DRABBLES INCLUDED:

COURAGE (Connected to "Ribbon")

HAND (Connected with "Courage")

*I definitely recommend cueing up a nice piano instrumental of the Spice! ending theme song from the first season, then get ready to cry as you read this. Or any emotional background music really. Enjoy! More notes for you all at the end!

Courage

Megumi wanted to cry.

Not for herself, but for her friend, who couldn't bring himself to leave the darkness of his bedroom because his spirit was too broken.

This was the second time she had visited the Aldini's apartment since Takumi had lost his match in the Autumn Selection. Isami advised that the blonde had rarely been seen for the past few days. He was certain his brother couldn't stand to face their peers right now.

By this point, Megumi had begun to enjoy several blossoming friendships outside of the Polar Star Dormitory. She believed she had gotten to know Takumi at least well enough to consider him one of them. He could fight through almost anything, that she was sure of. He was very much like Soma in that respect, even if he would comically insist his superiority and planned to prove it one day.

However, when a person like Takumi had their pride in the things they truly loved was shattered, well, in Megumi's own experience-that was a blow that would take some time to heal.

She had tried everything she could think of after Takumi's match to lift his spirits. Now the series of events that now led her outside of his bedroom door flashed by in her mind.

She had stayed behind with their friends the day of that match. Everyone had tried swarming Takumi with reassurance when he exited the venue, but sympathy was clearly the last thing the Aldini wanted. His name as a chef, his years of experience and developed style had been savagely chewed up and spit back in his face. Words, no matter how kind, could never help that.

He hadn't been rude to them, he'd just seemed vacant. Like the sentiments being expressed to him weren't quite getting through. Like the people in front of him weren't actually where he was looking.

It had amazed Megumi how much she could identify with that expression on his face.

This was the great Aldini Takumi, after all.

Megumi had never come across him during their mutual time attending Totsuki Academy's junior high school. She had always been in the lower tier classes and out of the limelight, but oh-the stories she heard once she had begun asking after their encounter at the summer training camp.

Takumi made his way to the top-tier of the Totsuki junior high division in no time after transferring in. He was a speed-demon and a genius in the kitchen, and when paired with his brother, was an unstoppable force. Every dish he touched turned to gold like that of warm, Tuscan sunset. There were fan clubs dedicated to worshipping his skill and his handsome visage. He carried a cool exterior and a burning, passionate interior that would engulf everything in its wake if given the proper fuel.

That was the only sentiment Mimasaka Subaru had commented on during the match that Megumi would actually agree was correct.

He was a young chef who had built a pedestal in his own right and ruled on it comfortably. How could someone like Megumi, who let something as simple as fear get in the way of her true potential for so long, even begin to empathize with a prodigy like him?

And yet...there it was. The despair, the regret, the frustration, the anger all plastered into a permanent mold on Takumi's face. It was the same mold that had been Megumi's own face for three years. The one that she had covered up behind shy smiles and nervous shakes as she floundered at the bottom of the barrel.

Megumi now knew that no one was above those emotions. Everyone could have days exactly like she experienced, and everyone deserved the support it took to pull out of that dark place and have the courage to face themselves again.

While Soma was going about things in his own way, preparing to avenge the Aldini in his upcoming match with Mimasaka, she vowed to do whatever she could to try to support Takumi through his rough moment at the bottom of his own mind.

That very night, Megumi had set to work, first texting Takumi more of her own well wishes.

She had his number from previously inviting Isami and him to the Polar Star Preliminaries Party. She hadn't actively used it since, but it was worth a shot. She personal knew that an encouraging text message was sometimes the best way to help keep someone afloat. It didn't involve forced face-to-face interaction when a person couldn't bring themselves to speak, but it was also a tangible reminder the person was cared for.

Megumi had sent one right away on a spur of inspiration. Upon rereading the text message, she cringed at how formal and presumptuous it sounded. She was only trying to draw from what Soma had told her during her battle with Chef Shinomiya, but in hindsight, something Soma related probably wasn't the best way to go.

Takumi never did respond to the text, not even to thank her. She had expected as much, since he was probably receiving hundreds of texts as well from his other friends and fans.

'I'm an idiot!' she had thought nervously at the time. 'He must be so overwhelmed. I'm not helping at all!'

She had a small fit of worries over the text and was the up all night thinking of another approach until she fell asleep.

Over the next few days, she got her answer when Takumi didn't arrive for his classes.

She quietly asked Isami after one of their first cooking labs they had together, and he informed her that Takumi was still in bad spirits.

"He doesn't even come out of his room for dinner," Isami had said, his blue eyes worried and his trademark relaxed grin wiped from his face. "He can barely make eye contact with me. The teachers have been understanding as long as he's doing makeup labs and assignments, but I don't know how long that's going to last. People have been blowing up his phone, and he finally just turned it off. Plus, his fans keep sending us sweets to cheer him up, like it's Valentine's Day or something. I don't have enough space in the fridge. I don't even think Takumi can look at another dessert since that match."

"I see," Megumi said, guilt etched in her voice as she thought about her contributing text to the phone madness. She was also worried that Takumi may not be properly taking care of himself or his studies.

Isami was sure to bring him homework from the labs they had together, but she volunteered to get all the assignments from the one class she had with Takumi that his twin did not.

Isami had given her a grateful smile and thanked her, and this motivated her. She collected his lab work for his make-up assignments, and instead of giving it to Isami, she decided she would deliver it personally that night. After school, she ran straight home to the Polar Star dorm and was busy in the kitchen for hours working on her plan. Soma had taken to working secretly in outside kitchens those days to avoid Mimasaka's watchful gaze, so she had the majority of space to herself.

By 8:30 p.m., Megumi arrived at the Aldini's apartment with Takumi's assignment, but also with her arms stacked with various containers.

"Tadokoro-san, what's all this?" Isami had asked her. His tone was bewildered as apologizing for her visit when she barely able to balance all the small boxes in her grasp.

"I'm sorry it's so late!" Megumi explained as Isami had tried to relieve her of her gifts. "I wanted to come earlier, but it took longer than I thought. I hope you haven't had dinner yet."

"Is that what these are?" Isami asked, examining two metal lunch jars, similar to the kind Soma had used in his match against Nakiri Alice only a few days ago.

"Yes," Megumi answered, smiling brightly. "I was worried when you mentioned that Takumi might not be eating properly. I'm sure you both have had a lot to worry about, especially if you've been trying to keep him up with schoolwork as well. It's not sweets, but I thought it might make things easier on you two if you didn't have to worry about cooking."

She saw Isami investigate the contents of each drawer in the lunch jar, absolutely melting at the smell and flavor contained within the compartments. She beamed happily, grateful that she had chosen just the right recipes. They were all comfort food dishes her mother would make at home, either to warm them up on a cold night or to lift her spirits when she was feeling sad.

She'd been inspired by Soma's match and wanted to take advantage of something as simple as the joy of a bento box to brighten someone's day. She had converted the recipes so that they would take advantage of the warming effect of the container. Extra food had also been made and neatly labeled in microwave friendly containers, so the boys could have seconds or leftovers if they wanted. There was enough there to keep the brothers fed for at least another day or two.

"Tadokoro-san, thank you," Isami said, eyes wide with disbelief. "You really shouldn't have, this is much too kind of you."

The younger Aldini wasn't able to say much, but his gratitude was evident, and that was all Megumi needed.

"N-not at all!" Megumi responded, overjoyed that she might help a smile come back to at least one Aldini with her actions. "I hope you both like them. These are all recipes from my childhood, and they always managed to warm up and brighten my day when my mother made them for me, so I hope they'll help Takumi-kun as well. You can also keep the lunch jars for as long as you'd like to use them. The food should be easy enough to keep them in once it's been reheated. There's definitely no rush to return them!"

Isami looked floored at her sentiments. After helping her carry in the portions and setting them on the counter of the small apartment, he turned tentatively toward a closed bedroom door down the hall.

"We actually haven't had dinner yet," Isami said. "So please, why don't you at least join us? Let me get just get Takumi out here and we'll-"

"N-no, Isami-kun!" Megumi let out, stopping Isami as he was prepared to head down the hall. "I-I don't want Takumi-kun to have to see anyone before he's ready too. B-besides! I actually have Fumio-san waiting for me outside. She gave me a ride down here so that the food would stay hot, and I would hate to keep her longer than necessary. It's all right! Really!"

Isami just gave her another one of those looks as though he wasn't sure what else he could do to repay her.

"All right, Tadokoro-san," he said, conceding defeat, shaking his head to himself. "If you insist. Please, at least let me walk you back out to the car. I'll be sure to let Takumi know you stopped by. I'm sure he'll appreciate that you brought his assignment, and of course, all that food."

Megumi nodded happily, and as they walked out the front door she suddenly remembered the final gift she had for the Aldini in her jacket pocket.

"Oh! Isami-kun! Will you please make sure that Takumi-kun gets this with his bento?"

Megumi handed Isami a regular sized envelope with Takumi's name delicately written on the front.

"It's just a message for him about the food, and to let him know he's a wonderful chef," Megumi explained softly. "He put his heart and soul into a remarkable dish, no matter what the stakes were, he needs to know he should still be proud of that." She paused and laughed nervously. "I-I had tried to text him before, but after what you said, I thought a handwritten note might be better. It's much less noisy than a text, and it's just as easy to get rid of."

"I'll make sure he gets it," Isami said, his full smile finally returning. "Don't worry about that, Tadokoro-san."

Megumi bowed and thanked him again, then waved before running down the stairs to answer the honks of Polar Star's Madonna waiting for her in the dorm van.

The blue haired girl slept easier that night than she had in days, but when she arrived to class the next day and there was still no sign of the blonde, her spirit dimmed once more.

Megumi was distracted during most of her lectures and labs as she contemplated what else she could possibly do. She wanted to go to Soma about the situation, but he was so focused on the match, she didn't want to bother him unnecessarily when there were only two days left until the face off.

Thinking on the redhead, she decided to leave a lunch for him in his workspace, since he always had a track record of self-neglect when he was focused.

As she dropped off some food and a thermos of barley tea for Soma, she couldn't help but think this type of tea would go nicely with the food she had left for the Aldini brothers.

The curry challenge had gotten her interested in trying different spice mixes in the form of her favorite beverage. She decided to stop by Polar Star dorm to pick up a few bags of her tea blend for them before she brought over yet another make-up assignment for Takumi. She ended up bringing an additional variety of blends that might pair well with sweets, remembering all the confections from Takumi's fans that sat waiting in the Aldini's fridge.

This trip took significantly less time, and at around 6:00 p.m. she knocked on the Aldini's door with a smile on her face. An assignment and a copy of lecture notes awaited Takumi in one hand, and a bundle of tea samples that had been nicely wrapped in a large color square of tissue paper at in the other.

Isami answered the door again and beamed as he saw her.

"Tadokoro-san! Please, come in!"

She didn't even have to say what she was here for. He ushered her in with a warm welcome without a second thought. Megumi smiled as she caught a lingering scent of one of the soups she had sent with them from the kitchen. Isami must have just gotten done eating some more of her cooking, maybe even Takumi. This made her a little more optimistic.

When she explained to him about the tea samples she brought them, he insisted that she stay so he could try some with her in person. She agreed shyly, not wanting to be rude and decline the invitation a second time.

"Here! Do me a favor and have some of these sweets," Isami offered with a grin, pulling a box of gourmet looking pastries out of the refrigerator.

They looked good enough to have been bought from a professional bakery, but Megumi was certain that Takumi's fans had made them from scratch. It was also evident from the heart-shaped themes and decorations that adorned each confection.

"Oh no! I-I couldn't!" Megumi exclaimed, blushing embarrassingly at the thought of eating something that had been made with so much affection for someone else.

"Oh please, Tadokoro-san!" Isami said, bowing his head and clasping his hands comically in a begging fashion. "There is no possible way my bro and I can go through them alone. And Takumi is way too kind to just let them go to waste by tossing them out. You'd be helping us both out big time."

Megumi reluctantly agreed, and soon sat with the Aldini brother, awkwardly staring down at a heart-shaped eclaire as he served them one of her tea blends that would best go with the pastries.

"I-Isami-kun," Megumi asked timidly, moving her eyes towards the bedroom door down the hallway that still remained firmly closed. "Was-um, I mean-d-did Takumi-kun-"

She paused, unsure how to phrase her words. She knew both brothers must still having a hard time, as was evident from Takumi's continued absence. It was probably exhausting to be questioned about his well being day after day by everyone. She didn't want to pry.

"Yes, Tadokoro-san," Isami said, answering her stuttered words with a reassuring smile. "He got them both. He still hasn't really said much, but I'm sure he really loved them! He ended up eating the entire bento that night. And I could tell he was digging into the extras you gave us when I got back from school today, so I'm sure he's grateful! Even if he's been pretty quiet."

"That's good," Megumi said, trying to return his smile, but she was still obviously worried.

"Why don't you take him some of this tea for me?" Isami said suddenly.

"W-what? Me? But-I'm sure he-he doesn't want to be bothered! I mean, I couldn't!" Megumi sputtered, terrified of the thought of knocking on Takumi's door so intrusively.

"Please?"Isami asked her again, with a smile and a bow similar to when he'd offered her the pastries. "I actually have to finish sometime up in the kitchen, and I'd like him to have some while it's fresh. I'm sure he'd appreciate it."

Isami knew his brother best, so Megumi timidly agreed to his additional request. She fumbled together and made a fresh cup while Isami looked suspiciously busy in the kitchen, even though he had time to sit with her just minutes before.

"Isami-kun," Megumi asked, pausing just near the hallway. "Has...anyone else come by to check on Takumi?"

Isami paused his activities and sighed.

"One of the teachers did," he said. "But that was more school related. His fans keep leaving stuff on our doorstep, and I make sure to keep them away from house calls. I don't want him to have to deal with that. If we're talking about our mutual friends though, no. You've been the only one. I think everyone is just...trying to give him his space after how he acted when he walked out. No one knows what to say. I don't blame them."

"I see," Megumi said, taking in a deep breath and making a decision.

This is what had led her here, after days of effort, with her hand shakily poised to knock on Takumi's door with his brother's blessing.

'Maybe, it's finally time someone tries to talk to him,' Megumi thought, building up all the bravery she could to alert Takumi to her presence. 'Maybe, he needs someone else's voice to bring him out of the dark. I don't think what I have to say will be special at all...I probably don't even know what I'm talking about. But I could at least try. That has to be better than nothing! Nothing but sitting in the silence of your own sadness. I did that, for so long, before Soma broke through to me. It's awful, it's horrible. I-I don't want him to stay there any longer than he has too.'

Memories of all those emotions, of the quiet pain she'd seen on the Aldini's face that day, came back. Her eyes pricked and her throat got tight as she finally knocked.

"T-Takumi-kun?" Megumi said, quietly at first, only knocking twice. "I'm sorry to bother you. I-I came over with one of your assignments and-um-I-I-brought some tea. If you'd like some, I-I have some for you. Isami was busy and told me to let you know. I'm so sorry to bother you."

There was no response at first. Megumi's mind reeled with anxiety, hoping he wasn't trying to rest and she had completely just disrupted that. After a few seconds, however, she heard slight footsteps from behind the door, even if no voice accompanied them. She breathed a sigh of relief and shakily continued.

"Takumi-kun, I-I'm sure a lot of people have been trying to tell you all kinds of things about the match lately," Megumi said, her voice shaking just as delicately as the china saucer and cup in her hand. "They might be telling you how sorry they are or not to feel like you let anyone down, or that you shouldn't feel like any less of a chef or a person because you lost." Megumi let out a deep breath, trying to strengthen her voice. "B-but, I just want to make sure you know, that if you DO feel those things, that's okay. Because, everyone has moments like that, but that isn't where they're meant to stay. Especially someone like you."

There was still silence and Megumi was still nervous, but something inside told her to keep talking. Somehow, she felt like Takumi might be listening. A small, sad smile formed on her lips.

"I lost too," she admitted, confessing the obvious. "I've let down so people for so long, and I never thought I would ever be more than a failure. I did my best to make it up to this point, when I probably shouldn't have been chosen for the Autumn Selection at all. I struggled and fought to pull myself up and to perfect my cooking. I fought to do right by the people that were always there to save me. And as hard as I fought, I still failed."

Her match against Kurokiba played back to her, and for some reason, this made her more upset. Not because she had lost, but because her opponent had at least defeated her with honor. Ruthless and terrifying honor, but it was honor none the less. Someone like her had at least gotten to walk away with their dignity, but not Takumi. Why? Why not him? When he deserved that even more?

"I've been in that dark, sad place you might be in Takumi-kun," Megumi finally said.

She was so afraid that she might sound presumptuous, but she carried on anyway. It was important that he knew the truth.

"That dark seems like the only place you have to feel safe, because as long as you're down there, you can't disappoint anyone," she said, her voice breaking a little. "And as angry as you are at yourself, nothing is more painful than trying to face the people you love after you've failed them. Staying in that dark, it's the only way you feel like you can survive."

She had learned this after almost getting expelled countless times, making three years worth of her mother slaving away to afford her Totsuki tuition meaningless. She had learned this after almost costing Soma his future, simply because she hadn't been quick enough to follow a recipe.

"And because I know what it's like," she said, finally getting to her point as tears started to spill softly down her cheeks. "I want you to know it's okay if you need to stay there for awhile. Because those people you love are waiting just outside, and they're fighting for you until you're ready and have the courage to fight for yourself again."

Megumi was finally able to smile to herself, even through her soft tears. She already knew why Takumi couldn't say anything yet, but that was just fine. Sometimes, it was just nice to listen to someone else. Even someone like her, even if it was all just nonsense.

"I'm sorry for taking up some of your time Takumi-kun, but thank you for listening," she said with her renewed smile, letting one of her hands rest lightly on the door. "Stay safe for as long as you need, but please, don't stay too long. If someone like me can manage to be all right, after failing for so long, I can only imagine what someone like you can accomplish. It would be a shame to have to wait to see all of your victories after this."

In an odd gesture, she bowed to the bedroom door, as if it were Takumi in person. She couldn't help but laugh at herself, acknowledging how her habits had reared in strange ways.

"I'll leave the tea on the hall table for you, if you'd like some," she said, setting the china on a small stand near the door. "Please have a good night, Takumi-kun, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the food."

And with that, Megumi turned around. Tears were still evident on her face, but there was lightness in her heart. She stopped in the hallway when she saw Aldini Isami, standing a couple feet behind her, staring at her wide-eyed.

Megumi didn't want to look too closely at him, but she thought she could see water threatening to overpower his own blue eyes.

"Tadokoro-san," Isami said, his own voice a bit broken like hers had been. "I-"

"It's okay, Isami-kun," Megumi said, offering Isami same the exit to confrontation she knew his brother had needed. "I think I'm going to head back to the dorm to see if Soma-kun needs anything before the match tomorrow. He'll need everyone's courage and support, especially since we're fighting for Takumi."

She smiled again, bowed respectfully to the younger twin, and let herself out of the apartment in order to let the Aldini brothers have their much-needed peace.

"Maybe I'll ask Soma to drop by if he has time before the Shokugeki tomorrow morning," Megumi thought to herself, still slightly disappointed that her words to the Aldini may have been insignificant in the grand scheme. "If Takumi-kun would be responsive to anyone, it would be him."

Hand

"Megumi..."

Her name went through Takumi's mind as he just stood there. On the other side of a door in a dark room, he stood there unsure of what to say as the blue-haired girl poured her heart without reason.

His hand stayed poised just above the door handle, but he remained frozen, unable to find the inertia to follow through and open it to confront her.

Why? Why had she even done all this? Why did she keep coming back?

Takumi was an emotional being, and so behind his silence, millions of potential responses and reactions had filtered through his mind. Plenty of them came during Tadokoro-san's attempts to reach him throughout the week.

When she had texted him, along with every other person that was trying to verify he was still alive after the shock of such a defeat:

"I don't want to talk..."

"I don't deserve kind words..."

"I don't know what to say..."

"I can't say anything-I can't-"

"Leave me alone! Everyone! Just leave me the hell alone!"

When she had taken the time to bring him school work and thoughtfully crafted food...When she had helped, not only him, but Isami as well...who was dealing with his failure, older brother becoming a catatonic wreck:

"We're not in mourning. What is all of this? Pity?"

"I don't need anything...I can take care of myself!"

"I can't stand looking at another chef's food..."

"I can't...I just can't eat...I just don't care..."

"What's the point of homework...of school...why did I even come here in the first place? My career is over..."

"Isami is begging me...I can't worry him even more..."

"A bento? Like Yukihira's? Is this? Wait-"

"What is this taste...the smell...it reminds me of-"

"This warm feeling...I don't want it...But I-I-can't stop eating..."

"I hate this-It makes me miss home-I-I want to go home..."

"I can't-I-can't go home...I'm a failure-I can't go home...not yet..."

When he had first read the hand-written note that had been delivered with that first meal...When he had reread it...again and again...after crumpling it up in frustration the first time:

"What-Tadokoro-san?"

"Not again...not all this again...stop-everyone just stop!"

"I'm not a chef-I'm not anything-without my pride-our pride, I'm nothing!"

"Who the hell does she think she is? She doesn't even know me!"

"They don't know anything...no one does..."

"It was because of that dish-I gave it everything-everything I had! And it was still nothing..."

"No more pity-no more-Per Favore!"

"It's not the dish-it's family-family is all that matters..."

"How can I face them again?"

"Why...Tadokoro-san?"

And now when she was at his door...when she still had much more to say...more than she had tried to tell him through her notes and her food and her care...when she still tried to tell him more:

"Go away..."

"I don't want to hear it...no more apologies..."

"Don't you get it? I deserve it! If I can't defend them, I deserve to-"

"No-no you don't understand! Stop it! Stop trying! Per l'amore di Dio! Why won't you stop?"

"You don't understand-I've always been able to win-as long as I've had-"

"But-I'm not supposed to-I'm supposed to fail..."

"I'm not like you-I have to look out for him..."

"I-can't stay here forever..."

"No one has told me-no one else said-Tadokoro-san?"

"Are you-No-no, please don't, don't cry!"

"I'm so pathetic...why can't I say anything..."

"I know...I know I need courage...I just..."

"Tadokoro-san?...No...wait..."

"Damn it..."

One hand was on the handle. His forehead was braced against the door frame. His mind was a storm. He couldn't pick one thing to say. He wanted to put her in her place for daring to talk down to him and crumple near her feet in relief and gratitude, all at the same time.

But then she left. His twin was outside the door, just as much of an emotional storm as he was at the bluenette's words. He always knew what Isami was feeling, always. That's what made this all so hard.

He leaned on the door until he was sure Tadokoro Megumi was completely gone.

Finally turning the handle, he was met with the blue eyes of his fraternal twin, the only thing that made them identical on the outside.

"Isami...Brother..." Takumi tried to say, but he struggled. His voice was a croak.

When was the last time he had even used it?

"It's okay, bro..." Isami said, cutting his twin off like he usually did. Offering him that smile and that look that knew him better than anyone else in the world.

Takumi felt his hand ball up into a fist as he stared in frustration at the floor.

"I should have thanked her..."

A/N-

I know, I know...this was a bit dramatic. I just see Megumi's super power being empathy, so I probably channeled that a bit too much. Did you still like it? This one broke my heart, and I WROTE IT!

You all spoke so far and you recieved! Another chapter and one that is hecka long! This one just kind of turned its own one shot...sorry about that! I DID say length would vary...

Thank you to everyone that has suggested prompts! If your prompt hasn't shown up in this chapter yet, I'm probably still working on it! I will do more of a collection of short ones for everyone during the next chapter...most likely. Thank you to A Cinnamon Roll Writer and the Guest that gave me the prompts for this chapter.

More ideas and thoughts, shoot them my way! Thank you to all of my follows and favorites so far. I hope this chapter is a good follow up to your expectations. :)

Till We Dream Again,

-Tasia