Chapter 14: Collection of Friends

"Megumi!" With a familiar scream of joy and hyper excited energy, Yuki Yoshino, bolted out from amongst the group of Polar Star dorm mates, practically pouncing upon the blue haired girl as she was getting out of the car, that collected her and Sōma from Tokyo station, that was currently stationary outside Kyokusei dorm.

"I thought you'd be staying longer", Yuki winked in the direction of Sōma, who blushed turning his attention towards helping mistress

Fumio remove their suitcases from the car. "The talk all over campus, is that you two we're getting it on...", the orange haired girl grinned, before she was restrained and silenced by Ryōko who held her back whilst putting a hand over the orange haired girls mouth.

The reaction from Megumi and Sōma was shared red faced embarrassment, mixed with shock which was followed by them strenuously denouncing any such rumours false.

"Now now", Fumio uttered moving past the group "I know you all want to get inside and chat but don't stay up too late. You've all got an early start tomorrow". Going by how flushed Megumi's face was right now, only enforced the groups decision to get inside and celebrate her and Sōma's new relationship. They would have succeeded had Yuki not wormed her way out of Ryōko's grip and, once more wrapped Megumi in a huge embrace her face caught in a massive grin. "I'm soo happy for you girl!"

Picking herself up off the ground, and out of the mess of limbs that she and Yuki found themselves in, Megumi smiled sheepishly as she followed Isshiki, Shun and the others inside. Once she was inside, she found herself hugged by Ryōko. "You two are soo adorable together!" It was then that Shun interjected, "Tōtsuki is abuzz with gossip. In fact you should have seen Erina, she's been looking perpetually peeved".

"Indeed", Isshiki added thoughtfully, "no body has been able to figure out why she's so shaken up by this". For the briefest moment, a frown appeared on the seventh seats face, 'I wonder if Erina has feelings for Sōma?' He quickly batted away that notion as preposterous due to her constant scowls whenever Sōma was brought in either conversation or if he managed to weasel himself into her proximity.

The tenth seat was probably more likely to be supremely annoyed at having failed to find a good enough reason to have Sōma removed from Tōtsuki before he could set down any firm roots of attachments. And now if Erina did find a reason to oust him, there would be a person who she would feel guilty for causing their unhappiness.

"She looked as if she was ready to throw a fit", Daigo and Shōji added chuckling. "Now if you're all ready", the gang all exclaimed, "congratulations on your realised relationship! Megumi and Sōma!"

Feeling instantly at home again, Megumi sighed contently as she allowed herself to feel genuinely relaxed in her dorms atmosphere. A gentle pressure in her left hand had her turn and see a familiar goofy grin plastered on Sōma's face as he leaned towards her and placed a kiss to her lips.

"Eeee!" A delighted squeal suddenly shook through the hallway, breaking them apart followed by a sudden wave of blue and red balloons falling from the ceiling around them. The collective voices of their friends cheering welcomes, congratulations and other felicitous pronouncements.

Smiling brightly, whilst staving off furious blush's, Megumi and Sōma placed their suitcases at the base of the stairs and then were directed, by mistress Fumio, into the dining room where aside from a large feast was awaiting them, were three more friends. Two of whom, launched themselves straight into lecturing Sōma about how to be a respectful when in a relationship, at least that was what the others of Polar Star thought. Those being Takumi Aldini and Ikumi Mito.

"What the hell, Sōma!" Takumi yelled rushing forwards, brandishing a rolled up copy of the schools newspaper, "I know we're rivals and all... but how dare you get a girlfriend before me..." the blonde haired Italian boy was then grappled by his younger brother, Isami, who dragged Takumi over to the table and pushed him into a seat. "You're being rude again Takumi", Isami replied, smiling apologetically towards Sōma, as he dragged his brother aside. Takumi flushed with shame but perked you when Sōma wished him luck for the upcoming stagaire.

Ikumi Mito, on the other hand, looked as if she was flitting between happiness for Megumi and a desire to strangle Sōma. Yet, in the end she walked up to them both blushing. "So... I wish all the best for you two", she stuttered gently squeezing Megumi's hand. "You two are good for each other". Sōma smiled and reached forwards and placed a hand on Ikumi's shoulder, "hey meat-meat! I was hoping to drop by and see you at Bowl Club".

A furious blush spread across Ikumi's face before she willed herself to calm down before realising that he had called her by his annoying nickname. "Stop calling me frickin' meat meat!" She yelled blushing. Sōma simply grinned as he replied "I hope you can show me how your improving Bowl Club. After all you are it's top benefactor". Her blushing face was even more of an indicator to Megumi that Ikumi really liked Sōma, but it was clear to all, except Sōma, that she was reeling herself in for Megumi's sake.

As everyone sat down at the dining table and, as the dormitory mistress, Fumio began handing out plates of tempura chicken; courtesy of Yuki, steamed vegetables and three different kinds of mushroom parfaits each made by Isshiki. Dressed for once, he held up a glass of Ryōko's 'special rice juice', and toasted the whole of Polar Star as well as Takumi, Isami and Ikumi's futures.

"I know we all have what it takes to become great chefs, but at the same time we must remember that to cook, is to show our dedication and love of food to the people we cook for! Our youthful lives and the careers we follow... it's just so beguilingly beautiful".

As everyone clinked their drink cups together, and uttered a round of "cheers", Megumi pulled her rucksack onto her lap and began pulling out souvenirs for her friends. "Prezzies!" Yuki squealed, making a beeline straight into Megumi's arms before being enticed away by a platter of smoked bacon and cheese from Shun.

"I brought you all something back from Hachinohe..." she stuttered, "I hope you like them". Feeling Sōma's fingers intertwine with hers, washed away her nerves and she felt trills of excitement throughout her body at having him for a boyfriend. In the words of her mother, her soulmate.

From the rucksack Megumi drew out all the presents she had bought back in Hachinohe: A book of regional cooking for Zenji, a bag of fresh Aomori Apples for Yuki and Ryōko; as well as the promise of stories later on. For Daigo and Shōji, Sōma had insisted on buying a small figurine showing two persons punching each other and grinning, joyfully.

That particular present made the group of friends laugh, they only stopped upon hearing Mistress Fumio interior with a snarky comment. "You laugh now, but those two have no concept of personal space".

"Amen to that. Bloody meatheads", Zenji murmured, before smiling softly as Isshiki ruffled his hair.

"Aww granny!" Shōji grinned attempting to sling and arm are around the dorm mistresses shoulders, "you spoil us..."

"Don't blame your rivalry on me!" She replied, "I just look after you lot, as well as encouraging you at school". The dormitory mistress smirked.

Seeing the smile on the two meatheads faces made Sōma smile with happiness as he once again mentally thanked his father for sending him to Tōtsuki. "Takumi, Issami", he called out to the two Italian boys. "Here, I brought you some Aomori olive oil, I thought you could compare it with your italian olive oil", the redhead boy stated holding out two green tinted olive oil bottles. Issami grinned and shook Sōma's hand gratefully, whilst Takumi flustered his way through his attempted gratitude.

From opposite the table, next to Zenji and Yuki, Ikumi Mito sat thoughtfully staring into her plate of food. She had figured out that Megumi had feelings for Sōma on the night of the fall selection final; when she had spied on them standing together on the dorms terraced balcony. And with the moon and stars casting the redhead boy and the blue haired girl in a beautiful glow, the realisation had hit her hard and true.

To know that the boy that had broken her out from Erina's gravitational pull and given her a whole new reason to love cooking was now out of her reach was a bitter pill to swallow. And yet, thinking back upon that night she knew that Megumi was probably the only girl that really knew how to read and understand Sōma Yukihira. And for that reason alone, Ikumi was content in letting her feelings for him dispel.

Yuki leant over and gently hugged Ikumi, making the busty female meat chef smile softly, as she was reconciled and enjoyed a meal in the company of true friends. "You'll find someone else..." Yuki whispered in Ikumi's ear, as the orange haired girl hugged the meat chef tightly.

"You know..." the orange haired girl smirked, " you could always ask to be involved..." Yuki was abruptly silenced by Ikumi placing her hand over the other girls mouth. However, the effect of shutting Yuki up was diminished by the orange haired girl licking Ikumi's hand. Releasing her hand, Ikumi was about to protest but saw the grin Yuki had plastered on her face. "You never know... perhaps Sōma and Megumi would like having you around".

"Shut up!" Ikumi stammered, blushing and jumping from her seat and chasing Yuki around the table. Grinning, the smaller girl poked out her tongue at the meat expert as they both started laughing, lost in the merriment of the night.