Classique

by Zancrowe

{Soma / Erina} As rival schools attempt to crush Tootsuki in the biggest Tournament Arc; Azami finally attempts to retake control of his daughter; while Asahi decides it's time to usurp the Nakiri Throne from that very heiress. Only problem? Erina's boyfriend. [ft. Asahi/Dove; Loren/Nao; Ryou/Alice; Isshi/Nene; Taku/Hisa; Akira/Megu] ((43 / 44: To You, 10 Years From Nao))

11. True Gourmet

Notes:

Hey Everyone! Zancrowe Here!

1. Yes, my User Name now has a letter "e" at the end. So, instead of Zancrow, it's Zancrowe.

2. I updated my Profile Page by adding a few small Bios about my OCs introduced in either "Nouvelle" or "Classique". So, if you want a little bit more insight, check those out!

3. For all my readers that are not too fond of… drama. This is your one and only warning. The ride that starts here will get bumpy, so get off if you don't trust me enough to make this work. You can pretend the story ended at "Nouvelle", but I started "Classique" with a story in mind, and a story I am going to tell!

Disclaimer: Don't own Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma.

---

"So… Which one is seasoned correctly?"

The young girl looked on, as Azami placed two near-identical dishes before her. Their texture, presentation, ingredients and even plating seemed outright the same. However, if he was asking her this, it meant that they weren't. So she gave the two a taste, and she begun to understand what he meant. What those promises of being a true chef really meant.

"The left one," the young girl replied, "The right one has overtones of animal fat that overwhelm the dish. So it lacks harmony," she explained, mirroring the words and tone she had often heard him use.

"Very good," he praised, but his tone, even while pleased, still sounded so… rough. "Now," he added, "Throw the right dish's content into the trash."

And without a word, she did. She wouldn't let any type of waste stop her. She needed to please him, to make him like her enough. So she remained in that room, locked in with him, trying dish after dish, until she could perfectly emulate the much sought after talent he had been trying to perfect ever since his daughter had been born. Or, perhaps, even before then.

It had not proven too difficult, at first, until it was her turn to cook. It wasn't that she was a novice. Many had told her she had a gift for the culinary arts. Even her own mother, whose opinion she held in high regard. For her, she'd do this. For her, she'd endure. But this…

He was strict, but that wasn't it. The first time she tried to replicate his technique, that needle-point accuracy he strived for in every detail, she made a mistake. And, in a panic, got the tip off her index and middle fingers burned. It wasn't much, not anything to worry over. But, it hurt. She told him, and his reply had been but a single word…

"And?"

She looked shocked, wondering if he had not understood. All she had asked was for a moment, simple first aid. He then bent down, right next to her, face-to-face.

"If you do not want me to regret taking you in," the devil whispered in her ear, "Then you must be better. You can do no wrong. So, toughen up, suck up the pain, and get back to work. Two-hundred dishes. That is your quota, and you've only served me twenty-nine. You would not last a day in Tootsuki Academy at this rate… Are we clear?"

"…Yes sir," she replied, eyes wide, biting her lower lip. This was better than the alternative, she cried to herself. This did not hurt as much.

"Good girl," Azami praised, and it still sounded like a threat.

Or at least, that's how Dove always heard it.

-0-

Dove Dillinger had been wearing the finest dress out of all the ones Azami had ever bought for her, alongside her ever precious diamond necklace. She knew she looked great, as she turned heads as soon as she had gotten out of the limousine and accompanied Azami and a reluctant Asahi inside. When she sent him a picture, Loren had said something along the lines of "well, at least you don't look fat", which is little brother speak for "you look pretty". Even Asahi, who barely hid the fact he didn't much like to have her near him, could be seen stealing glances her way every so often. And she wouldn't blame him. She needed to look good. Good enough to pass off as Azami's right hand girl.

Good enough to match his actual daughter.

And that diamond necklace she sported was a constant reminder of just how much she had had to struggle to be able to get to where she is now.

So, one can imagine her surprise, the moment the ever-famous daughter actually dignified them with her presence, and the Yukihira kid came waltzing in as well. She couldn't help a soft "Oh my~" from escaping her lips, but she knew she needed to thread lightly. He really shouldn't be here. Azami clearly did not want him here. But, like she had been told too many times, she looked prettier when quiet. So even when Soma Yukihira disrespected Azami by spouting:

"My name's Soma Yukihira, and as you know, your daughter's boyfriend."

Dove said nothing at all.

Erina, on the other hand, couldn't help but bite down on her lower lip to avoid the nervous smile that was threatening to form the moment she heard Soma reintroduce himself to her father in such a particular way. She knew just how annoying Soma could be when he set his mind to it. He had been a massive headache to her all throughout the first few months of their first year after all. But, she'd be lying if she said it didn't feel a bit cathartic seeing this prowess being aimed at her father. He did, after all, deserve it.

Her elder brother, on the contrary, had no such filter over his expressions. Or his words for that matter.

"Man, do I love this guy!" Asahi said with a massive grin, while their father visibly struggled to keep his composure and return the offered handshake. "The balls on this one, eh? No wonder he caught the princess' eye."

"Do not start with that," Azami warned, still trying his best to keep his emotions in check. Not even five minutes into this family dinner, and yet everything was already starting to go wrong. He needed to salvage this, and fast. "And I am well aware of who you are, Soma Yukihira," the elder man finally locked eyes with the cheeky redhead, their hands slowly parting. "No need to be so specific."

"Just want to start over fresh," Soma replied, still all smiles.

"Is that so?" Azami merely muttered.

"He was not out of line," Erina defended, as she motioned towards one of the seats. Azami motioned to get up to assist her, but of course, Soma beat him to it and pulled the chair for her. She gave him a quick "thanks" before she took a seat, her eyes still on her father. He… did not look happy. "And he is my boyfriend. You did say, last time we ate together, that you wanted to be able to win him over, so to speak. Well, here's your chance."

"I'm certain what I said was-" Azami tried.

"No, she's right," Asahi quickly cut in, signaling to Erina. "That was what you said. I should know, I was there."

"This is so not your day," Mana mussed as she turned from the kids, all of them grinning like fools with the exception of the dark haired girl, who was uncharacteristically quiet, and towards her ex-husband, who had clearly seen better times. "Maybe now you can understand my own father's apprehensions when you wanted to date me."

"I do not recall Senzaemon being that against our relationship," Azami countered, his eyes shifting towards Mana. "And, to be fair, we were already past high school age. Parental supervision is not all that necessary come that point."

"Maybe," Mana simply responded, "But I'm not sure you've fully grasped just how much my father was not… overly fond of the idea."

"First I've heard of it."

"You sure?"

"Rare to hear you go out on a limb and offer support to this relationship," Azami noted, signaling to Soma, who had already joined the rest at the table, "I am merely voicing my parental concern. Nothing major, and no offense aimed against Soma Yukihira, of course."

"…None taken," the boy responded with a half-shrug.

"I've shared my opinions on the matter to both already. No need to further antagonize them as long as they behave," Mana stated, while biting down the 'and I just adore to see you squirm, so they get a free pass today' she really wanted to add. "But, on the topic of unexpected guests," Mana added, her eyes shifting from the man clad in all black, and towards the other two kids present. "I did not think you'd bring over half your team to this "family" gathering."

"Ah, yes, I suppose an explanation is in order," Azami began, since he knew he needed to explain this at some point. At least this was one of the possible circumstances he had prepared for. "This young man here has brought it into my attention that, and mind you this was before we-"

"Wait! Let me tell her!" Asahi quickly cut in, hand raised and all. Mana eyed him strangely, while before Azami could respond with a flat "no", Asahi added, "This dude's my dad!"

"…Pardon?" was all Mana could voice, her head slightly titled, while Soma couldn't help but snort in a failed attempt to contain his laughter, earning him a soft, discreet shove from Erina.

"Oh yeah, this guy right here left quite a mess back in the states," Asahi cheekily added. "And I'm just one of fifteen siblings, can you believe that? Did he go on a lot of business trips back in the day? Cause if he did, boy do I have news for you."

"Do not overstep Asahi," Azami warned, his tone far lower, but it didn't seem to bother his elder son much. The boy just looked at him with a smirk plastered all over his face. He then turned back to his ex-wife. "The boy… is just joking. In part, I must admit. Since, before I met you, I was not on the right path. And, as such, this boy is indeed my son."

"…So that explains the similarities," Mana noted, her brain still clearly processing it all, as she looked at Azami, then at Asahi. "From your complexion, hair and even eyes, you both are eerily similar. Which means, the surname you're using…?"

"Just a tribute to the man that taught me how to cook," Asahi responded, his tone know a lot more toned down than before. Almost respectfully so. "Soma's father was almost like a father to me too. So I just started to call myself Saiba as a way to show gratitude. Not sure when it was that the name stuck, but by the time you guys in the WGO began to pester me, that's how I was known."

Mana simply nodded. If she had been bothered by the reveal, she had been great at hiding it. Erina stared intently at her mother, then at her father, then at her brother, worried that at any moment any of them would say something they shouldn't, and this whole thing would come to an end. She needed, no, wanted, to say something. Steer the conversation into something more wholesome. But, it was hard. She couldn't muster the strength to speak at all.

Erina then felt Soma take hold of her hand from under the table, giving it a soft, reassuring squeeze. She couldn't help but smile at this.

"…And, this one?" Mana asked after a pause, her crossed fingers pointing towards the girl who had not uttered a single word.

"Dove Dillinger, ma'am," Dove replied with the smallest of bows.

"I know who you are dear, I am the one who took note of your skill after all," Mana explained, before her eyes shifted towards Azami. "My question is, is she also…?"

"Oh, no," Dove was the one who answered. Her tone was almost unreadable. "I am not Azami's daughter. I am merely his student."

"She is underselling by quite a lot," Azami added. "Dove is my protégé, a talent unlike anything I have ever seen, and someone who I saw a lot of myself in. While not related by blood, I am rather attached to this one," Azami added, as he patted the raven haired girl on the head softly. Erina had to pretend it did not make her jealous in the slightest to see her get fatherly love instead of her, while Soma had to bite down a surprised remark at the fact that Azami was even capable of any form of affection.

"Careful, you'll make my baby sis jealous," Asahi said with a little laugh, which caused Erina to quickly blush and pout, which she admitted was not the "grown-up" way she had been trying to conduct herself. Still, she was starting to really dislike how much her brother could see through her all the sudden.

"I am not jealous," Erina firmly stated, reverting back to her "ice-queen" tone, which almost caused Soma to have wartime flashbacks to the young lady he had meet when he first came to Tootsuki. Same tone and everything, which caused him to involuntary shiver. Erina thankfully did not notice. "I am surprised however," Erina carried on, trying to save face, "I know not much about… Dove, nor how she and father met, or anything really. What little we have spoken has been…"

Erina paused. Was it proper to simply say she thought Dove was a bitch?

It would be the honest route, but she didn't think it would make her look all that good.

So she'd take the high route and simply say nothing more.

"I may have antagonized her a bit," Dove admitted, giving out a worried grin. "I sort-of took our rivalry a bit too far, made most of our talks into just exchanges of bravado. My bad really," she said and even Erina had to admit Dove was wonderful at acting. She sounded outright genuine, but Erina refused to believe this girl had any ounce of decency in her. "Fa-Azami has told me a lot about you, and I mean a lot," Dove added, her eyes on Erina. "So it kinda made me nervous to actually, finally meet you. Protégé as I may be, you are the daughter, so I felt if I wasn't up-to-par, we'll… Again, sorry Erina."

"Of course," Erina forced herself to say. She had her eyes closed, and probably her fists too. "And I will admit I wasn't… the best at deescalating the situation, so you are not solely to blame…" '…just ninety percent to blame, but who's keeping score?!'

"See…" Azami said as he extended his arms, motioning to the entire group, "All we needed was a chance to sit down as a family and communicate."

The rest of the seated party said nothing for a moment, all staring at the man in black as he was all smiles. He had sounded at least a lot more honest and genuine than before, but it still felt like a very uphill battle to get these particular six individuals to see eye to eye on anything.

The silence remained for quite a bit.

'Is this the point where I suggest something, or…?' Dove thought.

'And we all go quiet all the sudden. Talk about awkwaaard…' Asahi thought.

'You are clearly trying too hard Azami…' Mana thought.

'Come on, if I can manage to keep things cordial between myself and Dove, we can make this work!' Erina thought.

'Holy shit! Azami, Asahi. Their names are so similar! How come I never noticed?' Soma thought, clearly knowing what the priorities were.

The would-be patriarch of the family quickly signaled to the side, where Erina noticed a familiar looking man stationed, who quickly nodded. She had seen him before, an aide of her father she believed, even if his name did escape her at this point. Regardless, the night's events had been well thought out in advance, as two waiters quickly came out and proceeded to set the table before them, setting down the plates, the utensils, the glasses and filling them with a different selection of drinks. Three for each. All non-alcoholic from what Soma could tell.

Soma simply took in the sight, and for all the fun he admittedly had had with Azami earlier, it sort of hit him that this thing was just starting. And he was supposed to engage with this family for at least two hours, if not more. Two of the most intimidating, rich snobs he had ever met, which seemed to dawn on him the moment he spotted the dozen or so different spoons and forks set out before him. Fine cooking he was an expert on, fine dining… not so much.

He did feel a bit of connection with Asahi at least, since the Noir seemed to be sharing his thoughts, as the young man's eyes turned into wide plates upon seeing the ridiculous display being set up. Clearly, like him, Asahi was also a lot more used to being behind the grill than behind the dinner table.

Erina and Dove, of course, both quickly took hold of what was needed, how it was needed, unfolding the linen and setting up on their laps and carefully setting their arms onto the table, elbows out, all proper and fancy. All that was missing was to see which of the two held their pinkies out further while drinking from their respective glasses.

"Oh, and I mustn't forget," Azami spoke up, breaking the long silence, as he motioned to the side of his own seat, towards a nearby briefcase of his. In no time, the man took out two small gift-wrapped boxes, before he set them up a top the table. "This is a little something I just happened to come across, and it made me immediately think of you both."

As Azami said this he extended his arm, handing a box to both Mana and Erina, who both took hold of the little present, the latter surprised and the former confused.

"To the two most important women in my life," Azami declared, and Soma wondered if he'd be able to keep himself from rolling his eyes into the back of his skull before this night was over.

"Thank you so much father," Erina stated, as she pulled the ribbon off the gift and opened the little box, a small gasp escaping her lips at the sight of the present before her. "…It's lovely."

"You always did have an eye for gifts," Mana admitted, as she took her gift out of the box. It was a very expensive-looking bracelet outfitted with gems and a diamond-patterned letter on it. Erina's was similar, sporting the same style, just with a different letter. A diamond-branded "E", clearly meant to showcase her daughter's initial proudly. Likewise, her own bracelet sported her own first initial.

"I do hope you both love it," Azami said. "What's more, they can be joined. While an impulse buy on my part, I sincerely hope it serves as a metaphor of what we can accomplish tonight on onwards."

"It's so sweet," Erina said with a pretty, little smile, as she quickly placed the jewelry onto her wrist, before she showed it to Soma proudly. The boy had to force the smile so as not make her feel bad. It was pretty, he couldn't deny that, and probably more than he would ever be able to afford for her, but still…

"He is aware that joining those two things spell out "ME", very fitting for that man's mentality don't you think?" Asahi muttered softly to Dove's ear, motioning as close to her as he could so his father wouldn't hear him. Dove quickly frowned at the mockery dripping from his tone.

"It is a gift from the heart to…hmph," Dove tried to sound serious, but she couldn't help let out a laugh when she fully processed what Asahi had insinuated. It was honestly not above that man, she had to admit. She quickly regretted laughing, though, as Azami quickly turned to her, his disapproval very evident in his eyes. "Sorry," she muttered, before she elbowed Asahi in the gut as payback, knocking the air right out of him. "You'll get me in trouble. Behave."

"H-Hey, it was funny," Asahi weakly defended, but decided not to push it.

"Now then, let us commence. We have much to discuss, too many years apart. So let's begin this family gathering properly," Azami stated, as with just a snap of his fingers, the waiters quickly motioned and begun to fill the table with freshly prepared appetizers, each looking tastier than the last.

With one more signal, the waiters, now totaling in six, one for each guest, quickly approached their designated target and begun to inquire about what they would like to be served first. Soma was outright dumbfounded during it all. Here was this very polite guy, asking all sort of questions about his tastes, before he settled on suggesting one of three different starter options, as if this were Pokémon all the sudden. Then, upon a bewildered redhead simply picking one at random, the server quickly took said selection and carefully served it before the boy in his plate, and as if reading the boy's mind, discreetly motioned the correct silverware closer to him.

Then, as Soma took hold of the fork, he began to massage his shoulders, which was so awkward but also felt so stress-relieving he just accepted it.

"Oh, right there~" Dove could be heard moaning as her server, a very petite looking young girl, who despite her size, seemed to have a very strong grip, judging by the look of sheer ecstasy on Dove's face as she massaged the Noir's shoulders.

"Okay, this is beyond weird," Asahi said, as he took hold of his own fork, before his server offered a soft apology and stopped his own massage. "I've heard of full service restaurants before, but this is something else… And I didn't actually tell you to stop," he added, as the server nodded and proceeded to massage the boy further.

Only Erina politely refused the backrub, as she was not overly fond of being touched out of the blue. If she needed a massage, she'd go to a spa… which didn't take long, she had one on the second floor of her mansion after all. But, besides that, Erina noted that everyone had selected their appetizer, all of them choosing something wildly different. All with the exception of her mother.

"Something not to your liking?" Azami asked, noticing the same thing.

"…You are well aware of my tastes, Azami," she replied frankly. "I'm following a very strict diet I personally designed with the WGO, so I'd much rather skip dinner for now," she added. "You wouldn't want me to have to use my doggy bag for… other purposes, do you?"

"You still carry that?" he said, amused.

"Have you forgotten what happens when my tongue disagrees with what I eat?" Mana shot back, not at all amused.

"Hardly. But… that simply won't do," Azami countered. "The idea is for all of us to entertain ourselves and eat as a family. Us enjoying our meal while you just sit and watch is nothing but torture, both to you and to myself. I am certain my arrangements tonight will more than be to your liking."

"You've tried before," Mana explained, her eyes set upon her ex-husband. He really had, she knew, and it wasn't his fault. Not this. She knew how much a pain she was to please, but it wasn't her fault either. If she could, she'd trade her "prowess" away for just the chance at enjoying normal dishes even just once. "I… just don't want to get sick again."

"I assure you Mana," Azami stressed, "You won't. I will not fail. Not this time. But, allow me to assist," he added, before he motioned to one particular dish. The waitress assigned to Mana quickly set it up for the lady to eat. Both Erina and Soma quite quickly took note that the selection had been the exact same one Erina had chosen for herself.

"…Azami," Mana just muttered, staring down at the plate. It did look amazing, and the smell was… tolerable. But, the last thing she needed was to vomit it all back regardless of how pretty it looked.

"Trust me," Azami assured, "And the same goes to all of you. Please, have a taste of what is before you. You will find the answer to many questions you have yet to ask sitting right in those plates before you all."

Mana narrowed her eyes. Erina stared, first at her mother then at her own plate, taking hold of her fork, slowly. Soma's eyes never left Azami, even as he took a piece of his dish onto his fork. Asahi was more focused on Mana, scanning her every reaction. And he wasn't the only one, so was Dove. But, with the extreme hesitancy brought forth by Mana herself, the five took a bite of their respective dishes…

…And four of them were caught completely off guard by the explosion of flavor that followed.

'What the hell-?!' Asahi screamed inside his own head.

'-Even is this?!' as did Soma. The flavor was too much. And at the same time, somehow, completely even. Perfectly balanced, in taste, texture, color, quantity, and quality. 'It's so good and I can't even begin to tell what it even is! This man…' Soma's eyes, wet with involuntary tears as his nostrils had flared up by the suddenness of flavors, turned to a very pleased looking Azami. 'All that talk, he can more than back it up. No doubt, this is his work. So this is it, the level of a Tootsuki graduate of the Golden Era. It's different, but no doubt at the same level as my Father's best… or maybe even my Mom's…'

"~Oh, so yummy!" Dove moaned some more, lost in a flavor she had long grown accustomed to, yet even she was not immune to the sudden euphoria from a first bite.

"And…?" Azami asked, his eyes still on his ex-wife. Expectations, mixed with smugness.

"…You really have improved," Mana admitted, taking a deep breath. She paused, collecting her thoughts, before she shifted her eyes towards Azami, and even despite it all, the man inwardly tensed at seeing her like this. All these years, and she was still breathtaking. "…But don't celebrate just yet," she quickly added, a small frown present. The attitude her daughter clearly inherited showing itself for a bit. "Just because this is good, doesn't mean I would outright classify it as-"

The sound of glass shattering against the floor caused everyone to turn their attention away from that conversation and towards the person responsible.

And it was surprising, as Erina had not realized she had spilt anything until she heard it too.

"Hey, you alright…?" Soma asked, his hand already on her shoulder, but the look in her eyes made it clear she really wasn't. It took Erina a few moments to find her footing, so much so she didn't even notice as Soma examined her hand for any cuts, before he got up and bent down with the linen to group all the broken glass together.

Horrified at the sight, all six waiters quickly tended to the situation, telling the young man he need not trouble himself with such menial tasks. Soma just shrugged.

"I'm quite the gifted busboy," he said with a smile. "Head Busser at that, right Erina?"

"Huh?" she only replied when she heard her own name, having not even registered anything else. Not even the waitress that was attempting to hide the fact that she had blushed when Soma had smiled at them. Normally, she'd never overlook that, but she didn't even notice it.

"Erina?" Soma muttered, still bent down.

"Are you feeling alright?" Mana asked, her hand on her daughter's back. To Erina's surprise, her mother actually caressed her back, softly, her eyes scanning Erina's in search for an answer.

"I-I'm fine," Erina lied. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I'm such a klutz. I was so… mesmerized by the dish that I ended up making a mess…ah," she said the last word filled with lament, as she realized that her glass had not been empty, so most of that drink had end up on her. On her dress. Two-for-one of the prim and proper display, she sadly noted.

"Don't concern yourself with that Erina, we are here to enjoy ourselves, and as long as you're alright, feel free to knock over every single glass you see fit," her father assured, before he signaled to one of the waitresses, who quickly nodded and moved towards Erina. She told the princess that she could guide her to the restrooms, where a fresh, new dress would be fetched to her. In the time it took Soma to process that, yes, Azami probably had bought a spare dress for Erina just for the occasion, because of course he did, Erina had simply nodded and stood up, following the waitress to the ladies room.

"You had a dress prepared?" Mana asked what Soma had been wrestling with, but she sounded less surprised and more curious.

"Two, actually," Azami replied with a smile, before he turned to Dove, who was midway into stuffing her face, clearly the only one who couldn't care less about the princess' predicament. "Dove, dear, the dresses are bit difficult to put on, would you mind assisting Erina?"

"Ah…?" she voiced, her mouth still open, ready for the food inches from it. "Oh, sure, but I mean, she's fine, isn't she? It's not like she can't dress herself, plus, even if we're both girls maybe she doesn't like it if I just barge in there and-"

Then Azami simply said one word.

"Dove."

He didn't raise his tone, nor did he change his expression. But in an instant the raven-haired girl placed her uneaten food on the plate and stood right up, muttering a quick "sorry", before she politely bowed and motioned towards where Erina had been guided to.

Soma and Asahi stared, and for a moment, both turned to face each other. They said nothing, but for once, they both fully understood each other. No words needed.

-0-

'That was such a masterful display Erina, well done,' Erina told herself as she raised her arms, allowing the waitress assisting her to fully remove her now stained dress. She thanked the young woman, before she was left alone on the large bathroom stall, which at least had a small sofa for her to seat on if she needed to. A far cry from the ones in her manor, but it would suffice.

Still, she couldn't help but shiver. She tried to play it off as it being the result of being left in her undergarments under the air-conditioning, as the new dress was fetched to her, but she knew, deep down, it wasn't really that.

She involuntarily hugged her own form, her hands across her chest, holding tightly. That taste. That damn taste.

"Anything other than what I, your father, acknowledge is trash."

And just like that, she had found herself back on that chair, back on that desk, with two dishes before her. The moment she had tasted that, savored that flavor once more, she went back. Back to that hell. It was undoubtable that taste, from back then. Perfected even further thanks to the years of experience her father now possessed. How you improved perfection, she did not know. But…

She wanted this, right?

She wanted to be here, no?

"Your dress, Milady."

"Oh, thank-Dove?" Erina asked, no venom or shock in her voice, just confusion. She turned, meeting eyes with her father's current protégé, as they both seemed to prefer addressing the brunette. Dove held out the dress, a very pretty one, gold just like her hair, and just as long and flowing. Erina took hold of it, carefully, before she turned around, beginning to put it on. Last thing she needed was to be stared at by this girl in her undies, after all. She was never one to feel insecure, but Dove could probably put that to the test if push came to shove.

"My, you can barely even dress yourself, can you?" Dove cheekily stated, which caused Erina to frown. It was… not a false statement, but she did not want to hear it from her.

"I'm fine, thank you Dove, you may return to the table if you wish," Erina shut back, deciding against sticking her tongue out at her for good measure. But Dove did not budge, instead, to Erina's surprise, the older girl merely took hold of part of the dress, and assisted Erina in putting it on properly.

"I guess it's not your fault," Dove said, in a tone Erina had never heard aimed at her. It sounded almost… kind. "If I had been born with all the privileges in the world, I'd probably let my staff do everything for me too. Chances are I'd still wear diapers."

"I don't think anyone would take it that far."

"Perhaps."

"…"

"…"

"…That's a very pretty necklace you're wearing," Erina said, her best attempt to be rid of the awkward silence and form some type of casual conversation with the girl. It wasn't a lie, either. It was indeed pretty.

"Thanks," Dove replied. "Your new bracelet is even prettier. Fits you perfectly."

"You think?" Erina the paused, before she turned her head to at least catch a glimpse of the other girl. "…Listen, Dove… I-"

"I don't really hate you, you know?" Dove interrupted, and Erina paused. "…It's never been personal, all this back and forth. So, out of common courtesy, from one lonely girl to another, just cherish what you have and move on. Azami just wants what's right for you, and this academy, it will never allow him to achieve it. Just forfeit the Shokugeki, and I can assure you your family will slowly heal."

"You have no idea how much I wish it were that easy," Erina admitted, her back once again to Dove, as the latter helped to pull the zipper up. "I want to believe in my father, but I cannot turn my back on everyone who has supported me all these years… But, why? Why are you here? If you don't hate me…"

"…Because Azami saved me," Dove simply stated. Erina could not tell if she was smiling, but she sounded as if she was. "I have to repay that. And, not to mention, this academy hates my very existence, does it not?"

"Huh?" Erina was moments from turning, before she felt a sharp object placed on her back, right on her bare skin. It took her a moment to realize it was just Dove's fingernails.

"Something like this is what you Tootsuki students always claim we Noir Chefs would do, right," Dove said in jest. Or at least, Erina hoped it was in jest. "Get you alone, and a single, significant stab, right here, right through one of the kidneys. Stab deep, pull upwards, then out. Drain the blood…"

"Not funny," Erina quickly swatted her hand away, turning in the process. She came face to face with Dove for what seemed like the first time, with both girl's staring, neither smiling nor frowning. And as much as Erina felt she had every right to hate this girl, she couldn't live with herself if she didn't at least say something. Warn her. "Dove… my Father, he could hurt you…"

"…I was not expecting you to say that."

"I'm serious," Erina clarified. "I've been were you are now. I know what it is, to be desperate for his approval. And I didn't lie, I really do believe he wants to change for the best, and I want him to, but I cannot just downplay all he did. And this, taking out Tootsuki, is not the way to go. I want us to be a family again, and that can include you too. But I cannot allow him or you to hurt this academy. This is my grandfather's legacy."

"You poor, sheltered, little girl," Dove said, and Erina frowned. "You've never been where I am now. Why? Because you got "saved", right? You never made it far into Azami's teachings, and even what you did learn, it was so long ago I'd be surprised even a fraction of that remained."

"This isn't about just his teachings."

"Of course it is. True Gourmet, that's what it's called, right?"

Erina's eyes widened at those words. The same one's her father would whisper over her shoulder, over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.

"You alright there, princess?"

"…I know what you and father are planning," Erina stated, ignoring the strange sensation that had just washed over her. "You are going to cook something tonight, for mother."

For once, Dove looked genuinely surprised. "How'd you know…? Oh, Asahi, figures… I warned Azami that he was a snitch," Dove remarked, crossing her arms across her chest and pouting, which irked Erina so much since it looked like a reaction she'd herself would have.

"Why would you be the one to get mad? If anything, I'm the one who should be angry," Erina countered. "After all, father wants me to cook too, and I don't much appreciate being tricked into an unofficial match like this."

"Huh?" Dove blankly asked, her head tilted to the side. "…What do you mean he wants you to cook? This whole damn thing is for you, why would you be doing any work?"

"Eh…? Don't try and hide it!"

"Bitch, why would I lie?!" Dove shot back. "Honestly, you must have heard wrong. The only one who's been given the green light to cook is me!"

"No, I learned of your plan!" Erina countered. "He wanted me to cook, then you, so we faced off or something. In order to make it seem like his teachings are all that… and that…" she finished weakly. Granted, she maybe shouldn't be saying all of this, but she trusted Asahi, and his intel, but the look Dove was giving made it clear she probably wasn't acting at this point.

Which only left…

"Dad!"

Azami turned when he heard a cry in unison. A part of him was unsure if he was more surprised at hearing Dove call him "dad" in public, or at hearing Erina do so. Still, he was now faced with two very stressed-out girls. "Oh, Erina, that dress looks-"

"Yes, it's pretty, thank you, but other than that, did you or did you not want me took cook something special tonight?!" Erina almost shouted, as Mana, Asahi and especially a very concerned looking Soma looked on.

"Please explain it to her that the one who is cooking tonight is me!" Dove countered, signaling to herself, sounded exasperated. "All she has to do is sit on her pretty, little behind; have some fun, avoid breaking anything for two hours and that's it! It's not that hard!"

"Just what are you planning now?" Mana asked, knowing this man well enough to know there was more to this than simple miscommunication. The proud look on his face said it all.

"Well, I wanted it to be a surprise, but it seemed like my little idea has already been discovered," Azami happily explained, to two very unhappy looking little ladies. "You are both right and wrong at the same time. Both of you are going to be given the chance to cook. After all, I am not one to play favorites, so fair is fair."

"You never told me that!" Dove shouted out, as Erina frowned.

"Father," she voiced, calming herself; her tone far more reflective of a professional on the field than a stressed-out daughter. "While Tootsuki lives and thrives out of healthy competition, I cannot engage in a Shokugeki, official or otherwise, against a member of any of the opposing teams outside of the stadium. You and I both know these rules. Even if you find a loophole such as this, I cannot allow it."

"Erina, my dear, of course I'm aware," Azami clarified calmly. "Furthermore, what kind of father would I be if I made you compete on the night I am taking you out to relax and have fun? Surely you don't think so little of me."

Soma and Asahi both took a long sip of juice. Slowly.

If Azami noticed, he paid them no mind.

"But…?" Erina asked

"…Then…?" as did Dove.

"I've arranged for a little family bonding activity, of course," Azami said so proudly he almost sounded convincing. "You both are not going to be competing, you are going to be cooking together. As good sisters should."

An almost audible crack could be imagined to appear right between the two girls, who said nothing, but stared daggers onto one another from the corner of their eyes, the moment the two realized that they actually had to share a kitchen.

Soma turned to Asahi for a moment, and the elder boy merely shook his head. It was different than from what his father had told him, but more than likely, that had been the point. 'Always on guard, eh dad? Not bad.'

As Azami explained what he meant, and how totally fun and relaxing this would all be to the two "clearly-not-having-anything-resembling-fun" girls, Mana Nakiri looked on, looking like she wanted to say something, but in the end, she never did.

-0-

They had all enjoyed, for the lack of a better term, a very hearty set of appetizers. Azami, of course, did most of the talking, but from the looks of things, there was at least some form of proper conversation between all those involved. Mana seemed more open to talk and listen, while Asahi was hard to get to shut up. Even Soma managed to get a few words in, and funnily enough, when the topic switched to his father, Azami was more than happy to let him chat away. It felt so… weird.

Erina and Dove, conversely, were the two that spoke the least. It had not been Erina's intention, but the very idea that she had to cook alongside the girl that for all intents and purposes was closer to her father than she herself was, well, it didn't sit well with her. Her father had asked, in that overly warm tone of his, if she much preferred to simply sit it out, as he would never force her to cook.

She had merely smiled politely and told him that, no, she had no problem cooking alongside Dove.

She wasn't going to simply quit. The Erina Nakiri would never.

So, when the time came, Erina found herself once again changed into a different wardrobe, the new dress her father had given her discarded after having been worn for what amounted to forty minutes at most. Now sporting her chef's attire, Erina was ready, and looking to the far side, she could tell Dove was as well. Her never-sister was wearing the Neo Noir chef's uniform her father had made for each of his own team, which was dark, black, and way too edgy for it to be practical. She would not recommend any of them jog outside at night with it, lest they risk getting run over.

"You sure you're alright?" Soma asked, standing right next to her, arms crossed. He'd much rather be back here at the kitchen, any kitchen, before staying even a second longer with those crazy Nakiris. "You look… tense."

"I'm not tensed," she lied. Sure, she had barely caught a wink of sleep the night before, and they had just hours ago gotten out of one of their toughest International Shokugeki rounds, and it's not like this night's events had been haunting her ever since her father had made the invitation…

"Right," Soma replied, and she knew he wasn't buying it.

"Listen Soma, I've got this," she assured. "I've improved so much, pushed myself to the limit and then some. All… for this. I have the chance to prove myself to both my Father and my Mother. I… need this."

"…Just remember you don't need any of them to confirm something we both know to be true already," he simply said, and she just paused, her eyes on him for a moment. "You're great, and you'll always be great, whether they see it or not."

Her pretty little smile said everything her words didn't.

On the opposite side, Dove inwardly scoffed at that display. Romances, especially at that age, always started like that. And, sadly, always remained at that. Pretty words and empty promises. She didn't know why Azami wanted things to go like this. Why she was being forced to cooperate with Erina Nakiri of all people, when this was her clearest chance at being able to cook for the Mana Nakiri. Even if she passed with flying colors, would her victory not be attributed to little Miss Erina by default? She was the daughter, Dove was not.

Part of her failed to realize how hard she was clenching her fists until her palms started to hurt.

"Why am I even here?" she softly muttered to herself as she took hold of her utensils and placed everything in order. The restaurant's staff had been… kind enough to leave everything set, so it took minimal prep for the girls to get ready.

"Aren't they cute?"

Dove felt a vein pop. Last thing she needed was older brother extraordinaire to be on her side of the kitchen. But, there he was, slouching over the kitchen counter, the goofiest of expressions plastered all over his face, his eyes on the annoyingly cute couple.

"Makes me actually miss having a girlfriend," Asahi seemed to admit, but his tone was anything but serious and Dove was barely paying him any attention. "But then I remember all the arguments and the fights and the where were you last nights and it passes… You get me?"

"Sounds like you were a horrible boyfriend," was all Dove could muster.

"Taking her side, eh? Figures, women," he said with a laugh. His eyes never left his little sister, as she seemed to be nodding to something Soma was saying. He was trying to read their lips, but he was no good at it, so he relented.

"…May I have some time to myself?" Dove asked, and for once, Asahi paused. He turned his eyes to her, his expression at least resembling a normal person for once. "Don't act so surprised," she added. "If you wish to throw me off my game, it won't work. I've been through much, much worse. Breaking my concentration is not that easy, but, if you insist on trying to help Erina and hurt Azami, I'll be forced to kick you out of our team."

"Is that what I'm doing?" Asahi asked, arms crossed, and his tone taking a turn to the smartass prowess he kept always on hand. "And here I thought you'd be discouraged if Erina had Soma cheering her on and you had no one. Besides, you girls aren't even competing, right? So it shouldn't-"

"It's so easy, isn't it?"

"Huh? What is?"

"To pretend like you do," Dove answered, finally turning to face him. "You pick no sides, yet you hold stakes on both, and you try and manipulate everything so that no matter the outcome, you'll come out on top regardless. You think that makes you smart, but really, you're just afraid."

"Afraid? My dear, you have no idea how much courage it took to be where I am right now," Asahi corrected, and for once, his tone was the one Dove assumed was genuine. "I wasn't found by some rich guy and taken under his wing. I had to live off the streets, struggle to survive, become top dog in a sea of killers. And you think just cause I've got a back-up plan or two, I'm afraid? Ask daddy dearest, if you must, cause in business, it pays to have contingency plans."

"…Whatever you say…" she simply stated, which actually irked him more. Out of everyone, why did Azami have to have this obnoxious girl on their team? I mean, Ashitaro freaked him out and Julius was not the friendliest chap, but Dove? He could not stand her. Which would explain why his next words were probably more raw emotion talking than his usual more preplanned responses.

"At least I'm not the one here desperately trying to impress a fake father," Asahi shot back at a retreading Dove. The girl paused briefly, but she didn't turn.

"Still better than desperately trying to disprove a dead mother."

Dove didn't bother to see how Asahi had reacted to her comment, as she determined that any petty joy she might get from it didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. She was going to be cooking alongside the God's Tongue herself, and if she messed up, then the consequences would be beyond dire.

She did take one last look at Erina though, and it was quite vividly clear that Soma Yukihira was indeed her very first boyfriend. The two were way too preoccupied with one another.

"You have a dish in mind?" Soma asked, as Erina pondered for a bit.

"Something like that," she admitted, a small frown still evident. "I've been exchanging ideas with Asahi ever since he sort-of crashed our last… date, and well, we've come up with a select few dishes that we believe will please both my Mother's delicate taste as well as my Father's strict preferences."

"Seems overly complicated," Soma just said, eyes closed.

"It sort of is," Asahi replied in turn, walking towards the couple. For the briefest of moments, Soma saw something in his eyes, but it was gone in a flash. Asahi's expression reverted back to its usual carefree gaze so fast that Soma assumed he had just imagined it. Erina, on the other hand, quickly smiled at him, which caused the elder brother to pause for the briefest moments. Why? Even he didn't know. "…But this is probably the most important dish in your career, personally I mean. Kinda ironic that it's not even a Shokugeki."

"Perhaps," Erina said, but then the light on her eyes sharpened, "But I've got this. I have to prove to my parents what I'm capable off."

"You really don't-"

"And you are capable of so much," Asahi cut Soma off, before he turned back to Dove, raising his voice as he addressed both girls at once. "That said… Dove, if you please," he added, as Dove paused what she was doing and turned, her eyes half-glaring at the young man. "In order to make things fair, would it be alright if you guys mix-and-matched dishes?"

"Mix-and-matched?" Dove asked, her head tilted, eyes narrowed. She could already smell the manipulation.

"Asahi?" Erina asked, confused.

"Well, if you both just make complimentary dishes and serve them to good ol' Mom and Pops, then despite it being a "team effort", Daddy could still call one of the two dishes as superior, thereby making this still somehow a competition between the two of you," Asahi explained, and Erina and Soma caught on to what he was saying. It was something they couldn't put past Azami after all. "So, my suggestion, you both start a dish, and midway, you switch. Erina finishes what Dove started, and vice versa. That way, no matter the results, both dishes are equally the result of you both, no ifs, ands, or buts about it."

"That sounds pretty cool," Soma admitted, which caused Dove's glare to shift from Asahi towards him, but the boy seemed outright immune to dirty looks at this point, as he did not react in the slightest.

"I don't mind either way," Erina noted, her eyes on Dove. "It's your call."

"…I'm not used to that type of Lego-cuisine," Dove muttered, her eyes to the side. This had not been the plan at all. Still, it was three against one and Azami had decided to stay back chatting away with darling Mana and left her to her own devices. Because of course he had.

"Or, ya know, you both can work on the same dish and just make one," Soma suggested, and no sooner had he spoken than had both girls' eyes widened and then immediately they both gave out a resounding "No!" in response.

"Asahi's idea works for me," Erina decided.

"Suits me just fine as well," Dove agreed.

"Perfect," Asahi said as he clapped his hands together, "So, we'll get out of your hair then. Have fun ladies, and try and be civil. Come on Soma, let's torment my father some more!"

While Erina gave Asahi a nod and a smile, Dove merely scoffed and went right back to her side. Starting one dish, and finishing another? How the hell was she supposed to do what she came to do like that?

'Damn you Asahi, you stupid asshole…' she cursed to herself, before both girls began to work.

-0-

"Man, I never realized how late it has gotten," Kuga noted as he took a look at his wristwatch, before he pulled his sleeve back. This was supposed to be merely a social visit, nothing more, but then he bumped into Nene, and the two ended up remaining way longer than expected in the Polar Star Dorms. Not that he supposed Isshiki minded much, but he really didn't want to get Mrs. Fumio angry at him. If anything, he'd blame Nene.

"It has indeed," Nene noted, getting up. She brushed her little skirt off a bit, before she turned to Isshiki. "Satoshi, we'll plan something soon enough. For now, focus on yourself. We're going to need you to step up soon. I can't keep squeezing our juniors as much as I have."

"Not that they seem to mind it much," Isshiki replied, as he stood up as well. As per Nene's… request, he was still properly dressed, which made him feel weird if he were honest. But, in order to keep her happy, he'd relent. "But I think I can manage a match or two by now. Not sure how long it takes for a burn mark to clear up, but at least the unrelenting pain has subsided."

"At least," Kuga said with a small laugh, which Isshiki copied.

"Still, we're the seniors," Nene voiced, as she took hold of Isshiki's hand, examining the mark gently, as she softly passed her index finger through his palm, caressing the boy's hand. He gave her a puzzling look.

"I'm not going to break Nene," he told her. "I told you, it doesn't hurt to touch anymore. If it gets near flame, then I get a little uncomfortable, but nothing I can't manage."

"We live and breathe with what we make with our hands," Nene told him, as she looked up, her eyes meeting his. "I want to make sure you recover properly. I'd never forgive myself if you lose the bright future you have before you."

Isshiki just looked on, for once, not sure what to say.

"…Alright you crazy kids, I think I should take my leave now," Kuga said as he stood up, having to stretch himself a bit after being seating for so long. Isshiki's desk chair was not the comfiest. "Before, at least, you two get any more lovey dovey."

"Oh come on!" Nene quickly blasted, red in the face.

"You don't have to leave Kuga," Isshiki offered. "I can throw a matt down, and I'm sure Megumi wouldn't mind sharing her room with you Nene," he told his girlfriend, or at least, he thought that what she was, right? "In fact, I'll ask her, let me get up into the vents and I'll be right-"

"Stop doing that! Give that poor girl some privacy!" Nene reprimanded and she held him in place, even if she was laughing a bit as she did. "But, Kuga, we don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. Sorry."

"Nonsense, you two be you," he reassured. "It's kinda weird for me, being the third-wheel and all, but I much prefer this to you hating Isshiki and him having no clue what he did wrong."

"What?"

"That does sum up how we were pretty accurately," Isshiki noted, before Nene turned to glare at him. "But, Kuga, stay a bit. We're in a once in a lifetime situation here. I'm sure our dorm masters will be lenient."

"Yeah, but I've got stuff to do," Kuga said, already at the door, "But, by all means, you two feel free to whatever you want. Just… use protection okay. Don't want four-eyes there to-hey!" Kuga couldn't even finish before Nene tossed one of her shoes at him, which only hit the door as Kuga expertly dodged and closed it moments prior.

"That guy…" a still blushing Nene muttered.

"I'm glad he's still joking around," Isshiki noted. "I was afraid that today's results would have affected him more severely. He always takes things to heart."

"…It did," Nene corrected, as Isshiki turned. "He's just gotten better at handling it. But, I know him. He's beating himself over it… And what can I say, when I got beat even worse? I just want this whole nightmare to be over. I don't think I can handle the look of utter despair from anyone else of our team getting eliminated…"

As he walked out of the Polar Star dorms, Kuga was sure Isshiki and Nene were still probably talking about him. They meant well, he knew that much. And just as he had reassured Nene that her loss was not the end of the world, he knew that, deep down, the same message applied to him now. He had lost, but his team had claimed victory.

Was that not enough?

He paused, looking up at the night's sky. Next to the big tree near the dormitory, where the wind hit the freshest, where the stars seemed endless, where the smell of nature eclipsed all around, where the strawberry-pink panties of one of the juniors flashed before him, where the sound of the-wait, back up…

Kuga just blinked, staring up at the tree, where there was indeed one of the Polar Star Second Years slow-walking across one of its many branches, way too height for it to be safe. And not the best spot to be wearing a short skirt.

"Eh, hey, you might not want to do that," Kuga called out, softly, so as not to startle her. "Don't want you to fall down and break your neck, now do we. One tragedy is enough for today."

"Oh? Hey, it's Kuga, hey! Sorry, give me a sec," the ever bubbly Yuuki Yoshino told him, her tongue stuck out as she focused fully on her trek. He wanted to ask, he really did, but he settled for keeping an eye on her without his eyesight focusing on her rear. It was a difficult task to manage, but he considered himself a gentleman, so he persevered.

In doing so, he noticed what her possible goal was. A lone bunny, barely bigger than a closed fist, shivering at the end of the branch. How it got so high, he had no idea. He didn't even know rabbits could climb. Yuuki still managed to approach it, speaking softly to it before slowly taking hold of it, before she turned to Kuga.

"Eh… You mind helping?"

"…You're not going to throw it at me, right?"

"Of course not!"

"Then, sure, what do you need?" he asked, before he mentally warned himself that he really hoped she didn't intend to jump down and have him catch them both. Senior as he may be, he didn't fancy himself that strong a guy.

Isshiki? Maybe he could pull it off.

Soumei? Likely as well.

Rindou? Probably.

Tosuke? Dude could probably pull the entire tree down.

"Great, so take hold of this little fellah," Yuuki told him, before, to his surprise, she flipped down, legs crossed against the branch and her body hanging downwards, baby bunny directed at him. Granted, he was short, and so was she, so he had to stretch himself a bit to reach him, but in no time the little bunny was now safely tucked away in his arms.

"What's up, doc?" he asked the little rabbit, having always wanted to say that.

Yuuki smiled at the sight, before she flipped, and flipped, and somehow managed to land back onto the ground, her uniform a mess but not a single scrape on her. "Thanks for the assist. That would have been a lot harder to pull off with him on my hands."

"How would have you gotten down, exactly?" he couldn't help but ask, still caressing the little darling by his little ears.

"Eh, climbing down, slowly," she replied. "It would have been tedious. But, thanks. You were visiting Isshiki, right?"

"Yeah, Nene and I decided to drop by for a little visit," he responded, now making faces at the bunny. It was so damn cute. "A little behind the scenes planning and stuff, sadly, we didn't get much anywhere. At least he's feeling better, so that's a plus."

"Oh, that's good," Yuuki mentioned, before she extended her arms. Kuga raised his brow, curiously. She seemed to realize his confusion, as she quickly grinned. "I'm not asking for a hug, Senpai, I just want my bunny back."

"Oh… right," he quickly extended his arms and gave the little ball of fluff to Yuuki, who quickly held him very close to her chest, offering it warmth. "I didn't know they allowed pets in here."

"Pets, not so much," Yuuki admitted, her tone still ever-so sweet. "Livestock on the other hand, well-"

No sooner had she spoken than had Kuga yanked the bunny right out of her arms.

"You are not cooking this bunny!" Kuga roared at her, with even his hair seeming to raise itself, like an angry mother hen protecting its chicks. "How could you even think about it?! Look at him, look at those eyes! Don't you have a soul?!"

"We are chefs, you know," Yuuki said, but her tone was still nothing but a tease.

"…I said no."

Then she laughed. "Didn't take you for being that close with animals. But, relax, I'm joking… mostly. While I do carry livestock here, the one's I personally raise I don't really cook. Or sell, for that matter. Most of the chickens I have are for the eggs, once they hatch, well, they are saved!"

"And the bunny?"

"For the garden!"

"The garden?"

"Yeah, bunnies make excellent manure. It doesn't even need to be aged for it to work. And they produce quite a bit, considering how quickly they multiply," she explained, and Kuga just blinked. "Hey," she added. "It's either that or fried rabbit, take your pick!"

"Yeah, yeah, that does sound more humane," Kuga admitted, before he lifted the little guy up and brought him up to his face. "Not everyone can say that their poop is useful, so good on you little guy," he congratulated, before he gave him back to Yuuki, again. "Although I swear if I come back here, and he's not around, I'll have you expelled… somehow."

Yuuki just laughed at this, before Kuga sighed and turned around, waving a small "good-bye" to the muddy girl with the pigtails.

"Hey," she called out, softly. He paused. "Thanks, again."

"Don't mention it," he simply responded, waving his hand. "Just didn't want you to fall on your butt."

"That's not what I mean," a blushing Yuuki shot back. She was slowly realizing that she had probably flashed him while she had been up there, but if he was going to pretend he didn't see, then so would she. "I meant," she added, her tone a bit softer. "For how hard you've been working to keep this place open… Here we are, living our daily lives as if nothing is happening, while you guys are fighting tooth and nail to keep our gates open. I… I've made friends in this place I would have never dreamt off before… So I can't imagine my life if this place gets shot down. So, thank you Kuga, for keeping this place open if only for just a few more days."

Kuga paused, turning, and smiling. "Relax kid, that's all part of the job," he coolly told her, or at least, he tried. He couldn't help but get a bit emotional. "It's a senior's role to look out and mentor their juniors when they most… need… it…"

"Huh? You okay?" she asked, noticing how his eyes widened with every additional word he said.

"Yuuki, girl, I could kiss you!"

"Eh?!" she blurted out, almost dropping the bunny and getting red in the face. She had not at all been prepared for anything that had happened tonight, starting from her rooster spooking her bunny all to getting a confession out of Isshiki's best friend.

Kuga, on the other hand, already had his phone out. "You just gave me the best idea. I mean, Nene and I might be down for the count on the Shokugeki itself, but that don't mean we can't still flex our Elite Ten powers and offer some assistance. It's a longshot, but everything right now is a gamble, and I think for once, the odds are slightly in our favor…"

-0-

Erina was going through the motions as effectively as she had ever in her life. She double checked every single minor step of her chosen recipe, down to the smallest detail. She sampled everything the restaurant had offered for them to use, a part of her distrusting the very establishment itself, as it was currently under her father's payroll. Asahi had been very clear, and she fully believed her father wanted Dove to outshine her, to prove to her, to her mother, or maybe even to himself that his methods had been the correct ones. That he could indeed surpass the God's Tongue itself and create a perfect cooking style that would never allow her mother to fall deep down into that depression again.

She paused, her hand on her knife, as she glanced down at her own reflection for a moment.

She looked so tired.

Erina shook her head. Not the place, not the time. She really wanted to believe her father had meant well. That back then, all the screams, and all the rough treatment had just been some tough love; a desperate father trying his best, albeit misguidedly, in order to save his daughter from suffering her mother's fate. And yet…

All it did, in the end, was cause her to lose both her parents.

To turn her into someone who cherished perfection, and nothing else.

To turn her into a bully who actively enjoyed hurting those who she deemed below her.

Why Soma had forgiven her so easily she'd never understand. But it was only thanks to him, to Hisako, to Alice, and of course, to her grandfather who managed to save her from her own hubris. From her own depression, her own anxiety that would only hit when she was alone, causing panic attacks that would leave her without sleep, no matter how much her body craved it. It had been a nightmare, but now… Now she could finally put all that to rest.

Prove to her father that, no, he had been wrong. And prove to her mother, that yes, she had been weak. She would do what neither managed to do, and find the perfect balance between the God's Tongue and accessibility. No "True Gourmet" ideologies or whatever her father wanted from her now.

"You done?" Dove's voice caused her to turn, as the raven haired chef stared at her. Erina frowned a bit, but she couldn't help but notice that Dove looked almost just as tired as she did. She had been just as careful as Erina herself, taking her time and double checking everything. For once in their life, Erina and Dove really did look like sisters, both equally miserable.

'Cooking should always be fun,' she tried to hear her idol Jouichirou say to her, but instead, it was Soma's voice that spoke in her mind. And she couldn't help but smile at that. Was he at that high a place in her heart?

"…I am," Erina replied, knowing she couldn't really keep perfecting what she had done much more. She did all she could, all her ability would allow. So she took her unfinished dish, and stepped up to Dove, who held her own incomplete dish. They had not told each other what they were doing, they had not talked at all. Their pride would not allow it. 'If she's as good as father believes her to be,' Erina noted, 'then she should have no problem finishing this dish. After all, it is one father enjoys… or, used to, at least.'

"Then, let's get this stupid thing over with," Dove just muttered, as the girls exchanged pots, and went back to their respective sides. Dove set the dish down, taking a small sample from it and bringing it up to her lips. Unlike Erina, she did not possess the God's Tongue. She was not born with any gifts. She had not been born with anything of note at all. Just a relative normal family, made up of a non-existent father (she assumed, since someone had to have provided the sperm to make her after all), a doormat of a mother… no, that was wrong. She shouldn't think about her mother that way. What would she have done had that happened to a daughter of hers…?

And of course, little Baby Ruth.

Dove took a bite, and she could help but freeze. Her eyes went wide, before she turned around, her eyes on Erina, as the blonde girl took a bite herself of Dove's own unfinished portion. As she did, Dove's stare began to morph more and more into a glare, her eyes sharpening like a cat's and her fists outright clenching so hard against her palms she would have been bleeding had it not been for the gloves.

Erina bit down, her tongue examining the ingredients before her, slowly, carefully, before she was all but forced to swallow. She paused, her expression blank, her head confused. She took another bite, despite herself. She had not intended to, but much like way back when Soma had first appeared in her life, her body had moved on its own. But unlike that time, which had been more of her ego clashing with her desire to taste just a bit more of that transforming dish of his, this…

…she couldn't tell what it was.

Erina bit down again, her God's Tongue examining the dish before her, but finding nothing she could latch onto. Nothing to decipher what was before her. What Dove had used, how she had cooked it, what spices and what sauces and what measurements for anything; she could not tell anything. Her eyes slowly widened, as she begun to realize what this was.

Dove's cooking… it was specifically designed to counter the God's Tongue itself. True Gourmet, as he father called it, perfected to such an insane degree she could swear it was her father behind the grill. How had he polished this girl to this degree?!

'I… I-I can't begin to tell what any of this is!' Erina said to herself, frantically trying her best to keep herself composed. 'It is undoubtedly father's style, but I had never tasted it like this. It's… different. Focused. But, even more so, it's… good,' she was forced to admit to herself. This taste, really was amongst the best tasting dishes she had ever tasted. And a part of her, a part she desperately wanted to silence, couldn't help but praise the very notion that a chef could possibly prepare a dish with a flavor she had never before tasted. And one she could not break down into parts. '…And it's… unfinished. Father…? What have you done to this girl?'

Dove's glare did not waver, but she decided to say nothing, turning back to the ingredients before her, and she begun to work. She knew what to do, or at least, had an idea. If it failed, she'd blame Asahi. If anything, she was sure Azami like her more than she liked him.

Erina, on the other hand, had to force herself to shake off the chill that had built up within her very being. She needed to know what had been presented to her if she had any hopes of completing, otherwise, she'd just destroy the delicious taste and end up with a dish that… wait…

'…Did I just describe it as… delicious…?' Erina thought to herself, her hands shaking a bit. She bit down on her lower lip, taking a deep breath. But, even as she found herself on the verge of another panic attack she had not suffered in years, a small detail behind that statement made her smile a bit. 'If Soma heard me call someone else's dish delicious, I think he'd outright dump me,' she told herself jokingly, allowing herself to smile a bit.

Then she began to work.

Taking Dove's dish apart, piece by piece. If she couldn't tell what it was as a whole, she'd break it down further. She refused to allow her father's ideology to be proven correct, or her mother's drama to overtake her own life.

After all… Senzaemon Nakiri did not raise a scared, little wimp.

She was The Erina Nakiri, and where her mother referred to her gifts as a curse, she considered them a blessing. If Mana Nakiri did not want the role, she was more than happy to take over for her. She was the God's Tongue, the only one if need be.

So she took samples, and with her knife, broke down the dish. Taking a taste, pulling stuff apart, tasting her other ingredients, even the ones that went unused, all to find a common link. 'Dove could not have used something not found within this very kitchen. I will find what she used. I will break this code of hers. I cannot allow this dish to perplex me any further.'

And it took her a while, much longer than anticipated, but she finally managed to come up with a proper conclusion. A solid idea of what Dove had made, and then, she finished the dish accordingly. It had been… the most difficult cooking challenge she had had to endure in her entire career thus far, and she couldn't help but be irked by that. Looking to the side, at her not-opponent, she could see that the other girl had also finished, and she looked even more tired than before.

With a snap from her fingers, Dove called in the staff, who quickly got to work and began to put the dishes into their respective plates, all to bring them forwards towards the "family" outside. Erina kept her eyes on both portions, sharply focused for any tricks or tampering. The staff seemed to notice, even if they were unsure of her reasons, but it made them extremely nervous, as to them, it was just Erina Nakiri judging them for being too untalented to properly handle her cuisine.

Dove, on the other hand, didn't even bother to give them a second thought. No sooner had had she called them in than had she simply stepped outside. She walked right back to the table, and went to sit down. It was here she paused.

A chair was pulled for her. Common courtesy if nothing else. She had grown used to this treatment, ever since she joined up with Azami. But, the thing was, it wasn't Azami. Her would-be Master was busy talking about his latest non-Tootsuki-crushing related business to a very uninterested Mana.

And it wasn't even Asahi, who was looking at the act almost as surprised as she was.

It had been Soma.

"…Why?" she couldn't help but ask, despite herself. And of course, the redhead boy she had been trained to hate with a passion for the past six months had given her the most innocent of looks.

"Huh?" he simply asked, and she could tell, it wasn't acted. Here, in this sea of hypocrisy and manipulation, simple kindness could be so hard to tell apart. Was this boy really that bad an influence to Azami's daughter?

Dove mentally shook her head, it wasn't her call to make. "Nevermind," she told him, before she sat down, "Thank you."

"Sure," he said with a smile, and Dove could at least understand why the little princess was so smitten by him. He wasn't a boy she'd consider ever dating, much too young for one, barely a year older than Loren, and she saw the latter as a toddler. But for the also younger Erina, she understood. Such a shame what would undoubtedly happen between them. She sincerely hoped they enjoyed it to the fullest to the last moment.

"What's with that look?" Soma asked, but not at her. It was directed at Asahi, who caught himself and simply shrugged.

"I spaced out," Asahi lied, and no one but Dove caught it. "Where were we again? Oh yes, father, you were saying something about leaving some guy in the streets after he refused you service or something?"

"Not exactly what I had been saying," Azami corrected, already wary of his son's insistence on painting his every action as manga-villain-ish as possible. "I bought the establishment, made several adjustments, and allowed both it and its employees to flourish; giving it a thirty-seven percent increase in revenue in just under a month. I also merely demoted him to assistant chef, but I am sure he will be able to work himself up once more, so long as he takes my advice to heart."

"So what was actually bad, the taste or the service?" Mana asked, her head resting on her hands.

"A bit of both," Azami replied. "But what really made me make that decision was the way he acted when I called him out on it. Feedback should always be considered, especially when it is a professional which provides it. And I had not even charged him for it."

"The customer's always right, no?" Mana added with a small laugh.

"That's what they teach you," Azami noted, before he turned to Soma. "And you seem awfully quiet young Yukihira. I apologize if my earlier words made you feel unwelcomed. Please, I'm certain that one who used to cook in Yukihira's would be in agreement with me in such a case. Have you ever not encountered a highly esteemed guest who offered his or her feedback? Would it not make sense to take note of it? Or… am I wrong?"

Soma raised his eyebrow at the question, since it sounded a lot more unwelcoming than if he had simply continued to pretend Soma wasn't even there. "…I wouldn't know," he replied. "I guess it depends to the circumstance. My time at Tootsuki has taught me that while the customer is our priority, the fact that they are never wrong feels… off. But, I suppose, if it's a highly esteemed guest… then yeah, I'd listen. I always listen to advice anyways. Part of learning, I guess."

Azami said nothing, but he did nod, which was as good as Soma would get he assumed.

"And what about you Asahi?" Mana the asked, her eyes shifting from her daughter's boyfriend towards her daughter's surprise-brother. The young man seemed a bit taken aback, but still offered the older woman a smile. "Any experiences with highly esteemed guests?"

"Heh," he gave out a soft laugh, since Mana seemed to be having a little bit of fun playing along with Azami's mindset, despite the latter being completely serious on this or pretty much any other subject matter. "Where I come from, if you piss off the customer you get shot."

"Oh come on," Dove quickly groaned.

"It's true," Asahi defended. "I know it sounds like I'm being edgy, but I once knew this one guy, met him back when I was still in the States, huge fan of Japanese stuff and all that, but the guy failed during a big meal between some big shots, and they took him out back and-"

"Excuse me," Erina's voice interrupted Asahi's tale as she walked towards the table, with Soma once again pulling her chair for her, which she quickly took. She then turned her eyes onto her parents. "Dinner is served. Please enjoy."

And as she gave the go ahead, the servers all set the dishes for the patrons to enjoy. Two plates for each guest, twelve in all, one started by Erina and finished by Dove, the other the opposite.

Mana frowned a bit. The one on the right looked like it had been prepped by Azami himself, no doubt Dove's handiwork, she imagined. The one on the left, the total opposite. Almost as if it had been her father who had made it. She tensed. Was she really ready for this? She took a deep breath, and forced herself to relax. She could get through one dinner. Her tongue would not betray her. These were skilled people. She would be fine.

"Wonderful," Azami observed, his eyes on both dishes. "But, I had thought this was not a competition? Was I mistaken? Why does it look like we are being served two main dishes?"

"Who'd you think is responsible?" Dove quickly muttered.

"Asahi." It kinda sounded like a question, but it really wasn't. Azami stared at his son, and the latter just grinned.

"Well, since our ladies here are rather… stubborn when it comes to teamwork, and we of course didn't want to compete on our family night," Asahi explained. "I just gave them idea to mix-and-match their dishes. One starts one, the other finishes it, and vice versa."

"Wait, what?" Mana quickly blurted out, turning to Asahi. "…I get the intention, but a dish made by two people clearly not in-sync will result in nothing but a mess. I can't possibly eat these."

"Are you sh-erious?!" Dove barked, switching her curse at the last minute. She did all that, and this stuck-up, rich bitch wasn't even going to eat it? She wanted to say more, and she was going to, until she felt his glare on her. Her eyes shifted to the side, and she met Azami's eyes, and at that moment, she realized it was no longer her place to speak at all.

"Mom…" Erina voiced, her eyes on her reluctant mother. "…I understand your hesitation. Dove and I… well, we may not be the best pair. But, I can assure you, we did nothing but the best."

Azami turned to the two blondes, as Mana seemed to let out a long sigh before she slowly turned to her daughter. "Let me guess then," she said to Erina. "The one on the left. That's the one you finished."

"I… I shouldn't say," Erina meekly voiced, despite being happy her mother could tell by just looking. "We did it this way so as to not compete. Both are mine, and both are hers."

Mana paused herself for a moment, before she took hold of one of the many spoons. Azami's eyes followed the path of the spoon. Asahi's eyes were fixated on Mana's face, ready to read every reaction she gave or tried to hide. Dove's eyes were focused on the dish she had picked. On the left, the one Erina had indeed finished. Soma's eyes never left Erina, noting just how utterly exhausted she looked, despite this night being about having "fun".

And Erina, she focused fully on her mother's eyes, the moment Mana took a bite, and she felt like she held her breath all throughout. She did her best. She did all she could. She could finally prove it to her. To them. That she-

Mana quickly motioned to her small paper bag she always carried, and before anyone could react, threw up right into it. Azami quickly motioned to her side, off his seat, patting her on the back softly. She was quickly offered something to wipe herself with, and as the four teens stared utterly shocked, she slowly gasped for air, her face drained of all color.

'Did she seriously?' Dove thought.

'Overreaction much?' Asahi thought.

'Is she okay?!' Soma thought.

"…Mom…?"

"…I-It's not… your fault Erina," her mother voiced, her eyes still teary thanks to the influx of stomach acids. It had been a while since she had done that, in public no less, so it took all she had to not just walk up and leave. "I told you, some Frankenstein's Monster of a dish cannot possibly work for me," she told a very distressed Erina, before she stood up and was guided to the bathroom, to freshen herself up.

"Erina… Hey, you heard her," Soma quickly cut in, whispering softly to his girlfriend. "We didn't think your mom was that sensitive. It was simply a bad idea that sounded fun at the time. Nothing-"

"This is what I was hoping to avoid," Azami voiced, and his dry tone forced Erina to turn to her father, pretty much cutting Soma off. She stared, wondering if he would have a way to salvage the situation, but of course, like always, she set herself up for disappointment. "Why did you think I wanted Dove to cook with you?"

"…I," she tried, now utterly unsure.

"You trusted the word of a brother you only know for a little over two weeks than what I painstakingly gave you on a silver platter," Azami replied, his tone calm yet cold as ice. "Dove was never meant to come in here and compete with you. Her place is not to humiliate you. In fact, my intentions was for her to compliment your qualities, to bring you up-to-par to what your mother can stomach. I trained Dove for this, you… you have never truly cooked for Mana. Of course you cannot be expected to satisfy such a potent God's Tongue when you not only possess an inferior one, but have also been poisoned by that Academy and its outdated ideologies."

"Hey, man, that's going too far," Soma quickly interjected, which caused Azami to drop all pretenses and glare at him fully.

"This is a family matter, Soma Yukihira," he warned. "You can speak all you want when you and what's left of your parents have dinner, but not at my table-"

"You do not get to talk to him like that!" Erina screamed out, slamming her hands onto the table, spilling half of the glasses over, eyes flared. Both Dove and Asahi got drenched in drinks, and both just blinked, the former pissed but afraid to speak up and the latter utterly amused.

But Erina didn't even notice. She acted before Soma had even processed what Azami had said. "Don't you dare use someone's loss for your own petty arguments!" she added, clearly pissed. "And what does "bring me up-to-par" mean, huh? That I would cook something you were sure would be a failure, and then Dove here could magically just fix it? You heard mother, she and I are incompatible. Come on, Soma, we're leaving."

Soma said nothing, but as soon as Erina stood up, he did as well. The servers quickly brought her stuff to her, and she took it, avoiding her father's gaze completely. She knew that if she looked at him, despite how assured she sounded, she would just start to cry. It had gone wrong, all wrong, and of course, she had been played with once again. All of it was just another attempt at proving his True Gourmet, nothing more, nothing less. So she walked away, but then…

"If you are going to talk to me with that tone," her father voiced, but unlike what she had expected, his tone was calm, collected. Expected. "…Prove me wrong then."

"What?" she asked, despite herself. She turned, frowning to avoid crying. Soma tugged at her, telling her that they should just go. And she knew he was right, but what could this man possibly mean?

"What else would it be?" Azami simply said. He then pointed to the dishes before them. "You said that you and Dove were simply incompatible. You failed at completing her dish, so you assume she failed as well. How can you possibly say that, when you haven't tried hers yet."

Erina and Soma both stared, their eyes widening. Asahi frowned, his eyes on the plates once more, before he shifted his eyes onto Dove. '…There's no way,' he thought. 'I pulled that stunt out of my ass at that very moment. There's no way she, or even he for that matter, could have predicted that. There's no way Dove could have made something that much better. Not enough to satisfy somebody who has an even more sensitive tongue than Erina does… Dove cannot be that good…'

"Well…?" Azami asked, a soft smile on his lips.

"Erina, come on," Soma motioned. "You don't need to prove anything to anyone," he tried, but as soon as he saw the look in her eyes, he knew his words fell on deaf ears. It was as if looking at himself being challenged. It was the pride of one's craft being put into question, and no chef would allow such an insult to go unanswered.

Erina said nothing. She didn't even bother to sit down. She took a spoonful of the other dish, the one fabulous, perfect Dove made, and took a bite…

Erina Nakiri had trained for this, going beyond her limits over and over just for this one moment. The opening she'd get, the opportunity given to her by her brother, was only a flicker, but it was enough. She had given it her all, everything to save her broken family. She had swung her knife like a sword, holding onto its hilt so hard she had bruised her hand. Her opponent, just stared, standing before her.

Dove's eyes narrowed a bit, and her smile was calm. But, Erina didn't care, she could not, would not allow herself to doubt anymore. So she took a swing, with everything she had. It had to be enough. Even if not to win, just enough to…

Enough to…

But… Dove caught her sword with naught but a finger.

Then Dove's own sword slashed right across her abdomen, opening her up and allowing her blood and organs to slowly flush out. Her entrails staining the very ground she fell onto.

"Oh my!" she heard Dove exclaim, "I meant to completely cut off everything below the waist, but…" she had said, but all Erina heard was her father's voice slowly merging with the girl's own.

"…Was my swing too shallow?"

Erina did not even notice that she had softly started to cry. She was still fighting against it, but the tears were streaming down her cheeks, as she held the spoon with her quivering hand. Soma was still beside her, and she could see Asahi looking at her, his expression different from what she had expected.

Was he also… disappointed in her?

And Dove had the most triumphant look on her face.

"So. Which one is seasoned correctly?"

Erina looked on, as Azami signaled to the two dishes before her. Their texture, presentation, ingredients and even plating seemed outright top class. However, if he was asking her this, it meant that they weren't exactly the same. So, after she had given the two a taste, she begun to understand what he meant. What those promises of being a true chef really meant.

"…T-The right one," the nervous-wreck of a girl replied, "T-The left one has overtones of spices and-and misuse of animal fat that destroy the dish. I-It lacks harmony," she explained without even being asked to elaborate, mirroring the words and tone she had used long, long ago.

"…Very good," a pleased Azami replied, "Do you see now Erina? Ever since the beginning, all I ever wanted was the best for you. Dove managed to do what you could not, and find harmony where there was none. You depend too much on the God's Tongue, and like your mother before you, that will be your downfall. True Gourmet will not fail you. It is design to never falter, to never serve up a mistake. It will find harmony in each and every dish presented to and by you. It is-"

"Erina, come on!" Soma cut in, before he turned to Azami, his eyes flared. "Dude, look at her! Is this really worth it to you? She's shaking! What's the point of your True Gourmet crap if you hurt her like this? I can't think that a father wouldn't be able to see that! Just… listen, we really got off on the wrong foot, but don't treat her like this. Just, just let her-"

"He's right."

"What?" Soma paused, as he turned to Erina, who had spoken so softly he had barely heard her.

"Father is right," she repeated. "I can't even…"

"Just because you messed up once does not make what he did right," Soma quickly countered. "I've messed up a ton of times. That's how chefs learn, how we grow. You wouldn't have any passion for your craft if you stuck to such boring and hurtful cooking."

"Boring?" Azami voiced. "My, your just as lost as your father was," he noted, and Soma never hated the man more. "There is no place for "fun" in True Gourmet. This is our career, our livelihood, our way of life. Not a fun little pastime, you and your kind have in your little academy of adventure," he said, before he turned to Erina, "And, Erina, my dear, if you want to hear my honest opinion, part of the reason you failed tonight was this very relationship. I'm sorry, but Soma Yukihira is a horrible influence for you. I cannot force you to end it, but be warned, you will drag the Nakiri name through the mud if you keep prioritizing high school clichés over your actual studies and training."

Soma wanted to say something back, but his main concern was Erina, who unlike when Azami had insulted him earlier, this time, she simply said nothing. So he decided to simply tug her along again, hoping she'd move, and luckily, she did. "…Let's get you back to the manor," he told her, and she simply nodded.

Azami looked pleased, and the man motioned to move, and Soma was half expecting him to try and stop him from taking Erina back, but then someone approached the table. It wasn't Mana, who was still in the washroom it seemed. Or she had escaped by jumping out the window, who knows? At this point, Soma would not be surprised by anything.

"Sir," a man about Azami's age and equally as finely dressed approached them, his sights on Azami himself. "We have a situation."

"Shawn? What is it?" Azami asked, turning to his aide. "Is Mana alright?"

"It's not about the madam," Shawn Aida told his superior, before he signaled to the outside. "We have a crowd. Seems word of your gathering has spread."

"Crowd?" Azami repeated, before he realized what Shawn meant. One look towards the windows confirmed that, yes, there was indeed a crowd of people. Of course, the Nakiri family, all of them, eating out, prime paparazzi material. But, how? He had even secured the very restaurant itself to avoid such problems. Then, it hit him. "My…" he noted, turning to the quietest member of the table at the moment, a sharp contrast to every single other time. "Is this your ace-in-the-hold this time, Asahi?"

"Whatever do you mean?" Asahi asked, not even bothering to hide his grin.

"What is that?" Mana asked, finally returning, taking note of the immense crowd that was closing in onto the restaurant, only being kept outside by the staff.

"Nothing I cannot deal with," Azami noted, taking a stand. "Come, let us move this elsewhere. I'll deal with the masses."

Soma kept his glare fixated upon Azami all the way through as the six of them were guided outside, towards their limousine, and no sooner had they stepped outside, than had the loud noises and flashes of lights blurred out his senses entirely. He knew Erina was popular, and while dating her, he had seen her deal with paparazzi before, but this was insane.

This wasn't cooking celebrity level. Or plain celebrity level either.

This was celebrity-scandal-with-a-hint-of-politics level.

"Mr. Nakamura, is it true you are now part of the Nakiri family once more?!" one called out.

"Mrs. Nakiri, is it true you quit your position in the World Gourmet Organization?!" another one asked.

"Mr. Nakamura, what are your plans for Tootsuki Academy if you win the matches?!" yet another one asked.

They all asked in unison, and Soma could barely even hear one question before another one interrupted it. But he ignored it all, his focus was all on Erina, who he held by the hand, tightly. The girl was quiet, her gaze downcast, but her face was focused. She wasn't crying anymore. She was even smiling. She knew how to act her part; that much was certain. Which was good, because soon all the questions became aimed at her.

From "Erina, what are your thoughts at seeing your parents together again?" to "Erina, who would you consider to be your toughest opponent in the event?" to, of course, "Erina, are there any possible future plans between yourself and the young man here?"

"Please, no need for all this," Azami spoke up, his tone friendlier than ever. "Nothing here is certain. This is just us coming together as a family, nothing more."

"Is it true that this young man here is your illegitimate son?"

"Ah…" Azami noted, smiling to himself, noting how he'd be outright impressed with Asahi if he wasn't so angry at him. He really had this as a back-up, but alas, Azami got what he wanted. If only this crowd had arrived before the girls had finished cooking, then maybe Asahi would have gotten one over him.

Close, but still a loss kid.

"He is indeed," Azami replied, before he pulled his son over, "lovingly" placing his arm over his shoulder. "But don't you dare refer to him as illegitimate again. He is as much my son, just as Erina is my daughter. His mother just hid this fact from us both. But now destiny had brought us together, and we have much lost time to catch on."

"Yeah, pretty much," Asahi said with a smile that mirrored his father when the mic was switched from the elder man to him. Despite this, he wasn't at all happy. 'I screwed up, I screwed up!' he noted, still all smiles. 'I need to salvage this quickly. His grip on the princess is too great. Damn it, I didn't expect Dove to be at that level. She's… She really is up there with me, isn't she? Damn it, does this mean Julius and Ashitaro are too?! This couldn't be worse…!' he added, then turned towards his little sister, who was handling her own set of interviews like a champ.

"-a family dinner was all this was," he could hear her say. "I'd want nothing more than my parents to come back together, but that is not my call to make. I'll just do my best to enjoy what we have right now, which is more than most children of divorced parents can say."

Soma stared, his hand still on her, and it irked him how much she had to fake it through the pain, swallow the tears and force a smile, all because of that bastard and his brainwashing tactics. So, if he were asked, in the future, why he had said what he did, he'd probably blame his state of mind, but he knew it wouldn't be true. He never had much of a filter, and seeing what he had just seen, seeing Erina pushed to the brink like that, he lost what little of it there was.

"What about you Soma?" one lucky paparazzi got to ask the question for which he got the most unexpected answer. "How does it feel to be dinning with the in-laws?"

"It's nice enough," Soma noted, his expression the only one amongst them all not bothering to fake any sort of smile.

Dove was smiling as she explained how utterly close she and Erina were. Asahi and Azami were all smiles explaining how they met for the first time. Mana was… somewhat smiling as she explained what her role would be within the WGO and her current relationship with her daughter and former husband and his surprise son.

And Erina was there, trying her best. Trying to salvage the unsalvageable. Trying not to break down.

And Soma had had enough.

"…But I could sure make do without all the parental abuse aimed her way."

"…Pardon?" the guy asked, his eyes wide, and no sooner had those words been uttered than had every other member of the press paused and turned to the couple. Dove turned, her expression utterly shocked. Asahi had his mouth agape, as it turned into the biggest grin ever before he caught himself and tried his best to hide it. Mana looked horrified, frozen in place. Azami…

Azami looked livid, but also, for what felt like the first time to Soma, he also looked almost… scared.

"Parental abuse?" the paparazzi asked, utterly baffled, before Shawn Aida quickly stepped in-between him and Soma, but not quickly enough before Soma answered a "yeah" as he pointed with his head at Azami.

Soma was almost proud at the reaction he had seen until he felt a strong tug on his arm, and as he turned, he could see Erina staring at him with her eyes wide as plates and her complexion utterly pale.

"Why did you say that?!" she asked, almost screaming. If it was because of the background noise or that she was angry, he couldn't quite tell.

"…I didn't lie," he told her frankly. "I'm not going to cover for him."

"This-It isn't your place to say that!" she argued, her expression now clearly one of anger, embarrassment and shame. "What have you done?!"

He really didn't know. He had no idea what this all would bring. What storm he had just started, now fully out of his hands to control. But, the sight of Azami desperately trying to save face and explain himself over the rush of questions aimed his way, a man so used to having everything going his way caught utterly off-guard by a simple statement, proved to Soma that even if it hurt, he needed to rip that bandage off.

He would save her… whatever the cost.

"What I needed to," he simply told her, and as the drift between the two began to take part, and their hands slowly let go of one another, he said, "Being quiet is being a part of that abuse, and I'll never let him keep hurting you like this… I'm sorry Erina, but someone had to do something…"

-0-

Azami had knocked on her door quite a few times until she finally opened it, her eyes still teary, her hands still bruised. Even if she had assured Loren she had been alright, she was anything but; so seeing Azami standing there once again, all Dove could do was brace herself, since she knew he could simply kick her out into the streets if he wanted to.

"I'm sorry," he told her instead, and it caught her off-guard.

"What?" the young girl asked.

"I treated you too roughly," he said, and his tone was warm and soft, just how he had been when he had saved her. "I'm sorry Dove. I lost both my wife and my daughter, and you are the only one that can help me get at least one of the back. I'm betting it all on you," he explained, before he added, "But that's no excuse. I can't expect you to be perfect all the sudden. This does not make you a bad student, it just makes me a bad teacher."

"Oh no, I'm the one who's at fault," Dove replied. "I'll try better. You won't regret taking me in. I-I promise."

"I know I won't," he smiled at her, and it was like he had never screamed at her at all. "And, on that note, here, this is for you," he told her, as he gave her a little gift. She slowly took it, opening up and gasping.

"I-I couldn't."

"You could, it's yours," Azami noted with a soft laugh, before he softly petted the girl on the head. "Get a good rest now. Tomorrow we start over, and this time, we'll both be better."

"…Yeah-Yes," she said, correcting herself. She needed to be proper. Azami then left, leaving Dove with her pretty new diamond necklace, as she took it out of the box and made it shine with the light of her room. It must have cost a fortune. So, as the raven-haired girl examined her new gift, she couldn't help but think to herself that maybe she had been wrong…

Maybe Azami Nakamura was not such a bad person after all…

---

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#ProtectErina