SPOILER: LONG CHAPTER
Later that Week
My, oh my what a week it had been for Soma and Erina, especially after the events of their summer camping trip with Alice and Ryo and also the romantic evening they had together at one of Totsuki's premier events. The moments and kisses that they had shared should've propelled them to the next step of their relationship which would've been becoming a couple or an item.
However, that would not be the case.
Instead, after their period of romanticism, they reverted to their old ways, of being strangers and avoiding each other. This was not because they hated each other or were having second thoughts of the emotions that they had shared together, but mostly because of their inability to tell each other their true feelings.
As many people know, although they were teens, Soma and Erina did not have a typical childhood like the rest of civilization. They did not grow up in the typical environment the normal person would. They grew up around food 24/7 and their reality was that food was life. Without food, they would be lost. That is why they had such trouble being able to display or even let the other know how they really felt.
But at this point, it was evident to see that the two of them would soon come together eventually.
Totsuki Mansion - Erina's Office
Although she dreaded it, Erina didn't mind having some work to do right now. The past few weeks were such a hurricane of emotions for her, that it was nice to have a little distraction right now. Her experiences with her favorite redhead had made her feel like she was on top of the universe. However, she still did not know how to translate those emotions into words. On top of that, she had plenty of work she needed to do and she reminded herself that she still had responsibilities to attend to for both herself and her family.
As she looked at her computer screen, reading another updated report of Totsuki's business affairs in another foreign country, her door busted open unexpectedly. This made Erina jump out of her chair as she tried to recompose herself for her guest.
"Alice! Don't just barge in like that!" she yelled at her always happy looking cousin. Alice just skipped along into Erina's office with a large smile on her face and a brown paper envelope in her hands, not focused at all at her cousin's irritated look.
"Oh don't be like that Erina. You know you're always happy to see me," Alice said as she sauntered over to Erina's desk and took up one of the seats at the desk. Erina's look of irritation did not fade from her face.
"While I am more than happy to entertain you at times, Alice, this is not one of those times. I am busy with work. Besides, I thought you were supposed to have left for Denmark with Ryo on Wednesday?" Erina said as she moved back to looking over her work, not noticing the envelope Alice was holding.
"All you do is work, work, work Erina. Why don't you take a small break and entertain your cousin for a little? Yes, I was supposed to leave on Wednesday however, Mama and Papa have important business meetings this week and asked if Ryo and I wouldn't mind staying in Japan a little longer. Which I don't mind, especially now that some recent events have caught my attention," Alice replied with her signature sly smile as she stared at her cousin.
"Oh, and what recent events are those?" Erina asked dully, refusing to look her cousin in the eye. To be honest, she didn't really care about what Alice was talking about but knew that if she didn't play Alice's game, she would never be able to get her cousin to leave.
"Well, a new budding romance of course! You know I'm a sucker for a good love story," Alice replied as she started to open the envelope she held.
"Ugh, really Alice? More gossip? Don't you ever get tired of those types of things?" Erina asked, as she now turned her attention to her cousin. Even though she wasn't interested at first, Erina was always a sucker for some gossip at times. She now noticed that Alice was opening up an envelope and wondered what could possibly be in it.
"You know I never do, dear cousin. Especially this time. It's very exciting and something I have been waiting for some time now!" Alice replied as she slipped out of the envelope some photos. She scanned over the top few photos and the smile on her face grew wider.
"What are those?" Erina asked curiously. She did not know what had come over her cousin. This new romance had better be good.
"Photos of the new couple of course! It appears my hunch of this couple was spot on!" the white-haired Nakiri answered excitingly.
"Alice, you know you shouldn't be spying on people. It's not a good look for a Nakiri and I'm pretty sure it's against the law," Erina retorted, not liking the idea that Alice had pictures of other people who may not have known that they were being spied on.
"Oh come on Erina. I wouldn't spy on people like that. Besides, this couple decided to display their affections in public. There were many people that saw them. Though, I'm pretty sure I'm the only one that cared enough to take pictures. Besides these are just for me anyway, in case I need it in the future," Alice replied with the sly grin on her face as Erina frowned at her response.
Erina wasn't big on public displays of affection. She thought it was stupid and immature. She believed that those affections should take place in private and not for the world to see. If it were up to her, she and her future significant other would not be caught dead in public showing any affection towards each other, not even holding hands would be allowed. Though she forgot the part about her and Soma dancing during the summer ball.
" Still, I don't think it's right. You should probably shred them," Erina responded, even though she was very curious as to who this new "couple" was. Alice could see the contemplation on Erina's face and knew she got her cousin.
"You sure you don't want to see them? I think it'll be very worth your while, Erina," Alice sadistically said as she dangled the photos in front of Erina. It was a few moments of silence before the blonde Nakiri's curiosity got the best of her. She reached for the photos and snatched them out of her cousin's hand.
When Erina turned the photos over to see what content they held, both horror and embarrassment overtook her and her face turned a shade of red yet to be discovered by mankind.
What was it that caused her to have such a reaction?
The photos that she was looking at were from the summer ball that Totsuki had hosted. These were no ordinary photos of the food or the event itself. Instead, it was of two people. Specifically, Erina and Soma.
One photo showed Soma dipping Erina as they were dancing. You could see both their faces as they stared into each other's eyes. Soma had a small smile on his face while Erina's face seemed to show surprise at Soma's unexpected dance move. The next photo was of Erina and Soma holding hands as they exited the dance floor. Meanwhile, the last photo was the one that made Erina's heart race. It was of her dancing with Soma with her head on his chest. Her eyes were closed and a smile on her face. Her arms were placed on his chest as they danced. Soma was looking down at her with a loving gaze as he held her body close to her. If anyone else were to see that last picture, they would tell you that Erina looked like she was in pure bliss of the moment she was sharing with Soma. They looked like a couple in love.
Erina just stared at the photos for a while. She started to have flashbacks of that night. Of him protecting her from unwanted advances, them dancing together, and then the kisses they shared when they returned to the dorms. It was a great memory for her, but if these pictures were to get out, Erina wasn't sure how she would react.
"H-h-h-h-o-o-o-w-w d-did y-you g-get t-these?" Erina stuttered as Alice knew she finally got her cousin.
"Why I took them of course! It's not every day you get to see the God Tongue outside of her natural habitat," Alice retorted as Erina was in disbelief. However, her disbelief would soon turn to anger at her cousin.
"You will destroy these right now! How could you do such a thing to your own cousin?!" Erina replied angrily as she threw the pictures back at Alice.
"Well, first of all, I don't see what the big deal is here. It's not like these photos are compromising or anything. You look like you are having a great time in these photos," Alice said as she picked up the photos.
"Destroy them now Alice! Or I will do it myself," Erina replied as she went around her desk to try and take the photos out of her cousin's hands.
"You can destroy them if you want. But I have the originals on my phone and other extra copies. I COULD send this to every major food media outlet and this would be front-page by tomorrow," Alice said happily as Erina's anger rose even more.
"You wouldn't dare!" Erina said.
"I so totally would!" Alice answered back which made Erina think that she would have to murder her cousin to keep her quiet.
"But I'm not. Because despite what you think, I'm not heartless Erina. I wouldn't do that to you or Yukihira-kun," Alice added. Erina was able to breathe a small sigh of relief.
"Besides, I actually took these for you. I thought maybe you'd want some memories of that night so I took these photos for both you and Yukihira-kun. I have a few more that I can send to you as well. And don't worry, other than me, only Ryo knows about these pictures. I will not tell a single soul unless you give me permission," Alice explained as Erina's anger faded. She now realized that Alice had actually done this without any malicious intent. That horror and embarrassment faded and the God Tongue felt relieved at the situation now.
"However," Alice started which made Erina go on the defensive again.
"H-however, what?" she asked.
"I want you to tell me all about it tonight okay?! Just you and me. We can have a sleepover in my room like we used to when we were younger! If you do that, I'll make sure that no one else sees these photos," Alice said as Erina had to think about it.
"Are you blackmailing me, Alice?" Erina asked suspiciously.
"Of course not Erina. I just want to know what's going on with your love life. I remember you telling me all that stuff about your relationship with Yukihira-kun at Lake Toya, I just want to know what changed since then. Besides, we are family and I genuinely care about you Erina despite what you may think," Alice said as this surprised Erina. She knew her cousin cared for her, but not to this extent. Maybe she did need someone to talk to about this situation and if there was anyone that could help her besides Hisako, it would be Alice.
"I, I, thank you, Alice. Okay. Why not," Erina replied as Alice screamed a resounding "YAY!"
"Okay, meet up at my room around 8 tonight! This is so exciting!" Alice exclaimed as she took the photos and put them back into the envelope. She placed it on Erina's desk and hugged her cousin tightly. Erina hugged her cousin back in a rare display of familial affection between the two.
"I'll let you keep those pictures. If you want to destroy them you can, however, if you want all of them, I can text them to you. See you tonight!" Alice happily said as she skipped out of the room exactly the way she entered.
Erina just went back to her chair and slumped into it. Alice really worked her up, but she meant well in this situation. She loved her cousin, she really did. Erina just wished that Alice wouldn't be so childish about these types of things.
She stared at the envelope of photos that Alice had left her. After a few moments of staring, Erina took the photos out to look at them.
She hated to admit it, but she did look very happy in the photos. The way that both she and Soma looked at each other was definitely not the look friends give each other. They looked like they were, dare she say it, in love.
There it was, that L word again. Those memories that she shared with him on that night were some of the best memories by far in her life. She wished for more of those in the future. Though she started her day wanting to distract herself from thinking of him, the happy memories and feelings only brought her back to thinking of Yukihira Soma.
It was safe to say, she did not get any work done for the rest of the day.
Later that Night - Nakiri Mansion
Squeals of joy, excitement, and happiness could be heard throughout the Nakiri mansion. Alice could not contain herself as Erina explained what had happened throughout these past few weeks between her and Soma. From the accidental kiss, they shared at Lake Toya, to the events that happened at the summer ball, to the first actual goodnight kiss they shared after the summer ball. Erina explained about what had happened and everything they had gone through since the Lake Toya trip.
Alice listened intently and every romantic thing that was brought up produced another loud pitch squeal from the Molecular Gastronomy expert. Erina internally squealed as well as she recalled all of the memories that she had shared with Soma. A noticeable blush on Erina's face was a dead give away that she was enjoying telling her cousin all of this.
"But you can't tell anyone any of this Alice," Erina said as Alice nodded.
"I know, I know. The only person I'll tell is Ryo-kun," Alice replied as Erina shook her head.
"Not even Ryo!"
"Who is he going to tell? Besides, we'll be in Denmark in a week and we're going to be focusing on the Elite Ten Elections. Don't worry about him, I promise he won't tell a soul either," Alice assured her cousin as Erina reluctantly agreed. She knew that Alice would tell Ryo anyways.
"So, are you two officially a couple?" Alice asked as Erina played with her long, blonde locks.
"Um, I'm not sure. I don't really know to be honest," Erina responded.
"Erina! You read all those shoujo mangas. Shouldn't you have an idea of what you two are?" Alice persisted.
"I mean we haven't really talked since the summer ball. I haven't had the time and neither has he I would imagine," Erina replied.
"Well, you better get him on lock. People have started to take notice of him. It's only a matter of time before more girls will be swooning over him to get his attention," Alice said as the thought of competition for Soma made Erina a little jealous.
"I-I-I, it shouldn't have to be my responsibility to figure out what we are. That idiot should do his part, too," Erina said as Alice shook her head.
"Look, no offense to Yukihira-kun, but he is kind of dense. I don't think he knows what to do, just like you don't know what to do. Why don't you make the first move? It doesn't always have to be the guy that initiates things you know," Alice explained as Erina thought about it. While what Alice was saying was true, she seemed completely as lost as Soma was.
"I would, b-but I just don't know. What if he doesn't want a relationship? I mean, he's pretty focused on cooking as am I. Maybe a relationship isn't something that we should be focusing on at this point?" Erina thought aloud as Alice shook her head again.
"Erina, what did I tell you back at Lake Toya. You have to get him before he is gone. Your happiness takes precedence over food," Alice explained.
"But our family reputation is something we need to uphold. Our name is everything. If we don't uphold that, then everything our family has ever worked for could be ruined," Erina replied.
"Our name will always be reputable. We are number one in every food and hospitality service in Japan and probably in the world. Everyone knows Totsuki and everyone knows our name. But what good is a name if you're miserable and alone the rest of your life. Cooking is important, yes, but it's not the most important thing. Don't you think being able to share that food with someone is even more important? Being able to share it with someone for the rest of your life?" Alice said as it made Erina think a little.
It sounded so much like what Soma told her when they were looking at the stars at the campsite at Lake Toya.
"Well, I cook because it brings me genuine happiness. I love to see the faces of customers who enjoy eating food. Obviously, I want to be the best. I came to Totsuki to become the best and to learn different techniques and cuisine from other amazing chefs. But I know that striving to become the best shouldn't interfere with my happiness. I remember dad saying that after a while, winning all of these tournaments and awards didn't do it for him. None of those things brought him true happiness. That's why he left Totsuki in the first place. Then he met mom and for the first time, found the happiness he had been searching for. I think the best advice he ever gave me was that the secret to becoming a great chef, is to find a woman that will make you want to give all the food you make to her,"
Erina knew that Soma was the one she wanted. There would never be anyone else for her. Maybe she just needed to figure out how to tell him though.
"I'll have to think about it," Erina said as Alice squealed again. She watched her cousin think long and hard about what she had said. She knew that something would happen before the new school year started. She just hoped that Erina would be willing to spill the details when she got back.
The Next Week
As the week went by, it was almost business as usual for both Soma and Erina. They didn't see each other much, usually just in passing, but it was still a little awkward. It seemed that Erina was still thinking about some things. However, she did hang out with Alice a lot more and they talked about things she could possibly say or do.
Unfortunately, when it seemed like they were getting a plan in motion, it was time for Alice and Ryo to leave. Alice wished her cousin luck and told her that she would be rooting for her. She reminded Erina to call her every night for updates and to make sure to tell her everything when they got back.
Erina felt confident about things but also felt a little alone. It seemed she was by herself, really only having her grandfather to lean on and she did not feel like telling him about her love for Soma just yet. Everything she and Alice talked about went out the window as she didn't have the courage and confidence to tell her favorite red-head about how she really felt.
Of course, the same could be said for Soma as well. He had been thinking about things over the past weeks about where he and Erina stood. He knew he had strong feelings for her, but he was oblivious on how to tell her. He knew he couldn't talk to anyone about it at the moment because he didn't know what to ask.
He decided that maybe taking a break from training and heading back home would do the trick to help clear his mind. He packed up his knives and some clothes in a small suitcase and let Fumio-san know of his intentions. She had no objections but advised him to tell Senzaemon himself so that he could get the final approval.
Soma made the long trek to the Nakiri Mansion to meet with the Director. In typical Yukihira fashion, when asked if he had an appointment, Soma was unaware that he needed one. He was almost turned away, due to the Director's busy schedule, until Erina noticed Soma. She wondered what he was doing here and went to see what all the commotion was about.
"Soma-kun, what are you doing here?" Erina asked as Soma and one of the assistants for Senzaemon were finishing up their conversation.
"Oh hey Nakiri, I needed to ask your Gramps something, but she's saying I can't because I don't have an appointment. I didn't really know I needed one," Soma said embarrassingly as he smiled and scratched the back of his head.
"Erina-sama, I checked your Grandfather's schedule and he seemed very busy today. I wasn't sure if Mr. Yukihira could fit into his schedule," the assistant explained.
"I understand. Is this a quick question for my Grandfather Soma-kun?" Erina asked.
"Yeah, it is actually. I just need his approval for something. It shouldn't take more than five minutes," Soma answered as Erina nodded her head.
"Okay, I can take you to him. He should be taking his lunch break soon anyways. Thank you Masako for your help," Erina said as she bowed slightly to the assistant and then motioned Soma to follow her.
The walk to the Director's office was a long and quiet one. Both Soma and Erina seemed to be a little distracted and a little awkward around the other. Before they got there, however, Erina decided to ask what Soma wanted approval for.
"So what kind of approval do you, Soma-kun?" Erina asked as she snapped Soma out of his thoughts.
"Oh, I just need to ask him for approval so that I can go off campus for a week. I'm going to head home and open up the shop for a little. Need to take my mind off some things," Soma explained as Erina nodded her head.
"You're going to run the restaurant by yourself?" Erina asked.
"Um, yeah I guess I am, haha. It shouldn't be too bad. Usually, I'll be running it with my dad but I'm sure I can manage with just me," Soma replied as Erina nodded again.
As they reached Senzaemon's office, Erina knocked at the door. She told Soma to wait outside first and she would call him in when she got approval. Senzaemon called for her to enter and the two of them stepped into the Director's large office.
"Erina, what can I do for you today?" Senzaemon said as Erina entered first.
"I know you're busy Ojii-sama, but Soma-kun needed to ask for your approval for something," Erina said as Senzaemon looked at her with his typical stoic face.
"Of course!" Senzaemon replied with a small chuckle. "Bring him in."
Erina motioned Soma to come in. The redhead showed some unusual respect and bowed slightly before Senzaemon which elicited a chuckle out of the Director.
"Well, Yukihira Soma, what can I approve of for you today?" Senzaemon asked.
"Uh, well Senzaemon-sama, I was wondering if you could approve my request to leave campus and return to my hometown for a week?" Soma asked in a very polite manner, something that kind of shocked both Senzaemon and Erina.
"Why yes of course I approve. Is everything alright at home? Your father isn't doing something stupid again is he?" the Director asked.
"No, no everything is good at home. To be honest, I don't know where pops is but I'm sure he's fine. I just wanted to head home and open the shop for a little while," Soma answered as Senzaemon nodded his understanding.
"Oh okay. That sounds like a great idea. Will it be just you running the diner?" Senzaemon asked.
"Yeah, most likely. Usually, be me and pops but he's not here so it'll just be me. I think I'll be able to manage," Soma responded.
"Mmmm, I see. Well, I'm sure you will be working hard this next week then. Do you have a ride back to Sumire? Or do you need one? I can arrange for a car to take you there,"
"No, I don't think that'll be necessary. I've got my moped," Soma said, though he did think about accepting the Director's offer. His moped would be very slow with that suitcase he was bringing with him. It was going to take him forever to get back home.
Senzaemon noticed Soma thinking about the logistics of his trip and thought of a brilliant idea. He turned his direction to his granddaughter who was standing by. Erina turned to her grandfather and for some reason felt uneasy as he looked at her.
A Couple Hours Later
Soma's fear of having to ride back to Sumire on his moped with his suitcase was put to rest. He was riding in the back of a nice car provided by Senzaemon to his hometown. However, he wasn't alone on this trip.
Next to him sat Erina, who had a look of embarrassment on her face as she rode with Soma back to his hometown. How could her grandfather scheme against her like this and make her go with her crush back to his hometown?
Flashback
"Ojii-sama, why do I have to go with him?" She asked her grandfather as Senzaemon laughed at Erina's obvious nervousness about the whole situation.
"Erina, this is a chance for you to experience something different. I was wondering when an opportunity like this would arise. Although you may have some reservations about this, Joichiro and Soma's diner is not your typical diner. You will soon see that for yourself," Senzaemon replied.
"But it'll be just me and Soma-kun the entire time? I thought you were old-fashioned?"
"Don't worry about that. Their living area upstairs is big enough that you will have separate rooms. I trust Yukihira Soma enough to know that nothing will happen to you. Besides, I can have someone there quickly if anything does happen. And Yukihira will need some help running the place. He can't do it by himself even though he would like to think he can," Senzaemon replied with a laugh at Soma's great ambition.
"But what about my work?" Erina asked.
"Again, don't worry about that Erina. Think of this as another Stagiaire. It will only be for a week. Plus, I'm sure you'll learn a thing or two from Yukihira,"
"I doubt that Ojii-sama," Erina responded with an attitude of disgust.
"BWAHAHAHA, oh Erina be open-minded about this. I promise you will learn something from this experience. I guarantee it," Senzaemon said as he stood up from his desk and patted his granddaughter on the head.
"Now go pack some things for the week. I'm sure you'll be very busy," Senzaemon said as he left his office in a good mood. Erina soon followed, unsure of what the future held.
Flashback End
"You know, you didn't have to come with me, Nakiri. I could've managed the restaurant myself," Soma said, breaking the silence the two had shared since their car ride began.
"I know Soma-kun, however, Ojii-sama thought differently," Erina replied, not looking at Soma.
"Well, I'm glad he's looking out," Soma said as the two returned to silence.
Eventually, they reached Restaurant Yukihira. Erina was definitely not impressed at the exterior of the place. She really couldn't believe that her idol cooked here for so many years or that the object of her affection had lived and trained here for nearly his entire life.
Soma unlocked the door to the restaurant and entered with Erina following closely behind him. The place was dark and a little dusty, but it was home for Soma. It felt nice to be at a place that was so familiar to him. He turned on the lights of the restaurant as Erina took a good look at the place. If she was being honest, it looked no different from any other diner. The interior seemed to be old fashioned and looked like it hadn't been renovated in years. Everything about the place seemed to scream ordinary diner.
"I don't understand what Ojii-sama meant when he said that this was no ordinary diner," she thought.
"Come, Nakiri, I'll show you to your room," Soma said as he motioned for his guest to follow him upstairs. As the two made their way upstairs, Soma pointed in the direction of a particular room.
"You can use my room since it's probably the cleaner of the two rooms. The only thing is we have to share a bathroom. So we can set some kind of schedule up for the week where we each have our own time to shower and stuff," Soma explained as he put his stuff down in the main living area and walked to show Erina her new room. Once there, Soma let her be and turned to put his stuff away in his father's room.
Meanwhile, Erina took in the entire picture of Soma's room. She couldn't believe that the love of her life lived in such a small space. She figured she would have to live out of her suitcase for the week since there didn't seem to be much room to take out her things and put them neatly away. She felt his bed and it seemed a little springy and uncomfortable. She figured she could manage that.
What Erina didn't know if she could manage was the scent. The scent of the room was filled with Soma's. It was almost intoxicating for her. She couldn't believe she was here with him and it was just them two. No Fumio-san to watch over them or her Grandfather to be there. It was just the two of them living together for a week. She wasn't sure if she could maintain her emotions for a week. But if Erina was honest with herself, she would realize that she was happy that she now had him all to herself.
After about an hour or so, the two teens washed up and were getting ready to go out. Soma needed ingredients if he was going to open up the restaurant again. At first, Soma didn't know if he had enough money to buy ingredients and have enough money for the register, but Soma sent his dad a text that he was going to be opening up the restaurant for a week and Joichiro immediately wired a good amount of money for him to use.
"Coming in clutch for once," he thought. Soma made no mention that Erina was also with him.
"Alright, Nakiri, let's head to the market. We have a lot of ingredients we will need for the opening tomorrow," Soma said as Erina nodded in agreement. The two made their way outside and started to walk to the supermarket. It was late in the afternoon when they started their journey and people were starting to come home from work. Soma was greeted by many people who were surprised to see him back home.
"I'm opening up the restaurant for the week. If you want, you can stop by for a meal," Soma said to many who were regular customers of Yukihira's. Erina was a bit astonished by Soma's popularity in the neighborhood.
At the supermarket, the two teens ran into Yuya Tomita, who also appeared to be shopping for ingredients.
"Ah Tomita-san you seem to be doing well," Soma greeted as Tomita smiled at him.
"It's good to see you again too Yukihira-san. What brings you back to the neighborhood?" Tomita asked.
"I'm opening up the restaurant for a week. Figured it'd be a good time to do so during my summer vacation," Soma said as Tomita nodded in agreement.
"Well, it seems like I'll be having quite a few meals at your establishment this next week," Tomita excitedly exclaimed.
"Ah Tomita-san, where are my manners, this is Nakiri Erina. She is one of my classmates from Totsuki. She's going to be helping me with the restaurant," Soma said as Erina bowed to Tomita who in turn did the same.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Nakiri. Welcome to Sumire Town. We hope you enjoy your stay here. Thank you for helping Soma with the restaurant. He will be very busy especially when people in the neighborhood hear that he's back. Also, don't forget to check Tomitaya, we serve bento's as well," Tomita explained.
"I-I will definitely give it a try," Erina responded politely as Soma and Tomita started to chat a bit before going their separate ways to focus on their shopping.
"Soma-kun, who was that?" Erina asked, a little perplexed at the relationship between Soma and Tomita.
"Oh, that's Tomita-san. He's like the chairman of our shopping district and he also runs a bento place close to Yukihira's," Soma answered.
"Why are you and him so nice to each other?" Erina asked.
"What do you mean, Nakiri?" Soma asked back, wondering what she was getting at.
"Well, you both have food establishments. Shouldn't you two be rivals or something like that?"
"Hahaha. No, no it's not like that Nakiri," Soma said as he placed some vegetables into their cart. Erina didn't seem to understand still as she gave Soma a funny look.
"Tomita-san is one of the nicest people on the planet. He is also one of the many people here in Sumire that helped me growing up. I learned a lot of values from that man. He is a man I have immense respect for," Soma replied a soft smile on his face but Erina could see deep down past that smile that Soma was serious about it. She decided not to push the issue any further.
The two of them continued shopping for ingredients. Soma figured for the first day that he would stick to the regular specials like Yukihira's Beef Stew, Mapo Tofu, Pork & Tofu teishoku set, liver and garlic chives set, Chinese Fried Rice and other simple dishes. This would allow him to serve good food while also getting Erina acclimated to the pace of the restaurant.
Erina followed along as Soma told her the plan of what they would be cooking for tomorrow's service and the prep work they would need to do for tonight and tomorrow. Although she was unsure of the menu as it seemed so simple, she understood that she was just helping him and would try to not micromanage him.
As they returned to Yukihira's, the two teens started to get ready for tomorrow's service. Soma figured they would open for at least the lunch rush and maybe the following day they could open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The two worked quietly for the most part, unless Soma was explaining to Erina how they cooked certain menu items. He also explained to her the pace at which they would cook and serve the food. Erina was surprised at how flexible and fluid the plan Soma and Joichiro had come up with in terms of taking orders, cooking the food, and then serving it. She was very interested in how it would all play out tomorrow.
Within the next couple of hours, the two prepped everything they needed for service and ate a little before heading off to bed. Erina was a little worn out from the car ride and all of the prep so she decided to lie down. Soma went outside for a bit to smoke some squid for a new creation he had been wanting to try.
He hadn't really had time to think of his feelings for Erina today. It seemed like being home and opening up the restaurant had really taken his mind off of her which is why he wanted to come home in the first place. However, the fact that she was with him and it was only the two of them alone together, really made his heart race. He hoped that this week, he would not fuck up anything to ruin the good thing that they had going so far. Like he had told himself before he would allow fate to handle the rest.
He tried out his new creation, squid, and coffee ice cream. It was disgusting as usual, but Soma was determined to find a good combination with his squid.
When he went back upstairs, he noticed Erina had already fallen asleep. He closed her door quietly, but not before taking a small peek at her peaceful slumber. He noticed how beautiful she was, even as she slept.
"I wouldn't mind getting used to this," he thought as he closed her door and went to his bed for the evening.
The Next Day
Soma got up at 7 am, an unusual time for a person who loves to sleep in. As he went out to use the bathroom, he noticed that his room was empty which meant Erina was already up. He went through his morning routine before heading downstairs to see what Erina was up to.
She was nearly done with breakfast, cooking up a couple of omelets stuffed with different vegetables and cheeses. As she plated the omelets, she turned around and noticed Soma watching her from the bottom of the stairs. She smiled softly at him as she placed the plates of food onto the counter where customers eat.
"I made breakfast Soma-kun. I hope you don't mind if I used some ingredients from today's service. I figured if we run out I can go to the market and get more," Erina said as she took a seat.
"I don't think it'll be a problem. We should be good for today," Soma said as he took a seat near Erina and started to dig into the omelet. Both of them ate in relative silence. After breakfast, the two cleaned up the place and started to prep for the day.
As opening time was nearing, Soma felt something wasn't right about the restaurant. He looked around the entire restaurant as Erina watched him with some intrigue.
"What are you looking for Soma-kun?" she asked.
"Somethings not right. Something just feels off," Soma replied as he scanned the room again. It wasn't until he laid eyes on the God Tongue standing in the kitchen did he realize what was wrong. He ran upstairs quickly as Erina was still unsure what in the world he was doing.
Soma came back down, holding a Yukihira long-sleeve shirt and went over to Erina.
"Please put this on Nakiri," Soma said as Erina was a little thrown off at the request.
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing right now?" she asked.
"Well, nothing actually. But this week you work at Yukihira's, so you have to look the part as well. You can wear mines for now and maybe after service tonight I'll see if you can fit into my mom's old ones," Soma explained as Erina was a bit hesitant to change but did so anyway.
As she changed her shirt and looked in the mirror, Erina ran her hand over the Yukihira name on her shirt. She was a little shocked that she was wearing such a thing. She wondered if they had a future together, would she be wearing his clothes like this regularly. In addition to that, if she thought the scent of Soma in his room was intoxicating, the scent on his shirt was ten times that. She loved his smell. This was going to be a week she would remember.
When she came back down, Soma noticed her immediately.
"Damn, she really makes anything she wears look good," Soma thought as Erina wore his baggy Yukihira's long sleeve with her white apron over it and black pants. He was staring so long that it made Erina blush a little.
"I-I-Is t-t-there s-something w-wrong S-Soma-kun?" Erina asked.
"N-No, n-nothing w-wrong N-Nakiri," he replied stuttering. "You look the part now," he said, giving her his signature grin.
"Let's open for business!"
Within minutes, the lunch rush that happened every day in Sumire Town came in a flurry. Customers who had heard that Yukihira's was opening up again eagerly lined up to be seated at the small diner. Erina started in the front and seated diners and took orders while Soma started cooking in the back.
This lunch rush was no joke, but Erina's experience helped her take control of the situation. She also noticed Soma's demeanor in the kitchen. He was laser-focused, making sure the food was being cooked on time and at a consistent pace so that diners would not be waiting for so long.
With them being busy, the two teens needed to work multiple jobs, Erina helping with cooking and Soma also helping with front of the house service.
"Ah, Soma-kun, it's so nice to have you back! It's been so long since I was able to eat you and your father's food," said a long time customer.
"I've been waiting for over a year to come back!" said another.
"The food is great as usual. I see you got some new help as well," said an older woman.
"Thank you. If there's anything else you need, feel free to let me or Erina know," Soma replied as he zoomed back to the kitchen to check on things.
Meanwhile, Erina was making sure to follow her idol's recipes as she cooked healthy servings of Mapo Tofu and Pork & Tofu sets.
"Soma-kun, table eight needs more water, and table four's food has been sitting for a minute already," she ordered him as Soma quickly took care of her commands.
In an instant, the roles switched.
"Nakiri, Table one needs another set of utensils, and Table three needs to be wiped down so that the next set of guests can be seated. I'll take the Chinese Fried Rice to Table six. Also, Table five needs a to-go box," Soma said as Erina huffed a little but did as she was told.
Although the lunch rush was only a couple of hours, Soma and Erina flip-flopped their roles effortlessly. Diners were very happy that their favorite neighborhood spot was back open and with such great service to add to it.
The two of them got to take a short break as the stream of customers seemed to slow for a little.
"Are the crowds always like this during the lunch rush?" Erina asked as Soma was cooking up a beef stew for a customer and also for them to eat for a short lunch break.
"Usually. People always come for lunch and dinner. Diners like ours are popular because of the speed, quality of food, and price," Soma said as he placed a bowl of beef stew in front of Erina. "Eat up, this might be your only meal until after dinner service," Soma said as he took another bowl of beef stew to a diner.
As Erina ate, she watched as Soma easily interacted with the customers. In fact, she had been watching him nearly throughout the entire lunch service. She watched as he conversed with people regardless if they were a regular or someone just eating there for the first time. He made sure that everyone was genuinely happy with the food they were eating. It was much different from the fine dining establishments that Erina was used to. However, she really didn't believe this to be true. How could he be connecting with every guest? She thought it was maybe a one-time thing since he was back.
After a few hours of a slow pace, things began to ramp up again as dinner service started. People were coming in waves as they eagerly awaited to eat at their favorite food spot. Again, both Soma and Erina switched roles constantly throughout the service.
During a moment when Soma was in the front of the house, Mayumi Kurase and Aki Koganei dropped by to check out Yukihira's.
"Oh Kurase, Koganei, long time no see. Welcome back to Yukihira's," Soma said as he showed them to their table.
"Soma-kun, when did you get back?" Aki asked as Mayumi could barely look at Soma.
"Oh, I just got back yesterday. Decided since it's my summer vacation, I would open the restaurant for a week," Soma said as he moved in a flash to bring them water.
"Y-You're w-working b-by y-yourself S-Soma-k-kun?" Mayumi asked.
"Soma-kun! I have tables waiting on their order. Hurry up!" Erina called from the kitchen.
"Hehehe. I'll be right back to take your orders," Soma said embarrassingly as he ran to the pickup counter to take care of the orders.
"So what can I get you two tonight?" he asked as he arrived back at their table.
"Who was that Soma-kun?" Aki asked.
"Oh, she's a classmate of mine. She's helping me for the week. I'll introduce you guys later. Did you want your usuals?" Soma asked as the two girls nodded. Soma was gone in a flash to tell Erina about the new orders.
"See I told you that you needed to be more confident. Now he's hanging with some new girl," Aki scolded Mayumi as the shy girl got even more nervous.
After about five or so minutes Erina showed up to their table with their food. "Sorry for the wait. Here are your usuals, or so I'm told," she said politely as she put the dishes down.
"Oh, Nakiri, good you're here. These are my two middle school classmates Mayumi and Aki. This is Erina, my classmate from Totsuki," Soma said as Mayumi seemed even more intimidated by Erina than she was of Nikumi.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both. Soma-kun, can you make sure the counter got their orders, and check on that liver and chives set. I think you've been leaving it on the pan for a few seconds too long," Erina ordered.
"Hai, hai your highness," Soma sarcastically replied as he made his way to the kitchen.
"Are you okay Mayumi-san?" Erina asked as the shy girl was sweating as she observed Erina's body.
"Don't worry about her. She's fine. Just a little dehydrated is all," Aki replied as Mayumi just looked at her food. Erina thought it was odd but nodded and told them if they needed anything else to flag her or Soma down.
Dinner service continued without a hitch and Soma and Erina found a nice groove in their teamwork. They had obviously grown tremendously ever since their first year. They seemed so natural working together that it was almost as if they had been doing this for their entire lives.
By the time they were finished, Soma and Erina were exhausted. It took a lot out of them being the only two running an entire restaurant. However, they both enjoyed working together. As they cleaned up, Erina heard Soma muttering to himself about something she couldn't understand. He seemed to be locked in about something. She was intrigued but would ask about it later.
Once they were done cleaning, both teens were starving for something to eat. It was nearly 10 pm and they hadn't eaten in over 7-8 hours. Soma decided he would cook something simple so that they could get some rest.
He decided on a Gotcha Roast Pork that he had made over a year ago. Erina was interested when he said he was making roast pork. As she watched him, she didn't notice him using any pork or meat besides bacon. However, the smells of his cooking told her senses that there was some type of pork. As he placed a plate in front of her, it looked like typical roast pork.
However, when she took a bite into it, she tasted the potatoes, the mushrooms, the rosemary, the red wine, and the other flavors. She couldn't believe that there was no meat besides bacon in the dish. Like always, before she knew it, she finished everything on her plate as Soma looked on. He chuckled a little as she came down from her food high and noticed the smile on her face.
"So Nakiri, how was it?" he asked her. Erina looked a little embarrassed as she turned away from Soma's gaze.
"It was passable. It was interesting but passable," she replied as Soma just smiled at her. He continued staring at her as she continued to look away.
"Well, I guess I'll take that for now. I know I'll make you say delicious one day!" he declared for the millionth time.
Both Erina and Soma helped clean the rest of the dishes. They did so in their usual silence until Soma decided to make a small observation.
"You know Nakiri, you impressed me a little today," Soma said, which surprised Erina.
"How so, Soma-kun?"
"Well, you adjusted pretty well to my "diner level establishment". I thought you would have a harder time." Soma teased as Erina scoffed at the idea.
"Of course I did well. Like I told you before, a Nakiri can naturally do anything," Erina replied.
"Huh, I guess so," Soma said as he moved over to Erina to help finish up with the dishes. Soma took over the washing portion and then handed them off to Erina to dry. They got into a routine and once they were done, Soma decided to be a bit bold and slyly took Erina's hand, Erina was very surprised by his actions.
"You know, I think you're very pretty when you smile. You should do it more often," Soma said as Erina blushed heavily.
"S-Soma-k-kun," she started but couldn't find a way to respond to his compliment.
"Haha. Also just want to thank you again for helping me out. I know it's only been one day and it may get harder as the week goes on, but thanks for your hard work tonight," Soma said as he let go of Erina's hand and proceeded to do a final check before heading upstairs.
"Do you want to shower first?" He asked her from the stairs. Erina just nodded and quickly followed him upstairs.
After they took turns showering, both were in bed, thinking about the day and what would happen next.
In all honesty, neither was really focused on the cooking now. The thoughts reverted back to each other. How they were so close to each other yet so far. Both thought they needed some way to tell the other of their true feelings. Hopefully, that opportunity will arise this week. Before the two of them knew it, they drifted off to sleep, dreaming of the other.
A Few Days Later
Erina really couldn't believe that Yukihira's diner could get any more busier than it had today, but oh, she believed it now. There was no such thing as a breakfast rush, lunch rush, or dinner rush, it was just a rush. People coming in at all times of the day in droves. After hearing of Yukihira's opening back up for a week, regulars and newbies alike flocked to the small town diner establishment.
Erina was not used to such a pace, even for her. She was used to knowing how many people would need to be accounted for due to reservations, not just people stopping in and out as they pleased. This was all new to her and she was beginning to figure out what her Grandfather was saying that she would be experiencing something new.
She was starting to get a bit flustered, falling behind on some orders and not being in full sync with Soma. However, anytime she fell behind, Soma was always there to help pick her up. Because he was used to this, Soma knew how to work from behind. He knew how to work crowds like this. He had done it his entire life. Once he got Erina back on track, things flowed easily.
After another busy night, the two teens decided to try and wind down upstairs. Though they were tired, there was a little adrenaline still left from dinner service still flowing through their bodies. Erina made some leftover food and the two shared a meal together in the small living area.
"Ah, thanks for the food Nakiri. Definitely could use this after another busy night," Soma said as he started to dig into the salmon that Erina prepared.
"No problem, Soma-kun. You worked extremely hard tonight," Erina responded.
"Yeah. Fell behind a little, but caught up in the end. Thanks for the help again Nakiri," Soma said.
"Soma-kun, does this place always get this busy?" Erina asked, still a little perplexed at the crowds that flocked to the small diner.
"Not really. Even when pops was here, it was never this busy. I guess being open for a week only makes some people go crazy. To be honest, I didn't know we were this popular," Soma replied as he finished up his food quickly.
"How did you and Sai- I mean Yukihira-sama do it?" Erina asked.
"What do you mean?" Soma asked, a little puzzled.
"How did you both run a restaurant with just the two of you?"
"Oh, well it wasn't always the two of us," Soma said as his thoughts drifted off to memories of his childhood.
"What do you mean?" Erina asked. Her turn to be puzzled.
Soma paused for a little before answering Erina's question, "Well, my mom also helped out at the restaurant too," Soma said as Erina was surprised at his answer.
"Your mom?"
"Yeah," Soma said as he stared at the white headband that he wore around his wrist. He thought back to his mom and all of the special memories that he shared with her. It also brought back some sad memories of her passing as well. He could feel some tears forming as he thought back to the day when she passed. It was not like Soma to show emotions like this, but after being worn out from the day, he couldn't help it.
Erina noticed his change of demeanor as well. She couldn't help but feel some sadness for the one she loved and she also felt a bit bad for bringing up a topic that seemed to bring back some bad memories.
They sat in silence for a minute before Soma snapped out of it.
"Yeah here let me show you a picture of her," he said as he got up and picked the family photo of him, Joichiro, and Tamako from the counter. He handed it to Erina as the God Tongue took it and scanned over the photo.
The photo was from some years ago as Soma looked really young. She noticed the smiles on all of their faces as the family took their photo. They all seemed so happy to be with each other. She looked at the woman who's shirt she was wearing as she worked at Yukihira's. She could see the resemblance between Soma and his mother.
"So this is what a happy family looks like," Erina thought as she thought about her own broken family. She never knew a normal life or a normal family. Even though she seemed perfect on the outside, after seeing the picture, Erina truly wished that she could've had a family of her own like Soma's. Parents that truly loved her and that she could love.
"You all look so happy, Soma-kun," Erina said as she looked up to the redhead boy standing next to her who was also looking at the photo.
"Yeah, we were," Soma said with some sadness in his voice. It seemed the topic of family was a little sensitive to them both.
"If you don't mind me asking, Soma-kun, but what happened to your mother?" Erina asked.
It took Soma some time to really compose himself to tell Erina about what happened to his mom when he was younger. He sat down next to her and took a deep breath before telling her the story. He explained to her about his mom's heart problem and how it was the cause of her death. He explained that though it was his father who taught him how to cook, it was his mom who influenced both himself and Joichiro on their outlook on life.
"She never let anything stop her. No matter how many times she failed, she always got back up to try again. She was always optimistic, even when the situation seemed bleak, she always believed in herself that she would be successful. Even before she passed, she always told me to never give up and to always have a positive outlook on life. I carry that philosophy to this day. That's why I'm the way that I am today," Soma explained as a small tear fell from his eyes.
Erina saw the hurt and pain Soma was experiencing when talking about his mother. She understood that his mother meant a lot to him and that her death was something that he was still coping with. Even though she didn't understand that familial love that Soma did, Erina was also in tears. She couldn't imagine losing someone so close to her like that.
Soma noticed her tears and gave her a soft smile. Even during his pain, he tried to be a calming presence. Erina couldn't take it anymore and lunged at Soma with a hug.
"I'm so sorry, Soma-kun. I didn't know," she exclaimed as she hugged him as tight as she could with her head in his chest. Her actions caused Soma's tears to flow freely now. He didn't know why all of these emotions started to suddenly hit him like a freight train. He hugged her back, not wanting to let go.
"It's okay, Nakiri," he whispered softly to her as the two stayed attached to each other. He kissed the top of her head, taking in her scent. He didn't want to let go of her, for the fear of letting go felt like he would be losing her too.
"She would be so proud of the person you have become," Erina said as she lifted her head to look at Soma. They stared into each other's eyes, just like they did on the dance floor before their lips met for a soft kiss. It was a sweet and comforting kiss for the two. Something they hadn't shared with each other for a while.
"Just like I have," Erina added as Soma showed some surprise at Erina's words.
"Erina-," he started before Erina put a finger to his lips.
"Soma-kun, just listen for a little. I'm not the greatest in situations like these so I'll try my best. Ever since we got back from Hokkaido, something changed. Since I first met you, I really didn't think much of you. But at every step, no matter how much I wanted you to fail, you always pulled through. You passed everything from the Training Camp to the Autumn elections and the Stagiaire, you passed despite all of the challenges that you faced," Erina started as Soma listened intently to the words she was saying.
"And then my father returned and threw everything into chaos. That man brought me to my lowest point and when I thought all was lost, you were there to pick me up. You were there, every step of the way with me and saved everything my family worked hard for. And then you also saved me. I'm not sure the moment it happened, but I know that ever since we got back, my feelings for you changed. Ever since then, every day since then, my feelings for you have only gotten stronger. I don't know how you feel for me, but I just wanted to get this off my chest as it's been resting there for a while now. I love you, Yukihira Soma," Erina confessed as Soma was taken aback at Erina's confession. He knew he loved her and he knew they had a connection, but he didn't know that she felt so strongly about him.
Silence. Silence filled the air once again for a few moments. As the weight of Erina's words hit Soma, he knew that there was only one response he could give.
"I love you too, Erina," he said as he pulled her closer to him in an embrace. "I didn't know how you felt then, but when you asked me if I found the person I wanted to give my cooking to for the rest of my life, I had you on my mind,"
Erina smiled as she put her head back on his chest and leaned into him. She honestly felt a little embarrassed of the moment the two were sharing, but she could care less about that right now. The fact that she confessed and he confessed only made the moment perfect to her.
"To be honest, I wasn't sure about these feelings I was having for you. I just didn't want to lose you as a friend who I had been through so much with," Soma started as Erina listened intently to his words while never moving from her position.
"But then when we got back, I couldn't stop thinking about you. From those late nights in the kitchen to the times we had at Lake Toya, to the summer ball memories we shared a couple of weeks ago as you said, it only made my feelings grow stronger for you. I soon realized that I didn't want to lose you at all. Us speaking about my mom only made that desire grow even stronger," he finished as a smile grew on Erina's face. She couldn't help but think about how she made the right choice, deciding to give in to her feelings and love him.
"You will never lose me, Soma-kun. I am yours and you are mine. Nothing on this Earth will be able to separate us. No matter how far apart we may be, we will always be together," Erina said as she again looked up at Soma.
The two shared another comforting kiss, which then turned into a passionate make-out session. All of the emotions that the two held for each other were finally released and the two felt at ease having such an intimate moment. The thought crossed both their minds of pushing the situation further, but thought the better of it, not wanting to ruin the moment.
As their lips separated and they calmed down, the two teens both slowly drifted into sleep mode. Not wanting to separate, however, the two remained in the small living area, cuddled up with the other. Though they laid down on the hard wooden floor, they could care less. All they cared about was that they were with each other and that their feelings were out in the open to the other. It didn't take long for both of them to drift off to sleep, dreaming of the memories that were still to come.
End of the Week
The few remaining days of Yukihira's being open went on without a hitch. After they confessed to each other, both Soma and Erina found a comfortable groove. Their teamwork was impeccable, and they covered each other with great ease. After they closed the shop, the two would return to their cuddling, moving out a mattress into the living area. Despite their close proximity to each other, they did not advance any further from kissing. They decided that it would be wise for them to take things slow, as they had their whole lives together.
Instead, the two would just talk. Erina was very interested about Soma's childhood and the life he lived with his parents. Though it was different from the life she lived, Erina felt that she sometimes wished she could've had the life Soma had. After their talks, they would drift to sleep to prepare for the next day.
On the last day, a very important guest appeared at Yukihira's. Erina worked the front as Tomita-san dropped by again, but this time he was not alone. With him was an elderly woman who Erina noticed had a hard time walking. She noticed that the woman held on to Tomita for balance as she slowly entered the diner establishment.
"Welcome to Yukihira's," Erina exclaimed as Tomita and the elderly woman smiled at her greeting. As Erina was about to seat them, she could hear pots and pans clashing together as Soma raced out of the kitchen.
"Kiyo-Baa-chan!" he yelled as he raced towards her. Erina wondered who this person was that got Soma so worked up.
"Soma-kun, it's so nice to see you again," Kiyo said to the person she saw as an adopted grandson.
"Please come sit," Soma said as he helped Kiyo get seated to her table with Tomita. "Is there anything, in particular, you would like today, Kiyo-baa-chan?" he asked.
"Oh, why don't you surprise me like always, Soma-kun," the elderly woman responded as Soma raced back to the kitchen to get started on her food.
As he prepared her food, Erina noticed Soma's change in demeanor. She noticed that this woman meant a lot to Soma and vice versa.
"Soma-kun, who is that lady?" she asked as Soma was finishing up another customized bento for Kiyo.
He smiled as he started to plate her food, "That's Kiyo-baa-chan. She helped take care of me when I was younger. She was a regular at our place until she hurt her hip. I used to always bring her food since she took such great care of me. She is a very special person in my life, just as you are," Soma replied as he placed a tender kiss on Erina's cheek which made the Nakiri blush.
The two of them went together to bring her food as Kiyo thanked Soma for always being so extra when it came to her. As she ate, Soma looked on with excitement and happiness that she would be able to eat his cooking again. Erina watched as well as she could see the care that he put into her food.
"And who might this be, Soma-kun?" Kiyo asked, taking a break from her eating. She looked directly at Erina with a smile on her face. Soma wrapped an arm around Erina's waist and puller her closer to him.
"This one right here is one of the most special people in my life, Kiyo-baa-chan. This is Nakiri Erina," he said as Erina blushed even more. The God Tongue bowed before Soma's adopted grandmother.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Kiyo-san," she said respectfully as Kiyo chuckled.
"My, my you have definitely grown up Soma-kun. I can see that she is a special person in your life. Remember to take good care of each other," she imparted wise words into both of them.
"I definitely will," Soma replied as he stayed at the table and talked with Kiyo and Tomita as Erina went back to taking care of others in the diner.
As Erina was running the diner, she stole glances of Soma. She could see the genuine joy and happiness he had. In fact, she realized that everything about him and the diner was genuine. There was no trying to impress critics or worrying about bad reviews, it was all about making people happy.
The God Tongue thought long and hard about her Grandfather's words about her learning something from Soma. At first, she had scoffed at the idea, but now she realized that the love of her life had taught her more than she could have ever imagined.
He taught her how to be normal, he taught her how to be happy, he taught her how to understand her feelings, and most importantly, he taught her how to love.
She couldn't imagine in a million years that she could love someone like Soma. However, here they were, with their fates intertwined with the other. As Erina watched him more, she couldn't help but think of their life together in the future.
As it was getting late and the crowd was winding down due to closing time, only Kiyo, Tomita, Soma, and Erina remained. As she made her exit with Tomita, both Soma and Erina went to see her off personally at the door.
She gave the new couple some parting words of wisdom, telling them, "No matter what problems you two face, make sure to work together and never forget the feelings you have for each other. I know Soma-kun will be a bit of a handful like his father, but I'm sure you'll be able to keep him in line, Erina-chan." Soma and Erina took her words to heart as they looked at each other and smiled.
"Of course, Kiyo-Baa-chan," Soma replied.
"I'll do my best to keep him in check, Kiyo-san," Erina said as she bowed slightly.
"Well, I think it's best if I get home. It's getting late," Kiyo said as Soma hugged her one more time.
"Thank you for coming, Kiyo-Baa. And thank you for everything," he said as the elderly woman smiled and did her best to hug him back.
"You're welcome, Soma-kun. I hope to see you again soon," she said as she was escorted out by Tomita.
After closing up shop and cleaning the diner, both Soma and Erina had some time to themselves. Noticing Erina cleaning, Soma took the opportunity to sneak up behind her and bring her close to him.
He held her from behind, his hands on her waist. Erina yelped a bit at Soma's sudden actions, but then calmly settled into his body. She placed her hands on his as the two stayed in each other's embrace for a while.
Some nibbled on Erina's earlobes and gave her small kisses on her cheek and back of her neck. She laughed and giggled like a little school girl at his actions.
"So, I'm one of the most special people in your life, huh?" she teased as Soma took a nibble of her neck which made her yelp.
"Of course you are," he replied as he spun her around so that she was now facing him. She placed a hand on his cheek as she looked at the face that she fell in love with.
"And you are one of the people I cherish the most in my life," she answered back which elicited a small chuckle from Soma.
"Thank you for everything this week, Erina," Soma said.
"No, thank you for everything this week, Soma-kun," she corrected.
The two shared a special kiss as they moved back upstairs to wash up and prepare for sleep.
They couldn't believe that the week was already up. Their time together was literally life changing. They were now an official couple, something that they had been wondering about for the past few weeks.
The first challenge of their relationship was over. However, the next step and challenge that they would face, was just over the horizon.