A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I enjoyed writing the main story, and now, just want to have some fun!

Now I present the Between the Lines (BTL) series to complement the main story.

For your reading pleasure, I hope to get your thoughts in a review too!

Boo, spoil sport. That was no fun; I even went through the trouble of garnishing my plate of Danish Pastries.

I have to admit, I was not really expecting that Nakiri would literally show me the outside of her office door. I mean, after all we had been through?

Side note, the door sounds heavy when she slammed it; is this door made of oak?

"Erina-sama's call may take awhile, perhaps you may come back later?" Arato said as she settled into her desk next to the doors.

"Aww, I thought I could just let her taste it and get her feedback like we did before." Placing the plate of pastries on Arato's desk earned me a sideways glance from the secretary girl as she picked up a pen.

"That was a special situation with high stakes and against two Elite 10 members." She began writing as she replied, "Though I really admire how clever it was that you thought of that. Very resourceful."

I could not help but grin at hearing words of praise. "Well, you know, I figured with the God Tongue at my disposal, so why not? But-"

Whoop, I caught myself.

That did not escape Arato's notice as she paused her work and looked up. "But?"

"It's… nothing." I was not about to confess my thoughts about that event after some reflection. Unfortunately, Miss Hishoko gave that certain kind of look only she can give that implicitly makes one fall in line; you know, the one she had used during our stagiaire and made a reprise during the intensive training on the train to Hokkaido.

Heavy.

So I threw a red herring, "I just thought it was a waste that you did not have more opportunities to show off your cooking."

She blinked, "Really?"

Eh, what is with that sceptical look? "Yeah, it would have been interesting to see your style of cooking featured more often on a competitive stage, especially for BLUE. Too bad you didn't make the cut."

"Yukihira Soma-san," Arato said my name slowly after a pause, "are you rubbing in the fact that you were nominated into BLUE while I wasn't?"

Err…what?

Hearing her words made me realise what I just said. "Oh, no no," I began to sputter an explanation for my words. Those were met with her deadpan stare. That was until I noticed the upward twitch of her lips in amusement. "You're not really mad at me, right?"

A light smirk, "should I be?"

I bit my lip, "I have to admit, you got me there. I never thought you had a sense of humour."

"Oh, are you now calling me humourless?"

I was about to kick myself for another misstep, but Arato's poker face mask did not last much longer, having both of us sharing a light chuckle once I caught on.

Arato's attention then went back to her work, "The fact is that you deserved a spot there because of your talent. For me, I'm content being where I am." She gestured to the documents in front of her.

While it felt good to hear such words that hold me in high regard, there was something about her latter words that invoked a feeling.

How would you describe the feeling that was a mix of admiration of her loyalty, but at the same time was as if observing someone with the potential to shine knowingly holding themselves back.

Then again, it is not my place to comment.

I already said my piece at the end of our Stagiaire.

"If there's nothing else, I have to get back to work." Arato, likely noticing that I had not moved for a while, remarked without looking up. "You may take a seat to wait if you like, but Erina-sama's call should take awhile. And she has another meeting after that though."

"Naw, I got to avoid Hayama. This place is going to be somewhere he'll surely get someone to check for me."

"You know, you don't have to tiptoe around the school if you just carry out your First Seat duties."

"But it's so boring. I thought all I needed to do was to cook good food and win shokugeki matches. I didn't expect the other stuff to keep taking up my time."

She hummed at my reply. "Think of it as the opportunity to influence the culinary world, one meeting at a time while making connections all over the world." Arato glanced up to meet me in the eyes, "recording what you intend to do and then logging what happened after is just part of it."

"Easy for you to say, you like paperwork." An idea came to me, "Hey, why don't you help me with that?"

She rolled her eyes, and gestured by picking up a folder of documents in each hand, indicating that her hands are full with her current workload. "Just get a personal secretary to assist, you're allocated a budget for that."

"I don't want just any secretary, I want you." Those words came out of my mouth before I realised how it sounded.

The widening of her eyes made it evident that she heard what I said.

"I was referring to your capabilities. I don't think there can be anyone as good as you."

She seemed to have accepted it by flashing a thin smile as she continued writing. "Well, as a capable secretary, I will suggest that you come back another time to offer Erina-sama to taste your pastries"

"Perhaps." Well, since it came to this, "Wanna try them?"

"Didn't you make these for Erina-sama?"

"I can't really say I made it specifically for her." I mean, I was making pastries and thought how cool would it be for the God Tongue to say a few words about it. "Anyway, try this one."

It was the centrepiece of my creations: a kanelsnegl.

If it was not for our stagiaire, I would guess the old Arato would have dismissed me without a second thought. Now, instead, she gave me a look of "If you insist".

On the other hand, I imagine that she figured if she complied, I'll leave her to continue working in peace.

She placed her pen down, then picked up the pastry with a napkin and bit into it. Immediately, her eyes widened in surprise, back straight in attention, hand over mouth as she chewed.

"What do you think?" I could not wait to hear her feedback after seeing a reaction from her.

"I taste the coconut in the glaze. As for the stuffing, it's not just cinnamon, is it?"

"Yep, it's a mix as a nod to the original." Excitement of a review at the forefront, "Can you identify them?"

She took another bite, seemingly to place all the ingredients: coriander, cumin, ginger, nutmeg…

And one that she could not place. "Did I stump you?'

She gave it more thought, sniffing deeply into the pastry, "it's a savoury contrast to the sweet glaze… it's on the tip of my tongue."

A grin creeped onto my lips as she scrunched her brow in concentration. "Give up?" I like it when I manage to make people stuck guessing on what ingredients I used. "Nakiri would have guessed it by now." I threw in a tease to spur her on.

"Of course she would." Arato declared confidently without hesitation. "So what is it? I'd very much like to return to work."

I laughed at her response, "I got you there, didn't I?"

"Fine, you win." She dabbed her mouth with the napkin, and then picked up her pen again; Ever the disciplined hard working girl. "So, what is it?"

A victorious smirk, "Turmeric."

"Oh? I would not have guessed that,"

"Is that so? Why not?" This piqued my curiosity.

She shrugged, returning to her work, "There were simply too many things going on in there. And it's hardly a cinnamon swirl anymore, is it?"

Well, she does have a point. "So, it's a no go in this state… How would you improve it?"

"Perhaps Erina-sama would be the better person to ask. She'd perfect it the 2nd time round." Arato spoke as if it was as natural as the Sun.

"Very likely true. But there is more fun in experimenting."

"Then maybe try putting the spices in grated coconut?" She paused, then looked up as if an inspiration came to her, "Or perhaps, see if you can substitute five spice powder like they do for a snack called hum chim peng."

"Ham chi beng?"

"Hum chim peng," she corrected, "If you want a savoury contrast and not deviate too far, that will be a good starting point. I tried in a hawker centre while on a trip in Singapore; though it can also be found in Malaysia and Vietnam with its origins in South China. As a bonus, the five spice powder has anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-infection properties."

Oh, that sounds interesting! I'm definitely going to try it! Additionally, "I like the way you can list off the health benefits for different food stuffs."

"Just remember to take things in moderation." She reminded in her lecturing tone. "I hope you got what you're seeking for?"

"Sure did!" Indeed, hearing her constructive feedback and suggestions was a pleasure.

And… it was not too specific.

Suddenly, there was a shift on the air, and my senses tingled. "Hide me." I whispered urgently to Arato.

"Huh?" The confusion on Arato's face was understandable

"Hayama." My sight darted around the room and I could not find any good places.

Except for one.

I got across the table and pulled Arato back, ignoring her protest, and balled myself in the dark space under the table, thankful that it had cover in the front. He would not even know that I am here.

…

Oh, the plate of pastries!

It was then, likely having similar thoughts, Arato placed the plate on her lap and moved forward, just in time as a voice boomed, "Where is he!?"

"Hayama Akira, you may be the second seat of the Elite 10, this is still the office of the Headmaster. You will lower your voice."

There was a pause and the footfall indicated Hayama walking forward, followed by pressure on the desk above me, "Yes, I am the Second Seat. Meanwhile you're not even in the top 10. Don't assume that you can order me around."

Wow, what a dick.

"I can when you are being a nuisance in my office." Arato shot back coldly. "And I think Professor Shiomi can agree on the proper behaviour that is expected of your role… or does she have to remind you?"

At those words, the pressure was taken off the table. "No need for that." I heard him mutter.

Whoa, right in his sensitive spot. Nice one, Arato.

"Good. Now, it seems you're looking for someone? Is there anything urgent?"

"Not if you don't consider the Autumn Election important. Nothing has been formally vetted and approved by the First Seat so the council can't move ahead."

Oh right, that thing is just a few weeks away. Arato seemed to get that problem too as she lighly tapped a foot at me, symbolic of her disapproval.

Hayama continued, "That ass has skipped off from his work again. Is he with the Headmaster?"

"The Headmaster is on a call right now."

"Where is he then?" An edge of frustration was heard in his voice.

"Well, as you can see there isn't anyone in the waiting area. So he isn't there."

There was a pregnant pausqe which was followed by footsteps retreating away.

He just left without so much as a word;

I said it before and I will say it again: Hayama is a dick.

Arato moved the chair back to allow me to come out, not before rolling up a folder and smacking me lightly on the head with it.

"Ow, why?"

"Let that be a reminder to take your duties seriously, that's why." Using the still rolled up folder, she proceeded to sweep off the crumbs that fell on her skirt when she shifted the plate. "You're in charge of the student body so just do it."

I scratched the back of my head, "yehhh, alright." Things we have to do for our positions.

"I got to ask: How did you know he was coming?" Arato queried, curious.

In response, I tapped my nose, "The approaching smell of spice, and spite."

Arato snorted, "Yeh, he can be quite a character. But at least he does his job." I could not help but put on a smile with what I hope conveyed innocence.

She then asked a question, just below the conversational volume: "Did you see?"

Err, "Did I see what?"

"Nothing." Arato looked down to focus back to her task at hand. "I'm returning to work. You, on the other hand, take back your plate and go do your job."

"Yes mam." I replied, heading out the door with the remaining pastries, a new recipe to look into, and feeling grateful for her in many ways.

And yes, I know what she was referring to at the last part there;

And no, I am not going to admit that I saw anything pink.