Rating: T+

Pairing: Shinomiya/Hinako; Soma/Erina

Genre: Holiday Romance

Placement: Post Nouvelle

Notes:

Hey Everyone! Zancrowe Here!

I had originally published the prior "chapter" as a one-shot, which it still is, but when I wrote this, instead of just posting yet another one-shot, I decided to simply make this into a one-shot collection of sorts. Small stories that I can't fit into "Classique" may find their way here, featuring different pairings established or mentioned there or in "Nouvelle". The title of this collection is also one of the few clues I can give relating to all my "Shokugeki no Soma" stories as to what my possible endgame is…

Disclaimer: Don't own Shokugeki no Soma.


"Eh?!"

Hinako Inui was not a woman used to being on the receiving end when it came to surprises. The former Second Seat of the ever illustrious Tootsuki Culinary Academy was most often than not responsible for giving out surprises, whether the target wanted them or not. In recent memory, the ever famous "Mist Empress" had only ever really been surprised twice, once when her friend / rival / current… something or the other, one Kojirou Shinomiya, had announced his plans to move to France come his graduation, which had left her utterly devastated. Not even by the method of the sacred Shokugeki, or Food War if you prefer, was she able to convince him otherwise. The second time, of course, was meeting the ever adorable Megumi Tadokoro and wondering how she had ever lived so long in this world without being around such a cutie.

But she digressed, that wasn't the issue at hand. The issue at hand, quite literal in this case, was a very distinct piece of equipment she had bought on a whim just because she had been just a few days late…

And it was marking positive.

"…Eh?" she repeated to herself, alone in her bathroom, still seated in the toilet and still with her pants down and her shacking hand on the little thing she had just peed on. She was reading it right… no?

Hinako, barely processing what was happening, turned around, reaching the box the test set had come in, and took a nice, long look at the instructions, reading it as carefully as she would a new recipe in her restaurant, the ever popular "Kirinoya". And just like she had initially assumed, she had indeed read it right.

"…Eh…" she said one last time, into the echo that was her bathroom, as she wondered just how on Earth was she supposed to tell him of this, now of all times? This was quite the surprise indeed.

-0-

"You're pregnant?!" Fuyumi Mizuhara couldn't help but almost shout, upon hearing the now-meek Hinako tell her the news. As a very close friend of hers, the equally gifted and equally famous Italian specialist was already well accustomed to Hinako's antics, but this did not at all sound like a prank.

"Not so loud…" Hinako whined, still hugging her own frame as she sat on her bed, staring into her blank wall. "If someone in your staff who knows someone in his staff hears you they'll tell that someone and then that someone could tell Kou and then I'd be screwed."

"Seems like you both are way past that point-"

"That's not what I mean!" Hinako quickly cut in, blushing and pouting, even if it was a phone call and of course Fuyumi couldn't see her. Still, Fuyumi knew her well, so she was sure she could already picture her face without even seeing it. "It's just… I'm not sure how he'll react, you know?" she voiced, her worry evident. "Kou's got a lot in his plate right now, with his expansions and all his work going on in his main restaurant back in France, plus all the work he's put onto the one he has here… Like, this really isn't the time for me… Gah!"

"Hinako, sweetie, I think you're overthinking things," Fuyumi told the panicking young woman she was sure was pouting at the wall. "I mean, this is Kojirou, and I know he can be… well, himself, at times. But I seriously doubt he'd be against you guys having a kid," she added, before thinking for a moment. "Have… Have you guys ever talked about that? Kids I mean?"

"What?! No, not once!" Hinako replied, almost ready to cry. "You know how he talks. The guy hates kids… well, except Soma, even if he pretends otherwise… Or my precious Megumi, because she's unhateable, but them aside, I've never seen him in a room with kids without a scowl on his face."

"So," Fuyumi tried to make sense of this sudden news. Even for her, it was quite a lot to take in. She couldn't imagine how it would be for Hinako. "How did you guys end up like this?"

"You see," Hinako voiced, her head sunk into her knees. "When a boy and a girl love each other a lot…"

"Hinako."

"Well, knowing him, not exactly love…" Hinako added, her tone utterly dry. "More like, when a girl loves a boy and a boy tolerates the girl enough to grace her with his-"

"Hinako, I'm not asking about that!" Fuyumi quickly cut in, frowning at the phone. "Don't make me drive all the way over there just to smack you upside the head."

"You can't hit me," Hinako countered. "I'm pregnant."

"…Then I'll wait until the baby's born and then hit you," Fuyumi corrected, before she paused. She had gotten so caught off-guard by the news that she had outright forgotten to ask the most important question. "Hey, Hinako?"

"Hmm?"

"Kojirou aside," Fuyumi asked, "What are you going to do?"

"I'm keeping him or her obviously," the pregnant girl replied without an ounce of hesitation, which made Fuyumi smile. Because of course that would be her answer.

"Then that's all there is to it," Fuyumi simply replied, although Hinako's pout did not waver. It was true, that was the most important aspect, but to deliver such life-changing news, unplanned ones as that, to such a busy guy like Kojirou was still quite the undertaking. Regardless, Hinako decided, it wouldn't really matter in the end. He deserved to know, and she…

"I trust him," Hinako voiced without any hint of doubt in her voice, as Fuyumi kept quiet, realizing that the only one who could give Hinako the comfort she so desperately needed now was none other than Hinako herself. "He's brash, knuckleheaded and I'm sure an undiagnosed sociopath," Hinako added, and Fuyumi just narrowed her eyes. That… was quite the description. "But… When we're together, out of our uniforms, out of the kitchen or the classes or the meetings, when it's just us… I cannot imagine that man ever not being by my side."

Hinako paused, and then frowned. The other end had gotten way too silent for her liking.

"Fuyumi?" she whined. "Are you even listening?"

"…Of course I am sweetie," her friend replied with such a kind tone that it made Hinako blush. She wasn't used to the always-serious Fuyumi speaking to her like that, almost like a caring older sister, which she kinda was, in Hinako's eyes at least. "And I think you have your answer right there. All that's left is just to tell him."

"Ah!" Hinako screamed to her phone, nearly crippling Fuyumi on the other end. The older girl held on, because such was the duty of the elder sibling, she noted. "But I don't know how! What if the news gets him to lose focus? I mean, he has his upcoming anniversary event back in France now, right? Such a big, monumental celebration should be his only focus, no? I… I should wait…"

"Or…" Fuyumi pondered, and Hinako felt herself flinch. She could already hear Fuyumi's advice before her former senior had even uttered it. "…You can announce it to him at that event. After all, that event is one of the biggest of his life. So, what better stage for him to receive the best news of his life than there?"

And Hinako honestly had no idea what to do.

-0-

Kojirou Shinomiya was a very busy man.

The idea of turning his restaurant into an outright chain had sounded like the logical next step after he had achieved his high school ambition of obtaining the ever-prestigious Pluspol medal, a fact that still kinda irked the man since while it was one of his greatest achievements, it also reminded him of the time he was practically forced into a Shokugeki against the dumb and dumber duo that was Megumi Tadokoro and Soma Yukihira. Said little duel, which he of course won, no contest, also resulted in Gin Doujima actually calling him out on the fact that he had grown stagnant and had no further motivation to strive towards.

And he hated how right the elder man had been.

So, with a new goal in mind. Or rather, goals to be exact. His first goal remained earning all the starts the World Gourmet Organization offered, on all his restaurants to boot. The second, of course, was expanding his line of restaurants, with his original one right smack in the middle of Paris, which had originally earned him the scorn of many, and his more recent one back in his homeland in Tokyo. And while opening the latter had proven fruitful enough, even with the added idiocy that came with accepting Stagiaire students and the whole mess they brought with them.

He had gotten that dunce Megumi, and the other boy who liked to torment Abel by endlessly mimicking him, Subaru. Then, some more stupid stuff happened and Hinako crashed in, with her own participants to boot, and he was forced to take time away from his restaurant to take care of their business. Of course, now that that was all over and done with, he had to turn his focus back on his original restaurant, which is why he found himself back at the heart of Paris, back in his first battlefield, as he prepared to host the biggest anniversary celebration of his career, and a well-earned one at that.

Then again, his prior actions back at Tokyo did have a small ripple effect that he had to now deal with, since, as he didn't plan for this in advance properly enough, he found himself at the eve of the anniversary with one extra "employee" as it were.

"Stop slouching Yukihira!" Kojirou shouted, as Soma flinched and stood up straight, wondering how the man had even seen him as he was currently facing away from the team. That magician title was not just for show, Soma noted with a small grin. "Okay, listen up," Shinomiya then turned, his eyes on his current staff, who he had personally requested they all accompany him for the event. "This is a time for celebration, that is true, but I expect none of you to lax on your duties. Our celebration is split into two parts for a reason. First, we celebrate with our guests and offer them only the best of the best our menu has to offer. Afterwards, once Shino's has closed its doors to the general public, do we then-"

"Party!" Lucie Hugo quickly beamed, Shino's Head Boucher Chef quickly extending her arms into the air. Shinomiya felt a vein pop.

"…Yes, that," he hesitantly admitted. "But that is after we close our doors, and not a second before," he added, emphasizing the word 'after' quite a bit. "All eyes will be on our restaurant today, from not just Paris, but from all corners of the gourmet world. You all know how many had bet I wouldn't have lasted a year here, much less this many. So of course I still have people that would love nothing more than to see us fail. So tonight must go without any shenanigans."

"Yes sir!" Lucie gave a quick salute, still with a smile plastered all over her face.

"You honestly make it sound like not a day goes by where we don't mess up, aren't you boss?" Gao Wei, Shino's Service Manager, voiced with a knowing grin; to which Shinomiya merely scoffed at.

"And we even have an extra set of hands today to boot," Abel Blondin added, as he patted young Soma Yukihira on the back, causing the ever impatient boy to turn to him. "For a man who claims he only does the bare minimum to accommodate Tootsuki's whims, it has to be a record of taking two different sets of Stagiaire participants in a single year. You're quite the softie, ain't ya boss?"

"Say that again and you're fired," Shinomiya softly growled, and Abel just laughed. He knew his boss was just joking… kinda. "But I hope that did get across your thick skull Yukihira," Shinomiya added, his eyes on the young Soma, who turned back to his "Master" with a confident grin. "If you mess up in even the slightest detail, you'll be the first person in history to be expelled from Tootsuki twice," he warned, and Soma, despite his bravado, felt a slight shiver at the thought. He was sure Erina would not appreciate that at all. "So no goofing off. I want you, all of you, giving it two-hundred percent today. So, get to work!"

With his orders set, the four quickly nodded and moved towards their stations, the manager plus one meeting effectively over, as each main Chef went onwards to inform their respective staff what they were to do, what to expect, and the results they were expecting out of each and every one of them. Which, considering who the big boss was, none of them needed to be told that the answer was pretty much "everything you can manage and then some".

Soma, for his part, wasn't all that worried, his Master's constant threats aside. During his time at Shino's, first at the Tokyo one before he had been flown away to Paris for this anniversary event, the second time he found himself on a plane without prior warning, and without Erina this time too boot, he had learned quite a bit about how Master Shinomiya expressed himself. Always angry it would seem at first glance, but underneath it all, there was a kind, gifted man who had worked himself to the bone to achieve everything he had and, despite some hiccups along the way, continued to push himself further and further. And Soma couldn't help but admire that.

It was why he had requested, if Shinomiya would have him, to have his first-but-really-second-because-that-cruise-didn't-count-for-him-because-he-wasn't-a-student-back-then-Stagiaire with him. And lo and behold, much to his surprise, Shinomiya had accepted him. He complained about it at every turn, granted, but he was there, and that's what mattered. Megumi Tadokoro had warned Soma about that anyways.

"Master Shinomiya is quite scary when he's angry, which is kinda… always," he recalled Tadokoro telling him before he departed from the Polar Star Dorms. "But he wouldn't have helped us the way he did if he didn't really have our best interest at heart. So ignore his attitude, eh, as best you can, and you'll do great. I know you will."

'Yeah, can't let you guys down after all you did for me,' Soma noted, as he took out his trademark knife, the one left to him by his late mother, and took a moment to see his own reflection shine off of it. 'Or leave Erina in a Soma-less Tootsuki again. She'd have my head on a platter if I did that after all the bravado I've aimed her way. Gotta back up all that bark with some bite, after all.'

"Stop daydreaming Yukihira and get to work! That prep won't prep itself!" Shinomiya could be heard yelling at him from his main office, closed door and all. Soma just gave the door a bemused look, wondering how on Earth he managed that.

Still, knife in hand, Soma began to work, already having the basics of how the prep work at Shino's went down, given the few days he spent at the Tokyo location. He was a quarter way done, being extra careful to get everything just right, when he received a rather unexpected note.

As in, an actual note. A folded piece of paper, shaped like a little plane, that smacked him gently in the head and he had to quickly take hold before it fell into the boiling oil. Utterly baffled, since he was sure no one was gutsy enough to try and prank the new guy today of all days, what with Shinomiya on the verge of outright stabbing anyone who stepped out of line, he unfolded the little plane, and his confusion only grew.

"Can you step outside for just a teeny-weeny moment, pretty please?" the note read, and warnings signs immediately rang in Soma's head. Was he about to be kidnapped? Shaking his head, Soma knew this place was safe enough, but that didn't make the note any less confusing.

Still, as someone who usually threw caution to the wind, Soma still stepped outside of the restaurant, through the backdoor, hoping that his boss would assume he had taken a quick bathroom break and not just abandoned his post for a moment. It also meant he had to be quick, as if you took longer than three minutes in the bathroom Shinomiya would give you a warning, so he should really make this quick.

Or that was his initial thought, before he set eyes on the individual behind the little paper airplane.

"Miss Inui?" Soma asked, genuinely surprised. I mean, he knew she was one of the people outside of the Shino staff and their families invited over, as she was a close friend of the boss and former Tootsuki graduate like Shinomiya himself. But why had she just…?

"Don't call me Miss," she whined, before she shook her head. That wasn't important now, she'd correct him later. "I mean, Soma, I'm sorry for taking you out of your station, since I know how Kou's so… erm… you know."

"Uh, yeah…" Soma did in fact know. But then… "Are you alright? Do you need me to find Master, or-"

"No!" she almost screamed, and Soma just stared, eyes wide. This day kept getting stranger. "I mean, not yet. I… I have something to announce, and, well… Fuyumi sort-of gave me a little idea, so I was hoping that, since Kou likes you so much, you could convince him to play along so that I could… well," she stammered, prancing in place. The alley was not that well-lit, and Soma was feeling the chill, but as he looked at the young woman, he noted just how utterly amazing she looked. Under her thick jacket she was wearing a very nice dress, right up-to-par with some of Erina's best, and she, despite her prancing around, she looked stunning in it. His Master, he noted, was a very fortunate man indeed, but that left what she had just said.

"I don't think Master likes me as much as you say Miss," Soma just replied, eyes narrowed.

"Oh, you ignore him," Hinako shot back, waving he hand before the boy. "He adores you. Little Megs too. And after that whole debacle of the Showcase you all took part in, he has spoken nothing but praises about your little group, little Erina included," she added, before she realized she was getting off-topic. "Eh, but that said, I really need your help. This… This is very important Soma."

It was her change in tone that made him realize the magnitude of how much whatever this was meant to the woman, and Soma quickly nodded.

"Understood," the boy firmly replied, his eyes now fully focused on whatever this new mission would be. "What do you need me to do?"

-0-

"What?" Shinomiya basically spat out, as soon as he saw Soma inside his office, away from his station to boot, and informing him of this new request from a mystery guest. "Did someone seriously…?" he began, trying to wrap his head around it all. "Listen, I'm happy for the couple, but does this woman really want to use my anniversary event to let her husband know that they're expecting?"

"I don't think they're married yet," Soma simply noted, which caused Shinomiya to frown, well, frown deeper at the boy. Soma had to try to restrain himself a bit, less he ruin the surprise.

"…Regardless, it's very conceited to highjack someone else's event for your own thing," Shinomiya noted, his frown now closer to a scowl. "The nerve. Wanting to take all the attention away from Shino's and our accomplishments and make it all about them."

"…B-But," Soma tried, realizing that this was not going as planned. "I'm sure they don't mean any harm, her I mean. She's just nervous. Couldn't we just try a little thing to-?"

"Absolutely not!" Shinomiya quickly shot him down, and Soma flinched.

'Damn it Master,' he forced himself to think and not say, 'This is for you. I can't just go back to Miss Inui empty handed. Or worse, with her idea rejected.'

"But Master…" he tried, thinking of how to convince his Master to do this thing without spilling the beans, so to speak.

"I said no," Shinomiya repeated, and Soma couldn't help but frown. But before the boy spoke something that, in hindsight, would have probably gotten him fired and expelled on the spot, his Master added, "If it is indeed such big news like a woman expecting, it can't just be a little thing," he added, repeating Soma's earlier words, causing the boy's eyes to widen slightly. "I'll make the happy couple our best dish, my specialty at that, personally. That way she can-can you take that stupid grin off your face?!"

"Sorry Master," Soma replied with a little laugh. "It's just you have such a roundabout way of being kind while not, ya know, just saying stuff. You kinda remind me of a certain someone."

"One more comment like that and I'll fail you," Shinomiya warned with a pointed finger at the boy, who simply nodded and saluted in response, copying Lucie's earlier mannerisms. "And what are you waiting for then, you slacker?!" his Master continued, his tone now back to its usual trademarked pissed off level. When Soma gave him a confused look, his Master added, "You are the one who got told of this, so of course you'll be working with me on this. So get your ass out of my office and get my personal station ready and everything I'll need prepped. Now."

"Yes, sir!" Soma said, as he turned around and moved out of the office, his new objective clear.

"And no mistakes you brat," Shinomiya added at the retreating boy. "For something that monumental two-hundred percent won't cut it. Three-hundred at the least," he added, before he turned back to his computer monitor, saving the file he had been working on with the inventory count, before he took off his glasses for a moment and rubbed his temple. "To go to this lengths just to tell some idiot he's going to be a father, what a joke. Dumb idiot probably doesn't even deserve such a caring woman by his side…"

-0-

The restaurant was packed, with not an empty seat to be found, despite the fact that, just for tonight, Shinomiya had requested extra tables and chairs just to help them accommodate even more people. Roughly thirty percent more, as any more would result in packing them in like sardines. Still, as many people, even big, influential individuals who tried to get last minute seats were turned away, Hinako at least had had her seat reserved well in advance. And of course, since she had requested it before she had even known she was pregnant, she had been pushy to the max, so despite him saying he would not accommodate her that much, she still ended right where she wanted.

Right next to…

"Momma!" Hinako cheerfully greeted as she caught sight of the elder woman, already seated by the closest table to the main kitchen entrance. A small extra table solely reserved for two, soon to be three once Shinomiya himself joined them. Or, four, Hinako nervously corrected herself.

"Hinako, my dear, you look so pretty," the elder woman noted with the warmest of smiles, and it made Hinako all giddy inside. "My Kojirou had better get his act together, otherwise he's going to regret it. I noticed you came in the second every person in this entire place got their eyes glued to the entrance."

"Oh stop," Hinako stated, blushing. "It's not like that."

"Are you doing alright back at Kirinoya?" her hopefully, maybe, someday would-be mother-in-law asked, and Hinako nodded.

"Yes, I left Diogo in charged," she noted, "Promised I'd stop with the JoJo references for a week if he covered for me. My staff's pretty great, so I can get by with escaping every now and then."

"I see," the elder woman noted, before her eyes shifted to examining Hinako for a bit, causing the younger woman to stiffen in response. "You do look positively glowing sweetheart, anything… different?"

"Eh, heh, heh," Hinako just gave a little laugh, since she knew if she even tried to lie to this woman, she'd get caught in an instant. So she decided against even trying. "Yeah, I've got a little surprise," she admitted, as he hands found themselves on her belly, still flat and toned, not yet showing any obvious signs. But her words and mannerisms had been enough.

"Oh!" Shinomiya's mother voiced, eyes wide, before she gave the girl a very bright smile. "Oh my God, that's so wonderful," she told her, and it was here Hinako wanted to just cry. "…Does Kojirou…?"

"Not yet," she replied, meekly. "…I'm hoping for that tonight."

The elder woman nodded, before she placed her gentle hand on the quivering-but-trying-to-fake-otherwise girl. Hinako just smiled, her eyes filled, but determined regardless. She was scared, anxious, nervous, everything, but she knew Kou. She trusted Kou. Then she felt another hand on her, this time on her shoulder, and as she turned, two familiar faces came into view.

"Fuyumi! Donato!" Hinako quickly greeted, getting right up and almost leaping into Fuyumi's arms, despite being the taller of the two. Fuyumi had to struggle to hold her up, now really, really conscious that she was holding up two. "I've missed you both so much," she said, then began to cry, snot and all, like a little kid, "I-I've been so scared!"

"You dummy," Fuyumi noted, before she patted the girl on the head.

"I must say, this was quite the announcement," Donato noted, as Hinako turned to him, leaping into his arms too, before she paused.

"Hey, wait," Hinako voiced, now pouting, "Do you know?"

"Naturally."

"Hey!" Hinako protested, as she turned to Fuyumi, her pout aimed at her. "Fuyumi!"

"I didn't tell him!" the elder girl defended. "He figured it out. Cornered me even on the way over."

"You were being too suspicious," Donato explained, "So I figured it was either this, or you were going to propose to him," he added, as Hinako blushed at the notion. She had thought of it, considering how the man seemed not to keen on taking the initiative himself. "But words cannot describe how happy I am for you both,"

"Thanks," Hinako replied, all smiles, before she got her serious face on. Or as serious as she could manage at the moment, "But no ruining the surprise for Kou… Oh dear, Kou. He hates surprises, this is a bad idea, we should wait-"

"Relax," all three other parties involved told the girl, as she was motioned to take her seat again and just let things play out. Unsure and protesting silently, Hinako nevertheless did as was told, and in no time, the festivities were at full force, and with each passing second, she felt her heart beat so hard against her ribcage she was sure that by the time Kou actually came out she was going to do a scene-by-scene reenactment of the chestbuster scene from Alien.

Back inside the kitchen, Kojirou wasn't feeling all that different, despite playing up otherwise. It was a monumental event in anyone's life, and if they trusted him, his establishment and his craft enough for such an announcement, he'd be dead before he'd let that woman down. So he put his all into this dish, creating it with such an intense focus that the best everyone else could do was just get out of his way.

Only Soma, assigned as the assist, was helping with the secondary details, and for all the skill and talent and training the young chef had, said chef who had forced Tootsuki itself to bend its own rules and had bested an Elite Ten student in his own turf while gaining the support of the others and the admiration of many more, was outright struggling to keep up.

Shinomiya was a monster in the kitchen, Soma knew, and Soma also knew the true purpose of this dish that Shinomiya did not, giving him an edge, but even with all that, Soma just couldn't keep up with this man. It had to be magic, Yukihira noted, as nothing else could come close to how this man managed so many different things at once and did every single one of them perfectly.

Soma, for his part, thanks to his experiences with both of his parents and everything he learned within Tootsuki and a bit out of it, could just barely survive alongside Shinomiya, finishing a task a split second before Shinomiya needed it done, and with his vision blurry, rushing to do the next only to finish it just barely on time. Cooking at this level, he learned, made it clear he still had a long way to go.

Also, just how damn good was his Master, anyways?

He knew the guy was amazing. But this? This was his almost at his father's level. Maybe even on-par with the elder Yukihira. Oh, what Soma wouldn't give to see a Shokugeki between his old man and his Master. That would be so, damn, epic!

"Focus!" Shinomiya screamed, almost reading his mind.

"Yes!" was all Soma could answer, sweating like a dog, but refusing to ruin this for either of them, whether or not Shinomiya knew.

But the effort paid off, and the best French dish Soma had ever seen was the produced, and as Shinomiya made the finishing touches on his specialty, he then declared, "Very good, now let me deliver this personally."

Soma, almost on the floor at this point, only nodded.

But, exhaustion be damned, he wanted to see this.

In no time, the lights of the restaurant were dimmed, as all the guests looked on, each wondering what was next after such an amazing assortment of dishes that had them all in sheer euphoria all-throughout. What could ever top any of this? But, as whispers abounded, Kojirou Shinomiya stepped out of the kitchen, holding the closed off dish up high with the tip of his fingers, as he professionally moved towards the main restaurant area.

He first passed by the table he had assigned for his dear mother, and the one that Hinako had argued she wanted to seat in over and over until he relented. Or rather, that's what he told her. Truth was, she was always meant to seat there, but he'd never tell her that, less he give her ammunition for years to come.

His mother smiled warmly at him, her pride evident.

Hinako… made him pause.

'…Who gave you the right to look that beautiful tonight?' he thought to himself, before he tried to focus on the matter at hand. He had a happy couple to tend to, but even if the guy was to receive wonderful news, he could at least find some solace on the fact that no matter what, the most beautiful girl there was still all his.

Soma, Lucie, Gao and Abel all stuck their heads from the kitchen's entrance, all eyes on their boss, with Soma looking at the scene so intensely the boy looked moments away from firing beams from his eyes.

On their table, Fuyumi and Donato looked on, both with their hands covering their mouths as innocently as they could manage, to avoid giving away the surprise.

And Hinako… she looked about to pass out.

"Pardon me folks," he voiced, as he took center stage. His voice, like always, was commanding. "It seems we have a special request, and while normally I do not humor such things, this one in particular merits only the best," he explained, and everyone looked on, awaiting what this request was to merit such a special treatment. "Now, if the young lady would make her presence known…"

Kojirou turned, looking at his guests, his eyes on each couple seated, motioning to each, but in each attempt, he ended up getting a "not me" in response. No matter, he'd find her eventually. So he turned to the next woman, and she shook her head. Not them either, he noted, as he moved to the next couple. And the next. And the next. In time, he had walked all around his own restaurant, and not a single lady had told him it was for them. He felt irked, because after everything he put into this dish, if this had been a prank, he was going to slam the dish into the face of whoever was closest to him.

But who'd ever even dare to prank him of all people?

"…Hey now," he said. "This is a pretty big deal, and I don't want this to get cold. So, please, give me a sign here…"

He turned, looking all around, before his eyes fell on Hinako again. There she was, stunning as he had ever seen her. He frowned a bit, because if anyone would ever dare to prank him, it would be her, but even he knew she wouldn't go that far. He knew her enough. Too much, some would say. So when their eyes met, he smiled at her.

And she nodded.

He turned back, his search continuing, approaching another table, until… '…wait?'

Just as quickly he turned right back to Hinako, his eyes wider than anyone except his mother had ever seen him sport, with his mouth slightly agape. The nervous, beautiful girl with her eyes teary just nodded again, as Shinomiya felt himself get lightheaded. So much so, that the ever-perfect, outright world-famous Légumes Magician simply dropped his tray when the weight of the events fully hit him.

The entire crowd gasped at the sight, as he quickly cursed inwardly and turned, his masterpiece ruined, and even more so now that he knew that it was meant to be for…

"…That was close," Soma voiced, flat on the floor, having just caught the plate inches from the floor.

"Kid's good," Abel noted, impressed.

"Kid's great," Lucie corrected, smiling fondly at the sight.

Gao just nodded, then turned her eyes back towards their boss, uncharacteristically at a loss for words.

Soma gently stood back up, holding up the tray, before he handed it to Shinomiya. "Here you go Master."

Shinomiya gently took hold of it again, and damn it all it felt so heavier now. He did pause however, his eyes on Soma. "…That was quite the catch."

"Heh," the blushing boy let out a little laugh, rubbing the back of his head. "An assistant chef's job is not done until the dish is at the table, so I've got you."

"…Excellent work Yukihira," Shinomiya simply replied, and Soma felt himself grow faint. There was nothing in that statement outside of genuine praise, and Soma was utterly unused to hearing it like that from his Master of all people.

Shinomiya, for his part, then turned, slowly walking towards the table where his mother and she sat at, before he gently set the dish onto the table. "…Hinako."

"Hmm?"

"…This isn't playing fair," he simply stated, and she was positively glowing. Shinomiya then lifted the cover, and as the fragrance of the dish hit everyone inside the restaurant and a significant portion of people outside too, the Magician could only look on at his creation with different eyes. His best work, the Fragrance of Parisian District Vegetable Marinade, modified even further as the Fragrance of Parisian District Vegetable Marinade ~ Special Surprise Style.

The vegetables, cooked to perfection, using the Légumes Oubliés, also known as root vegetables, which had been a rarity in French Cuisine until he made them a thing, all carefully crafted to resemble a small, little baby crib…

"You really outdid yourself Kou," Hinako noted utterly amazed, still shacking a bit, but grinning from ear to ear.

"…Yeah," the man who could barely speak replied. His eyes shifted from the plate that was telling him the news to the thoughtful, wonderful girl that he knew an idiot like himself did not deserve. "How long have you…?"

"A few days ago," she replied, still nervous, as all eyes were on them and not a sound could be heard. This was too much.

"So you're…?"

"Y-Yeah."

"And that means we're…?"

"Yes!"

And he paused, his eyes still wide, before…

"I'm going to be father!" he outright roared, and with it, the entire restaurant exploded into applause and cheers. His staff cheered even louder. His friends even louder than that. And a still exhausted and shaking Soma powered on and applauded and cheered until he was sure he had no voice left. Shinomiya looked at them all briefly, not even able to hide the smile on his face anymore, before he turned to Hinako and outright lifted her up from her chair, catching her in a tight embrace, before he caught himself. "Wait, no, too tight… I have to be careful with you… both," he added, his eyes on her, then on her belly.

"We're not that fragile," she complained with a pout, pushing herself back into his arms. "Squeeze me! I need it! I was so nervous!"

"Why would you be nervous you damn idiot?" he asked her, and she couldn't help but laugh at how romantic this man was. What had she gotten herself into? "You think I was going to get mad at you or something? If I did that, you'd have every right to just send me to hell and then make me give you one of my restaurants as compensation. Hell, both of them, one for you, and for him, or her, I mean, do you know if it's…?"

"Kou," she voiced as if it were obvious. I mean, it kinda was. "I'm not even two months in. We don't know yet."

"Ah, yes, that's true," he said, blushing a bit. "But we have to be extra careful with you now. How much staff do you need me to get you?"

"Kou."

"I'll work at Kirinoya's if you prefer," he offered, and she wanted to smack him. "I know your recipes well, so I can train them personally to cover for your absence."

"Kou."

"Yeah, you're right, I can't just focus all my time there," he corrected. "I need to be home with you as well. Make sure you're well rested and have everything you need to-"

"Kou!" she almost barked, frowning. "I am not that delicate. I'll take a maternity leave when the time comes, but I can manage for now. So you don't have to treat me like I could break at the simplest touch."

"Hinako, you're reckless," he countered, "I can't let either of you get hurt."

"…Does that mean we won't… you know?" Hinako asked, her head tilted, and he felt his face flush.

"…No, we can still do that," he forced himself to say. He could feel the looks digging into his back. He was seconds from kicking everyone out then and there.

"And I would hope you don't hold back on my account," Hinako added, clearly not at all bothered by the stares or by the subject. "I happen to like it when you get rough with me, so for now-"

"Okay! Enough, not in front of mother!" he quickly shut her up, but instead of their old back and forth of him karate-chopping her on the head, or tying her up (which she liked, but that was neither here nor there) he simply held her closer, her face onto the nape of his neck. "Just… damn it, Hinako. Thank you," he told the girl, and she just pressed herself closer to him, nodding. He then turned to his dear mother. "You were right all along ma… She's simply too much for me."

His mother just nodded, knowingly. It took him a long time, but he finally got it at least.

"…So, do you want to get married before or after?"

Hinako froze, her frame still clinging onto his. What had he just…

The entire crowd got the most amused expressions in their eyes, with Fuyumi having outright stars in her eyes and Soma learning that he was sentimental when it came to these things. Who knew?

"Kou…" Hinako squealed. "What?"

"You heard me," he simply shot back. "I frankly don't care either way, so I'll let you choose. As long as I get to keep you close, I'll be fine with whatever you choose."

And she replied with a kiss. It was the best kiss either of them had ever given each other. From a rivalry turned friendship that began back in the days of Tootsuki, when she first met the young middle-school boy who could cook like a pro and play the guitar so cutely that of course she was going to fall for him; all to their ill-fated Shokugeki were she begged the boy she had given her first time to not to go away. Well, her first, second, third and only. And, he swore, she was his. And she trusted him, with both lives she now carried.

As the party continued, the cheering never ceasing, and Shinomiya joining Hinako and his mother at the table, as the three spoke at length of the things to come, Soma could only look on, a very bright smile on his face.

He was surprised, however, when Shinomiya, after getting up and speaking to Fuyumi and Donato for a bit, the two congratulating him rather fiercely, that his Master approached the boy, and Soma could outright feel the shout coming. Why was he out of the kitchen?!

But instead.

"Listen, and listen well," Shinomiya warned, and Soma stood up straight, despite how damn exhausted he felt. "…You did well today."

"Eh?"

"And I will never repeat myself, but you get one," his Master informed, raising his index finger at the boy, signaling the single digit. "One time, for whatever you need, if you have no one else to turn to, I have your back, no questions asked."

"Oh…" Soma stammered, clearly surprised. "I-I… gee, thanks Master!"

"And if you tell a soul I said this," he continued, his frown evident, "I'll deny it and I will make sure you get kicked out again. Am I clear?"

"…sir!" Soma saluted with a little laugh. Pleased, or as pleased as his Master would allow himself to look, Shinomiya just nodded and walked back towards his now-expanding family, all while leaving the young chef with the biggest of smiles. So much so, that they boy found himself on the phone, calling a girl he really missed for some reason. "Hey."

"Hey yourself," Erina replied, surprised at the sudden call. "You haven't gotten expelled again, have you?"

"Yeah, I did," Soma said with a grin. "Think we can do that whole adventure all over again. I'm thinking a train this time instead of a cruise…"

"At Tootsuki we have our own trains," Erina merely replied, and Soma flinched. They had what now? "But, that aside, aren't you clocked in? Strange of you to call during work hours."

"I just felt like it," he responded honestly. "I kinda miss you."

"…You should," she replied after a brief pause.

"Oh, and hey Erina?" he asked.

"Hmm?" the blonde princess voiced.

"…Do you want to have kids?"

Soma had meant the question as in, in general. A would-be future scenario. He didn't much understand the implications until much, much later. Still, he never quite got a response, since Erina Nakiri had long fainted mid-call.


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A Happy Ending For Two, The Start Of Something More For Another Two…

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Kojirou Shinomiya and Hinako Inui's romance continues in "Classique"