Soma lets out a large yawn, covering his mouth as he does. Dang, is he tired—staying up until 2am working on a dish the night before his turn to tend to the crops and livestock was not the brightest idea. Soma rests his cheek on his fist as he sits in his seat in the middle of the hall. He's slightly out of it, eyes close to fluttering shut. To stay awake before their instructor arrives, he listens in on a conversation behind him.
"It's the First Seat...it takes some time getting used to seeing him in class, he was gone for so long!"
"Even though he's been back, there are still times he doesn't show up! I'm surprised he's here."
"He's been showing up a lot more recently, right?"
Soma chuckles to himself internally, that's 'cause—
"I saw Erina-sama berating him for it the other day!"
Bingo.
Nakiri will have his head if he doesn't go to classes. Being gone for so long and not losing his first seat was seriously a blessing; Nakiri always makes sure to remind him of that. She's also said it would be quite pathetic for Soma to lose it for a reason as ridiculous as terrible attendance - losing the first seat because he was bested during a Shokugeki is at least a bit more dignified.
So here he is, going to a seminar where he knows the majority of the material, thanks to the mentors he's met and experiences he's had overseas. Soma didn't feel he'd be the type to be a "genius" in class, but if he's already learned something, it is how it is. Doesn't matter who he is or what he looks like, knowledge is knowledge. But that doesn't matter for his academic record if he doesn't show anything for it. The conversation behind him has continued; he's missed some of it but he gets the gist.
"Erina-sama has been lenient with him...Apparently she went out of her way to convince the board of directors that it was a sabbatical and not to expel him.
"He truly is in her favor, isn't he?"
Okay, sure, although Soma does have the skill to back up his position. In their first year, Nakiri would've done anything to expel him. Do the students behind him know that?
"Erina-sama showed lots of discontent for him in the beginning, though! I remember her complaining about him during hell camp."
Yep. Now they're on the right track.
"But they took a car together to come home, it was in Totsuki Sports!"
That wasn't by choice, really, it was a coincidence!
"He also sat with her in her booth during the Autumn Elections!"
Well, Soma barged his way in and Nakiri Alice did too. The focus was on Kurokiba and Hayama's semi-finals match and nothing else.
The girls start describing everything Soma and Nakiri have been through and how close they must be. Soma nods mentally. They are pretty close... Good friends, even if Nakiri acts all huffy about it whenever anyone mentions it in his presence. He heard from Tadokoro that Nakiri wanted to make Totsuki a place he would be proud to return to. If you were to ask Soma, she honestly didn't need to do all that, but it's pretty neat nonetheless.
"Do you think they might be dating?"
Soma's eyes bulge out. They can't be serious about that.
"Mina, he's right there!"
They've been saying all kinds of stuff without a care in the world and now they're concerned? The girls go silent and moments pass. Soma keeps his breathing even and closes his eyes.
"I think...he might be asleep."
"I don't think he can hear us. If he could there would be a sign."
Yes, yes he can.
"He and Erina-sama bicker all the time, though."
"Didn't we just go through all the things they've done together? You could consider it as if they're an old married couple."
Old married couple? When it comes to couples bickering, his mother's raised voice during dinner rush, his dad's snipes, and the laughter of the regulars in the background come to mind. Okay, one could follow this...but he and Nakiri aren't dating or doing anything like that. They're just friends.
"They're all chummy!"
"But Yukihira's chummy with everyone, you know the Sixth Seat and him are super close."
No no no, there's no way they're going to suggest—
"Do you think he's dating Tadokoro-san?"
She's his best friend! Tadokoro is basically his family at this point! Not to mention she's not single, but that's been kept a secret. The conversation he's overhearing is a case in point for why her relationship status should be.
"Well, we could make that argument with all the girls he's close with. He's just super friendly..."
They're all his friends, seriously.
"Didn't Mito Ikumi have a mega crush on him? She blushed all the time around him."
Nikumi? Shit, is that true? Soma doesn't even want to open that can of worms—sheesh, romantic stuff is complicated. He said as much to Saiba—no, Nakiri Asahi. God that's also weird to think about. His Nakiri agreed with him—okay, Nakiri Erina isn't his...it's just so he can differentiate all the different Nakiris...anyway, they both agreed they don't have time for romance, that they have to focus as students and cooks. That's why Soma's in class in the first place.
"I really think Erina-sama has some type of affection for him, though. She lets him bombard her all the time with his recipes! He also gets away with so many things I never thought Erina-sama would allow."
Nakiri has gotten soft with a bunch of her friends over the years, during and after the whole Central mess, it isn't as odd as these girls make it out to be. Yuki, the rest of Polar Star girls and associates, and Nakiri Alice have dragged her into all types of shenanigans; Soma isn't that special but it's not like strangers would know all that huh?
"He must have some affection too, I mean who cooks over seventy dishes to get someone to approve of them? That's ludicrous."
Ouch.
Yeah, he's obsessive. Sue him. It's an insult to a chef's pride if someone says their food is disgusting! But he wanted Hayama to call his food delicious when they had their rematch during their first year advancement exams. Soma wants acknowledgment, even though there are plenty of nonverbal signs that Nakiri likes his cooking, he just wants to hear it. Soma definitely doesn't have a crush on Hayama though, so this doesn't track. Nakiri...the same applies for her. He doesn't have a crush on her. The thought has never crossed his mind.
"Regardless of if he likes her or not, Erina-sama must."
"Why are you so insistent about that?"
Soma agrees, why is she so insistent? Everything she said earlier wasn't a clear reason, all that could be chalked up to them being good friends. These girls didn't even provide a reason why Nikumi liked him! It was just stated as fact or whatever! Soma's brain hurts; this is so much shit at once. The rumors at Totsuki have seriously run amuck.
"Erina-sama smiled so sweetly with a fond look after they bickered once when his back was turned! It made my heart skip!"
Okay, the heart-skipping Soma can relate to; she's really pretty. This clicked for him when he saw her smile when she was all relaxed that one time, making Soma forget what he was doing. But he didn't see this smile, so who knows if this is true?
"Sometimes she has the fiercest of blushes around him, like Mito did! Whenever Yukihira compliments Erina-sama and she's caught off guard!"
Soma chews his lip, his forehead creasing. He's seen her do this, but he thought she might've had some type of fever or just one of those extreme responses to him, blood rushing to her face because she thought he was making fun of her or something. Man, he really can't understand that woman sometimes. This crush stuff might explain some of it; they say people act irrationally when they like someone. Or at least one of those shoujo mangas he flipped through before delivering to her did. But Nakiri's always been irrational; that's just her thing. Soma desperately wants to laugh at all the times she's been testy with him. But he needs to act as if he isn't listening, which is a chore. He has questions.
"But Erina-sama gets mad at him so often!"
Exactly! This person has been the most reasonable sounding of the bunch.
"That's what they call a tsundere, Hana!"
Ah, Soma knows about those. Nakiri does strike him as the type. Maybe she does have a crush on him—
"Yukihira!"
His eyes snap open at the call of his name by Takumi—the other super serious blonde in his life—who is currently beelining towards him. Soma puts a finger to his mouth and Takumi skids to a stop at his desk, thankfully not saying anything. The girls behind them cease their conversation.
"Hello, Takumi-kun!" The Mina girl's voice wavers while the others also have their quieted greetings.
"Hello..." Takumi's voice trails off as Soma mouths, 'Act as if I'm asleep,' and Takumi looks halfway to understanding. "Yukihira!"
Soma closes his eyes again, refusing to move.
"Are you ignoring me?!" Takumi's really going in for the act, sounding as he always does when he's frustrated with Soma.
"I think he's asleep, Aldini-san," the girl named Hana says.
Takumi sighs and takes his seat by Soma and nudges him with his shoulder. "Wake up, you fool." Soma grins, but he stays still. It's like Takumi can sense it and karate chops Soma's head.
"Ow!" Soma rubs his head and sits up, pouting as he turns to Takumi. "That's a terrible way to wake someone up!" His friend just raises his eyebrows at him.
"Why were you asleep?"
Soma stretches and lays his head on Takumi's shoulder. They're close enough that their bodies block the view of their table. Soma takes a pen from Takumi and starts to write in the blonde's notebook as he speaks.
"Stayed awake until 2 last night working on a dish and then I woke up early."
'Also, the girls behind us were talking about me and I wanted to know what the newest gossip was.'
Takumi lets out a long sigh as he pulls out another pen.
"You seriously need to fix your sleeping schedule—why did you wake up early?"
'Was it worth it? Learn anything interesting?'
Soma snorts. "Fix my sleeping schedule? Dunno if that's gonna happen, Takumi! I had to feed the chickens and tend to the garden."
'Learned that people like to talk about my relationships with people I'm friends with LOL But they decided I'm not dating anyone but that Nakiri must have a crush on me. Dunno if I can believe 'em.'
Takumi goes to write but Soma nudges him, so he speaks a bit unnaturally loud. "Do better, Yukihira! If you know you're going to tend to the animals and the garden the next morning you should plan accordingly!"
'There is no controlling the gossip mills at Totsuki, that is an unfortunate reality. We're also in the Elite Ten, so we have relevance to the rest of the student body. Anything we do is up for discussion. How do you feel about what they said?'
Soma leans his weight even more against Takumi, chuckling.
"Yes sir, I'll do my best."
'Fancy way of saying people can't mind their own business and have nothing better to do LOL...uh I told you, I don't think I believe them?'
"You better." Takumi answers shortly with a tone of finality, ending their verbal conversation. Everyone behind them now can't doubt that Soma was asleep and super tired.
'Why don't you believe them?'
What? Soma turns his head on Takumi's shoulder and stares up at the Italian. Takumi meets his gaze somehow in this awkward position and gestures with his chin at the paper.
'? It's gossip!' Soma writes quickly, turning back to Takumi immediately. It might look like Soma is nuzzling him but he doesn't care; he needs to figure this out.
"Alright students! Apologies for the delay, I ran into some trouble. Let's begin." Their instructor says with a clap – Sakamoto-san or something. It's taking Soma a bit to remember all of his new teachers, and he feels kind of bad, but he can double-check with Takumi after they get this straightened out. Instead, Takumi shoves Soma off of his shoulder, flips to a clean page and writes the date on the top.
"I was gonna use you as my pillow."
"I know, that's why I shoved you off."
"Don't you want me to rest?"
"Not in class!"
Soma pouts and gets out his class materials, twirling the pen he stole in his fingers. He's no longer tired; these conversations are making his brain hyperactive. The fact that Takumi didn't immediately deny the claims makes Soma think that maybe the idea of Nakiri having a crush on him isn't far-fetched. He thought as much on his own, kind of, but— ugh, seriously this is just too much. Screw it, he'll pay attention to the lecture instead.
Soma doesn't get the opportunity to ask Takumi about it later; the guy has to hurry off somewhere. But he's in some luck, the girl that he's unsure about herself rounds the corner with Arato, books in hand.
"Yo, Nakiri! Arato!" He waves, standing closer to the wall so other students can pass by.
"Hello, Yukihira!" Arato says in reply when she and Nakiri stand to the side with him.
In lieu of a greeting, Nakiri just asks, "Did you attend your morning lecture?"
Of course, that's her main concern. He yawns and nods. This isn't the time for him to get sleepy; he needs to make some observations.
"No hello? I'm hurt." She just narrows her eyes and walks closer to him instead of responding. Nakiri grabs his face and then turns to Arato who frowns and rummages through her bag. Suddenly, Soma is let go, a thermos shoved into his hand.
"Huh?"
"You look terrible," Nakiri says, crossing her arms.
Arato nods in agreement asking him, "How many hours of sleep did you get?"
"Oh? Uh...I dunno, like three?" Soma looks at the thermos and back at them. He holds it up. "This coffee or something?"
Nakiri makes an affirmative noise—knowing her, Arato probably prepared her some fancy stuff. He unscrews the lid, finding it only three-quarters of the way full. Expected, it wasn't like it was specially made for him, but he can use this.
Soma glances at her, "You drink from this?"
Her eyebrows knit together. "Is that a problem?"
"Nah. Must be good if it's Nakiri approved and Arato made." He brings the thermos to his mouth and takes a couple sips. Soma licks his lips, enjoying the mix of spices. He watches the faint blush appear on Nakiri's face as she zeroes in on his mouth. The rim is useful for hiding the grin that spreads on his face.
"O-of course. Hisako crafts the best and nothing less. Goodbye, Yukihira-kun. Tired or not, you must attend your next lecture." Nakiri grabs Arato's hand and they walk past him quickly.
"See ya! Thanks for the coffee!" Soma yells after them, and Nakiri just walks faster.
But then she pauses and says over her shoulder, "Get some rest."
"Am I getting permission to take a nap during study hall?"
"I said no such thing," she snaps, resuming her brisk pace. Soma laughs and drinks more of his acquired coffee before heading to his next class.
So, sharing a drink is kinda a big deal with all that indirect kiss business, right? Though does that really mean Soma's any special? She would have reacted that way if it was any guy. Possibly. Is she sharing her drinks with other guys? Probably not—even though he has no evidence, Soma is pretty confident.
hello hello im rad thanks for joining me on whatever the fuck this is lol i post on ao3 first before i post on here so if u want faster updates check it over there whooo thank u audsen for betain this chapter ! im on tumblr and twt with the same radbutsafe ! finally posting a sorina fic after everything has just been shared with friends over discord dms to the point i nicknamed myself the dm writer cause that's all i did from august 2020 - dec 2020. this writing is now out into the world...so will the rest, eventually LOL review if you'd like!
