1:00 AM at the dorm, everyone is in Marui's room, many are asleep except for Megumi, Alice, Erina, and Soma, Gin left earlier since he still has business to attend to, and Joichiro is outside behind the dorm just taking in some fresh air.

Megumi: Soma-kun, how are you so good at poker?

Soma: I just follow my instincts I guess, and just keep a straight face.

Alice: What do you men straight face, you always have a variety of expressions on your face, and yet how come when we try to read you, it's just difficult, like how Yukihira?

Soma: I don't know, I guess what's on the face doesn't express what really is.

Alice: Wow, that was probably one of the wisest things I've hear from you, and I know a certain someone that is just like what you said.

Alice looks at Erina, she responds with a glare

Erina: What?

Alice: Nothing dear cousin, nothing at all.

Megumi: Well Soma-kun is talented in many things I guess, even in poker.

Soma: Thanks Tadokoro, you're pretty good in ping pong so that makes it even between us in terms of talents outside cooking.

Soma pats her head, and Erina looks at them being all chummy

Alice: Stop that Yukihira, you are making someone annoyed.

Soma: Who? Tadokoro? She doesn't mind when I do this.

Alice: Not her

Soma: Then who?

Alice just sighs then whispers to Erina

Alice: Sorry cous, but I guess he is just too dense when it comes to stuff like what you read on your manga

Erina shrugs and flips her hair

Erina: I have no idea what you are talking about

Alice: Sure you do, sure you do.

Megumi's stomach grumbles

Soma: Ah, you hungry Tadokoro? I will just make something quick and I'll be back, Nakiri and Nakiri, want some too?

Before Erina could speak

Alice: Sure Yukihira, make something for the 4 of us.

Soma: Alright ma'am

Soma went to the kitchen and the three girls followed, they watched as he quickly sets everything up without hesitation, while he is cooking, he sneaks a few glances at the blonde, looks down and smiles. Alice looks at both her cousin and Megumi who are both looking at the chef cooking before them. She thought it was some sort of a staring contest and whoever loses focus on the boy loses. Megumi smiles at the aroma while Erina puts her hand on her chest thinking, "Why is my heart beating quickly when I look at him?". After a few minutes.

Soma: Sorry for the wait, here is my midnight snack menu number something: shrimp rose pasta, dig in.

Megumi: Soma-kun this tastes amazing.

Alice: But why this dish though Yukihira?

Soma: Well I wanted something easy to make yet revitalizes you completely since we just finished having a party, and I added shrimp because, one it will help our eyes recover after staying up all night, two for brain function since we went drinking and it will help us be sober in no time, and three because it has astaxanthin, which helps improve a person's mental health, since Nakiri's mind isn't right since she hasn't said my cooking is delicious.

Alice looks at Erina who is looking down because she is trying to force herself not to murder the boy.

Alice: One Nakiri saying delicious coming up.

Soma looks at Erina whose lips are sealed then looks at Alice when she takes a deep breath

Alice: YUKIHIRA THIS IS DELICIOUS!

Soma and Megumi laughs at Alice, then he asks the other Nakiri

Soma: So, how is it? I made this dish thinking of you Nakiri.

Alice silently squealed at the statement, yet Megumi just looked hurt.

Erina: This is…

A few seconds pass, she got herself composed and utters the word.

.

.

.

.

.

.

DISGUSTING

Soma just smiles, his golden eyes lose their light at the princess's word and she notices, she again wants to say something, but nothing came out.

Soma: Next time then, Nakiri.

After an hour everyone went back to their rooms, the Nakiris went back home, while Soma went backyard and saw his dad.

Soma: Dad what are you doing here?

Joichiro: Just taking in some fresh, been a while since I just stay put in one place, or one country for that matter.

Soma: Guess that makes sense somehow.

Joichiro notices something off about his son, he became uncharacteristically concerned for his son and hides in in the guise that he was surprised of his son not sleeping after the party was over.

Joichiro: So, what about you? What are you doing here?

Soma: I just want to think you know, how can I be better?

Joichiro: You're already pretty good, achieving runner up in BLUE is a huge deal in the gourmet world, just keep up with that you've been doing and you will improve.

Soma: That's my problem, if I just improve on a normal pace, I won't be able to reach a certain princess, she will be far ahead and I won't get her to say my food is delicious, I need to be better, I have to be better.

Joichiro and Soma talked under the night sky, Joichiro giving a certain advice to Soma, and Soma contemplates if he should do it.

Soma: I'll think about it pops.

Joichiro: Think it over, if you don't want to then it's fine.

Soma: I'll see what I can do for now, and hopefully I can improve.

Soma smiles at his dad

Soma: I'll make her say it, I'll try every single day and see what I can improve on, I'll try every dish, every variation that I can think of, I'll keep moving forward.

Joichiro tries to take Soma's words as something good, but he knows there is something wrong with what he said, Soma doesn't know it, but Joichiro does. He was about to say something but somewhere is his heart, he believed that Soma could do it, he'll be fine. So he said nothing and just messes Soma's hair.

Joichiro: Good for you kiddo, but remember my advice just in case.

Soma: Sure dad, thanks for the chat. Time to hit the sack. By the way, where are you going to sleep?

Joichiro: I'm leaving later so not going to, I'm packing my stuff and leaving.

Soma: Again? *Sighs* Well, see you soon dad, take care.

Joichiro: You too son, you too.

In his mind: "Take it easy sport, don't do what I did"

Chapter 3 done, how is it so far? Planning something in future chapters so... until then, hope you enjoy.

Have a good day peeps, hope everyone's safe :)