Hi guys, I'm so sorry for the extremely long hiatus. A family member was recently diagnosed with late stages of cancer and I've been helping with everything including trips to hospital for chemo so I really haven't had time to write for you all. I am getting back into this as things have started to be easier to manage and I hope you all enjoy this late Christmas update! ALTHOUGH beware of angst… I feel my mood recently made me inclined to write something angsty but I will be updating another chapter hopefully very soon that is pure fluff.

Soma laid on his couch, his eyes fixated on the clock's arm watching as the seconds slowly go by.

1:30

Soma groaned in frustration. He couldn't remember when he started developing these headaches, but they seem to always happen every few weeks – much to his dismay. They were honestly a bitch to deal with.

Sighing, he turned on his side, his hands finding the remote control and mindlessly flicked through the limited channels he paid for his television plan.

Flick.

Flick.

Flick.

Then her faced caught his eye. His head hurt so much he couldn't really pay attention to what she was saying, all he knew was his heart seemed to ease just by seeing her, all prim and proper, while she replied to what she would always refer to as brainless questions. Soma let out a soft chuckle, he knew she would've been rolling her eyes internally in the way she always did when he said something stupid.

The news flash short-lived and quickly replaced by some old man talking about politics that Soma could hardly give a damn about. He sighed before closing his eyes, his thoughts quickly drowning the background noises.

Honestly, Erina always told him that he was thick and it wasn't like he was going to deny it, though he would gladly add that despite being thick at times, he didthink more than a typical potato. For example, on nights like this, he would wonder where they went wrong, why they even drifted apart. Was it him being selfish? Was it his undying urge to see the world? Or was it her and her never ending list of to- dos? Her long list of responsibilities that she simply could not shake?

He knew pondering this particular question never did help ease his headaches, but on quiet nights like these, his mind would always drift to her and their tangled red string of fate.

You'd think he'd have the answer by now, with 3 long years and countless sleepless nights pondering the same question over and over. Yet here he was, still confused.

The only difference was now, he knew what he wanted for the future.

He stared at the piece of paper laying on top of the table in front of his small TV. His messy handwriting spayed across the bottom of the sheet signifying a sealed deal. For some absurd reason, the certainty of that piece of paper did seem to lessen his worry, for he knew, this was his ticket back to Tokyo and more importantly back to her.

(If only he knew, he never needed a ticket to come back home).

The daylight appeared as fast as it left. Golden rays of warmth came suddenly and unannounced but it was welcomed by Soma. His eyes opened slowly adjusting to the sudden brightness, for a moment he regrets being lazy and leaving his thick curtains unused. He kicked his leg off the couch, his upper body still glued to the soft comforter. If given the choice, Soma would gladly remain at home and asleep, but today he needed to meet with Hisako to discuss some Totsuki business.

"Sorry for the last minute meeting," Hisako said as she made her way to the table hurriedly, her stature somehow supporting the hoard of folders and documents she carried with her arms.

"No problem," Soma laughed as he peeked from behind the mountainous load that had just been dumped on the table, "how uncharacteristic of you though Hisako."

"We can't always be perfect can we?" Hisako replied dryly, her eyes drifting down before she grabbed the folder situated at the top of the pile, "I did call you here due to some change of circumstances though."

"Hmmm," Soma replied as he loudly sipped on his hot chocolate, an act; if Erina were present, would no-doubt be disapproved.

"Seeing you came to Tokyo early, I think the new arrangement shouldn't be too hard," Hisako said as she unclipped the folder, her fingers quickly finding the tab she had put in last night leading her straight to Soma's contract page.

"Here," Hisako said, passing the document to Soma, before she ordered herself an Americano.

Soma stared at the sheet for a moment, before he questioned, "Isn't this the exact same contract I signed via emails? You know, the one you emailed me whilst I was travelling around in Norway."

"Precisely," Hisako started, "it is the exact same, except there has been an amendment of the date of the event." She stood up slightly with a highlighter in hand and highlighted the amended sections of the new contract.

"But," Soma asked, his brow slightly furrowed as he looked at the new contract, "this is way too early for Autumn's festival isn't it, I don't even think there will be a full moon." Soma looked up from the sheet before adding, "is something up Hisako? This never happens, I recall being told in first year that it is tradition for the event to always be held during a full moon, ain't it?"

Hisako sighed before she sipped on her piping hot Americano, "The headmaster's schedule had some changes," she paused to elaborate, but her words did not come as her eyes met his expectant gold ones.

Hisako stared at him, his worry, sadness and confusion conveyed transparently from his eyes. She had to admit, this boy was never one to hide his emotions, if only Erina-sama were as transparent from time to time.

"You can refer to her as Erina you know," he sighed as he picked up his pen, "We are after all still…friends."

"I…" Hisako hesitated before she stood up, her hands reaching forward snatching the contract from Soma's hands, "Perhaps you should speak to the headmaster yourself, since this change in schedule was very uncalled for, I think you two should discuss the matter as friends and perhaps Totsuki can find some way of compensation."

"Hey!" Soma called as he watched the pink haired girl disappear just as quickly as she appeared from the café. Soma shook his head. Even after all these years, that girl's agility and ability to run with hordes of documents never ceased to amaze him.

Erina sat on her bed, it was one of those rare days where she had some time to herself. Well to be precise; Hisako had been the one who insisted she took a few days off a month to ensure both she and the baby got some well-deserved rest.

In all honesty, Erina couldn't remember the last time she had a day off like this and frankly she did not know what she even wanted to do. So here she was, laying on her bed, her swollen ankles propped on top of two fluffy pillows as her gaze fixate on the digital screen before her.

Then a news flash caught her eye.

Rare sighting of culinary explorer Yukihira Soma and a certain mystery woman touring Tokyo.

Accompanied with the distasteful title, was a picture of Soma, his red hair ever so distinct with his arms draped over the shoulder of the blue-haired girl whom Erina knew just as well.

She would be lying if she said she wasn't angry; for she wouldn't even have known he was back in Japan if it weren't for that stupid event. Was she that unimportant?

She would be lying if she said she did not care; the dull ache in her heart, a reminder of her failure to cut ties with him.

She would be lying if she said it didn't hurt; because it does. It took every fibre of her self-control to not ring that idiot up then throw a few punches here and there.

A gentle knock on her door broke her out of her trance. She quickly replaced her wounded eyes with a façade she had mastered over the years. You had to learn fast if you were to survive in a den full of wolves and when the public wanted to pry into every detail of your lie.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice coming out to be as steady as she had hopped.

"Sorry Miss Erina," the butler replied, "there is a guest at the door."

"I'm not expecting anyone today," Erina responded, then she looked towards her phone and sighed, "You know what, just let them in and take them to the main hall. I'll be there soon."

It wasn't like she had anything better to do, if anything, she relished at the idea of having a guest; she just hoped they'd be entertaining enough to take her mind off that stupid news article.

Carefully, Erina made her way out of her bed. Taking off her pyjamas and putting on her bra, she looked for a presentable outfit and eventually settled for a white blouse and a pencil skirt.

It was only when she had step foot in the main hall did she regret not asking for the guest's name prior to consenting his presence in her mansion. Even from here, his red hair was unmistakable. Erina wanted to turn on her heels and run.

Why was it whenever it came to him she always seemed to make these stupid mistakes? Erina could swear one day she would become a potato head just as thick as he was. What a horrendous and scary concept.

"Erina," Soma called upon hearing her footsteps, "Sorry for not scheduling an official meeting, Oma-san had just told me today was your day off."

"It's fine," grumbled Erina as she walked slowly towards her couch, her hands resting on her abdomen to cover the small bump, "why are you even here?"

Soma was confused at her hostility, he swore they left off on a good note at their last event. Perhaps it was because he had disrupted her day off work?

"Hisako asked me to come," Soma replied, "I assumed she would have let you know."

"Well she didn't," retorted Erina, her eyes darting across the room, looking anywhere but his as she continued, "but since you are already here, let's just get whatever needs to be done sorted."

"Actually, Hisako told me to come talk to you directly about the amendment of the autumn's election," replied Soma scratching his red-hair somewhat nervously, "isn't quite like you Erina; to break traditions."

"Changing the dates for an annual event is hardly breaking traditions," Erina replied defensively, her eyes narrowing at his comment, "and if you don't want to come, I can always ring up old friends."

"I never said I wasn't coming," huffed Soma, "I just found it weird that you of all people would host the election on a date where there isn't even a full moon…you know you can tell me if anything is wrong."

"and why would you care?" growled Erina, her gem like eyes narrowing, for the first time they clashed with his golden ones.

"You know how I feel."

"No I don't," retorted Erina as she tore her eyes away from his, she tilted her head in attempt to stop any tears from spilling, damn her pregnancy hormones.

"Yes, you do."

"Who did you think you are?" whispered Erina, her defeat apparent, "you can't just waltz into my life and care about me whenever you felt like it. You can't just come to my house when it was at your convenience." Erina took in a huge breath and before she could stop herself, words came tumbling out. "I moved the autumn's election because I needed to, and I hardly think I need to explain my actions. If you can't make it then so be it, see if I care."

"I didn't mean it like that," Soma sighed, his eyes downcast as he continued, "I was worried is all."

"Well don't be," replied Erina, "spend your time thinking of more important things and for the record I can take care of myself."

"You are important," Soma yelled suddenly, it was as if he was his high school self and all he wanted was for Erina to see him and recognise his dishes, "You are and will always be."

"Well you sure have a funny way of showing it," chuckled Erina before she got up from her couch. She took a few steps before she added, "See yourself out, and I'll tell Hisako to email you the new contract, oh and next time you come, please do make sure you have made a formal appointment."