"You gotta admit," said Souma in between bites of the herbed roast duck, which was served to their table just moments ago, "this is solidly tasty. Nakiri's cooking has really improved, huh?"

Megumi nodded, her eyes widening in delight as she breathlessly relished the marriage of meat and wine. If there was a word she could describe the sauce with, it had to be 'harmonious', given how not one ingredient competed with and smothered the rest of the flavors. In most dishes, the protein was typically the king of the dish, but the famed wielder of God's Tongue had other plans; she sneakily transformed a mere sauce into the crowning star of the plate, with its memorably unique flavor that nearly rendered the meat invisible.

An impressive feat, indeed.

The buzzes from the remaining few guests inside the restaurant sounded, and when Megumi followed everyone's appreciative glances, she realized why.

Nakiri Erina, dressed in a knee-length pastel green dress that swayed gracefully as she walked, approached each patron smilingly and asked how they've enjoyed their meals so far. The responses were overwhelmingly positive as expected, but Megumi couldn't help but notice how their gushing words made her light up every time.

Whether a simple home cook or a celebrated chef, one thing's for sure, thought the dark-haired lass, seeing your diners full and happy is the most satisfying reward in the world.

"It's great that Nakiri actually talks to her patrons now," remarked Souma, who was watching their schoolmate, too. "I thought she only functions in two modes: grouchy, and happy-but-pretends-to-be-grouchy-anyway."

She sweatdropped at that. "I hope Souma-kun learns from Nakiri-san's example and chats with the guests as well. You always stay in the kitchen and put me on the frontline."

He smirked. "Only with the food critics—you always have the patience to deal with those freeloading nitpickers. The rest of our customers, I am always happy to deal with."

Erina finally made it to their table. In a series of fluid movements that Megumi had come to admire, she took her seat, placed a napkin on her lap, and accepted the plate that was promptly served to her by the staff. "By now, I hope Yukihira Souma has run out of wisecracks to say about me."

"T-That's not true, Nakiri-san!" protested Megumi quickly. "In fact, he's happy to see that you're now more comfortable chatting with people."

Souma nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I thought only Arato could see you smile genuinely because she's the only one who can stand you-"

"GRRR!"

"—which would have been a shame, because smiling becomes you," he finished, smiling as well. "It's good you're doing that more often now."

Erina's face was still flushed, but she leaned back against her seat and put down the shaker she was earlier planning to target the male's head with. "Enough about me. How have you two been?"

"Well, we've been travelling around the world to learn as much as we can about cooking." Souma began to share culinary stories about the places they had visited: the sophisticated artistry of spices in India, the fresh simplicity of Italians; the intriguing counterpoints among Philippine dishes; and the colorful fusions of Hawaiian cooking.

Erina was an apt listener, taking in his stories and asking questions that Megumi was sure would be used in Noblesse's kitchen one of these days. The former First Seat was only too happy to be the former Second Seat's sounding board, affirming her techniques which he thought was right and suggesting ideas on approaches that could improve her way of cooking.

They're in a good mood now, noted Megumi, torn between relief and discomfort. They may not freely admit it, but once Souma-kun and Nakiri-san pair up in the same kitchen, they'll blow everyone away. She knew they were both individually gifted with immense cooking talent, but seeing them passionately exchanging ideas about the world's kitchens and cooking styles, she could now clearly see how big the difference was between geniuses like them and normal chefs like her.

And I had the audacity to think that I can provide sufficient support to someone as talented as Souma-kun, she thought contritely. Souma-kun certainly deserves someone better.

"… Tadokoro is much better than me when it comes to finding substitute for seasonal produce, though. What can you say about the ingredients that Nakiri is planning to use, Tadokoro?" Souma turned to her expectantly. She, in turn, couldn't admit that she had no idea about the last thing anyone said.

"A-Anou…" She frantically looked around the room. "I-I'm sorry, but I-I have to go to the restroom. Which way should I go?"

"I'll have my staff assist you." The blonde chef beckoned Hisako to her side. "Can you please have someone guide Tadokoro-san in finding the lavatory?"

To which, the manager smiled reassuringly. "It'll be my pleasure to do it myself." Then the pink-haired woman turned to her courteously. "Tadokoro-san, please follow me."

Megumi got up and hastily excused herself from the table.

.

.

.

"How do you like our meals so far? Are they to your satisfaction?" asked Hisako as they leisurely crossed the room.

Megumi clasped her hands together and bowed gratefully towards her friend. "The food and wine are wonderful! Thank you so much for inviting me and Souma-kun again!"

"You are so welcome, Tadokoro-san." The restaurant manager faced her with a gentle smile. "Like I said, Erina-sama has been waiting for you for years."

There it was again—her classmate said the same thing over the phone. "W-What do you mean, Arato-san? Why would Nakiri-san be waiting for me?" Then she lightly knocked her palm with her rolled fist when realization hit her. "Oh, I see! It's the manga, isn't it? I am so sorry if it took me so long to return them! Is there any way I could make up for my rudeness?"

Instead of answering her, Hisako asked, "Did Erina-sama mention anything about a letter she needed you to give?"

Megumi tried to recall her last few interactions at the culinary academy before she and Souma left. "Let's see… yes, she mentioned a letter when we met after the graduation ceremony. But I told her that time that we didn't get to see each other so I never got the letter-"

"It was a letter from Erina-sama to Yukihira-kun. Erina-sama was hoping you can pass it along to him without everyone else knowing, and among all people close to Yukihira-kun, she trusts you the most."

Her eyes widened. "A last-minute shokugeki?!"

The corner of Hisako's mouth twitched. "It's actually a love confession."

"O-Oh." Her shoulders slumped. Nakiri-san… liked Souma-kun back after all. Kami-sama knew how desperately she wanted to be happy for her partner, for the many years that he carried a torch for her would not go unrewarded. In all of the five years she spent secretly watching Yukihira Souma, she never saw him take interest in any other woman—not even once. He was an eagle that flew many miles across seas and lands, but was bound lifelong to solely one mate back home.

So please, Kami-sama, make this horrible pain in go away. Her trembling hand reached for her chest and clenched it. Help me honor my promise… to support him with everything I've got. I want to see Souma-kun happy, I really do. So, please… please…

"We're here," announced Hisako, stopping in front of an elegant black door flanked by potted plants at either side. "I will wait for you outside, Tadokoro-san."

"T-Thank you," she whispered, electing not to meet the woman's gaze in fear of revealing how she felt at that moment. She was about to turn the knob when the woman spoke softly.

"I guess I was right to not meet you with the letter back then, huh?"

Megumi turned to Hisako, and saw that any trace of formality in the manager's countenance had vanished, leaving only empathy and a touch of sadness. This compassion from her schoolmate was the final straw: she rushed towards Hisako and sobbed violently against her chest.

"Then and now, you still…" Hisako smoothed her hair comfortingly. "You're amazing, Megumi-san."

.

.

.

"Are you sure you cannot stay for the rest of the day?" asked Erina as she stood on the train platform with Souma and Megumi. Erina's trusty aide had decided to stay behind in the restaurant to prepare for the evening's service.

Souma cocked his brows teasingly. "What, you need more free culinary advice from the top graduate of the 92nd Totsuki Generation, hmm? Sorry, but I would have to charge consultation fees next time."

"As if!" Erina turned to Megumi next. "Are you sure you're going to be fine during the trip? It's going to be a long train ride to Tohoku, and Hisako says your allergic reaction was really bad. Your eyes were really swollen when you returned to our table. Are you positive it wasn't our food?"

She vehemently shook her head. "It isn't the food, Nakiri-san! I-I'm pretty sure it was one of the plants in the restaurant." She felt Souma's skeptical gaze on her as she spoke—she couldn't blame him: never once did he witness an allergic episode from his long-time partner.

"I'll make sure to have our landscaper come over ASAP to check on it. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience we've caused," said the blonde chef apologetically. "The next time you come over, it's on the house."

A-Again? Megumi waved her hands frantically. "N-No, it's too much, Nakiri-san!"

"Oh, and also…" Erina handed her a book. "Think of this as my 'welcome back' gift."

Megumi's jaw dropped when she saw the cover. "The final volume of Noblesse Oblige? I couldn't find a copy of this anywhere after the mangaka passed away! I heard they raised the prices of these astronomically and I can't accept this—"

"Yes, you will accept it, and yes, you're welcome," interrupted the Second Seat with a smile.

"Where's my gift?" complained the red-haired male.

Erina shrugged. "I don't have any more left. I do have a BL here in my bag, if it's something you're interested to explore?"

"What's a BL? A bacon and lettuce sandwich?"

"Here comes the train," announced Megumi quickly upon seeing the devilish grin on the woman's face.

"Take care, you globetrotters." Erina gave them a final wave. "Keep making Totsuki proud."

"You, too, God's Tongue," Souma waved back as he stepped into the passenger car. "Keep giving us lowly mortals a taste of ambrosia."

Erina smilingly turned to Megumi and, to the latter's surprise, gave her a warm, friendly hug. "Feel better, Tadokoro-san. Call me anytime in the morning so we can discuss about the manga. I would love to know what you think of the ending!"

"Nakiri-san, thank you—"

"Don't worry about it!"

"And I'm sorry," she whispered tightly. "I'm so sorry for taking too long to return what rightfully belongs to you."

Erina patted her shoulders reassuringly. "It's no big deal! I've read all those chapters several times anyway. You're worrying too much over the manga-" She gasped when she finally realized what the braided woman was trying to imply.

"Oi, Tadokoro! Our train's getting ready to leave!" yelled Souma urgently.

"Please take good care of him," whispered Megumi beseechingly before pulling back from a visibly stunned Erina. She briskly walked towards the train where Souma was waiting, his hand held out to help her get into the coach more quickly.

She reached out to him, but grabbed his arm instead of his hand. Then with all her might, she pulled him down and used the momentum she gained to propel herself into the coach. Souma landed on the station floor with a thud.

"Nakiri-san is in love with you, too, Souma-kun!" she called out just as the train doors slid shut.

She saw Erina rush worriedly to Souma's side; saw the flabbergasted expression on Yukihira Souma's face slowly transform to infuriation.

Souma-kun, you're like the noble Knight who's too kind to leave a comrade behind, so I have no choice but to take the first step away instead. She placed her fingers against the train window despondently. All I ask of you… is to please be happy and well with the Princess.

She felt immensely relieved when she felt the train roar to life to transport her away from the awful scene.

.

.

.

How many hours had it been since she camped out on the fishing dock to hide herself away from her curious town mates who were looking for her red-haired boss? The sensible side of her head insisted that it was easier to explain to them casually that they parted ways so he could visit his own hometown. But the prevailing, emotional side of her head threatened to betray her true feelings if she so much as hears his name again.

Souma-kun. She could feel her tear ducts acting up again. Oh, how she regretted the times she promised she would never forget him—the first time after he saved her from expulsion, and then once more by the poolside in the Dubai oasis. She imagined that someday she would look back at her memories of him quite fondly, but at the present, it was dealing her nothing but pain.

She tucked her knees below her chin and buried her face in the crook of her arms. I'm sorry, Souma-kun. I really want to be happy for you, but my heart is so selfish… so stupid. What a horrible friend I am to you.

"TADOKORO!" shouted a heartbreakingly familiar voice from the distance.

Oh, great. Of all the memories I have to remember now, why does it have to be an angry Souma-kun? she thought miserably.

"OI, TADOKORO!"

She swore she could hear the voice louder now, this time coupled with heavy, purposeful footsteps heading her way. Was she really that attuned to him that she could recollect every aspect of him so vividly and stitch together such a lucid hallucination of her partner?

Her mouth dropped open when she felt someone yanked her hand to pull her up her feet. She was met by the blazing furious eyes of Yukihira Souma in the flesh.

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?" he shouted, rocking her in the process. "You left me in the station with NO money, NO mobile phone, NO train ticket—that was a stupid prank, Tadokoro! How would have I gotten home if Nakiri wasn't around to lend me train fare?"

His sharp, accusatory tone was too much even for her. "That was NOT a prank, Souma-kun! And you WERE home! You were already in Tokyo, YOU STUPID, HARD-HEADED, UNFEELING, INCORRIGIBLE NIMROD!" she snapped, pushing him away. Whether it was the unexpected rise in her voice, her lame attempt at calling him names, or her forceful movement to free herself from his grip, it seemed to have impacted him enough to soften his incensed stance.

"What am I missing here?" he asked, more calmly this time. "First, you tried to surprise me with a visit to Nakiri's restaurant—which was mildly annoying because I wanted to spend a few more days of vacation with you before we meet other friends. For the past five years, all we've been doing is work in the kitchen and serve our customers: I was looking forward to doing something for ourselves for a change. And then you start matchmaking me with Nakiri, but when I asked you why you were doing that, all you can give me was the pained look of a badly constipated person."

"SOUMA-KUN!"

He raised his hand to ask her to let him continue uninterrupted. "You left me alone in the table with Nakiri, and you came back with your eyes swollen from a plant allergy that I'm sure as hell didn't exist until today. And then finally, you left me narrowly stranded penniless in the train station with bruises after that fall. So I hope you would understand why I'm really, really pissed right now."

"Didn't you hear what I said back at the station?" she cried. "Nakiri-san is—"

"—she likes me," he interrupted matter-of-factly. "So what? Why did you leave me with her?"

"Because she's right there, Souma-kun!" she exclaimed in incredulous frustration. "The woman you can't forget! The woman who refuses to accept you! The woman you want to give all your food to!"

"The woman my father warned me about," he intoned with her, drawing closer to her. "The woman who pushes me to become the best person I can be in order to be worthy of her."

She stepped back instinctively to maintain their distance, yet at the same time she knew that, too, would do nothing to protect her from the fresh surge of ache enveloping her again. It only reminded her that the harder she tried to forget him, the more that she remembered him.

I give up, she thought, finally letting her tears flow unbridled. If this stupid, stubborn, unfeeling man is the person I will love for all time, then so be it.

"That woman is not Nakiri," he stated truthfully.

Eh?

"It's-Tadokoro, look out!"

It was too late. Megumi ran out of space to retreat to, and she toppled backwards to the chilly seawater. Souma quickly jumped in to follow her.

.

.

.

Megumi surfaced from the water, followed by Souma. The first thought in her mind was how lucky they were that the dock was built on the shallower end of the beach.

"Are you okay? Do you feel hurt anywhere?" he asked, wading towards her.

Déjà vu. That was the only way she could describe the situation they were in at the moment. In response, she firmly shook her head.

"Right," he replied curtly before cupping both sides of her face so he could, as always, scrutinize her for honesty.

Or she thought that was what he was going to do, until she felt his lips touch hers. It was feathery, almost tentative, as if he was holding a fragile doll rather than a fully grown woman in her twenties. She involuntarily closed her eyes as he held her to him tighter, defying the chill of the night breeze and the sea water.

"Souma-kun," she murmured in a daze when he momentarily leaned back to gaze at her. "T-This must have been a mistake—"

He kissed her yet again, more deeply this time. Like a parched sand dunes explorer who suddenly discovered an oasis in the peak of his weakness, he greedily consumed her till the very last drop. When their lips parted, it was only then that she recalled the necessity to breathe.

"A mistake, when repeated more than once, is a decision," he quipped with a smile. "Let's get out of the water." Without waiting for her response, he scooped her up into his arms and trudged back to drier land while carrying her like a child.

"S-Souma-kun, I don't understand," she began. "I was trying to help you and Nakiri-san to get together because I thought she was the person you couldn't forget."

He chuckled. "I sort-of figured that out in the elevator this afternoon."

"B-But if it's not Nakiri-san, who is it?"

He laid her down to a seat carefully, and then flopped down beside her. "Listen carefully to me, Tadokoro, because, believe me, I'm not going to want to repeat this entire schtick."

For someone who had just been plunged into icy-cold water minutes ago, she noted that his cheeks seemed redder than expected. But she decided against mentioning this. She nodded as a prompt to have him continue instead.

He looked out at the sea and began to narrate. "Five years ago, I fell in love with a beautiful, crazy talented, and kind-hearted aspiring chef in Japan. However, I could see back then that this woman was never going to accept me the way I hoped to be. She was so young and unsure of her abilities, and she looked up to me like I was her hero. I wanted her to see me as an equal, so I thought she and I should start out as partners instead. Then we can tour the world together and accomplish awesome things that I know she's very much capable of. I want her to see herself the way I did: incredibly brilliant, unbelievably big-hearted, and completely amazing in every way."

He finally turned to her, an affectionate smile on his face. "That girl back then and the woman I'm sitting here with right now; the same person who told me that she would never forget me and stupidly thought her words would not affect me in any way after hearing that; the woman who I jealously want to keep hidden in a sack away from those idiots who desire her, but at the same time I want to proudly share to the world because she's such a badass. My partner and closest friend, and the woman I will never, ever forget.

"It's you, Tadokoro," he finished, his tone earnest. "And no one else comes close."

She felt the waves kissing her toes, as well as the nippy coastal breeze that was shrouding her shivering form. But these and everything else faded insignificantly into the background as she finally processed what he had just lengthily laid out before her.

"Thank you," she managed to say at last as she crouched towards him, "for waiting for me all these years to catch up. Thank you, Souma-kun."

"Heck, I was planning to use that speech as my last-ditch sales pitch to your mom—" He was pleasantly silenced by Megumi's lips on his own.

Those who float away their lives on ships or who grow old leading horses are forever journeying,

And their homes are wherever their travels take them.

He would always be home, as long as he was traveling with his partner.

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.

.

"I can't believe you told poor Megumi about that stupid antic I did back in high school," complained Erina as she and Hisako sipped wine in the bar. The resto had closed for the evening and it was only them and a handful of cleaning staff left in the establishment.

Hisako giggled at the sour expression on her friend's face. "You're adorable, Erina-sama. You're the only person I know who'll ask her love rival to hand off a love letter to the same boy they like."

"I DIDN'T KNOW!"

"And here I thought you were already genre-savvy with it, thanks to your shoujo manga immersion."

"Are you getting smart with me, Hisako?"

The manager brought the wine glass to her lips. "And that's why you made that trip to Tohoku—you felt guilty and wanted to make it up to Tadokoro-san."

"I wasn't feeling guilty at all!" snapped Erina. "Just a little… bothered. I never got to properly apologize to her for being so callous with her feelings."

Hisako shrugged. "After having met Tadokoro Megumi today, I can confidently tell you that she never thought you have anything to apologize for."

"Really, huh?" Erina moved her wine glass in a circle, looking thoughtful. "I guess I also wanted to see her as a form of closure. To put my feelings to rest, I wanted to see with my own eyes the woman that Yukihira Souma left Totsuki and Japan for."

"You're just like her, huh?" murmured Hisako, smiling at the irony of the situation.

"Hmm?"

Hisako quickly shook her head. "Nothing. So how are you feeling now?"

"A little funny," she replied candidly. "It stings a bit to not be chosen this time after so many years of winning everything. But I can manage." Her eyes crinkled into a smile. "Besides, after seeing the lengths Megumi will do to see that bastard happy, I feel at ease that I'm leaving him in very capable hands."

"Let's drink to that!" Hisako raised her glass to prepare the toast. "To Erina-sama, for her selfless shoujo heroine persona in action!" The rest of the staff cheered and whistled in hearty response.

"If you were any less competent, Hisako, I would have fired you a long time ago," she grumbled lightheartedly before returning to nursing her drink.

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.

.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with the Princess?" demanded the Squire as the Knight helped her down from the hanging cage where she had been imprisoned for weeks. Beneath them, the evil King laid slain and defeated, unable to stand up against the Knight's newly forged weapon made from his broken sword and the Squire's abandoned staff.

"Precisely," he replied, as if he, too, was all for rationality and pragmatic sense. "I am saving my princess."

"Y-You must be confused, Sire. I am but a fisherman's daughter indebted to you for her life." She tried to step away from his touch.

He held her elbow to stop her. "I, too, am but a spoiled son of a castle dweller indebted to you for his life," he responded, bowing on his knees. "Mere blood can never be enough to fully demonstrate the heart's true nobility. I am in awe of you, Milady."

The Squire looked away, embarrassed by his outspoken praise.

"The Princess told me about the courageous sacrifice you made to save her and me," he began.

"You are welcome—"

"And it made me realize that not leaving you behind was beyond what I would do for a mere comrade. It's simply that losing you will be the death of me," he declared. "So, Milady, will you come and save me again, this time by consenting to have me become part of your life?"

.

.

.

"Still reading?" asked Souma, peering over his shoulders. He was hunched over, expertly shaping riceballs with his bare hands.

"Almost done," said Megumi, looking up quickly from the manga she was reading. Her partner volunteered to take over all kitchen duties before he leaves for the States the following week.

"Hah, you should be! I can't wait to have you taste my original recipe!"

Her forehead creased instantly in concern. "Please don't tell me you put octopus tentaclesin it, Souma-kun."

"Would I do that to you, Tadokoro, the woman I want to give all my food to?" He grinned mischievously at her. "I put cuttlefish in it, that's all."

"Souma-kun!"

THE END

A/N: Thank you for following this story so avidly! Hope you liked my Yuletide offering! It was wonderful writing for the Sou/Megu ship, and I hope to write another one someday. Have a great holiday, everyone!

- Syao