Truth

by RoyaldragonSevgisi15

After defeating Central and paying her Idol a visit to find some much needed answers, Nakiri Erina isn't so sure about anything anymore. Her world crumbles and suddenly she finds herself wondering if she'll be able to handle it all. And then there is Yukihira Soma, the boy responsible for all kinds of new feelings to rise within her, lately.

19. Chapter 19 Ease thy heart

Chapter 19: Ease thy heart

Hellooooo there, welcome back to yet another chapter of this long, long story, you guys!

First, please allow me to tell you once again how happy I was when I read all those reviews for the last chapter, thank you, thank you, thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart, I mean it!

It is truly an honor to write for such amazing, and humble people, and I'm so glad I mustered up the courage to post this story in the first place, even though I was incredibly nervous about it, hahahahahah! Thank you for all your encouraging and lovely texts, I'm beyond grateful for each one of them (literally, I'm on the brink of tears every time, damn it)!

And of course, half the credit goes to my awesome fried, lamperouge rolo, who helps me out a lot with all the redundant parts and what not! I love you, my girl, you're the best! Thank you so very much for everything you do and for all those great suggestions you give me, I love them soooo much!

And since I can't say it enough, a huge thank you to all of you lovely guys who haven't grown tired of texting back and forth with me all this time as well (Get used to it, pleaassseeee, because I'm not going to stop thanking each one of you)! You're amazing, I mean it!

And now, with that out of the way (my long messages are starting to get shorter, right?), I hope you enjoy this new chapter, my friends, and I'm really sorry it took me this long to write one again too! University just won't give me a break, so I'm kind of stuck between writing and studying at the moment, hahahahahah!

Please tell me what you think, and thank you so very much for finding the time to read it!

Take care, everyone!

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Silence.

Truly the calm before the storm- or at least that's how Erina saw it as she sat on the king sized mattress in her mother's bedroom.

Every now and then, her eyes would shift towards the giant clock hanging on the opposite side of the room, taking in how much time has already passed before focusing on her open balcony door again while she literally squeezed the life out of her phone.

23:34 p.m.

That would make it four minutes total since the heiress last checked.

She doesn't know how much longer she could stall pressing the buttons of the small phone in her hand and get it over with already. It frustrated her immensely to just sit here and wait, yet at the same time, she felt like perhaps this was some sort of sign that she wasn't quite as ready as she had thought at first.

Would it really make that much of a difference if she contacted him one or two days later than originally planned? She doubted it, but still…

"Hey, Erina! You talking to Gramps yet? If he's with my old man, tell 'em I have a few things I wanna ask him later, would ya?"

A squeal of surprise escaped her lips, followed by a powerful jolt that resulted in her juggling the expensive smartphone with both hands in an attempt to prevent it from falling to the marbled floor as Soma carelessly threw the bedroom door wide open and grinned from ear to ear.

"What the- don't just barge in here without knocking! You scared me!"

"Sorry 'bout that. I just wanted to… Oh… I thought you were already on it."

"I-I was getting there…"

The smile on his face dropped immediately, a seriousness that she had yet to get used to took over, and with a long release of breath through his nostrils, she knew he had long since figured out what really bothered her as she watched him cross the room in merely five steps.

"You've been in here for 20 minutes straight, ya know. If there's something I can do to help, just tell me."

"Thank you. But… I'm afraid this is a matter I must handle myself. I mean… I have to face him eventually, right? I can't just hand that burden over to you or anything. You have nothing to do with it, so I will… I'd rather say my peace on my own."

"…Okay then. I get that."

Suddenly, she felt a warm hand stroke her crown back and forth in a soothing manner. And despite her pride telling her she didn't need a gesture like that, the young heiress cherished it with all her might as she leaned into his gentle touch, eyes closing in content.

Maybe she should reconsider her previous statement and just ask him to stay with her- if only for a moment longer. That would be a big help…

"Well, guess I'll give Dad a quick call while we're at it. If he isn't with Gramps after all, we might as well get an update on his end too."

"Oh, y-yes… you go do that. I, ehm… will be outside in a bit too."

An affectionate smile graced his features before he dropped his hand, replacing it with soft lips the second she looked back down at her phone with furrowed brows and a deep sigh of reluctance.

"You're gonna be fine. Just relax, and talk about anything you want to. I guarantee you, he'll be happy no matter what you tell him."

"I know. It's just… I don't- I feel like whatever I say might end up sounding less sincere than what I had intended, that's all."

She bit her lip, realizing that she had just revealed what was ghosting in her head for the past half an hour- what made her feel so vulnerable.

It was true though. Erina wasn't the best when it came to showing her emotions, be it affection or remorse. She had learned how to remain composed and critical at all times, not how to apologize every other day for a stupid mistake she did with tears blurring her vision.

"Why's that?"

Another sigh, not long but just as effective, caused her throat to suddenly run dry as she continued staring at the small device in her hands.

"Honestly? I'm not sure myself…"

"Huh… Well that's new."

"You think so…?"

At first, she didn't notice the added weight on the mattress, or at what point Soma had wrapped one arm around her waist to make her lean against his body, her thoughts already too conflicted to take note of anything other than her shaking hands.

But when the warm sensation of his touch finally registered… her walls began to crumble once again, trembling fingers moving without her permission to grab the hem of his shirt- ignoring his previous statement altogether.

He knew. He understood her inner turmoil, she could tell that he did. Yet he still wanted her to say it out loud for some reason, to share the chaos in her mind with him. It was written in his eyes, clear as day.

And who was she to deny him what he wanted? After everything he did for her… she simply owed him that much, didn't she?

"All my life, I wanted to live up to the image that Grandfather had for me. But in just 2 months, I completely turned into a pathetic disappointment. I don't know, maybe I'm just… I'm scared to ask for his forgiveness, and be denied of it. Grandfather… Grandfather doesn't deserve to be treated this way. Not by me. He must be furious."

By now, she was practically yanking his shirt towards her, the sheer force in that movement leaving him no choice but to lean forward a bit as he smiled reassuringly down at her. Whether he chose not to care or simply didn't mind the immaturity of her action, she couldn't tell though.

At this point, she was too invested in her own thoughts to pay attention.

"To tell you the truth, I haven't considered his position when I decided to run off either- not one bit. I didn't think it would tire him, or even wear him out somehow. He had wanted to take a break, to go on vacation and leave the future of the academy in my hands, but now… I don't think he considers this an option anymore. Seriously, I couldn't even blame him if he threw the letter I left on his desk away after reading it, or maybe he didn't read it at all. Whatever it is, I know I would have done the same…"

Her head landed on his shoulder to search for comfort only he could provide, shorter strands of hair casting a dark shadow over her eyes in an attempt to safe at least some dignity while he held her close.

Confessing this much was already enough to make her feel uncomfortable, even if it was only him she opened up to. To share her feelings was something she had yet to acknowledge as a necessity in their relationship, and as much as the heiress prayed for it to happen overnight, she was well aware that things like this couldn't be rushed, no matter what she did.

If he understood that as well… that's all she cared about.

"Hey now, you guys are family. And no matter what happens, family's supposed to be there for each other, right? You don't have to feel bad for asking your grandpa to do you a favor. You just thank him, and move on."

"…That's not how it works in our household, Soma. I wish it were, but… I can't act the same way you do, not in this case. I… I don't even know what exactly I want to tell him yet."

Just the image of her grandfather listening to her endless stuttering in sheer disappointment caused numerous shivers to run down her spine, making her nuzzle deeper into the redhead's shoulder. She felt his grip around her waist tighten instantly in response, lips now replaced by his cheek resting innocently above her head, which gave her the sense of calmness she needed to stop her fingers from trembling so visibly.

If one simple phone call left her sweating with anxiety like that, what would she do when the time came for a face-to-face interaction? She had to get it together quickly. This wasn't who she used to be- who the young chef beside her would most likely want to be with…

"I don't think ya need to worry about that."

"Huh? W-why not?"

"Remember when we went to the cemetery the other day? I told ya not to fuss over the small details and just let your thoughts flow naturally. Trust me, you'll know what to say once you hear his voice, there's no need to overthink stuff so much. Don't forget, Gramps loves you no matter what you decide to do. And like everyone else, all he wants is for you to come home already. I guess he just needs to be reassured somehow."

As she felt his soft voice vibrate against her crown, a painful sting cursed through her heart, both relief and guilt left her stomach twisting from left to right, taking the content she had felt until now away from her in the blink of an eye.

Going home… that was what everyone wanted, herself included. But she wasn't ready yet. Would her grandfather understand? Would Soma understand?

Summer break would be over in two weeks, and so would their time together here in this massive house. At first, she had planned to leave Kamakura right after paying her respects, had wanted to move before her wish to return to Totsuki got the best of her, but… nothing turned out the way she had hoped it would, nothing.

No, her grandfather wouldn't approve- there was no way he would. And yet… she felt like she didn't have much of a choice.

Maybe promising to be back one day could help him ease his mind a little? Both his and the reckless chef's…

"You might have a point there… I suppose it'll be fine."

"'Course it will! But if ya wanna be sure, I can always stay here, you know that."

"Yes, I know. And I'm beyond grateful for that too, but… it's quite alright. You just talk to Saiba-sama while I wrap this up."

With a quick nod and a bright grin, he rose back to his feet, taking the first step towards the open door before he noticed Erina's hand still fisting the hem of his shirt, tugging at it as if not wanting to let him go just yet.

"…Ya sure you don't want me to stay?"

"Why would I?"

"Well…"

Her eyes followed his all the way down to her hand, widened at the sight of her still holding on to him, and squeezed shut in embarrassment when she released his shirt as quickly as she could manage, curled fingers hovering awkwardly in the air between them.

"S-sorry, I didn't realize. You-you can leave now, I'm good."

Having expected him to nod a second time and walk out right after, she was quite surprised to find him take her hand in his instead, soft lips placing feather light kisses on each knuckle before he shifted his gaze back towards her. She could read it in his expression, feel it in his touch as he silently delivered his message: 'I'm not worried and neither should you be'.

It was all she needed to know.

"Thank you…"

His gentle smile was answer enough as he guided Erina's hand back to her phone, rubbing his neck in slight embarrassment.

Just as she wasn't accustomed to revealing her true emotions yet, it seemed he still had trouble getting used to her sincere words of appreciation, albeit he kept telling her that there was no need to thank him in any way- that he wasn't doing anything special to earn it.

She watched him leave the room right after- even had to stop herself from asking him not to close the door behind him as she knew how ridiculous it would sound if she were to do that. And with the silence now having returned, she found it even harder to unlock her screen, find her grandfather's number, and hold the small device close to her ear while she waited for him to pick up.

Seconds turned into minutes, one try suddenly became four as the blonde rocked back and forth on the bed, nervous to the bone, but too determined to give up trying.

However, in the middle of her sixth call, her patience started to run out, a long sigh escaping her lips before she decided that perhaps tomorrow morning would be a better time to contact him again.

At least she hadn't lost her resolve yet… right?

Suddenly, the monotone beeping of her phone stopped, replaced by a high-pitched voice shouting unintelligible sentences right into her ear, forcing Erina to hold the device at arm's length just so she could recover from the shock.

That was most certainly not her grandfather. If anything, it sounded more like…

"Hello?! Erina?! Do you hear me?! I swear, if you don't answer me right now, I'm going to flush all your stupid manga down the toilet! You know I can do it, so don't tempt me! I am that pissed! Hello?!"

"A-Alice?"

Hesitantly, she pressed the smartphone back against her left ear, eyes wide and mouth agape as her fingers started trembling all over again.

"Who else would it be?! Santa Clause?! What the hell do you think you're doing, Erina?! Have you lost it?!"

Once more, she was forced to stretch her arm due to her cousin's excessive shouting. Thinking that it might be a better solution to just talk over loudspeaker instead of holding the device so close to her sensitive eardrums, she redirected the phone to her mouth as she tapped the respective icon on her screen.

Soma wouldn't hear it if he was busy talking to his father anyway.

"W-would you calm down already?! Stop screaming so much, I can barely understand you! For starters, why do you have Grandfather's phone? Where is he?"

"Who cares about that?! Tell me where you are, right now! What happened to you?! How dare you not call me for an entire month! Did Yukihira find you?!"

"W-wha… Soma?"

"Yes, Soma! That punk stormed off to get you without telling us anything, and-"

Silence.

Again.

For at least thirty seconds, it stayed completely quiet inside her mother's bedroom, leading the heiress to believe that her cousin might actually have hung up on her, or dropped the phone for some reason. She would have asked if it weren't for her heart hammering without mercy against her ribcage, all her senses heightened and focused on the smallest sound she could pick up while she waited for Alice to continue.

"Wait… Soma?! Since when do you call him that? Is he there with you? Did he actually find you?!"

She sighed.

So that was what bothered the white-haired chef to the point where she couldn't even finish her previous rambling. She should have known better.

"Stop being so loud or I will end this conversation right here."

"Oh, would you now? Well, how do you expect me to react when we haven't heard anything from you since the end of last month? You didn't write, didn't call, you just disappeared on us. You could have said something!"

"I… I know. I'm sorry all of this happened, I really am."

"What did happen, Erina? Why would you leave like that?"

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and stood up from her spot on the mattress before heading straight for the balcony to get some fresh air. Those four bedroom walls only added to her uneasiness, which was the last thing she wanted to feel when talking to her ever so attentive cousin.

Finally outside, she stretched her arms over her head, enjoying the late night breeze fanning against her skin, and held the phone close to her mouth right after as she leaned her elbows on the glass railing.

It was now or never.

"That's a long story, actually."

"Well, make it short then! I can't listen to you all night, after all, I have stuff to do. I'm a busy Elite Ten member, you know. And unlike our new headmistress, I'm doing my best to take care of things."

She didn't give the slight twitch of her left brow any meaning, knowing full well that Alice merely tried to conceal her desperation with a major display of attitude, just like herself. Nevertheless, her cousin was worried- and her sass wasn't enough to keep the quivering out of her voice, no matter how hard she struggled. And it literally tore Erina up inside.

"Oh? Maybe I need to rethink my decision of letting you join the Ten if it keeps you that busy, huh. I guess we should wait with our discussion then, since-"

"No! Tell me now… You-you can't just hang up on me, I haven't talked to you for so long. That wouldn't be fair…"

Alice…

"Fine then. The reason I left… was because I found out about my mother's death. And, well… the truth… the truth was more than I could handle. So… I felt like I had to get away for a while, distance myself from everyone who knew her. And, honestly, at the time, it seemed like the right thing to do."

"W-wait, y-your mother… S-so Grandfather finally decided to tell you what happened to her?"

At that, Erina's trembling stilled completely as she squeezed the phone harder than she meant to over the edge of the railing. And with her amethysts widening ever so slowly, it felt like the wind had stopped blowing altogether.

"W-what did you… say… You knew?!"

"…Yeah, I did. I-I'm sorry, Erina, I wasn't allowed to talk to you about the accident since you had no recollection of it ever occurring. And after I left for Denmark, I had kind of forgotten about that myself, so… I'm really sorry!"

"You mean… you, Grandfather, Saiba-sama… basically everyone just kept this from me?! …Why, Alice?"

"D-don't misunderstand. It wasn't exactly fun for me not to tell my cousin that she's suffering from a terrible concussion while I had to attend Aunty Amelia's funeral by myself with all those grownups, alright? Grandfather thought you might be better off not knowing what happened, so he asked Daddy and me to never mention her name whenever you're around, that's all. Of course, it was easier once we came back- with so much time passing and all, but… you know, it doesn't mean I didn't feel guilty about not talking to you! I did… sometimes."

She wasn't entirely sure, it could have been due to bad reception out here, but… for a moment it sounded like the white-haired chef's voice broke as soon as her explanation ended, ridding her of the chance to hear what else she might have added right after that.

Either way, Erina knew she couldn't start holding grudges now, neither against her cousin for keeping her past a secret, nor her grandfather for lying to her about Nakiri Amelia's whereabouts all this time. If anything, they had the right to be angry with her since she was the one who neglected all her duties and ran away like some coward.

How was she supposed to come home and face them with all that insecurity still bundled up inside her?

Not only them but Hisako too, for she had been the one to send Soma after her the night she was readying herself to leave for good. She must be worried sick as well…

"I… I hear you, it's alright. Actually, you don't have to be concerned about it anymore. I'm fine now, so there is no need for any of you to feel guilty or anything. I have moved on- or at least I'm on my way there."

"Then come back already! You've been gone for long enough! Even Grandfather is starting to show how uneasy he really is! He puts up a tough front, but he's hurting more than anyone else because of you! And I can't keep competing with myself either, people will start thinking I'm crazy or something! Believe it or not, I want you to return to the place where you belong, Erina! Hiding you in the Polar Star dormitory was not a big deal only because I could visit you whenever I felt like it, but this… this is different- too different. Besides, those guys from the dorm are all hanging out in front of our gate now in hopes of being the first ones to welcome you home as soon as you get back! Everyone's worried sick, so don't make them wait like that! They're your friends, aren't they? And Hisako… she's freaking out every day, you know! Stop being so childish and get back here!"

So her friends know about her disappearance already… Of course they would.

It broke her heart to hear how bothered they appeared to be- how much it had affected her beloved grandfather just because she was gone for a month.

One month, and it already managed to put everyone into a massive state of distress. She hadn't thought about that kind of outcome either when she had made her first step inside this house, hadn't even spared half a second to put herself in their shoes, which pushed her remorse even higher and left an unpleasant lump in her throat as she tightened her grip around the phone once more.

She wasn't childish. She was confused, torn between regret and uncertainty as the days past her by without any occurrences that might lead her to change her mind and go back. The wish to return where she belonged grew stronger each time she thought about it, but… how was she supposed to carry on once her second school year started? To look her grandfather dead in the eye would be anything but doable, let alone see him take back leadership now that she wasn't suited to have that position anymore.

And her friends… they would want an explanation too. They would want to know what exactly happened to her, why she didn't become headmaster after all, where she had been all this time despite promising them to be the best director there was.

'I'm so sorry, everyone…'

"Erina? Are you there? Hello?!"

"Huh? Y-yes, I'm still here. Sorry, I guess I just spaced out for a second."

"Jeez, don't do that to me when I'm trying to play my best trump cards here! Did you hear what I just said? Everyone's waiting on you, so stop slacking and hurry back!"

"I… I can't, Alice. At least not now."

"Why not?!"

Another sigh escaped her lips as she leaned slightly forward to place one hand on her forehead, eyes closing in exhaustion while she felt the wind picking up and gently cherish her skin again. Finally.

"There are a few things I need to figure out first. Unless I do that, coming home would be pretty much pointless."

"Okay, I can get behind your idea, sort of… But how long would that take?"

"Yeah, about that… I don't know yet."

"Are you serious?! Can't you at least let me help? Get back here and we can solve whatever still bothers you together."

"Alice, this is-"

"I mean it, Erina! It's been too freaking long already! You have no right to make everyone worry like that! They could help you- I could help you! I'm sure Grandfather would do something too, once he's calmed down!"

"Maybe you're right… but regardless, I have to get my act together on my own. No more relying on all of you to pull me out of any sort of mess. Trust me, I can handle it. And when I do, we can finally have that Shokugeki you always wanted. I will show you then how much the time apart helped me grow."

"You seriously think I care about that right now?! Are you that stupid?! I can't believe - wait… by 'no more relying on others', you mean… that includes Yukihira too?"

"…It does. I already know what I'm going to do, and as soon as summer break is over… I will be moving on alone, permanently this time."

"What… Are you for real?! Why would you say that?! How far away do you intend to run?! Erina, where are you right now?! Tell me!"

"In Kamakura…"

"…You're… Damn it, how dare you go there without any of us?! We could have been there for you!"

"Oh for god's sake, calm down already! You know I'm not on my own over here!"

"What do you…? Aha! So he did find you after all, I knew it! Tell that idiot, the next time I see him, he will regret running away from me without any sort of explanation! I can promise you, he won't live to tell the tale!"

Despite her attempts to remain serious, the slightest hint of a smile appeared on the heiress's face- a smile that left her thanking the heavens for not being face-to-face with her cousin at the moment. She was certainly not in the mood to be made fun of.

"Well… I believe that is an issue you would have to discuss with him rather than complaining to me."

"Damn right I will! That punk is so done for!"

For the next few seconds, neither of them made another sound, not daring to break the peaceful silence that was already a rarity between them.

It felt strange. Even though Alice was constantly shouting and throwing demands at her, she still felt comforted just by hearing her energetic voice- knowing she had actually missed her cousin in all those weeks they hadn't seen or talked to each other.

Of course, she would have preferred speaking with her grandfather first to hear how he was doing and to properly apologize. But clearing the air between herself and the white-haired chef seemed like a good start as well, seeing as she appeared to be just as mad as Soma had described her to be the first time her name fell.

Maybe this conversation would give her enough courage to try contacting the current headmaster tomorrow, or the day after…

"So… where do you plan on going once the remaining two weeks are over?"

"I'm not sure. Though for now, I think I want to stay in Japan a little while longer, learn more about the culinary world outside of our school walls, and maybe start working in a professional kitchen if I can before heading overseas."

"I see… I'm guessing this means you won't show up until graduation either then. We're not going to see each other…"

"…Probably."

"This is wrong, Erina. You belong here, with us, not somewhere far away."

"I'm sorry. This wasn't how I had wanted things to go either, believe me. But I-"

"Oh please, spare me that nonsense. We both know you could've just returned and moved on with your life stronger than ever. You always have pulled through no matter what. But instead, you're just choosing the easy road out this time. It's like you gave up or something. Not to mention, from the way you talk, I think it's safe to say that Yukihira hasn't managed to convince you otherwise either. Does he even know about your crazy plan, that you've thrown in the towel? Don't tell me you haven't talked to him about it!"

"I-I… I haven't. But I will, at the last day of our break. I'll explain everything to him then, but for now…, he doesn't need to know. He's been through enough because of me."

"Why is that?"

She shook her head from side to side before realizing that her cousin wasn't here to see it.

"Never mind. That's a story for another time."

"Huh… By the way, did he already tell you about the outcome of our little wager?"

"A wager?"

'Which one?'

There were quite a few things she and the redhead had betted on since their unexpected reunion, and despite the previous course of this conversation, she couldn't help but be alarmed by the growing mischief in her cousin's voice, especially now that she was a bit calmer than fifteen minutes ago. Either she had decided to simply drop the subject for the time being, or she was actually fine with Erina's choice, which seemed less likely but still considerable in its own way.

Why was everyone relying on Soma so much to change her mind? It was quite disorienting.

"You seriously forgot?! How could you, Erina?! I mean, don't get me wrong, I will torment the hell out of him as soon as you guys get back here, no questions asked. But still! He looked so happy when he told me what he had figured out about you two, and how furious you would be once you knew how the bet we made ended! Did he really not confess after all?"

At that, she felt her heartbeat increase drastically, the heat of embarrassment she was so familiar with by now returned with a vengeance, and without the heiress even realizing it, her breath caught in her throat, preventing her from saying anything to defend herself- or him, which was definitely a first in her book.

"Although, knowing Yukihira, that can't be possible. He was practically ecstatic to rub his victory in your face."

"Oh was he now?"

A twitch of her brow was all it took to regain her composure as she envisioned the young chef's smug expression after another round of heartless teasing.

It wasn't hard to imagine how much fun he must have had when he talked to Alice about… the bet…

"Of course. I remember now."

"You do?! So he told you then?!"

"Damn it, Alice, stop shouting at me! Y-yes… he did tell me, a-and, well… it-"

Again, she had to hold the phone far away from her face while her cousin screamed all sorts of things directly into it, making her voice sound so much louder than before and twice as obnoxious as it usually did. Erina couldn't even begin to understand what she was saying, especially when Kurokiba tried to calm her down somewhere in the background.

At this rate, the red-haired troublemaker was guaranteed to hear them.

Why was this girl overreacting anyway? The heiress hadn't even finished her sentence yet. Though from the sound of it, she had the feeling there was no need for that anymore, her first few words seemed to have done the job just fine.

And despite herself, she couldn't help but release a small giggle as she listened to Alice and her attendant fighting on the other end of the line, a fondness stretching inside her stomach at the realization that she had indeed missed being a part of this chaos.

"I knew it! I told you, this would happen eventually, didn't I, Ryo?! Quick, go find the list in my room and contact the others! I'm going to make a whole lot of money tonight! Don't just stand there, hurry up!"

"What? H-hold on, what's this all about? Alice, what did you do?!"

"Ah, that isn't important right now, dear cousin! Don't worry about a thing, okay? You should rather tell me whether or not you two have kissed already! Oh, of course you have! The real question is; did you go even further during the time you lovebirds spent together over there? Come on, I'm dying to know!"

"H-huh?! N-no, not at all! Why would we?! Don't be such a pervert!"

"Who's the one screaming now, hmm, Erina? Oh what I wouldn't give to be right next to you and see that embarrassed face of yours! It's so hilarious how innocent you still are despite reading all those Shoujo manga! Honestly, you're too easy to tease!"

She wouldn't exactly call herself 'innocent' anymore after what happened just today, but going beyond a kiss… there was no way she could do that. It was indecent, they were too young, and to lose her purity before she got married would just go against her moral code. The heiress was old fashioned when it came to matters of the heart, and if she wouldn't marry Soma one day, being with another man was simply out of the question- at least that's how she saw it.

However, once she bids him farewell, he's free to do whatever he pleases. She had no right to interfere, seeing as she is the one leaving in the first place. It would only be fair to let him go…

"S-shut up! I won't do anything to him! We're not like that, so get those dirty thoughts out of your head at once!"

"No way! Did you at least try to properly seduce him at some point? Ah, who am I kidding? You could never do that!"

"Y-yes I could! I-I just choose not to. It's too vulgar. A-and besides, I would never do such a thing to begin with! N-not on purpose anyway…"

"Oh my- you totally did, didn't you? Erina, you naughty girl, you grew up so fast! I never thought you would get a boyfriend before I do and know how to seduce him, on top of that! What would Grandfather say…?"

"Alice, stop it. I have no intention of… doing such indecent deeds to him. I don't think it's okay to go to the next step like this, especially when… we won't be seeing each other for a while."

"…Hey now, why so serious all of a sudden? You're no fun. At least admit that you were attracted to him since the very first time you met each other. Once you do that, maybe the rest will come on its own."

"What the hell?! I-"

"Admit it, Erina. Then I'll be quiet."

"N-no, I was not! How would you know anyway?"

"It doesn't take a genius to figure that much out, really. I had a feeling he was going to play a significant role in your life sooner or later, so I kept on observing. And let me tell you, even Ryo noticed the way you two always looked at one another, it was so adorable!"

"I-is that so…?"

She couldn't deny it any longer, his name was carved too deep into her heart to gainsay what was apparently so obvious to everyone else around them.

"And what d'ya know, it has finally happened! I should've suggested that bet a lot sooner to get the gears in your head working, huh. But to think that someone as dense as Yukihira would find the solution faster than you did… it's like a miracle!"

"Well, I wouldn't exactly say he was faster, but…"

"Come on, he totally was! I just hope he'll be able to talk some sense into you before summer break is over. I'm putting all my faith in him like I did last time. I-I mean, what else can I do, right?"

"Alice, I-"

"No, I don't want to hear it. Nothing is set in stone yet, so you might as well accept that he's our golden ticket for the time being. H-he will bring you home, I'm sure of it."

The trembling in her cousin's voice sent numerous shivers down her spine as she felt the heavy atmosphere returning ever so slowly. And with a muffled sniff coming from the other end of the line she knew, Alice's façade was starting to break as well.

Since when had she began to care for her obnoxious cousin anyway? Weren't they supposed to argue instead of encourage one another?

"Fine, whatever… maybe he can."

"He will! A-anyway, I have to go now. We'll celebrate your relationship when you get back, okay? I promise, you won't get away without giving me all the juicy details then, and don't think you're off the hook just because I know what's going on now. Both you and Yukihira will be punished for leaving like that, so prepare yourselves!"

"Hmph, I'm not afraid of you, Alice."

"Well, you better be! I'm serious, you two need to get back fast so I can get my revenge! You'd be wise to not make me wait, cousin. I mean it!"

With that, the white-haired chef hung up just as abruptly as she had picked up, which left Erina in a state of utter confusion, her thumb hesitating for a moment before pulling the phone away from her mouth.

Should she feel relieved now that she had at least talked to one member of her family? She didn't know- couldn't tell if the foul taste in her mouth was bittersweet or just downright remorse when all her senses refused to give her the answer she so desperately wanted.

Would talking to her grandfather end up like this too?

If so, was leaving really the right decision after all?

With a quick shake of her head, and a sad smile tugging at the corners of her lips, the heiress stepped back into her mother's bedroom, leaving such thoughts for another day as she didn't want her dampened mood to affect the redhead more than it already had. This conversation was meant to lift up her spirits, not drag them further down.

She did feel slightly better, and that was all that mattered in the end.

With the final decision to leave her thoughts be, her amethysts now landed on the small bag resting above the nightstand and waiting patiently for her to finally put on the silky fabric hidden inside.

It was only for tonight, only for his eyes. Yet the sudden nervousness spreading in her body caused her to doubt whether or not she could truly wear a swimsuit so… tantalizing. It wasn't too revealing in itself, but the plunging v-neckline with its sheer lace trim on both sides, and open back were definitely meant to catch someone's attention- his attention.

She knew that the deep navy color complements her, so there was technically nothing to fear fashion wise. But would she really dare to go out in that?

"Oh, get a grip already. You're not a coward. You can do this. It's not like this swimwear will serve any other purpose, right? It's harmless."

From one second to the next, her entire face felt like it was on fire, the embarrassment of both talking to herself in that squeaky voice and having considered seducing Soma as an option hitting her hard in the stomach while she paced back and forth inside her room. She silently blames Alice for putting such thoughts in her head. It was all her fault.

Maybe she should just wear a large t-shirt over her swimsuit and avoid eye contact for as long as she could until they get out of the water?

No. Either she would take it off herself when the opportunity arose, or he would, there was no doubt in her mind. She never did like to show off her body, but tonight it was a completely different story.

She wanted him to look at her.

So with new determination shining in her eyes, the heiress came to a halt right next to her nightstand and quickly stripped out of her clothes before her trembling fingers reached out for the bag in front of her.

Her heart was hammering against her ribcage when she tied the lacy ends together behind her neck, standing before the mirror to get a better look at herself and search for ways to cover up most of her body with that long hair of hers, even though she knew it would be pointless since she would eventually flip it over her shoulder out of pure habit anyway.

In the end, she chose to wear one of her larger shirts for the time being instead of walking downstairs in nothing but her bathing suit, thankful that it was enough to hide the upper part of her thighs yet also conflicted because the thin material and white color appeared to be more see-through than she had anticipated at first.

"Oh, well. It's better than nothing, I suppose…"

Taking another deep breath, she then proceeded to slip through the door as silently as possible before heading down the staircase and towards the large pool area in the backyard where, hopefully, she would have one more moment to herself so as to calm her raging hormones a little.

But to her surprise, and misfortune, the red-haired troublemaker was already standing in front of a wooden beach chair with two towels thrown carelessly over his right shoulder by the time she made it outside. He seemed to be deep in thought, not noticing her presence at all as she pushed the glass door aside and took a hesitant step forward, red faced and nervous to the bone.

For some reason her confidence just wouldn't return no matter how often she closed her eyes to inhale the fresh air around her, and with him not taking note of her presence, it felt like she was out of excuses to approach him any further.

Did that concentrated look mean he had actually been successful in reaching his father and getting valuable Intel on the subject at hand?

If he did…

"Soma? Are you alright? What did Saiba-sama say?"

If he did, this wasn't the time to be embarrassed over some silly piece of clothing.

His eyes were unfocused, his lips slightly parted, and despite having heard her, which was proven by the jolt that cursed through his body, he didn't turn around right away, instead waiting a few seconds as if needing the time to gather his thoughts before he eventually shifted his eyes towards her.

"H-huh? Oh, eh… nothing too important. He's still researching and all. You know, the usual."

She didn't like the crestfallen look in those citrine orbs at all, her heart clenching painfully as she stepped up to him and cupped his cheeks with both hands.

"Hey, there is no need to lie to me. Weren't we supposed to solve this together? What happened?"

"…Yeah, we were. Alright. Dad… he finally got a hold of his files back from the time he worked in Totsuki as an instructor. Turns out, he's one of the first people to switch over to Central's side as soon as Nakamura-senpai became headmaster, which could mean he already held some sort of grudge against Gramps long before you started rebelling. I've no idea what to make of it though. And also, well… it looks like we finally got a name too…"

"What…? Hold on, which files are you talking about? How did Saiba-sama know those were his?"

"Out of all the documents my old man checked, his were the only ones without a clear contact address. They were… ripped out somehow. Dad was able to get in touch with most of the former Central members to get more info, but as strange as it sounds, no one even remembered a person with his name."

"A-are you serious?"

"Yeah… They seemed to have found new jobs already, and don't want anything to do with Nakamura-senpai's former organization whatsoever. So Dad just left it at that. But at least now we know that whoever's after you, doesn't have any allies. He's on his own."

His gaze wandered off again, this time all the way over to the illuminated water, which would have resulted in her letting go of his face if it weren't for her persistence to get more out of him.

So with gentle force, the heiress pulled him back to her, eyes asking the question her mouth wouldn't.

And all he could do about it was sigh and close his own as rough fingers curled around her hand, not to guide it away like he did last time, but to press it even harder against his skin. It was probably his way of showing vulnerability- his way of searching for comfort.

"He also found some of his medical history in there, and according to those files… he kinda seems to be… mentally unstable, in a way."

"Mentally… how? I mean, doesn't he go to a therapist or something? Why did no one make an effort to support him when he so obviously needs it?"

"I dunno. Pops was only able to look into his old documents from the academy's archives, and those didn't really give much info about what treatment he went through or which psychologist he visited, granted he really did see one. All we got for now are small parts of his biography and work history, but that's about it. The rest is just… gone. We still don't know where he is or what he's up to. Although, for whatever reason, my old man believes that he's still in contact with his family at some place. He didn't tell me how he came up with that idea though."

"B-but why would Grandfather let someone with such a critical disorder work at Totsuki in the first place? It doesn't make any sense…"

"Ya think? Don't cha remember what he said at the opening ceremony last year? Anyone with skill is welcome to stay at the academy- or something like that. Maybe it's not just meant for students but for new employees as well."

"I see… Perhaps you're right. Though I can't exactly remember seeing a person like that on campus, let alone in one of my classes. It's so strange…"

"Yeah… now that ya mention it, me neither…"

"Well, regardless of that, we shouldn't let down our guard from here on out. Saiba-sama's Intel could prove itself to be quite useful if we play our cards right."

She allowed a confident smile to cross her features in hopes of it being able to lift the redhead's spirits as well.

He didn't reply, didn't avert his gaze, but she still had the feeling her words did at least something to him, seeing as how his citrine orbs began to shimmer anew after only a few seconds of silence.

"So… what is that person's name anyway?"

"Oh, right. It's Kenji Toru or something. Never heard of it, honestly."

Kenji… Somehow, that surname sounded familiar. But attempting to get a specific face or memory to connect it to only drew a blank in her mind.

"Alright then. Was there a picture in one of those files?"

"No. Ripped out as well. But it seems like Gramps is running around nonstop to contact as many restaurants around the area as possible to ask if they had received an application form with that name written on it. So far no luck, but they're still working on it."

"Huh… that must have been the reason why he didn't pick up the phone himself earlier… How is it that he can't remember his face as well? Didn't he handpick him in the first place?"

"Dunno. Maybe he does remember. We can ask him once we get back."

"…A-anyway, is there something we can do to help?"

"Ehm… I was kinda hoping on going to a few places as well tomorrow. You know, ask around, see if they can give us the information we want and all, but…"

Releasing her fingers, he scratched the back of his head in a somewhat nervous manner, the shimmer in his golden orbs now replaced by a bashfulness that rivaled her own as she dropped both hands to her sides and took a few hesitant steps back.

"…Y-you were planning to head out without me, weren't you? Why?"

With one swift movement, he rushed forward, grabbed her arms as if they were his lifeline, and pressed his lips against hers in forceful reassurance, eyes never closing while he watched her startled look slowly turn into confusion.

She didn't understand where this came from so suddenly, but something told her it wasn't just a simple kiss to show affection- rather one filled with care and conviction, even worry, if that suspicious glint in his golden depths were anything to go by.

And as fast as it had started, he pulled back before she had the chance to reciprocate, though left his hands where they were, probably to ensure that she wouldn't distance herself again.

She hadn't meant to do that anyway, but… there was no denying the fact that, in a way, she felt indeed… betrayed.

As the well-known God Tongue, she could be more of an asset than a hindrance, if that really was what went through his mind. Alone, he wouldn't be able to get anything out of those restaurant managers, no matter how hard he tried. So why would he refuse to let her accompany him? It was simply degrading, if nothing else.

"Because we shouldn't risk it. You heard what I just told ya, right? It's probably a psychopath we're dealing with here, and I can't risk ya wandering around asking people if they've seen him, especially when we don't even know what he looks like. That's just stupid."

"Why do you worry so much? It's not like you at all. Besides, he might not even be in Kamakura yet, so we still have enough time to-"

"No we don't. What d'ya gonna do if he really is here? Think about it, that guy's searching for you ever since the rumor spread that you left the academy. His way will eventually lead him to you, hell, maybe he already has found you and is just waiting for you to come out. This was not my idea, but Dad said I should be more careful where I take you from here on out, so that's what I'm gonna do."

His grip on her arms loosened a bit as he lowered his head just enough to let his slightly longer bangs cast a shadow over his eyes, preventing her from seeing what he apparently didn't wish for her to see.

"Look, I don't know why this gets under my skin so much- it just does. So… please… do me that favor and stay at home tomorrow, alright? I won't be gone for too long, I promise."

His voice… How much was he really suffering because of this?

She hadn't noticed his concern at all, hadn't paid attention to his small gestures of anxiousness when they had been strolling along the streets today, even though they were there. How he had refused to let her out of his sight even for a second, how he had insisted on waiting for her right in front of the exit whenever she needed to use the restroom, all of it.

And even though he didn't show it now- or rather, he didn't want to show it, the tension in his muscles revealed more than his words ever could.

He was scared…

"I understand. Then… would you like to cancel our meeting with Masamune-san as well? W-we don't have to go to the festival if it makes you uneasy."

"No. Ya wanted to see it so badly, I could tell. We'll go. What could happen in a big crowd anyway, right?"

His features lit up as he raised his head again, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth at the sight of her somewhat relieved expression.

"Right… But you have to hurry back so that we won't be late for our appointment, got it?"

"Appointment, huh? Would ya still call it that if we were meeting up with the rest of our friends instead?"

His smile grew ever so slightly, the mischief returning to his eyes as she slipped out of his hold to turn around and flip her hair back- right into his face, just like she had done once before in order to annoy him.

"Hmph, of course not. This is different, and I don't want to leave a bad impression by missing the time we had agreed upon. That would only tarnish my reputation. Oh, and also…"

Lowering her voice as deep as she could to get her point across, the heiress fisted the hem of her long shirt in order to avoid him noticing her shaking fingers.

"You have to promise me one more thing. Be careful out there tomorrow. I am going to concur this time, but only under the condition that you won't do anything reckless. If you can guarantee not to get yourself into any kind of trouble, then I will comply without another word of protest. Do we have a deal?"

She didn't want him to go in the first place, but his tone, his eyes, his gestures, simply everything he did silenced her against her will. If this was necessary to give him peace of mind again, then she would do whatever it took to help.

"Promise."

Tilting her head, she watched him grin from ear to ear, happy that this conversation had ended in his favor. And despite hating to give in so easily, she couldn't help but smile back at him, cheeks flushed merely because she wasn't quite used to seeing his handsome features up close like that. It startled her every time, left her heart completely defenseless, and above all, she knew that this particular look on his face would cause her to agree to anything he'd ask of her- anything.

It was a dangerous glint shining in those citrine depths, and no matter what she did, it was impossible for her to resist it.

"So, with that outta the way… you ready to have some fun?"

"H-huh?"

The happy grin now turned into a devilish smirk as the red-haired chef suddenly threw the towels on the large beach chair before pulling the dark shirt he had been wearing over his head and shoulders.

Stunned by his surprisingly muscular appearance, she didn't even realize that he was already wearing his loose swim trunks, only noticing the black piece of clothing when her eyes wandered down to admire the way it hung low around his waist. The view paralyzed her to the point where she felt herself unable to move a muscle as he approached her with that cursed smirk of his.

"C'mon, let's go!"

And with that, he sprinted right past her, shouting out incomprehensible phrases as he launched himself directly into the cool water.

Still frozen in place, the heiress didn't pay attention to the slight wetness on her right leg, an immediate result of the redhead's impulsive action as she had been standing so close to the pool's edge.

Her thoughts were too much of a mess to acknowledge whatever was happening right now, and to make matters worse, she actually had trouble keeping up with how quickly the situation switched from depressing to lighthearted despite the seriousness of it.

However, above all, she was conflicted on what to do next since Soma had already discarded his shirt and was now swimming ever so giddily on his back, no doubt watching her with sheer interest in his eyes.

They both awaited her next move…

"What d'ya standing there for? Get in! The water is awesome, way better than I had imagined! I promise I won't bite, or at least not until you tell me to."

"Y-you do that on your own accord regardless of what I say, you pervert, so s-stop spouting nonsense!"

"I do? Huh, I never noticed… Guess I couldn't help it! I mean, can ya blame me?"

Coming to a hold, he merely pointed at the side of his own neck to further emphasize the point that she was indeed quite responsive to his touches there.

"U-unbelievable… You do know that this exact audacity is what got you into all those conflicts back in our first year to begin with, right?"

"Perhaps. But that's what made things so exciting, don't cha think?"

"Yeah… exciting…"

Her eyes locked with his for a split second before moving up to regard the beautiful stars shining in the distance.

She heard his movements in the water as if they were right next to her now, relished in the peacefulness that they shared for a moment longer before the young chef came to a halt on the edge of the pool again, his small chuckle driving away any bad memories that might have resurfaced in her dazed state.

"Don't worry 'bout it, we still had some fun along the way, didn't we? And we can continue once our second year starts!"

With a light breeze blowing through her hair, the heiress just answered his enthusiasm by simply smiling as gently as possible down at him, noting how his eyes grew wide and his lips parted in awe all of a sudden but not quite bold enough to comment on it.

"So, eh… you don't really plan to come in here with that on, do ya?"

"Hm? O-oh, t-this is, well…"

Of course.

He was bound to notice sooner or later.

A long exhale escaped her lips as she saw no other way out of this than to just 'man-up' and go through with her decision to wow him.

If only he could stop staring at her like she was the eighth wonder of the world…

Releasing another deep breath, she took the brim of her long shirt in both hands before slowly lifting it up, all the way over her head, and eventually letting it slide down her arms. She was unconcerned about where it landed on the ground since- aside from his intense gaze burning into her skin, her heart was at the center of her attention right now.

She watched him closely as his jaw dropped, his brows disappeared behind red strands of hair, and those golden orbs right underneath widened even more the same time a quite visible blush graced his cheeks. To say he was shocked would probably be an understatement at this point since not a single word left his mouth- not one casual remark or even a joke, for that matter.

And to her surprise, the way he couldn't tear his eyes off her just ended up boosting her confidence significantly, for it wasn't a typical stare that would have made her feel incredibly uncomfortable, but rather one that displayed his respect for her- a look filled with earnestness, innocent appreciation, and most of all, the one she had hoped to see the most, endless desire.

More than anything, Erina felt flattered, as she hadn't expected a reaction this strong. It helped her ease her mind just enough to sway her hips from side to side in pure confidence as she made her way towards him, carrying herself with the pride and elegance only her prestigious heritage could justify.

It didn't matter how red her face was, or how his expression changed from astonishment to sheepishness the longer he allowed his citrines to wander. All she cared about at this very moment was to stay sane and composed until the night came to an end. She had to.

And yet… the fact that he didn't say anything somehow disappointed her. Those looks were quite flattering, but still… a single word to express his feelings was all she had really asked for. Unfortunately for her, he was that dense of a person.

"S-so? How do you want to do this? If it's a swimming competition you're after, I suggest coming out of the water would be the best option since we can jump in at the same time. I would hate for you to get a head start or anything."

"Y-you, ehm- I mean… Y-yeah, right…"

Shaking his head to calm down, he rubbed the back of his neck in a still bashful manner before hesitantly climbing out of the pool while Erina herself simply tied her long hair together as she waited for him right next to the ladder on the other side.

She ignored her rampaging heart as he came to a stop in front of her, ignored how his wet hair made him appear even more attractive, especially when he couldn't stop running one hand through it over and over again.

Was he really that… embarrassed?

Even though she knew it was wrong to laugh at him for that, the heiress couldn't help but release a silent giggle behind a closed fist, recalling all his bold moves from earlier today and realizing that, perhaps, she might have underestimated her own power over him a little.

Maybe there was no need for him to say something after all, seeing as how adorably shy he appeared to be all of a sudden.

With the initial shock gone, he barely managed to look at her, let alone get close to her now that she was showing more skin than usual. She hadn't thought about it before, but… this was indeed the first time they saw each other in swimwear.

'Oh no…'

A faint blush spread across her cheeks, telling her not to take that thought any further than it needed to be- she had enough trouble keeping her cool as it is, there was no need to complicate things. Plus, if Soma felt too overwhelmed to break the ice this time, then her getting bashful as well would only make matters worse.

They were here to have fun, not avoid one another. This wasn't the purpose of this swimsuit anyway.

"Now, are you ready to taste defeat? Not that you haven't already, of course."

"Wha…?"

"I mean, honestly. With the state you are in right now, I see no hope in you actually winning this. You ought to call it off before you embarrass yourself."

Finally moving his hand away from his red locks, he turned his gaze back to her, seemingly unhappy about her amused tone but still not quite himself yet to understand what she was trying to do.

"Oh, what's wrong, Soma? Did I scare you somehow? It's okay, you can tell me if this is too much for you. I understand."

She took a confident step towards him, one hand resting on her hip while the other remained in front of her lips and covered most of her icy smile as a familiar fire ignited in his golden orbs- a fire that could only mean one thing.

He was back- sort of.

"What d'ya talking about? You just… caught me off guard, that's all. I didn't expect to see ya so… eh, you know… But don't worry, I'll get back at cha for this by winning right here and now. I'mma make ya eat those words, just you watch. Distracting me a second time won't work."

"Huh, are you sure about that?"

Another step was made, graceful yet incredibly audacious, which forced the young chef to shift his eyes away again as Erina crossed her arms, further daring him to oppose her in any way.

"Well I admit it won't be easy. However, don't think I haven't noticed your own stares back there, and if ya wanna avoid losing, I'd say stop testing my limits."

"I see… You sure have a sharp tongue for someone who is about to get his butt handed to him."

"We'll see about that, now won't we, princess? Now, how are we doing this?"

With a wicked grin and a light red color dusting her cheeks, the heiress put most of her weight on one foot as she observed the length of the pool.

"Alright, here's the plan. Because we don't have a third person here with us to keep a timer going, we just have to improvise somehow. So, I propose we start from this exact position, and whoever gets to the other side first, is the winner. We can count down from three before jumping in, just to make sure no one cheats. And since this is a pure swimming contest, I think it's unnecessary to add that diving for longer than five seconds is prohibited. Sound good?"

"Fair enough. You're on."

Getting into position on the very edge of the platform, both students took a deep breath while Erina raised one hand in the air as a makeshift flag to give the signal for them to jump.

"Then if you're ready… Three, two, one… go!"

With that, she threw her hand forward the same time they dove into the blue depths, allowing the momentum of their speed to carry them for as far as possible before they swum furiously to the other side.

And just like back in the day, when it had been only the current headmaster and herself, she felt the same rush- the same indescribable thrill cursing through her veins while she got closer to the finish line. It was incredible how swiftly she could move in the water, even after all those years of not racing against her grandfather, or practicing on her own, for that matter. She loved the way the pressure made her feel- so alive, so light, so carefree. As if there were no limits to her overflowing energy.

It went without saying that, at least partly, she had Soma to thank for the feeling of enjoying her life again- enjoying the simplest of things she hadn't found the time to actually appreciate before. Like swimming in the middle of the night, searching for an open store to find suitable clothes at an unreasonable hour, or even heading outside to do some grocery shopping together instead of letting others take care of it for her.

With a new sense of excitement washing over her, Erina reached the wall on the other end of the pool, touching its surface while inhaling deep breaths to calm her racing heart.

Her eyes quickly searched for any sign that her red-headed competitor was already waiting for her, but as it turned out, he was just tilting his head towards her the same time she did, which could only imply one outcome…

"You have got to be kidding me! A draw?! Seriously?!"

"Told ya I was fast. Though I hadn't expected you to be able to keep up with me. Good job, I mean it!"

"What?! Shut up! It wasn't supposed to end like that! We're doing this again, now! I will not stand for this rate of humiliation!"

"Yeah, it is kinda unsatisfying, isn't it? Fine then, let's give it another shot, and this time, I'll beat cha for sure."

"Don't get too cocky, Yukihira Soma. This was merely a warm-up for me, nothing more. I'm getting back into it, so don't think you could best me just yet."

"Alright, whatever ya say. Now, you ready?"

"Of course!"

Again, she counted down from three before both students pushed themselves away from the wall with their feet and swum back to the other side, now even faster than they previously had been.

However, it only led to the same result. They came to a halt at the same time- even touched the wall simultaneously, and all Erina could do was rage about it over and over again as first she, then the redhead himself kept on demanding one rematch after another.

They kept that stubbornness up for roughly twenty laps, swimming back and forth without showing any signs of slowing down. But after the twenty-first one, exhaustion began to scream from every single muscle in their bodies, the adrenaline that had pushed them so far slowly fading away as they came to a rest back where they had first started.

Winning against him seemed hopeless at this point anyway.

"What the hell?! How come you're able to be as fast as me?!"

"I could say the same for you, ya know! If ya were taught by your grandpa, then you should be way better than me, right? Then again, maybe my old man just did that good of a job traumatizing me with his own messed up swimming lessons, so…"

"Your… Are you telling me Saiba-sama actually did teach you himself?"

"Hey, what's with that tone, huh?! Of course he did! And I can't say I liked it all that much either. Let's just leave it at that."

A shudder went through her body as she stared at him in utter incredulity, not wanting to believe that her number one idol would be so cruel to his own child. Then again, her grandfather hadn't exactly been all too forgiving either while teaching her how to swim, so…

"W-whatever, this competition is far from over. I refuse to accept a draw without a decent fight."

"Cool it, princess, I don't think the outcome's gonna change any time soon, even if we give it our all. You can go practice some more and then come back to challenge me, alright?"

"What was that?!"

"You heard me! Guess your skills weren't that special after all!"

"Why you… You can't say that with a straight face after not having won once, you know!"

"Oh yeah?! Try me!"

Having heard enough of his excessive teasing, the heiress moved a little closer to his side before splashing some water directly into the redhead's face with the back of her hand. She laughed at his shocked expression, laughed at the way he tried to protect himself from further assaults, turning from one side to another in order to get away from her as she now attempted to press his head under water.

"What the- aren't cha supposed to be the rational one here?! Queen, my ass, that's not really mature, ya know!"

"Do I look like someone who would be concerned about the pleas of a mere commoner?! You clearly deserve it! And to not even say a single word about my bathing suit after I literally wrecked my brain thinking about it for hours, how dare you?! Now hold still already and die with dignity, you fool!"

"Huh?!"

Her cheeks colored a dark crimson the second she noticed her own slip up, sheer embarrassment forcing her to withdraw before anything else could be revealed.

In one swift motion, she whirled around, stumbled backwards quite clumsily, and placed both hands on the edge of the pool in order to climb out as fast as she could, not caring about the possibility that her backside might get very close to his face in the process as he followed her right after having composed himself. She just wanted to get away.

However, this time he was the one to take advantage of her fruitless efforts, grabbing her by the waist, and thus pulling her back down as he shoved her against the wall none too gently.

She didn't dare turn around at first, but when his warm breath tickled the side of her neck, and his hands took hold of her wrists, it became nearly impossible to remain this way for much longer. It practically forced her to face him once again, and this time, she had no other way to escape.

"Ya want me to say something about it? Really?"

"No! Not at all…"

He freed one of her arms to rub his neck in utter confusion, eyes closing for a moment before he suddenly began to smirk all over again, a stark contrast to half an hour ago when he had literally swallowed his tongue just because she was standing there with only a swimsuit on.

"Fine then, would ya still listen if I said it anyway?"

His hand now landed on the dampened wall right next to her head as he leaned down a little.

Whether this was intentional or not, she didn't know. But regardless, her heart yearned for him to create more friction between them- to shorten the distance even further, if possible.

And he did, placing one knee between her thighs under the water as his fingers held her own hand in place on the wall.

"I-I suppose so. Although, I don't really mind either way. You don't need to flatter me."

"When did I ever do that?"

"Hmph, good point. I take it back, so kindly keep your mouth shut now."

"No, seriously, Erina. Just look at me for a sec, would ya?"

With reddened cheeks and a heartbeat that was most likely out of the charts, she raised her head high enough to be eye-to-eye with him, noticing the slight nervousness in his citrine orbs as he took a deep breath.

"You look… I mean, it's hard to find the right words for this, but I… what I'm trying to say is, you're more than just pretty, ya know. I can barely manage to keep my eyes off. And now, with what you're wearing… you're beautiful. I-I didn't mean to stare that much, but that-"

She swiftly moved forward before he could add any unnecessary apologies, melding their lips together in the gentlest way possible as her free hand cherished his neck- the same spot he had kept on rubbing moments ago.

Pulling away a few seconds after, she stayed close to his face, with her back still leaning on the wall behind her and his body pressed deliciously against her own.

He appeared to be in some sort of daze again as their noses touched, mouths only millimeters apart, and eyelashes brushing against each other's cheek.

The blonde didn't need to say it, her amethysts did all the talking for her, but nevertheless, she felt like he deserved to hear what was really mesmerizing her right now- to complete the picture he had started painting.

"Speak for yourself. I was the one who stared while you were taking your shirt off back there, remember?"

"Oh I saw that. And trust me, ya don't wanna know what was happening in my mind at that moment- or right now, to be honest. It's kinda like… I'm losing control or something, and I have no idea why."

"W-well, I suppose I can't argue with that…"

"That so? Huh…, you seriously did a number on us, didn't cha? I wasn't like this at all when I left for the entrance exam a year ago. It's your doing."

"No, it's not! For the record, I wasn't exactly thinking of falling in love either, so my lack of control in what happened to us on the balcony was actually your fault alone!"

"Wha…?"

His eyes widened simultaneously with her own as they both came to realize what it was she just said out loud. A strong sensation of uneasiness overcame her, made her wish she could merge with the wall behind her when the silence settled for numerous seconds. And as much as she wanted to take her words back, she knew it wasn't possible anymore, for they were something he'd most probably treasure until the day she would have to say goodbye to him- or perhaps even longer…

She couldn't take that away from him, not only because it would disappoint him but also because she had meant every word and wanted to show at least this much affection without fainting out of embarrassment. Granted she already was at the verge of turning away and shutting down completely right now.

"T-that… eh, you… can I- I mean, can you… can you repeat that?"

"O-of course not! You, ehm, y-you don't have to act so surprised about it! I-I mean, it's not like I'm going soft on you now or anything, so just… j-just forget what I said, okay? I-I wasn't really thinking! D-don't you dare make a big deal out of it now, you hear?"

"I wasn't gonna. It just… caught me off guard, I guess. Sucks that you always manage to do that though."

As mortified as she was, the heiress couldn't help the small giggle escaping her throat at the sight of his sheepish expression.

For a moment, he watched her laugh before grasping the hand on his neck and kissing its back tenderly, eyes never shifting away from her as he did so.

"I love you, Nakiri Erina. And I swear I'll do whatever it takes to bring you home with me."

"W-where did that come from all of a sudden?!"

Taken aback by the seriousness in his voice and the tightness of his grip on her hand, the only thing she could do was to close her mouth again in silent obedience, waiting patiently for him to elaborate.

She had a feeling she knew what he was going to say, but… for some reason she didn't want to hear it- that would only make it worse for them both. And for the time being, she'd rather just enjoy the pleasant sensation in her stomach that his repeated confession had triggered instead of dealing with another heartache.

"Well, it's actually been on my mind for quite a while now. You've been gone for over a month, right? Summer break's almost over, and aside from all that, everyone's waiting for you to come home. Aren't cha gonna tell me you changed your mind already? I need ya over there, you know. Totsuki's where you should be. At least… until we graduate."

Why?

Why did he have to sound so desperate?

Why were his eyes filled with so much doubt?

She didn't want to see him like this- anxious and downright… afraid of something. Wasn't he aware that it hurt her just as much as it did him?

Was she heartless in his eyes?

"Listen, Soma… I-I…"

"Hey, it's fine. I'm not saying ya have to tell me right now. Gimme your answer when our time in this town is up, alright? I want you to come with me, but I can't force ya, that's not why I'm here. So… I think I can wait 'til ya make up your mind. That okay?"

Her eyes filled with tears, guilt ripped her heart in two like a sharp blade would have done as she regarded his saddened features, took in the brave front he tried to maintain with his brows furrowed and lips pressed together in a thin line.

She wasn't heartless- she refused to be.

"H-hey… I will never give up on you, no matter what happens at the end of this trip. I love you, and that alone is reason enough to hold my head high for as long as I can. And besides, you still wish to surpass me, don't you? Rest assured, you are going to get your chance. I am not planning to abandon anyone. For now, however, let's… let's just stop talking about this, alright? Our time together is precious to me, a-and I want to enjoy every bit of it. If you think so too, th-then get that gloomy look out of your face right now. It doesn't suit you."

"Hypocrite. You're telling me all that stuff, but in the end, it's you who's crying her eyes out here. What's up with that?"

"Fool! I am doing no such thing! T-this is just harmless water!"

"No it's not."

His thumb gently brushed over the tear stains on her cheek while at the same time bringing her face closer to his- just enough to allow their noses to touch again.

"Man… I know Gramps trusts me to behave, but…"

At her questioning gaze, he simply crushed his lips over her own, this time, however, not as gentle as she had previously been. In fact, he was pushing his tongue past her teeth in a much wilder, rougher, fiercer way than she could ever have dared herself to do, with just enough force to make her forget her tears, yet still tender and oh so agonizingly slow that she felt like she was losing her mind all over again. His pink muscle massaged hers so amorously, his teeth caught her bottom lip so effortlessly, and the way he kept tilting his head from one side to another in order to get even closer just drove her insane the longer she allowed herself to drown in those incredible sensations.

It didn't exactly help that neither of them was properly dressed either. She felt every muscle, every part of his body press against her- felt how much he actually wanted her at that very moment.

And with the wish to never stop, to feel even more, came also the realization of what it was she had been sensing all day long- what it was that made her buy that elegant bathing suit in the first place.

She longed for him to become fully hers.

More than anything in the world, she desired him, craved him to hold her tighter, despite her principles.

Maybe she should listen to Alice and just give in- allow him to do whatever he pleases with her, since that was what he thought about when they had been in her dressing room back at the clothing store as well- what he wanted right now…

He held back- whether because of his own principles, or because of that mysterious promise he made to her grandfather, she didn't know. Regardless, he always restrained himself when they were this close, as if snapping out of some sort of trounce whenever his hands traveled just a bit further south.

She didn't want him to repeat that now, but… was this really the right thing to do?

She didn't want his lips to stop tracing her jawline and suck on the sensitive flesh of her neck, but could they really afford to explore uncharted territory when neither side of their families had given their blessing yet?

Her heart screamed, begged, demanded that she should forget all about these details and just live in the moment, yet at the same time, her conscience refused to leave her be, constantly telling her to wait before she would regret everything in the end. Another bite near the crook of her neck forced her to shove all those confusing thoughts aside as she hissed at the unexpected pleasure that cursed through her veins.

By now, her hands were tugging, scratching, cherishing his damp hair while his had come to a rest on her hips under water, pressing her further towards him before moving ever so slowly down to her thighs. He hadn't touched her there up until now, and it confused her that he was even able to go this far, but surprisingly… it felt warm and comfortable alike.

As she placed open-mouthed kisses on a quite responsive spot behind his ear, the red-haired chef suddenly took hold of her rear and lifted her up against the wall, making her wrap her long legs around his waist in return. It shocked her to the core that he could actually be this bold- her backside had never been touched before, by anyone-, and yet, she was overwhelmingly excited to see how far he was willing to go this time. Feeling his solid body pressed tightly against her own, uniting their lips again, having his hands squeeze her bottom every now and then… all of it just caused her heart to melt and her knees to shake uncontrollably. She welcomed all of it with open arms- she always would.

The next thing she felt was one hand leaving her rear to undo her low ponytail, having the water pressure and his other arm keep her in place for now.

With her honey blonde locks freed, the redhead simply threw the hair tie behind him, letting it flow somewhere above the water as he leaned back and regarded her panting, shamefaced state.

Aroused or not, she certainly didn't like the smug expression on his features that usually told her he was up to no good again- especially in this case.

"Man… Gramps would so kill me for this if he knew."

"Why… would you think that?"

"Well, I kinda promised him not to get funny ideas until you're back home, and-"

"R-really? Huh…, that's odd. If he didn't trust you all that much, why would he sent you in the first place? You said that Saiba-sama would have been the one to come here if you hadn't ran into my grandfather's office, so… what changed his mind? Care to tell me now?"

"Ehm… now?"

"Well, you kind of evaded the question before, and I didn't want to pressure you, so… I thought I could ask another day."

"Gotcha… Well, that was- I mean, what I said was…"

Her thumb gently moved over his cheek, eyes shining brightly as she looked down at him with a warm smile playing on her lips, still lifted up in his arms. And it seemed to do the trick, his initial nervousness faded away, leaving only seriousness and determination in its place.

"I told him how I feel about ya, and that I needed to apologize for having hurt you all this time. I wanted to make things right, ya know? I swore to him that you would eventually come home with me. And in the end, he, eh… he accepted under the condition that I would never make you cry again- which I won't, not now, not ever. Also…"

Resting his forehead against hers, he brought his hand back down under water and began to draw lazy patterns alongside her thigh. If he felt her shudder in response, he didn't show it, instead closing his eyes for a few seconds as his breathing calmed down again.

"He and Dad both seemed oddly satisfied with my reasons, so I just let it go and came straight here."

"I see… Then we really shouldn't betray Grandfather's trust, huh."

"Yeah, guess so. Sorry 'bout that, I got carried a-"

Just as he was about to let go of her, she kissed him a second time, captivated by his sincerity, yet still heartbroken about the fact that things had to end here- that she had ended it herself without thinking.

"Don't you dare apologize for stupid things like that. You have no idea how much I'm struggling not to lay a finger on you right now, but…"

'I don't want to ruin this experience for you if you can find someone else after I'm gone…'

She closed her own eyes, biting her bruised, lower lip as her fingers moved down to his broad shoulder. The hole in her heart couldn't be bigger even if she tore it open herself, and the fact that she still clung to him despite her own words, only made her feel worse.

Perhaps he was right and she really did a number on them both, though not in a positive way…

"Hey, c'mon. Stop being so sad already, would ya? It's seriously creeping me out, ya know."

A slight twitch, one small, barely noticeable wiggle of her brow was all it took to make the young chef sweat bullets all over again- now out of unease than anything else. He released her at once, letting her glide back down the wall before retreating with a nervous smile on his lips as she approached him ever so slowly.

"So you're creeped out, are you? And here I was feeling bad because I couldn't express myself properly again too. What a waste."

"Wait, wha…?"

With her irritation now boiling over, the heiress simply picked up the pace and swam towards him, a dangerous glint shining in her amethysts as she did so. And just as she had expected, his quick reflexes granted him enough flexibility to get away before she could even touch him.

Pushing himself up the second he reached the other end of the pool, the redhead quickly escaped to safety by standing smug-faced near the edge with his hands on his waist and a bright grin gracing his features.

"Get back here, you coward!"

"Hell no! It's so much fun watching ya get all riled up like that! You're making it way too easy, Erina!"

She had heard that statement before today, hadn't she?

Of course.

Another twitch of her eyebrow left him laughing hysterically, the corners of his citrine orbs filling with tears as he watched her climb out as well- right in front of him.

And with an unintentional close up view of her cleavage, his breath literally caught in his throat, leaving him completely frozen in place while she used the opportunity to be face-to-face with him again.

His eyes widened as soon as he realized what she was about to do, but by the time he finally caught on, it was already too late. She stood behind him, smiling wickedly as she pushed him back into the water with all her might.

A small yelp escaped his lips before he hit the surface, amusement, as well as disbelief mirrored in his eyes when he was met with her delighted expression.

"Ah, what's wrong? Can't handle the water anymore? Well, too bad for you."

He looked beyond exquisite in that moment, his damp hair and shocked features simply too adorable to be ignored like she had planned to do at first.

She couldn't help it, her desire to be close to him was too strong to resist, her intention to stay mad at him too easy to break, and at the end of the day, she couldn't even help but offer him a hand when he swam over and attempted to get out of the pool himself, smiling sheepishly up at her as he did so.

"Now, how about we go get some rest? It has gotten quite late, wouldn't you agree? And since I had my revenge, I'm fine calling it a day."

"So we're really ending this on a draw, huh. That's kinda lame."

"I agree. But if you plan to leave early tomorrow, you need enough sleep, otherwise no one will take your request seriously. We can compete again anytime you want, but for now, I think it's best to just take a quick shower and go to bed, don't you?"

"Fine… I hear ya."

When he took her hand, it looked like he was going to climb out normally at first- just as she had expected him to. But then, he suddenly yanked her back into the blue depths instead, laughing wholeheartedly at her surprised squeal and ungraceful splash right beside him. This was the last thing she had anticipated, and as much as she wanted to be furious, his make-up kiss right after just didn't let her snarl at him the way she usually would have. His lips gently parting her own were too intoxicating to refuse, his hands stroking her hair too comforting to get away from, and if she didn't feel so incredibly tired right now, she most certainly would've taken the initiative to pull on his soft tresses just like before. It literally pained her to leave her palms where they were- pressed against his firm chest and unable to move just the slightest bit up or downwards.

"Now we can go."

"You will pay for this."

Eyes squinted together, cheeks dusted with a hint of red, they grinned happily at each other before exiting the pool for good this time and leaving their abandoned shirts, as well as the towels on the ground as they went to the showers nearby.

This truly was one of the best days she ever had, perfect in itself, and just overall fun, if one were to leave out the few tears that she had shed and the heartache she had felt when giving her prayer back at the temple, or when talking to Alice about her future plans. It surely was a day she would always cherish, and tomorrow was bound to be even more fantastic once they entered the festival.

She certainly looked forward to it. Not only because it had been quite a while since the last time she visited one, but also because now she had someone special to enjoy the attractions with- someone she soon would have to say goodbye to…

'Or not.'

Erina didn't want to break his heart, and there were still two weeks to make a final decision. Perhaps with a little more effort on her part, she could actually get over her doubt and go back home with him like he had wished her to. Perhaps her grandfather would give her a second chance as well…

Though for the time being, there were more urgent matters to dwell over, things that were bound to leave her restless for the night again.

She hadn't been able to turn down his request to investigate that Kenji Toru person alone, and now she's stuck worrying about him here while he put himself at risk.

The heiress knew it wasn't ideal, yet there was nothing she could do other than tell him over and over again to stay on his guard- to come back to her safe and sound.

The rest was entirely up to him. She trusted him- believed in him. That should be enough to encourage him to do his best…, right?

She just hoped it was.

'You'd better bring me all the information I need to crush this man, and you'd better make sure to stay on your toes while you do it, you hear me, Soma? Please be careful…'

And as her eyes followed him to the shower room, she was quite certain that sleep would most definitely not come tonight.

---

Annndddd cut!

Man, that sure is peaceful, isn't it?

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, guys! Please let me know what you think! I'd love to answer your questions, should you have any, and feel free to give me all the criticism you can! I'm still trying to improve as a writer after all, so any form of critic is valuable to me! Thank you so much for sticking with me, everyone, I'm really happy you gave this amateur story of mine a chance!

As much as I hate to say it, we're slowly but surely nearing the end of this emotional roller coaster ride as well. Only a few chapters remain, including the end and the epilog, and believe me when I say; I'm so sad to let my baby go!

I'll tell you more about the end when the time comes, but for now:

Stay safe, and as always:

Take care, you guys!