Chapter 6: Realised

The final hours of travel were quite simply, bliss.

Just her and Sōma wrapped in a blanket and seated next to one another. She had finally plucked to the courage to talk to Sōma about their kiss, and the words he had spoken when they had initially boarded the train. The blue haired girl was continuously blushing like a tomato and sighed gently as her boyfriend pressed another soft kiss to her cheek. "I-I-I love you...", she whispered, as she twirled a lock of his red head in her fingers.

She was about to move in for another kiss, when a sudden ringing emanated from her pocket. Pulling out her iphone, Megumi saw that the face time caller ID was showing the goofy faces of Yuki and Ruōko. "Oh hey guys!" she stated calmly, as Soma grinned from beside her.

"We're both fine, we are on the train now. Not far from Tōhoku now..." The girl was cut off by a squeal coming from the phone, "Ieeeeee! You are the talk of Tōtsuki right now, you know that!" Sōma who had been about to go to the restaurant car, and leave the girls to chat, stopped when he heard the words 'talk of Tōtsuki'.

Looking back towards Megumi and the phone, he saw the cute blush on her face had exploded into a hot mass of pure red embarrassment, and it was everything he could do to stop himself from laughing out loud. She was staring at her phones screen, trying to come up with a reasonable amount of words to properly explain how the picture was taken. "H-how... who, when was it taken...? Why is this happening?" Lowering himself back into the seat, Sōma sat back down and took a quick glance at the phone. "Hey Sō...ma", Yuki's singsong voice spoke, her eyes sparkling from the face time call.

"I here you two have been getting to know each other. Can't say I'm disappointed. I knew you would get together, but I thought I would be by the end of your holiday! I'm so proud of you both!" The image on the screen suddenly shifted as Yuki was pulled out of the way and replaced by Ryōko, with Shun and Isshiki behind her; all three grinning. "Now you really have no excuse not to tell your mother", Ruōko laughed, "I'm so happy for you. The whole school is talking about the 'transfer student and the 'magicians apprentice'".

"What?..." Megumi stammered. "How did school find out, and how did you all find out about... umm see the photo. Who took the it?" It was then that the screen changed imaged again showing Isshiki holding up his own phone displaying a close up photo of Sōma and Megumi kissing.

"Apparently Alice Nakiri was going to Morioka, and happened to be on the same coach as you. She spotted your moment and then sent it to Ryo. But as he was with Erina and Hisako at the time, they accidentally emailed it to the Tōtsuki journalism club who published it on the school online blog and printed it in the school paper. And now you two are the most talked about newest couple on campus!"

Megumi put her hands over her face as she tried to shy away from the news that her new relationship was now academically public. It was then that Shun suddenly spoke up, muttering; "Ikumi sends her... congratulations", he began. "At least I think it was congratulations. There was a lot of punching and shouting going on".

"That sounds like something meat-meat would do", Soma grinned, "I ought to go see her when I get back. She wanted me to see the progress she had made with Bowl Clubs ranking". Shun and Ryōko shared a squirming glance, as if they were trying to hide something related to Ikumi Mito's feelings. "Ikumi is... spirited", Isshiki commented, "but she knows who her friends are. She won't hold it against you if you don't see her immediately".

It was then at that moment the train conductor began to make his way down the aisle checking tickets and destinations of the passengers. Not wanting to interrupt Megumi on FaceTime, Sōma stood up and made his way towards the conductor to validate their tickets. Noticing that he the redhead was gone from the frame, Yuki saw her chance for mischief.

"So... how was your first kiss?" She asked wiggling her eyebrows. "Was it everything you thought it would be?" As soon as the question reached her ears, Megumi pulled the scarf around her neck a little higher above her mouth and nose. Hiding her blushing face. "Sōma..." the blue haired girl sighed wistfully, "I-I-it was unreal".

The subsequent squeal, elicited from Yuki and Ryōko, had the effect of making the entire train carriage glare at the blue haired girl. In the end the annoyed glances were eased by Sōma managing to calm down the conductor and fellow passengers by saying that they were students at Tōtsuki Culinary Academy, and that they had heard news about 'friends exams'. It may have been half truths but it was enough to stop the annoyed glares, on the flip side they both were peppered with questions about the famous school.

"How far are you from Tōhoku now?" Isshiki asked, the FaceTime still active on Megumi's phone. The seventh seat of the council of ten had taken over talking from Yuki, who had to be pried away by Ryōko and Fumio; due to her growing overexcited-ness. Looking over the immediate row of seats, Megumi spied a television screen that showed a map of Japan with a train icon moving up north. "We are about half an hour away from Tōhoku station now", she replied, unconsciously biting her lip. Sensing her rising anxiety, Sōma wrapped his arms around her. "You have nothing to worry about", Isshiki uttered noticing the look in his friends eyes and the way Sōma was being comforting.

"The Aomori prefecture is beautiful, if nothing else the landscapes and culinary experiences there should keep any anxieties at bay", Isshiki smiled, in a way that made him look like an older protective brother. "Thanks Isshiki", Megumi responded, "I'm still a little nervous about how I'm going to introduce Sōma..." She was then interrupted by said boy nudging her towards a book leaflet in his hands, titled 'Aomori and Hokkaido - Milk Curry Miso Ramen'. And judging by the look of wonder on his face, she could that her boyfriend was already intrigued.

By the time the train rolled into Tōhoku station, it was pouring with rain and the sky was dense with dark clouds. And yet, despite her beating heart, Megumi wasn't anxious. Somehow on the journey itself confronting and expressing her feelings, and finding out that Sōma felt the same way towards her, was enough to level out her insecurities.

"Come on", the boy grinned, taking ahold of both his and her suitcases and wheeling them out of the train and along the platform towards the exit as she walked beside him; trying to keep herself from being too giddy about her new relationship status. "Yuki, Ryōko... Isshiki, Shun", Megumi enunciated, "we've arrived in Tōhoku, I'm gonna have to say goodbye for now..."

"you better FaceTime us sometime over the next few days!" Yuki replied, before being pulled away by Ryōko and Isshiki. "Have fun guys", Shun finished the call brushing his hair out of his eyes and pulling off a rare smile, "you two deserve it".

And then the call ended, leaving Megumi and Sōma basking in the love and happiness of their friends. As they walked out of the combined exit and entrance to the station, both young chefs became aware of, through the glass walls, a Suzuki Jeep with the name Shōkeien Ryokan written on the side. Standing by the side of said jeep, was a medium sized brown haired woman in a striped shirt and jeans leaning against it, and at her feet was a basket of vegetables and a little placard with the honorific '-kun' written in red and blue ink.

"Megumi! Look at you, you've grown a fair bit taller than the last time I saw you. And you have certainly changed". As Emiko Tadokoro hugged her daughter, Sōma shuffled his feet nervously awaiting his chance to introduce himself. Yet as it happened he didn't have long to wait, as when Mrs Tadokoro released her daughter she turned towards him and smiled. "So you're the boy who has entranced my daughter, Sōma Yukihira". Before either teenager could respond, Emiko simply burst out laughing at seeing the expression of extreme discomfort on Sōma's face.

"I'm glad to finally meet you", she exclaimed, pulling both young people into her arms, her words filled with such warmth that Megumi felt her residual anxiety disappear completely. "Mum... I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Sōma in more detail but..."

"You two weren't sure of your feelings were you", Emiko interrupted, smiling. "You're my daughter after all, I was the same when I met yours and Kenosuke's father. I was so anxious back then, so I understand".

Wriggling out of Emiko's arms, both teenagers took each other's hands and stood straight and tall. "Mum", Megumi spoke, "this is Sōma. He is my best friend at Tōtsuki, without him I would have been expelled but because of him I have gained a lot of courage and resolve towards my own cooking style. And along the way I f-f-fell in love with him".

Then turning towards her boyfriend, she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his chest, "I love you Sōma, you're the reason my cooking at Tōtsuki has improved". The redhead embraced the girl and lifted her into the air spinning her around before putti Ming her back down and kissing her on the forehead, "I'll always be at your side Megumi. We improve each others cooking styles simply by being there". Staring into each other's eyes, Sōma and Megumi didn't, until they heard Mrs Tadokoro's voice, and seeing the flash of a camera.

"Aww! My little girl has a boyfriend. You've grown up so fast Megumi!" Moving over to the Jeep, she opened the trunk and placed both suitcases inside before closing said back door and walking round the drivers side. "Come on lovebirds, lets go home. I want to cook you two a special meal tonight", blushing at having become temporarily oblivious both young people hurried over to the Jeep and got inside. Whereupon, Emiko Tadokoro started up the engine and drove off back towards the family house.

"Oh and one last thing", Emiko stated turning around in her seat, making both teenagers nervous. "Welcome to Hachinohe!"