Chapter 7: Welcome to my world

(Part 2)

Heyyy everyone,

Wow, chapter 7 already, huh? Time sure fly's by, doesn't it? I can't believe I'm actually writing this right now (and we haven't even reached the main plot yet, oh my), thank you so very much for giving this story, written by the hands of an amateur, a chance, you can't imagine how so very grateful I am, really!

Especially the lovely reviews I receive from you, Jellyann, I swear it's so heartwarming how nice you are and how write me so consistently each and every chapter. I really love it, thank you very much!

With that said, let me introduce you part 2 of our little Gala trip, I really hope you like it.

Please tell me what you think again, I really love reading and responding to your reviews!

Until next time guys, take care!

If there was one thing Nakiri Erina could say with utmost certainty, it would be that no one was to underestimate this chaotic redhead sitting right next to her. Ever.

The way he managed to sample more dishes than what was humanly possible, without even breaking a sweat, was simply out of this world, and anyone who dared to say otherwise was just downright ignorant in her opinion. It was clear that the boy was going to see this through until the end, no matter how full he may be afterwards, a trade she learned to appreciate not too long ago.

So to say she wasn't impressed would be a complete lie, not only to anyone who would ask but to herself as well, seeing as he hadn't shown a single sign of being sated up to a certain point. Then again, he did say that he had been starving ever since they headed out from the Estate, so she guessed it was a good opportunity for him to get new ideas as well as enjoy a good meal. In a way.

Of course, she couldn't deny that she had a great time as well back there. After all, those goofy expressions and the shock he tended to be in whenever he ate something extraordinary, made it pretty hard not to laugh out loud every five seconds. It was as if the excitement he felt was simply too contagious to get away from.

She hated to admit it, but she was kind of glad he had dragged her behind him to the buffet counter earlier, it was an interesting experience, to say the least.

And now… now they were sitting at their own dining table again, full but satisfied nonetheless.

Erina had no idea where Isshiki was, but from the corner of her eye she was able to see her grandfather on the other end of the hall, talking to one of Totsukis favorite sponsors. She knew that man, couldn't remember his name though as she regarded the full plate of different delicacies he held in his hand.

Thinking it was enough food she had to see for one night, she discretely averted her eyes again, making sure that her expression didn't show any of her disgust.

"Man, I'm stuffed! That sure was amazing, huh? I can't wait to get back to the dorm and combine all those incredible flavors."

"You ate way too much Yukihira, don't start whining when you get a stomachache."

"Whatever, it was totally worth it! Besides, I didn't eat that much, you were also there to help me, right? Thanks a lot for that by the way!"

Leaning a bit closer, he sent her a cheeky grin. One she couldn't help but throw back as she felt a tingly sensation spreading all over her skin, right where his arm brushed hers.

"W-well, you are welcome, I guess. Though, that doesn't mean I intend to do this ever again, do I make myself clear? It was humiliating enough to walk around with a lowly commoner like you by my side."

"Feisty as ever, huh? Well, I can live with that. But at least you gotta admit it was pretty fun, right?"

"I-I don't know what you're talking about. I-it was anything but fun, if you ask me."

Refusing to let him see the blush creeping up her cheeks, she turned her head away while crossing her arms over her chest as a sign of rejection. For some reason, Erina wasn't quite ready to say out loud that he had been right with everything he had said so far, her pride keeping her from doing it just yet.

It was frustrating and she wished it wouldn't be this way, but she couldn't just deny her inner voices either. And, she wasn't entirely sure about this but, it didn't seem like Yukihira actually minded it all that much anyway.

"Yeah, 'course it was, princess."

As she heard him chuckle with that low melodic voice of his, she found herself automatically turning around to scold him again, not tolerating to be made fun of, especially from him.

However as soon as her eyes registered how dangerously close his face had gotten to hers she found herself unable to get a single word out, inwardly starting to panic as she felt the warmth radiating from him.

The fluttery feeling in her heart, this clenching of her stomach, and the burning sensation all over her skin practically forced her to imagine now how easy it would be to just lean in and kiss him again, touch him, press herself against him… do everything she did last time…

"Hey Nakiri, you alright?"

Torn from her imagination she blinked repeatedly, finding the strength again to pull her head back a little. His closeness was just too much for her to handle right now.

"Y-yes, of course. W-why wouldn't I be?"

"I dunno, you kinda spaced out for a second there."

"I-It's nothing you need to concern yourself with, I-I'm perfectly fine."

"You sure? You looked like you were in pain or something."

"W-what?"

Panic began to build within her again, heartbeat not slowing down for a second. Had she been that obvious?

"D-don't be ridiculous, Yukihira. I have no reason to be 'in pain' or however you called it. Sometimes I get lost in thought, like every human being does, and if this is the face I make when I'm thinking then that's just something you have to get used to."

She sighed in relief when he finally leaned back in his chair again, giving no response to her harsh words.

It was a good thing he had stopped her brain from wandering off into forbidden territory again, for who knew what she would have looked like if he hadn't? The sheer thought alone made her wish she could disappear right then and there.

However worse than that was the question of how to maintain eye contact now?

She knew she would have major trouble looking at him for at least two or three hours without remembering what had occurred between them on the dormitory's balcony a few days ago.

It always happened when he was this close to her, the fantasies getting out of control, tempting her to just meet his face halfway and kiss him senseless again.

And usually there was only one solution to her dilemma before this temptation got too strong to restrain.

She needed to get away from him as fast as possible.

It also came as a perfect excuse to sneak out and start her little adventure on the facility grounds already.

"I, eh, I think I'll go… freshen up a bit. If you would excuse me."

As she stood up, ready to head outside, his eyes found hers once more.

"Huh? Where are you going?"

"You can't be seriously asking that. Show some manners around a lady, would you?"

Her words left him dumbfounded, as per usual. That man could be as dense as a brick sometimes, if not denser.

As the heiress walked across the room, she noticed her grandfather making his way back to their table, calling out to Yukihira as he passed her by. Erina gave him a small smile before quickly averting her eyes, somewhat afraid he would see right through her plans the longer he looked at her face. Although she wondered what he could possibly want from the redhead, she wasn't going to stay to find out.

'I need to get out of here before I give myself away again. I swear, that damn idiot will be the death of me.'

Finally stepping out of that overheated room, she took a quick peek at her surroundings in order to decide which route to take first. The hallway to her right led straight to the kitchen area where Hisako was working right now, so there was no need to head that way. Erina remembered starting this tour off by walking up the stairs the last time she was here, which was why she didn't want to go this way either. That left her with either taking the path on the left or walking down the stairs opposite to those on the other side.

'I suppose getting some fresh air would be a good idea. At least I would get the chance to clear my mind a little.'

With that thought in mind, the heiress made her way down the luxurious staircase, the sound of her heels muffed by the red carpet covering the floor beneath her. She passed multiple corners and empty rooms- all familiar- before finally arriving at the entrance of the gardens.

Erina loved spending time here, with its wide variety of roses and apple trees it almost looked like a little forest to her. Not to mention the beautiful fountain standing right in the middle of it.

Barely able to contain her excitement any longer, she opened the glass door and stepped outside, greeting a few people as she quickly made her way down the illuminated stairs.

Her feet carried her straight to the rose bed- just like they always did-, where she brushed her fingers over a particularly beautiful flower.

She felt so at piece whenever she came here. It was as if she didn't have those annoying thoughts distracting her from her daily tasks whatsoever, and imagining she was in a world without any sort of complications seemed exactly what the blonde needed right now in order to compose herself.

Except that she couldn't.

Now that Erina was outside, on her own, she used the opportunity to try and figure out what had happened to her back inside the main hall rather than relax. Yukihiras face had been so close, she could almost feel his warm breath tickling her cheek, making her feel like she was paralyzed in her seat for a moment, unable to get a hold of herself.

The fact that Yukihira had been sporting this charming expression on his face gave her the impression he might have wanted the same thing as she did... It was this exact expression that had initiated her imagination to go wild in the first place, which was why Erina was so angry with him when she had left the room. It was his fault and even if he didn't know what he did wrong per se, she still blamed him for not keeping his distance while having a conversation with her. She was afraid she would lose all her senses in favor of quenching the endless thirst of touching his soft lips with her own one more time. There was no way she could do that, but there was just no way of escaping these thoughts ever since their first kiss. It drove her insane.

She wanted to escape these fantasies, especially when there were far greater issues that required her attention at the moment, one of them being the conversation she was about to have with her idol some time tomorrow.

Finding out what had happened to her father was her main goal right now and she couldn't afford to get distracted by some oblivious idiot, who didn't even knew the concept of personal space. Her grandfather was already doing so much for her and she didn't want him to take care of her duties any longer than necessary.

But it was so hard to get him out of her head for more than measly five minutes, at best. Wherever she looked, he was just there, grinning childishly with his oh so familiar hand cloth wrapped around his wrist, floating in the wind as he raised his hand in greeting…

'Wait a minute…'

Blinking a few times in an attempt to clear her vision, Erina stared at the entrance leading down to the gardens, where she had taken a seat on a nearby bench just a second ago. Her eyes widened in shock when she realized that the boy she had just been fantasizing over actually stood there at the railing, waving his hand enthusiastically in hopes of catching her attention.

"So you really did come outside first, go figure."

There was nothing she could say as she watched him climb down the stairs and walk towards her in a steady pace. His grin faltered for a moment before brightening again, reminding her of the vulgarity she had put him through by leaving him all alone in there while she escaped boredom's clutches without looking back. She felt bad for doing that now, yet refused to apologize as soon as he reached her. She didn't ask him what he was doing here either, knowing his answer already. After all, it was partly the same reason she was here as well. So instead she decided to ask a different question, something she was way more curious about.

"H-how did you know I was here?"

'A coincidence…?'

"Well, eh…, when I asked gramps if there was anything interesting to do in this place, he told me to go find you in the backyard. Apparently you would know a way of passing the time, so…"

"W-what do you mean by 'anything interesting'? H-hold on…, did-did you just say… my g-grandfather sent you here?"

He looked confused for a moment before grinning once again.

"Sure did. He mentioned that there was something you do every time you come here, and that he was sure you wouldn't mind telling me."

"W-what? Are you serious?"

"Why would I lie to you? That's what happened."

She stared at him in horror, completely mortified at the thought of her grandfather actually knowing about her expeditions around the facility. Although it didn't came as a surprise, per se, Erina was still bothered by the fact that he had been aware of this the entire time.

Did he offer Yukihira to come and join her in order to make clear that he wouldn't tolerate it anymore?

If that was the case then Erina had no choice but to find a new activity for the next Gala event, since she wouldn't be able to run around freely like this in the future. It hurt, a lot, but she knew she was in no position to blame her grandfather for prohibiting her from doing this again. After all, he had been tolerating her actions for the past ten years or so, and she wasn't going to be ungrateful now.

However, was it really necessary to send him, of all people?

Yukihira Soma was definitely the last person she wanted to see at the moment, the urge to do… questionable things to- or rather with- him getting harder to suppress by the minute. Erina couldn't afford to let him see that, not when both of them were trying so hard to understand what was going on with their emotions lately.

He was struggling too, she could see it in his eyes, and yet his demeanor towards her never changed one bit. Even if he sported this spaced out look himself from time to time, she was well aware of it, he didn't give any indication of being overwhelmed by all this like she did.

It wasn't fair…

"So… mind telling me what this 'special something' is? I was supposed to find you for that reason, ya know."

She jumped in self-consciousness, remembering that he was still there, waiting for an answer. He took a seat on the bench next to her, raising an eyebrow expectantly.

Not again…

"I-I… there's really not much to tell…"

He heaved a long sigh. Judging by the sound of it, she guessed it had to be out of frustration, causing her to shiver with guilt.

"C'mon Nakiri, it's no big deal. Just tell me."

"But… oh f-fine… I'll tell you. W-well, ever since I was five, I kind of… tend to sneak out of the main hall so I can go and run around the facility. I've always loved the idea of fining new places to play in, or just different sights to see every time, you know? It was… exciting in a way."

She felt her face heating up instantly after realizing she had said way more than intended, her pride barely able to endure the feeling of humiliation inside her.

Looking into Yukihiras eyes was no longer possible at this point and Erina wasn't going to risk it either, so instead she fixated her gaze on the beautiful fountain in front of the bench, anxiously awaiting the roaring laughter that was bound to come eventually. After all, Yukihira wasn't exactly known for his capability of holding back his amusement when there was something he found funny, which she assumed had to be the case right now. But no matter how long she waited, his obnoxious chuckles wouldn't come. For some reason, he didn't make a single noise, urging the heiress to give him a curious look.

He was staring right at her, partly confused, and partly bewildered.

"…That's it?"

"Huh? W-well, yes…"

He burst out laughing- there it was-, his hands on his knees for support as he leaned forward in sheer amusement. She should have known better than to think he would actually sympathize with her for once, and yet strangely enough, Erina found that she didn't have it in her to be quite as mad as she would have preferred, simply because deep down she knew her childish behavior was indeed worth laughing at.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips, a bit irritation still bundled up within her, nonetheless.

"You don't have to laugh that hard, you know. I'm aware of how stupid it sounds, so just drop it."

"Wha…? I'm not laughing 'cause it's stupid. I'm laughing because that's the last thing I expected you to say honestly. I mean, did you seriously ditch the party just to have some fun around the Mansion? I honestly can't imagine you'd actually do something like that, it's so unlike you."

He stopped snickering in favor of watching Erina cross her arms over her chest. Erina was grateful he composed himself, but now she was stuck with his eyes following her every movement. It made her feel self-conscious for some reason.

"W-well, of course it is, and believe me under any other circumstance, I would have never even dared to consider it as an option. But… here, in this place, it's… just unnerving to constantly listen to people talking about their future plans for the cooking industries and what not."

"So basically… you're bored. For real?"

"What, am I not allowed to be or something?"

She could practically hear the amusement in his words.

"That's not really what I meant. I thought for sure you would love it here, since, you know…, you're always going to these kinds of celebrations and all. But to find out that you actually don't like it, I have to say, it's quite a shocker. It seems even you need a break from all that partying every now and then, huh? Good to know."

"…I'm not exactly sure whether this is supposed to be a compliment or an insult, to be honest... However, I think I need you to clarify something else for me."

"What?"

Her expression turned serious now as she glanced over at him from the corner of her eye.

"Did you just assume I would enjoy myself in every Gala event I attend just because I'm used to them? You can't seriously be thinking that. Going somewhere over and over again doesn't make it more tolerable, you know. Tiring but not tolerable. It's rude to presume such things Yukihira, I thought you were better than that."

"Funny you should say so, because I remember receiving very similar assumptions from you back when we first met."

"Wait- what? D-don't compare this with the past, t-that was completely different."

"No it wasn't, and you know it."

His tone turned serious as well, an empty look now evident in those usually bright eyes, causing the heiress to shiver. Erina knew that expression all too well, she herself had seen it countless times in her own reflection before, after all.

This cold stare showing the acceptance that things couldn't be changed, no matter how hard one might try. The acceptance that someone's past would remain the same, never washed away from their memories.

She had to wipe that expression off his face immediately. He was literally the embodiment of change and she wouldn't allow him to lose that because of what she had labeled him as back in the day.

"I… I didn't realize how presumptuous my words actually were... I'm sorry."

"Hey, don't sweat it, I'm not holding it against you. Just think of it as… a reminder of another score we still need to settle or something. I'd really like to know if you see things differently now, so… what do ya say we do it right here?"

His words, so humorous, yet determined at the same time, sent shivers down her spine.

It was clear that, no matter how lighthearted he may sound, Yukihira was serious about what he said. The proposal to leave that unpleasant memory behind, showed her that all those venomous words had hurt him- or his pride- in a way that she wasn't able to comprehend at that time, and now he wanted her to take them back for good. She immediately realized it was not so much a question as a request, phrased with so much hope that it was simply impossible for her to decline.

Not unless she wanted to continue hurting him.

Which she didn't.

"Very well then, let's bury the hatchet once and for all, shall we?"

His eyes widened in surprise, not expecting her to actually agree. It was so adorable that Erina lost focus for a second, too stunned to think about her choice of words as she glanced into his golden orbs. How did she not notice the tenderness in them before?

"I… I didn't- I mean- what I said- it was…"

'What am I doing? Get a hold of yourself already!'

Taking a deep breath she tried again, embarrassed that she let herself get distracted so easily.

"What I meant is, I'm sorry for dishonoring your cooking abilities, or your background. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions so prematurely. It was a mistake on my part, I didn't realize how spoiled I really was on that matter, so… I guess my point is…, please don't let the words of someone who barely has any significance in your growth as a Chef bother you. What I thought of you back then shouldn't be important to you, and-"

"But it is."

Startled by his sudden interruption, she stared at him wide eyed, closing her mouth again in order to see where he was going with this. Judging by the way he looked right in front of him instead of her, his slightly longer hair now concealing his eyes, she presumed it had to be pretty serious.

"It is important, Nakiri. I can't say why exactly, but your thoughts really matter to me, always have. You just… I mean I have no idea why, but I need your opinion on certain things. Maybe it's because I still have that one goal to achieve, I don't know. I feel like the objective of making you admit my food is delicious has been haunting me ever since the opening ceremony and, like I told you before I'm still hell bend on fulfilling that promise, it's just that, …I guess, along the way, something changed. It isn't just an objective anymore, it's…"

He raised his head abruptly, as if just realizing what he was talking about, and cut himself off mid-sentence.

"Ah who cares? We agreed to let it go, so there's no point in dragging it out like this, right? Thanks for saying all that, it meant a lot."

He shook his head, not noticeable for anyone who would neglect to pay attention to his body language, but all too visible for her.

She didn't know what to say. His attempt to avoid speaking openly about his feelings sent waves of disappointment through her heart, crushing it under this heavy weight. She should be used to the feeling by now, but as it turned out, she wasn't.

Being denied the right of hearing someone's true thoughts for more than just one time hurt actually more than she had anticipated.

He wasn't honest and that smile of his was way too bright to be taken seriously. And yet, Erina decided to keep quiet.

Again.

She couldn't say for how long she would be able to endure his stubbornness though...

"Anyway… you're really bored in this place, huh?"

Despite him sounding so cheerful again, his eyes never left the beautiful fountain in front of them, giving her a faint sense of uncertainty. The kind that she swore herself to never show anyone, if possible.

Nakiri Erina was not supposed to feel uncertain, about anything. So she tried to cover it as best as she could with a heavy sigh.

"Yes, I suppose that's one way to put it. As you may have seen for yourself by now, there isn't much to do other than sit in that hall and look pretty for the cameras. I honestly don't like it, and neither does my grandfather, but as one of the most influential families in this country, we have no choice but to make an appearance."

And it was true. Normally she would sit there on her own, bored out of her mind until she found a good opportunity to slip away unnoticed. But now… that was over too.

"Wow, I had no idea that coming to a party like this would mean being subjected to so many restrictions. Sounds like this is more torture than a celebration."

"Maybe it is."

"Well, at least you get to enjoy the amazing scenery whenever you get out of there."

She gave him a sad smile before moving her gaze towards the roses surrounding them, realizing that it was pointless trying to make eye contact when he was still refusing to look at her.

Another wave of disappointment washed over her, begging to be put into words.

She suppressed it, just like all those times before.

"Yeah, that's true."

As if sensing her inner turmoil, he turned his eyes back to her- she could feel his weight shifting a bit-, silently asking her to tell him what was really on her mind.

How ironic.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"C'mon, spill it. I know there is something."

"How would you know?"

"I… trust me, I just do."

Heaving a sigh yet again, she turned back around as well, meeting his softened expression.

He saw through everything, she forgot.

"It's just… I think this will be the last time I get to enjoy this much free time around the facility. I'm sure my grandfather sent you here to show me that this needs to stop,"

"Huh, I don't think he did."

"W-what are you getting at?"

"Well, gramps doesn't exactly strike me as the type of person who would do something so inconvenient, ya know? Honestly, I don't really get what you mean by all that, but it looks to me like he simply wanted for you to have some company. And as it turned out, he thought I would make a perfect tour guide for you to let loose. I'm sure I can find my way around here no problem."

A smug smile spread across his face, causing her to narrow her eyes in annoyance. It was just a matter of time before he would fall back into his arrogant, obnoxious self, so she saw no point in getting too worked up about it. And yet, she refused to just let this comment slide, feeling like her pride wouldn't let her rest until she put him in his place.

"Hmph, don't be so cocky. Even in all my years of wandering around these grounds, I barely managed to memorize all the floors. As it stands now you couldn't possibly keep up with my expertise when it comes to showing people the most beautiful viewing spots, no matter how much time you spent here. I know them all at this point."

"Oh is that how it is? Alright then, let's see that 'expertise' of yours in action, shall we? I bet I can find a view you haven't seen yet."

"Huh?"

Eagerly pushing himself off the bench, he watched her clueless expression slowly turning into understanding before a sly smile formed on her face.

Of course he would want to make a challenge out of this, she wouldn't have it any other way.

"Fine, you're on Yukihira. However, don't hold it against me when you can't find anything, got it? I'm pretty sure victory will be mine."

A bright grin spread across his features as he held out his hand to her. Erina was a bit perplexed at first but took it anyway, grateful for the thoughtful offer.

"Doubtful. There has to be still something left you haven't seen before. Let's go check it out."

And with that, he enthusiastically yanked her to her feet.

However, it looked like he had misjudged the gravity behind it, thus making her stumble forward a few feet… right against his chest… with their faces alarmingly close to one another, their eyes showing pure shock.

Time seemed to freeze instantly as she felt herself blushing furiously, praying that he wouldn't notice it in the dark.

Didn't she come outside to escape this kind of predicament in the first place?

From the way his lips slightly parted and his eyes went wide, she got the suspicion that he had an issue with their proximity as well, the expression he gave clearly showing signs of struggle.

It was too much for her.

The longer she stared at his bewildered face the stronger became the wish to press her lips against his, couldn't he see that?

Erina didn't know what to do, and even worse, she didn't know if she wanted to do anything at all right now, her gut telling her to kiss him while her brain screamed at her to get away.

In the end, it was Yukihira who broke their eye contact by taking a step back and rubbing his neck sheepishly, his hand still holding hers gently.

"Eh… sorry 'bout that. You good?"

"Y-yeah, I-I'm fine."

"Alright then, let's go!"

Returning to his usual self he started walking towards the exit, with her right behind him, the magic broken once again.

What had she been expecting anyway? It was a good thing he had put a stop to this…, whatever this was, right?

Her heart hammered in her chest as she tried to get rid of that unnerving blush, still holding traces of intoxication.

She needed to calm down immediately. If he could play it cool then so could she. It would be alright…

"H-hey, slow down. Jeez, what is it with you and this obnoxious habit of dragging me everywhere you go?"

"Ah lighten up, will ya? I'm not that fast. Wouldn't wanna risk getting blamed for a twisted ankle or something, ya know?"

"Wha- how rude! I'm not made out of glass! M-my shoes are what's forcing me to slow down, t-that's all."

She could hear him chuckle in front of her, still moving at the same pace as before. It was like he wanted to mock her with this silly behavior. And despite the fact that she absolutely didn't like being made fun of, her stomach twisted in protest at the thought of releasing his hand, just like it did in the main hall earlier.

Arriving at the staircase, Yukihira let go of her hand again, an awkward silence stretching between them.

"So… where to?"

Still a bit disoriented, the heiress needed a moment to compose herself before she could answer him.

Erina should have come to learn by now that playing it cool simply didn't work on her as well as it did on him.

It was irritating- he was irritating.

"You wanted to be the tour guide, remember? Figure it out yourself."

"Hmm… okay then, we'll go downstairs first."

She raised a delicate eyebrow at his quick decision.

"Downstairs? That's random."

"I figured working our way from bottom to top would be the best approach here."

Shrugging her astonished gaze off, he started climbing down the large stairway, not listening to any of her complaints. She had seen everything down there already, so what was the point of going anyway?

'Maybe because he just wants to look around himself? This is his first time in a banquet hall after all.'

Her thoughts were interrupted as soon as the redhead spotted the small casino hidden in the basement. Only a few people were there, sitting at different tables and enjoying themselves in a round of either baccarat or blackjack.

Yukihira looked from left to right, his eyes filled with excitement. He was bouncing on the balls of his feet, practically overflowing with delight at the sight of all those slot machines.

As for Erina herself… she couldn't deny that his reaction caused her heart to instantly melt on the spot.

Although she was already acquainted with that particular room, she still felt something close to a thrill coming back to her now as she continued to watch him enthusiastically pointing at a particular game he knew from childhood. It reminded her of the time when she first encountered this area, so full of life and eager to try every single game they had to offer.

A small smile surfaced on her face. She really had a great time here as a child.

"So, does your expression mean that you never saw this room before?"

Her smile grew into a bright grin as she shook her head.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but this was one of the first places I came across when I was seven or so. It's nice though, I have wonderful memories about this casino."

He sighed in disappointment before perking back up again. Of course he wouldn't give up that easily.

"I see. Well, guess this means I'll have to continue searching then."

She giggled in anticipation, starting to actually enjoy herself without thinking about anything. Even if he was one of the main reasons for her distress, right now she simply felt no worries, no anxieties, no tensions whatsoever and it was amazing. Just happiness, excitement, and… something else she still couldn't decipher yet filled her heart, making it lighter than ever.

"I suppose if you really want to see this through to the end, it would be best if we move on now."

She turned around to head back the same way they just came from, gesturing with one hand for him to follow her.

"Wait a sec, you don't wanna stick around for a quick game or something? You love card games."

She was thrown off for a second at that last part, stopping right in front of the staircase.

He knew?

"D-don't worry about it. This facility is already huge enough as it is, if we stay here we might not have enough time to go through every room. I need to prove you wrong after all."

"Okay, if ya say so."

A cocky grin formed on his face, causing Erinas own smile to vanish. Instead she felt her left eyebrow twitching dangerously.

Why did she get the feeling he was mocking her again?

"Y-you know on second thought, let's go have a quick game."

"Nu-uh princess, you said it yourself, there's no time to waste. We should go on."

He climbed up the stairs, sending her a wink over his shoulder, grin stretching from ear to ear now.

"I already told you, there is nothing I haven't seen before. You don't have to rush."

"Don't be so sure, Nakiri. You know what they say, right? He who laughs last laughs the loudest."

"But you've been cracking up ever since you dragged me here- no wait…"

Unable to hide his amusement any longer, he straight up burst out laughing again, making her blood boil even more. She had realized her mistake but unfortunately the damage had already been done.

"See, exactly! This clearly shows who the victor is going to be then, don't ya agree?"

Erina pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration before continuing to walk up the stairs again. She had no time to deal with this nonsense.

And so it went on, with the red-headed Chef showing her all kinds of randomly found spots inside the banquet hall, and Erina just shrugging it off in pure apathy, already knowing in advance where they were headed just by paying attention to her surroundings. It was the same for each and every room they entered or every window they looked out of, which would have resulted in him giving up, were it not for his oh so stubborn nature.

It was quite amusing to see him first growling in disappointment, then composing himself and moving on to the next area. No doubt he wanted her to be speechless. Mind blown. Fascinated. And he wouldn't give up until that goal was achieved.

Unfortunately for him, there really was nothing left to see. This saddened her a bit as well, for it meant that she wouldn't find anything new to explore herself. Her own little adventure had officially come to an end here as well now.

But even though she was already accustomed to the beautiful sight of every room they entered, Erina was certain that he had never seen something like this before.

The thought was somehow afflicting to her as she registered that not everyone enjoyed the privilege of walking freely into a high class establishment such as this one. He was no exception to that rule. The blonde was painfully reminded of that fact every time his eyes lit up so quickly whenever he saw a piece of gold merely decorating the walls.

She hadn't dared to bring it up until now, but the longer they walked the more it occurred to her that he wouldn't get to see this anytime soon.

Thus Erina decided to give him a sight he would never forget. Her most favorite place out of all the others they have passed so far.

He deserved it for making her laugh, for letting her forget about her inner turmoil, for simply everything he had done for her tonight.

"Alright Yukihira, I think we've been wandering around for long enough. There really is nothing else to see here, and now it's my turn to show you something breathtaking, alright?"

Coming to a halt right next to her, he sighed in defeat, presumably understanding that she really was right. A weak smile tugged at the corners of his mouth before he turned his head towards her.

"I guess you're right. Sorry 'bout that Nakiri."

"I-it's fine, d-don't worry about it."

"What's this thing you wanna show me?"

Now it was her turn to heave a defeated sigh, she really couldn't resist this goofball in any way.

"Just follow me."

That was all the heiress said before gracefully walking past him and up the stairs where they would find the roof.

She pushed the glass door open, holing the knob in one hand as she gestured for him to walk outside with the other, her expression holding an unmistakable confidence to it.

"Welcome to the most beautiful spot in the entire building, monsieur Yukihira."

He didn't give an answer this time, his eyes wandering over the big open terrace before them.

The white marble floor surrounded by dim lighting gave it a shimmering appearance while the bright glass windows behind them also allowed some light from inside to shine right through. Everything around them was in a mesmerizing white color, pure and exotic.

Erina loved this place dearly, not only because of the elegant appearance but the greenery all around them as well. A few tropical trees were planted near the glass railing and a lot of flowers decorated the area too, giving it a cozy feeling. She regarded him looking to his right towards the wide pool, surrounded by wooden deckchairs and glass tables.

How nice it would be to just go over there and jump right in…

She watched as a light breeze blew a leaf from a nearby tree, waving it straight towards her. A calmness overcame her, settled in her restless bones, and eased the tension from her muscles. Erina always felt this way when she was up here, so relaxed, at peace even. This truly was beauty unlike any she had ever seen before.

Focusing her gaze on Yukihira again, she noticed that he had unconsciously moved in the direction of the railing, eyes drifting from left to right and back in some kind of daze. Erina didn't blame him one bit for losing his cool.

"I had no idea we were so close to the ocean."

The sudden sound of his deep voice forced her to follow his line of sight instead of the back of his head. He had leaned against the glass railing, regarding the night sky in front of them as he spoke. Erina smiled to herself while she moved closer to him, also watching the stunning view that Tokyo graced them with.

She could see the harbor, as well as the almost black looking waves of the sea around it, the smell of saltwater filling her nostrils almost instantly.

"Yeah, the banquet hall is quite far away from the school, but fairly close to the port. If you concentrate hard enough, you can actually hear the sound of the waves crashing against the shore from up here."

"Really? That's so awesome!"

A small giggle escaped her lips at hearing sheer amazement filling his voice.

"Yes it certainly is."

"I take it you've tried it before then?"

It was an innocent question, simple in its own right, but Erina hesitated before answering, unsure if she should reveal even more of herself tonight. After debating it for a second longer she simply decided to go for it, thinking that it wasn't anything worth concealing anyway.

"I did. This is my most favorite spot in the facility, the sound of the sea and the atmosphere are just too mesmerizing, don't you think?"

"Yeah…"

He turned his head halfway in her direction, signaling the final result of their bet now.

"So, I guess this means you win, huh? I kinda figured it would happen, since apparently I can't beat you in anything."

A cheeky grin spread across Erinas face, not exactly ladylike, but totally fitting to express the joy she felt right now. This needed to be rubbed in someone's face immediately.

"Oh? Excuse me, I'm afraid I didn't quite catch that. Could you repeat it for me?"

He pushed himself away from the railing in order to fully turn towards her, his face showing amusement and annoyance at the same time. She found it downright hilarious.

"No way! You just caught me off guard, that's all. I had no idea this place was so close to the ocean. I would have continued looking around if I had known that."

"Keep telling yourself that. It has nothing to do with anything anyway. The fact remains that I have bested you yet again Yukihira, whether you like it or not."

"Jeez I get it already, would you stop bragging about it?"

"Wha- I'm not bragging at all! I'm just stating facts."

A grin creeped on his face, causing hers to vanish in a matter of seconds. She should have known that she wouldn't be able to enjoy her victory for long while this idiot attempted to make fun of her.

"That's not 'stating facts', you were totally bragging. A lot."

"I was not!"

"Were too!"

"Was not!"

"Were too!"

"Damn it Yukihira, I was-"

They were cut off by the sudden sounds of a violin playing somewhere nearby, the melody slow and rhythmic to their ears. Visibly confused, they both turned their heads towards the double doors behind them, wondering what was going on down below.

"What the heck? Do you know what this is about?"

"I honestly couldn't tell you. How odd… I don't recollect ever hearing music in all the times I came up here."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's strange."

No one said another word as they listened to the harmonic tune of yet another instrument appearing in the background now.

That is, until Erina remembered something her grandfather told her before they arrived at the Gala. Something she shouldn't have brushed aside so carelessly.

With a panicked expression on her face she turned back to him, her voice trembling as soon as she began to speak.

"The dance…"

"Huh?"

"The dance, Yukihira! I forgot about the dance!"

"Okay, I hear ya! Stop shouting, jeez!"

He cleared his left ear with one finger as if trying to get rid of some water.

She rolled her eyes in annoyance at his childish behavior. This was not the time to be joking around.

They were both supposed to participate in this particular activity, mainly because that was the time when the press would be taking very specific pictures for their cover stories. It was a very important ceremony for everyone present, but aside from all that, it was also the moment her absence would be noticed immediately by some of the journalists.

Consequently, this meant that almost every magazine in Japan was going to list off a bunch of speculations about her whereabouts and her activities during that time.

Not to mention the fact that the newly introduced first seat of Totsuki academy was missing as well.

She could already imagine the rumors making their rounds amongst everyone she knew at this point. And what made this whole ordeal worse was that some of these rumors would actually be true for once.

They were indeed together at the moment, enjoying themselves on the roof while the majority of the guests were down below dancing.

This was bad.

Very bad.

What was she going to do now?

"Nakiri, you alright?"

She heard the genuine concern in his voice as he waved one hand in front of her face, pulling painfully at her heartstrings. She didn't want to get away from him, but…

"We need to go to the main hall immediately."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"My grandfather told me there would be a dance near the end of the Gala, and we were supposed to be there too. The fact that we can hear music right now means it has already started. So if we want to avoid raising any sort of suspicion, we should get back as fast as we can. Do you understand me?"

Without waiting for an answer she began walking hastily towards the glass door, the feeling of uneasiness returning to her in full force.

"Eh yeah, I guess… but Nakiri? I got the feeling it might already be too late for us to show up now."

"What are you saying? We just heard it starting a few minutes-"

"That's not what I mean."

She stopped dead in her tracks, hearing him approach in a slow pace behind her.

"Think about it for a sec. You said it would raise suspicion if we don't show up, right? Well then, what would happen if we were to go there right now? Don't you think it would be even more suspicious?"

He shrugged nonchalantly, as if not caring about the circumstances either way.

"Then again, I could be totally wrong about this too."

Erinas eyes widened in realization, an unpleasant shiver going up and down her spine at the thought of noisy journalists closing in on them in the middle of the room, asking all kinds of embarrassing questions. She hadn't considered this as an alternative, too concerned about her reputation to weigh her options properly.

"You're right, it most certainly will catch unwanted attention. But then, what else can we do?"

Resting her thumb and index finger on her chin she turned back towards him, now trying to clear her mind from the adrenalin rush she just went through. Her eyes found his as she looked around the terrace in frustration. From the way he smiled at her, hands in his pockets and a hint of mischief evident in his amber orbs, he seemed to be amused again, which wasn't necessarily a good thing.

It only distracted her even more from figuring out their next course of action. She knew she should look away- she really did-, but there was something about his posture that just begged her to keep staring, to stop thinking.

"Maybe we can sneak in through one of the back doors or something?"

"Unfortunately getting in unnoticed isn't going to be that easy. There are simply too many journalists wandering around the area, including all back entries that the main hall has."

He raised an eyebrow at her answer, moving a step closer towards the double doors in front of them.

"Seriously? Are there that many of them? I've only seen a few when I was on stage."

"No surprise, really. They know when and how to appear right in front of your face so they can get the best shot. Grandfather always made sure Alice and I were never followed around by any of them when we were younger."

"Wow…, I had no idea being royalty could be so… annoying."

She giggled in response, one hand held in front of her mouth as an attempt to cover it.

"It's not that bad."

Shrugging again, he went a few steps back this time, coming to a halt a good distance away from her. His smile grew into a cheeky grin as he kept standing there, the lights illuminating his white button-up shirt perfectly.

Erinas eyes followed each one of his movements, a glint of wariness held within them, before heaving an exaggerated sigh.

"What are you doing now?"

"Well, since we can't get back inside, we might as well have some fun here, right?"

"S-s-so… you're suggesting w-what exactly?"

The only answer she got was an outstretched hand, waiting for her to grab it for a second time this evening.

"Let's dance."

She looked up from his inviting hand to see the earnest expression he now sported. Confusion started to rise within her.

"Wa-wait a minute Yukihira, a-are you saying you actually know how to dance?"

"Nope, no clue. But, I'm sure it's not that hard to lean, right? C'mon, it'll be fun."

Her heart skipped at least five beats at once as she recalled what had happened back in the gardens just a few hours ago. She had barely restrained herself from kissing him then, but who knew if she would be able to do it again this time.

Erina felt overwhelmed by her emotions, not understanding where they came from and what they were trying to tell her.

A mild fear overcame her. The kind where she wasn't sure if she could trust her own impulses to stay under control, should it really come to something like that again.

It was risky, too risky, and yet Erina couldn't simply ignore the sudden urge to be as close to him as humanly possible, as absurd as it may sound to her own ears. Her heart practically begged her to just do it already.

But why on earth would she want that?

Ignoring all her doubts for now, she smiled up at Yukihira as she shyly placed her hand in his, trusting him to guide her in any way he saw fit.

For now, the heiress was done asking herself the same questions over and over again.

"Alright then, let me teach you."

His smile widened again, eyes closed and the hint of a flush spreading across his cheeks.

He pulled her towards him, still as abruptly as last time, but not fast enough to let her stumble again.

Their raised fingers intertwined instantly as he slung one arm around her waist, pressing her firmly against his solid body, while she hesitantly placed her other hand on his shoulder.

She was embarrassed, but more than that she felt excitement rushing through her veins, reminiscent of all the times she got to taste his incredible dishes that left her craving for more. Surely he must have heard the unsteady rhythm of her heartbeat by now, considering how close they actually were to one another. Just like how she was able to feel his, hammering wildly against his chest.

"So…, ready to dance, princess?"

"Hmph, I'm amazed you can still maintain that cocky attitude when just a second ago you admitted that you didn't know how to do it."

"No worries, this'll be a piece of cake. You know I'm a fast learner, don't ya?"

"Indeed, that I do. Now, pay close attention. You feel my feet slowly moving back and forth, right?"

She waited for him to nod in affirmation, his eyes not leaving hers for a second, before continuing.

"Good. So when I take a step forward you take one back and vice versa, alright? It's really easy, just follow the movements of my feet. Like this 1, 2, 3... 1, 2, 3… 1, 2, 3…"

And so he did. Whenever Erina moved, he moved as well, a little clumsy and not quite on par with the rhythm of the music, but she could see that he tried his best. And after a few more steps, it seemed he had finally memorized the basics, his stiffness now fading away and thus allowing him to be more confident than before. True to his own words of being a fast learner he adjusted his movements flawlessly, keeping up with her quickening pace.

The more relaxed he felt the easier it was for her to go with the flow of the music again, giving him the chance to adapt to it properly.

"Not bad, you really got the hang of it now."

His smile softened before he closed his eyes for a brief moment as if taking in the calm atmosphere around them.

"Told ya I would. You impressed with my moves, or what?"

"Not on your life. There still are too many flaws in your footwork. You have to try a lot harder to impress me, I'm afraid."

His hand on her back tightened ever so slightly, forcing her closer towards him.

"Alright then, can do."

With that, Erina was left amazed once again, his techniques getting better and better the longer they danced, gazes still remaining locked and bodies firmly pressed together.

He really was trying hard to get her approval on his dancing abilities, even though this was his first time doing it.

She smiled up at him in encouragement, feeling like she owed him at least this much for his efforts.

As the song progressed he even became bold enough to try completely new things. Things that would bring her one step closer to totally losing control of herself.

He dipped Erina right on the spot, her breath hitching as she stared up at him with wide eyes. Her heart went berserk inside her chest, knees trembling in delight.

She couldn't believe he actually did something like that to her.

Was there any scene remotely similar to this in her manga?

"W-what are you doing? You can't just scare me like that!"

"I figured you needed a change of pace, this back and forth thing kinda gets old after a while, if you ask me. So, you impressed yet?"

Although his smile was earnest, Erina caught a glimpse of an entire different expression for a split second. Something that seemed to scream 'urgency', but for what she couldn't say. It was gone before she had the chance to comment on it anyway, so she dismissed it immediately, thinking it could also be her imagination playing tricks on her right now. She wouldn't be surprised if it were the case.

"K-keep dreaming."

His cheeky grin was the only response she got before he continued gliding her across the marble floor, adding his dips and even a few twirls every now and then.

Erina felt herself struggling even further as she tried to regain control over her movements again. This was supposed to be just a quick dancing lesson, but now it felt like she was the student who learned from a professional.

Since when was Yukihira the one to lead her?

It didn't matter, the only thing important right now was that she still had control in her own right. Control over her body and her brain, as long as she had that, she would be able to continue this dance without making a total fool of herself.

However, that reassurance died immediately after seeing the way he smiled down at her, his eyes promising her ultimate doom.

Erina officially broke through all forms of restraint she had left the moment he spun her out of his hold, causing her to let go of his shoulder and the satin dress to blow in the summer breeze, before spinning her back in.

It left her mind blank and her heart as the only guide for the rest of this dance.

So without thinking, she slung one, now exposed, leg around his torso as soon as she crashed against him, her hands no longer grabbing his shoulder in a shy manner but instead wrapping themselves desperately around his neck.

Perplexed he quickly held on to her bare leg as he pressed her against him again, his face flushed a deep shade of red, just like her own.

'What am I doing? Stop, please!'

Everything had gotten completely out of hand at this point. His warm hand making direct contact with her uncovered skin was the last thing she should be feeling right now, and yet her mind refused to tell her that this was wrong.

His face had come so close to her own again, the smile gone and amber eyes darker than before. The tenderness within them sent pleasant shivers down her spine while his warm breath tickled her nose.

"What are you doing, Nakiri?"

'I don't know, help me!'

"You know this spells trouble for both of us, right?"

'I know! Please push me away! Do something!'

"Look, I… I have no idea what's happening to me lately. You- it's somehow tied to you and… I can't really think straight right now, so...-"

"S-same here Yukihira. I don't know what changed exactly. Th-this is not right, I'm aware of that, but… I-I still- my body won't listen to me."

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

By now their noses were barely brushing. His deep voice had turned into a mere whisper, leaving her heart rampaging mercilessly at the sound of it. If it wasn't for the strong hold he still had on her, she would have fallen to her knees already.

"What- what are we doing, Yukihira?"

Nothing but breathed words, carried by the breeze straight towards him, silently begging him for something. She couldn't say what it was though, her mind unable to comprehend the situation she was in.

"I don't know… but, damn it Nakiri, you've gotta stop me. Please."

She didn't.

Their lips clashed together like the waves of the untamable sea against the shore right behind them, hungrily devouring each other. There was nothing sweet or tender about this kiss, just pure desire and desperation. Neither of them backed down from the fight for dominance inside their mouths, tongues wrestling, teeth nibbling on each other's bottom lip, heads turning from left to right in order to find the best angle. It seemed almost like they were starved predators, trying to claim what was rightfully theirs at this point.

She tugged on his hair while he released her leg in favor of pulling her waist closer towards his own, both not realizing that he practically shoved her backwards, right up against the glass wall of the building.

She didn't feel anything other than his tongue ravishing her mouth and his hands going up and down her lower back. Her own fingers were scratching the back of his head passionately while she released a silent moan against his lips, the sensation driving her- and apparently him- crazy to no end.

His mouth moved away from hers and down her neck, kissing the sensitive flesh repeatedly before biting down right where it met her shoulder, sucking, nibbling, and cherishing her skin.

A pleasurable hiss escaped her lips as she threw her head back, hitting the glass wall behind them as she did so.

She knew the aftermath of this would be anything but pleasant, with neither of them understanding what it was they were feeling right now things were bound to get messy eventually. After all, they were playing a dangerous game, and this event only added more fuel to the fire.

Sooooo… what do you say? Did you like it? Was it good? Was it bad? Please tell me what you think everyone.

Until next time,

Take care!