"Phew" Soma rests as he finally finishes cleaning the living room.

"I should check on the others and Erina now that I'm done" he thinks as he walks down the hallway. When he reaches the stair railing he can see Erina... trying to use a vacuum?

"Erina what are you doing?" Soma asks startling Erina.

"W-what do you think I'm doing? O-obviously vacuuming!" Erina retorts.

"Without turning it on?" Soma says in a teasing tone already knowing Erina doesn't know how to use it. Ever since he met her Erina never did household chores.

"URUSAI YOU IDIOT!" She shouts.

"Yeah Yeah sorry. Here let me help you out" Soma walks up to the vacuum.

After teaching Erina the basics of the "Almighty Vacuum" Erina thanks him for it surprising Soma because she doesn't thank him for small things like that.

They both know their relationship is growing closer and becoming better, they might even start dat-

"NOOO YOU STUPID WRITER DON'T FINISH WHAT YOUR ABOUT TO SAY" Erina says out of nowhere.

"Yeah I agree that prediction is way to early bud" Soma adds.

Going back to the story, yes they grew closer. And Erina and Soma can't help but feel happier and they also smile more when around each other now.

Who knows what's more to come.

ZAQ - Braver

"BRATS! I TOLD YOU TO CLEAN THE BATHROOM NOT BREAK IT" Fumio shouts as she scolds Daigo and Shoji.

"We're sorry Fumio-san! We will fix it!" The two boys said as they went down to their knees and bowed.

"Alright everyone while these two idiots fix the bathroom you guys will stay overnight in a hot spring resort" Fumio informs the dorm members.

"Is it the one just a short distance away from the school? I heard Takumi talking about it one time in my Traditional Japanese Class. If I recall I think I went there as a kid" Soma says with nostalgic feel to it.

Erina suddenly barges in. "Yes, we went there as kids Soma-kun. You always splashed water everywhere like some goose trying to fly away from a lake, and you were always so annoying".

"Oi! Oi! How can you talk when you screamed the most in the onsen!" Soma retorts.

"BECAUSE YOU BARGED IN MY CHANGING ROOM YOU PERVERT!" Erina roars.

"WE WERE ONLY SEVEN! AND YOU WOULD'VE GONE IN THE BATH WITH ME ANYWAY!" Soma barked back.

"So this is what they were like as children huh?" Megumi asks while sweating.

"Yep. Pretty much how Senzaemon-dono summarized it back then" Fumio replies.

The trip to the onsen was loud when riding the vans because of the many different conversations happening.

"It's just like how we remembered it huh Erina?" Soma says in a tone expressing nostalgia.

"Yes, it does" Erina replies with a warm smile.

They enter the resort and Erina and Soma are greeted by a familiar face.

"So-chan? Eri-chan? Ryo-chan, Ali-chan and Hisa-chan as well!" The resort owner Hashimoto Emiko says in surprise.

"Emiko-san its been a while" all five say in unison.

"Emiko-san these are our friends in the dorm I stay at" Soma starts as he introduces them.

"I see welcome to the resort! Your all welcome here!" Emiko says. "Eri-chan I heard you ran away from home. I can't blame you though. Thank you So-chan for rescuing her, even though you two basically hated each other back then. I can't believe Azami would do something like that! He was a sweetheart back then..."

Soma and Erina start blushing while Alice and Hisako try not to laugh remembering what happened in the onsen many years ago.

"Alright! Im pretty sure you five remember the rules of the onsen! Let me go over them with your dorm members first. Feel free to change while I talk with them." Emiko explains.

The rules were that during the day, both men and women's baths would be open, but when it becomes night they would close and only the mixed baths would be open during that time. ;) (JK).

The group finally gets changed and they head into their designated baths.

They had a good time talking, hanging out, and just enjoying each other's company.

The rooms may have not been all fancy like something you would see from the Nakiri's but they were comfy.

Soma was in his room bored as hell as it finally became night. He just finished dinner and was in a mood to go in the onsen again even though it was time for mixed bath.

Soma strips off his clothes in the changing room and heads to the onsen. To his surprise it was empty, besides a naked Erina and Hisako resting in the bath. They then open their eyes to see a well-built Soma opening the door and they instantly start blushing.

"Erina-chan, Hisako-chan, it's been a while ever since we were like this huh?" Soma says nonchalantly as he dips down in the onsen.

"Fufufu... It really has Soma-kun" Hisako also says nonchalantly.

"HOW CAN THEY BE SO CALM ABOUT THIS? IT MADE SENSE WHEN WE WERE KIDS BUT NOW WE ARE TEENAGERS!!!" Erina says in her head.

A timer suddenly beeps as Hisako grabs it.

"Oop, Erina-sama my 30 minutes are finished I should head to bed now so I can get ready for tomorrow" Hisako says as she grabs her towel.

"Very well Hisako. Good night and don't worry about me, I want to stay here a bit longer" Erina said while still blushing.

Hisako then nods and walks out the bath into the changing room to get ready for bed. Meanwhile Soma and Erina are still in the bath naked.

Soma took a closer look and holy shit Erina has grown over the years. He blushes and then instantly averts his gaze to the rocks and vegetation next to him.

Erina takes note of this and... "P-PERVERT!" She shouts.

"What did I tell you, you always scream and are the loudest in the bath." Soma responds.

"All your fault diner boy..." Erina mutters.

"Plus, your acting like I haven't seen it before" Soma adds as he rests his body in the bath.

"I guess that's true..." Erina admits which surprised Soma becuase she doesn't usually give in the easily.

A moment of comfortable silence passes them as Erina breaks it.

"T-thank you for rescuing me... I appreciate it.." Erina mutters out loud enough for Soma to hear.

Soma then gives a warming smile as he responds "Don't worry, anything for my childhood f-friend".

Erina is surprised to hear that and she feels relief spread through her body for some reason and she feels... happy?

"You know... I'll also admit something" Soma said while adjusting his legs. Erina nods signaling him to go on.

"I really missed you when I traveled around the world and for some reason always thought of you when cooking" he says while blushing.

Erina blushes for the third time that night "I suppose I'll admit... I-I m-missed you too as well back then" Erina responds in a soft tone while also stuttering.

Soma smiles as he says "I wouldn't mind being true friends and fixing our relationship"

"I would love that Soma-kun" Erina responds.

She then comes closer to soma and leans her head on his shoulder, both of them blushing.

"I-I hope you d-don't mind.." Erina says.

"Don't worry. I like this" Soma says while pulling Erina closer into a hug "Wanna sleep in my room again tonight?" Soma asks.

Erina nods as she looks up to Soma with a smile and Soma looks back with also a warm smile.

They finish their time in the onsen and they go into Soma's room and sleep. Smelling each other's scent and cuddling.

"I could get addicted to this" they both say in their head.

nano.RIPE - Kyoko JitsuJitsu