Chapter 10: A struggling chef
Heeeeyyyy people, I'm back with another chapter! We've cleared nine of them so far (I still can't believe it!), and now we're finally near the most important part of the story; the reason why Erina's father became so obsessed with her and her god tongue.
Next chapter it is on, my friends, and let me tell you I can't wait to, hopefully, hear your reactions to it! But for now, we have to clear another important stage in Soma's and Erina's complicated relationship before we can focus on other matters.
With that said, I hope you'll like it (and hopefully won't kill me for the route I want this story to take). I'm always so nervous when it comes to stuff like this, hahahah.
And guys, I'm so grateful for each and every comments you sent me, they honestly mean the world to me, give me courage to continue writing, and on top of that they make me feel like what I'm writing about is actually not that bad. I can't thank you enough for this, so from the bottom of my heart thank you so very much! 100 reviews is a number I honestly never dreamed of seeing, so… I don't know what to say anymore aside from; YOU'RE ALL SO INCREDIBLY AWESOME111 I hope I receive all your lovely opinions for this chapter as well, I can't wait to hear what you think about it!
This time I got help from my new friend to correct all the errors, I'm so grateful for that, thank you so very much, my friend!
And of course a big thank you to my sweethearts Jellyann and maddiesmt, you're amazing girls! I can't thank you enough for all the encouragement you give me, I love you guys!
So without further ado, let's jump straight into some more drama, shall we? We have to make our babies suffer for a bit longer before they can find a way to solve their problems, as much as I hate to say this (especially with Erina's past weighing them down even further after this).
A always,
Take care everyone!
Nothing but silence greeted the two students the moment they set foot into a seemingly empty diner. It was already dark outside, and so they were left with no other option than to search for the light switch with their fingers fumbling on the wall. Once Yukihira found it, they saw all the chairs neatly placed on top of each table, the kitchen counter completely cleared out, and every trace of visiting costumers gone entirely.
"Hey dad? You there?"
Hearing absolutely nothing the heiress thought it was safe to assume that they were the only ones there.
"Huh, that's odd. Maybe he's still working somewhere… Well, in any case, welcome to the best diner in Sumiredori Shopping District, Miss Nakiri Erina! Please, make yourself at home!"
He gestured for her to come closer, his eyes shining brightly with excitement.
Did he behave like this every time they got a new costumer?
If so, she couldn't blame anyone who would get confused at his questionable eagerness.
As she glanced around the small eatery, Erina's eyes widened with surprise, not expecting the place to look so cozy. This was definitely not the diner she had made fun of one year ago, something the heiress now came to regret more than all those other insults she had thrown his way. The restaurant in front of her eyes, though she somehow doubted it could be even called as such, seemed warm, comfortable, and humbly inviting to anyone who came in. She had a silent suspicion that the kitchen on the other end of the room wasn't just used by one specific chef alone but by a dynamic father-and-son duo, competing day after day to push each other to their limits. There was no doubt in her mind that Yukihira learned all his skills in this particular kitchen by tirelessly training under his father, and, most likely, losing every single cooking match they had. Putting it that way, she was reminded of those cryptic words Isshiki had told her at last year's autumn elections; for hundred and ninety straight losses, and he learned from them all.
'Must be nice to have a loving parent that teaches you everything there is to know about food without manipulating you or taking away your passion for cooking. He really is lucky…'
As she spent more time glancing around, Erina noticed even more details. There were pictures with three smiling faces hung up on almost every wall she looked at, recipe books stacked in one corner of the room, and small souvenirs placed here and there as decorations. It seemed like the owners wanted to create an atmosphere based on a more personal level than anything else. She felt the warmth, the intimacy radiating from it, and all she could do was… bask in the illusion of being at home.
A strange sensation overtook her the moment she realized what she was thinking about, embarrassment and remorse tearing at her heartstrings simultaneously. How could she have been so arrogant to look down upon this adorable place and the amazing chefs that trained their skills here? She was ashamed for thinking Yukihira's humble background made him less of a worthy candidate for Totsuki's Elite Ten, let alone believing that he wasn't fit to enroll at this academy in the first place. Her judgement had been harsh, and now the heiress was truly sorry for insulting his circumstances back in the day, especially after seeing the soft expression on his face as he let his eyes wander around himself. Despite not talking to him ever since they left the orphanage, Erina couldn't help but crack a small smile at the proud glint in those amber depths before she took a hesitant step towards the kitchen counter.
"It's… so different."
"What d'ya mean? Were you expecting something else?"
"No, not that. I was… I don't know, it looks more like an extended version of a dining room than a proper restaurant to me."
The low chuckle coming from his direction made her heart skip a beat, heat rushing to her cheeks in a matter of seconds.
"Seriously? Huh, and here I was worried you'd say something totally uncalled for, like all those other times we ran into each other. Guess I was wrong, eh Nakiri?"
"H-how rude! Watch your tone, commoner!"
He arched an eyebrow at that, silently pointing out that it was precisely this sharpness in her tone he was referring to, while passing by her to walk into the kitchen.
She understood immediately, thus shutting her mouth with the additional weight of regret in her soul.
"I… I'm sorry, Yukihira. F-for dishonoring this diner the way I did. It wasn't my place to decide whether or not you were suited for Totsuki based on your background alone."
She remained still near the kitchen counter, bowing her head slightly in his direction, even though his back was turned the entire time. It didn't matter if he could see her position or not anyway, for Erina herself was quite amazed of the fact that she actually bowed to him in apology a second time now, despite saying she wouldn't do that ever again. She didn't notice him whirling around and staring at her wide eyed, the bag of apples in his hand close to falling to the ground.
"Wha…, h-hey c'mon, there's no need for that; I thought we cleared things out a while ago? Just relax a-and look around some more if you like while I make us some tea. I'm not sure when exactly my old man's gonna come back, but I think we shouldn't expect him to show up anytime soon. Knowing him, he's probably just out somewhere cooking for random people."
Raising her head again, she found herself face to face with a blushing Yukihira, hands in the air and a cheerful smile gracing his features. Her heart hammered even louder against her ribcage now, mortified over the fact that he had seen her bowing after all.
"Y-you think so?"
"Sure, it wouldn't be the first time he did that. Especially when-"
He was interrupted by the sound of a bell echoing in the room, signaling the entry of another person.
"Ah, perfect timing."
Pulling out a bottle of water from the nearby fridge the redhead began to drink like nothing was out of the ordinary, his movements as nonchalant as ever.
Meanwhile Erina instinctively moved closer to the kitchen counter, pressing herself against its cold wood. The tension in her muscles was instantly released as soon as she saw who was entering the diner. Immediately her eyes were filled with excitement and admiration the moment he spotted them standing a few feet away.
"Oh…, eh…, Soma my boy, you sure it's okay to have your honeymoon here? I mean, I have no objections, but don't you think the young lady deserves something more extravagant? That said, how dare you not invite me to the ceremony? I'm your father, damn it! Tell me right now, boy, when was the big day?"
The water he had been drinking up until now left his mouth with enough force to spill everywhere around him, including Erina's jeans.
She didn't take note of that, nor did she pay attention to the redhead's coughing fit right after, her mind blank, her body numb, and her mouth agape. She felt like she was part of a big joke, one that wouldn't end with everyone laughing.
"Wha-what the hell? Who's here on a… U-um, I-I mean…"
"Well, I'm talking about your-"
"I know what you're talking about, old man! Stop saying stuff like that!"
At this, Saiba Joichiro raised a brow, his defined features showing signs of confusion for a moment, before he started smiling all over again. There was a certain glint in his eyes, one that Erina often got to see in the mischievous boy's amber orbs as well, which meant nothing good could come out of his mouth the second he opened it.
"I see… So you two aren't married yet?"
"O-of course not!"
Heaving a long sigh of relief, the man let himself fall into the chair he just put down from a nearby table.
"In that case let's pretend I didn't say anything. I'm glad you two haven't done anything that I missed yet, though it is kinda disappointing too…"
"I told you to stop saying stuff like that!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just don't forget to send me an invitation when the time comes, got it?"
Before the flustered chef could give a response, his father turned towards the still paralyzed heiress. With her face flushed, eyes wide, and mouth almost touching the floor Erina looked like she was about to faint any second now. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, the mere thought of marriage at her age caused her heart to skip at least five beats at once, let alone the image of exchanging vows with none other than Yukihira made her head spin dangerously.
"So… if you two aren't on your honeymoon or something, what brings you here?"
Trying her best to regain the composer she lost Erina once again focused her vision on the man sitting before her, hell bent on ignoring the heat in her face.
The chance to learn about the reasons behind her father's tyranny was finally within reach, she couldn't possibly mess things up by dwelling on childish fantasies right now.
So to strengthen the voice that betrayed her emotions yet again she cleared her throat and straightened her back, despite the protesting crack her stiff shoulders gave her in response for the sudden movement.
"I-I… My grandfather sent me to talk to you, sir. I want… I need some answers regarding my father. He said you would know what happened to him and why he… well…"
His eyes widened, and the smile he had sported thus far faltered for a split second. It was obvious to her now that he knew something, otherwise he wouldn't have made such a face. Even from her position near the kitchen, she could clearly see him tensing up, which wasn't exactly a good sign.
"So that was what he wanted, huh? Figures."
"W-will you tell me what you know? Please sir, it's been bothering me ever since he left the academy. I need to find out what's wrong with him."
She noticed Yukihira staring at her rather intently, his slightly longer bangs concealing those golden eyes. It seemed he had drawn his own conclusion about all this just now, but whether it was a positive one or not didn't matter to her in the slightest. She couldn't care less about what he thought on the situation, or the reason why she came here.
"Hm… What about you, son? Did you just escort young Erina to our shop for fun or is there something you need as well? That look on your face tells me you have a few things on your mind yourself."
"Wha…? How did- you know what- never mind. I guess I do have something to talk to you about too. But first…"
Yukihira turned and directed an intense glare towards the blonde.
"Why would you want to know this stuff, Nakiri? I thought you were all better now."
"W-well, apparently not! I need the nightmares to stop! I want to move on, Yukihira, and unless I find out the reason he did all this I can't! This is something I simply have to know before I can finally let go completely!"
"Hold on a second! What nightmares? Why didn't you say anything?"
She didn't answer, her heart raging at the mistake she just made. The dreams she had almost every night were supposed to stay in the darkness, not shared with the one person she wanted to forget about.
"I see… Alright Erina, if you feel that strongly about it, I'll tell you. But now is definitely not the time to get into such a long discussion. Why don't you kids go upstairs and get some sleep?"
"B-but-"
"No buts allowed in my house, kid. I can see that you're exhausted, plus it's getting pretty late anyway. You need your rest, got it?"
"No, y-you don't understand, Sir! I just need to talk to you and then I'll be taking my leave! I-I didn't consider staying here!"
"U-um, Dad? A-are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, eh, where should we let her sleep anyway?"
"Hm…, I guess your room is enough for now, and you just take the couch in our room, Soma. Sounds good?"
"What? I-I can't accept that!"
"Wait a minute, Dad, are you serious?!"
Their simultaneous shout caused him to take a step back and smile apologetically, his hands raised in mock surrender. If it weren't for the mortified state she was currently in, Erina would have started laughing out loud at how ridiculous this scene was. She could clearly see the amusement in Joichiro's eyes and the teasing tone in his voice. Needless to say she didn't like it one bit.
"Alright, alright, you two, calm down. Would you prefer it if we switched it out then? You can share the larger bed in my room while I-"
"Not happening!"
"No way!"
"Okay, fine. No switching then. But I still can't let you go home at this hour, Erina. Your granddad would certainly have my head if I did."
"B-but… Be that as it may, I can't just s-stay here of all places, it wouldn't be right. A-and besides, I don't want to force Yukihira to leave his room because of me."
As she turned around to gesture towards the redhead, their eyes met, causing one shockwave after another to run through her body. What seemed like a doubtful expression before was now turning into pure determination, and Erina hated herself for thinking this, but it actually scared her a little. She didn't want him to accept his father's proposal, nor did she like how the way he looked at her send her whole face ablaze. It was absolutely mortifying. To think she was actually supposed to stay, in his room no less, was nothing short of outrageous in her book.
"It's no problem. Dad does have a point, you can't just walk around the streets on your own in the middle of the night, ya know."
"B-but I… No, I would have someone come pick me up a-and-"
"If ya really want the whole shopping district to wake up and see who is getting inside a fancy car in front of our shop than go right ahead, little lady. I won't stop ya."
She whirled around once more, seeing her idol smile back at her with raised eyebrows. Hesitant as she was, the heiress didn't reach for her bag to pull out the smartphone lying within; the knowledge that they were right was constantly nagging on her guilty conscience, and it pissed her off even more. So instead, she remained where she was, shoulders dropped in defeat, and her mouth sealed shut. There was nothing left to say, considering she didn't want to cause more trouble than she already had. If it was Saiba-sama's wish to answer her questions tomorrow morning than she had no choice but to respect his decision, whether she liked it or not.
The two chefs in the room seemed to understand her resolve as well, with one smiling triumphantly while the other simply averted his gaze, conflict written all over his features. The silence around them was starting to get uncomfortable, making Erina all the more self-conscious as she stood right in the center of the room, sandwiched between a mischievous father and his irritating son with no way out whatsoever.
"Now then, I trust you can handle showing our guest around the apartment, Soma? I need to take care of a few things down here before I can go to bed."
"Eh… yeah, sure. How 'bout it, Nakiri? You ready to head upstairs yet?"
Not expecting him to address her so casually Erina flinched in a way that she knew was impossible for him to miss, her body giving her emotions away too easily. She was nervous now, the thought of staying alone in an apartment, with a boy the same age as she was, did questionable things to her stomach. Not to mention the fact that this specific boy was someone she had to keep her distance from, in order to avoid getting hurt again, just downright irritated.
Why was it that every time they distanced themselves from one another fate managed to intervene and create a situation so simple, yet so ridiculously complex in its own right, that it merged their two separate paths back into one?
She was sick of these games.
If they didn't want to see each other, what right did fate have to stomp over their choices like that?
"Y-yes, let's get this over with."
"Have fun you tow, and remember; no naughty stuff until you're on your actual honeymoon, alright? You gotta show the lady some respect first, my boy."
"Damn it, old man, I'm not gonna do anything to her! Quit talking like we're marrying soon already, that's out of the question!"
While both Yukihira's eyebrows started twitching dangerously, Erina found herself flustered all over again. Words alone weren't enough to describe how mortified she felt right now, her hands clenched into tight fists on each side of her body.
As much as she hated to admit this, it kind of hurt to hear him confirm what the heiress herself had tried to beat into her brain all along.
They would go their separate ways after graduation, that's all there is to it.
And she was fine with that.
The idea of seeing this idiot for longer than necessary had become rather repulsive in her mind. It just frustrated her so much she had no choice but to feel disgusted of him in order to keep herself sane.
Before she turned to follow the boy out of the room, Erina took a long breath as her eyes found Joichiro's one last time, a fierce determination evident in her face.
This was not the time to worry about Yukihira or the void in her heart, it's time to concentrate on the main reason she was here. She needs to make it count.
"Saiba-sama, tomorrow morning… Please, I expect you to keep your word with no further delays."
His smile softened significantly, a somewhat serious aura surrounding him now.
"Yeah, tomorrow it is. I guess there's not much I can do other than comply with your wishes, now is there?"
Smiling brightly she bowed her head towards the older man, thanking him for his understanding. At the very least he seemed to be aware of how important this was to her, which she appreciated quite a bit.
Leave it to her number one idol to make her feel like her cause was not a pointless one.
She left him sitting in the empty diner, not feeling the need to say anything else.
The nervousness found its way back into her system the moment she followed the red headed chef up the staircase to the second floor. Her palms were beginning to sweat, and her heart was attempting to jump straight out of her chest with every step she took. Erina is officially alone with him now, and as much as she wished it wouldn't, this knowledge affected the heiress in the worst way possible. It pained her, it excited her, it violated her, every sensation she was able to decipher filled her mind to the point where she couldn't properly form a single thought.
'What are you thinking right now, Yukihira? At least, give me some sort of hint…'
"Alright, here we are. A bit on the smaller side, but this is our apartment."
Taking in her surroundings as inconspicuously as possible, the blonde found herself wondering how two people could even live in such a tight space, seeing how the hallway they now stood in was barely big enough for one person to walk through.
"Well…, if you want I can show ya around some more, or just bring ya to my-your room. Whatever you like."
'I want to go home.'
"I don't mind seeing the rest of your apartment. If nothing else it's an interesting experience."
The corners of his moth twitched upwards, golden eyes filling with amusement. She had to look elsewhere before her condition got even worse.
"Alright then, let's go."
The first door he gestured towards was the one to her left, his arm brushing against hers the moment he reached out to open it. They both stiffened at the contact, not moving an inch until Erina herself took a step away from him, unable to withstand the burning sensation any longer.
They said nothing, chose to ignore the situation entirely.
Just like how it would always be from now on.
She shouldn't expect anything else, right?
"So, here's the bathroom. I know, it's pretty small too, but do you think you can make it work somehow, even if it doesn't have all the essentials you need?"
With her melancholy dying down now Erina risked a glimpse inside, confused as to what he meant by that.
She remained that way even after her eyes scanned the room, nothing too suspicious catching her attention. It was just an ordinary bathroom, with a shower, a toilet, one sink, an average sized mirror hanging on the wall above it and a few drawers underneath. Of course, it was a very tight space, but she had already expected as much, considering the layout of this apartment and its structure.
"It looks quite manageable to me. I don't understand what you were implying just now."
"Eh… well, I guess- you know…, I'm sure you're used to bigger bathrooms than this one, so…"
Erina's eyes widened. It really was all about the space then. She should have known.
"I am. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't try to adapt to this circumstance, does it? I'll be fine, don't worry."
Seeing the sheepish expression on his face forced her to send him a bright smile. The self-conscious state he was in now gave her some kind of satisfaction in return for the mortification she had felt earlier, even if it hadn't been his fault.
Seeing her grin the way she did caused the red headed chef to avert his gaze, the hint of a blush gracing his cheeks. She knew, in about any second now he would most certainly do what he always did to get out of an uncomfortable situation, brush it off and make a joke out of the whole scenario. It sort of frightened Erina how easy it was for her to predict his next move without even giving it that much thought. It shouldn't be fitting for the blonde to do that, for Tadokoro, yes, but not for her.
"Oh, is that so? You really scare me, Nakiri. I never thought I'd hear such words out of your mouth. Are ya sure you're the real rich girl I met a year ago?"
"Hmph, I have no idea what you mean. I'm still the same person that didn't acknowledge your cooking, if that's what you're after. So be a good commoner and know your place, Yukihira."
"Ouch, that was cold. Guess you still got some of that annoying attitude going, huh Nakiri?"
"It takes one to know one! I could say the same for you, so don't get cocky!"
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? My boldness is backed up by skill, alright?"
"And mine isn't?"
"Well, that's not how it looks to me!"
"What? Have you already forgotten about the match we had at the orphanage? I defeated you fair and square!"
"But only because Zen needed my help with the vegetables! I could have easily won!"
"Please, Yukihira! Those are all excuses and you know it! Urgh, I should have just rented a hotel room or something!"
"Say what? Are you crazy? Do ya have any idea how risky that is?"
"Better than dealing with your nonsense! Maybe I should just go ask your father, if-"
Before the heiress could so much as even think about taking a step towards the staircase Yukihira grabbed her wrist and yanked her inside the bathroom, a somewhat panicked expression on his face.
She didn't realize how close their faces had been this whole time, even now with him subconsciously edging her towards the tiled wall inside the room, and thus closing her in, she couldn't comprehend the shortening distance between their lips.
Both continued to stare each other down until their heavy breathing intertwined, noses almost touched, and bodies close to brushing against one another.
It was when she felt his solid chest lightly pressing against her own that Erina became aware of their proximity, let alone the fact that he still had a hold of her wrist, making her heart pick up even more speed than it already had.
"No way in hell you are."
'Not again.'
"…What do you want from me, Yukihira?"
"I… I don't…- I should move."
Their voices, nothing but whispers at this point, were losing strength, a dangerous sign for something that wasn't supposed to happen- not if both intended to destroy that bit of contact they still had. She knew he was aware of that just as much as she was.
"…Then move."
A small part of her wished he wouldn't, the larger one begged for him to put some space between them so that she could control her breathing again. Erina didn't like either option, trapped between what feels right and what's rational. She just wanted to find a way out of this before her instincts took over, God alone knew what she would do if that were to happen.
He stared into her eyes for a few seconds longer before finally taking a step back, a long sigh escaping his lips.
Erina saw all the confusion, the frustration, and… even a hint of sadness plastered on his face as he rubbed the back of his head repeatedly. Her eyes widened when he gestured for her to follow him out of the room, his features hardening once again. She didn't want to ask him what that whole incident was about, assuming that he wouldn't know the answer anyway.
Who was she kidding? She herself had no answer to offer either.
Would it always be this way? Him staying silent and her too scared to demand an explanation?
"I think I've seen enough. Could-could you please show me the way to your room now?"
"Yeah… sure."
They didn't talk, didn't look at each other once, both too afraid of what they might find in the respective other's gaze should they do. Luckily, his room was just at the other end of the hallway, so they weren't given much of a chance to interact anyway.
"Well, here we are."
This time she opened the wooden door herself, not wanting to come into any more contact with him than she already had.
Her hand found the light switch almost instantly as she took a hesitant step into the room, the constant hammering of her traitorous heart making her feel like she was about to take a peek inside a lion's den.
What awaited her was definitely nothing of this sort though. The simply decorated four walls gave off a friendly vibe, inviting her in to bask in its warmth. There were family pictures everywhere, even on the small closet door and on top of Yukihira's desk standing near the window.
It seemed he forgot to make his bed the last time he came here, or he just didn't care, which was more likely now that she thought about it.
Either way she couldn't say she was all that surprised to find his room in a somewhat chaotic state, with notebooks and pieces of paper lying everywhere, not to mention the few pencils scattered across the floor, it looked like he had been in the middle of a study session and didn't find the time to clear up before he left. It was just like him to do that, so much so in fact it forced a small smile on her face.
"Ur, sorry 'bout the mess. I was working on some new recipes and it kinda got out of hand."
"D-don't worry about it, I have no complains."
"Even if it's smaller than the one back at the dorm?"
"Yes, even if it is smaller. Trust me, this will do just fine."
"Oh…, alright then."
"Your room is nice by the way, certainly not what I imagined it would look like."
"Wha…? Don't tell me you've been imagining what my room looks like, Nakiri?"
She could practically hear him smirking behind her, the sound alone irritating her to no end. She really didn't have the energy left to withstand another round of teasing, considering how the last one ended. All Erina wanted now was to be left alone now, her heart desperately craving for some time to recover and stabilize itself after the ups and downs it had to go through just a few moments ago.
Sighing in exhaustion, she turned around to look him straight in the eyes, the smile coming back as soon as she noted the attempt to diffuse the tension in those amber depths.
"I guess I have. It's impossible not to when I'm supposed to spend the night here, after all. I won't touch anything though, promise."
"Say what? Do you seriously think I care about that? I just wanted to make sure that- you know…"
For the, what seemed like hundredth time this evening his expression turned sheepish, followed by a hand coming up to rub the back of his head in an adorable manner.
She understood what all of this was about, and she couldn't deny that his efforts somewhat flattered her.
Which was not what she wanted to feel.
Not when she was aware of the fact that it wasn't what he wanted either…
"I know…, have a good night Yukihira."
"Yeah… you too."
And with that, she closed the door behind her, not waiting for him to turn around first.
Erina placed her bag next to her on the ground before she took another glance around the room. Her feet carried her towards the photos on the left side of the wall first, eyes fixating on each one with rising interest. She had not seen so many pictures in one room before, her own family never coming together to take even one on important holydays. It was at moments like these when Nakiri Erina allowed herself to feel envious of a commoner's life- a carefree lifestyle and strong family bonds.
She never had the chance to learn how those bonds were build; She never knew how true love in a real family felt like. Thus, she is having a hard time comprehending why Yukihira and his parents are smiling so brightly in all of these pictures.
In one of them was a three or four year old Yukihira holding a big piece of candy high in the air, his father standing right behind him, and a beautiful blond haired woman kneeling at the little boy's side with her own candy hanging from her mouth. It looked like they were in an amusement park, with a huge Ferris wheel serving as their background. Erina herself had never been to a park like that before, but she could imagine how fun it must be to go on all those different rides, and enjoy the scenery.
Looking at all the other photos, she noticed that those that didn't show the gorgeous lady, Yukihira's smile seemed a lot smaller. Even her idol didn't have the same happy glint in his eyes.
'I wonder where she is…, did they break up or something?'
She remembered the redhead mentioning his mother when she had presented her final dish to the judges a few days ago, his eyes filled with so much nostalgia and sadness it had hurt her heart just to listen to him. He had said that his father had been happy after meeting her, which was why Erina found it difficult to believe that they would actually be divorced in one way or another.
'What happened to her then…? Should I ask him? No, it isn't right. He probably won't want to share something like that with me. At least he remembers his mom…'
She would give literally everything to have at least one picture with her mother, let alone a recollection of her as a person. The stories she heard from her grandfather just weren't enough to fill the void inside her, and sometimes Erina even wondered how her life would have been if she had the love of a supporting mother by her side. But as always, she brushed those thoughts aside, not wanting to imagine something that wasn't going to happen anyway, just like she did right now.
So with that, the heiress simply went back to her bag and pulled out her nightgown and a toothbrush to get ready for bed… His bed she would lay in, his blanket she would pull over her body, his pillow she would rest her head upon… the thought made her feel a bit dizzy all of a sudden.
'Oh no… How am I going to sleep like this…?'
…
As she reached the fiftieth sheep for the third time now Erina decided to stop her pointless counting, realizing that she wasn't going to fall asleep anytime soon.
Yukihira's bed was just too distracting, his addictive smell all over the place, and the pictures on the walls asking for her attention whenever the heiress turned to one side.
She had tried to distract herself by staring at the picture they took at the orphanage, all of the children, plus Yuri and the both of them squeezed together on the ground and grinning cheerfully at the camera.
Erina had smiled to herself, remembering her promise to come and visit them again soon, until her eyes had landed almost automatically on the redhead sitting between a few kids, with a laughing Rika in his arms.
It was hopeless.
No matter where she looked he was literally everywhere. Even when she closed her eyes, he just stood in front of her, smiling charmingly like the heroes in her Shoujo Manga. Only he wouldn't be the type of hero that rescued the princess from danger, but more like the type that followed his goals without letting anyone stop him.
Erina wanted to scream, feeling like the strange tingling inside her chest was about to drive her insane.
She had to get out of this room immediately. Even though it was already past midnight, there might be a chance her idol was still awake and willing to give her the information she needed now, so that she could leave this place first thing tomorrow morning.
There was no other choice, she wasn't willing to lose her mind here.
So without thinking about it any longer, Erina slipped out of bed and tiptoed in her slippers towards the door, hesitating a second before she eventually opened it. She was met with darkness as she stepped out into the empty hallway, but progressed forward rather easily by keeping her hands on the wall the entire time. As she stood in front of the staircase, the heiress hesitated once again, thinking that maybe she was acting a bit excessively.
Should she just go back and wait until morning?
'No way.'
And with that, she carefully made her way down while still having both her hands on the wall. She couldn't care less about the light switch at this point, her mind all over the place enough as it is.
Erina was beyond happy to find the room she was about to walk into still illuminated, the voice of Saiba Joichiro echoing in her ears.
'So he is awake, after all. Thank goodness.'
With a huge wave of relief washing over her the blonde attempted to enter the room, not expecting to hear a second voice coming from the same direction.
She instantly froze in place as she realized that both father and son were together inside the diner, retreating her foot as fast she could then instinctively hiding behind the door frame. She didn't know why exactly she was doing that, but for some reason the thought of seeing Yukihira right now frightened her.
Never in her life had the heiress felt so ashamed of herself.
"Okay, that should be it. Thanks for helping out, my boy. Guess I needed a pair of extra hands with the paperwork after all, huh?"
"Nah, don't mention it."
"…But this isn't the only reason you decided to come back down here, is it? You're upset about something."
"I… I don't know if 'upset' is the right word, but…- Dad? Can I ask you something? At some point in your life…, were you forced to change your plans for the future to find the right way again?"
Erina's heart ached at the helplessness in his voice.
Like a little boy, lost and unsure of how to get back home. Never had she seen or heard him sounding so vulnerable, and as much as she didn't want to admit it, the heiress felt a strong sense of responsibility for his pain.
Was this her fault?
"Ah, I see the old man has been talking to ya, eh Soma?"
"Just answer the question, will ya? I'm trying to be serious here!"
"Oh, are you now? Since when did my son become an adult who demands serious conversations? You grow up way too fast, kid."
"Okay fine, forget about it. I'm leaving."
"Now, now, relax. I'm just messing with ya. Let's see, how should I put it…?"
For a moment, there was nothing but silence, making the girl behind the doorframe anxious. Since she couldn't see them she had to rely on her hearing alone, which was not much of a soothing thought, considering they could come out any second without her even noticing.
'What are they even talking about?'
"For starters, yes. I was. Remember when I told you about me leaving the academy because of all the pressure I had? You could say that 'I lost my way' then, thinking I couldn't start cooking ever again."
"Seriously? You didn't wanna cook anymore?"
"Yeah, more or less. It was not until I met your mother that I started loving it again, and I guess your birth made things a whole lot easier too."
"No way… Mom actually helped you focus on your career again? B-but how?"
Erina's eyes widened with every word they exchanged. She could hear the shock in Yukihira's voice, she could feel the sincerity radiating from her idol, and she could definitely sense what was left unspoken between them, the mention of a specific woman bringing forth emotions far greater than anything she had ever witnessed before. That beautiful lady on all those pictures… they still love her dearly.
"Don't ask me how she did it, son, this isn't about your mother. I'd rather like to hear why you asked such a question in the first place."
"I-I…, it's…"
Heaving a long sigh of defeat, he stopped talking altogether. Erina held her breath in anticipation, her curiosity sky high at this point.
'Say something, Yukihira… what is it that you couldn't tell me after the dance?'
She had to wait for at least three more minutes before the boy finally opened his mouth again, his following words making her wish she didn't stop to listen to them in the first place.
"It's Nakiri."
Suppressing the urge to gasp she leaned a bit closer towards the open doorframe, all her senses fixated on the disoriented sounding redhead.
"What about her?"
"She…- I don't know. She confuses me, Dad. I feel like all my life goals are slowly straying away from me because of her."
"And why do you think is that?"
"I don't have a freaking clue! I always thought I knew what was important, what I wanted to achieve, but now… it's just not the same anymore. She's…- I mean… if mom helped you get back into cooking again, why does it feel like Nakiri is pulling me further away from it? I don't get it."
She couldn't believe her ears.
Was this for real?
Was she really that toxic to him?
"… Do you really want my opinion on this, son? I don't think she's hindering you in any way."
"What? Pops, you don't understand. I can't concentrate, everything I do ends up in a complete mess, a-and on top of that my mind is all over the place, to the point where I barely win a Shokugeki against someone."
"But you still win, right?"
"That's beside the point! What I'm trying to say is something's wrong with me and I don't know what it is. All I can tell for sure is that Nakiri's involved somehow. What's happening to me, Dad? I don't like this at all."
Another wave of silence, followed by a small sigh from the older man.
"So basically, what you're saying is… Erina distracts you from everything that was on your mind up until now, is that it? Your objectives suddenly became blurry, and that confuses you… So much so you'd rather keep your distance from her than find another way to deal with this situation."
"What the… h-how did you know?"
"Please, I know an idiot when I see one. I mean, you're my own flesh and blood after all, and I acted partly the same way at your age. I ran the second all this pressure started to get to me."
"I… I don't- I'm not even sure anymore if that's really the right thing to do. I've tried to stay away from her, I still am trying, but… there's just something odd about all this. Nakiri shouldn't be in my life if it's only gonna make things worse, right? Tell me what I should do, Dad! What do I have to change to find my way back?"
Erina's heart was bleeding endlessly, the pain in her chest almost unbearable. He sounded so desperate, so lost, so… sad it hurt her more than anything she had ever experienced before. To know that she was actually tormenting the boy just by being near him was tearing her up inside, more than she would have ever imagined.
"I want you to think about something first, Soma. Are those feelings you're experiencing good or bad? Give me a straight answer without worrying about what it does to your daily routine."
"It…- I don't think that-"
"Just concentrate on that, son. Nothing else."
"…Yeah. I guess it does…- in a way it does feel good."
"Then you have nothing to stress over. Just let it happen and see where it takes you."
"Are you serious? Haven't you been listening to me at all? Besides, I don't even know what all of this is about, so how can I just go for it?"
"Well, as far as I'm concerned the unknown has never stopped you from doing something risky before, right? C'mon Soma, I didn't raise a child who's the first to chicken out whenever things get complicated. Don't start acting like I did. You'll figure this out, and when you do the answer of what happens next will become clear as well. Heck, I bet you can even get behind what your mother did to help me stand on my feet again. Just be a little patient and try to take a closer look at what's right in front of you, without involving all your goals for the future. Maybe that'll help you understand."
"But Dad, my cooking is-"
"Right, that's a problem for ya…"
She couldn't breathe, her mind blank, the pain inside her chest too strong now.
Just what had she done to him?
It was the first time that Erina realized how desperate he truly was, how much their situation actually affected him, and it made her feel horrible. Guilty. Sad.
'I don't expect you to understand this, Nakiri. I mean, how could I? You never had any sort of empathy inside you to begin with, so there's no point in telling you what I feel.'
Now she understood what he meant by that…
Suddenly, warm tears started running down her face as she pressed one hand against her chest to stop the pain from spreading inside her body, the other keeping her mouth shut as best she could to prevent any hiccups from escaping her trembling lips.
It really was her fault then…
"Well then, let me ask you this; would those feelings actually be a hindrance to your cooking or rather beneficial? You have to decide that for yourself first before you can start climbing two stairs at once, my boy. I can't tell you which path to choose."
No response came from the boy for quite a while now.
That was it.
She couldn't listen to any more of this, her heart broken, her self-respect shattered, she had no reason to remain where she was any longer. Their conversation wasn't meant for her ears anyway.
On shaky legs, the heiress tried to walk back upstairs into Yukihira's room as quietly as possible, and with nothing but sorrow as her companion.
She could still hear muffed voices echoing in the hallway before the door behind her was closed shut. The tears streaming down her face were now free to be devoured by the darkness the moment she let herself glide down against the wooden fabric, no longer capable of moving an inch forward.
She cried with her heart and soul, arms hugging her knees, trying to keep Erina quiet as one hiccup after another escaped her lips. To her dismay, she had no idea why she was so devastated, why those annoying tears were even there to begin with, and it irritated her immensely.
It wasn't fair, yet Erina no longer had the strength to blame him for anything, not after what she just heard.
'So he was trying to hide his struggle…, typical. But who am I to complain? It was my selfishness that he couldn't deal with, after all. My lack of empathy…'
And on top of that, he had still been trying to make her feel better, by joking around, by taking her to the market, by showing and teaching her things she had never deemed possible before. Not once had he cared about himself then, she could see that now, and all it did was pain her.
Despite the tears, a small smile spread across Erina's face, full with sadness and regret, yet still genuine and earnest.
There was no way she could ever be mad at him for feeling lost or confused when she was in the same boat herself.
There was only one way to make things easier for them both.
She needed to make sure their paths wouldn't cross ever again, no matter what fate or anyone else wanted.
…
The next morning Erina felt completely exhausted, her body aching from the uncomfortable position she slept in for the rest of the night. Being the stubborn girl she was the blonde had remained leaning against the wooden door without exactly knowing why she had been so timid to get up and lay in Yukihira's warm bed. Somehow, it didn't feel right anymore, and Erina always prided herself on being a chef with dignity, thus she had simply refused to find comfort in his bed of all places.
As she walked into the bathroom to take a quick shower, hoping the hot water could somehow ease her mind and body, she didn't realize that she left the door unlocked the entire time, too relieved about the fact that she didn't run into anyone on her way here to care.
After undressing, the heiress stepped into the shower and let the warm water do its magic.
She needed to get the tension out of her sore muscles or else she would end up walking around with her bones cracking all day. Aside from that, Erina wanted to lift her broken spirit, and showering always seemed to help her in that regard.
Pulling out her shampoo to wash her golden locks the heiress noticed a particular hair product, her inner voice insisting on it belonging to Yukihira, which made her feel partly curious and partly sick. Regardless of what her heart and mind argued about, Erina reached for the small bottle and held it under her nose, recognizing the scent immediately as his. The scent that wouldn't leave her alone for the past few months.
Her eyes went wide as soon as she realized what she was doing the blonde placed the black bottle back where it belong, her chest hurting at the thought of getting carried away again.
She turned off the water and quickly got off the shower, her reflection in the mirror blurry from the warm temperature in the room. Too long inside did clearly not help right now.
While wrapping herself in a towel the heiress found she couldn't deny that the shower made her feel a bit better regardless, still tired, but refreshed in one way or another.
There was a voice outside the door, sounding like it is coming her way, but she didn't pay much attention to it, her mind at ease as she still believed the door to be locked shut…
…until it was thrown open so abruptly that Erina thought she'd have a heart attack right then and there.
"Alright, lemme go take a quick… s-shower…"
With a gasp, she stared at a dumbfounded Yukihira standing right in front of her, jaw almost touching the floor, eyes opened wide, and face flushing a bright shade of red the longer he gaped at her.
Erina was incapable of comprehending the situation, her own shock eating all rational thoughts away. She was just as speechless as he was, gawking back at him with a heated face and dripping wet hair, which she had pulled over her shoulder just a minute ago to towel off as well. A few drops of water ran down her neck, followed the line of her collarbone before they disappeared in her cleavage. His slightly darkening eyes followed every single track the dripping water took on her skin, a thin layer of sweat building on his forehead.
Despite pressing a long towel against her body, Erina felt herself more exposed than ever in her life, a hand slowly coming up to suppress a loud scream from escaping her parted lips.
"Yu-Yu-Yukihira…"
"What the…, Nakiri? S-sorry, I didn't- I mean, I-I had no idea you were in here!"
As quickly as he had opened it, Yukihira closed the door shut the moment he stumbled back outside, a deeply traumatized expression on his face.
What happened just now?
The only thing that filled Erina's mind right was the question of why the door wasn't locked and how he managed to open it if it was.
'I did lock it…, right?'
She noticed her hand shaking the moment she pulled it away from her mouth to let it rest on her chest, the thumping inside not slowing down anytime soon.
'This is something that happened in the most recent chapter of the manga Tadokoro lent me! You have got to be kidding me. Did fate suddenly decide to give me an opportunity to make a comparison? Why?'
Not wasting any more time thinking about things like that the heiress hurried up and got dressed. This time she chose to wear a loose white shirt that she tucked into a pair of classic jeans shorts.
Since there was no way for her to dry her hair properly, she just continued to rub the remaining water off on the next best towel she found as she is certainly not used to spending time on trivial matters such as this.
'How am I supposed to look him in the eyes now? This is so embarrassing, I-'
Oh, right.
What was she thinking?
There was no longer a need to search for eye contact with the red headed chef. She couldn't allow herself to forget about what she had found out about him yesterday, the pain in his voice so strong, she was sure it would haunt her for the rest of her life. This encounter was not going to make things easier for him- or her-, which she felt more than sorry for.
Was this her fault again?
…
"Ah, Erina, there you are. Come here and help me get some ingredients for breakfast out, will ya? I asked that idiot son of mine, but he went upstairs to take a shower first."
"Um, yeah, o-okay."
"It's a good thing both of us went shopping yesterday, now we will have definitely enough."
"E-enough for what, Sir?"
Before he could respond, they heard the bell of the front door, signaling that someone was entering the diner.
Curious to see who it was, Joichiro stepped out of the kitchen, his eyes fixated on the two girls standing before him.
From her position behind the kitchen counter, Erina was able to make out the appearance of each girl, one with brown short hair, and the other with slightly longer blond hair. They both seemed to be in their high school years as well, judging by the uniforms they wore. Though, at closer inspection, the heiress noted that something was slightly off here. She wasn't sure why, but for some reason the shorthaired girl looked kind of… nervous? Or rather, apprehensive. Like she was worried about something, but didn't dare to ask.
'What's going on?'
"Oh my, who do we have here? Welcome you two, long time no see."
"Hello to you too, Mr. Yukihira! We, eh…, we were just walking around the area when we noticed that the shop was open. So we came over to see if you or Soma stopped by to air out the restaurant again or something, right Mayumi?"
"H-huh? Oh, y-yes, that's right…"
"Is that so? Well, in that case feel free to stay and eat some breakfast then."
"Really? Thanks!"
"U-um, i-is… is Soma here too?"
Erina's eyes narrowed at the deep blush creeping up the girl's face. There was just something about her that put the heiress on edge, her stomach twisting uncomfortably. In a way, this girl reminded her of Tadokoro, her seemingly shy nature, those rosy cheeks whenever the redhead was mentioned, all of it was oddly familiar. As much as Erina loved and respected the bluenette, she didn't understand why Tadokoro became so flustered around that boy every time she was near him, or how she could have so little confidence in herself, for that matter.
And now she saw this strange girl from her unnoticeable spot in the kitchen, acting exactly the same way as the sweet, caring chef.
Why it agitated her so much this time was beyond her though…
"Indeed, he came back yesterday. You haven't seen each other for quite some time now, have ya? To be honest, I was kinda surprised myself when he and Erina stood right here in front of me last night."
"E-eh… Erina?"
"H-hold on, you don't mean… the Nakiri Erina, d-do you, Sir?"
Knowing that she couldn't stay hidden in the kitchen any longer the blonde stepped out into the main hall, with the elegance of a lioness she moved slowly towards the group. Her eyes immediately fixated on both teenagers standing before her, a friendly smile playing on her lips as she greeted them with a simple nod.
"That brat should be coming down any minute now, so why don't I introduce you kids in the meantime? Erina, these two ladies are old school friends of Soma. The one on the right is Kurase Mayumi…"
'Ah, the super shy one.'
"…and next to her you have Koganei Aki."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Nakiri Erina and-"
"Oh my god, I don't believe it…, you're really her…"
Before she could even blink, the blond haired girl grabbed both her hands, holding them up between them with an admiring glint in her blue eyes. As perplexed as she was, Erina couldn't find anything to say, her mind blanked out entirely at that moment.
"I'm actually meeting the God Tongue, how cool is that? I am such a huge fan!"
"E-eh, I don't really-"
"What's going on here? You guys having a party without me or something?"
The second his cheery voice reached her ears Erina's heart started rampaging inside her chest, pain and… something else fusing together and making her feel all the more conflicted. Their eyes met as soon as the two girls in front of her moved their heads in order to look at him as well.
She noted how that Kurase girl jumped in excitement, her features lit up like Christmas had come early, and her cheeks heated up even more.
'Seriously, what is going on?'
Erina recalled her sulking just a few seconds ago, and now she was back to being nervous?
"Oh, there he is. Your friends came for a visit, Soma."
"Awesome, how's it going you guys?"
As her hands were released Erina took a step back, smiling politely. She tried to fight back the blush that was forcing itself upon her face, the memory of what had transpired between them not too long ago haunting her right this moment. She had been extremely lucky when she didn't see him waiting in front of the door, but now that they were face-to-face again, she felt the embarrassment returning with full force.
"Soma! It's so good to see you! Man, your hair has grown quite a bit, huh? It looks good on you."
"You think so? Truth is, I just didn't have the time to go and get a proper haircut, ya know?"
Her amethyst eyes followed Koganei's arm as the girl lightly nudged her friend's side, probably encouraging her to do or say something as well. She found that she didn't like it. Not one bit.
"U-um, h-hey Soma, how have you been? It's nice to see you again."
"Yeah, I'm happy to see you too! You look like you're doing well by the way, Mayumi. That new uniform suits ya, good Job!"
"Re-really? Thank you so much! You look amazing as well, I-I mean… you always have, b-but…"
'What? Is this girl for real?'
The heiress felt that awful twisting of her stomach increasing dangerously, like a burning flame that is waiting for the perfect opportunity to be released.
She knew this feeling, she had always heard people talking about it, but never in her life did the heiress imagine that there would come a time where she experienced this as well, the sheer thought making her all sorts of uncomfortable. Especially when she had no idea why she felt it in the first place.
Pure jealousy.
Was it towards that cute girl?
Yukihira even?
She had no idea.
"Say, Soma. How come you invited a celebrity like Nakiri Erina to your house? I mean, don't get me wrong, your food is beyond amazing, but still…"
"Ah, c'mon, it's not that big of a deal. Nakiri, eh, had some business of her own here, and since I wanted to stop by anyway, we just came together, I guess."
A nonchalant shrug followed the short explanation, his eyes falling back to her almost instantly. What was this intense stare he sent her way every ten seconds?
"I-is she…- I mean, a-are you two… a co-couple or something?"
Tearing her gaze away from the redhead Erina found Kurase sulking again, a hand pressed tightly against her chest. She looked like she was about to cry depending on the answer they would give her, and that was when she finally understood.
'This girl is…'
Erina didn't know why it shocked her so much, if they were friends for so long than there was a high possibility that this girl would end up falling for him sooner or later. But for some reason the thought caused Erina to feel miserable, more than she already was.
She should be happy for him, right?
She wanted to keep her distance anyway, right?
So then, where was this uneasiness coming from?
"Nakiri, you alright? Why is your eye twitching like that?"
"I'm fine."
"You sure? It looks like it's about to-"
"I said I'm fine."
"Okay, if ya say so…"
"I do."
She didn't mean to let it come out as a growl, but the innocent smile he gave her just provoked her somehow. To top it off, her idol started laughing at their partly one-sided interaction as he walked back into the kitchen.
Erina couldn't feel more humiliated even if she tried.
"Alright kids, what'd ya say we spice things up a notch? Now that we have the perfect number on judges, a friendly competition in the morning should be manageable, shouldn't it? I had Erina help me put out some ingredients, so that everything would be ready. Now, are ya in, son?"
Everyone's eyes widened at the serious tone Saiba Joichiro had used just now, some with excitement, others confused, including the heiress herself.
Didn't he have a promise to keep?
When would they get time to talk already?
"Hold on, Dad. You want us to have a Shokugeki right now?"
"What? You scared?"
"Oh hell no! Bring it on, old man! I've been dying to show ya some new techniques I learned over the last few weeks anyway! Let's do this!"
As he untied the white cloth around his left arm, Yukihira fixated his father with an intensity that clearly showed his burning desire for victory.
Erina remained confused.
"Oh no, you misunderstand me, my boy. It's not me you should fight."
"Huh?"
And without any hesitation, the man's thumb pointed in her direction, a sly grin spreading across his face.
"I think Erina would be a perfect opponent for today, don't you?"
"What?"
"Say what?"
Both their jaws dropped to the floor as Joichiro laughed even harder, his eyes filling with tears.
"What? Did you seriously think I wouldn't want to see you get your ass kicked by the legendary God Tongue herself? C'mon Soma, you need this lesson."
While she was flattered to hear that her idol held her in such high regard, Erina didn't know how to feel about having a Shokugeki with Yukihira right now. Her mind was still all over the place from last night, not to mention the fact that she didn't have time for that. He had promised to tell her everything he knew in the morning, which was right now, and ever since she came to help him in the kitchen, he hadn't said anything else about that. Not once did her father's name leave his mouth, leading her to believe that the timing wasn't quite right yet.
But now he wanted for them to engage in a food battle?
'Why?'
"Dad… Are you serious?"
"Do I look like I'm joking, boy? As far as I know, you two never had an 'official' match, right? This should be a good opportunity to see who the better cook is. Now get over here and prepare yourselves."
"B-but sir, we…"
'…aren't exactly at our best right now…'
From what she found out Yukihira had trouble concentrating and focusing on what's cooking in front of him. And as for herself… Erina was thrown completely out of balance, the lack of sleep, her broken heart, those haunting thoughts, all of it continued to crush her with each breath she took.
How could she possibly perform well in a Shokugeki at the moment?
Especially when Saiba Joichiro himself was watching, let alone seated as one of the judges, which she assumed would be the case.
"It'll be fine, don't worry about it. Now, don't let the lady down, you hear me, Soma? I expect you to be in top form."
That was the problem though.
He wasn't.
And neither was she.
"This'll be so amazing! Can you believe we'll get to eat Nakiri Erina's food, Mayumi? I can't wait!"
"Y-yeah…, I'm sure it will taste amazing."
Her gaze lingered on the redhead way longer than it should, which would send the heiress over the edge again weren't it for the fact that said redhead was staring right at her. Determined. Unwavering.
She had no choice but to meet his golden orbs, the depths threatening to lure her in. If he thought he could handle a fight under those conditions then who was she to decline? Nakiri Erina had never backed down from a challenge, after all, a trade they both shared.
A small smile tucked on the corners of her mouth, somewhat sad, but still earnest enough to make his eyes go wide. She didn't know what he was so shocked to see, and she wouldn't ask either. That time was over.
"Alright Yukihira. You ready to do this?"
"Y-yeah…, let's go."
And in they went, positioning themselves behind each stove, all kinds of ingredients laid out before them.
"Hm, now what should we have you make for us…? How about… you prepare a breakfast item that's listed in our daily menu? Based on the ingredients you have, there are only a few dishes you can make, so choose carefully. You should already know what is required for each item, so I won't be saying anything. All clear? Let the battle begin!"
Both students immediately took the menus in front of them to go over the variety of dishes that belonged to the breakfast category.
Studying each item as best she could Erina felt her brain slowly slip away from time to time, amethyst eyes trying to focus on the ingredients before her instead of the other person standing only a few feet away. She had known it wouldn't be easy, but there was no way she would let herself be bested by him of all people, even if her body was begging her to go and rest somewhere.
At the end, she decided to make a rolled omelet made out of eggs and vegetables, seeing as she had everything she needed right in front of her. Her fingers moved skillfully, trained eyes overseeing each step without leaning in too close to the frying pan, years of experience helping the dish to be cooked to utmost perfection.
And yet Erina wasn't fully there…
Her mind couldn't determine whether or not the eggs were fried for half a second too long like it normally could, or if it should be rolled so that the vegetables were visible from the outside or not. Even when she started plating the blonde couldn't exactly distinguish whether or not there was too much tomato sauce next to her omelets.
Normally the heiress wouldn't even have these kinds of problems, but now everything was completely out of control. She had utterly failed.
Was this what Yukihira meant?
If so, she couldn't blame him for accusing her of throwing him out of balance. Not one bit. It just showed that she really was incapable of feeling empathy for others. He was right…
"Alright you two, time's up. Present your dishes."
Looking to her left, she saw Yukihira placing three plates on top of the kitchen counter, right next to her own.
Her eyes widened when she saw that he had decided to go with eggs as well. Baked eggs, to be exact. Despite there being quite a few other options that didn't involve this particular component, Yukihira prepared one of the more complicated egg dishes the menu had to offer.
Erina couldn't say if it was on purpose or something his subconscious had chosen for him, but whatever it was, her heart responded to it quicker than her brain did, beating out of control without giving her the chance to comprehend what was going on.
"So two egg dishes, eh? This'll be interesting."
"They look incredibly tasty, don't you think so too, Mayumi?"
"Um, y-yeah, they do, but…, eh, Soma? A-are you okay? I feel like all your dishes from before had way more impact than this one."
He lowered his head a little, strands of red hair effectively concealing his eyes. Erina couldn't help but notice the way his shoulders fell, or how he clenched his jaw in disappointment. Yukihira had always been someone who took pride in his cooking, and now that Erina witnessed it first hand, she could clearly see that this particular pride seemed to have disappeared somehow. His eyes weren't shining with confidence, that charming smile was visibly forced, and there was no bursting energy coming from him at all.
It made her feel sick. The guilt tore her apart.
'I'm so sorry, Yukihira, I had no idea…'
"Dunno whatcha mean, Mayumi. I'm totally fine. Anyway, please enjoy, everyone."
That was the last thing leaving his mouth before all three judges took a bite out of each dish, their faces filled with delight as they savored the different flavors.
As pleased as they seemed, Erina noticed that there was no overwhelmingly strong reaction whatsoever. No flushed faces, no shifting in their seats, no erratic breathing; just wide smiles, and somewhat satisfied expressions. She wasn't sure how to feel about that…
There was a crushing silence for the next few minutes, driving the heiress, as well as the red headed chef beside her to the brink of desperation. They both didn't know if they even wanted to hear the verdict, feeling like no win would be justified at this point.
How ironic…
"Alright, I think we are ready to give our votes. Aki, would you like to start?"
"Yeah, sure. My vote goes to… Nakiri Erina. Your dish was simply amazing."
She flinched at hearing her name, the dagger in her heart twisting painfully.
"Mayumi?"
"Um, I-I choose… S-Soma's dish, I think…"
This time she noted him flinching, probably having similar thoughts right now. Nothing these judges said would be enough to convince either of them that this match was held under fair conditions, therefore no one had the right to call their victory 'deserving'. In Erina's case, it only added to her guilt.
"I see… Well, as for me, I have to say… I'm quite disappointed in you two."
And that was the push that dagger inside her needed to break her heart completely.
"Wha-what d'ya mean, dad? Why would you say that?"
"Don't get me wrong, son, you did very well. Both the omelet and the baked eggs were delicious, hands down. But they… lacked something crucial, something you can't find in every ordinary dish. Unless you tell me what that is, I'm afraid neither of your creations deserve to be called 'the winner'."
"Say what?"
"I-I don't understand, Sir, what are you talking about?"
Completely surprised by his words, both Yukihira and Erina herself leaned forward in hopes of hearing a few more details, feeling like this explanation wasn't nearly enough to satisfy their confused minds.
A sympathetic smile spread across the older man's face, his eyes softening as he stood up to place his hands on top of each student's head, not looking like he would say anything else on the matter.
"You'll understand one of these days. We can have a Shokugeki again when the time comes, but until then, try not to worry too much about your skills. Once you find out what it is you're lacking, it'll taste better than ever, trust me."
Looking past his hand and into his warm eyes, Erina tried to grasp what exactly he was referring to, her sleep deprived brain struggling to keep up with what was being said. Did that mean her cooking hadn't been perfect this whole time after all?
Unfortunately, she was too tired right now to think about that as well…
"Yeah, maybe… Thanks, Dad, I'll keep that in mind. Well, looks like we're tied this time, huh Nakiri?"
"It would appear so…, I suppose I'll have to take you on some other time. Count yourself lucky."
"You wish! By the way, did you get enough sleep last night? It looks like you have major bags under your eyes. Don't tell me that's why you couldn't beat me."
Her left eyebrow twitched with irritation as soon as Joichiro pulled his hands away from their heads.
The straightforwardness of this boy seemed to know no bounds, as usual. How she wished she could wipe that smirk off his face right here and now.
"I'm fine, there is no need for you to worry about something so trivial. And don't talk like you were the one who won, as far as I'm concerned we're even!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
Looking closer at his face, the heiress saw right through the charade he forced himself to uphold. The guilt within her convinced Erina that it was entirely her fault, and that she needed to make up for it as soon as she could.
So with new determination shining in her amethyst eyes she turned towards her idol again, the hammering inside her chest intensifying by the second.
There was only one thing she could do at the moment.
"Em, Saiba-sama? Is it possible for you to tell me what you know right now?"
And that's it for this chapter. Quite long yet again, huh? I really hope you don't mind that, I just can't seem to stop once I start typing, you know?
Again, please tell me what you think of this chapter, everyone, I'd love to hear your opinions!
I hope I'll see you all soon!
Take care!