After the events of BLUE at Totsuki

Soma and Takumi are in Literature class, while Takumi was paying attention, Soma was busy doodling on his notebook, Totsuki is a culinary school but it also has subjects that is covered by regular high schools, and he understands it but he couldn't care less since it is not related to cooking.

Professor: Don't forget to submit your homework by the end of the month, dismissed.

As Soma and Takumi leave the room

Takumi: So Yukihira, what will you write about?

Soma looks at Takumi clearly confused about what he is saying since he didn't pay attention to the professor.

Soma: What is it about again?

Takumi looks at Soma with an 'are you kidding me look', but he just breathes in and tells him what the homework's about.

Soma: So we need to make a poem?

Takumi: Yeah, on what keeps you going through challenges, what gives you confidence, or your inspiration.

Soma puts his hand on his chin and wonders what his problems are if there are any, and what is his inspiration.

Soma: Takumi, what is yours about?

Takumi: My family and Trattoria Aldini, you?

Soma: Well since this is Totsuki, our only problems are cooking so what keeps me going? I guess I do it for myself.

Takumi wants to laugh at the notion of Soma talking about himself to overcome his challenges, but how can he laugh at the man who he has not yet defeated and retrieved his mezzaluna?

Takumi: I see, well I'm going to the Elite Ten building to finish some documents, what are you gonna do?

Soma grins at Takumi, "Isn't it obvious, I'm gonna cook, I promised Nakiri I'm gonna keep coming at her and make her say delicious." Takumi responds, "Shouldn't you finish your paperwork? That is a more productive way of your time, and I don't think Nakiri will say your cooking is good any time soon." Soma stops walking when he said that. He begins to talk in a cold tone.

Soma: You think I can't do it? You think I can only achieve it in the far future?

Takumi begins to sweat

Takumi: No, I mean she is too prideful you know, I think no one here in Totsuki can make her say it.

Soma: No one?

Takumi: Yukihira, I saw your dish at BLUE, I know she thinks it was delicious, but she didn't admit it, her pride won't allow it, I think that maybe right now, she won't say it, maybe in the future.

Soma just sighs, he knows what Takumi said was true, and even though it hurt him to hear her say disgusting to that dish, he can't help himself not to cook, to make her admit it, he wants to break through to her.

Soma: I guess you're right, but I'm still gonna try.

Takumi: Well good luck with that man, but you might want to try finishing some of your paperwork, knowing you, you probably just let them pile up in your office.

Soma: Okay okay, I'll do it.

Takumi heads to his office while Soma heads to a kitchen on campus and he begins cooking.

Soma: Alright, time to keep a promise.

Soma begins cooking a variety of dishes, tasting and checking if they are any good for Erina. The headmistress meanwhile is in her office with Hisako organizing all necessary documents for the school, she asks Hisako about any homeworks given to them.

Hisako: Yes, Erina-sama, we are to submit a poem for our literature class by the end of the semester.

Erina: Seems easy enough, what should be the focus about?

Hisako: Inspiration, what keeps you going when faced with challenges, what gives you confidence.

Erina: Seems easy enough, I can just write my name, as a member of the Nakiri Family and the owner of the God's tongue, I draw confidence on those two alone. What about you Hisako?

Hisako blushes at the question, she wants to say that the headmistress gives her confidence. She prides herself in being her assistant, but she knows that Erina views her more than that, as friend who stands beside her, not behind her.

Hisako: I don't know yet Erina-sama, I have an idea but I think I may need to think it over just in case.

Erina: I see, do I have any schedules for the-

Erina is stopped mid-sentence when someone bursts in her office carrying what seems to be quite a lot of food.

Soma: Hey Nakiri, time to make you say the magic word with my food, sup Hishoko, wanna try some?

Hisako: Yukihira, first of all it's HI-SA-KO, second, you can't just come in without telling us beforehand.

Soma just smiles at Hisako, "So wanna try my food?". Hisako just sighs, she hasn't eaten yet and also Erina, "Only if milady tries them." She then looks at Erina.

Erina: I have no reason to eat your food Yukihira.

Just as she finished her sentence, her stomach growled, she thought, "Why must my own stomach betray me today?"

Soma smiles, "Hunger is a reason to eat, so eat up princess."

Erina is reminded of the times Asahi comes in her office and offers her flowers and ending his sentence with princess. There were decent conversations between and sometimes she wouldn't mind his company yet despite Asahi pampering her like a princess inside a fairy tale, her heart has never beat any faster than normal but this guy, this guy in front of her has never failed to make her heart beat faster, she could only conclude that maybe she really finds the boy annoying, "Yeah, I guess that's just it, nothing more.", she thought.

Erina: I suppose I could try your food, but don't expect me saying anything good about it.

Soma: We'll see, this time I'll fulfill my promise, a promise made not by the moon right? *wink*

Hisako looks on and screams internally at the cheesy line, while Erina shows a confident demeanor but her heart is beating faster than before.

Erina: Shut up, now give us the food.

"Food fit for a princess and her best friend coming up.", Soma then prepares everything he brought. "No time like the present, dig in."

Erina and Hisako tastes every single one of the food Soma brought, many were good while some were miraculous, not a single dish is a disappointment, much to the frustration of Erina. All made Erina and Hisako smile uncontrollably.

Soma: How's the food? *smiles*

Hisako: They're delicious Yukihira.

Soma: Thanks Hisako, now Erina, I want you to repeat what Hisako said, because you know it's true.

Erina makes a fist with her shaking hand and opens her mouth.

Erina: Disgusting, not a single one is good, much less delicious.

Soma looks at her with a stunned face and Erina glares at him but her face slowly becomes a face of concern when she saw the same eyes she saw that night and at BLUE. He cleans everything up and proceeds to go to the door, without looking at them, "I'll get you next time, Nakiri." Erina just looks on without saying a word as the door closes.

Hisako: It wasn't even good for you Erina-sama?

Erina responds after a few seconds of silence, "No, they weren't good Hisako". "They weren't good Hisako, they were delicious.", Erina said in her mind.

Hisako: I see, I guess he still has ways to go.

Erina: I suppose he does.

Soma is on his motorcycle on the way back to his dorm. "Damn it damn it damn it. I'm still not good enough, not like dad, not like Asahi, I haven't made her say it, I need to go further, to reach her, surpass her." He mouths a few more words before reaching the dorm.

Hey how's it going, here's chapter 4. Next few chapters are ready but I'll upload only 1 every other day just in case I need to edit some parts out. Enjoy reading and keep safe :)