He should apologize to Tadokoro for that whole awkward bathroom incident, right? Nah, it's fine! She's fine! Right?

Right. It's not like it scarred her or that he left a lasting impression on her or anything… Right?

Right. Hopefully, she doesn't end up hating him.

Hopefully.

-8-

Soma thought that moving away from Sumiredōri Shopping District would be boring. He even entertained the thought of being homesick on his first night living the furthest he's ever been from the only home he knew.

Learning that Tohtsuki students and alums participated in his and his father's time-honored tradition of battling in the kitchen was the best news of his life. He'd already gotten the chance to taste the diverse cooking styles of his new dorm mates at the Polar Star Dormitory, so to find out he could challenge them with his own was like Christmas morning.

Food Wars.

He needed to be in one yesterday.

So when he decided to battle Ikumi Mito on behalf of the Rice Bowl Research Society, he knew this would be the perfect opportunity for him to demonstrate his cooking prowess. He quickly learned that these rich girls at Tohtsuki Academy had big egos about accessing the best culinary education and resources imaginable. Ikumi, for instance, was arrogant about her meat knowledge and industry connections; to Soma, that was her problem.

Everything about her cooking was about being sensual and tempting through meat but not inviting to the diner's appetite on every level. Still, she wasn't his focus; at the same time, he wanted to teach Meat-Meat a critical life lesson through his rice bowl—the way she had tried to demean local eateries couldn't go unchallenged— he really hoped a particular star student would show up to watch. She'd see she was wrong about him all along.

The day his food war against Ikumi arrived, Soma entered the arena with only one person on his mind. However, he did not anticipate walking into a packed stadium. Though that didn't scare him, looking for the strict judge discreetly was more challenging. Fortunately, looking up at the booing crowd made it easier to look nonchalant because he couldn't distinguish a single feature from the stands. Then the crowd's murmurs did the work for him, and he looked above the bleachers.

Even though he'd hoped she would, Soma didn't think she'd actually show up to his first fight. He'd spent the entire night thinking about how to make his rice bowl blow everyone away, hoping the whole time that she'd be in the audience to witness his assured victory. But the way people around campus and the dorm talked about her, once he made it to the stadium, he decided not to let his hopes get too high about her and focus on the match ahead.

They made eye contact the second she took her seat as though perched on a throne. His heart skipped in rapid succession. He could see her sparkling jewel eyes in the skybox from the arena floor. He hadn't seen them since the opening ceremony. Had it really been that long?

Soma lowered his head with a small satisfied smile. She came.

—

After Soma's food war against Ikumi Mito, he noticed that the smoke show chef had become awkward around him and violent toward everyone else. "Yo, Meat-Meat! You were amazing out there and probably the best meat cook I know! Looking forward to working with you…okay, Sweet Meat?"

She ran away from him whenever he saw her on campus, and they got close or made eye contact. He thought it odd because when he met her, she oozed sex appeal and an unwavering arrogance. He could tell she was used to getting her way and that she used everything in her power…and sexual prowess…to get it. But that seductive energy had since changed into something more sheepish, at least around him.

Not one to accept awkwardness in his friendships, he invited her to Kyokusei to cook dinner for her; she lost their battle gracefully, and he had to appreciate her for that. But she still needed to respond to his request.

"Uh…you okay, Meat-Meat? " Soma leaned forward to check on the busty butcher standing before him. He ran around campus looking for her before realizing she was probably in the Rice Bowl Society kitchen.

"Don't call me that!" Ikumi erupted out of her stupor. Smoke steamed out of her ears before she caught herself blushing. Turning away and crossing her arms, she pouted, "Why are you here? How did you find me, anyway?"

"Well, you are the new Don of Bowl-club, aren't ya?" Soma sincerely inquired. Ikumi looked over her shoulder and sighed.

"No thanks to you, you piece of—"

"That's actually why I want to cook for you," Soma clapped his hands and bowed with a wide smile.

"Y-you…w-want to…cook f-for me?" Ikumi breathlessly asked, trying to hide the crushing embarrassment on her face.

"Well, yeah!" Soma shot straight up and earnestly looked at her as she fanned herself with her cleaver. "I wasn't kidding when I said you were awesome back there. Besides, you were my very first Food War. That's special to me."

"It is?"

"Of course! My first Food War and my first win in one go! I owe you one— ow!" He rubbed his thumping noggin where she'd just smashed her cleaver's hilt.

"Don't flatter yourself, you pissant!" Ikumi snarled. She regained her haughty pretense, which made Soma grin just a little. He liked Ikumi. She was confident, maybe overconfident, but that made her a formidable opponent and an exciting chef. Soma frowned, squinting, trying to find his way out.

"Fine, but you didn't have to hit me. That thing is a deadly weapon, y'know?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Her grip tightened around her blade's hilt.

"No!" Soma shrieked, backing into the clubroom's door and grasping for the doorknob. Then, a thought occurred to him. "So… is that a no, or…?"

Soma narrowly missed his head being pinned to the door by the butcher cleaver's blade. Pulling the door handle shut with all his might and slid to the floor in terrified relief. He panted, letting out a puff of air, "I really don't understand the girls here."

"Soma?"A mousey voice called down the hallway. The hall was nearly empty, with only a few stragglers from other research societies chatting away and clearing out the building. It had only been a month, but Soma could already pick out the voice in a lineup. Soma sprang up and ran to her. His hands clutched her shoulders.

"Megumi! Damn, am I glad to see you!" He shouted before hugging her with all the strength and relaxation he could muster. The remaining students in the hallway peered over at them before suspiciously whispering among themselves. Megumi stuttered in place, clutching the air inches from his back.

It was Soma who pulled them apart. Megumi's doe amber eyes peered at him in surprise and a hint of disappointment. "Let's get outta here, Tadokoro—quick!"

"Hookay," she stuttered but seamlessly matched his hastened in-step. "What happened, Soma-kun? Is Konishi-senpai trying to convince you to join Bowl-club again?"

"Ha! No, I think Meat-Meat is in a bad way right now, and I need to be as far away from that deadly butcher cleaver as possible." A sweat drop sprouted below his brow. Megumi nodded, quietly relieved she would not have to compete with the busty meat master for his time and attention.

Her voice perked up with a new revelation. "Come to think of it—she has grown even more violent ever since you beat her in your Food War."

"Tell me about it! Can you believe she just threw her cleaver at my head? She almost hit her target, too," Soma lamented, rubbing the lump on the crown of his head. Megumi nodded feverishly. "Sounds like Mito-san." They started walking in the direction Megumi had just come when she stopped and grabbed his arm. Soma almost didn't feel the gentle touch. "Um, Soma?"

"Yeah?"

"Uh-um, a-are you okay?" Megumi eyed the top of his head.

"Hm?"

"With what Mito-san just did…"

"Oh, that?" Soma laughed, dropping his hand and placing his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, I'm alright. She may be swift with her wrist, but I'm faster," he boasted. They walked past the Rice Bowl Research Society's clubroom. "I know Meat-Meat is sweet and tender; deep down, she wouldn't hurt a fly. Kanichi, maybe. Anyway, I'm about to go test out a new recipe. Wanna be my taste-tester?" She wicked glint in his eyes made Megumi shriek.

"Don't worry, Tadokoro. It's not a gross concoction," he chuckled and walked ahead, his hands in his pockets. "I want to try a new rice bowl recipe for the restaurant's menu!"

His nose caught the faintest whiff of a familiar expensive perfume—its notes, bright and gourmand, stimulating his senses even as he slept—before they reached the end of the hall, and it almost gave him whiplash. It flitted towards him from the opposite direction. His heart leaped out of his chest. Running into her would make his week. He spun on his heels and trotted back the other way. He couldn't stop thinking of her. She had ice water in her veins, which only made her hotter to him. He thought once he settled into Kyokusei, and thereby into being a Tohtsuki student, he'd stop thinking about the two times she'd already told him he wasn't good enough.

But it didn't.

Soma couldn't explain it, but it only made her consume his mind and senses. It irked him that she was the only person who'd tasted his food since he got here who didn't acknowledge his dish. Even Ms. Fumio, the Holy Mother of Polar Star Dormitory, and the Seventh Seat, Satoshi Isshiki, approved what he served them. It kept him up at night. How could she lie like that? He couldn't stop thinking of exactly what dish would make her finally say one word, but he had to get in the kitchen to find out.

But Soma needed to play it cool. It'd be his first time seeing her since he challenged Meat-Meat; he couldn't be too apparent that he'd been waiting for this moment. He sped up his pace to turn the corner, absentmindedly leaving Megumi behind, but met a dark, empty hallway instead. He inhaled her intoxicatingly warm and floral scent still lingering in the air, and his shoulders slumped.

"Soma? Is everything all right?" Megumi looked at Soma, concerned. He blinked repeatedly and chuckled, hoping she didn't notice the glint of disappointment in his eyes.

"Ah, yeah. I…" he looked down the hallway with high ceilings and long windows bemused. "I thought I smelled someone—er, I mean, something good."

"Oh, well, there aren't any test kitchens on this wing, and the hallway looks empty."

"Right," he agreed, scratching the nape of his neck. "I guess I'm still getting the lay of the land around here." He threw his arm around her shoulder. "C'mon, let's go back to Kyokusei so I can make that rice bowl for our dinner!"

"Okay! What's the main ingredient this time?" Megumi brightened up, melting under his hold.

"Eggs," Soma replied with an inspired grin.

a/n: new year, new chapter! i'm glad to finally get into writing about the school year! things are about to get...well, let me not spoil anything. thank you to all the returning readers; you make writing this story a consistent priority. to my new readers, thank you for choosing to read this work in progress, and welcome to my SYUniverse! as always, leave a review! share, favorite, and follow this one-shot novella and be sure to read my long-form novel, Comfort Food! until the next drop...

-My pleasure! Hope you enjoyed!-

8.20withlove

disclaimer: i don't own the rights to SnS. but life isn't always fair, is it?!