Soma sat in his dressing room, sharpening his butcher knife one last time before heading into the arena. His heart was pounding with excitement, increasing in speed with every complete pass, his stone mace from hilt to tip. The ritual had become ceremonious at this point. His mind focused on winning. His plan was simple, but for it to go off without a hitch, he had to be sharper than his knife's blade.
A timid knock on the door broke his concentration. He figured it was Megumi. After losing her bout to Ryo, she was the first person he expected to see. He knew she needed a good cry or at least a private place to do it. He ran to the door, fully expecting to see her sad expression.
"I'm coming, Meg-" He shouted and swung open his dressing room door.
"Oh, uh-hi."
"Ah hey, Meat-Meat! Come to wish me luck?"
"Shut up! But I…did," Ikumi blushed and swiftly moved to kiss him on the cheek, which surprised them both. She looked down, a shadow hooding her eyes to hide her rosy cheeks. "Shut up, loser. And kick Mimasaka's ass."
"I will," Soma stuttered. He stood stuck at the door, watching Ikumi's legs rush down the hall and out of sight. "What was that?" He shook his head and closed the door.
Soma walked into the arena ten minutes later, feeling like his whole city was on his back. He lifted his head toward the screaming stands and had a cooling rush of adrenaline, feeling his mother was sitting in the front row.
-8-
Soma walked away from the arena's stage, triumphant and feeling fulfilled. Mimasaka understood the lesson he was trying to teach him during their Food War. And Soma hoped the boy had made a new friend through it. It was intermission time until the next match. The arena floor had nearly cleared out from all the students who'd had their cooking utensils returned, and the stands were almost empty from the crowds moving outside to stretch and patronize the concession stands. However, his Polar Star crew, the Aldini brothers, and Ikumi stood in the stands, still cheering him on. Soma felt his lungs expand. Maybe Pop had done his big one by forcing him to Tohtsuki. He thought back to the beginning of this story and chuckled. Spring felt like a lifetime ago.
With Takumi's Mezzaluna in hand (because that prideful dope Takumi forced him to keep it even after all Soma did to win it back for him), he only had one more thing to check off.
See that, Nakiri? I am a talented chef.
He wasted no time finding her. He ripped his white scarf off his forehead and rushed off the stadium floor towards the side of the arena where the skyboxes were perched. Every now and then during his battle, though he was fully locked into his flow state, his periphery would catch a glimpse of her watching him with bated breath from her skybox. He won't lie; those moments surged him with energy as if he were leveling up with each glance.
But she was no longer in her skybox. Then he looked up.
His heart dubstepped, and his lungs seized every bit of oxygen left in the expansive room. Standing at the railings of the stadium bleachers right in front of him, looking like the commander of an invincible army, was Erina Nakiri. Full scowl, dressed crisply in full uniform and poised with all the attitude and presence of the culinary heiress that she was, she looked down the bridge of her nose at him. He winked at her when they made eye contact because, thanks to Erina, he won.
"Yo, Nakiri. Seems like every time you doubt me, I prove you wrong. I told you I'd make you eat your words." She rolled her eyes back.
"Hey! Who do you think you're talking to like that, Soma Yukihira?" Hisako, standing a few feet away from her, sprung in front of Erina, but the Tenth Seat calmly held her back, her tone frigid.
"I'll never eat any of your disgusting food, let alone the insults I hurl your way, Yukihira."
Soma laughed with his whole chest. "Careful now because you're next; before you know it, I'll take the top spot!"
"Don't press your luck, Soma Yukihira," Erina snarled. "You and I will never be in the same league. This little win means nothing. You are still beneath me." Soma got a kick out of her pompous declarations. They stared each other down for so long that gossipy murmurs from the audience began to reach both of their ears. Soma paid it no mind; she was all he saw and cared about in the sliver of time. But he saw Erina's subtle grimace at the whispers. She looked self-conscious if Soma were to entertain the possibility that she could be. But before he could even consider the validity of his thought, she clicked back into her classic stoic mode, scowled at the crowd, snapped her long, flowing hair, and turned her back on him to leave the stadium. Then she turned to reveal her side profile.
"Also, you still haven't brought me that manga you owe me. Don't think I forgot."
"Huh?" He followed in step below. He ran to catch up to her. He needed to hear her thoughts about his new beef stew and figure out what the heck manga she was talking about.
But, the musty scent wafting from his pits warned him to freshen up first quickly. He could already see Erina's face souring in disgust if she were to smell this stench. He rushed back to his dressing room, Ikumi's sudden kiss a distant memory.
He had been sweating rivers over the coal burner and stovetops, and his blue Yukihira chef's shirt was done for. Give it up to Tohtsuki for having full private baths in each room, and oh, how he wished he could take a long one right now, but the relaxing bath he undoubtedly earned would have to wait. He splashed water on his face and wiped his neck and underarms with a washcloth. His stomach growled as he lotioned his face. He gave Mimasaka the bowl he was going to eat and was starving.
"Attention!" Urara Kawashima's ever-perky and always-on voice boomed through the intercom. The first-year TV host had been doing a great job narrating the matches and keeping the crowd excited. Soma liked the high energy she brought to the arena. As he rolled on a fresh layer of deodorant, he wondered if he challenged her to a Food War, would she bring that same intensity? "The next match will begin shortly. I repeat the next match of today's Fall Selection will begin shortly. Please make it back to your seats at once!" "Shit! Gotta go!" Soma rushed out as he sprinted from the bathroom, grabbing and hurriedly wearing his clean, spare Yukihira shirt. He bolted out the door just in time to hear the automated five-minute warning and dashed down the hall to the closest elevator. He wouldn't be able to find Erina and make it to wherever his friends were sitting in time. He looked down both ends of the hall before making his decision.
-8-
"Um, Yukihira! Are you lost? What are you doing here? Who even let you in?" Erina screamed. Soma sat to her right in deep contemplation, ready for the match between Kurokiba and Hayama to begin. These were his top two rivals in the festival. He couldn't miss this battle. Soma turned to face his fussy crush and flashed a wide, innocent smile.
"Well, I wanted to thank you for all your help with my beef stew-"
"That doesn't explain what you're doing in my private skybox, Yukihira," her tone ground itself into a shout. "This box is for the Nakiri family only!"
"Oh, that? Yeah, I told your bodyguards I was your friend stopping by, and they let me right in. Good thing I just won, or they probably wouldn't have believed me!" He chuckled, his signature dopey head-scratching tic coming out in full force.
"We are NOT FRIENDS, Yukihira!"
"Relax, Nakiri," he chuckled. "I needed a place to watch the next match, and I wasn't going to make it on time to join my actual friends." Soma suppressed a smirk as Erina's eyes twitched—oh, that comment struck a nerve. "Can't miss seeing this fight for anything! They're saying Hayama has the advantage between the two. So, who do you think's gonna win?"
He had succeeded in diffusing the tension with that question. She turned to face the arena floor and cupped her hands over her mouth in deep thought. When she began to speak, Soma realized he enjoyed the sound of her expert voice. It made her more brilliant and refined than usual; she had the culinary prowess and understanding of professionals like the competition's judges. He stared, unblinking, until she finished and eyed him with suspicion.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that, Yukihira?"
"You're really good at this, you know?"
"Good at what…?"
"Cooking commentary. It just pours out of you. I like that."
They blushed and redirected their attention back to the arena stage.
"Anyway, as I was saying. Akira Hayama is the one to look out for. His proficiency with spices is almost unparalleled to my God Tongue. He's sharp with his choices and timing but never looks rushed. Unlike Ryo's aggressive style."
"Have you tasted his food before?"
Erina stole a glance, then peered at the jumbotron, focusing on Akira sniffing a spice blend in a jar. "Once. We were paired together for a project in middle school where we had to create a recipe from scratch."
"And?"
"And it blew me away. I'd never had anything like it from another student. Of course, I could still taste things that needed to be tweaked, but it was delicious."
"Oh, so you can say it about his food but not mine?" Soma leaned on his fist to get a better look at her. Maybe even make her feel bad.
"Duh. He's Akira Hayama—"
"And?" Soma erupted defensively.
"And, well, you're…you," she shrugged.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Soma was burning up from her insinuation.
"That you're far out of your league." There was that silent staring contest between them again. He wanted to break his gaze from her smoldering eyes, but it felt like they were pulling him in. Deeper, deeper…
There was a knock on the door, then the doorknob twisted.
"Hey, babe—" Eishi Tsukasa strolled in. Soma looked over his shoulder and saw the First Seat in his uniform and a brown trenchcoat, holding a takeout bag. Soma couldn't recognize the restaurant logo. "Oh! We have company!"
"We? I thought this was a Nakiri-only skybox," Soma said before thinking, looking to Erina to clarify. But Eishi was the one to respond.
"Oh, I remember you're the first-year from the summer! Yukihira, right? Nice match win."
"Thanks," Soma replied saccharinely. Eishi walked around the skybox bar area and placed the bag on the counter. The food filled the room instantly and made Soma's stomach growl too loud to conceal.
"Hey, I know that sound better than anyone. The after-match munchies are real, man. You have to eat a lot of protein to balance out the loss of adrenaline. I grabbed some alligator kabobs from Rindo's concession stand for me and the princess. There's extra if you want." Erina scrambled to her feet.
"Uh, no, Eishi. You don't need to be nice to him," she threw her thumb at a slouched Soma. "I'll kick him out so we can eat."
"Really? When you heard how hungry and needy I am? And I thought we were friends," Soma faked a sad pout.
Plating the kabobs, Eishi wiped the spilled sauce from the edge of the plate with a napkin. "Yeah, Erina. I know you heard what I heard. It's no mind. Eat up, Yukihira. As a matter of fact, I'll go get an extra order of squid fries."
The second the door closed behind Eishi, Soma could feel all the warmth in the room leave with him.
"Get. Out."
Her demand gave him whiplash. "But your boyfriend just said I could stay." There he was, speaking without thinking again. Erina's eyes widened like she was caught in a big secret. "What? Did you not want people to know? Because I can assure you—"
"LEAVE!"
Soma grabbed two kabobs. "Your feisty as fuck, Erina. " He ripped through one of the chunks of grilled alligator and moaned. "It's fun!"
"Don't talk with your mouth full," she said flatly and held open the door. Soma slowly approached her, squared up to her, nose-to-nose, and held her gaze one last time. Erina was a wall at first, but Soma noticed a subtle squirm run through her body. Her eyes glinted with a secret she was too proud to share, but Soma felt his eyes reading the truth. He lingered a little longer before he leaned in. He could hear her shallow breathing hitch at how close they were to each other. He leaned in closer, bumped her nose with his finger, his face stretching with full cheeks at her flustered expression, and walked out the door. He loved knowing he was leaving her unnerved.
The door slammed on his heels.
-8-
As he walked down the hall, Eishi called out to him. He almost ignored the guy, but his senior held out the squid fries container and a drink tray with three cups. "Leaving so soon? I have your fries." He stretched her arm, holding the fries towards Soma.
"Yeah, I've gotta find my friends."
"You'll miss the match moving through that storm. I'm sure Erina won't mind. Here," he handed Soma the fries and drinks. "I must excuse myself for a bit and can't hold it any longer. Can you take these back with you?"
Soma looked at the teen's full, outstretched arms and hesitated. He flashed back to their goodbye. Against his better judgment, he agreed. "...Uh…okay." Seconds later, Soma was back at the door, looking at Erina's security guard with a nervous smile and full hands. Three knocks later, Erina swung the door open.
"Eishi! Please just come in and sit—"
Soma shrugged his shoulders, revealing the drinks at her shocked, then annoyed expression. "Hi!" Soma said with a tinge of awkwardness. "Truce?"
a/n: i have a curious structure question: do you enjoy the longer one-shots (2K+) or short ones (under 1K) in this series? because sometimes, when i'm building out a chapter, i wonder if i'm stretching out scenes too much. but when i'm gone for longer than i prefer between posts, i think about dropping shorter chapters in between just so that you have something new to read. but where's the gravitas in that? idk...anyway, #FreePalestine
-You're Welcome!-
8.20withlove