Nakiri Erina. A princess and heiress of Tootsuki Academy, well known as The God Tongue for her divine ability of food tasting. Every student in Tootsuki knew her, all bowed down to her. Everyone but a boy.

Yukihira Soma. A boy of Yukihira diner, fearless and careless. His passion for cooking was like a flame, picturing his high enthusiasm and creativity.

Ever since Soma appeared in her life, Erina's well-regulated world crashed in chaos. His unorthodox cooking was something Erina couldn't accept. Even when his food was unfortunately delicious.

"Yo, Erina! Here, try my new dish!" Soma, once in while, would come to her, shoving his new food invention to her mouth.

"W-What are you doing, Yukihira?! I didn't say-" and her sentence would be cut off by a spoonful of food he made.

Soma would ask "How is it?" while grinning, waited Erina to answer. One absolute answer, an exact same sentence.

"It's disgusting!" Erina would say, with flustered face of holding the truth. His food was always good and feels like a warm embrace. But she never acknowledged it, not even once.

Soma would chuckle lightly, knowing that she was being dishonest. "Well, I gotta try again, I guess? Till later, Erina!"

Erina pouted. "Since when did I allow you to call me Erina?! It's Na-"

"Since I always give you permission to call me Soma." He would whisper to her ear, cutting her sentence in the middle. He always could make her heart beats faster, thumping like crazy.

Erina was sobbing uncontrollably. Soma was here, right in front of her, but he neither could talk nor even move. Soma was in coma.

###

Never once in her life, Erina thought she would fall in love with Soma.

Right after the promotion exam of 3rd grade, Soma kept approaching Erina. He showed up with his new dishes, saying that he would try harder this year because it's their final year and his promise has not been yet fulfilled. The promise to have Erina said his food was delicious. So, there they went, day by day, getting closer and closer. Their position as top two students in Tootsuki wasn't helping at all. Erina met him almost every day, be it in a class or in Elite Ten meeting. She was upset, Soma was always teasing her again and again.

"Erina! Wanna go for a movie tonight? Pops gave me 2 tickets earlier, saying I should ask one of my friends for company." Soma asked her one day, after one of Elite Ten meetings finished.

Erina frowned. "Friends? Since when am I one of your friends?"

Soma scratched his neck. "I always consider you a friend, I guess? Well, I'll ask Tadokoro if you don't want to."

"I'll go." Erina said without thinking, by the name of Tadokoro Megumi mentioned. She didn't know why, but the girl's name always left unexplainable feeling on her chest.

"Good! I'll pick you up at 7, see ya!" Soma grinned, caressing her hair lightly before he left, leaving the blonde blushed like a fresh tomato.

That night, Soma came on his bike to Nakiri Mansion, exactly at 7. Erina showed up wearing a blue t-shirt, denim jacket, and jeans, her hair tied up in ponytail.

"Pretty." Soma said when Erina had been standing in front of him. Erina's face reddened in embarrassment. She was used to a compliment, but not a personal compliment like this, let alone from her archenemy.

"Wait Soma, we're going by this? A bike?!" Her eyes widen. Soma nodded, grinning. "Right. Will be your first experience, eh-wait, what did you call me?"

"S-Soma? I thought you said it's okay?" Erina flustered.

"I did. Didn't expect you to agree this soon, though." Soma smiled, looking at her teasingly.

"Well Yukihira, are we going or not?" She hid her embarrassment in her commanding tone.

Soma chuckled. "Soma is okay, Erina. I like it. Here, you wear this first." He gave her a helmet. She wore it, hop on the bike and they were ready to depart. "Oh right, I almost forgot." Soma took Erina's hands, pulled it toward his stomach and linking it there. "Now, hold on tight!"

Erina's face once again flushing red. She was practically hugging him, right? Erina could die in embarrassment caused only by this boy's doing tonight.

###

After that night, each member of Elite Ten knew there was something between the two, no matter how many times they denied it. Hisako had asked Erina several times, but Erina kept on stating they were just friends. Alice had given up asking Erina, considering the two an item already. But she was still pestering Ryou to ask Soma the truth when he met the latter. Akira only shrugged it off, he knew the two would become an item eventually. He already observed their interactions so many times to be convinced. While Megumi was surprised at first then only wished them for the best. She was happy to see Soma happy, he was her best friend after all.

"Erina, are you free on Saturday night?" Soma asked, this time after their class finished.

"Saturday night? Let me ask Hisako first. I'll tell you later. Hm, why are you asking?" Erina answered, staring at the red-haired boy.

Soma chuckled at her answer. "Princess gonna be a princess, eh? You don't even know your own schedule."

"D-don't blame me! I'm not as neat as Hisako in arranging something. That, I must admit." Erina pouted.

"Well, thought you might want to have some fresh air. You looked tired lately." Soma said lightly.

Did he pay attention to me? How did he know that I was not feeling good these days? These thoughts alone made her cheeks redden in embarrassment.

"Earth to Erina?" Soma said, his face was a mere few inches from hers.

"W-what are you doing?!" Erina threw her gaze on the floor.

"Nothing. Just checking where you are." Soma grinned cheekily. "So? I guess I'll have the answer tonight?"

Erina nodded, let out a small smile curved up her lips. "I'll go first, then."

###

Soma was laying down on his bed when his phone buzzed shortly.

From: Erina

I'll be free on Saturday night.

Only one sentence. Short and straight to the point. Soma smiled, typing the reply for the blonde girl.

To: Erina

Alright, that's great! See you on Saturday!

Soma could hardly wait for Saturday to arrive.

###

Erina had never climbed a hill before. This was her first time. Breeze blew her hair softly. The red-haired chef walked a few steps ahead her, checking on her in every minutes, securing the path first. It's already past 10 when they reached its top. Soma laying down on the grass, taking some deep breaths.

"HAAAAAH. I think I'm getting old now, it's exhausting." Soma closed his eyes.

"Of course you are, idiot. There's no one getting young!" Erina sat beside him, organizing her breath.

Soma laughed at Erina's words. "Oh, c'mon Erina! Relax, will you? I take you here not to get mad at me, okay?

Erina shrugged her shoulder nonchalantly. Soma pulled her down, making the girl fall onto the grass. She's now laying side to side with Soma.

"W-what are you-" Erina was ready to shout at the boy, when he cut off saying "Ssssh, look." Soma's index finger pointed at the sky, which has become a full-blacked canvas with scattered stars.

Erina turned quiet. Those stars blinked at her like giving her their greetings. She let out a soft smile, muttered a small "thank you" to the boy beside her. No words out for the next 10 minutes, until Soma broke the silence.

"Erina?"

"Hm?

"This is so cheesy and shameless and ugh I don't even know how to say it but it keeps bothering me."

"Okay, what is it?"

"Iloveyou."

"W-what?"

Soma sighed. It's now or never. "I love you, Nakiri Erina. Yeah you can laugh at me. I must sound pathetic to confess like this. I know that I'm nowhere near your level but I-"

"Took you long enough." Erina cut his words. She was now staring at his golden eyes.

"I-what? You know?" Soma blushed.

"Not really. Since I've never been in a relationship before, I'm just guessing why you act suspicious."

"Me? Suspicious?"

"Asked me to watch a movie, called my first name, noticed that I'm tired. It counts as suspicious, you know?"

"So, you know." Soma blushed even harder. "Then, what do you think-"

Erina's lips on his was an aswer. Soma felt an electric jolt running down his spine. It's weird but fun. Her lips was soft and sweet. She smelled like a strawberry. Soma closed his eyes, pulling Erina closer to him, his heart thumping like crazy.

Those stars were witnessing the start of a painful relationship.

Hi! This is the first chapter on my first attempt writing here! Hm, mostly will have flashbacks on how Soma get into the current condition. Well, that's it. Kindly drop your review so that I know how you feel after read this, please? Ehe see you later!