Sometimes, Soma didn't know how he made it through life before meeting Megumi Tadokoro.
The country girl with bluenette pigtails was undoubtedly his partner in culinary crime and creativity. Sometimes, he wondered how different life would've been if he wasn't an only child and had grown up with a little sister like her; he was confident they would still be the best of friends. He loved that she was down for anything. She was kind and caring, easy to get along with and to please, but mostly, she was full of so much potential that Soma had to stand beside her to watch it grow. She poured love into everything she did, even if she was always afraid. Courage and confidence can be taught, but to be as pure-heartedly determined as Megumi was could only come naturally.
Soma dreams big, but Megumi helps him winnow down and execute. He knows he couldn't have seamlessly pulled off his birthday tournament without her.
-8-
Soma woke up Sunday morning pumped. He loved his birthday! It was time to begin the birthday showdown to end all birthday showdowns. Even though he was working off of only four hours of sleep, with no hangover in sight and honestly feeling more clear-headed than expected, he ran downstairs to finalize the birthday plans of his dreams:
Time to challenge Erina Nakiri in a Food War!
Instead, he found Megumi setting out a large breakfast spread in the dining room, surrounded by navy blue and white balloons. He stood beneath the handmade birthday banner with a cheeky drawing of his face and a birthday hat for added festiveness and smirked.
"I think you captured my essence quite alright," he said smugly. Megumi spun around.
"Good morning and happy birthday, Soma-kun! I cooked you a birthday breakfast so that you will have energy for your tournament. The kitchen is fully stocked with all the requested ingredients, and ample burners and propane tanks are connected and ready to go in the backyard. Oh! And Isshiki and the other boys will wheel the steel tables to the backyard within the hour." She smiled widely at him, like the charitable chef she was. Soma hugged her with all his might.
"Thanks, Todokoro! You're the best! But...when did you have all the time to do this? Did you even sleep?"
"I did at first, but I couldn't stay asleep knowing how much final prep you needed to get done for this to be a smooth and fun birthday."
"Honestly, Tadokoro. What would I do without you?"
-8-
Soma plans. God laughs.
"I'm sorry, Soma." Megumi sat on a worn floor cushion.
Soma plopped on his bed, exhausted, victorious, and dissatisfied. His eyes were shut, but he could feel her amber eyes probing him.
"I'm fine, Tadokoro. Promise. Thanks for everything today. Go get some sleep."
Everyone who RSVP'd came…but one esteemed guest.
He kicked all sixteen competitors' asses—including Akira, Ryo, Alice, Kuga, and the Aldini brothers—partly out of the boiling anger and deep disappointment punching through his chest that Erina hadn't shown up. She didn't even send a carrier pigeon, or Hisako, that she regretted informing him of her absence...or whatever fancy language wealthy people used to say "piss off!"
"Are you sure? You don't look like you're happy with how today unfolded."
"No, I am. Super~happy." His long arms splayed and flopped on his mattress. "I won every match like I said I would."
He knew he shouldn't be taking it so personally, but he was beginning to think they were friends like sworn rivals were secretly friends. After the night they'd had, he at least thought she considered him someone in her life.
Ahhhh! Soma, it's best not to dwell on these things. He snatched his pillow and rolled into a fetal position, cradling it.
Megumi sighed. "...Would you like to talk about it?"
"Why didn't she at least hit me up to cancel?"
"She's a busy woman and never officially confirmed."
"But we talked about it on the veranda last night, and it seemed like she was teasing me she'd come," he whined. "I'm an ass for assuming!"
"Y'all were talking on the veranda?"
"Yeah," he whimpered and nodded, his eyes glued shut so he didn't see Megumi's face droop.
"Well...mmm-maybe some pressing Council issue came up. She's sharp but not a flake. Also, Soma-kun, she did come to your party last night, and..." Megumi took another deep breath, "Thankfully, she's not the only person who..."
Soma had stopped listening. As the clock struck midnight, his mind trailed back to this time last night, and he lost himself in a memorable scene—the reason he didn't hit his pillow until five in the morning.
.
.
.
"Happy birthday, Yukihira."
The singing was nauseatingly loud against his hearing, but his eyes were glued to Erina's glossy lips. He didn't expect them to look so luscious in a dark room, but they shined, and he had to push down the urge to kiss them right on the spot. It was a good thing, too, because not a second after her birthday greeting, Erina unhooked their fingers, turned to blend into the crowd, and joined them in singing. Watching her walk away from him in that short pleated skirt, his arm slacking behind her as she let go, was arousing. The Polar Star kids immediately descended on him with hugs and cheers in the space she left.
Diago smacked him so hard on the back that Soma regained all feeling in his legs as he toppled over the table, staggering to keep his balance. "Oh, my fault, bro! You good?" The airy jock asked, lifting him upright.
"Y-Yeah, I-I'm going to get a water bottle from my room." A plastic bottle fanned in his eyeline.
"Here you go, Soma-kun, and happy birthday!" Megumi twisted the cap off and handed it to him. Soma stared at the container, dazed, but enveloped her into a tight hug and wailed, "Thank you, Todokoro!"
"Okay! Somebody's fucked up!" Shoji cheered on.
Soma took the bottle from his best friend and guzzled it in one breath.
"Ahhhh! That hit the spot. OI! OKAY, I SINCERELY THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR THE LOVELY SERENADE. I DIDN'T EVEN THINK THE LOT OF YOU EVEN FANCIED ME ENOUGH TO BE HERE, BUT LIFE'S FUNNY LIKE THAT, INNIT?"
The crowd looked on, puzzled.
"...Okay, why is he speaking in a hacked Bri'ish accent?" Alice leaned back to whisper a more refined English accent to a cuddly Ryo. He shrugged without care, nuzzling his face into the side of her neck and squeezing her closer into him by the waist. "Ooo...purrrrr, Ryo! You're such a naughty bat," the sensual heiress giggled.
"He tends to do that when he's gone off of a Ryoko creation," Megumi mused at the couple. "At least he hasn't started a conga line like our last dorm party."
Zenji groaned. "That was awful. I'm still scrubbing off shoe marks from my walls!" Shun apathetically nodded.
As his friends spoke around him, out of the corner of Soma's eye, he watched Ryo and Alice behave like a vision he had for him and Erina. He searched the dark room for her but couldn't find her anywhere.
"WELL, I'M OFF TO GET SOME FRESH AIR, SO...CHEERIOS!" He swayed through the crowd and toward the backyard's door.
"Did he just say, 'Cheerios'? As in, the cereal?" Ryoko muttered.
"Yeah, but, shhh...just leave him be. It's his night to do whatever he wants," Alice said with a conspiratorial wink.
"Maybe I should follow him...make sure he's alright," Megumi offered. Lovestruck sympathy oozed from her pores.
"No!" Alice decided. She picked up a slice of cake and force-fed Ryo a bite. "You stay here and tell me what all you put into this damn delicious cake! Isn't it delicious, Ryo?" She shoved the rest in her mouth, and Bat Man tried not to choke. "Mmm! Yummy! Come on, girl! We're all chefs here. Dish the baking recipe!"
.
.
.
Soma smashed the backyard's sliding door open and took in a long inhale. The gust of nighttime wind revived him like Frankenstein.
"Ahhhh...! That's the stuff." He fanned the collar of his spandex suit, sobering up from the crisp, fresh air. He felt balmy; it was time to change out of this silly costume. He turned to close the door when he saw a sudden movement.
"Yo, Nakiri?"
Erina spun around and out of the bushes' shadow. "Yukihira!"
"What're you doing out here by yourself? Aren't you cold?"
"I-I was taking a call. But how did you know it was me?"
Soma chuckled. "Erina, I can spot you from a mile away!"
"Oh." She lowered her gaze to the grassy field. Soma stood at the doorway and took her in. He never thought Erina Nakiri would be at Polar Star in a million years, especially not at night and on his birthday. He was struggling not to think too deeply about what it all meant.
"So, thanks for coming."
"Yeah...it was nice." They stared at each other from a distance. "..I will take my leave now-"
"Hey."
"What?"
"You're shivering. Would you like a jacket?"
"Soma, I just told you I'll be leaving now. I'm not cold, so there's no need to worry about my wardrobe or welfare."
Soma found it cute how she shivered as soon as she lied, and the breeze spun her hair around her shoulders.
"I know. But I still am. C'mon. I'll grab you one from the lost and found closet."
"SOMA YUKIHIRA! DON'T YOU DARE GIVE ME SOMEONE'S FORGOTTEN GARBAGE!"
His voice cracked like lightning into the chilly night air. "Boy, I tell you, Nakiri. You're feisty in the morning, noon, and even in the dead of night! Don't you get exhausted by the end of it all?"
"Only when speaking to you," she pouted.
He playfully staggered back and placed his hand on his chest. "Oof, you wound me!"
She rolled her eyes. "Are you going to get a jacket or what, Yukihira? I'm not going to stand here all night."
"Oh, so you do want it?" Erina's scowl made him nod submissively. "I'll be right back."
A sharper breeze blew through the outdoor nook she was lurking. Erina shuddered. "N-No, I'll come with you."
His face perked up. "Okay, let's go!"
.
.
.
Soma guided her back into the mansion and through the back mudroom. The long, dark hallway lined with wooden cubbies for each resident connected the backyard to the first-floor resident wing and back staircase on the left and the laundry room and storage closet on the right. Teens were crawling everywhere, but where he and Erina stood barely inches apart, he'd also like to keep it that way. Soma looked both ways and judging by her bashfulness in the dining room, he felt Erina wanted privacy. He put his arm out to stop her.
"Wait here." He bolted down the right side of the hall. "Come on, come on! Where is it? Aha! ~There you are~"
"Erina! Funny running into you here! What are you doing back here?"
Soma's ears pricked at the sound of a new voice. He stopped rummaging through the freshly laundered pile to listen.
"Rindo, oh hello. I didn't know you were here as well."
"Yeah! The feeling's mutual. I mean, I heard a rumor you were here, but it was from a bunch of middle schoolers from the junior division sneaking around anyway, so I sent them packing. But I thought, 'Kids say the darnedest things, amirite?' because the academy's heiress-princess never goes out to parties so late at night. But look at you! Live and in the flesh."
Soma slowly peeked down the hall and into the shadows. He saw Erina's figure standing poised yet rigid at the mudroom's threshold. He could see two other pairs of feet and only Rindo's wild hair, but he could feel the tension mounting between the three.
"Yes. I was...in search of the washroom."
"You came to a Halloween party dressed like that, looking for the washroom? I'm sure neither the First Seat nor the new director would understand that."
Soma wasn't sure who that syrupy, venomous voice belonged to, but he didn't like their tone toward Erina. He grabbed what he came for and rushed to Erina's rescue when he heard that person speak. However, the steel at the tip of Erina's tongue stopped him in his tracks.
"How I dress to celebrate a friend's birthday is my business, and my business is none of yours. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere and someone to be with."
Maybe it was the lingering high moving from his head through his body; perhaps it was the way she subliminally referenced him twice, once even going as far as to call him a friend. Maybe it was because he slowly realized that his little crush was blooming into something...more...but Soma appeared on cue at Erina's side. He could feel her body heat emitting on his arm.
"Yo, Nakiri! Everybody's been looking for you on the veranda! Let's go!" His face lit up with a none-the-wiser grin as he pushed forward a large, folded quilt. Erina's head swiped towards him, and her expression nearly made him faint. Intuitively, he knew he'd made the right call; as long as he lived, he'd never forget that sparkle in her eye.
"Is that so...?" Rindo asked innocently as she studied the two first-years. She looked calculated, like a snake observing its prey. "Soma Yukihira! The Spider-Man himself! I heard this shindig is in your honor. Happy birthday, my boy!"
"Thanks, Rindo! So awesome you stopped by!" He looked to Rindo's right and realized he also had to look down. A very short, petite girl who looked like a purple cat with glowing green eyes leered back at him. They were both in full school uniform, and it was nearly one in the morning. Is that her little sister? Did Rindo bring a middle schooler to a high school party? The glaring cat-girl hissed.
"Momo, let's go. I'm sure Eishi's done with all my paperwork by now!" Her carefree smile returned as she patted the peevish little girl on the head. "Enjoy the rest of your night, you two! But don't party too hard and do anything I wouldn't do...I wouldn't want my juniors to get caught slipping by Central." She flashed a severe wink at Erina and swiveled around with a flick of her tongue, waving them off. The mean cat followed.
Soma gave a start. "Oi, Kobayashi! You're still in your academy uniform, but don't look like Erina. What's your mundane costume supposed to be, anyway?"
"Ooh...just something boring like Eishi Tsukasa's right-hand slash best friend."
"Oh, that's...oddly specific?"
Erina rolled her eyes. "Whatever, let's go."
.
.
.
Soma led them down the dorm's west wing, away from the still-raging party. They reached the back steps and found couples kissing on both sides up the winding staircase. He opened the blanket and wrapped it over them.
"Like an Invisibility Cloak," he snickered through a whisper.
Once under the cloak, he took her hand and dashed up the steps. A spark sizzled between their touch.
~BADUM!~
What was that...?
When they reached the third-floor landing, Soma pulled the quilt off, pleasantly surprised that no honeymooners had also crept up there.
"Come on." He opened the French doors. The air felt lighter and better from this height. They stepped onto the wide-area balcony and walked to its edge. Soma draped a jacket over Erina's shoulders. "Here you go."
She looked down at it. "Q-U-A...STAR? What does that mean?"
He chuckled, "It's called 'QUAD STAR.' They're an indie rock group I used to be into before they broke up. I still listen to a lot of their early stuff."
"Oh. So, this is...your jacket?"
"Mmhm. I go running in it all the time- Oh! But don't worry! I pulled it fresh out of the clean laundry hamper. It doesn't smell like a boy or anything," he nervously added.
Wait- was he nervous?
Erina lifted a sleeve and sniffed it. "Hm. You're right. It smells like a fresh mountain spring and cottonwood."
"Keen nose! Speaking of smells...I'll be right back! Will you stay here and wait for me?"
Erina snapped her head toward the thick forest and nodded. Soma smirked at the blush coloring her cheeks underneath the silvery moonlight before dashing away from the veranda.
In his dorm room, he struggled to peel the sweaty costume off his body. He felt ten pounds lighter. " Ack! Good move, Yukihira. Whew!" He hobbled to his half-bath and splashed his face, neck, and armpits. He needed to smell less musky and as clean as possible on a time crunch. A shower would take longer than he wanted to be away from her, and he knew the princess would not appreciate waiting too long. So, he quickly freshened up without rushing past handling private matters. After he brushed his teeth and gargled minty mouthwash, he threw on a clean pair of joggers, swiped a new layer of deodorant, and pulled his head through an oversized Restaurant Yukihira hoodie.
Ahhh...cologne or no cologne? Would she think I'm doing too much if I spritz just a tiny bit? Yeah, no... I'm definitely trying too hard. Ugh, you don't have time for this! Just leave it and go!
He slid back into his house slippers and collected himself—"Whoo! Breathe, Soma, breathe,"—before opening the door smoother than a bald head.
Erina's back was turned to him. She was fully zipped in his jacket, tugging it tightly around her small frame. He came beside her, placing his hand next to hers on the railing. Her hair flailing in the wind made her look like a moon goddess. He thanked his lucky stars that she stayed.
"You sure you don't want to use the quilt instead?" His voice was lower than he expected. A new tone came from him, catching them both off guard. Erina gave him a sidelong glance before looking back at the trees.
"Took you long enough."
"Heh, yeah, sorry about that. The suit was practically glued on by sweat."
"I thought this was supposed to be a surprise party for you," she said, examining his change of clothes. "Did you already have that costume on standby?"
"A surprise party? Well, that's news to me!" He rubbed his chin. "Yuki's been planning this and threatening me over it for weeks. And Megumi found the suit online, like, a week ago."
Erina's eyebrows furrowed. "Oh, that Alice! When I get my hands on her...!" she growled.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. The jacket is warm enough, thank you."
Soma faced her, leaning his elbow on the railing. Both of Erina's hands gripped the stone like she was holding on for dear life. Her expression was more staunch than usual, and her mind looked consumed elsewhere.
"So, how're you holdin' up? That conversation seemed tense back there."
"What conversation?" She loosened her grip. "Oh, that. I'd forgotten already. No worries; it was irrelevant. They're irrelevant to me."
Soma stared at her profile. "Really?"
"Really. It's just some mean girls' Elite Ten nonsense. Nothing I couldn't handle if it weren't so beneath me." She turned to face him, and the deep color of her irises bore through her face, holding his attention. It blew his mind how she managed to be even more beautiful at night.
"Gotcha. I quite like Rindo, so it was weird seeing her like that. It kind of reminded me of how she was after that whole car scene between your two old men outside your Moon Festival booth." Erina groaned.
"Oh, is that something you don't want to discuss?" Erina remained silent. "Okay...I don't know much about that surly cat with her, though. I don't like how she spoke to you. Honestly, was that a child or what?"
"She's a third year and the Fourth Seat on the Council and deserves much respect."
Soma's eyes bulged. "THAT LITTLE KID IS AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD ELITE TEN MEMBER?! NO WAY!"
"Way~. MoMo is one of the most sought-after patisseries in Japan. She's made a fortune off her business and life of being kawaii. She's a mastermind at international marketing and still the top-earning toy influencer in Asia." Erina spoke as if she were reading off a fact sheet and not talking about someone she worked closely with.
"Interesting...good to know."
"It is crucial to know."
"Why'd you say it like that?"
Erina turned to face him. "Soma?"
"Yah."
"Why'd you bring me out here?"
"What do you mean? It looked like you needed an excuse to escape that conversation."
"I didn't."
"Oh. Well-"
She turned to face him. "But...thank you for doing it, anyway."
~BADUM!~
It was the first time she'd given him words of affirmation, and it made his heart somersault off a diving board and shoot straight through his stomach. Her sparkling eyes in the mudroom's shadows dotted his vision again. A gust of wind made her shake. He wrapped the quilt around them and huddled closer to her.
"Anytime, Erina."
They enjoyed the stillness, bundled up. Erina leaned her weight into his torso, and the warmth of her body made his abdomen tingle. He had no clue how she felt or what she was thinking then, but Soma welcomed it with open arms if this private moment between them indicated the kind of year he'd have. He returned the pressure.
"You smell nice, Yukihira."
~BADUM!~BADUM!~BADUM!~
He tilted his gaze down at her. "I do? Not like a boy?"
For the first time, at least towards him, Erina Nakiri giggled. "Like a nice-smelling boy."
Soma's heart soared. He grazed her hand between their thighs. "A 'nice-smelling' boy? Come on, Nakiri! I've heard you describe dishes better than that." She cocked her head, confused. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Try harder."
"Try harder?"
"Yeah, give me a better description of how I smell. As if you were judging a meal."
"Uh...Yukihira? I don't know who you take me for or what kinks you're into, but-"
"Erina, I'm just asking for your imagination. Not your body." He wouldn't object to that either.
Her whole body stuttered. "Oh-I...I, uh..."
"Never mind," Soma chuckled, scratching his nape. "That may have been too pushy. I apolo-"
"Your top note smells of...bergamot, cardamom, and pink peppercorn, like a warm, cozy apartment in the wintertime, still lingering with the rich, savory smell of a lovely family dinner just finished, as the family cuddles and laughs around the fireplace, sipping hot drinks. The bottom note is cedarwood, jasmine, and fresh pine, a musky, woodsy smell that clings to your body during a nature hike in the early morning, like you're being hugged by a cloud at the top of a mountain overlooking a peaceful valley in the countryside. Your heart note is..."
Soma's heart felt like helium was inflated by each description dripping off her sensual lips. He felt woozy as if his head was swimming in her words.
"Stop." He laid his head on top of hers. "You paint with words. Can't give it all away for free. You might spoil me."
"Hardly. These are simply fact-based scent notes analyzed by my olfactory receptors and then cross-referenced using metaphors for comprehension."
"You are brilliant, Nakiri."
"What an obvious statement to make."
"Speaking of obvious. You never RSVP'd to my tournament later today. Will you be there so I can beat you once and for all and finally get you to say my food is delicious?"
"Mmm...I'm still considering it," she teased.
"What? Afraid to lose in front of all our mates?"
"Soma, please. It's too late at night to be so ridiculous! I'm one of one. I have no peers." She pressed her arm into his shoulder. Another current of that inconspicuous spark passed through them.
"Is it ridiculous to see you as my equal?"
"Well, yes!" She giggled with a scoff.
They talked and cuddled on the veranda for hours.
Of course, about food, flavor palates, sourcing, and various cooking techniques, but Soma was wary about her God Tongue; he'd already benefited so much from her gift that he didn't want to get used to it. Besides, there would never be a dire situation where his reliance on her mystical tastebuds would make or break his career, right?
Nevertheless, he was right to find Erina fascinating. Her mind held a wellspring of knowledge about many fine dining topics, but it didn't stop there. That girl knew something substantial about everything cultured and credible, from history to art.
"Oh, right! Ryo did say you have a rare book collection."
Erina had been discussing the history of written recipes and cookbooks for a while. Still, it morphed into an ardent rant about the importance of proper book care and rare book preservation. She paused and squinted her eyes.
"Why would Ryo tell you that, and when did he?"
Soma innocently scratched his temple. "Um, it had to be late Summer or early Fall. He invited Akira and me to your mansion for an informal Food War."
"You were in my home without my knowledge?"
"Yah! But you weren't there. Kurokiba said you'd gone out on a..." he really didn't want to finish his sentence. She jutted her head impatiently.
"Gone out on a what, Yukihira?"
"On a date," he strained out. He wanted to vomit.
"Oh."
"Yeah, so how's that going?"
"Didn't I tell you and Rindo to mind your businesses, not mine?"
"Oh, was that really about Eishi?"
"Yes. No... Kind of."
"That's not a straightforward answer at all," he laughed.
She sighed and turned to lean her back on the railing. "Because it's not. It's...complicated. And I don't know how to simplify it without letting something go."
"I think I get that..."
"Wait. Soma, you're not in a relationship, are you?"
"What?!"
"Well, I suppose it would make sense, given how close you've gotten to Todokoro all year."
"Huh?!"
"No? It's not Megumi Tadokoro?"
"No, I'm not dating Megumi! She's my best friend!" He laughed louder.
"Isn't that the most solid foundation for a relationship?"
"I suppose, but I don't know. You're the one in the relationship. So, you tell me."
"Oh-"
He noticed she did not tell him. "And except for Meat-Meat, I don't hang out with other girls alone. I don't have the time."
He wasn't sure why he desperately tried to explain himself to her, but he felt a weird obligation to move his tongue and clear the air.
"-Right. So, it's Ikumi Mito you're dating. That's why you were both at the gala together."
Erina had stopped making eye contact a while ago, but now she was looking past his head, almost as if afraid to see the answer in his eyes.
"Uh, Erina, you've got the wrong idea. I'm not dating anyone."
Her countenance changed. "You're not? I could've sworn that's what guests at the Mito Group's gala said was going on between you two... But that's good."
"So, you were aware of my presence that night? And what's good?"
"Don't worry about it. But I was. We spoke, did we not?" Erina feigned being aloof, but that was Soma's niche.
"We definitely did not," he side-eyed her. "We just kept meeting each other's eyes- Wait. Is that why you didn't speak to me that night? Because you thought I was dating Meat-Meat?"
"Her name is Ikumi, and were you not there as her date?"
"As her plus-one. But, I guess it was a date...nooo, don't give me that look! It was a date for the event. Totally different."
"Is it?"
"Speaking of dates, don't think I forgot. Where was yours that night?"
"Working."
"He seems to work a lot."
"He does."
"Must be tough juggling two hectic schedules in a relationship."
"It is."
He noticed her answers were becoming clipped. Was there more trouble in paradise than he assumed?
"Oh, by the way, this may not be my place, but I overheard you two's conversation the first night of the Moon Festival, and I gotta ask," Soma swallowed, hoping his intrusion would be interpreted as care or at least genuine concern. "...Nakiri, did he hit you?"
Erina stood without a word, but her face grew more indignant with each passing realization. "You were spying on my private conversation on my family's private estate, Yukihira? How dare you infringe on my personal life this way!"
"Erina, listen, I promise it wasn't intentional. I was just on a walk to clear my head for the next sales day, like when we stumbled into each other in the summer," he pleaded.
He took her pinky in his; she was rigid and barely holding on. "You said it's good I'm not dating anyone. But Nakiri? Are you good with who you're dating?"
Erina pulled her hand back and peeled the quilt off her shoulder. "Look, it's getting late and I'm done with this conversation, Yukihira. Here's your jacket." She calmly said. At least she didn't sound angry.
But maybe he should've kept his mouth shut.
"Did I say something to offend you?"
"Yes, Soma!"—Ah, there it is...—"You're out of line! You're always way out of line, Soma Yukihira! When will you ever learn your place?" She struggled to undo the zipper.
He held her wrists to stop her fidgeting.
"Keep it. It's even colder than we came out here four hours ago," he softly told her. She swiped her fists out of his grasp and turned away from him, arms crossed.
"Erina, I'm sorry. You're right; I crossed a line. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I shouldn't have pried. Maybe later today, you can punish my pride at my birthday tournament?" He weakly laughed.
"Happy birthday, Yukihira."
With her head held high, Erina walked away as if she had on six-inch heels and not house slippers, leaving him on the veranda watching her hair sway in the wind.
"...Thanks."
-8-
Things swiftly changed at Tohtsuki that week. Once word spread about the Ten's completed coup and the new academy director was installed, everyone could feel the tension in the air. But Soma was only focused on what he loved.
He'd been working on the same recipe for months now. He knew why but didn't know when it would be perfected. All he knew was that he needed it to be precisely what would blow the diner's mind whenever that time came. It's not a complicated recipe; it was actually the most straightforward dish he'd made since arriving at Tohtsuki, but something still seemed a bit…off. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he suspected it had to do with the main ingredient. The problem was that he wasn't sure if the brand, the quality, or his preparation method was causing the standstill.
But Soma was never the type of cower in the face of a dilemma. He'd figure it out like always, but he was running late to class.
He was ten minutes late to his live cooking seminar but earlier than the instructor. While the rest of the class chattered and worried about what could be the delay, Soma thought back to the weekend. He'd skipped the morning lecture with Erina to catch up on sleep—*childishly mutters* and to avoid her—and expected the rest of the day to be just as light and easygoing. Although he did need to talk with Meat—er, he meant Ikumi—to tell her he wished she was there, that was the least of his current worries.
Why was Erina suddenly so shifty? He knew she was private. Even her public social accounts revealed nothing personal about her, but they were alone, and he wasn't trying to make her feel uncomfortable. But if he were honest, he hadn't stopped thinking about how broken Erina sounded that night; he still heard the echo of the slap every time he heard a loud bang. Could someone experience vicarious trauma through a hedged wall? He wanted to get to the bottom of that feeling as soon as possible. Maybe he'd do it while mindlessly moving through the cooking process. The recipes they were given in this class were templates, nothing like how Chef Shinomiya ran Shino's. The muscle memory motions would help him organize his thoughts, and right now, his feelings about Erina were cluttering his mind.
However, the poison that seeped through his veins when Eishi Tsukasa walked in and announced that he'd be the guest cooking instructor sorted all that out.
.
.
.
"I gotta say, Eishi. I understood why you were the First Seat when I ate your food the first time, but that demo lecture was on another level," Soma admitted. He hated the guy, but he wasn't a hater. He didn't like the guy, but he wasn't delusional. Eishi was a phenomenal chef, and if he were cooking even a tenth as good as the dish he made for the Moon Banquet when he was a first-year, he undoubtedly earned his seat.
"Thanks, Yukihira. You're not too shabby with the uptake, yourself."
Soma ignored the compliment. "You're so cautious and delicate while you handle each ingredient. Does that bleed into other parts of your life? Like, say, your personal relationships?" Soma looked the third-year in the face as he diligently resharpened his knives.
"Huh, Yukihira? I don't understand what you're talking about."
"I'm just trying to get to know you better. Y'know, understand what it takes to occupy that coveted seat.
"You're a wily fox, Yukihira. You know that?" Eishi commented, his back turned to the boy as he slowly stirred a saucer pot. Soma could hear his smug voice bubbling over. "I've seen how you look at her," he said.
Soma hadn't had many conversations with Eishi Tsukasa. This was the longest the two teens had been in the same room. But Soma could not stand the guy! Besides the fact that he's been a bit jealous about Eishi dating Erina, Eishi betrayed Erina catastrophically by partnering with Azami Nakiri and overthrowing his girlfriend's grandfather. It didn't matter if he did it to get brownie points with her father—what he did was wrong. He knew it wasn't his business, but Soma couldn't forgive that.
So he challenged Tohtsuki—well, Central's—First Seat to an informal, impromptu Food War after class because he wanted to punch him dead in the face. But now, as he watched his chestnuts boil down, he was getting kind of nervous about his impulsive declaration.
"You're one to talk," Soma scoffed. "I've seen how you act towards her."
The tall, lithe boy with eyes like glacial waters peered at Soma from under his wispy bowl cut. "What is that supposed to mean? Are you saying you don't like me with Erina?"
"You ain't shit, Tsukasa, is what that's supposed to mean."
Eishi immediately fell into an anxious ball and rocked back and forth. It shocked and disgusted Soma how the boy's fragile ego turned on a dime. "Oh no, you don't like me? Is this because Erina is your friend? First Hisako, then Alice, and even Ryo! But now, you? But you like everyone, Soma."
"I don't, but, uh…First Seat? Shouldn't you check on your venison? Don't want it to overcook and then lose to a rebellious first-year, now do you?"
Eishi stood up like a pin and returned to his austere demeanor. "Don't worry about me, Yukihira. That will never happen. I've honed this recipe to perfection. This is my Specialty."
"Your specialty, huh? Well, we'll see how it measures up to my specialty!"
"Soma, you cannot beat me," Eishi sternly declared. The only time his confidence never wavered was in conversations like this. Eishi stared Soma down through his icy bangs, astonished that he would even hope to dream. "I will not lose. At least, not to you."
"Oh yeah? Just wait."
For some strange reason, Soma sensed her the second she approached and hid below the classroom window. He had every intention of continuing his conversation with Eishi but recalling how Erina responded to his prying the other night; he chose to pick only one battle.
For now.
"Let's just start this Food War so I can quickly end it, beating you!"
.
.
.
After Erina declared Eishi the winner and Eishi called off the deal to force Soma to be his sous chef, she stayed behind to talk to her boyfriend, bidding Hisako and Megumi goodbye. She said nothing to him and barely looked his way throughout the battle, so Soma decided to give them space, too.
"Hey, Todokoro. Let's head home and watch some classic food wars battles. I need some ideas on how I will take down Central."
"Soma-kun...I know you're angry-"
"Hey! You know what? I'm craving some of your specialty onigiri. Could you whip some up for us to share as a pick-me-up while I bathe?"
"Uh, yeah. That's no problem at all. What fillings do you want?"
"Mm...surprise me. Your food is comforting no matter what's in it."
.
.
.
Soma was laid out on a blanket, munching on the food Megumi made best. He stared up at the evening clouds passing by the open veranda. It was convenient that the outdoor area was directly across from their neighboring dorm rooms because, though the days were getting colder, the fresh air sated him. Megumi poured some barley tea from the thermos she brought up and handed him a cup.
"Ahhh...thanks for this, Megumi. This feels like a hug."
"You're welcome...would you like a real hug, though?"
The two friends squeezed into an embrace, and their body heat made the cold easier to withstand. They settled back into their chill session, Soma picking up the last pork-belly-filled onigiri and Megumi pouring herself a cup of tea.
"It seems like you and Nakiri-san have been getting along lately."
"Hm? You think so?" he said with his mouth full. "I mean, I guess she hasn't been as prickly with me since the last night of the Moon Festival."
"Do you like her?"
The question came so far out of left field that it almost gave him whiplash.
"Yeah...she's Erina Nakiri. Who doesn't? What's not to like?"
"No, I mean...like, like."
Soma looked at Megumi. It never occurred to him that she'd be a good person to talk about girls with, and it's not like he had any reason to before.
"Yeah, I think I do. Is it that obvious?"
"You talk about her a lot."
"I do?"
"Like, all the time."
"Heh, I didn't realize it was that much. But it's Nakiri. So, there's no way she feels the same way. Exhibit: My birthday Shokugeki tournament."
"...I'll be honest with you, Soma-kun, but that's not what it looked like at your birthday party."
Soma's head exploded.
-8-
When Erina Nakiri ran away from her father and hid in Kyokusei, Soma thought nothing of it. The first night he saw her in the house, he could almost not believe it. The girl who refused to attend his birthday tournament just last weekend sat alone on the staircase leading to his dorm room. He knew enough of Erina Nakiri's family background, thanks to the now-former director popping up on him to divulge their family business; he did not want to know, but he respected the man too much to cut him off. Hearing what she went through made his heart crack and made her reaction on that Moon Festival night understandable. It's not that he didn't care about her safety because, honestly, no one was safer at the academy than Erina and Alice, he supposed.
But Soma couldn't afford to be distracted. So, despite all the drama in his crush's family life, he wouldn't let that change how he acted around the runaway princess.
Instead, he told his crush's intimidating grandfather that he was solely focused on doing what he intended from the beginning: make Erina say that precious word. Apart from that, his only concern was to ensure his friends and new home were safe. He just didn't tell Senzaemon Nakiri that that included his granddaughter, too.
He remembered Megumi's question. I mean, we are friends now, right?
After the Halloween party...even though she didn't attend the next day…and now that she was staying in the room next door to his, he could call her that. Right? He'd be lying if he said it didn't give him a rush and sudden start to his day to know they were sleeping a thin wall apart.
These were his thoughts as he found himself, on a whim, going grocery shopping at one of the many on-campus grocery stores for students. As a chef, following the spontaneous urge to pick up ingredients for experimentation and cooking was essential. He entered the multi-leveled building and went straight to the dairy section, something he rarely did without already knowing what he would make because dairy was too expensive spoiled too quickly to procrastinate its use, and let's just say Joichiro Yukihira was horrible at keeping Soma's bank account in the black.
But for some random reason, he felt drawn to pick up a crate of on-sale eggs, being marked thirty percent off its already highly affordable cost. They were generic, probably from one of the school's various egg vendors' more common coops. But it was perfect. The name of the dish he'd been working so hard on came to him.
Chicken Egg Tempura Don.
Once he got home, he froze the crate to preserve the eggs. He had no idea when he would use them, but his chef-tuition told him to keep them on standby.
Until he heard a light knock on his bedroom door two nights later.
a/n: yeowzers! i did not expect for this chapter to be so long. y'all were really supposed to get a 3K out of this chapter, tops! but then my mind was split about splitting it in half bc it felt incomplete to bring all the major players of our story into one chapter and not dig deep into their dynamics and relationship updates. so, here we are. do you like the title? see what i did there? sometimes i wonder how i feel about eishi being our romantic rival bc i love him sm in the original works and they're so compatible on paper that i think if soma never came to the academy, E = MC-squared would've been endgame for erina. idk, i just sense a look of love-lost angst when i think about eishi. he's still fucked for siding with azami, though, and i can't wait for what comes next.
p.s.: as always, i love reading your comments, so pls leave a review, follow, favorite, and share this novel with someone in the fandom you think would enjoy reading it, too! while you're at it, show my shonen 'n spirituality substack some love while you're at it [link in profile!]
p.p.s.: also, happy cowboy carter day! happy spring equinox, happy belated holi, and happy easter to all who believe/celebrate!
-You're Welcome!-
8.20withlove
-i don't own the rights to Shokugeki no Sōma, wahwahwaaaah
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