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.

25. Chapter 25 Let him love you

Chapter 25: Let him love you

Selamünaleyküm, everyone!

How are y'all doing? I hope everything is well!

Chapter 25, huh? Wow… I seriously have no idea why I keep repeating myself each time when the number of the chapter is written right there in the title, but whatever, hahahahahah! I guess I just like saying it because it shows how far we have come with this story. It's been such a turbulent ride, huh?

Well, first off, I'm really sorry it took me this long to finish the chapter. Some stuff happened, and suddenly my laptop gave up on me. And then I didn't know how to start this chapter off properly because new stuff happened, and I had to study for exams, and this and that… well, I think you get what I mean. I'm really sorry to make you guys wait with this one!

Now I finally finished it, and I really can't wait to hear what you guys think! It's super long again, so hopefully that makes up for the time I couldn't update. Please give me your opinion, guys. And if you have any questions, I'd be honored to answer them, hahahah.

As always, I have to thank my amazing friend lamperouge rolo. for helping me put this long chapter together, and being patient with me! You're soooo awesome, my girl! Thank you so very much!

And thank all you guys as well for your adorable messages last time! I was so happy reading them!

Well, with that said, are you guys ready for chapter 25?

I hope you'll like it, and as always,

Take care!

---

"Mind zipping this up for me real quick?"

With the calming silence now broken, a confused look settled on Soma features as he turned his head towards her. It took him at least another minute before he finally understood what she was after, eyes widening at the sight in front of him.

"Huh…?"

With an unwavering smile and a strong posture, she turned her back to him instead of offering another explanation. She held her partly open summer dress by merely one hand while the other just remained hanging casually at her side. Alluringing, inviting, bold. The girl knew how to break the strong tension that had been slowly building up between them over the past few days. Just a touch, one harmless caress was all she needed and the problem would be solved.

Those visits from their friends, academy instructors, Saiba-sama, and her ever so annoying cousin had never really given them much time for each other, which left both Soma and the heiress herself practically starving for some skin-to-skin contact. The desperation was enormous, so much so that she felt her face heating up just at the thought of him- of them being in one room alone.

Constantly getting interrupted was downright frustrating and the anticipation for their long awaited kiss felt like pure torture. But she's handling it like a true Nakiri lady, making sure that nobody would hear a word of complaint from her longing lips.

Thankfully, it all ends today.

She could leave this godforsaken hospital, and finally go home where no one would dare to burst into her private space again.

"Ya sure 'bout that? Considering what happened last time, ya might wanna think it over."

"I am well aware of what I just asked for, so stop grinning like a fool and get over here."

"What? The princess needs my help? Seriously?"

"I'm starting to regret it now… Listen; if you are too scared to come near me, then I will do it myself. No pressure."

She could practically feel his innocent grin shifting into a devilish smirk as he approached her turned back, warm fingers tracing the outline of her hips in an agonizingly slow motion.

"Remember; ya asked for this."

"You are just going to zip up a dress, what else would I want from you?"

"Oh?"

A light shudder ran down her spine when his digits came dangerously close to her rear. They remained on place for a couple of seconds before suddenly moving up and touching the white bandage hidden beneath the thin layer of Polyester.

He sighed, changing his tone to a more serious one. "Does it still hurt?"

"No."

"Be honest with me, Erina."

"…Just a little."

She heard him release another deep breath behind her, imagining how he would close his eyes in a frown.

Oh how she hated it when he spotted her lies so effortlessly.

"Thought so."

"But a little pain it is not enough to keep me here a second more. So whatever you are implying, forget it."

"C'mon, no one's telling ya to stick around this place longer than necessary. 'Course ya can leave."

"Then what-"

"I just wanna make sure you're okay here. Ya didn't exactly give yourself much time to relax, ya know."

"Says the one who hasn't gotten any decent rest himself since the moment I came to. Honestly, how many days has it been now? Eight? Honestly… you are the last person I should be hearing this from, Yukihira."

There. Last-name basis. That's how he should know her anger still hasn't subsided.

"Well excuse me. I had to babysit a certain someone 24/7 because, apparently, she can't eat any of the food provided in this hospital. Ya would be starving if I hadn't brought cha something every day, and you know it."

"Oh please, your cooking was barely enjoyable even with all this medication numbing my taste buds. Don't get your head in the clouds."

"Huh… And yet ya ate the whole thing each time. Seems a bit contradicting if ya ask me."

"Quiet you!"

A light chuckle escaped his lips before they descended to her bare shoulder blade, causing numerous waves of pure bliss to spread in her body all over again.

Utterly engrossed in these feelings, Erina closed her eyes as her muscles stiffened in response to his gentle kisses. Yes, she had wanted him to get closer, had wanted to be kissed. But she hadn't seen this sort of kiss coming, nor had she expected to feel so overwhelmed by such a simple action. The sheer sensation of his lips tracing a line up her shoulder was entrancing her in ways she never thought were possible.

Perhaps it was the anticipation, the long wait that made her react to it ten times stronger than she usually would, but right now, she simply didn't care. It had been far too long, after all. She needed to end this torture before it drives her insane. It didn't matter who'd disturb them this time, she was ready to face the embarrassment.

Swiftly whirling around, she steadied herself by placing both hands on his firm shoulders, fully aware of their close proximity now.

"You are doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

"Hm? Dunno what cha mean. I'm not doing anything."

"Stop playing innocent. This was not what I had asked you to do, remember?"

"That so?" Bending down, he mischievously kissed her bare collarbone next, no shame or innocence left in his voice when he chuckled against her skin. "I thought I knew exactly what ya had in mind when ya turned around. Am I wrong?"

"Now don't be silly, Mister. How should I guess your intentions? You are free to interpret the situation in whatever way you like."

"I see." A little bite on the crook of her neck, a light kiss further up, and she still didn't feel satisfied enough. He was doing this on purpose, not getting anywhere near her perfectly glossed lips. "Guess it doesn't matter what I do to ya then, right? My interpretation, my choice of action."

"My… and what would you do if someone comes in?"

"Keep doing what I'm doing now." He smirked against her reddened flesh, the small mark getting more and more visible with each passing second. "Or more."

"I thought you weren't doing anything."

"Yet. But if ya push my buttons any further, I might get creative. I told you; you asked for this."

His breath fanned her face when he straightened up again, warm fingers brushing the soft surface on her back before they finally found the zipper and slowly pulled it up- to her relief or disappointment, she couldn't tell. But something in his eyes changed when he looked at her, mischievous smirk fading. She couldn't help but stumble over the fact that his teasing ended with one simple motion such as zipping her dress up. He changed his emotions way too quickly for her to follow, and she didn't enjoy it in the least.

"What's wrong?"

"Ya know… I still can't believe I almost lost you. It really was a close call."

"Soma… Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"

"Dunno. Just thinking…"

His voice was deeper, rougher. The sincerity in his eyes made her freeze for a moment, her hands swiftly slipping into the sleeves of her white dress before they came to rest on both his cheeks and caressed the soft skin underneath her fingers. "You saved my life. You hear me? You saved my life. There is nothing you could have done more. I can't repay you, ever. Not even if I had to give my life right now, which believe me I would if it meant getting you out of there alive."

"Don't say that, I did what I had to do because I…" he cleared his throat, "I know I brought it up but let's just stop talking about death, alright? Your cousin was right, that word just leaves a bitter taste…"

"Right…"

Smiling gently down at the now bashful blonde, he leaned forward to kiss her forehead as his fingers drew small circles against her back. She knew he wasn't doing that on purpose anymore, but what would it take for him to finally place his lips where she really needed them? It would be a desperate one, again, though at least he could get his frustration out easier this way- since talking wasn't exactly his strong suit, and neither was it hers if she were to be honest with herself.

"…Guess the second trial is the only thing left to take care of, huh?"

"Indeed… I just hope it goes as well as the one for Masamune-san did. Do you think he will be alright from now on?"

"He'll be fine. Don't worry. Once he's back out, his flower shop will be there waiting for him to continue business as usual. Though I don't think I can say the same for his dad. He's gonna have it much rougher."

"Yeah… He dared to hurt the people I love. That man… he will pay for what he had done to us. And…" For a split second, pure rage blinded her vision, the muscles in her body tensing visibly. "I want to make sure something like this never happens again."

And she would. What was done to her would never happen again- not to anyone else. He needs to learn what happens to people who do terrible things to her family, the hard way.

But then…, on the other end of this string was his bedridden wife, his hardworking children, their financial dilemma. She heard the whole story. She knew what had happened to them, the reasoning behind this whole ordeal. They needed support, no matter the cost.

And since Masamune would have to be imprisoned for a while… it was up to her. Because he had been an accessory to her abduction, because his role had been too big for him to handle. As much as she wished it wasn't the case, Erina had to agree with the verdict of the first trial. He needed to receive some sort of punishment for his misguided actions. Three years should be a reasonable number to help him get back on track, but…

Was it truly worth it?

'I'm begging you, Erina-san, please… help my mother. Minori can support herself, she has a job. But she can't watch over Mom too with that little she earns. The medication, her caretaker… This is the only thing I ask of you… My last request. Please, Erina-san. Help us.'

'…I promise you, she will be taken care of. No matter what it takes. But in exchange, you have to be a stronger person when you see her again. That is my condition. Make her proud, and work honorably to keep her secure.'

'I-I will, I swear it… I-I will do everything I can.'

'Then there is nothing left for us to talk about. I will handle the expenses until you are back. And… I am sorry this had to happen to you in the first place, Masamune-san. Truly.'

'Please don't… I did it to myself. I should've known how things would turn out, honestly. And if anything, it is me who needs to apologize to you; For all I did, for the way you ended up in the hospital…'

'Let's just leave this matter in the past, shall we? It has already been done and we can't change it. Dwelling on such small details would only stop us from moving on. We both learned that the hard way, don't you agree?'

'Y-yeah… Guess you're right. But still… w-would you allow me one last apology? It's been on my mind ever since you tried to escape that one time and I was forced to chase after you. Remember that day? I-I couldn't say how sorry I was back then…'

'Masamune-san, I assure you, whatever it is, you don't have to apologize for it. Just let it be.'

'N-no, you don't understand, I-I… it was my fault. Listen, I'm really sorry for breaking your bracelet that time… you know, the copper one Yukihira-kun gave you on the night we went to the festival? I saw you guys, I know it meant a lot to you… It was my mistake, I'm sorry.'

'Oh, that… Don't worry about it. Our lives were more important at that time. It's alright.'

'I still feel bad about breaking it… I hope you can forgive me someday, for everything I've done.'

'Don't. We are done with this conversation. Make sure you pull yourself together from now on. And leave your mother to me, I will do whatever I can for her. I wish you the best, Flower man.'

'Actually, it was called- no, never mind… Thank you, Erina-san. Thank you… And tell Yukihira-kun he's a very lucky guy. I envy him. And I'm truly sorry for electrocuting him twice.'

'I… will be sure to tell him…'

Yes, she would take care of things while he was locked up. She would watch over that woman as much as she could. It was the least she could do after he helped her escape.

"I am going to make sure that the next set of instructors will be thoroughly evaluated, no slacking in that department. And I will personally be in charge of their background checks to prevent this incident from happening again. Staff members with mental illnesses… They will get the proper attention under my care."

"Right, I get it, and I'm right there with ya… but stop breaking my bones already, would ya? I still need 'em."

"Hm…?" Blinking a few times, her amethysts drifted down to her hands on his shoulders in confusion. All it got out of him was a muffled laugh behind closed lips as he followed her line of sight, gently trying to loosen her fingers on his shirt with his own. "Oh, I was just- I mean, it's your own fault for getting too close. You clearly deserved it, so stop complaining."

"Say what now?"

"Now don't act innocent again. You know very well what I am talking about. It's all because I have your blood in my veins now. I am now becoming as easily triggered as you. Do you know how disturbing this is?!"

"…Come again?"

Her blush came back as he edged on closer, making her try and take a step back in response. Only 'try', because she couldn't get away from his strong arms surrounding her like a predator playing with its pray. And the worst about it is, he has no idea he's doing it in the first place, his partly worried, partly confused gaze proving as much. So she tried again, "You were reckless, Yukihira Soma. And I have to live with the result. Don't think I don't remember."

"I'm still not following. What're ya on about? Remember what? Ya still under those weird drugs or something?"

She might as well be. Her rant sounded ridiculous, even in her own ears. Yet she denied it like the professional she was, no stuttering or averting her eyes- at least not too obviously. "N-no, of course not… And how can you not know what I'm referring to? Didn't you hear me just now? I am talking about your blood in my body. You just acted without thinking, and now you-"

"Erina?" His breath tickled her lips, his nose very close to bumping into hers. "Just shut up for a sec."

And there it was. His lips were merely inches away from her own. Her attempt to distract him from their proximity failed. There was nothing else she could do to keep her emotions leashed now. Not that she had been all too eager to do so from the start.

Finally. This is the moment she had been waiting for so impatiently. Or at least, it was supposed to be.

At that very moment, an overenthusiastic Alice threw the door to her room as wide open as it got, startling both students and making them jump apart.

It shouldn't be surprising anymore considering how often it had happened over the course of those past eight days. All Erina could do at this point was huff in disappointment and stare daggers at her cousin while she waved at them from across the room, chipper and painfully ignorant of what she had interrupted, as always.

The blonde knew Alice was worried, knew that she meant well, but still…

"Hey there! How is my favorite cousin holding up?! So today is the big day, huh?! Are you nervous, Er-i-na?!"

A simple sigh, nothing more.

And while she continued to keep her brows arched, Soma just took a couple of steps back, arms crossing over his chest as an amused smirk graced his features.

He was enjoying their banters way too much for her liking.

"Now, now. Don't look at me like that, cousin, I have actual business with you this time. No teasing, I promise. Oh, and how are you doing, Yukihira-kun? Still hanging around, I see!"

"Yeah, well… What can I say? She won't eat anything they got here, so…"

"Oh really? And you are casually using the opportunity to feed her your own cooking or something? How clever!"

"Yepp, exactly! I'm doing what I can!"

"Have you tried making her eat that awful sardine combination you brought to our little party the other day? She never got the chance to try it."

"'Course I have! But it didn't really work since she came at me with chopsticks in hand and everything!" He chuckled lightheartedly, simply shrugging when the girl next to him glared daggers in his direction. "I'll get her eventually though."

At this point, it didn't take much more to leave a visible vein pulsing on the blonde's forehead as she watched her cousin laugh obnoxiously from across the room.

"I'm sure you will. Wow, what a lively time you two must have had! I wonder, what else did you do in here…?"

"Don't even go there, Alice. I'm warning you."

"Oh?"

As flustered as she was, Erina didn't dare look at either one of them anymore. It might be the realization mirrored in Soma's face that hindered her from speaking with her usual demeanor, or perhaps the suspicious glint in her cousin's eyes that told her she was aware of far more than she let on. Regardless of what it might be, this situation is getting out of hand too quickly. Besides, she hasn't even recovered yet from the embarrassment when the redhead so boldly declared their… new status right after she had woken up. She couldn't handle more questions, especially from Alice.

"Now how do you know what I was going to say, Erina? Are you telling me, you actually…?"

"E-enough already! I thought there would be no teasing this time! And where is Hisako? Wasn't she supposed to come here today?"

"Ah, I sent her over to the Polar Star dormitory instead. She's helping out with… some things."

"What? Why would you do that?"

"Hmph, how rude, Erina!" Puffing out her cheeks, the white-haired chef placed both hands on her hips and bent forward as if ready to scold a child. "Aren't you happy to see me at all? I'm disappointed."

Taken aback, the heiress sighed again. There was no need to make this unnecessarily complicated. Did she really need to spell out how much her cousin means to her?

"N-no, that's not what I meant… It doesn't really matter if it's you or Hisako. You… are both welcome."

"There, much better! I knew you couldn't stand being without me for so long!"

"…Don't push your luck, Alice."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she closed her eyes in an attempt to keep her rising headache at a minimum. It wasn't worth arguing about anything right now, Alice would always have something to retort. "Just tell me what this urgent business you have with me is, would you? I don't have time for your jokes."

"Ah, that's right. You have a visitor. A certain man wants to see you and asked me to take him to you, but…"

"Wait, a man…?" Soma's deepened voice echoed in her ears as he stepped forward, a certain seriousness now shining in his golden orbs. "Who?"

"Come on, Yukihira-kun, stop looking so grim. It's nothing to worry about, I assure you. He just has something to tell her, that's all. Do you really think I would let my cousin run into danger like that? I can assure you, he's clean. A little weird though…"

'Grandfa- oh… no, it couldn't be him.'

If it truly were Nakiri Senzaemon coming to talk to her, Alice would have addressed him in a more respectful manner.

Immediately, the excited smile that was about to tug on her lips was replaced by a somewhat depressed frown as she did her best to look neutral again.

He wouldn't come today either. Why should he?

Saiba-sama's words from a few days ago had caused a great shock, a crumbling she could hear echoing from somewhere deep within her chest. But Erina pushed that thought aside. Again. She didn't want to waste time remembering that painful conversation when there was someone waiting to speak with her.

"So ya didn't get a name?"

"I asked, but he refused to tell me. Something about how he can't believe the sheer ignorance of our generation or whatever."

"…What?"

"That's exactly what I mean, Yukihira-kun. Weird, right? He's sitting in the guest room right now. Want to go over there and take a look? He requested both of you actually, so you need to come along either way."

His eyes narrowed, suspicion rising. "Me too huh?"

A single nod in his direction was all the redhead received before Alice turned around again and opened the door, gesturing for the duo to follow her.

They exchanged a quick look, a silent agreement to never let their guard down come what may.

"Alright. I suppose we shouldn't let him wait any longer."

"Sure… Wonder who it is though."

"That's what I would like to know as well, to be honest…"

'If this person is not grandfather or Saiba-sama, then who is he? Anyone I should know?'

They both reached her cousin's side at the door with a doubtful expression on their faces and allowed her to lead them towards the waiting room at the other end of the hallway.

They would see soon enough who it is.

For now, Erina would just watch her step and keep her disturbing thoughts to herself.

There wasn't anything in particular she wanted to talk about as they walked anyway, much less voice her distrust in Alice's judgement when it came to strangers.

Oh how she wished to throw all this negativity away and just listen to the conversation her two companions were having at the moment. It would certainly make things easier for her, but… for some reason she couldn't let it go.

Perhaps the recent events just left her restless and in a constant state of paranoia. Or perhaps she had already lost her mind without realizing it. The memories of being shot, somewhat tortured, and locked away in a constantly dark room were still too fresh and sometimes made her jump without the heiress actually meaning to. She had talked about mental distress, but maybe… she needed help herself. It wouldn't surprise her if she actually did.

Would those feelings of unease ever fade without having talked to anyone about them?

She could only hope so.

"Oh, by the way. Where's Kurokiba? I wanted to ask him about that salmon dish he made for the party last time. It kinda got me thinkin'… I wanna recreate it."

"Oh, don't even start about Ryo-kun! I bet he's having a Shokugeki at your dorm right as we speak. Probably one out of too many to come, if you ask me. He couldn't make it."

If he heard the disappointed undertone in her voice, he ignored it, choosing to pay attention to the spoken words instead. "A Shokugeki?! With who?!"

"Hayama-kun, who else? I swear, these two became the best buddies ever since the autumn elections. And what's worse, Ryo-kun is just downright ignoring me now! Can you believe it? So rude!"

"Wait- with Hayama? Whoa… I didn't think they were that close."

"Are you kidding me? They are super-pals now! But I suppose it's only natural that you wouldn't know. I mean, you were practically gone for an entire month yourself. It can't be helped if you missed out on things here and there."

Behind them, Erina lowered her head even further in discomfort as she caught that last part of the conversation, heart beating significantly faster than it had merely a few seconds ago.

Whether Alice's words were actually intended to make her cringe or not, the heiress couldn't help but feel responsible for what she said. She most likely missed the signs of regret on the blonde's face, which Erina felt quite thankful for. Showing vulnerability was something she hated to the core. But still… There was this tiny sting in her gut that had absolutely nothing to do with her healing injury.

It was guilt, she would recognize it anytime.

And it hurt- it always has.

"Huh? What're ya talking about? I can still catch up with everyone else at the dorm later. I don't have a problem with that at all. If there're important news to share, I'm sure they'll tell me. And besides, it wasn't really a bad thing to get away for a little while. I was planning on leaving anyway. I needed it, so it was all the same in the end."

"…Honestly, Yukihira-kun. You're too good for your own good, you know that?"

He didn't answer, merely looked behind him to catch a glimpse of Erina's disheartened features. He closed his eyes before pretending to turn back around and watch his shoes move over the clean hospital floor. "Dunno what cha mean. I just did what I thought was right, no regrets. Right, Erina?"

"Huh? Oh… y-yes, that is true."

The second that awfully stumbled comment left her mouth, she bit her lip in shame, turning her head to the other side as Soma's amber orbs wouldn't leave her be. She didn't like his knowing glances, didn't enjoy how he furrowed his brows at her when she didn't offer any other words of confirmation. His pretense was awful, she knew he was still watching.

Why did he have to do this now? It only made her feel worse.

"Well… I can't object to that, now can I? I'm sure time passed very quickly for you two."

"Nah. Not really."

He spared another quick look at the blonde girl behind them before tilting his head away completely, lips pressed together in thought.

And for the rest of their walk, her mouth remained sealed as well. Even as they stood in front of the open room and Alice announced her presence to the person whose back was turned towards them, she didn't make a single sound, rather letting Soma take the first step inside instead of starting a conversation herself.

She was still suspicious, and that alone was reason enough to keep her distance for now.

"Oh! So it was you, huh? Long time no see, Ogawa-senpai!"

At the suddenly energetic greeting, it seemed the man couldn't help but jump in his seat out of sheer surprise. He didn't even bother to turn to look at the boy behind him, which either meant he thought it wasn't necessary to deal with someone he had no business with or… he recognized the voice and felt too angry with the greeting to move. Both options startled Erina into paying close attention as she stood wide-eyed at the doorframe.

'What…?'

"Hmph, I knew I would find you here, Kid. No surprise, really."

"Guess so. But seriously, ya could've just told Nakiri here it was you. Ya kinda had us worried for a sec."

"I shouldn't have to introduce myself to a Totsuki student, boy. As a former graduate, I expect to be recognized to some degree. This is just ridiculous."

"C'mon, don't be an arrogant old geezer again. She didn't know." He grinned at the grunt echoing in his ears, now approaching the man with calm steps. "Anyway, how's it going with the restaurant? Got into any trouble when the police showed up?"

"No. As unbelievable as it sounds, my business is actually going quite well. And even after I was called in for questioning, not much changed in the area. We didn't suffer from trust issues with our customers as much as I feared we would."

"Ah, that's good to know. Ya guys got outta this mess pretty quickly from what I heard. Good for ya."

"Yes, it would appear so…"

Silence struck again as the small group kept their eyes glued to the one-armed man sitting on his chair, back still turned towards them.

Meanwhile, the heiress remained standing in the doorframe, trying to recall who exactly they were dealing with right now. Her astonishment about Soma's change of demeanor made it practically impossible to come up with any connections she might have to this visitor. The only she understood here was that these two somehow knew each other as well.

How? When?

"So… what're ya doing here? Something happened?"

"No, not at all. I… I merely wanted to, well…"

Finally rising from his seat, he turned around to face the blonde properly, fingers tangled in his long beard as he made one step towards her.

"It seems we meet at last, Nakiri Erina. I'm truly honored to make your acquaintance."

"…Ehm, excuse me if I don't understand, but… May I ask for your name, Sir?"

The little twitch of his left eyebrow showed her he didn't take too kindly to that question, just like he hadn't when Alice asked. Perhaps he would have preferred to rage as well right now, but instead, he just cleared his throat and moved on with his speech as if nothing was off, "I see. You have many clients under your care after all, so I suppose this is to be expected. Very well then, allow me the indulgence of introducing myself in a more tactful manner."

Having taken a couple of steps back, right next to Alice, Soma rose his brows in admiration, crossing his arms as he watched them converse. Whether his interest was fake or not, she couldn't tell though, only able to suppress a laugh when she heard him speak from behind her.

"Whoa… so formal. That Ogawa-senpai sure knows how to smooth-talk, huh?"

"Shhh, Yukihira-kun. Don't interfere. I want to hear what he needs from Erina."

"Now you're the anxious one? Relax, I know him. He's a good guy. I'm sure he doesn't have anything bad to say. Though I kinda do wanna know how he learned to talk like that…"

"Well, if he is as famous as he makes himself out to be, I suppose he has to know how to play with his words."

The not-so-subtle mumblings to her left didn't help ease her nerves in the slightest. If anything, their exchange behind open palms just caused her delicate brow to twitch in annoyance as she stepped up to the man standing before her.

"My name is Ogawa Daizo. Owner of the legendary restaurant 'Rosalia' here in Kamakura, and for the past two years, one of your most invested taste-testing clients in the region. I know our meeting comes rather delayed, and I apologize for my late introduction, but I'm still pleased to finally have a word with you face-to-face."

"Ogawa Daizo…" She placed a thumb under her chin as she repeated the name numerous times in her mind. "Aren't you… yes, a Totsuki alumnus. You were the man they called 'la daga' back then, weren't you? One of the sixty-fourth generation."

"Sixty-four?! Holy… How old are ya exactly, Ogawa-senpai?!"

"Shhh, Yukihira-kun! Let Erina do the talking, would you?"

Her brow twitched in annoyance as she glanced back sighing at her two dorky companions. It was either laugh at these kinds of interruptions and destroy every bit of formality that this man in front of her was trying to build, or throw them out and embarrass herself entirely.

She chose neither, instead sharpening her tongue to silence them with her authority- not that it would faze her boyfriend in any way. It never had. "Do you mind? I would like to have a word with our guest and not get disturbed every five seconds."

It was a good thing Ogawa didn't really take issue with Soma's rude comment, quite the opposite in fact- he was laughing wholeheartedly. But even so. If he truly is a client of hers, the future First Seat ought to be more tactful towards him.

"Oh, never mind that. I'm well aware of what this boy is like already. Let's just say, I've long since reached that age where I can say with all my conviction that I know more about how this world works than you, Yukihira Soma. Don't take it personally."

Said boy shrugged with a goofy grin on his face, obviously enjoying Erina's little outburst earlier. "It's cool. No worries. Hey, Erina! Ya heard that? Looks like he's got some experience to brag with. He kinda reminds me of you!"

"I get it! Would you please let me take over now?!"

A protest was on the tip of his tongue, ready to be released if it weren't for Alice who suddenly yanked his body back and motioned for him to be quiet already.

She would never say it aloud, but at that moment, the heiress felt more grateful that her cousin was here than she had ever before in her short life. So with a simple nod, she turned back to the bearded man in front of her, clearing her throat to start anew.

"So… you are Ogawa Daizo then. Former First Seat of the Elite Ten and a successful Chef known throughout the country. You made quite a name for yourself."

"My, what an honor. I'm flattered you know so much about my status from back then. Does that mean you recall the name of my restaurant too now? And the role you played in it? Part of my success is thanks to you, after all."

"Hmm… Nope, no idea."

His face fell faster than she had ever seen anyone switch their emotions, all smiles gone now. "…Huh?"

"I don't seem to recall."

"W-wha- you don't. how…? What?!"

How odd. With that single reply, all her suspicions just flew out of the window like they had never been there in the first place. It felt refreshing to breathe more comfortably now, to let go of this stone face.

Behind her, there were two sets of suppressed laughter audible. Not one, but both students trying to hold their chuckles in as Ogawa Daizo continued to stare at her in astonishment. Or shock… Or perhaps even both, still trying to get out a halfway decent sentence.

And that made the urge to laugh only stronger, Erina's teeth biting hard on her lower lip to prevent any sounds from escaping.

"Y-you… don't remember tasting our dishes? Not at all?"

'Oh my, where did his formality go?' She couldn't help her thoughts, it was too funny of a sight.

"I'm sorry, Ogawa-san. I can't remember."

"Pffff. Ya got 'im there!"

"Are you messing with me, little girl?! This restaurant is my pride, my home! H-how can you not remember evaluating it, damn it?!" His head was as red as a tomato by now, his hand shaking with rage. "And you! Stop laughing at me, boy!"

And there it was. The barely stifled sound of Soma's laughter was now echoing throughout the room with full force, his upper body bending forward as he pointed at the disoriented man before them. "There's the Ogawa-senpai I know! You're looking pretty dumb there, old man!"

"I told you to shut it already, Kid! You're just as annoying as back then!"

"Oh wow, this conversation changed paces rather quickly, wouldn't you agree, Erina? Yukihira-kun sure is enjoying himself."

"Indeed. But can you blame him? This is priceless."

"Hm… You're acting more and more like him each time I see you. Not that it's a bad thing. I like it. It's refreshing."

"H-hmph, I will never behave like that fool, believe me, Alice." And despite her words, a light dust of red settled on her cheeks, the smile she couldn't suppress all too visible. Trying to keep her bubbling amusement at bay as best as she could, the heiress cleared her throat once more in hopes of directing both their attention back to her. She loved seeing Soma have fun, loved hearing him laugh. But there was still this certain matter that needed to be solved, and she didn't want to remain in this hospital any longer than necessary.

"Ogawa-san, may I interject for a moment? Aside from that other comment earlier, you said 'back then' just now… So am I correct in assuming you already met my First Seat somewhere before?"

As both turned their heads towards her, the older man straightened his suit with his hand, trying to get some composure back. "I did. That brat came to disturb my peace right before opening hours a few weeks ago. He asked me a bunch of questions about the man who… well… Apparently it was on Senzaemon-dono's orders too."

"I-I see… So then, you actually went and talked to a famous Totsuki graduate that day, Soma? Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"Eh, that's actually…" Their eyes met, so many things unsaid between them. But all the redhead could do at that moment was avert his gaze sheepishly and rub the back of his head just like he always did when he was at a loss for words. "I kinda forgot?"

She would feel invited to hurl all kinds of insults at him just because of his messy attitude, but the red color on his cheeks simply left the words dying in her mouth.

He was embarrassed. The boy obviously didn't consider that his actions could be exposed right here and now.

How could she ever fault him for that? What happened that day was something they never had the chance to talk about anyway, let alone about what happened while she was missing. And Erina doubted the time would ever come for them to feel ready to exchange what both wanted to burry deep inside their hearts. So she just let it be.

But that glint in his eyes, that mocking shyness… it still annoyed her enough to raise a brow in question, her attention fully aroused. "You forgot? For real?"

"Well… there just wasn't a good opportunity to tell ya? You know, this and that happened, and then-"

"Now hold on a minute. Don't tell me you didn't explain any of this to your friend, Yukihira. Are you really leaving all the work to me now? I was hoping to apologize and quickly return to my business before breakfast rush is over."

"Huh? Don't gimme that crap, ya old geezer! I hadn't even planned to tell her, and-" He stopped, eyes widening ever so slightly. "Wait a sec…"

"…Apologize?" As she moved back to stand next to the redhead, Erina gave her elder a similar look of surprise, trying to ignore the fact that she and Soma were practically sharing the same thought and how it made her heart flutter out of control. "Please elaborate, Ogawa-san. Apologize for what?"

"Well- just… If the boy didn't tell you anything, where's the point of me bringing it up now?" He sighed, the strokes on his brown beard only growing more forceful. "Jeez… this is just my luck. But, whatever. I suppose I have no choice, since I already came this far."

"Huh? What cha mumbling 'bout over there, Ogawa-senpai? Speak up, would ya?"

"…I want to barbecue you alive, Kid. That loud enough for you? Huh… alright, listen well, Nakiri Erina. You might not even be able to recall the name of my precious establishment, but nevertheless. I came here to tell you that I am truly sorry for insulting you the way I did back when Yukihira-kun explained the situation to me. I know it wasn't my place to make ridiculous assumptions or to judge any of your actions, yet I did it anyway. I have a daughter myself, and I would never want for her to get involved with shady people like you did, so… I'm truly sorry… But you should know as well, talking behind someone's back is usually not my style. I just… thought I ought to let you know."

Her mouth stood agape when she took a step back. Those confused amethysts widened with each word she heard.

Before her stood a famous Totsuki alumnus, even older than her own father, yet still bowing his head low in remorse. Her first response was to raise her hands and tell him to straighten up again, to ask him what exactly he was referring to. But before she could, Soma's suddenly outstretched arm blocked almost half her view, his expression now as serious as the day he first cooked for her.

One nod, nothing more. One single nod that gestured for her to just let the old man continue with his monologue for the time being. The softness in the redhead's lively citrines was a clear indicator that he knew precisely what this is all about, and Erina would be damned if she questioned his intentions. Not when he looked so determined, so serious.

"I realize what I said about you… it was uncalled for. I knew it the moment Yukihira Soma mentioned my own daughter actually, but I couldn't bear the thought of putting everything I worked so hard for on the line by giving you information about this Kenji Toru fellow. I was willing to disregard Senzaemon-dono's request just because I didn't want my restaurant- my life, my home- to get involved. I feel ashamed for what I was about to do back then, and I wish I could have done more to help. I'm sorry for what happened to you… Erina-sama, forgive me for my ignorance."

He raised his head ever so slightly, glancing at her with those guilt-struck eyes as the heiress found herself taking yet another step back. Soma's arm was still in place, as if gesturing for her to wait a little longer- as if knowing there was something else Ogawa Daizo needed to say before he would let her give a proper response. Normally, she wouldn't even consider sitting back and let someone else tell her what to do, but this… this seemed personal somehow. Like it wasn't an actual conversation between her and the former first Seat, but between him and Soma. And she couldn't bring herself to ask what had happened, not yet.

"Also… I believe I should apologize for disrespecting your position at the academy and the tasks you complete each day as well… Yukihira knows. He had all the right to be furious. After what I said… I don't deserve to be your client anymore. I made you out to be some useless rich girl who can't do anything on her own and doesn't bother lifting a finger to help others. I'm sorry, I was in the wrong…"

And with that, the outstretched arm in front of her was lowered once again, Soma's smile genuine as he casually placed his hand back into his pocket.

"There ya go. That's the right attitude."

"What… Soma, what are you-"

"He made his point clear. It's up to you whether ya wanna accept it or just leave it as is. Don't dwell on the details."

Her eyes remained on him as she listened to his calm voice, mouth closing again despite the question literally burning her tongue.

She understood now.

She saw his intent.

So with Soma's last words in mind, the heiress turned her gaze back to the man still bowing only a few feet away, feeling more confident now that she actually got the whole picture.

"An apology… is not quite as easy as some might think… Please rise, Ogawa-san. You have no reason to feel inferior to me. Rise. You are one of those few faces who managed to make a name for themselves after graduating from Totsuki. Your opinion of me will not change what you have accomplished over the years. You made a decision and I respect that. Thank you for being earnest."

Though hesitant at first, the older man eventually straightened up again, eyes widened in astonishment, and, if she saw correctly, even relief.

"I can't say that I am able to follow what you say to the letter but I certainly appreciate the sentiment. It's not easy to muster up the courage to leave your duties behind and come all the way here just to talk. I know that better than anyone, believe me. So to meet you half way, I will leave the matter as is and just accept your apology. Moving forward, please continue to send your taste testing appointment requests through my assistant. Would that work for you?"

"Y-yes, Erina-sama, t-that would be… thank you. I promise, I will- wait…" His hand rose to his mouth, shock visible in his eyes. "Y-you just- did you just say the taste testing will continue?"

"That is what I said."

Before she could add anything else, the Totsuki alumnus rushed towards her, slender fingers holding on to one of her shoulders as he leaned in, face literally shining with excitement.

"You remembered?!"

"Well, to be honest, it came back to me quite a while ago…"

"And you… tricked me?! W-why, Erina-sama?! I thought my soul was dying inside!"

"Actually, it was- I mean-"

Blood rushed into her head as Soma's hysterical laughter echoed throughout the room, one hand holding his stomach while he slapped his knee with the other. It didn't really help matters either when Alice suddenly cracked up as well, her body shaking the more she giggled behind her open palm.

"That's the spirit, Erina! Ya gotta make your own fun sometimes!"

"Naturally. Although… never in my life would I have dreamed to see my cousin tricking one of her clients like that. She has changed quite a bit, hasn't she, Yukihira-kun?"

"Yepp, sure has!"

"Q-quiet, you two! I was doing no such thing! I just-"

"Unbelievable…"

Raising her brows in confusion, the heiress turned back towards the man still clinging to her shoulder, his eyes now filled with tears as snot ran down his nose.

Overall, it was quite the comical sight. She had to bite her lip in order to prevent a laughing-fit when Ogawa turned vivid.

"Erina-sama, you- have you been hanging around this good-for-nothing kid for too long?! Did his antics get to your head or something?! Why would you do this to me?!"

"Oh my… I think you gave him quite the scare there, Erina."

"No, I didn't! Stay out of this, Alice!" She would try to step back if Soma's irritated voice didn't echo in her ears far too loudly, making her jump involuntarily where she stood. Again.

"Whoa, hey, hold on there just a second! What's that supposed to mean, old man?! Ya can't just go around badmouthing people, damn it!"

"I can and I will, you little Shit! Don't you see what you turned this sweet young lady into?! You should be ashamed of yourself!"

He finally released her shoulder while still facing a very temperamental redhead, tear-stained features twisting in fury. She swore she literally saw steam coming out of his ears the second he stomped over to him, grabbing the boy's head and pressing it down as hard as he could while growling in fake annoyance. Or… it might be real, she couldn't tell anymore.

Her own burst of laughter hindered her from observing properly at this point. She couldn't hold it in any longer, naturally.

"What are ya talking about?! I didn't do anything to her!"

"Only a little brat would go around teaching people to pull pranks to unsuspecting people!"

"What the- wanna settle it over a Shokugeki?! I'm down!"

"I have to get back to my work, you little punk! How dare you disrespect your elders like that?!"

"I'm not disrespecting you, ya old fart! And get your hands off my hair already!"

They continued to bicker for the next several minutes while Erina's laughter eventually caused her to tear up and her bandaged stomach to hurt.

She was elated. She was getting back into normality. Finally surrounded by the ones she loved- at least a few of them.

Smiling fondly at the foolish boy, she couldn't help but shake her head as the memories with him replayed themselves over and over again. Yes, their journey had been a difficult one, their battles tough and challenging. But that only lead them to get even closer, to grow stronger together. Now that she was here, silently thanking the heavens for being with him again, the blonde could definitely see that her mother had been right with everything she said.

'Let him love you.'

And let him love her she would. With everything she had.

"Right, Erina?! He should give lectures at the academy sometime! It's only fair!"

"I'm telling you, I don't have the time!"

"…Huh? Weren't you talking about something else just now? How did it shift to giving lectures at Totsuki?" She shouldn't have asked. Immediately, everyone's gaze in the small room lingered on her, making her arch a brow in wonder.

"See? Told ya she's a lost cause."

"You sure have your work cut out for you, Yukihira-kun. Good luck."

"Alice!" She glared at both of them- all three actually, if one were to count in the man trying desperately to turn his uncomfortable expression away from them. "I am not worse than you, believe me! How dare you assume otherwise?!"

"…And I suppose that would be my timing to leave. I wish you two lovebirds a happy fight."

"We aren't lovebirds!"

Lashing out simultaneously at the older man only resulted in more hysterical laughter from Alice as he took a step back, hand raised in fake-surrender.

"Oh. My apologies then. I thought for sure you were. I mean, after Yukihira talked about his lady in such high regard…"

"You got it all wrong!"

Their second impulsive response left both students dumbfounded as they watched Ogawa Daizo stroke his beard in thought, unaware for the blush that was bound to spread on their cheeks.

This couple business might take more time getting used to than expected…

"Guess you kids really aren't, huh? What a shame."

"No, we, eh…"

"I-it wasn't supposed to come out like that, actually…"

"How cute, they are embarrassed!"

"We are not!"

"And in perfect synch too! Three times in a row, that's a new record!" She squealed in delight, hands clapping in front of her repeatedly. "Say, when is the wedding, you two?"

"Alice, stop! I-I'm telling you, it's not like that at all! And you over there, stop laughing right now or I will shut you up myself!" Weren't these the exact words Ogawa had used to keep Soma from laughing before? It seemed similar in her head, and she hated that the mischievous redhead had picked up on it as well, which resulted in him mocking her with a cheeky grin. The rest of her words were apparently lost on him.

"Uh, do tell how you plan to shut him up, Erina. I'm dying to know."

Or… they weren't. "Alice! Stop pushing it!"

She merely winked at the blonde, no further words of apology following. "Well, you might be too shy to talk, but lucky for us, there is a brave soul in this room who can answer any of my questions. Right, Yukihira-kun?"

"Sure."

The smirk on his face was brighter than ever when he shrugged in pure nonchalance, eyes shining with amusement despite the dangerous terrain they were about to set foot into.

Didn't Soma realize at all what her twisted cousin was up to?

'Are you really that clueless?'

It wasn't exactly a rarity to see Nakiri Erina facepalm out of sheer aggravation, but it sure was unusual to catch a glimpse of her doing it in front of other people, especially her obnoxious family member. The urge was simply too strong to be held in any longer, and the heiress didn't feel the need to warn her boyfriend about those types of antics. He would see for himself soon enough what it meant to dance with a vixen- or with Alice.

"Yes, that's what I call optimism! So, mind telling me when you plan to propose to my dear cousin? And how?"

And there it was. "P-p-propose?! Wh-what are you talking about now, Alice?! Stop it already!"

The grin was instantly replaced by a barely visible dust of red along his cheeks, squinted eyes turning into the size of dinner plates as he stared at the white-haired chef in shock. "H-huh?"

"Now don't give me the lost-puppy-look, Yukihira-kun. Just tell us what's on your mind."

"W-well, eh… that's- I mean it's not really- ya see…"

"…Jeez, and here I thought Erina was hard to deal with. You are not helping your case by stuttering, you know." The girl puffed out her cheeks again, crossing her arms in annoyance.

That's it, she had enough. The heat in her face was unbearable, and if she wasn't careful, it just might happen that this agonizingly strong sense of disappointment would get through her defenses even further. "A-Alice, stop!"

What was wrong with her anyway? Did she actually want to be proposed to? By him? Why was it that every time someone found out about them, marriage would be the first thing on their minds?

Saiba-sama, random people on the streets, Alice, Her mother…

'Let him love you.'

She managed a weak smile at the thought of her mother, the calmness inside her chest that told her she could let go at last rising with each second. It truly was a magnificent feeling, a real blessing.

And with her heart beating out of her chest as the redhead rubbed the back of his head again, eyes landing everywhere except on her, she knew her mother had been on to something as well when she made that suggestion for the very first time.

'Marriage… W-with Soma… W-what am I even- this is ridiculous.'

"Hey! It's not my fault ya dropped such a bomb on me! Just… just gimme a sec, would ya?!"

"I'm listening. Go on, Yukihira-kun. When and how are you going to do it?"

"I, eh…"

"Well then… I suppose this truly is the perfect time for me to leave. I would appreciate it if you children could go-"

"Wait, Ogawa-san! Don't you want to hear the juicy details too? We are just getting to the good part!"

"What?!" His face was showing signs of pure horror as he tried to make Alice let go of his arm, lips already parted to object, "But my work-"

"-Can wait! You have to listen to this, Sir! It's for the future of the academy you indirectly work for! What kind of staff-member are you?!"

At that, the man's mouth closed once again, merely a small sigh escaping when he turned back to the two students blushing in silence before him. "Fine."

"That's it! Now, your plans please, Yukihira-kun. We don't have all day as you just heard yourself."

"Alright, I get it, I get it! Jeez."

Again, he stayed quiet for a while as all eyes were practically glued on him. He rubbed his chin, closed his eyes in thought. The tension rose with each second he waited, and even Erina, who initially stood fidgeting in place, was no longer able to avert her partly curious, partly shy gaze any longer.

Why wasn't he looking at her? Why was he so nervous all of a sudden?

"I don't really know when exactly- I mean, we're still students, right? It's a little too early. But, eh… I guess the moment I get her to admit that she likes my cooking is gonna be the moment I… well, ya know… make things official?"

"…In other words; never. Honestly, Yukihira-kun, that is so anticlimactic. Especially for you."

"Hey! What're ya expecting from me?! I-I never thought about this stuff before!"

"Well, think harder then! I bet even Erina is disappointed and-"

"Alice! That's enough!"

And it really was. For her at least. Because the longer she had to listen to this, the stronger became the urge to melt into the tiled floor- right here and now. Her heart was leaping out of her chest, her breath a series of short, quick pants. She was embarrassed. But above all, she felt flattered that Soma's intentions were actually that serious, that earnest. Which would mean…

'H-he actually wants to…' Erina's eyes were close to rolling back as a new wave of excitement washed over her, the information too much for her to handle.

She was grateful that no one paid attention to her in that particular moment, or else she might have lost herself completely.

"Yepp, that's definitely my cue to leave now."

"See? Even Ogawa-san was disappointed with your speech, Yukihira-kun!"

"Seriously, quit confusing one thing with the other already! He doesn't wanna go 'cause of me!"

"No, I actually do suggest you should give this more thought before speaking so unknowingly, boy. Trust me, you do not want to be too late. Not like I was…" A dull ache was reflected in his lowered gaze, the Totsuki alumnus shaking his head to quickly recover from his drifting thoughts. This seemed to be a topic he wanted to keep to himself, a topic far too tragic to share. "In any case, I really need to get back to my team, so I leave the rest up to you, Yukihira. I completed my job here."

"Huh? What're ya talking about, old man?"

As expected as it was by now, a small vein appeared on the brunette's forehead, his steps short yet energetic when he marched across the room and pushed a certain boy's head down in irritation once again. "Have some respect for your elders, you useless Kid! I swear, I ought to teach you proper manners myself someday!"

"Let go, damn it! Do all old geezers do this or something?!"

"Silence! You're lucky I have to go now!"

"The heck?! So what if ya do?! I'll drop by your place again and get that Shokugeki I was itching for all this time! Like hell we're done here!"

"Alright, you pipsqueak, you asked for it! Come over any time! I will show you what a real first Seat of the Elite Ten is made of!"

"Fine by me! Bring it!"

And before anyone knew it, they were smiling confidently at each other, one's gaze filled with deference, the other's with deep pride- pride for the young student who actually dared to go through hell for those he loved.

"I'll see you, Kid. You'll make a fine first Seat."

"Thanks, Ogawa-senpai. I won't let cha down."

"You better not. And as for you…" Releasing the redhead from his grip, he turned towards Erina next, eyes shining with admiration. And that exact admiration was what eventually snapped her out of her daze, the fantasies of a beautiful, elegant wedding dress fading in front of her inner eye. "Thank you again for your generosity, Erina-sama. I will never forget how Senzaemon-dono's grandchild showed me the same kind of mercy he did all those years ago. I truly am grateful to have seen it once more. And I will look forward to the next time you come to sample one of our dishes. I plan to tend to it personally. Fare well."

With that, the famous Totsuki alumnus casually strolled out the door, closing it behind him as his silhouette slowly disappeared from her view. She didn't even have the chance to ask what he meant by that, let alone if he needed a car to take him back to his restaurant. All she could do was stare at the now closed door, just like the other two chefs in this room.

"Well… that was something, wasn't it? He seems like a nice person."

"Indeed…" She had to agree with her cousin there. He was a bit awkward… but a good person at heart. She would continue to keep him as a loyal client for as long as she could. He deserved to be in the spotlight.

"He'll do great, I can tell ya guys that much. Kinda like Shinomiya-senpai."

"Shinomiya? How so?" She arched a brow at his statement while he simply crossed his arms with a smirk, probably having noticed the blush still gracing her features.

"Nah, it's nothing. Forget about it."

"…If you say so."

"Alright! Now that that's settled, what do you kids say we finally get back to Totsuki? You still have a lot of things to do there, Erina, so no more slacking off."

"Huh? Yes, of course. I know that…"

That didn't seem to be the right answer. Alice did not look convinced in the slightest. "You aren't getting cold feet now, are you?"

"No. I stand by what I have said. I want to go home."

"Good."

Home…

Back to the institute.

No, she wouldn't back down this time. She did enough running.

She was ready to go home. And with Soma curling his fingers around hers, squeezing them tightly, she knew there was nothing left to worry about.

…

The merry sound of birds chirping in the distance was suddenly cut off by the heavy double doors closing behind them, a clear indication that, whatever needed to happen, would happen right now without any interventions.

It was quiet when she took her first step inside, so much so, she could hear her own breath echoing too loudly in her ears as she approached the wide staircase of the luxurious mansion.

No. This was all going too fast.

She didn't even realize they were back on school grounds until Alice insisted on looking for her aide instead of coming with her.

She barely took note of her own words, only barely managed a monotone nod before returning her gaze to the window of the black Bentley they sat in, her mind filled to the brim with endless concerns. The change of scenery around her didn't matter. And to her relief, neither Soma nor her cousin had pushed it any further than it needed to be when they were driven back to the institute.

Now she found herself here, after more than a month of separation with the man hopefully awaiting her return in one of the large rooms upstairs

One month. Or had it been two by now? She forgot. Did it matter? She doubted it.

How would he greet her?

What should she say? Too many questions without answers.

'You're not gonna confront anyone. You just go back home', was what Soma had told her when she poured her heart out to him. But it wasn't that simple. Her nerves were all over the place, her pulse racing.

Erina knew this would be no ordinary encounter, not after she had been such a disappointment. Not after she found out that he literally escaped death in his old age because of her…

'Your grandpa… was just released from the hospital himself today, Erina-chan. He won't be coming.'

'Wh-wha… w-what are you saying? W-what hospital…?'

'It was a heart attack. That day… he got a strange phone call, and, well… you could say one thing lead to another. But he's alright now, so don't worry.'

'B-but how…? He never… Please, Saiba-sama, h-how did he- I mean, he-'

'I'm not sure about the details myself actually. Soma knows, but that kid just won't talk. For now, just keep in mind that your grandpa is okay. Other questions can be asked later.'

'A phone call… T-that… It was because of me… I… I did this to him…'

'…So it really was your abductor that called him, wasn't it?'

'I-I couldn't stop him- I wasn't- I just couldn't-'

'It's alright now, Erina-chan. Calm down. I didn't tell you this so you could blame yourself all over again, you know. That son of mine would probably hunt me down next if he saw you like this.'

He laughed, placing his palm on her head in a reassuring manner.

'Don't worry, your grandpa is tough. He's already on his feet and wants you to come home.'

'Did he… did he really say that?'

'Yes, he did. He asked me personally to deliver this message to you.'

'I-I… I didn't mean to…'

'I know, Kiddo. I know.'

She closed her eyes for a second, trying her best to even out her breathing again as the memories she had been successfully avoiding so far caught up to her at last.

He would be alright from now on. He had to.

"Hey… ya okay?"

"Y-yes, of course… Why would you ask?"

"Well… ya haven't moved yet. Does it still hurt somewhere?"

"No, I'm fine… It's just- he might be too busy right now, and-"

Narrowing his eyes, Soma took a step towards her, his voice lowered significantly when he spoke, "You don't seriously believe that, do ya? Come on. Gramps has been waiting for you way longer than anyone else, ya know. Go take a look for yourself if my word isn't enough."

"I know! Trust me, I'm well aware of that…"

"Then why not just go up?"

"I… I'm not sure."

"Need me to carry ya?"

"N-no! Don't be ridiculous!"

A light chuckle escaped his lips as he took her hand and guided her away from the staircase, causing her heart to beat out of control.

She couldn't describe the relief that hit her when he pressed her body against his own, kissed her forehead softly, stroked her hair to calm her down.

They both knew this was precisely what she needed the most right now. To be calm, and… "Come on, let's go up there together. You don't wanna make Gramps worry more than he already does, do ya?"

"N-no… of course not…"

"Then let's get a move on."

Together… With him by her side. "Okay, you are right. Let's go."

"That's the spirit! And after that, we can head over to the dorm. Tadokoro says they're already waiting for us there."

"Really?"

"'Course!" The warm smile on his face was literally contagious, his dimples mesmerizing.

She watched him take a step towards the stairs again, eyes squinted in excitement as he wordlessly offered her his hand for guidance, reminding Erina of all those times he had picked her up when she felt like she couldn't do it herself.

And just like always, she placed her palm above his without even a hint of hesitation, her own smile growing the more steps they climbed.

He led her to her grandfather's office as if it was the most natural thing in the world- as if he had been here countless times before, even going so far as knocking on his door the moment they stood in front of it.

"S-Soma, wait. You are going too-"

"Yes? Come in."

Her eyes widened at the sound of her grandfather's deep voice, the small hairs on her neck rising almost automatically in response.

"Guess this is it, huh? Don't blow it in there now, Erina! Good luck!"

"W-wait! You aren't coming in with me?!"

"Hell no! This is between you and Gramps. You guys should talk it out yourselves. In the meantime, I'll try to find your room and snoop around for a bit. Later!"

"Hold on- what?! D-don't you dare, Yukihira Soma! Stay away from my room! That's not fair!"

But no reply came, only a casual wave of his hand as he retreated into a random hallway.

"So much for sticking together… this man will be the death of me someday." Sighing hopelessly, the heiress directed her gaze back to the wooden door before her, one hand already pressed against her thumping heart as if the motion could slow it down a little. With shaking fingers, she eventually pushed the door handle down and slowly entered the room.

This is it.

She tried to keep her head low enough to avoid her family member's widened eyes, no sound whatsoever accompanying her steps when she moved closer towards the large desk he sat behind.

"E-Erina…"

With her head still lowered, the heiress heard his chair being pushed backwards quite harshly before squeezing her eyes shut in pure reflex, internally preparing for the earful bound to come.

Only that it never did. No lecture, no scolding, no shouting, nothing.

Instead, Erina suddenly found herself in a tight embrace, her grandfather's familiar scent enveloping her in an overwhelming warmth as a deep sigh escaped his lips. And although hesitant at first, the blonde eventually wrapped her arms around his abdomen as tightly as she could, muffling one apology after another against his clothes while the tears fell like rain drops from the sky.

She had missed him so much, had missed his voice, his fatherly strokes on her hair, his calming heartbeat against her ear. It was only now that Erina realized how unbearable her suppressed longing had actually been. Those days and nights she spent thinking about her grandfather, all those tears she had shed…

Finally, it was over. And for the very first time since her childhood, she could add another memory to the short list of tranquil moments she had with her family.

A hug from her beloved grandfather… Just the thing she had been missing all these years.

"Where did you go, child? What were you thinking?"

"I… I'm sorry, Grandfather… I-I didn't mean to… I'm so sorry for everything I have done… I caused you so much trouble-"

"…It is all in the past now, dear. What's most important is that you are back and well. I-I couldn't… ask for more."

"But you… you were in the hospital because of me… I-I didn't… I had no-"

"I have you back, Erina. That is all that matters. Just what were you thinking? Where did you go?"

"I was… in Kamakura all this time, and… a-and-"

"It's alright, it's over. Now just… wipe those tears away and promise me you won't make this old man worry ever again."

She hadn't realized it until now, but as her grandfather spoke, his voice shock terribly as well. Not only that; he was crying himself as his shoulders rose and fell with each breath he took. It broke her heart. "I-I promise! I promise, Grandpa… I-I will never do this again! Ever! I swear it!"

Her grandfather's embrace tightened, his next words making her breath hitch for a moment as she finally found enough courage to look up at him. "I haven't heard that in a long time… 'Grandpa…' I didn't realize how terribly I missed it… Why have you ever stopped calling me 'Grandpa', child? When did we drift apart like this?"

"I-I… I don't think we actually…" At a complete loss for words, Erina merely shook her head, silently denying what the family elder was trying to imply.

"It's the truth, dear. If only I had paid more attention to you, you wouldn't have… had such a hard time telling me what troubled you all this time. I shouldn't have lied to you about your mother… I shouldn't have pushed you away. Erina, if you can find it within yourself, please forgive me…"

His tears were uncontainable at this point, and if the heiress didn't know better, she would think her grandfather was close to collapsing in her arms. With the way his heavy body slouched forward, the hiccups following after every inhale, he appeared even more fragile than the young blonde herself, which tore her heart into a million pieces all over again.

How cruel she was to think her kind-hearted family member would lose his temper with her, would be mad beyond reason, wouldn't want her back. He was a strict educator, yes. But he wasn't a monster. Her grandfather wasn't like him- never would be.

"P-please… don't say that. I'm the one who- I shouldn't have done what I did. I-I wanted to talk to you, but… I behaved like a coward instead. Because it was easier. I'm so sorry, Grandpa… you didn't deserve any of this. I-it was unjustified. This was not how you raised me."

She kept repeating herself until the tears would no longer allow it, trying her best to hold the older man steady as his muscles shook even more.

However, her strength only lasted for so long, the stitches hurting the longer she pushed herself. And before Erina knew it, she was forced to lead him back to his chair, asking him to sit down and take a deep breath as he rested one arm on the desk, the other holding his forehead to steady himself. Never in her life had the heiress seen her strong grandfather like this. So feeble, so… aged. It was frightening.

So she turned his chair around and crouched down in front of him, making him look at her by letting innocent fingers gently pull on his arm. Just like she used to do as a child.

"G-grandpa?"

"I thought… I would never see you again, Erina… I thought you had already… What have they done to you, child? Y-your screams were-"

"-It's alright now. Please, don't think about that anymore. I'm fine, I'm here. See?" She gestured between them, patting her own arm a few times before touching his again. "You said it yourself, didn't you? We are together again, and that's all that matters. P-please, Grandpa… don't cry. You have no reason to be sad anymore. I'm okay, I promise."

It seemed her words got through to him at last. And judging from the way his eyes widened instantly, he must have remembered something about this scenario just like she did. Her concerned voice, the fresh path of saltwater visible on her cheeks.

Granted the circumstances had been different back then, but it nevertheless led to the same outcome- her five-year-old-self reassuring him, calming his inner commotion as they sat together in the living room after another exhausting day of multiple taste testing appointments.

She still remembered it all.

"It's alright now, Grandpa. S-so please… stop crying."

"Y-you truly are better now? It doesn't hurt anywhere? T-they didn't cause… permanent damage somehow? Please tell me if it hurts somewhere, child. Do you have any lasting injuries?"

"None, I promise you. My wounds will only leave small scars, nothing more."

"Y-your tongue-"

"-Is alright, Grandpa." To prove her point, she went so far as to stick out her tongue, moving it up and down just to show him there were no cuts or wounds. "See? I have nothing that could suggest any harm being inflicted. Now please… stop this. It isn't like you."

"…I-I owe Yukihira Soma my most sincere gratitude. He… he brought my grandchild back to me… a-alive. He kept his promise."

"S-Soma? What did he- when did he give you a promise?"

"He… came to see me at the hospital right after I woke up, dear. And even though he had just regained consciousness himself, the boy still guaranteed me your safe return. He… I should-"

"Grandpa, please. C-calm down. It's okay, you don't have to get up now. I can send him to your office later. Just… calm down."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Instead of resting- even if it was for only a few hours-, he put himself through so much trouble… Probably without even giving it a second thought again.

"Tell me, child… h-how is he? Does he feel better after what happened? The drug's effect wore off by now, I hope."

Drug…

What drug?

She clenched her fists as her amethysts narrowed in silent outrage. Thinking back, the heiress could tell something had been wrong with him when he showed up with Masamune in that storage room. He had looked weary, tired, even unfocused at some point.

How dare he not tell her any of this?

For how long had he been in the hospital himself anyway?

"H-he is fine now. And I assure you, I will see to it myself that he gets plenty of rest from here on out." As she took a deep breath, Erina closed her eyes for a long moment, allowing the rest of her anger to leave her body.

This wasn't about Soma. This was about her grandfather, who, despite her best efforts, still looked like he could break down any second, his features nowhere near as relaxed as she would have liked them to be. "A-anyway, you don't have to worry about us, Grandpa. It's alright now. How… how are you feeling? Is-is your heart… is it-"

"I'm fine, Erina. Don't trouble yourself over me. This old man just… needs a break. For good. That's all I want. I suppose doing this job for so long just drained me in the end. Bear with me for a moment, dear."

"T-there is nothing for you to feel bad about. I understand. It… it might actually be time for you to go enjoy your long deserved vacation in the Philippines now, huh? As much as I would want you to stay with me, you… need your time to rest."

A small chuckle escaped the man's throat, his eyes brightening ever so slightly. What's left behind is merely a ghost of a smile on one corner of his lips, but she would be satisfied with that for the time being. The tears had ceased and that was all that mattered to her.

"Indeed. I had forgotten about it, to be honest. But now that you remind me… Will you be alright by yourself if I go? I'm planning to leave this academy in your hands after all."

So he hadn't given up on her… "On the contrary. I'm not alone. I thought for too long that I was, but… Whatever may come next, I'm prepared. All the support I need is here, so you can take your vacation with a clear conscience, Grandpa. A-and when you come back… this place will have proven itself worthy of being the number one culinary institution in Japan. I won't make you regret entrusting me with its future a second time. T-thank you for this honor…"

"I expect nothing less… My faith in you is enormous, Erina. I know you will do me proud." He looked like he was ready to cry again, fragile and vulnerable. "I can't believe it. You're truly back…"

"Grandpa, don't. Please stop. I'm back, I'm okay. Please don't be sad anymore." The words of a child spoken with nothing but innocence, concern. She never thought she could fall back into that state, ever. But this situation simply forced her hand, she was powerless against her grandfather's tears. Because it was the very first time in her life she saw them. "I'm okay…"

Placing a palm on her head and wiping the trace of tears from his face, he finally gave the blonde a genuine smile- one that reassured her he had regained some of his strength at last.

The wound in his heart would heal with time.

"I'm so happy to hear you finally found your way. I will always be behind you."

"Thank you, Grandpa… I won't disappoint you."

For the next ten minutes or so, neither of them spoke up again, the atmosphere too soothing to break in any way.

However, Erina knew the large elephant in the room has yet to be addressed. The topic which had started both their suffering in the first place was still lingering between them, and thus making it all the harder for her to leave the office quite yet.

It was tempting, so tempting to just stand up, hug her grandfather one more time, and go back out with the comfort of him still trusting her to take his place as the new headmaster, but… it would be the wrong thing to do, especially when there was so much left to say.

No, she wouldn't run. Not again.

So all the heiress did was rest her cheek on her family member's knee, waiting for the question that she had to be confronted with sooner or later. "So you stayed in Kamakura all this time, huh? At the summer residence, I assume?"

"Y-yes, I was there…"

"With Yukihira Soma. For several weeks."

"W-what?!" Her head snapped up quicker than she had intended, the blush spreading across her face all too evident to the man in front of her.

He merely raised a brow in amusement, dropping the hand that had slipped from her crown due to her rush movement. "What? You mean to tell me you didn't?"

"No… I mean I did- I mean he stayed there with me, b-but we- he didn't do anything to me there, i-if that's what you want to know…"

"Yes, actually, it was. I knew I could trust him not to get any funny ideas. I'm relieved."

"W-well, I… can we please change the subject?" It wasn't exactly what she had expected to talk about right now.

"…Have you visited your mother's grave?"

This, however, was what she had expected.

"I-I… I have… And honestly? The words just kept on leaving my mouth before I could stop it. I ended up talking to her about a lot of things. You know, at first… I couldn't even enter the cemetery like I had originally planned. I guess I was just too nervous to see her tombstone for myself? I'm not sure. But then… after Soma came… it was a lot easier. I was finally able to tell her everything I wanted to. Now I feel… lighter somehow. It's odd. Does that make any sense?"

"It does… I'm glad to hear you finally found the courage to see her. All this time, you never wanted to go. I was starting to worry you would never find the heart to do it. Your mother… never wanted any of this to happen to you, dear. She loved you."

"I know… She… she didn't even blame me for thinking she had left me behind for so many years. I can't explain it, but… It was like I could feel her smiling down at me, directly. As if she was right there…"

"That was partly my fault… If I had just told you sooner that she- I feared your reaction would be worse than it was now, that is all. I'm sorry, Erina. Can you forgive me for that?"

"…I-I never held you responsible for anything, Grandpa. I'm asking for your forgiveness instead. I never should have left you."

Leaning down towards her, he gently kissed the top of her head, her embarrassment long since forgotten. "I forgive you as long as you don't do it again, child."

"Never."

He kept stroking her hair for a few more minutes as her thoughts wandered from one event to the next, never fully stopping to dwell on any details. Her eyes remained on her empty wrist the entire time while the seconds ticked away, her mind blurring the longer she stared at the barely visible red marks indicating that something sharp had cut through her skin not too long ago- handcuffs, sharp metal. She shuddered at the memory.

And then something else dawned on her.

Soma was still here in the estate. Probably in her room having his own fun with her Shoujo manga, or snooping around in her walk-in closet…

'Oh no, he did not…' Before she knew it, the heiress was already back on her feet, a deep blush spreading on her cheeks once again as her grandfather watched her in confusion.

"That fool!"

"Erina? What's the matter?"

Whirling around, the blonde quickly rushed towards the door, eyes narrowed dangerously as she balled her fingers into fists, ready to punch a wall. "Excuse me for a moment, Grandpa. I have something to take care of real quick."

He chuckled, louder this time. "Let me guess. Yukihira Soma."

"Yes, he- wait… you know he's here?"

"Of course, dear. You were talking to him in front of this room, remember?"

"…O-oh."

The heat now reached the back of her neck, growing even more intense than it had before. She couldn't look her family member in the eye, not even when his melodic laughter echoed throughout the large office.

He had heard them…

What had she said to Soma again? Not to mess up anything? Not to get near her manga? She couldn't remember…

"T-that's just- he wanted to- I mean-"

"No need to explain yourself to me, child. I already gave that boy my blessing when he stormed in here and demanded to be the one to bring you back. And so did his father. Congratulations. He truly is fitting for you. I couldn't ask for a better grandson."

"W-what…? What?! T-this isn't exactly- we are not… I mean we just started to get along… A-and besides, we are not ready for any of that yet, s-so…"

"Now, now, don't be shy, my dear. He was bold enough to say it to my face. So just to be on the safe side, you could tell me honestly how you feel as well. That… would be a satisfying punishment for you, actually."

"W-what?! B-but I thought you-"

"Well I have to be compensated somehow, don't I? Now tell me, child. What do you think of him? Would he be someone who could make you happy?"

She couldn't believe it. Were her ears deceiving her? Now even her own grandfather was added to the list of people who were talking nonsense about her and the redhead.

Proposals, blessings… Just what had happened during the time she was gone?

"I-I… he has a special place in my h- I mean, I see him as… he just-" She was losing it, her thoughts were running wild.

"Take a deep breath, Erina. And start over. What does he mean to you? Would you like to have a future with him? Please understand that I have to ask at least some questions. For multiple reasons. If my own granddaughter doesn't want any of this, we might be making a big mistake by pushing the subject so far."

At that, her bashful gaze finally met his, the seriousness in her grandfather's demeanor forcing her to gulp down the lump in her throat rather loudly.

He wasn't playing tricks on her. He wanted an answer…

"Please rest assured, you aren't doing anything wrong, Grandfather. I… I love him. Marriage might be another matter altogether, but for right now… I'm happy. A-and I… don't want anything to change."

"Is that so?"

"Yes… H-however, I'm grateful to hear we have your, and Saiba-sama's… blessing for the future. T-that actually means a lot to me… Thank you…"

Smiling his approval, the older man wiped one more tear from the corner of his left eye as he rose from his chair. It was alarming how weak he still appeared to be, so the heiress immediately rushed over to help him up, worried he might need more time to recover than he was willing to show.

"A-are you, alright? Can I get you something?"

"No, dear. I'm fine. Tell Yukihira Soma I will thank him personally for everything he has done for this family. He deserves my deepest respect."

And with that, he hugged her a second time, whispering how proud he was to have a grandchild like her, how lucky… It brought tears to her eyes all over again, but she blinked them away, just happy to hear him talk so reassuringly to her.

This was all she ever wanted. All she dreamed of experiencing once more before she thought she would die a miserable death.

"Now go, Erina. We can discuss further details about the academy another time. There is much more you need to know about the state of things, but for now… let's leave it at that. I'm sure he's waiting for you. Two hours might be too much, even for him."

"T-two hours?"

"That's how long we have been talking in here. I know it doesn't feel long, but the clock hand doesn't lie."

His smile widened as her blush came back with full force, the small hairs on her neck rising at the thought of Soma spending two hours in her room alone. "I-I should probably, ehm… I mean, he might be wandering around the area, s-so I should-"

"Go ahead. In the meantime, I will book myself another flight to the Philippines. I need my vacation. The rest is up to you, child."

"Understood."

Grinning up at him with squinted eyes, the heiress made haste in turning around and sprinting towards the door. She looked back one more time to smile at her grandfather before quickly closing it behind her, hurrying down the hall and straight to her room with a pounding heart.

The worry about her manga aside, she feared that he might have actually left by now. Two hours was a long time to wait after all.

So if he did… she couldn't really blame him.

However, a significantly large part of her hoped that he was still here in this building, occupying himself in whatever way he saw fit. Those bundled up emotions, her grandfather's words, her own yearning for his closeness… all of those feelings threatened to burst out of her, like a bomb ready to explode once the countdown reaches zero, if it hasn't already.

She ran until she arrived at the very last room in the hallway, unnaturally exhausted due to the healing injuries on both her thigh and stomach, but still filled with enough vigor to punch a wall if needed.

With her heart beating mercilessly against her ribcage, she opened the door with slight hesitation, unsure if she should prepare herself for the huge disappointment of not finding him in there.

"Yo! Looking for me?"

A small gasp escaped her throat as she realized the voice came from behind her and not from inside her room. Whirling around, her heart skipped yet another crucial beat when she saw the redhead grinning from ear to ear merely a few steps away, hands casually tucked in his pockets and signature white cloth wrapped around his forehead, sweat covering parts of his face.

"Wh-where did you come from?! I thought you were-"

"Yeah, well, I was sitting in there at first. But after five minutes or something, I kinda got bored, so I went to look around. Wanna guess what I found downstairs?"

"…The kitchen?"

He laughed, the merry sound echoing in her ears like an everlasting melody. "Yepp! Man, I can't believe how much stuff ya rich people actually have in your kitchens. It's nuts!"

"D-don't be silly. You might just have come across the larger one-"

"Ya mean you guys have more than one in here?! What the hell?!" He made a large step towards her, eyes shining as brightly as those of a little boy hearing about a new toy being hidden away somewhere in the house.

"S-stop shouting already! Do you want Grandfather to hear us again?!"

"…He heard us before?"

"Y-yes…"

Another laugh, this time it annoyed her more than anything else. "That's Gramps for ya! We should've seen this coming! Anyway, what's up with ya? Did ya run all the way here or something? You're out of breath."

"I-I… No, not necessarily."

He eyed her for a second too long, scarred brow raised questioningly. "Ya sure 'bout that? Ya kinda seem-"

"I'm fine. I-I was just… looking for something, that's all."

"Huh… Well, whatever. Wanna know what dish I made this time? I guarantee you'll freak once you get a taste. With all those ingredients ya have down there, I'm sure it turned out great enough to make ya say out loud how much you like it."

"H-hmph, I highly doubt that… Are you going to take it to the dorm?"

"Sure am. Since it's your welcome back party, we all wanted to make something again. I just didn't have the time before, so it's a good thing ya were talking to Gramps all this time."

Tempted to roll her eyes, she just smiled weakly at him, her heart doing one somersault after another at the realization that he was indeed still here.

He hadn't left.

Of course he hadn't. He never would…

"Hey? Ya okay?"

"Y-yes, I am. Quite so actually."

"Then why's your face all red? Don't tell me another fever's coming up?"

Before she had the chance to shake her head, the back of his hand already made contact with her cheek, his eyes closed in concentration.

Erina bit her lip at the sudden sensation of his cool hand on her heated skin, bit even harder when he took yet another step towards her, his breath lightly fanning her face and their bodies almost touching. Yet despite all that, she didn't move. She couldn't. Something held her in place, and it was not her stubbornness telling her to tease back somehow. She knew this game all too well by now.

"Well… Definitely not as hot as it was back then… Ya want me to get cha a glass of water?"

That was what gave Erina the rest. Her inner bomb went off, the butterflies in her belly multiplied themselves with unreasonable speed. She was at her limit, and something deep inside her told her that, despite the innocence of this question, he knew exactly what he was doing. The sly smirk told her as much.

Bastard.

"I don't need it."

"Really? I could've sworn ya do. I mean, with the way ya ran over here and everything."

She didn't give him enough time to feel smug about his little comment as her lips already found his, hungrily taking what she had been wanting all this time. Her fingers pulled on his shirt with vigor, tugging him down against her while she closed her eyes in pure bliss.

Finally.

She was lost in the sensation of his soft lips all too eagerly moving against her own after so much time of torturous waiting.

Finally.

His eyes widened when she suddenly turned them around and pushed his body hard against the wall next to her door, taking advantage of his small gasp by sliding her divine tongue past his teeth. She took her time exploring his mouth while he, after a second of hesitation, let his fingers wander over her curves, stopping only millimeters away from her backside.

It wasn't necessarily rushed- she knew his initial surprise had faded the moment he realized her intentions. But with this move, she should've guessed what her boldness would eventually lead to- what she had unleashed thanks to her lack of self-restraint.

He wanted more. A lot more.

The kiss is by no means frantic, but the longer their tongues danced and their bodies pressed together, the more insistent their urges became. And with the fire within them rising, it didn't take long for the redhead to finally take initiative; turning them around forcefully, dominating her lips the only way he knew how, and eventually backing her into the wall on the other end of her room, the door long since closed and locked behind them. How they had entered, she couldn't tell, her mind too dazed to take note of anything other than him and his delicious scent invading her senses.

She's certain it is a constant struggle for them both to part each time they needed fresh air, a literal torture to wait a few seconds before their lips could finally melt back into each other. She felt how impossible it is to prevent them from being even more demanding after each bite, stroke, lick. He tilted his head from one side to another like a starving predator trying to get closer- wanting the distance to shorten even further.

And she? The helpless prey stuck between him and the wall. She enjoyed every bit of it. His hands on her body, his teeth nibbling her lower lip ever so roughly, the delicious taste of cinnamon on his tongue, everything.

All hers.

He was all hers.

The thought stuck with her even as he pressed her harder against the wall, her knees feeling numb from all the adrenaline wreaking havoc in her belly. And then, he mercilessly pulled on her long hair, not in a way that would make her cry out in pain, but urgent enough to force her head back a little as his lips descended to her neck, biting, sucking, kissing every inch of soft flesh he could reach.

She couldn't hold back on the small whimper that escaped her lips as she clung to him, shaking fingers gripping fistfuls of his thick hair in sheer passion.

It is anything but sweet and innocent at this point. Their desire borders on raw instinct- on mindless impulse. All their fear, their sadness, their longing to see the other alive again, their hopes and prayers…, every bit of bundled up emotions was released with this one act of crude hunger. The desperation was written in their every touch, every kiss. And it all went so fast, Erina thought she wouldn't even be able to find the time to appreciate the sense of completion he gave her- the loneliness he managed to take away with only his smile alone.

His tongue worked on her neck even rougher than before while she just pulled on his soft hair, grateful that his body supported hers by pressing deliciously hard against it.

"W-what are you doing to me, Soma…?"

"I should… be asking you that… The hell ya doing…? Ya trying to… make me lose it somehow?"

Her teeth on his earlobe bit down once more as his mouth moved towards her collarbone next. It was all too much, too thrilling for her to just end it right here.

Not again.

Not this time.

"I… I'm-… Y-you just-" A hiss went past her lips when he pulled on her hair a second time and began sucking on the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder. She threw her head back all too willingly, nails digging into his scalp when her back arched against him.

"S-stop that, Erina"

Another hiss, this time on purpose, turning down the crazy pace they reached. And with that, he simply lifted her off the floor and allowed her to wrap her legs around his waist, his hands being the only thing keeping her up against the wall when they landed on her rear at last, massaging the soft skin through her thin summer dress.

Their lips met again as she undid the knot in the white hand cloth behind his head, gently guiding it away from his forehead and wrapping it around the left wrist he suddenly held out for her. He smiled into the kiss before stroking her face tenderly with the same hand he had just offered, a content sigh being the only thing she heard as her fingers ran through his hair the same way his caressed every inch of her upper body.

"Thanks…"

"It… it is important to you after all…"

A genuine grin followed her words, their breathing a total mess by now. Rapid and shallow. She deemed it useless to talk anymore, especially with their eyes doing all the communication for them.

But there still was this unaddressed issue, the question they both needed a verbal confirmation.

How far would be too far?

Where is the limit this time?

Her mind is nowhere near able to make the decision for them both, her senses too dulled to think clearly. She had to rely on him to be the levelheaded one for once, and it scared her how easy it was to leave everything up to him and obey wordlessly.

It was the same trust she recognized in his deep gaze as well, the same struggle on how to proceed from here.

"Erina, I…"

"It's okay, Grandfather told me what you did a month ago… Y-you really wanted to… t-to-"

"…I had to bring you back no matter what. Now you understand why, don't ya? I need you here with me, that's all there is to it."

"A-are you seriously fine being, you know… w-with me? I-I mean, you don't have to do this to yourself if… if you-"

"Huh? Hold on, back up a sec… Ya actually admit you're too much of a pain to deal with?"

"Wha- how rude! I-I didn't mean it like that! Excuse me for being too much of a pain!"

He simply chuckled at her outburst, leaning in to place his forehead against her own. "Ya can say whatever you want, I'm not backing down. It's gonna be tough, I get it, but I think you know how stubborn I can be. I have an entire lifetime to get into that pretty head of yours and make you say that my cooking is delicious, so I'm sticking around. Just… don't disappear on me again, 'kay?"

"A-a lifetime might be a bit too far-fetched…"

"I don't care. As long as ya don't leave again."

"I…" trying to catch her breath, she stroked his hair, gently, tenderly. "I won't. You have my word. And… I'm sorry."

He nodded against her forehead, closing his eyes in gratitude as she pressed the back of his neck closer to her. "No need for apologies. Just keep your promise."

She smiled before kissing him softly, slowly. "…You know, there is something else Grandfather told me about…"

"Hm. What's that?"

"It was- well… N-no, actually, never mind."

His citrine orbs opened once again as both brows knitted together into a light frown, a small sound of disapproval leaving his throat the longer she stayed silent. "What did he tell you?"

"…It was- you see…"

She felt her cheeks heating up even more under his piercing gaze, forcing her to look to the side. The embarrassment was unbearable, especially with their current position. But she's not a coward. Not anymore. She had told her grandfather the truth about her feelings, so now it was Soma's turn to hear it.

Everything.

"H-he gave us his blessing for… f-for ma- the future. He approves of… us."

"Oh that… I know about it. He told me the same thing before I came after you."

He did? "A-and what… what do you- I mean, what Alice said this morning… are you- have you ever thought about it? M-marriage, I mean."

"Honestly? Never. It's not that I never wanna get married or anything, but right now…" He came even closer, lips slightly brushing hers as he spoke. "I'm gonna let things play out for now. I have my plans, but we'll see how that turns out. What about you? Got anything ya wanna do?"

"I-I…" She stopped, blush intensifying with each passing second. What was it with her and building decent sentences today? It was ridiculous how easy it seemed for him to speak while she made a clown of herself in front of him. Breathing in one more time, she tried again, "Soma, I… I would like to-"

Her pathetic attempt to pour her heart out was interrupted by a sudden sound behind them, echoing from somewhere across the room. A phone. It buzzed obnoxiously loud, effectively stunning them for a moment.

How did that thing even land there in the first place? She didn't remember Soma dropping it at some point. Then again, she had no idea how the two of them had ended up here as well, so it might not be that surprising after all.

"…Guess we're needed at a certain party, huh?"

"Oh, right… I-I suppose so."

Immediately, the tension between them faded away, replaced by a certain shyness as Soma released her from his hold.

They didn't dare lock eyes again afterwards, Erina fixing her hair and dress in the most elegant way she could while facing away from him. She only heard him stroll over to his phone on the floor before her rapid heartbeat forced her to try and calm down again. There was no way she would face him looking like a ravished, love-struck idiot.

Even if that was exactly the case.

"Man, I had completely forgotten about that. They're so gonna murder me… Hey, Erina? You think you can get ready in-" He cut off the second her small shriek reached his ears, turning around only to find the heiress standing before him with her hair in both hands and her eyes as wide as they could get.

"What?"

"D-don't just say my name out of the blue like that! I-it startled me!"

"…Huh?"

Oh yes. Love-struck idiot it is. It isn't her fault though. She hadn't expected to be addressed so casually after what they just did- what they had been about to do.

Why was she so nervous now? It didn't make the slightest bit of sense to her.

But then, as their eyes remained on one another for quite a while, wandering all over each other's bodies, she couldn't help but find this entire situation amusing. Their sudden bashfulness, the way Soma's hair stuck out to all sides like he had just gotten out of bed, her dress still looking suspiciously wrinkled here and there, all of it was just so comical. For her, and for him as well.

In a heartbeat, both students found themselves lost in fits of laughter. For the first time in weeks, they freely released their hearty chuckles. It felt like the overwhelming stormy clouds of stress were blown away, revealing sunny clear skies.

"You… your clothes!"

"S-speak for yourself, Yukihira Soma! Your hair is a mess!"

Their hysterical laughter continued until that good-for-nothing phone started buzzing against his hand once again, as if it wanted to remind them that the rest of the group was eagerly waiting for both hers and Soma's return to the dorm. Justifiably so, but still. She didn't get enough of him yet to just let things stand as they are right now. Though Erina doubted she would ever get enough of him, so they might as well leave as soon as possible- before she'd lose herself a second time.

Taking a deep inhale to shake off the rest of her urge to giggle, she merely walked right past him towards her large walk-in wardrobe, placing thick strands of blonde hair skillfully over one shoulder in the process. "You should answer that. They will be upset if we keep ignoring them."

"Yeah, guess so… Where's your phone anyway?"

"Mine? Huh…" Her eyes wandered around the room, narrowing when she didn't find the fawn purse that had been hanging off her left shoulder earlier. "Still in the hallway, I assume. Can you pick it up for me on your way out?"

"Ya dropped it?"

"Apparently so."

He held back a small chuckle as he made his way over to her turned back, swiftly unzipping the white piece of clothing he also closed earlier this morning at her direction. "Fine, I'll get it for ya."

A deep blush spread across Erina's face when she felt his fingers slide up the curve of her back, dangerously close to the clasp of her bra. She was powerless against his touch though, unable to shy away from it.

So she just leaned into it, barely managing to keep herself from sighing in content. "T-thank you. Just give me a minute and I will join you outside, alright?"

"What? Hold on. I don't even get to watch?!"

"A-and why is that surprising for you?! Of course you can't stay in here!"

"C'mon, really? I was close to seeing ya in practically nothing but your skin just a moment ago, remember?"

"H-how dare you? T-that wasn't-"

"And back when we jumped into that giant pool behind your house, I saw ya pretty much half naked too, so what-"

"Be quiet already!" Whirling around as fast as she could, the heiress pressed both palms against his lips, all too determined to keep her embarrassment at a minimum.

But while she was focused on pushing him towards the door without letting him make any more vulgar remarks, the redhead used the opportunity to do what she had silently dreaded this entire time. With only his right hand around her back, he simply unclasped her bra while she was desperate to try and silence him.

However, it didn't take long for her to notice the change of air inside her loose dress, her back now completely bare for him to let a hand wander all over it while he pressed her body firmly against his own. And before she could even think of screaming her lungs out, he just kissed her senseless all over again, teeth biting on her lower lip demandingly, tongues dancing with utmost vigor.

Even though it was short, the thrilling rush he gave her was all it took for her to remain quiet when they parted.

That, or the mischievous grin gracing his features a few seconds later. "Gotcha."

"Y-you're not playing fair, Yukihira…"

"Neither are you. What's with those reflexes ya got there?"

His eyes wandered down to her décolleté, scarred brow rising at the sight of her hand hold the white dress in place to cover herself up as best as possible.

How she managed to stop her dress from falling while he invaded her senses, she can't really tell. But she's pretty sure he had to leave this room before the fabric slips from her shaky grip.

"If I hadn't reacted in time, rest assured, you never would have been able to make it back to the dorm in one piece."

"How much ya wanna bet that wouldn't actually happen?"

His grin widened while she merely shook her head, a gentle smile of her own tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You are crazy."

"Yeah, well… right back at cha."

"At least I know my manners."

"Says who?"

"Says me, mister hero. Now let me go, leave this room immediately, and don't even think about entering again until I say so."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

Now, she actually rolled her eyes, making him laugh as he drew lazy circles on the skin of her back.

"…Erina?"

"Hm?"

Suddenly, the grin disappeared completely, replaced by a seriousness that she hadn't expected to see again so soon. Not after this morning at least.

He leaned in closer, amber orbs locked with her widened amethysts as his hand wandered towards hers. At this point, she couldn't help but let curiosity take over her embarrassment, her attention on nothing else but his beautiful eyes piercing through her.

"I…" he visibly gulped, "I just want to tell you that… after everything that happened, I still want you- all of you, in every way possible."

"W-wha…?" She felt all the air leave her body as the heat returned to her face, her words merely reduced to whispers now. "Soma, what are you-"

He shook his head, cutting her off before she could even finish the question. "No, just listen. I got a taste of how it feels to be away from you and to- to almost lose you. And I don't think I can go through that again, ya know? It felt even worse than back when my mom died." his eyes turned a bit glassy but he didn't break their connection, "I promise you, Nakiri Erina, that I'm serious about us. No jokes, no fooling around. And when the right time comes, I want to take things further with you. I think I made up my mind on that a while ago, so… until then, don't go away, alright? I know I said that already, but… Stay right here. I just want to hear it from you one more time that you'll…"

She cut him off with another gentle kiss, not to his lips, but right on his forehead, which she softly pulled down towards her. "…As long as you want me to, I will be here. I'll wait… I promise."

Relief. Relief and a small hint of pride was all that flickered in his golden eyes before it shone with overwhelming tenderness.

With love.

A light redness dusted his cheeks the longer he stood there, unable to say anything.

'Let him love you.'

And she kissed him again. This time on his lips. Slowly, shyly, full with affection.

It was different from the heated one they shared fifteen minutes ago. This was her heart she willingly placed on a silver platter for him- including all of her joys, sorrows and memories that made her to be the person she is today.

"Thank you…"

"Nonsense. I must be the one thanking you, for everything… Now go call the others outside, you helpless fool. I will be done in five minutes."

A love-struck idiot… and what an idiot she was. From all the experience she gained so far, the heiress never should've expected him to hold a serious mood for a long time. Not Yukihira Soma.

"…Hey, Erina? There's something else I wanna tell ya actually."

"W-what is it?"

The naughty smirk returned with full force, but to her dismay, she was too late to guess his intentions this time thanks to the daze their kiss- as well as his earnest words- had put her in.

"When you ask me to unzip your dress, you really should be prepared for this!"

And with that, he simply yanked the thin piece of clothing down her body, letting it fall all the way to the ground.

Without missing a beat, he sent her a quick grin as he swiftly turned and shuffled out of her sight, closing the door behind him while his heavy laughter continued to ring in her ears.

Her blush was spreading, her fingers shaking. Her upper body still felt the breeze from his sudden exit. She was losing her temper, and she was aware of it all too painfully.

"Wha… wha… wha… h-how… how dare you?! Commoner scum! I will skin you alive and use you as a garnish when I get out there, you insufferable worm! Mark my words! Yukihira Soma, you asked for it!" She could still hear him laugh from the other end of the door as she kicked both her dress and bra into a corner, angrily marching over to her walk-in wardrobe to pick herself another outfit. "Honestly! How dare he do that to me?! So childish, s-so shameless!"

Her rant continued even as she stood in front of her mirror a few minutes later to take one last look at herself, balled fists waving at her sides like she was actually going to hit someone. Her rage had made her pick the first outfit that stuck out, not even bothering to properly examine what it was she had chosen to wear.

She was angry. So angry. But then, against all her will, a small smile made its way across her features regardless. Filled with affection and unbound amusement. She couldn't stay mad at him for long, couldn't find it in herself to seriously harm him. Not anymore.

So she just let out a tired sigh while her fingers smoothed the soft fabric of her new dress around the stomach, small wrinkles here and there only suggesting where the bandages would start and end.

This day had been quite the turbulent one, more so than she had expected. And now, as she studied her reflection, Erina realized how exhausted she really was from all that had happened, from all these changing sensations…

Unwillingly, she jumped. Again.

Would this be a reflex from now on? There was nothing to be scared of here. She was back in her room- back in her safe space. Her fingers brushed against her wrist again, feeling the empty spot where Soma's copper bracelet used to be. Instead, she just saw those awful red marks. Those marks that wouldn't go away for some reason.

She couldn't help but wonder if he had noticed the absence of his gift on her wrist already or if it mattered to him that it was gone in the first place.

Curling her hand fully around her wrist, squeezing her eyes shut, she shook her head to get rid of such thoughts- and jumped again when she opened them. Having her amethysts closed for longer than five seconds made her panic, especially when she was alone in one room. It didn't fare well, so she just breathed- breathed to get her pulse under control.

"Alright… as soon as the party is over, I'm turning in for a good night's sleep."

And perhaps, the red-headed troublemaker would lie down right next to her, the same way he had back in her grandfather's summer residence.

She could certainly need that…

…

"Finally! What took you two so long?! I was about to send Ryo-kun over to get you!"

"Calm down, Alice. We are here now. Stop shouting in my face like that."

Her words landed on deaf ears as her cousin pulled on her arm, dragging her all the way into the living room where, to Erina's huge delight, every single one of their friends was waiting for them with a happy grin on their face, filled cups of rice juice already raised in her honor.

Even Hisako, whose overly dramatic cries made her appear more comical than she might have intended to, had a cup in one hand as she frantically waved at her, spilling small drops of juice onto the floor. Well, at least that was what she did until she had enough of waiting, setting her cup down on the table so she could finally run to her friend and hug her properly.

"E-Erina-sama, thank goodness! Y-you're back! I hope your trip was comfortable! Did you get enough sleep last night?! Oh- what am I saying? Of course it was! You're back!"

"I-I'm alright, Hisako. Thank you…"

"Please, Erina-sama… D-don't be so reckless ever again! We need you here!"

She gently stroked her friend's back, reassuring her over and over again that it was all in the past- that she had no intention of repeating her mistakes. It was truly a wonderful feeling to finally see the pinkette again, to be able to talk to her and let her be the doting mother to her heart's content.

Erina returned the embrace all too happily once she was certain that Hisako wasn't crying anymore. And even if the initial surprise delayed her reaction for the tiniest moment, she could tell that the hug was becoming tighter with each breath she took.

"C-come on, Hisako… Pull yourself together. It's alright now, I'm here to stay."

"Erina-cchi!"

"I-I-I think you can let go now, Arato-san… There are still those injuries, a-and-"

"Oh my- you're right, Tadokoro-san! What was I thinking?! Erina-sama, are you alright?! Did I hurt you?!" She said that, yet still held on to her like the blonde was her lifeline.

"I'm- fine. You don't have to scream so loud though…"

"Hey, what's up, lovebirds?! You finally made it!"

"Totally! I'm so happy you two are back at last! Especially you, Nakiri-chan! We thought you would never show up here again!"

A slight twitch of her brow was the only thing that stopped both Aoki and Sato from going any further as a cold shiver went down their spines- one that was intended to leave them restless for the rest of the night.

She could more-or-less tolerate being referred to as 'Nakiri-chan' now, but giving their tandem that childish nickname was unacceptable. Mainly because it made her blush like a besotted little girl, but that was something she would keep to herself.

"A-anyway, Hisako. Tadokoro-san has a point. You can let go now. It's alright."

"O-oh, of course, Erina-sama! I-I'm so sorry! Did I squeeze too hard?!"

"No, not at all. Don't worry about it."

A soft giggle escaped her lips when the pinkette finally released her, fresh tears streaming down her face. "Welcome back, Erina-sama!"

"Same here. Welcome back, Nakiri-san. I'm glad it all went well at the hospital."

It moved her deeply when Sakaki stepped forward next, offered her a drink, and smiled gleefully at her speechless expression. "Y-yes, it… it did. Thank you…"

They exchanged a genuine smile while while Soma just strolled in behind his girlfriend without a care in the world, also accepting the white cup Tadokoro held out for him.

"I-I'm so happy you both are back. T-this place just doesn't feel the same without you here."

"Thanks, Tadokoro. Gotta admit, it's good to be home."

"Come on, Erina! Aren't you going to say something?! This is a special moment, after all! I mean, you obviously dressed up for it!"

The excited glee in her cousin's eyes was a nice thing to witness again. If only she hadn't brought up the black cocktail dress that the heiress had so foolishly decided to wear in a moment of pure anger. That would have made things less awkward for her, she was sure. "I-I was about to! Stop rushing me!"

Her eyes wandered over the large room, over every single person standing before her as she tried to find the right thing to say.

So many weeks had passed since the last time she was here. So much had happened. There were quite a few issues left to be resolved, and now that Erina could think straight again, she knew where to start picking up the pieces.

Now that she saw her friends again, in this very room, she knew exactly what to do.

"Everyone… I-"

"Oh, hey, I almost forgot! How did the Shokugeki end, you guys?! Who won?!"

"Tsk, do you really have to ask, Yukihira? I did, of course. As expected."

"I'll get you next time, Hayama. Just keep that ego up for when you lose. It'll make it even sweeter to crush you."

"Whoa, so it was Hayama, huh? That's awesome."

The Indian chef huffed again, eyes closed as he crossed his arms before his chest. "Could you not act to thrilled by it? It's insulting."

"Still as high-and-mighty as ever, I see. I hope you're ready, 'cause I'm next in line."

"Hm, if you insist. I gladly take you on."

"I want my rematch first, pretty boy."

She should be furious, livid, or at the very least eager to give her boyfriend the nastiest glare he had ever seen in his life. But Erina did none of that as her eyes remained fixated on the couch where both Hayama and Kurokiba sat, the monotone comment of the latter repeating itself in her mind over and over again until she had no choice but to hold back on what she had originally wanted to say and focus on their banter instead. "Wait… you two had a Shokugeki today?"

"Oh, Erina. How forgetful can you be? Didn't you hear me talking about it this morning? I told you their fight would be one out of too many. Turns out it lasted the whole day. No surprise there, really."

That actually made Erina think. She vaguely remembered listening to certain parts of the conversation her cousin had with Soma in the hospital this morning, but the details were all a blur.

Then again, she might just be too tired to recall the events properly.

"I told you, I'll get him next time, Oujo. Don't you worry."

"Seriously?" Leaning forward with his cup in hand, Soma stared at the dark-haired boy calmly sitting on the couch, amber orbs half-lidded as if he was mimicking him. "C'mon, man. Could ya at least say it without sounding like you're gonna fall asleep at any minute?"

"Wanna be my next opponent, Yukihira? It's been far too long since the last time I kicked your ass anyway."

"Oh, it's on! Bring it!"

"Now hold on a minute, Yukihira! As much as I would want to watch and take my turn to fight you, Nakiri-san was in the middle of saying something before you so rudely interrupted her. I'd like to hear what's on her mind now that we finally have the chance to ask a few questions of our own. So… Nakiri-san, if you would, please."

Her eyes widened as the spotlight was once again on her, all laughter ceasing immediately due to the serious atmosphere that had settled over them.

"T-thank you, Aldini-kun. I appreciate it…" She cleared her throat, this time making sure her voice was firm enough to keep everyone's attention. "Well, there is indeed something I want to discuss with you all tonight. A matter I hadn't been able to take care of before."

"What is it, Erina-cchi? You have bad news for us? A-are you going somewhere again?"

"No, no. Nothing of the sort, don't worry." Taking a deep breath, she crossed her arms in symbolic authority as the whole room went dead quiet. "I had a talk with my grandfather back at the estate, and according to him, I should still take over as the new director of Totsuki. So before I address the actual point, I need to know what you people think. Despite everything that happened… are you still willing to accept me as your future headmaster?"

"…Huh? What kind of question is that now? Are you joking?"

"No, Alice, far from it actually. This past month has shown me exactly what I am capable of doing once I get upset, so I need to know if I can be trusted enough to lead this institution instead of our grandfather."

She waited for her cousin to object, to cut her off mid-sentence just like she always did when they didn't share an opinion. But none of it happened for the next several seconds, so the heiress moved on, ice-cold amethysts now meeting Soma's curious gaze as she nodded to him in confidence. "Please, feel free to give me your honest opinion, everyone."

"…Well, I gotta admit I didn't see that coming. A queen asking her subjects if they still want her to reign? You sure are good for a surprise every now and then, Nakiri."

"Agreed. I never thought I'd hear this from you, Erina-oujo."

The widened smiles vanished in an instant as both students sitting on the couch exchanged a short look, arms crossing in irritation for the respective other. So it wasn't just Alice and herself who hated agreeing on something… Apparently, both Hayama and Kurokiba were in the same boat. Amusing, indeed.

"E-Erina-sama, I don't understand. The guys are right, should you really be asking this? I mean, you know the answer already, right?"

And with that one question of her assistant, the silence was disturbed once again, this time by overwhelming cries of dedication and loyalty being thrown at her from every corner of the room.

Indeed, she should have known this would happen. Her friends would stick with her no matter what she did. They were all here to guide her- to help her at times she can't help herself. And she is grateful, more so than she could ever put into words.

"Are you kidding, Erina-cchi?! There is no one we would trust more than you to get the job done! Yukihira chose you for a good reason, you know!"

"That's right! You have to be the headmaster, Nakiri-chan!"

"W-we are behind you. Y-you aren't alone."

She breathed a sigh of relief, smiling at each one of them. "…Thank you, guys. I mean it, truly…"

"Nakiri-kun?"

Suddenly, a firm hand landed on her shoulder, Isshiki's warm, encouraging smile ever so encouraging when he gazed down at her.

"Everyone goes through rough times, there is no shame in that. However, the key is to know when it becomes too much to handle for one person alone, and to ask for support to prevent any more pain. So whatever you plan on doing from here on out, we will be standing proudly by your side. Just remember that from now on."

"I… Thank you, Isshiki-san. I won't forget this kindness."

"Well said, Isshiki-senpai! Now, if that's all, let's party!"

"Hold on, Yoshino. There was something else she wanted to talk about, remember? Let's clear that out first."

Casually strolling over to them with both hands tucked away in his pockets, Ibusaki smiled gently at the heiress as well, a rare sight if she remembered Soma saying correctly.

"Oh, right! Come on then, give us the actual news now, Erina-cchi!"

"You can stop shouting anytime too, you know."

She couldn't help but arch a brow at these two, both amused and surprised that no retort followed after the boy's calm words.

"Right. The other matter…" She faintly nodded towards Isshiki before making her way over to the redhead's side, his grin now wider than it had been before when she came to a halt right next to him. "As you all know, a certain decision has never been made due to my long absence. And since the former headmaster didn't mention anything to me as well, I assume it still remains unattended."

"Huh? What're ya talking about, Erina?"

She smiled sweetly at the confused look in her boyfriend's eyes, holding back the sudden urge to kiss him in front of everyone. Instead, she simply winked at him before moving on, "What I mean is… we still have to choose the new Elite Ten, their seating, and everything that goes with it. Since not all members of the rebel-alliance are present right now, I will have to pick a certain date for that to happen. However, we can evaluate those of us who are here in this room. At this very moment."

Gasps, sharp inhales, even sounds of realization reached her ears as the heiress closed her eyes in relief, finally finding a point to begin her normal life again- a fresh start. And it came with a new Elite Ten council.

"Now, what I would like to know from everyone is, from the chefs gathered here, who should take part in that selection and who shouldn't. I want you to show me who deserves a Seat. The ranking can be discussed at another date."

"Oh… I see now. Ya wanna make things short and sweet, huh? Sounds good to me."

As confident as ever, the redhead smirked down at her, arms already crossed in anticipation. She could see it in his golden eyes, he was more than eager to get into the kitchen and show off his skills right here and now.

He understood what she meant without her needing to point it out verbally.

"S-show you…? W-what do you mean, Nakiri-san?"

"All of you took part in defeating Central in one way or another. Each one did their best to overcome this obstacle. Truth be told, I already had certain names in mind before I left, but I need to be sure. Too much time has passed for me to make a proper decision now. So, there is only one way you can prove if you are worthy of getting a Seat or not, Tadokoro-san. You know what it is. My question; Are you up for it?"

Pure fire shone in the bluenette's eyes as she listened, a light blush dusting her cheeks the moment she finally understood. "Y-yes! I am!"

"A nice little cooking contest, huh? I'm in."

"Get off your high horse, Kurokiba. Didn't you just lose to me?"

"And now I get my chance to flip the table around! You're done for, boy!"

Kurokiba's voice immediately gained volume the moment he wrapped the red cloth around his head, forcing the Indian chef to move back ever so slightly in response.

"Hey, calm down. You have more important things to worry about, you know. Yukihira is now in the match too."

"I'll get him first! Bring it on, you scar-faced bastard!"

"Hey! That nickname is already taken, pal! Go find your own!"

A confused look crossed the mad-dog's face for a moment before he stood up from his seat on the couch. "What?"

"That flower-freak kinda was creative, so don't steal his ideas, man." Suddenly, the warmth next to Erina disappeared, merely a light breeze fanning her face as she watched with growing confusion how all three students butted heads against each other. "But that's beside the point. Now all you clowns need to know is that there's no way in hell I'm gonna lose to any of you! That first Seat is mine!"

"It will be just like back in the autumn elections, Yukihira. You two will tie for second place while I take the top spot."

"Get off your fucking high horse already, Hayama. I told you. That. Seat. Is. Mine." He was on a roll, and he wouldn't allow anyone to get in his way this time.

"I'll whoop your asses, just wait! No one gets away with beating me!"

"Stop shouting like a crow, Kurokiba!"

She listened with amusement as they continued to banter, all ready to tear each other apart in another match.

Perhaps it was too late to mention that the first Seat was already reserved for the redhead from the very beginning, but who was she to disturb his fun? He would win anyway, that, she could say it with utmost conviction.

And then, without any warning, the blonde twin of the Aldini-brothers suddenly took a stand right next to his hot-tempered friend, a vein pulsing aggressively against his forehead at the prospect of being ignored.

He was the last person Erina had expected to see amongst those competitive blockheads, but for some reason, it seemed to be just the right spot for him.

She just stood back, enjoying the sight of Soma's over-excited demeanor- something she hadn't been able to witness in quite a while.

"You'll see the results of my intensive training this past month, Yukihira! My win is a guarantee at this point!"

"Is that so? Well I'm really happy to hear that, Takumi. But if you think one measly month of training is gonna be enough to beat me, ya got another thing coming!"

"I said no one's getting ahead of me, damn it!"

"You children are ridiculous. It's obvious who will win anyway."

"Hell no, Hayama! Don't act like you're better than anyone else! I'm telling you I have the advantage here!"

"And what kind of advantage is that now? You got personal tutorials from Nakiri or something while you guys were gone?"

He smirked, excitement written in his lively citrines. "Nope, much better than that actually."

"Damn it, Yukihira! Spit it out already and stop wasting my time!"

The boy's smirk widened, confidence mixing with a certain sense of pride that she had seen somewhere before but couldn't point out when exactly.

What was he talking about anyway?

"Seriously, what could be better than being educated by the God Tongue herself for the second time though?"

"Well, training aside… I just think I understand now what it means to cook for someone special, ya know? Like you did back at the autumn elections, Hayama. You had a point there, it really changes a lot of things once ya find the right motivation."

Everyone's eyes, including her own, widened at his simple reply, no one daring to object to such honesty- not even the three other chefs closing the small circle next to him.

Erina couldn't see his expression at that moment, but she was sure the insane pounding in her chest was something he must feel as well right at this very second- the same rush of emotions thrilling inside her body.

She hadn't thought about this until now. The previous events just drained all her sense of clarity. But hearing those words, realizing what they actually implied… she felt an overwhelming happiness in her heart, a special kind of warmth that hadn't been there before whenever she tasted his food. Soma's cooking invoked tranquility, yes- a sensation of being home. But now, that specific warmth was mixed in as well. Somewhere…

This time she would pay attention to it.

This time, she would fully immerse into the depths his cooking could dive into. And she would enjoy every bit of it without denial.

"I see… I'm glad you discovered that for yourself, Yukihira. It will help you win many battles. Well, except for this one."

"Ya think? Come on then, let's go. I'll let my food do the talking for me instead. Hey, Erina?! You're gonna be the judge for this one, right?!"

"H-huh? Well, yes…"

"Perfect!"

And with that, he simply turned back around and made his way straight into the kitchen, ignoring all the curious glances being thrown at him.

"W-what- hey! You are not getting ahead of me, Yukihira!"

"Nor me! Get back here, damn it!"

Sighing in annoyance, the Indian chef eventually followed both Aldini and Kurokiba into the kitchen, mumbling something Erina couldn't quite understand under his breath. She believed to have heard the redhead's name somewhere under all these complaints, but she wasn't sure.

"So, ehm… do we really have to compete with those monsters in there, Erina-cchi?"

"You might have made a mistake with this, Nakiri-san. They won't come out of the kitchen for a while now."

"Well, that's the kind of dedication I am expecting from future Elite Ten members. Those who do not wish to be caught in the crossfire can always step back and just watch. If you say you are content with having no Seat, feel free to stay here. The rest, follow me."

Her words actually managed to make some of the dorm members gulp as they couldn't find it in them to move even an inch.

In the end, it was only a handful of students walking up behind her into the lion's den- among them none other than Tadokoro Megumi, which Erina felt quite proud about. That girl had grown into a respectable chef over the months and deserved to fight for a Seat as well.

She deserved it.

"Now then… Let's get this party started already, shall we?"

'And this time, I won't miss a damn thing.'

---

Annndddd let's cut it right here, guys!

What a chapter, right?

Thank you so very much for finding the time to read it, especially since it's such a long one again! I really can't help it! Once the idea hits, it's basically downhill from there, hahahahahah.

Now, only one chapter remains before we can finish things off with a sweet epilog. I'm really sad the story is ending, but it has to be done, I guess. I really loved writing it with all my heart. It was super fun, and I can't thank you guys enough for even giving it a chance!

Of course, I still want to rewrite the first few chapters up to a certain point because, looking back at those, it's just bad, hahahah.

Well, let's finish the main dish first for now.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please let me know what you think of it, I'd be really honored to read your opinions and answer them! If there are questions, please lemme see 'em!

With that, I wish you all a beautiful day/night! It's very late where I am, so I should probably try to sleep. Or get some other work done too, hahahah. Time is precious, after all!

Stay safe, and as always,

Take care, everyone!