Chapter 16: Goodbye
Hellooooo there, welcome back everyone!
Chapter 16 already, huh? Damn, we're moving fast hahahahahah!
I never would have thought this could be possible, I mean just look at all the warm reviews I got saying that the chapters are going well so far! Over 200 of them!
I definitely don't want to disappoint you all now, and I promise to do my very best to make this story worth your time too!
You're all so amazing, each one of you, and I can't be happier to write for such kind, and beautiful people who adore this ship just as much as I do! You guys are the best, thank you soooo very much for everything you tell me! I really am close to tears every freaking time! And guess what happened, on top of that, this story was even mentioned over at Tumblr as well! Can you guys believe it? ON FREAKING TUMBLR; HOLY SHIT; I'M FREAKING OUT HERE!
If you see this, thank you so, so, so much, erinashippo, for giving me such an honor, I swear I couldn't be happier even if I tried!
And, as always, a huge thanks to my amazing friend, lamperouge rolo, for helping me make this chapter more enjoyable for all of you. You're so awesome, my girl, I'm beyond grateful for all your effort, thank you so very much! I love you so much, my friend, thank you!
The same goes for my two sweethearts, Jellyann and maddiesmt, who always, always, always support me with their kind words and friendship! I love you, my girls, thank you so much for sticking with me this entire time!
Ah, you know what? I just love talking to all of you out there; you people are incredible!
Well, I'm sure you're all used to my excessive thank you messages by now, right? I'm sorry if this gets repetitive after a while, but I could never take your sweet words for granted and stop being grateful for them, you know? I appreciate everything, and I want to use every opportunity I get to show that to ya hahahahahah!
Please, tell me what you think of this chapter either, I'm super curious to hear your opinions on it!
And with that out of the way, what d'ya say we jump right in, eh?
Take care, everyone!
It was quiet, too quiet for her taste.
The silence stretched unbearably long as they walked down the same street the heiress had taken countless of times before over the past three weeks.
For how much longer would it go on like this, she couldn't tell; It just felt like every time she tried to start a conversation, an unpleasant knot would form in her throat, making it impossible for her to get a single word out.
Yes, this particular atmosphere was mostly her fault, and yes, she fully knew that it could give Soma the impression that she was scared beyond words again. However… Engaging in small talk now feels especially awkward as they are heading towards the cemetery in the middle of the afternoon.
And even if his 'Yukihira style apple crepe sauté', or something along those lines, had somehow managed to lift her spirits with its well-combined flavors and spices earlier, Erina still couldn't get rid of the uneasiness slowly clawing its way inside her heart. She had tried to hide it, as usual, by telling him about how she found at least twelve ways to improve that dish while avoiding the disappointed look in those amber orbs, but… whether it was effective or not, she wasn't quite sure. He probably had expected as much, yet even so, it seemed as though he had put a great deal of effort into preparing this breakfast item for her, like he always did. And the fact that she so easily detected all the secret ingredients hidden within it must have hurt his pride a little.
Be that as it may, she knew he wouldn't give up trying to impress her, even if it takes him a lifetime.
She risked a quick, discreet glance to her left. Those tightly pressed lips and slightly narrowed eyes spell stubbornness like no other, a persistence she is strangely thankful for. But still, this thought did nothing to ease her distress on the tense atmosphere between them.
And to make matters worse, she feels that all the stress is starting to take a toll on her body. She dismissed the slight headache earlier but it got worse the longer she stood on her feet. She could feel a fever spell starting to course through her body making her sweat bullets. She preferred not to say anything about it though, anticipating a repeat of yesterday's chiding about not keeping herself warm enough once he gets a clue of what's going on.
They descended the sloped pavement for nearly fifteen minutes, and by now, she swore she could feel the tension between them reaching its limit as the young chef began to slow down his pace a bit, a clear sign that he had enough of Erina avoiding his gaze. She couldn't blame him, yet didn't want to voice her worries right here on the street either, her pride preventing her from showing any form of vulnerability while they are surrounded by other people. It just didn't seem proper, especially now that word got out where exactly she was staying at for the time being. Erina wanted to avoid drawing even more attention to herself by starting to freak out in front of strangers.
To her, it was already frustrating enough that people had actually recognized her back in Hokkaido.
And just as she was about to take a deep breath and urge the young chef beside her to move on already, a cheery voice cut through the air, effectively breaking some of the tension between them.
"Well, well, if it isn't my beauty trying to walk right past me without even giving me a proper 'Hello'! How's it going, darling? I missed ya!"
Her head snapped to the left, where an overly enthusiastic Masamune is waving a hand in greeting from behind his shop counter with a massive smile plastered on his face.
Hesitantly, she gave him a nod in acknowledgement, unsure whether she should feel awkward over his miserable attempt to flirt with her or about the fact that Soma isn't saying anything, despite the frown he now sported.
"It has only been a day since you last saw me walking by here, Masamune-san."
"So? You can't blame me for missing a gorgeous sight as soon as she disappears on me, that's not how it works, beauty!"
Her slight cringe from the unwanted attention did not go unnoticed as the redhead suddenly stepped in front of her.
"Whoa, hold it right there, buddy. Who are you?"
Finally, his voice echoed in her ears again, making the heiress realize just how badly she had wanted to hear it all this time. Granted it held a certain sharpness to it, accompanied by him now taking a provocative step towards the flower stall, she still felt more at ease now than she had for the past fifteen minutes, all things considered.
"Eh…? I should be asking you that, kid! Hey, beauty, are you cheating on me already? That's cruel!"
"Alright, listen up."
He stomped right towards the flower stall, eyebrows knitted together in annoyance.
"I don't know where you're going with this, but do me a favor and keep those stupid nicknames to yourself, got it? I know she's gorgeous and all but she's mine, so back off, pal!"
Despite the light jesting tone of his voice, similar to the one he usually uses as he argues with Takumi, the young chef's eyes were practically burning as he stared down the shopkeeper, arms crossed over his chest, and a chilling aura surrounding him. His entire demeanor seemed so dominant that it startled not only Erina but the older vendor as well, causing the latter to take a slight step back.
Of all things Soma could have said, this was by far the last one she expected to hear right now. It wasn't like she needed him to defend her, yet somehow she could still feel her heart skipping not less than five beats at once at his bold declaration, a pleasant tingle spreading through her stomach and making her inhale a sharp breath.
He had never declared his feelings for her so directly to another person's face, or acted all possessive for that matter. Granted, it hadn't exactly been necessary for him to mark his territory like that up until now. But even so, it left a pleasant tingle in her veins in spite of not fully understanding what was going on.
"I...what do you mean? You can't just claim somebody as yours, kid. I don't remember ever seeing you around since I met Beauty here and then you suddenly pop up saying that she's yours? That's not fair!"
Soma hesitated for a bit, the quip on his absence hitting too close to home.
"W-what did ya say?"
Seeing the crack in his confidence, the shopkeeper pushed on smugly. At this point, it was safe to say Erina didn't like where this was going at all, more sweat forming on her forehead as the heat kept on weighing her down.
"Also, where are your manners? You should always introduce yourself first before asking others for their name, Scarface."
"What?! I could say the same to you Flower Boy."
The brunette's eyes widened in disbelief, a strange emotion crossing his features before he managed to compose himself again, revealing a playful smirk.
Erina pressed her fingers to her temple in embarrassment, finding this childish argument in front of the flower shop downright humiliating. And just as she had suspected, this wouldn't end well at all if she didn't intervene somehow immediately. But… her body just felt so heavy that she craved to sit down as soon as possible rather than get involved with those fools, even if she loved one of them. Sighing in exasperation, she gathered her resolve and slowly made her way towards the arguing men, or bantering kids, she couldn't tell anymore at this point.
"Oh, fine, if you must know! The name's Kenji Masamune, and I'm the one who sold the lovely lady the most beautiful flowers I have in this shop for almost a month now! Nice to meet ya."
Still ticked off, Soma nitpicked on his introduction.
"Almost a month? It hasn't even been two weeks since she came here! What the heck's wrong with you?"
Sensing her approach, the red-haired chef turned to the heiress with a 'who-the-hell-is-this-guy' look, teeth gritted together and irritation radiating in waves.
It made her feel a bit guilty, a voice inside her stating that this was something she should have mentioned to him last night. At that, Erina shook her head, staring at him gently but firmly, silently directing him to calm down.
She then took a step to the side in order to get a better look at the persistent man who now avoided eye contact with either of them, a sheepish smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"I actually would like to know that myself…"
That drew a blank look from both chefs.
"Oh, never mind. Just… don't go around claiming people for yourself, alright? Fight fair and square for the maiden just like the rest of us."
Masamune cheerily regarded the redhead again, who now let out a frustrated sigh, eyes closed, and fingers pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. He turned to Erina, head slightly tilting for her to come a little closer. As she reached his side, he suddenly brushed a lock of hair by the side of her face, fingers sliding smoothly as he drew the tips to his lips.
"I think the only thing unfair about this is that I didn't do it sooner, even though she'd been right in front of me ever since my enrollment at Totsuki."
Frozen in place, the blonde felt like all of her blood rushed to her face, adding to the heat that was already there.
"How dare you little- wait… T-Totsuki… as in the legendary Totsuki academy? Oh, t-that's… I-I see…"
The brunette looked shell-shocked at the students in front of him as his smile faltered, both head and shoulders falling in a defeated manner.
She wondered for the first time if, perhaps, it was her fault for not being precise enough when she explained him the other day that she didn't enjoy his excessive flirting at all as he now turned around, slapped his cheeks repeatedly, then proceeded to smile back at them like nothing was wrong with him.
"S-sorry about that… I-I get it now. Guess it wasn't meant to be then after all. I truly believed we were a match made in heaven, but… the fact that I never even got to learn your name says it all in the end, huh…"
The longer he kept rambling on, the clearer it became for her that the young man is trying to hide his broken heart, and as much as she pitied him for it, the heiress didn't understand why he would react so strongly in the first place, or seemed to be on the brink of tears. And while she stood there, watching him give Soma an envy look, she felt the sudden urge to comfort this peculiar guy, even if all she wanted before was for him to stop talking.
With that in mind, Erina walked the few last steps towards a sulking Masamune, eyes filled with a determination that somehow caused him to shudder noticeably.
"Masamune-san… even though I said this already, it seems there is still something I need to make sure you understand. The first time I came to your shop… you asked me whether the orchids I bought were for my crush or not, remember?"
While he gave her a hesitant nod, the blonde pulled out her purse with hesitant fingers, feeling Soma's gaze follow her every movement as she laid just the right amount of money on the shop counter.
"Today, the flowers I want to purchase are not going to be for my mother, but for someone I came to love just as much. So… would you hand me one bouquet of those white orchids over there, please?"
She ignored the redhead's widened eyes as she blinked a few times to get the blurriness out of her vision, her attention drifting back to the brunette in front of her.
It just got worse with each breath she took, her body feeling heavier and weaker by the second.
To her surprise, the young vendor didn't say anything while preparing her order, his face betrayed no emotion whatsoever, and if it weren't for the slight twitch of his hands every now and then, she would have believed that her declaration didn't even faze him in any way. But it did, and now, as he handed her the flowers and tried desperately to avoid her gaze, she just hoped he got the message correctly without reading anything else into it.
As nice of a person he was, this ridiculous infatuation had to stop eventually.
"Thank you… A-and, I'm truly sorry, maybe I should have been more clear the first time."
"N-no, don't be. It's my own fault for jumping to conclusions like that. B-but, you- I mean, if you would like to, eh, well… Y-you can still come by any time, okay? I'll be here…"
"Sure… We can come visit your shop again… But don't expect it to be too soon though, I'm not exactly planning on buying anymore orchids from this day on."
His eyes lit up in a way that made Erina regret her decision to accept his offer, something akin to hope crossing his face as he gave her a small smile.
"Awesome! You're more than welcome. B-but, eh… why wouldn't you want to get anymore flowers here? Didn't your mom like them?"
"I-I… It's not necessary anymore, that's all."
"I see… Well, guess this is it then, huh? I'll see ya around, Beauty. Be careful out there."
"L-likewise."
"Oh and… Hey, kid!"
He waved a hand towards Soma, a bit of irritation visible in his eyes that he tried to cover up with a sunny smile.
"Just know that, if you so much as even think about doing something stupid, I'll take her right off your hands, deal?"
At that, both the redhead and Erina herself heaved a particularly long sigh, which lead to the young man laughing hysterically as he saw the lost expression on their faces.
"No way in hell, buddy."
That tone… he sounded so sure of himself, just like he always did, and it caused her heart to jump in every direction possible. And as she turned around with the small bouquet of her most favorite flowers in one hand, the blonde felt her stomach twisting and turning upside down, that bothersome heat in her face intensifying almost immediately at the mere sight of him.
It was strange how she didn't even regret saying those embarrassing things in front of him, how easily the words had rolled off her tongue without her needing to put much thought into them. And even though this whole confrontation ended up breaking someone's heart, Erina felt quite relieved as she regarded the redhead's widened eyes, a sheepish smile adoring his features.
He didn't say anything when she came to a halt in front of him, simply avoiding her gaze as she shyly held out her purchase to him, urging him to take them already. Instead of moving to take it though, he stared at her blushing face without blinking even once. The thought of getting the ever so smug Yukihira Soma completely speechless was actually quite amusing, and for a moment, Erina was even tempted to close the distance between them and give the boy a small kiss to wake him from his temporary stupor.
However, the slightest hint of a blush dusting his cheeks as soon as he registered the flowers in her hand showed that he, indeed, had understood what was happening right now, what she was trying to tell him with her gentle smile and outstretched hand. It caused him to chuckle with delight when he finally accepted the gift with a shake of his head as if not believing she actually did something so bold just now.
To her own dismay, the heiress found herself in a state of utter embarrassed, unable to enjoy his brightening grin for much longer as she instantly turned her head away from his adorable expression. She was just too humiliated to tell him that this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, that he shouldn't fool himself by thinking she would declare her love for him ever again in public.
The hammering inside her chest would surely get out of control if she were to do that.
"T-that, eh… t-thanks! I had no idea I was that important to ya, perhaps you should say it more often to reassure me, eh?"
Of course.
There it was.
She should have known that she wouldn't hear the end of this now. This is Yukihira Soma, after all, and if there was something she learned over the past year, it was that nothing she did or said would be left uncommented by him, ever.
"Hmph, d-don't flatter yourself. I-I didn't mean to make it sound like I was desperate for your attention, so stop grinning at me already!"
"Well, you say that… but you still can't even look at me, which means… there's no reason for me to believe ya!"
"Excuse me?! I'm not lying, thank you very much! Wipe that grin off your face this instant!"
He arched an eyebrow at that, amusement rising as that smug smile she found so irritating reached both his ears.
"How about you turn around and say that to my face instead of walking away like that? It would certainly make it more convincing."
"You wish! I don't have time to waste on this kind of nonsense! And since you don't seem to believe me, I would be more than happy to take those flowers back!"
"You're joking, right? As if I'd give'em back now, c'mon!"
"Then stop pestering me!"
"Not gonna happen!"
As they continued to bicker back and forth while strolling down the road again, both students failed to notice the way Masamune's hopeful smile turned into a melancholic one as he stared at the blonde until she was out of sight.
Said blonde was too busy getting a particularly irritating chef to stop messing with her to register that they had picked up their pace and were now nearing the bus stop she was more than familiar with.
It seemed so long ago now that she felt incapable of riding the bus to the cemetery, and to her own confusion, she still wouldn't prefer doing so if she could avoid it somehow. Yet this time, her body practically begged her to go sit down on that empty bench, blurry vision practically glued to that more than inviting looking seat only a few feet away.
"Oh well, we both know you meant every word, and for what it's worth, I never expected that. So thanks a lot, Erina! I mean it!"
"For crying out- it c-came out the wrong way, believe me already!"
"Whatever, I think I got my answer anyway at this point. Who would've thought Totsuki's mighty princess ends up buying flowers for a lowly diner brat, right?"
"Oh, j-just shut up, I'm not in the mood for your obnoxious ego right now! Besides, I had to do something or else you would have probably ended up causing more harm than good."
"What… How so?"
"Well, for starters, I had to hold you back before you could go over there and strangle the man, remember? Y-you seemed quite angry, s-so I thought that…"
At his sudden snort, she turned her head back towards him, a delicate eyebrow raised in wonder of what it was he found so funny this time.
"Yeah, of course I was. I mean, that guy was basically hitting on you, right? I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't be angry at that."
Hearing the sincerity in his voice caused her heart to do multiple somersaults in a row, teeth nibbling nervously on her bottom lip as she let her gaze fall back on the bench of the bus stop.
If he continued to talk like that, she was sure to burst from all this heat building up inside her.
It was still a task in itself to get used to the way he made her feel with those actions- or rather with his presence in general.
"P-perhaps…"
"Who the hell was he anyway?"
"What? Oh, he… he is… Huh, to be honest, I don't really know much about him myself. All he told me was his name, and that he sells flowers at his family's shop for a short while now, but… that's about it, really. On my first day here, I thought it would probably be a good idea to get some flowers for my mother's grave, so I ended up buying them from him. When he decided to start flirting, I had no choice but to reject him each time, that's all there is to it."
The young chef sighed in exasperation, one hand raised to rub his temples as he held on to the flowers with the other.
"Damn it, Erina, I just asked you the other night if there was anything suspicious going on around here, and you assured me that there wasn't. Why didn't you tell me about this guy?"
"H-huh?"
For a moment, she wasn't sure why he would want to know about her encounter with the young vendor, the heaviness of her head, and the uncomfortable heat in her face becoming more and more of a burden the longer she tried to decipher his words.
And then… she remembered.
Their talk about that one employee who was filled with vengeance against her family, the discussion to keep an eye out for anything that seemed unusual, his question whether or not she came across said unusual situations… it all returned to her in one motion.
How did she forget about her grandfather's request so quickly?
"Oh please, don't be ridiculous, Soma. I can assure you he's completely harmless. From the looks of it, he doesn't even have a clue who I am, let alone where I came from up until now. I think it's pretty safe to assume, he can't be involved in such twisted schemes whatsoever. And besides, didn't you say the one looking for me is an ex-employee of my father? Masamune-san is clearly too young to be working in a big organization such as Central."
"Maybe, but I still think something's up with him whether or not he knows who you are. I sure as hell didn't like the way he stared at you the entire time."
Now it was her who snickered uncontrollably, eyes squinted with affection at his pouting face. He didn't accept that he could be off with his accusation, yet at the same time, he said nothing to prove that her conclusion had been wrong either, which lead her to believe that this argument was most definitely in her hands. It seemed the little emotion called jealousy didn't occur to him at all, only confusion written on his face as he stared at her with slightly parted lips.
"What?"
"Don't…, don't you think it's something else you are feeling right now? Aside from suspicion, I mean."
"No… not really. Should it be?"
'Dense as usual.'
"Never mind… What do you say we take the bus to our destination? I-I just want to get this over with as fast as possible…"
He eyed her a little longer, seemingly not convinced that this was the main reason she wanted to wait for the bus when the weather was basically perfect for a walk. If he felt suspicious, he didn't show it though, instead giving her a short nod before heading over to the small lodge and leaning against the cool glass behind him.
Feeling yet another stroke of heat cursing through her body, Erina tried to follow him as inconspicuously as possible. Head pounding, body trembling, she sat down on the bench, unsure whether to be relieved or anxious that they would reach the cemetery faster this way.
"Hey…, are you holding up okay?"
"I-I'm fine, nothing to worry about."
"Right, that's why you've been quiet for the past half an hour, huh? C'mon, Erina, not again. I told ya already, you can talk to me when something's bothering you."
"I know! I know… It's just that…"
She squeezed her eyes shut, letting a sigh escape her lips instead of voicing her distress out loud.
It could be the fear of coming off as pathetic that made her close her mouth again, her reluctance to let Soma see her vulnerability just yet, or perhaps even both possibilities. Whatever the reason was, Erina didn't enjoy it one bit, feeling like she was starting to suffocate from all these emotions wreaking havoc inside her.
Would it always be this way? Would she constantly deny him the right to know the loading weight in her heart, even though they were in a relationship now?
She felt guilty for putting him through this- for still being so distant, despite him trying his hardest to ease her pain. He didn't deserve any of this treatment, but… there was only so much a girl with no experiences in love- or caring parents, who might have been able to teach her about expressing those feelings, could do to show her affection.
"C'mon, don't make that sad face now. It'll be fine, I promise. We get in, you pay your respects, and then we go out, quit worrying so much."
His voice, suddenly so close to her, caused the heiress to open her eyes again, amethyst meeting amber as she regarded his crouching form in front of the bench she was sitting on. She hadn't heard him come over, let alone bend down to be face to face with her for that matter. The hand that had been resting on one knee before was now rubbing the back of his head for, what could be the hundredth time today, a motion that mostly came into play whenever he felt unsure or bashful over something. And right now, it seemed the boy didn't quite believe his own words to be true as he, oh so cleverly tried to hide the doubt with a casual smirk and squinted eyes.
Unfortunately for him though, she saw right through that façade, and it didn't help her in the slightest when all she had wanted was to believe him.
"W-what makes you think I can go in this time?"
"Eh… would it be too boastful to say that I'll be the one making the difference here?"
"…Yes."
He chuckled at her response, rising to his feet once again when he spotted the bus not too far away from them before holding out his free hand for her to grasp.
"Well, you're still gonna get some moral support from me whether you want it or not, so stop sulking already. Despite of what you say, I'm sure it'll all work out in the end, trust me. After all, I promised that today's the day you will finally be able to face your mom's grave, didn't I? You should know by now that I never break any promises no matter what. Now… let's go and see how it turns out, alright? We got this."
Erina didn't know what to say, couldn't find the right words to express how he made her feel yet again as she continued to stare at his open palm like it was some sort of anchor that she should be clinging to in order not to get swallowed by those overwhelming emotions bundled up inside her chest. And so, the heiress just smiled, probably the warmest she had ever shown anyone so far, and took the offered hand to stand from the bench. She missed the way his golden eyes widened in astonishment, missed the faint blush spreading across his cheeks as her gaze fell on the small bus that came to a halt in front of them instead, the storm in her heart calming ever so slowly when he gave her hand a tender squeeze rather than letting it go.
"T-thank you…"
It was only a whisper, a breath easily carried away by the wind, yet she had no doubt in her mind that he heard her words of appreciation anyway, another light squeeze of her hand telling her he did before she was gently pulled into the bus and seated next to the wide window in the back.
And as she placed her pounding head on his left shoulder, Erina still debated whether she should tell him that this was her first bus ride ever since she left the academy or just continue to keep quiet, and let him believe that she was getting anxious all over again.
She so desperately wanted to open up to him more, let him in on her state of disarray, since that was what two people in love did, right? She should tell him that she didn't feel well from the moment she woke up, should talk about her worry to stand before that specific grave, or about the fact that she had stubbornly refused to ride the bus all this time due to those hallucinations of him haunting her everywhere she went- hurting her every time she reached out and couldn't touch the warm skin she foolishly believed to be there. And now that she was finally able to do just that… her mind suddenly blanked out on all the things she had built up the courage to confess to him once they would meet again. It frustrated her, especially when she began to fear that the same struggles might happen the second she sees Nakiri Amelia's tombstone.
What if she can't find the right words in that specific moment as well?
As she subconsciously buried her face in the redhead's firm shoulder in order to rid herself of such thoughts, the heiress felt her hand being squeezed a third time, the warmth spreading in her body bringing her most of that resolve she had gained over the past few weeks back with seemingly no effort at all. It scared her how much power this boy had over her.
"You're shivering, you know that? And on top of that, you're freaking cold again. Just relax, would ya?"
"I am relaxed."
"No, you're not. If I didn't know it, I would've probably believed that you just got away with robbing a bank or something. With the way you're fidgeting around, I bet that, by now, everyone in this bus thinks you committed some sorta crime. Just… calm down a little, alright?"
"W-what…"
Her head snapped up almost immediately, a motion she now regretted as the world around her began to spin uncomfortably before she gave the grinning boy a murderous glare.
"Excuse me for worrying about the speech I need to hold soon."
"Speech?"
"Soma… Don't tell me you already forgot where we are headed! My last words to her should be special, graceful. I-it has to be perfect, alright? You… you didn't give me enough time to think about what I'm going to say before dragging me out the door, s-so I… well…"
"Okay, hold on a second. First off, who said you needed to prepare a speech when entering a cemetery? You just talk about whatever comes to mind- random stuff that you think she might like to hear, that's all there is to it. No fancy speeches, no perfection, no preparation time, nothing to feel insecure about, got it?"
He watched her intently as she turned her head to the side, blond strands casting a shadow over her eyes, preventing her from glancing in his direction.
"And second, why would ya want this to be your last words to her anyway? You know you can come back and talk to your mom whenever you feel like it, don't cha?"
"I'm aware of that. But… a-assuming I can't talk as freely as you would expect me to, w-wouldn't that just seem like I had nothing to say all along? A person I never got the chance to know better- to love deeper… what can I tell her that could express the amount of regret I feel? If it won't work now, how could I believe it to the next time I come here? I-I want… this is my first and last try, do you understand?"
Her amethyst orbs never left the sight of buildings rushing passed them, teeth nibbling her bottom lip worriedly as she waited for his response. She had opened up just a little, enough to let him get a clearer picture of her inner turmoil. And now, it was entirely up to him to decide what he would make of that, if it could be considered to be sufficient or not.
"You know what? I don't think you'll have any trouble getting a few words out. After all, she's still your mom, and as far as I'm concerned, every child has one or two things they want to share with just their moms, including us. You're gonna be fine."
"How can you state that so casually, Soma? I don't even remember her anymore- no, at this point… it would be more fitting to say that I don't know her. We're practically strangers, so what exactly do you suppose I should share with her? I couldn't set one foot inside that cemetery for over two weeks because I can't get over the fact that it was me who caused her death in the first place, a-and no matter what I do, I feel like this is something I have no right to forget either. It-it's just so- I'm not… I mean-"
She was interrupted by the sudden sound of the bus's loudspeakers announcing the name of yet another stop- or rather… their destination. It didn't even take them twenty minutes to reach the cemetery this way, whereas on foot, Erina had needed over half an hour to get here every single day. She couldn't feel more foolish even if she tried.
"C'mon, I think it's about time you get this out of your system."
And with that, he stood up, never loosening his grip on her hand as he led her out of the vehicle and into the less crowded pavement.
Her heart was hammering with uneasiness against her ribcage, a thin layer of sweat once again forming on her forehead, and as if that wasn't enough already, the uncomfortable heat in her body started weighing her down even more than her anxiety did. She had a silent suspicion that this wasn't normal at all, but suppressed it nonetheless.
There was no turning back from here on out anyway.
Taking a deep breath, she released Soma's hand and took a step towards the large gate in front of them.
This was it.
Almost automatically, her eyes searched around the meadow surrounding them to find her black-haired friend somewhere. It was a bit later than her usual visiting time, but she suspected that the old lady would still be here, if not outside waiting for her then maybe she was with her daughter and husband, watering their graves just like she always did.
A fond smile appeared on the heiress's features as she walked closer to the gate and peered through the bars- an attempt to get a glimpse of the big tree where the two graves were supposed to be located. However, the moment Erina was close enough to place one hand on the cold metal, her eyes widened in pure shock when she realized that there isn't any. The space right under the tree was completely free, people passing it by or mainly just standing there, craving the shade it provided.
She stumbled backwards a few feet, utterly confused over the fact that she seemed to have remembered it wrong. Though, she could have sworn that this was the right spot, the place her new friend had pointed out to her when they first met. It didn't make any sense.
"Hey, c'mon, slow poke! Do ya wanna keep standing there 'til nightfall or something? Let's go in already!"
"I-I… don't think t-they…"
"Huh? What's up?"
By the time she registered his question, he was already standing right next to her, eyes following her line of sight in wonder.
"Is there something specific that you're looking for?"
"I… I-I'm not so sure anymore, actually…"
"What d'ya mean?"
"T-that space…"
She shook her head lightly before turning towards him, completely lost in her own bewilderment.
"Yesterday… do you remember when I told you about this woman I met on my first day here?"
A slow nod was his only answer, confusion still evident in those amber depths as he waited for her to continue. Erina didn't know how she should phrase it without sounding like a crazy person though, and despite her own puzzlement over this situation, she knew she wasn't mistaken. Those tombstones had always been underneath that tree before, whenever she came here, they were right there- her friend was right there. And now… they were gone, just like that?
How?
"S-she… she came to the cemetery every day to water the dirt on each of her family's graves, a-and each time, before she went in, we sat on that bench over there, talking for hours… I-I don't understand why…"
"So… what d'ya trying to say?"
"She showed me where her husband and daughter were lying before. Right there, the empty space under that tree! H-however, they… I-I can't see them anywhere now."
Pointing a finger towards said place, her eyes drifted back to the red-headed chef, shining with hope that he wouldn't make fun of her this time. Because, even if she tried to hold her calm demeanor for as long as she could, Erina still felt more than disturbed by all this from the inside, heart racing with shock and one cold shiver after another running down her spine. It would only get worse if he did call her delusional or anything similar.
"Huh?"
The boy stared at her for a couple of seconds, seemingly unsure as to where she was going with this. And to her own frustration, she didn't know as well.
Is it the wrong spot after all?
Now, Erina wished she could have asked for her friend's name before she disappeared each time they ended a conversation. It certainly would have made it so much easier to find the real location… if she truly was mistaken.
"Well, I don't see any graves there either. You sure they were here?"
"Of course I am! …o-or not anymore, I guess…"
"Huh… maybe we can find that lady you keep mentioning somewhere inside? From the looks of it, there aren't that many people hanging around today anyway."
"Yeah, m-maybe…"
Caught up in her own thoughts, she didn't notice the worried look Soma sent her, or the warm smile stretching his lips despite the state of concern he appeared to be in. And when he placed a hand on her shoulder, slowly turning her to face him again, she realized… he was all the support she needed to finally get over herself and leave her insecurities behind once again, whether the older woman was there today or not.
"Just go tell your mom what she needs to hear, alright? I'm sure she's waited long enough for you to come by. It'll be a piece of cake, trust me. I'm right here with ya!"
She smiled, a genuine one at that as she raised her own hand to flip her hair back for more confidence, taking another deep breath.
"Right."
And with that, Nakiri Erina turned around and walked past the open gate for the very first time ever since her arrival in this town over two weeks ago, trembling fingers laced together with the source of warmth she needed to move forward.
…
There was no sight of her here either…
Now that she was finally inside the cemetery, the heiress still hadn't seen the older woman standing anywhere, eventually leading her to believe that maybe she just was occupied somehow, or would be coming in later today. The longer she thought about that, the more frustrating it became, because for once, Erina would have loved to return the favor of watering her mother's grave by doing the same for her friend's daughter and husband, but… she didn't know what names to look for. If only she hadn't been so caught up in her own worries and simply asked for her name…
After a long while of searching, she found herself standing in front of the most beautifully decorated grave in the whole area, white in color and flowers growing all around it, emphasizing its gloriousness despite the few cracks in the stone here and there.
To her surprise, she found yet another bouquet of those colored orchids that always seemed to be missing whenever she bought her own at Masamune's shop, innocently placed under the wide tombstone itself as if it was out to mock her by saying that the one buying it knew her mother better than she did. Though the implication may be more than true, Erina still didn't like the thought of someone outside her own family going out of their way to purchase fresh flowers for Nakiri Amelia's grave every single day, a huge bouquet at that. She simply didn't want to admit she's jealous of this random person who could've had a far better relationship with her mother than herself.
Seeing Nakiri Amelia's tombstone, feeling the loss all over again… brought her thoughts back to the black-haired lady for some reason. The warmth her embrace provided each time Erina found herself crying, those gentle strokes of her hair that seemed all too familiar and calming to make any sense of, her meaningful words… she truly missed all of them, feeling alone even though she wasn't. Another gentle squeeze of her hand was all it took to remind her of that, which she appreciated more than she'd care to admit out loud.
Soma was here, just like he promised. He had somehow managed to make her come in, gave her the strength to take another step forward and sit on the very edge of the stone bordered tomb, just like he had promised, and Erina got the silent suspicion she truly couldn't even begin to express how grateful she is that he was by her side.
"H-hello… Mother…"
Her body stiffened the second she touched the hardened dirt on top of the grave with trembling fingers, feeling more awkward than frightened when she released the breath she hadn't realized she was holding in all this time. The brave facade she had put up was slowly starting to fade away the longer she struggled with her next words.
"I, eh… I'm sorry it took me that long to get here… It-it's a bit strange for me to be doing this right now, so… j-just bear with me for a moment, please… T-truth be told, I… I never really intended to come to Kamakura when I was younger, never planned on visiting you with all that grief still bundled up inside me. H-however, I think, over the past year, I learned a valuable lesson about things not necessarily turning out the way I want them to, a-and that… some plans are bound to change, regardless of whether or not I try to prevent it. L-like I said, I didn't want to set one foot inside this town, yet here I am anyway… Strange, right?"
She stayed silent for a few minutes as she took the time to reminisce about her childhood, those pointless hours she had spent alone in her bedroom, crying over the loss of someone she couldn't even remember.
Erina didn't actually know where she's going with this, she didn't know what point she's trying to make here. All she could grasp at that moment was the brown dirt underneath her fingers and the pair of amber eyes watching her in utter silence.
"Mother… M-Mom? I know I hurt you a lot by not visiting you with Grandfather every time he comes over, a-and I know I'm probably hurting you at this very moment by saying I never had the intention of paying my respects in the first place, but… I feel like I have to get all that out in the open somehow before I can talk about other things…"
She paused, taking in a deep breath as she wiped the cold sweat off her forehead with one hand. Despite her heart hammering mercilessly inside her chest, the heiress tried her best to calm down without drawing too much attention to herself, not wanting the redhead behind her to notice how panicked she truly was.
He didn't need another reason to worry about her.
"Back then… I-I was mad, actually more than mad for what you did to me. I thought that… you left me behind, t-that you just died somewhere far away from your family, not bothering to come back and say goodbye. Of course… I felt abandoned at first, betrayed over the fact that my own mother didn't want to take me with her when she left the estate, but then, after a while… the anger I felt started to fade, until there was only emptiness left inside me. I mean, I-I didn't remember ever spending time with you, so it should be a given that I forget about someone who I couldn't even meet properly, right? Well…, it wasn't. I spent more time thinking about you than I had expected. I… I cried so much when I saw other children buying presents every year on Mother's Day, I missed you every time I made a new dish and didn't find someone I could show it to. I wanted… to have you next to me at the middle school entrance ceremony, o-or late at night when I had trouble falling asleep. But… you weren't there, a-and I needed to remind myself over and over again that there is never going to come a time when you would be present either. Believe me, i-it was harder than anything I had to do before. A-and even though I was lucky that Alice played with me for a while, it never filled the void in me that was longing for you. S-so when she left, and Father came back… that emptiness kept on growing, t-to the point where I just started hating you all over again. It was so… disappointing to see one loveless parent right in front of me while the other was buried under the dirt somewhere else entirely. O-or at least, that's how I felt before I found out what really happened nearly a month ago."
By now, tears had started to well up in her eyes, making it harder for her to identify what's written on the white tombstone with each passing moment. She didn't dare lift her arm to wipe them away, fearing that if she did, it would only unleash the flow of all the others that were bound to fall eventually.
"You… y-you never were all that far away from me after all, right? Y-you protected me when I was acting like a spoiled brat again, saved my life without worrying about what it would do to me if you died. A-and here I am, forgetting your biggest sacrifice like it didn't happen at all, thinking that you didn't want to be near me for some reason. Y-you must be wondering why I even bothered to show up here in the first place, huh. Your ungrateful daughter kept you waiting for so long, a-and now that she's here, there isn't even one nice thing coming out of her mouth… I-I'm truly sorry about this, I-I know, nothing of what I'm saying makes any sense to you, but… i-it's just that… t-that I… I-I can't get myself t-to tell you t-that I… I-"
Her voice broke the same time that first, salty tear descended down her unnaturally heated cheek, paving the way for so many to follow- just like she had suspected it would- and before the heiress knew it, her shoulders were shaking harder than before, suppressed sobs echoing through the small cemetery.
The hand she had placed on top of the dirt formed a tight fist as she pressed the other against her mouth, desperate to silence any noise that escaped her throat.
Erina hated to admit it, but this was actually harder than she had expected it to be. She thought that she could be able to hold back these pesky tears until after apologizing properly, but… she couldn't after all.
"M-Mom… please, I… J-just, what did you tell me that made me run off like that? W-what was it you said to me that day in front of the restaurant? I-I… I wish you could talk to me one last time… Please, Mother… I can't take this guilt anymore, it's torturing me day after day! I don't know why I acted the way I did, I'm nothing like that now. All I ask- all I want… is for you to forgive me, Mother, please! Y-you didn't deserve to leave this world in a hospital bed without anyone you love around you! You didn't deserve to be forgotten by the person who killed you! I-I'm so sorry, Mom! I'm sorry for not remembering you, for never coming to see you, for holding a grudge against you all this time even though you did nothing wrong! Why did… w-why did you jump in front of me?! W-why did you destroy your future like that?!"
She repeated the same questions over and over again, begging for an answer that would never come. By now, she was practically sitting on the ground with her arms folded together over the edge of the stone, head resting above them as her sobs grew louder. She didn't know how her body had glided down the tomb without her noticing it, or when she had started raising her voice to an uncomfortable height, but either way, Erina found she needed at least something to hold on to before the shaking of her muscles would let her fall off regardless.
"Y-you… you forced me to grow up without any kind of love in my life, a-and most of the time, I… I-I couldn't help but despise you for it! I-I'm sorry for being so ignorant, Mom! I'm sorry I found out about your death by asking Saiba-sama about Father's motives! Y-you hadn't even been at the front of my mind when I went to talk to him, I'm so sorry I didn't care! I-I'm sorry for… f-for never wondering who you were, o-or what exactly happened to you! Please… p-please forgive me, Mother! I-I never meant for any of this to happen, s-so… please… I know I kept on running from the past like it was the best solution I could come up with, a-and I realize now that… I shouldn't have done that at all. It-it started with Father's return to Totsuki… a-and went on with my pathetic decision to leave everyone I care about just because I felt like Grandfather wouldn't want me to take your place as the new director anymore! I was being foolish, I'm aware, b-but… I-I can't go back there and replace the very woman I killed, it's not fair to anyone… I-I mean, h-how could I?"
Erina's eyes grew wide at the confession she just gave, remembering that she hadn't been the only one here all this time. Instantly, her head turned towards the red-headed chef standing a small distance away from her, a certain pain evident in his features that he tried to conceal with his bangs.
She knew he had heard every word, had seen the shaking of her body, yet Erina still refused to lower her voice to a whisper, feeling like this was a good time to let him know her intentions before he would end up heartbroken all over again. She wanted him to listen to what she hadn't been able to say to his face before.
After all, he deserved nothing short of a proper explanation, and if this was the only way she would be able to give him one, the heiress needed to make it count. Even if it would hurt him more than a face-to-face conversation.
"Y-you know what…? The boy right over there is the one who made it possible for me to come see you in the first place. He…- despite the fact that I had no interest in coming into contact with him whatsoever at the beginning… he ended up meaning more to me than anything else in the end, a-and… he's the only reason I'm so torn between saying goodbye to the academy for good a-and returning someday after all. I-it's… I-I… just…"
Another deep inhale as she took one more glance in his direction, not daring to meet his hurting gaze so directly.
"I hate this so much… I hate doing this to you, Soma, b-but… I-I just can't… I'm s-so sorry…"
A mere whisper, one she was sure he couldn't hear this time. And yet for some reason, he still flinched as if having listened to every single word.
She saw him close his eyes for a moment, shoulders fallen by now as Erina tuned back around, burying her face in her arms once again. The tears seemed endless at this point, and she simply didn't want him to look at her while she was in that state for much longer. The fact that he had witnessed her screaming just made it all the more unbearable for the heiress anyway.
It was not until after she felt a warm hand gently touching her shoulder that the blonde raised her head again, startled at the sudden sensation. She didn't need to let her eyes wander to know who was crouching right next to her, the pleasant contact of his skin with hers giving her all the confirmation she could ask for.
"Erina, look at me."
"I-I… don't want to."
Before she could add anything else, Soma placed his other hand on one side of her head, softly tilting it to the left so that their eyes could met again. The sheer determination shining within those golden depths caused a shiver to run down her spine.
"Listen… I'm gonna bring you back with me, no matter how it takes, you can bet on that. I will make you forget that you ever said you're going away for good, I swear. So… don't give up now, okay? I know we can fix this… together."
She didn't respond, didn't even blink as the tears continued to silently glide down her face.
Just what compelled this boy to be so persistent?
They would see one another again; even if it ended up taking a while, she would make damn sure of that. However, it would… just not be at Totsuki anymore.
Why did he act like her not returning to the academy would be the end of the world? For some reason, she felt like she should already know the answer, but right now… her mind drew a complete blank while that confident yet sorrowful expression on his features tugged at her heartstrings so excessively.
"I-I… I n-need to… I need to know i-if she forgave me, S-Soma… P-please…, please, just- before that, I'm not a-able to- I can't just-"
Her voice broke yet again, but this time it was not because of tears threatening to overwhelm her, but because the red-headed chef suddenly decided to pull her into a tight embrace, warmth and security flowing through every part of her body the second she felt his firm arms holding her against him.
"Hey… C'mon, it's okay. You're tougher than this, aren't you? You don't need forgiveness when there's nothing you did that justifies it. Your mom wanted to protect you, it never was your fault, alright? Stop blaming yourself for something you had no control over."
She could feel the hand that had been stroking her hair press her tighter against the crook of his neck, tears dampening his clothes even further than they already were. However, he didn't seem to mind that at all, muscles only stiffening when the heiress responded to his words with a weak shake of her head, lips brushing unintentionally against his skin as she did so. Her own arms remained on each side of her, trembling fingers merely clutching Soma's clothed thighs in utter desperation.
There goes her self-control. She was afraid something like this might happen as soon as she would open her mouth. And now that the sobs had started, they simply refused to cease in volume, filling her heart with nothing but anguish even in the arms of someone she loved.
"I-I killed her…"
"You didn't. Seriously… are you even listening to yourself right now? She loved you, Erina. More than anything else in this world, she cared for you, and you know that. Stop saying you killed her already! Trust me, I'm aware that it isn't easy. But… damn, you can't just keep beating yourself up over this! Your mom doesn't wanna see you like that, and neither do I, got it? She… I'm sure she didn't give her life just so you could run around with your guilty-conscience weighing you down all the time. You have to get back up like you always do and show her that she didn't die for nothing. Besides, weren't you the one who always said you would stand above anyone else? How're you gonna do that if you're sitting on the ground crying? C'mon, Erina, she's been watching over you from the start. Show her you have the strength she always hoped you would- show me you have it. Get up!"
Even though his words sounded so sincere, so confident, the heiress was still able to hear the slight shake under that strong voice as he inhaled a deep breath. She didn't trust her own to give him a proper response, choosing to let actions do the talking for her as she raised her head from his shoulder and met his burning gaze. It held all the vigor she so desperately longed for, giving her one last push to clear her mind again.
And she was thankful, more than he would ever know.
So without any words, the heiress placed her hand on his cheek, relishing in the soothing warmth as soon as his own curled around her fingers, the other tenderly wiping the remaining tears off her face. She couldn't say when exactly she had stopped crying, but Erina suspected that the redhead's words had played a bigger part in it than either of them expected.
A small smile appeared on his features, hesitant, sad, pained…, yet at the same time so wonderfully relieved that it made the corners of her mouth twitch upwards in return.
"Don't give up on me now, you hear?"
She nodded, not ready to speak just yet while Soma shifted the palm of her hand towards his own, lips planting soft kisses on her skin.
They remained in each other's embrace for a little while longer before he slowly got back on his feet, one hand held out to help her stand as well.
How often he had done that gesture already, she couldn't say. The only thing Erina knew for certain was that her heart wouldn't stop hammering wildly against her chest every single time he did, and that, no matter what happens, she would always reach for the hand that saved her so often in pure bliss, just like right now.
He pulled her towards him with one swift movement, bending down once more after that in order to pick up the orchids she had bought him earlier. Erina then watched him take a confident step towards Nakiri Amelia's tomb, stand there for a few seconds, and then lay down the flowers right next to the ones that had already been there from the start. Her eyes widened with astonishment as Soma walked over to the small fountain on the other end of the road next, filling one of the many kettles surrounding it with water before coming back and pouring it all over the dry dirt above her mother's grave.
"Hey there… So, ehm… I don't really have much to say other than… thank you for guiding her towards me. I promise to be there whenever she needs me, I promise to give her everything she couldn't get from you. She's in good hands, so you can rest easy now, okay, Ma'am? I won't let her shed those tears ever again, count on it."
With that he turned around to face the heiress, a serious look in his amber orbs as he came back to stand right in front of her.
"W-why did you- I mean…"
He shrugged, understanding what she wanted to know without her even finishing the question.
"I needed something to reassure her with, I guess. It just seemed like the right thing to do. She's your mom, after all."
"I-I… T-thank you…"
"Nah, I did it because I wanted to, alright? Don't sweat it. Now… you ready to head back yet?"
"…Y-yeah, let's go."
She moved forward herself and touched the tombstone for the last time, fingers still trembling when she did.
"I won't be coming back… Forgive me, Mom, but… I gave myself this one shot, a-and… I think I said everything I wanted to… P-please continue to watch over me, I-I know you did all this time. I…, even though I don't remember ever meeting you, I-I… I love you…"
She gave her grave another glance, trying not to pay her blurry vision any mind when she watched a few leaves of each bouquet blow in the gentle breeze.
Had it always been this hot in the evenings? No, Soma told her it wouldn't be for at least another couple of weeks before the summer heat was ready to strike, so that couldn't be it.
Now Erina was confused whether to feel warm or cold as her body started to shiver even though there was this unnerving heat radiating from her face. All of a sudden, the world around her started to spin again, not to the point where she would lose her balance, but still strong enough to make her stumble forward a few feet, leading her to collide with the redhead's solid chest awkwardly. She was lucky he caught her in time, but… her muscles were just so heavy, she doubted it would do her any good now if he were to let go. Which, unfortunately, he did.
"Whoa, slow down, would ya? You really should- Hey, what's wrong?"
"N-nothing… I… I'm alright. W-we should go."
A genuine smile graced her features as she straightened her back as inconspicuously as possible, trying not to let the fatigue overwhelm her.
His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, as if he could detect whatever was wrong with her just by staring intently into her eyes. When she was sure he didn't find anything, the heiress walked right past him, keeping her trembling to a minimum as best she could. If he noticed it after all, he didn't show, instead choosing to follow her out of the cemetery in silence.
When finally reaching the gate, Erina didn't look back, didn't even halt to take a deep breath of relief as she made her way straight to the bus stop, a worried redhead right behind her, not saying a word yet again.
And as they exited the area, neither of them noticed a pair of dark eyes watching them leave from afar, the petal of a certain purple colored orchid trapped between his long fingers before he allowed the wind to carry it away. It no longer served his needs anyway, so he might as well let go now.
After all, that's how it had always been. The strong disposing of those they deemed unworthy of doing their bidding any longer. He found it more than unfair that the bad remained in this world, ruling over those who couldn't stand up for themselves, while the good died so early, forgotten by the public faster than he could count.
She…, this girl definitely belonged to the side of evil doers, a sinister persona hidden underneath a warm smile and innocent enough looking eyes. And then… there was also that damn, pesky little transfer student showing up out of nowhere, ruining half of his plans just like he had done once before. This time however, he would make sure that history doesn't repeat itself, no matter what.
After all, someone had to pay, and he wouldn't rest until that goal was finally achieved.
…
"Ah, there ya are. Finally done bathing? Hurry up and get over here already, so we can get this show on the road! I decided on the theme for this battle while you were up there, and I think you're gonna like it a lot!"
"Why do I get a bad feeling about this?"
"Trust me, it's something you'll have no trouble preparing! You're a master chef, after all, right? It'll be a cinch!"
"Y-yeah… perhaps it will…"
He stayed quiet for a second, probably to regard her unusually pale face- or reddened cheeks, she couldn't tell from where she stood.
After their return to the residence, Erina had decided to take a hot bath in order to calm down a bit. She couldn't let the redhead see her tear-stained face any longer, feeling like she was going to lose it completely if he were to start treating her differently after everything she confessed to her mother- and indirectly to him as well. Because above all, she wanted to remain as someone he still highly respected, and seeing this fragile side of her would only lessen the appeal, at the very least. So she had locked herself away for a few hours, washing the abnormal amount of sweat off her body and trying to relax in the heated water.
And now that they were face-to-face again, with him waiting with crossed arms in the kitchen, smirking oh so mischievously as if it was a perfectly normal day, and her still feeling like she was burning up from the inside while looking at him from across the room, Erina couldn't really say that this bath helped her regain her senses at all.
Regardless of that, a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth just by looking at his eager self. This last event had taken its toll on her, no questions asked, but somehow the way he gazed at her right this moment made all of it seem like it never happened to begin with, an idea she would have loved to be true.
"What's on your mind?"
"H-huh?"
She didn't know why he asked, believed her thoughts were transparent enough for him to read instantly.
"No-nothing much, really. I was just… wondering how everything would have turned out if you weren't there with me, that's all. I-I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to go in at all."
Her eyes closed as the fatigue from earlier took over again, weighing her body down with every rapid beat of her heart. Just where was this disturbing heat coming from?
"I'm… so grateful that you're here, Soma… T-thank you for everything."
At that, she heard footsteps heading towards her, causing the heiress to open her eyes in wonder the same time the young chef reached her side, goofy smirk now completely gone from his features. He gently grabbed her hand, intertwined their fingers, and pulled her towards him in order to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. However, before she could even begin to enjoy the tingly sensation his lips left on her skin, he leaned away like it had physically hurt him to press his mouth against her flesh. And just as the heiress prepared to complain, Soma took a step back, eyes wide with disbelief.
"W-what's wrong?"
"You can't be serious right now. I should be asking you that!"
"Excuse me?"
"Erina, you're burning up!"
"W-well, that's what I told you this morning, remember?"
"You didn't say you had a fever, stupid! That's not how you describe one, and… wait… have you been running around like that the whole time?"
"I-I'm… not- it's actually…"
She saw him face-palm almost instantly at her response, making her feel more than foolish for not realizing what her body had been trying to tell her all day long. And now it was at its worst, just because she hadn't deemed it necessary to tell him about her discomfort whenever he asked.
"Why didn't you say something…?"
"I don't… I-I didn't want to make- I mean i-it's…"
An exasperated sigh escaped her lips as the room they were in started to spin all over again, sweat forming on her forehead.
"I'm sorry… I-I didn't realize that… it would get this bad myself, but… now I… I d-don't feel so good… Soma, I-I'm not…"
Before she had the chance to finish her incoherent mumbling, everything around the heiress faded into complete darkness, her body falling limp as all consciousness left her. The last thing she grasped were the sound of her name leaving Soma's lips, and warm hands catching her the same time she closed her eyes in surrender, letting the fatigue guide her into a long, restless slumber.
Well… Who saw this coming? Come on, you can tell me, don't be shy, hahahahahah!
I'd say this is as good a time as any to end the chapter before it gets too long again (even though it already is hahahah)! I can't wait to hear what you guys think of it, I'm always so excited when I get to talk to you all! So please, let me know your opinions on this chapter!
And with that, I wish you all a beautiful week!
Take care, everyone!