It started like any other day in the Polar Star Dorm. The early risers would have woken up and attended whatever they've got scheduled at the break of dawn. Those stuck with morning chores such as stocking up food or helping maintain the garden. Then there are the lucky devils who got to sleep in on the weekends.

Souma is one of those devils.

He would have slept through the Dorm Mother's cracked loud call from the speaking tube if not for the smell of smoked salmon jolting him awake. Souma half-woken-up thought reminded him it was Ibusaki's turn to help Fumio-san make breakfast — the quiet boy had mentioned there was a new dish he finished working on. Souma dragged himself off bed, hanten jacket over his shoulder as he walked the steps down through muscle memory alone. The 1st Seat of the Elite 10 Council still on La La Land…

Souma took his usual seat at the dining table. Promptly, a mug of tea was put beside him.

"Good morning, Souma-kun."

The boy hummed back in greeting as he took a swig of Tadakoro's signature blend tea that never fails to light up his morning. Honestly, he could forever drink her tea and Souma would die a happy man. "...'orning, Tadakoro."

Megumi tilted her head, observing her listless best friend., "Did you sleep late? I was sure you didn't have any shokugeki scheduled this week."

"Worse," Souma groaned, "Paperwork."

Being the Top of the Most Elite Culinary School isn't all fun and games. No. There is responsibility. Cooking is everything in Tootsuki; which includes cooking theory, marketing, maintaining business connection, agriculture, food processing, etcetera, etcetera. Being at the top means making sure there is a place for the students to flourish their cooking in any of those subjects while upholding the reputation of Tootsuki to the world. If there's at least one thing this pompous elitist school has taught him, is that there are different ways of maintaining a legacy just as there are different ways of cooking and he needs to respect that.

There were times when Souma was tempted to throw caution to the wind and go on months-end journey to learn more about cooking with reckless abandon. But if he were to do that in the middle of the semester without warning — Forget being 1st Seat, he would have been expelled on principle alone. Then what would be the point of clawing his way up at school?

Souma can fully understand why his pops let Doujima-senpai be relegated to 1st Seat. But Souma, if nothing else, is a sore loser and a fighter. He swore to take the top, so he would seriously carry that promise as he would as the heir of the Yukihira Diner. Souma could only thank the gods that all his peers are more competent than him when it comes to paperwork so he never had additional work on his desk.

(In the distant jungle, Tsukasa had the urge to wail at the unfairness of the world for some reason or another, much to Rindou's confusion.)

Megumi sighed, having an inkling of what the crazy foodmania had to go through.

"Mou… Souma-kun, this is what happens when you keep postponing until the deadline."

'I can't help it if people keep having a go at me.' But it was too early in the morning to argue so all he said was a half-hearted, "Hmm."

Just as she was done setting up the table, all her friends from the Polar Star dorm took their seats. Megumi was already dressed and had her breakfast, having had an appointment with the Local Cuisine RS.

"Souma-kun, I'm serious. Even if you're First Seat please refrain from putting your challenges over your work."

"Hmm."

"Today we have Chicken and Egg Drop Soup, so please eat that and drink lots of water."

"Hmm."

"Oh, and I'd like to have a shokugeki with you in three days, so please clear your schedule then."

"Hmm."

"Great. Then I'll be going now, everyone." Megumi bid the dorm goodbye with a sweet demeanor and gentle smile that hinted nothing out of the ordinary.

So it took shamefully a long time for the words to register. When it did, Souma was the first to react; his eyes blew wide and he choked on the tea, even slipping from his chair for good measure. "Wait, what, what did you– Tadakoro– TADAKORO!" But it was already futile to chase after his best friend and call her back for an explanation.

The other Polar Star Residents' reaction did not disappoint. Yuuki, being the loudest and the most expressive, was the first one to cried out "EEEEEEEEEHHHH?!" followed by Aoki and Satou.

Marui let out a loud cry, gasped, and ended up swallowing his spoon.

Ryouko paled while gaping dramatically. Ibusaki revealed his widened, shocked eyes from beneath his bangs.

Isshiki tripped on nothing that his fundoshi flew off him like the miracle he is.

Fumio checked the weather outside to see if winter came early.

Souma came back from the front steps, looked at his friends as they seemed to have heard the same thing as he did and reaffirmed, "Did that just happen?"

"Oh my God, Megumicchi finally snapped!"

"The Tenth Seat and First Seat are going to have a showdown?! Who would have freaking seen this coming?"

"No one. Absolutely no one."

"Hey, Marui is still choking, can somebody help him?"

"To think Megumi issued a challenge unprompted, and to Souma to boot. Aaah~ our little fledging has flown far. Senpai is so proud of you."

"No, no, something is definitely wrong here."

Everyone in the dorm knows that Megumi hates conflict and wouldn't have issued a shokugeki on anyone. Not unless there are excruciating circumstances or someone managed to piss her off.

"Yukihira, what did you do?!"

"Why are you asking me?!" Souma was a bit affronted at being finger pointed.

"Our dorm's sweet winter child wanted to have a shokugeki with the top student of Tootsuki, do you not see anything wrong with that?"

"That doesn't mean I'm at fault!"

"Yukihira…" Ryouko gently started, concern evident on her face, "Can you think of anything you might have said and done that would have offended her?"

Souma rested his head on his chin and popped a vessel, thinking hard for anything that could have lit a fuse on the situation. "Damn it. No, I couldn't think of anything," he announced, clueless and freaked out.

Hearing his response, everyone in the dorm had a sudden flashback of all the times Souma shoved his failed dishes onto the poor girl or dragged her into one of his antics.

'He did something.'

'He definitely did something.'

'Megumi is an angel for putting up with him for this long.'

As people in the dorm began speculating the reason behind the shokugeki, Souma decided there's no point in mulling over the reason. Whatever Megumi has to say to him, she could say it through her dish.

However, while Souma has never shied away from the unknown, it doesn't mean he doesn't have mixed feelings. He was excited to finally get a chance to clash with his best friend in a serious match, but was also unnerved that Megumi initiated the challenge… and a bit scared.

Not of losing, mind you. Souma was never afraid of losing or failing.

But of angering his partner to the point she's asking for a match, without so much of a stutter and a smile on her face?

Yeah, Souma was a bit terrified.

Nevertheless, Souma put on a brave face. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." After a week of paperwork and classwork to keep his position as the 1st Seat, his eyes lit back up at the prospect of a future challenge he never had before.

All the while, he never pondered why Megumi would ask for the match to be held in three days.

. . .

The word got out of a Shokugeki between two Elite 10 members. That, in of itself, would have been enough to garner a considerable crowd of audience.

But a Shokugeki between Tadakoro Megumi and Yukihira Souma, the most (in)famous dynamic duo in school?

The news became an uproar.

So much so, the Shokugeki administration had to use the stadium just to accommodate them.

The 7th Seat, Takumi Aldini whistled, impressed. "To think it garnered as much reception as the Autumn Election. Not even my bout with Yukihira got this much attention."

"That's because they got tired of your back and forth matches for being sore losers," his twin brother cackled.

Takumi blushed, "Shut up, Isami!"

"Who do you think is going to win?"

"Let's see…" as Takumi was contemplative over their chances when a side comment in front of him got the twins' attention.

"—there's no way she has a snowball of a chance of beating the First Seat, right?"

"No shit. She probably got a seat in the Elite Ten through the devil's luck. I admit she got skill, but I bet the dunce only got as far as she did because she hung around Yukihira."

"I know, right? And now that she got this far, the bitch decided to bite the owner's hand. Talk about ungrateful."

The two mob characters hadn't realized the pair of rising menace growing from behind them. Even the usually mellow Isami had to keep himself from baring his shark teeth.

"I wouldn't say that."

The random pair of students flinched at the voice coming from the 5th Seat, Kurokiba Ryou in his usual lazy listless demeanor while taking a seat beside them. They're only glad he's not in his Berserk Mode at the moment.

"That girl… is strong…"

The 6th Seat, Nakiri Alice popped up by his side and chirped in. "True, she did win her way into the Top 16 in BLUE as a representative of Tootsuki. In fact, Tadakoro has a fair chance of winning the Second Seat if she wanted to."

"EH?!"

"That sort of… you're exaggerating… then why is she…"

"Simple," a boy chuckled from the other side, this time coming from the current 2nd Seat and senpai, "The reason she's in Tenth Seat is because Megumi-chan doesn't like to fight. She loves cooking, don't get me wrong. But she would never ask a shokugeki to anyone. Our girl is the embodiment of peace and harmony after all."

"Tadakoro still accepts any shokugeki gunning for her seat though and won every single one of them," 3rd Seat, Kuga Terunori chimed in from right in front of them. His tone is light, but his eyes had a gleamed of menace in them that struck a chord of fear in the poor mooks. "That's how she maintained her place among the Top Ten chefs in school."

"In summary," 4th Seat, Hayama Akira said from beside Takumi (surprising the half-Italian boy), a cinnamon stick already at hand to keep his emotion in check, "Before writing her off, how about you get on her level before complaining like whiny kids behind her back."

It took them an embarrassingly long time to realize they had most of the Elite Ten Council members surrounding the pair. They all wore either friendly smiles or neutral scowls, but the presence of the most influential people in Tootsuki did not diminish the threatening presence they posed.

With the last shred of common sense and self-preservation, the rude boys excused themselves from their seats. Their figurative tails between their legs.

"Is that not a bit overkill?" Hisako pointed out with Ikumi by her side. Her tone and face expressed disapproval as she watched the prestigious Council members ganging up on a couple of unremarkable students.

Alice saw through her facade and scoffed, "Oh please, don't tell us you weren't going to give them a piece of your mind. Both of you looked ready to tear them to shreds if we didn't intervene."

"That's… that's beside the point!" Hisako stuttured.

Ikumi, on the other hand, scoffed, "At least what we'll do is tame compared to what Honjou would do if she had heard them."

"You're right," Kuga agreed in seriousness, "Honjou would have made mincemeat out of them before grilling them alive if she had her way."

The announcer announced the beginning of the match. The students turned their attention to the center stage. The two contestants stood in their station while putting their game face on. The row of judges was revealed to be; the headmaster of Tootsuki Culinary Academy Doujima Gin, 79th Graduate and 1st Seat Shinomiya Kojirou ("Why the hell am I dragged into this, Doujima-san? No, I don't care if it's interesting, I only came here for business, for fuck's sake!"), and lastly…

"NAKIRI?!"

"NAKIRI-SAN?!"

Megumi and Souma gawked at their friend, Nakiri Erina, who they haven't seen for some time.

"What's with that reaction?" The Nakiri Heiress puffed her cheek at the shocked look she got from her friends for being the third judge of their Shokugeki.

"No… well… you said something about finding your own way of cooking outside the Nakiri Family influence, so you were taking a break from school and counseling dishes… eh?" Megumi gently pointed out her reasoning as to not offend her friend. At the same time, questioning her presence here.

Erina forced herself from looking away as she held her head high, "Well… I heard an interesting match was taking place today, so I thought I'd do you two a favor and judge which one of your dishes is more favorable to my palate. Be, be grateful!"

" Aaaaw , did you miss us, Nakiri?" Souma snickered.

"As if!"

"Thank you for putting aside your time for us, Nakiri-san. We appreciate it," Megumi shared her genuineness that never fails to touch the people around her.

Erina blushed and this time looked away with a pout, "I, I did say you can call me Erina, you know… Me, Megumi."

"Oh… OH! Yes, I mean, thank you for coming, Erina-san. I'm really happy to see you again."

There was a bubble of warmth in the atmosphere between them as they revelled in their established friendship. It would have made anyone smile at the sight. However, Souma's eyes twitched and his lips pressed tightly at the sight from the feeling of being left out.

" Ano… are we starting our match or are you two going to keep googly eyed at each other?"

That popped the bubble and Erina coughed to gain her composure. "Very well, the match is between Tenth Seat, Tadakoro Megumi versus First Seat, Yukihira Souma. You are allowed to make any dish. The theme is Seafood and Vegetable.'' At this Erina scowled at Souma, knowing the boy purposely used a theme in favour of Megumi. She's not sure whether he's trying to test himself using his best friend or wanted the Ryoukan's heiress to battle with her fullest ability. Probably a mix of both.

To anyone else, they might think Souma is taunting her. But those who know him would assume he simply wanted to battle the strongest, and he acknowledged Megumi to be the strongest when it comes to those themes. It will take everything in his arsenal to beat her with that knowledge.

Souma was never satisfied with the easy way out.

"The loser shall do one favor for the winne– seriously, Yukihira? Are you that depraved?" Erina looked at him in disgust.

"Oi! I don't know what you're thinking, princess, but that's not it!"

"Don't worry, Na– Erina-san. The worst he can do is offer me his new mystery dish," Megumi said with the eyes of someone who had tasted things that should never be tasted and came back out to tell the tale. "And besides, I agreed to it."

Erina pursed her lips, but nodded. "Then chefs please begin cooking… NOW!"

The two Council members began prepping their ingredients. The tension was high as the announcer highlighted the ingredients each of them had, and the future chefs were already making predictions of the kind of dishes they'd each be making. Already they were taking different routes, with Megumi cooked rice and Souma boiled red noodles. Commentaries were made of what they were dicing and what sauces were used. Not a single pause was made as they used every second of their time to put their everything in their dish.

But for the Elite 10 and their friends, what got their attention was a familiar tool used in everyday house tools that you wouldn't expect to find in a Shokugeki on Tadakoro's station.

"Is that…"

"...an onigiri mold?"

"Rice and onigiri mold… you don't think…"

"In a shokugeki? She wouldn't… would she?"

"I mean… she does hang out with Yukihira a lot ."

"Oh kami , Yukihira has infected her with his weirdness!" Hisako moaned to her hand.

"I'm sure it's not as bad as it sounds," Hayama tried to comfort her, "Tadakoro is more sensible than that."

In Souma's station, he began straining his noodle with expert hand. A wicked smile stretched across his lips before deep frying the noodles in a pan, which elicited a giant outrage from most of the students.

"Che palle, what is that insane man thinking this time!" Takumi looked halfway wanting to come down the stage and throttle him if not for Isami holding him back. "Doesn't he know if you deep fried noodles it'll just turn dry, hard, and stick together in the worst place!"

"No, no, I think I know what he's making," Kuga perked up at the familiarity of a rare dish he happened to know, "He's making I Fu Mie ."

"Ifumi?"

"Right, it's a Chinese Indonesian Cuisine mostly known as dry noodles because of its crispy texture. It uses piping hot vegetable sauce and the interesting part of that dish is that it'll become soggy like a regular noodle overtime, so the texture changes while you eat it.

"What's more, Indonesia is a known maritime country so that dish is one of the best choices he could make to highlight the seafood and vegetable ingredients for this match."

Kuga had only briefly explained but already half of the group was drooling at the prospect of eating such a meal.

"Dang , Yukihira isn't joking around. How's Tadakoro?"

While waiting for the rice to cook, the Ryoukan girl was sauteeing the vegetables. Her stir technique was swift but patience, seemingly timing the ideal moment to put in the next batch. The spatula blurring among the ingredients she mixed.

"...hey, is it just me? Or is Tadakoro-san is unusually fired up today?" Ikumi observed.

"She challenged Yukihira. Of course she's fired up."

"No, no, I get what you mean. Even if this is what she asked for, Tadakoro is still battling her best friend. Someone she had never had a cook-out before," Hisako remarked. She imagined being in her shoes but going against Erina-sama and shuddered at the thought, "I wouldn't blame her if she still had reservations or was struggling with nerves at the start of the match. So I didn't expect for her to be this… intense."

"Huh, you've got a point there. Did anyone find out why Tadakoro wanted a shokugeki in the first place?"

The group of friends pondered silently as the answer was lost to them.

"You, you don't think this is kind of like a last hurrah for them?"

"Do you mean like, 'Souma-kun, I'm sick of you taking advantage of me, goodbye!' kind of thing?"

"That… sounded so obnoxious, don't ever do that again, Kuga. But in a gist, yeah like that."

"You mean a break-up shokugeki?"

"Okay, you guys are being ridiculous. First, there's no such thing, and second, Tadakoro is not breaking up with Yukihira. Heck, they're not even dating."

"What do you think, Isshiki-senpai?" Isami asked the upperclassman, "You're the one who knows them longer than any of us and you live together."

The Polar Star Dorm resident hummed as he crossed his arms in thought, "I would say you're making this a bigger deal than it actually is. Those two have been sharing their struggle and celebrating each other's victories since the first day of school. Yukihira-kun broke her timid way so she could stand on her own, while Tadakoro-chan supported his ventures no matter how hopeless it may be.

"But perhaps the most interesting part of their relationship is that when most people doubt their strength in the most crucial moments, only they seem to have shown the strongest faith in each other, regardless whether they succeed or fail."

On the stage, both Souma and Megumi simultaneously took out an ice box and took out a large squid. As if it was a foregone choice the two made together. But from the astonished look on their faces, even they hadn't expected them to choose the same main ingredient for their seafood.

There was a moment of silence as they digested the moment before the two teens then suddenly burst into laughter that rang out in the entire stadium.

"Seriously, Tadakoro? I thought by now you wouldn't want to see a single squid in your life."

"You too, Souma-kun. You still haven't given up making a squid dish for me even in a match. You're ridiculous!"

It took an effort for them to keep on cooking while holding their bellies hurt from their laughter. While the audience stood shocked at the light hearted exchange between the two opponents.

The group observed this, and Alice concluded the discussion, "So… obviously the idea of her angry at him is a total bust. Any suggestions?"

"Milady, this is stupid. If all of you are so curious why can't you just ask her once the match ends."

"Where's the fun in that?" Alice remarked cheekily, making her aide groan in return.

Tadakoro was the first to finish preparing her squid when she realized a missing component, "Souma-kun, did you happen to bring your shichirin ?"

"Oh yeah," he brought up the portable grilling stove from his side, "Never know when sudden inspiration strikes, you know?"

"Mind if I borrow it?"

"Sure. Think you could spare me some arrowroot? It would have worked better than my starch."

"Okay."

The upfront exchange took place like there wasn't any need to question their actions. The people who watched them barely comprehend it, and the judges had an inexplicable expression at the blatant audacity.

Erina, gobsmacked, turned to the new Director, "They can't do that. Can they do that? They can't do that, right?"

Doujima had a better poker face, but that's only because he felt much more tiring times with Jouichirou. "Hmm, there isn't exactly a rule for this since no one in their right mind would usually help their opponent."

Shinomiya simply had his face rested against his pressed hands, posing like a prayer as he blew out a breath that sounded like he was begging for some higher power to give him patience.

Afterward, the two chefs went back to their dishes but the atmosphere shifted even as they kept an eye on their dishes.

"Tadakoro, aren't you copying me too much for this match?" Souma teased as he began chopping his squid, prawns, and fish balls. "Should I be worried?"

"Souma-kun, you've already gone against Mimasaka-kun before," Megumi coated her special sauce on the squid before grilling it, "You have nothing to worry about other than keeping up with me."

"Oi, oi, is that what you should be saying to your senpai? Such disrespect, isn't that right Master Shinomiya?"

"For the last time, I'm not your master!" Shinomiya irritably yelled out.

The two students continued bantering back and forth, but their cooking never once halted longer than necessary. They kept a constant retort in between the pause of their cooking, laughing at their jokes, and giving tips for their dish as if they weren't opponents in a cooking match. Even the audience started to take note of it.

"Huh?"

"Eh, that's weird."

"Yeah, even though it's plain to see both of them are giving everything in this match. Yet for some reason… They looked like they're cooking together."

The rice was ready on Megumi's station, she had prepared two seperate bowls. One she left on the side and the other with a lot of various seasonings that included her special sauce. She mixed it all by hand before putting some arrowroot and pouring it all into the pan with the vegetable saute.

"I got it!" The curry expert exclaimed, "She's making Yaki Onigiri!"

"Isn't that just onigiri-shaped fried rice?"

"Oi, don't you dare diss on fried rice." Hayama glared. "Fried rice is among the most diverse dishes like curry with multiple combinations. It's a complicated dish to cook as an ideal gourmet dish."

"Relax, we're just messing with you. Remember that Souma did win BLUE with a fried rice."

Megumi took the mold and as predicted began making onigiri with the rice and grilled squid. But she surprised them again as she coated the onigiri with butter and started grilling them in the oven.

But then the announcer pointed out how Yukihira had finished his dish. The audience shared their excitement as the 1st Seat was the first one to serve his dish. Souma dressed dry red noodles with seafood topping and a pitcher for the vegetable sauce on the side.

"Dig in!"

The three judges examined the presentation of the dish, the seafood and vegetables gleamed in a mesh of colors, they poured the steaming sauce on top. There was a beautiful crunch as the noodles broke apart under the slide of their knives, and as they took a bite…

Before their eyes was the ocean… no… is it the mountain? Or rather… they can't tell which is which as they stood at the precept of a different dimension.

"What a dish! The beetroot noodle held a delicious crunch and matched swimmingly with the seafood, especially the taste of the raging squid that simply grapples us. The sweet and sourness of the vegetables further enhanced the dish as a whole."

"But the highlight of it all is the sauce! The texture is almost like heavy soup with a refreshing mellow taste of the vegetables and the rich umami of the seafood. The combined ingredients of the land and sea that's perfectly balanced. Truly a spectacular dish."

"Indeed. If I have to describe it… yes… it's like swimming in the cool ocean and at the depth of it all, instead of a barren seabed, is a mountain of forest spreaded endlessly before our eyes," the owner of the God's Tongue mused.

"Aaaaw, you still can't outright say it's delicious?" Souma pouted.

"Be happy I compliment your food at all," she smirked. "Don't forget I'm the Culinary Queen, I'm not making this easy for you or for anyone."

Souma grinned at the sight of his friend, looking far more energetic than in the past, and pulled off his headband, "Happy to serve!"

The audiences crowed in amazement, but the Elite 10 had mostly critical eyes even with their mouth drooling from the sight and smell of the dish.

"As expected of my rival," Takumi wiped his mouth as dignified as he could, "His skill is still unparalleled."

"Then how will Tadokoro serve her turn?" Ikumi leaned up in interest.

And speak of the angel, Megumi prepared her dish. A long plate with three onigiris set on top of lettuce, with carrots and pickles decorated in a floral arrangement, and a sauce cup that looks like tartar on the side. instead of a whole brown onigiri though, there was white rice and fried rice mixed together.

She put her plate to the judges table and already reserved an extra one for her opponent of the day.

"Oh, you made a portion for me?"

"Don't sound surprise, you did the same," Megumi chided. "Besides, this was always meant for you. So please dig in and enjoy, everyone."

Her words hadn't made sense to him, but Souma followed her instruction and took a bite of his onigiri.

And was socked in the gut by the strong euphoric flavor that caught them completely off guard.

"Exquisite," Shinomiya breathed out, "The crusty exterior from the breadcrumbs in contrast to the warm interior as if the inside was a freshly cooked bowl of rice made it a delectable as it is, but what's more the fried rice flavor seemed to ring across the mouth even though the added plain rice should have disturb it."

"It's no different to the uneven blended flavoring that Kurokiba used in our first shokugeki against Central," Erina recalled, "However, in Megumi's case, her each individual grain of fried rice is no different to a strong spice and mixing it with regular rice only made the taste that much distinct."

"The rice itself is already a delicacy, but the grilled squid makes it devine. Not to mention the sauce, I know you coated it with honey, garlic, pepper, but Tadakoro even mixed is oyster sauce in both the filling and the rice that further brought out the umami flavor that could even contest Yukihira. Truly she has a knack in choosing ingredients that push her dish to the limit."

The audience took a sharp breath. What should have been an obvious victory instead became a match that could tip either way. But what both food has in common was the hungry glaze the two Council members drew from the stadium.

Souma grinned from hearing the judges sung praises on his best friend. He couldn't have put it better himself as he felt nothing but pride and joy for her as he savored the juicy squid and the crunchy yet savory rice that makes you crave for more yet satisfied at the same time.

He opened his mouth, a mountain of commentaries and question of her recette, method, and chosen of spices at the tip of his tongue–

"Happy birthday, Souma-kun."

–and it all fell blank as her words hit him like a block of brick. Souma blinked as he belatedly tried to digest her words, "Eh?"

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHH?!" The whole stadium roared out.

Megumi's whole face flushed adorably, knowing how ridiculous this might have seemed to others and laughed at herself.

"Hehe, I didn't think we would garner this much attention, but I wanted to say it after you took a bite of my dish."

"Tadakoro… what? I don't…" Thinking over it, yes, today is his birthday. However, Souma hadn't given much thought outside the celebrating call from his pops. Much too preoccupied with winning the match against her and has trouble connecting the dots. "Was that the reason you asked for a shokugeki with me?"

If possible, her blush deepened as she shyly nodded. "I, err, I wanted to make your favorite dish. But you never mentioned what it was so I asked Saiba-san and he mentioned your mother and the uneven fried rice because–"

"–she put too much soy sauce in," Souma recalled fondly, "So pops had to mix in with regular rice so it wouldn't taste too strong." He looked down at the nostalgic fried rice being shaped and cooked in a way only Megumi would do. It was enough to make Souma laugh.

Souma looked at her. Really looked at her.

Megumi had always been a person that reached out for others, so he rarely questioned it each time the girl dropped everything to be the first in line to support him in whatever inane endeavor he put himself in to ease his burden — and for that, he'll always be grateful to her. At some point, Souma put Megumi into his plans, slotting perfectly next to him, without realizing that he rarely imagines his future without her.

That he doesn't want to plan a future without her.

Yet at the back of his head, he sometimes wondered why she stuck around. This selfless person who stood and fought among a bunch of egotistical chefs, including himself, using her kind hearted dish that never fails to make you warm on the inside.

"You know… you could have offered me the dish without going through all this," he gestured to the limelights and audiences.

But Megumi shook her head, "Souma-kun, I know you love Shokugeki. You always look like you have the most fun putting everything you have on a plate, and clashing yourself against other cooks. That's why, that's why when I was thinking what I could do to make you happy, this was what I thought."

Megumi gave her usual smile that brightened up her face; all sweet, caring, and charming. Her heart worn on her sleeve or bared in her cooking in this case.

"Souma-kun, you are a very precious friend. Not only did you save me, you gave me courage and hope. But most importantly, being with you makes me so happy, no matter what crazy hijinks you ended up in. So on this special day, I want you to know… I'm so glad I met you."

Souma was floored and felt his jaw drop. He knew full well that just because Megumi could handle herself better, doesn't mean she's comfortable with crowds and pressuring gaze of expectation falling on top of her. But she let herself be on the stage simply to give him a dish she dedicatedly made in the best way possible.

'All this… for me?'

The thought made Souma's heart squeezed and inflated, head light and heavy, humbled and exuberant. A cocktail of emotions stirred within him as he recalled his dad's words…

"Listen, Souma. The secret to becoming a great chef is meeting a person you want to give all your cooking to."

At first, he couldn't understand. Souma had always exhausted his cooking for every person he served his food to. He had a hard time imagining giving all his cooking for one single person.

But finally he understood.

Becaue right here, right now: Souma saw a great chef standing in front of him.

Megumi suddenly shut her eyes out and covered her face, "Oh gods, I didn't mean to say everything out like that. Err, Souma-kun? Are you okay? Your face is red. Is it too much? Did I do something unnecessary? If so, I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable or– eeeep!"

The girl yelped as she was pulled into a crushing hug from her best friend. The pull was sudden but not unwanted, but Megumi was having a hard time getting her head straight with her face smashed against his chest and the stadium rocked by the excited roar of the audience.

But Souma's next words pierced through the deafening crowd and had her return the gesture.

"Thank you… Megumi."

. . .

"So do we start giving our verdict or not?" Shinomiya asked from the side while pretending not to care at the sweet sight they were being shown.

Doujima chuckled at his kouhai, "Isn't it clear who won? After all, she got her message across."

Erina gazed back down at the dish and tasted another bite of the onigiri. It was a delicious mess of a dish; never knowing when the next bite will take you by surprise yet secretly sweet all the same, yet the inside is filled with warm gooey goodness that makes you crave for more.

Not unlike an embrace you never want to come out while waiting for the first break of sunlight after a long snowy winter.

Erina looked back at her pair of friends with eyes filled with affection for only one another without a single glance to the scoring board. She wondered, not for the first time, if this was what love tasted like.