.

Shinomiya grinned propping up his glasses remaining unaffected by their allegations.

Megumi stepped forward. "But... how can that be..? I'm sure no one else was in the kitchen, and I wasn't able to lend a hand during the preparations either." she defended.

"There is always an end to end process in creating a dish, and it starts with a recipe." explained Erina.

"That's right." Doujima nodded. "Adjustments can come along the way, but to make a dish, you have to decide on one first, and that includes the step-by-step process involved. Care to give us a background, Shinomiya?" Doujima requested.

"Glad you noticed. It's true that I was the one who cooked this, but the original recipe, was developed by none other than your current 10th seat holder, Megumi Tadokoro." Shinomiya acknowledged Megumi as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "I only refined the recipe's process in theory and finally got the chance to test it today, but the base idea was hers."

"That makes a lot more sense then." Erina commented. "Without knowing who's behind this, I can tell a top-notch chef made it. The dish itself, had two equally different signatures that blended well. It had the ambitious style of French cuisine but with the twist of using local ingredients. The dish was strong, and yet, extremely comforting... like a warm hug... something I experience from Megumi's meals."

"It had a strong impact, but it had a touch of what home is supposed to feel like, is what Erina is trying to say." Senzaemon-san added.

"Still... I don't remember sharing this recipe..." Megumi still in disbelief of the praises coming from their tasters.

"You did. Just once. You wanted me to criticize it, which I did, and then I promised I'd test it out and make some changes for you." Shinomiya smiled at her.

"My what an interesting pair." Senzaemon marveled at them.

"The Magician of Legumes and his apprentice... I hope this won't be the last time we taste a collaborative dish from both of you." said Doujima.

"This dish is brilliant, Shinomiya and Tadokoro." Senzaemon commented.

Shinomiya lightly slapped Megumi's back for her to respond.

"T-thank you, Senzaemon-san..." Megumi bowed, and then she glanced up to Shinomiya who appeared gratified.

"Cheers to this awesome dish!" Yuki raised her glass of juice, by which everyone else mimicked with their own drink.

The party resumed with food and cans of drinks being passed around, while Fumio-san offered a bottle of sake to Doujima and Senzaemon.


Shinomiya and Megumi both sat down next to each other trying to finish their meals. Megumi picked up the thermos from Hisako and Hayama, then poured some tea into Shinomiya's cup.

"Hisako said this could help me with my fatigue. I'm thinking you might need this too since you're always working late at night." She also filled her own cup.

"Yeah. I do have some work left at home." Shinomiya now sipped on the tea and it invigorated his senses.

The chaos in the dining hall muted out as Megumi stared at her senpai. Her favorite flowers in the hospital, calling her by her first name, his brash yet sincere ways of showing his concern... She and Shinomiya should at least be friends but...

...I promised I'd test it out and make some changes for you.

There was also a dessert course on his menu that's apparently inspired by her. She even had to confirm if she had her stagiaire at Shino's, because that was the only possible way he would do that, but that wasn't the case. Then there was that time...

You used to tell me everything....there were some things you can't seem to share with your friends. For that, even now, I'm here.

No high-profile chef would have the time to listen to the troubles of an ordinary teenager. Then a while ago...

You can show your thanks by taking care of yourself. I do worry.

His embrace, and that moment when their eyes locked during dinner... Perhaps the assumption for a kiss is quite farfetched. It's not possible for a famous chef to even like her that way, but what do they all mean?

"What? Something on my face again?" Shinomiya busted her stare.

"N-nothing, senpai!"

Megumi shook her head and went back to her cup of tea blushing. She pretended to sip, then continued to watch him through her peripheral vision as he now concentrated on replying to messages over his phone.

Her heart pounded again. It has been doing that too many times today. Same as earlier when she silently observed him stir on the stew infront of the stove while cooking dinner. He had that same expression at Shino's... effortless, certain, moreover refined and full of passion. She tried to figure if it was too strange to feel a sense of longing just by looking at him.

Shinomiya swiftly set aside his phone which startled her.

"So about those vegetable recipes you sent the other day, did you even try to make sense on the combination of those ingredients?" he judged.

"Oh! Uhmm..." Megumi being off-guarded took two seconds to come up with a response. "I was thinking of something different based on local ingredients. There are vegetables that seem to be more rich if they came from another region..."

They both engrossed themselves in vegetable topics, and it smoothly sailed from there. Later it somehow arrived to non-food conversations including their favorite music and movies.

Time slowed down in every laughter or petty banter they converged into. Megumi immersed herself into this dreamlike state losing count on the number of times her heart fluttered because of her senpai.


"Erinacchi, come to think of it, you didn't have much of a reaction when you tasted the bouillabaisse a while ago." said Alice who was seated beside Erina.

Erina smiled a bit. "The experience I had with this dish, felt too personal..."

"What do you mean?"

"The dish being almost overboiled was not the main issue." If anything, she was not overcritical about it since Shinomiya made it on time before the quality of the dish declined.

She couldn't give her full review, because her vision when she tasted the stew, was that of a fairytale.

In a bright-lit castle by the sea, there was a prince at a balcony overlooking at a tower where a beautiful young lady was playing the piano. The prince wanted to meet her, but having princely duties would contain him in his own room. His fascination for the young lady, inspired him to play a serenade on his guitar.

The musical piece he played was executed flawlessly, and all the nobles and servants in the castle was drawn to it, but what they didn't know, was that the music piece, was meant for a duet, something the prince was hoping he could play with the lady in the other tower. Everyday, he would briefly play that piece, as if giving a background music to the young lady, wishing they could one day play a music piece together.

Everything about the vision was warm, powerful, but a little sad.

This is the gift of the god tongue. Should a chef cook a dish with utmost precision, the god tongue will be able to have a glimpse of the chef's true feelings when it comes to cooking.

Souma once told her that his Dad's secret to cooking is to find someone whom you can cook for, for the rest of your life. This is why Saiba Jouichirou's cooking is fearless, and adventurous. He wanted to discover and offer the whole culinary world for that certain someone...

Megumi's hospitality also comes from a similar principle. Think of the person you are cooking for, and the dish itself will turn out better than expected. Too many chefs are spending time with the technicalities of a recipe that she could only taste their intentions of self-gratification, or worse, their selfishness. Megumi's cooking defies this. Her cooking style is so nurturing, some would say, it is like a mother's embrace, or one's unconditional love... which is something that is lacking these days in a lot of dishes.

In Shinomiya's case, the result of his cooking is outstanding, but his dish was also imbued with a wish. Shinomiya wanted to make this dish with someone, side by side.

...another major element that's missing... It's optional, but crucial.

It probably didn't make sense to everyone else, but what he meant was...

"He doesn't want to cook alone anymore..." she whispered in conclusion.

"Erinacchi, were you saying something?" Alice peered at her.

"Nothing... I'm thinking out loud."

Erina turned to the direction of Megumi and Shinomiya, being surrounded by the crowd, but having their own little world... one pouting and the other laughing. No one could touch them.

She began to hope and internally cheered for them more than all the couples she's been rooting for in her shoujo mangas.


Shinomiya and Megumi delightfully absorbed every moment together as they walked to the former's car.

"Are you sure you won't finish the party, senpai?" Megumi once again asked. Everyone else was still making the most out of the party.

"I can't. I have other things to do."

"Oh! Okay. Well... I thought maybe next time, we can think of more recipes together... If we did cook together in the past, I would love that to happen again if you don't mind..." Megumi proposed.

"I'm about to leave for France again soon." His eyes averted. He wasn't going to stay that long.

"I see..." Megumi's high spirits plummeted. "Will you be back soon, senpai..?"

Shinomiya couldn't answer and only stared back at her a little desolated. Time was not his friend, especially after today where spending some of it with Megumi, would make him want her more. With or without her memories, it doesn't matter anymore...

"Did I say something wrong, senpai?"

Shinomiya clenched his fist controlling himself from being impulsive. "No. It's nothing. I'll be off now."

He tried to open the car door, but his arm got abruptly pulled back. Megumi was using both her hands to clutch unto his arm almost heaving him not to get into his vehicle.

Shinomiya let go of the door's handle, and with that Megumi freed his arm. Her head lowered out of embarrassment. She wasn't doing a good job hiding her cherry blossom cheeks.

"Senpai..." she uttered in distress. "I... I just..."

Moments like these are the main culprits of his delays upon returning to France. These moments hinting on a silver lining that he doesn't need to decipher how to recultivate her feelings for him, even though he's willing.

This silly country hick... Don't make me stay...


Author's Note Again: I will bet that you had a bit of a tongue-twister every time bouillabaisse was mentioned. Kidding!

In the manga, it was portrayed that Shinomiya could play the guitar so I had to put the idea there somewhere.

Megumi x Shinomiya shippers, it's not super duper close but we're not that far from the ending either. Not a lot of SnS fans are into this ship, but for those who continue to follow this story, I wish there's a higher degree to saying thank you. Maybe I love you 3000?

Still, your private messages and reviews have been helping me so much in writing one chapter after another. I hope you can stay with me 'til the end. I'm shy mentioning your names one by one, but to summarize it...

I say thank you and I love you 3000.