Just Like Magnets
Author: jaymack33
Chapter 4: And the Winner is?
Summary: After Erina passes out cold from the wonderfully disgusting dish Soma made especially for her, Soma, Saiba and Hisako wait for Erina to finally wake up to declare the winner of their cooking contest. I had some fun writing this. I don't really want to say anything else, but there is a definite winner and this is the most Sorina related chapter I've written so far.
Author notes: I didn't mention this in my last chapter, but even though I gave you the hints about the disgusting food contest coming, I really tried my best to hide it for the rest of the chapter to maybe at least make you doubt I was going there, so I hope I pulled it off and hid it enough that it was at least a little bit of a surprise. Well, anyway, over the last several chapters I really have been trying to write a wishlist of things I wish had happened in the series while keeping the characters in character to the way they were presented on the show. This chapter here is the fruit of the last chapter, in how I decided to start bringing my two favorite characters closer together. Hope you like it, and if you do please let me know, and thanks for reading!
Yukihira Diner character POV's moments ago:
Erina Nakiri stared at the mockingly, annoying, smiling face of Yukihira Soma and something actually even worst than that, his food...or actually whatever that crawly thing was, he called it food, but if she didn't try it she would have to admit instead...she took one more look into his annoying golden eyes daring her! Daring Erina Nakiri, that boy! I'll...I'll show him! Without thinking or looking she grabbed the chopstick and the most vile, disgusting, most heinous thing that had ever graced her God tongue made contact!
Yukihira Soma loved teasing Nakiri, seeing her cute face as she floundered around like a fish caught on a hook, & somehow she always gets away somehow, & everytime I think I'm about to win and prove something to her she gets away! I mean she's never going to tell me my food is actually good, so...chuckle...she's going to have to eat...that instead, but there's no way she's actually going to...
Soma's mouth opened wide in shock as Nakiri Erina just grabbed the chopsticks out of his hand adding a shockwave at the light brush of her soft, gentle, fingertips along the palm of his hand before plunging his latest most evilest concoction yet between her cute pink lips! Soma still a little in shock that she just did that almost wasn't ready for her next reaction...almost...
Hisako Arato, Erina Nakiri's secretary and best friend was steaming mad! After just sampling vile, evil, nauseatingly, nasty dishes, with each of the two dishes progressively getting worst & threatening to bring up the actual good food Soma served her earlier, & Miss Erina is probably going to back out of this anyway, right? I mean, there is no way, she's definitely too stubborn to admit Soma's food is good, but if her God tongue tastes that, I mean she might, she could...die!
Ha, ha, ha, yeah, right she would never, ever...oh no she did not just...!
Joichiro Saiba was worried! Very, very worried! I didn't just come down here to lose this contest! I don't think Hisako is going to go my way, the way she freaked out after trying Soma's dish, Erina-chan is my only hope! I had so much fun seeing Soma's crestfallen face when I defeated him for his 490th loss, but...one thing that was eating me up inside was he caught up to me for the tie in our disgusting food eating contest! I had kept the lead for so long, and than he went and just tied it up, but if Erina-chan doesn't even try it or her choice doesn't come my way than the tie-breaker would be for Soma, but only if she...she...she's actually doing it!
Erina Nakiri tasted a piece of the vile disgusting squid, it had the taste, of licorice, and peanut butter...and...and...ketchup?...mustard*******, and mayonnaise, and something even worst than that, goo? What the hell is goo? And Erina felt like all 4 walls were closing in on her, the room was getting hot, she was sweating and she saw 4 Yukihira Soma's...Four! His mocking face and tentacles now wrapping around her squeezing her tightly, so tightly! His stupid toothy grin was just begging her to say the words inches from coming out of her lips as the room, swam away and her knees went out from under her everything went black with her azure eyes rolling back in her head as she started hurtling rapidly to the floor!
Back to the action:
Soma was in shock she actually just did that, and than his heart skipped a beat with a rare emotion even for Yukihira Soma...fear! As he saw the pretty blond princess hurtling to the floor, his instincts took over as he vaulted over the kitchen counter full of adrenaline...Erina Nakiri was about to hit the ground hard at any moment when Soma caught her going in a roll along his back, while cradling her head to make sure she didn't get it bumped! He was breathing heavily with adrenaline slowly, calming down and than he noticed something, he had never quite realized before...
Hisako had cried out in fear for Erina-sama and Joichiro was about to run over to help but then they noticed it too...
Soma slowly eased himself up while cradling Erina in his arms he had never realized how gentle and peaceful she was before, at least when she isn't busy yelling at me all the time! She actually looks so...so...
"Soma!" "Soma!" Hisako's voice broke Soma out of his spell! "Let me check her, and see if she's alright!" Hisako checked Erina's pulse along her wrist, and it was good her breathing, was steady! "She fainted, I guess, can you bring her somewhere we can lay her down and I'll bring some smelling salts from my bag, Soma?"
"Uh, uh, OK, I know where she can rest up and than she can tell my dad the unfortunate news later," he whispered the snide remark under his breath as he slowly climbed the stairs with Nakiri gently cradled in his arms. He absentmindedly carried her very carefully like she was the most precious cargo in the world, without even thinking about it!
Saiba fumed at Soma's snide remark: "She hasn't called it yet, you don't get the win until she calls, it Soma!"
Hisako with her medical bag in hand following them both from the rear, "God, you two are like children, Erina-sama just passed out cold and your worried about the stupidest thing I have ever heard of in my entire life...God you two are impossible!"
Soma completely ignored her: "I beat you now, or I beat you later dad, I can wait..." He teased him even further!
Saiba ignoring a screeching Hisako in the background as well: "How, do you know she wasn't weakened by my horrible dish, you don't know, until the God tongue has spoken, so don't even try to spin it like you definitely won just yet!" "Hisako hasn't even officially confirmed you won either, is that not right, Hisako?"
Saiba asked Hisako, ignoring the angry faced red haired girl yelling back at him, her mouth was moving but neither of them was hearing any of it!
Not hearing what he wanted to hear from Hisako, Soma turned back around to Saiba after gently lowering Erina into a very familiar bed that hadn't been used in quite a while, flashing him a confident knowing smirk!
"Oh, come on dad, you heard the way Hisako reacted to my dish, it was so much louder than to your dish!" "And Nakiri got laid out by it, my dish was so much more heinous than yours it brought the God tongue to her knees!"
"I didn't hear, anything, Soma, until the victory is called we are still tied, hahahaha," he laughed while nervously thinking how much harder he was going to have to work to make something worst than Soma's dish.
Hisako was infuriated at the two of them, but as infuriating as Soma, was, his father! He was supposed to be the adult in the room! "Grrrrrrr...the both of you couldn't you tell while you were both being selfish, that Saiba's dish was way better than Soma's by leaps and bounds!"
Soma's heart was crestfallen his face was sad, after how much I worked to make my dish worst than my father's and she still picked his anyway?
"Yes, I knew it!" "I won, she picked my dish!" "She said it was better than yours, hahaha, Soma!"
Soma just groaned turning away from his gloating face, just trying to zone out his annoying dad, he stared toward something else, or rather someone else! Her closed lashes, her gentle soft lips, her rosy cheeks, the cute way her blond curls went around and under her ears, practically defying gravity...he was about to sigh for some reason when the sound of Erina waking up, coughing from the smelling salts Hisako wafted under her nose, broke him out of his reverie.
Erina felt so warm, so safe, like she was floating gently in the sea! She felt like there was something she was forgetting, or rather someone and than she gasped at a familiar smell wafting under her nose.."Cough...cough...cough!"
"Wha...what happened?" Her eyes focused up to Hisako's soft eyes, with a cheery smile!
"Erina-sama your awake, I was worried about you, they..." She looked at Saiba and was about to dismiss Soma, but he actually looked like he cared too..."uhhh...we were worried about you!"
Erina, gasped her cheeks turning pink from the embarrassment! "I fainted in front of him!" She practically was going for putting the covers over her head to hide from embarrassment, but stopped herself thinking what Soma would think of her than as her memory slowly came back as to how she got here in the first place,
"YOU!" "YOU!" "YUKIHIRA SOMA!"
There she is, Soma thought to himself, that's my girl! He blushed and smiled slightly at that thought, wondering where the hell it came from!
"YUKIHIRA SOMA!" "How, dare you!" "How dare you!" "Even making bad dishes, you still couldn't even beat your dad, so you poisoned me instead, well I have news for you Soma, he won again!" "His dish was better than yours, hmmmmphhhh!" "What do you have to say for yourself, now Yukihira-kun...hmmmmmmmm?"
There was, something in Nakiri Erina's words though... "Wait, a second, both of you think my father's dish was better than mine?"
Saiba Joichiro tried to cut his son off. "Just stop right there Soma, they have decided, I am retaking the lead again and..."
But Soma refused to be denied until he was completely sure. "So, wait just a second the both of you thought, my dad's dish was actually worst than mine?"
"God, no of course not!" Hisako, said annoyed at Soma's renewed line of questioning. "At least with Saiba's dish I didn't feel like I was dying and you almost killed Erina-sama if you hadn't saved Errrr..." She held back looking at Erina-sama wondering what she would say if she knew, how close she was to Soma while she was passed out and the way he wrapped her in his arms so protectively, what would she think about that...to be honest I'm not even sure anymore!
Erina was about to yell out her fury too, but something Hisako said worried her, something I should know.
"Wait, you just said, my dish was worst than my fathers, Nakiri, my dish was worst, it was more disgusting than my father right?" Soma's smile started growing as he took a peek at his crestfallen dad slowly realizing those two girls did not actually realize what the criteria for this contest actually was it was actually which dish was the worst & was the most...
"Disgusting!" "Soma!" "That was the worst thing I have ever eaten in my entire life and you are the absolute worst too!" "I hate you!" "How could you...wait, what are you doing...?"
Soma started leaping in the air!
"I won!" "Oh, my God...oh my God, I won!"
"Yukihira Soma 246 and Joichiro 245..." He let it linger for it to sink in!
"I finally beat you dad!" "I finally have fully taken the lead!"
"Thank you so much Hisako!" He waved a big smile at her clueless face at what the fricking hell in this crazy Yukihira family tree was going on?
And than Soma stared at Nakiri giving her his biggest brightest smile yet as he came towards her in a tight embrace caught up with the emotion...
"Thank you Nakiri, thank you so much!" "I finally won and took the lead back, thanks to you!" "Thank you so...much Nakiri!"
Erina was stunned, she had just blasted Soma's dish with the worst disapproval she had ever given anything she had ever eaten in her entire life and Soma just started laughing and jumping up and down like he won something and than...why is he smiling, like that at me and what is he...doing...now? She saw Soma getting closer and closer towards her his smile towards her his determined, but joyous eyes looking only towards her was...very...very...very...unsettling...?
Erina felt Soma embracing her tightly his warm arms putting her in a slightly familiar embrace as he kept thanking her over and over again!
"Thank you so much Nakiri, for picking my dish!" "I'm so glad you came!"
Soma held her tightly her cheeks turning pink into a bright flaming red, but than slightly pink again for a moment just a moment as she got lost into the warmth of his embrace as her soft fingers slightly started embracing Soma back almost like they had a mind of their own.
Erina was in shock, why is he...what is he...she felt Soma's warm breath against her neck, his cheek pressed against her own, her heart started beating faster for a second, but than as he kept thanking her over and over again, why do I feel so warm...and so safe?
Soma felt so happy as he held Erina tightly his hands gently cradling her head this time not out of concern that she was hurt but, this emotion felt different!
Erina forgot where she was and that anyone was there but her and Soma as she lost herself in his embrace.
Joichiro was sad for a second at the loss, knowing he would have to work even harder much later to get back at his son, and than he noticed it again, the same way his son had been looking at Erina-chan and now the way they were both holding each other...I'm not even sure he realizes this yet, or does he?
Hisako had been in WTF mode for a while in total shock at the mental gymnastics of what was going on as Soma jumped up and down like he just won the World Series for losing a food war by making the worst dish in the history of worst dishes! Are these two actually saying he won?
And ohhhh...wowww! She was shocked as Soma was actually hugging Erina-sama and the slap, punch, and exploding fit she was waiting for actually wasn't coming...I...I...think she's hugging him too? What in the Bizzarro world is going on in this bonkers Diner?
Soma and Erina embraced each other tightly oblivious of everything, forgetting about everything else and everyone...all they felt was each other...it was only for a minute or two but for everyone there it felt like forever...
Hisako just stared and her thoughts were all loud and in total shock at what she was seeing right before her eyes! I mean come on she still hasn't punched or yelled at him yet! This is bonkers! Hisako just stared open mouthed gawking at those two...I mean I know she doesn't hate him anymore but that looks at lot more like...
Hisako took a peek at Joichiro and he returned her look kind of acknowledging they were actually seeing the same thing! Hisako tried to allow Erina and Soma as much time as she could but, Miss Erina's health still came first! She felt bad about interrupting whatever this was, but she had no choice!
"Uhhh, Soma," she slowly put her hand on his shoulder, "Erina-sama has been through a lot, she fainted, and she might need some...air?"
Soma's muddled thoughts started clearing up as he actually realized where he was and what he was..."Uh, oh!"
A blushing red faced Erina-sama now fully aware of where she was, what they were both doing, and who was seeing them together like this decided to fire back before these people got the completely wrong idea..."Yukihira Soma!"
"How dare you!" "Get off me, you idiot!" "First you poison me and now are you trying to suffocate me to death too?" "What is with you today?" The softness of her amethyst eyes were now hardening with hate and anger again directly at Soma! "Well what do you have to say for yourself, huh?"
Soma, just stared back at her cold eyes, no longer the soft Nakiri, they were hardened again infuriatingly back at him with full force. Something in his heart hurt a second as he was hoping for something else.
Hisako, usually siding with Erina, felt her own heart hurting at the sight of a sad Soma! "Uhhh, Erina-sama, I mean he did save you, though!"
"SAVED ME?" "HE NEARLY KILLED ME!" Erina yelled out loud echoing through the 4 corners of the room, nearly bursting a gasket, she almost was practically hyperventilating again, scaring Hisako!
"Uhh, guys, you both need to clear the room, uhhh, she needs to calm down, I don't want her fainting anymore!"
Soma just stared with a hurt look as Joichiro guided him out of 'her' room giving them both some privacy!
Alone in 'her' room:
Erina was still breathing heavy, but got slightly quieter and started calming down a little once that annoying boy, I mean really annoying boy was finally out of her sight!
Hisako, stayed quiet a moment, scared Miss Erina was going to have another fainting attack, she is kind of sheltered from the real world, and there is a reason I keep smelling salts in my bag, after all. "Uhh, Erina-sama?" She said it softly trying to get her to calm down as she slightly glanced at the smelling salts still in her hand!
Erina started calming down after a few moments, without Yukihira Soma's evil devilish face mocking her, she started actually wondering what Hisako, meant by saving her! She said it for a reason, but it still made absolutely no sense!
"Are you, OK?" She nodded carefully at Erina
"I'm fine, after nearly being poisoned and than nearly squeezed to death by that same oath, who for some stupid reason, there is no way he...?" Erina watched Hisako shaking her head gently, no.
"Well, fine, Hisako say what you have to say, I can handle, whatever it is, OK?"
"OK, Miss Erina, well although you are right about the disgusting food he gave you..."
"Of course, I'm right, only a horrible person would do that to anyone..." She interrupted Hisako...expecting Hisako to join in, but again her friend kept shaking her head no again, with a weird look on her face!
"You were very close to hitting the ground when you fainted, if it wasn't for Soma..."
Hisako waited for Erina to interrupt her about it again, but Erina had started getting pale, as she started realizing what Hisako was about to say both dreading, but also something else too...
"If you saw the way he leaped over the counter and caught you in his arms and protected you and the way he..." Hisako stopped there not sure if she should say it. If maybe it was only for a moment, they all got caught up in it!
Erina's thoughts, were starting to get unnerved by where this conversation was going! Her anger at Soma started slowly fading away. Soma caught me in his arms like some hero, like Superman, or something and he...he caused it but, still I never thought he even...all the times we've spoken with each other...it never occurred to me that he might...but there was no way and than a random thought in her dreams...I think I remember how I felt when he...I felt so warm...and safe...and the blush coming from Erina's face was visible again as she just closed her eyes just thinking about it...
Hisako saw it again, she really hides how she feels so many times, but there is no mistaking it now, I'm not sure for either of them. She started thinking as a kind of plan started coming together in her head. "Uhh, Erina-sama, I would recommend you get your rest, you shouldn't be moved after fainting not too long ago, I recommend you at least spend the night and you need lots of fluids of course, I'll leave some water by the desk drawer and if you want something to help you sleep."
Erina's eyes snapped open her shame of being limp in Soma's arms and worst the weird random thoughts threatening to surface...did Hisako just ask me to stay, here? In a bed in Yukihira Soma's house after everything that just...
"No, Hisako please, I'm OK, I promise, I won't faint...again, please don't make me stay here, I am your boss you know and..."
"No buts, young lady!" Hisako told her sternly giving her stern never backing down face, not when Erina's health was concerned, plus I don't think she really means it, she almost giggled, but kept her firm look again.
"Not, just as your secretary, not just as your friend, but Soma might not be there to catch you next time!" Hisako smiled!
Erina, frowned, and getting defensive again, "but he caused it too..." "I don't want him to see me like this," she pouted! Knowing when Hisako got like this and was worried bout her health there was no talking her out of it!
"There is no, buts, if you rather Joichiro keep you company, well that is up to them and you can tell them your preference, but I have a long journey to make, I need to get some vitamins and other supplies I will need for you, so I probably won't be back until tomorrow, bye?"
"But, but, you can't Hisako!" "Don't leave me here!" "Don't leave me alone with...Yukihira-Kun..." She let it linger as Hisako left and her eyes randomly caught the sight of an old, but haunting picture of...!
Meanwhile:
Saiba, guided a slightly, somber Soma out of the room allowing Hisako and Erina some privacy. He watched his boy, for a minute. They grow up so fast. I have never seen him like that before, and it's definitely because of her.
Soma took a final look at the closed familiar door, he rarely ever ventured into that room anymore, wondering why he chose that one, of all places. I guess it was just spur of the moment, I was...I was worried and it just felt...right...his fist tightened slightly, as the edges of Nakiri's words bit him hard. I-I put her in danger, I didn't mean to. I was so caught up in proving it to her and than our food war, I got lost in it, he nodded his head slowly, it never even occurred to me... And I thought she hated me...before and now? He just turned his head again at the thought.
"Ehh, Soma, why don't we go downstairs and let me try your winning horrible dish this time, at least, that way I'll know, what it will take to beat you next time?" Joichiro was just trying to get his son to smile and distract him knowing, the words from Erina-chan were definitely bothering him. He had seen it before with his friends when they finally meet their special person, just never with Soma. He slowly jostled and nudged Soma getting him to leave a moment later.
Saiba laughed: Just smelling Soma's dish was making his eyes water, knowing full well how bad this must be and it's been sitting there...just brewing...waiting for...he took a small bite and...
"OHHHH...God...Soma...wow, this sucks!" "No, wonder you beat, me...snicker...snicker...snicker!"
Soma looked like he was almost coming out of it, but still wasn't all the way there.
Joichiro started thinking how hard it can be to be a father sometimes. It was so much easier when it was just us battling it out over food, but he's my son and I love him and they just grow up so fast...
"You, know Soma, there is more to life than just cooking?" Pleasant memories of his wife came flooding back to him. Especially with, that room Soma chose...
Soma, turned to face his father finally, just noticing his dad had tried his dish, but the words he had just heard were not the usual fatherly advice speech he usually gives me.
"It's OK, if you care about her Soma!"
Soma, saw the look on his dads face, uh...oh...
"I mean, she is a pretty girl, I can fully understand if you..."
"No, no...no...!" Soma started sputtering his worries going away as he started putting up his defenses quickly...
"I don't know what you are talking about, I was just worried and she is OK, now and she hates me now...which is fine...it's good...nothing new...same Nakiri...different day...just don't get the wrong, idea, I was not going to let her get hurt...no matter what...especially if it was because of me...so don't you...look at me like...like that...because it's not true, even if it was and it wasn't...she doesn't even...but it doesn't matter anyway..."
"Fine, fine...Soma, I get it, I really do, I'll let it go..." He smiled...Oh he's got it so bad...Soma kept digging himself deeper and deeper and was now even blushing too he didn't even know Soma could do that, usually keeping his emotions in check... "I get it Soma, I'll let it go."
"Good, because that is just crazy!" "So, don't mention it again...especially to her...to Nakiri, I mean...you hear me dad?"
"Sure, sure, sure nothing to mention here...(he paused)...before one more parting shot... "But am I going to have to talk to you about the birds and the bees at some point in time, though?"
Soma nearly was about to blow his stack when Hisako walked in. "Soma, Joichiro, there you two are!"
Soma locked in whatever he was about to shout out at the last instance, at his stupid dad, knowing he could never say any of it in front of her!
Hisako walked up to the both of them full of determination. "Erina will be staying here for the night as a precautionary measure!" She stared them both down daring either of them to say anything, after all it was there fault! Of course all she saw from Saiba was a funny little smirk with a knowing glance at Soma while Soma seemed to grow pale for some reason. Seeing no one had to say anything more she continued.
"While Erina is resting in bed, I will go back to the dorm to get some supplies and things for Erina." "It's getting late, so I probably won't be back until tomorrow!" "So, I am trusting you two, to keep watch over her, and make sure she is OK, she will be OK, she better be, you two, you hear me?" Erina stared them both down.
Soma's pulse quickened, as his wild thoughts hit home! She's staying the night, she hates me, because she thinks I just tried to kill her maybe twice, and she's staying over, what could go wrong?
Erina smiled at Soma's funny worried face and than she looked back at the adult in the room and there was that look again as they stared at each other, it was the exact same look they gave each other before, when Erina and Soma seemed to be getting...closer?
Saiba slowly walked over to Hisako and carefully...(whisper...whisper...whisper)...Hisako nodded at what Saiba was whispering in her ear, while they smiled and glanced a couple times at Soma, who literally looked like a Bugs Bunny cartoon with a face that read like question marks were bouncing around over his head!
"Oh, Soma-kun, Saiba-sama thinks you should watch Erina, and he will take care of the diner, while you keep her company and make sure it's running smoothly!
"But, wait a second, you can't be serious, there is no way she would even..."
Hisako, hated to do this, she didn't even believe it herself, but he was leaving her no choice! "Hey it's your fault, and..." She saw Soma's crestfallen face again as her words sank in... "I...look, I saw the way you saved her, I know somewhere in there you do care, and I'm just saying, be that Yukihira Soma and take care of her for one day, OK?"
Soma just stared blankly as her words echoed back in his head...I'll be all alone with Erina Nakiri...and she still probably hates me, but I'm still going to be taking care of Nakiri...OK?
To be continued...
In chapter 5, which will probably be called, "Taking Care of Nakiri," but I might change the title as I start writing it:
Author end notes and preview for chapter 5: One of the things I found fascinating about doing the disgusting contest with Erina as the judge between Soma and Saiba was, the bias and conflict in that Erina always says Soma's food is disgusting and always praises Joichiro, but what if saying it was disgusting is how you actually win! Was this a contest that Soma couldn't lose, as Erina couldn't help herself, I loved playing with that idea and how it confused both Erina and Hisako so much!
I was planning to actually write so much more, but it's been over a month since my last post and I didn't want this chapter to run too long as I really feel the chapter should end when the day ends and I thought that was an interesting little cliffhanger on it's own. So Soma will be watching Nakiri while Hisako makes a little trip to the Dorm where I will bring at least Megumi back into this story, but maybe even more than that. Of course Saiba ships Sorina too and will be up to something, and those two might be clueless around each other, but if you thought, this chapter had Sorina in it, you haven't read anything yet, I didn't even get to the actual cliffhanger I thought I was heading for...tease... I hope you liked the Sorina in this one, and of course, you know there will be much more to come, and thanks for reading and all the encouragement you have given me so far, and please let me know what you think about this as it encourages me to continue on with this story. Until next time!
