Chapter 1: A Moment Outside

Soooo, before I welcome you all to this story (or welcome you back to the first chapter), I just wanted to leave a quick, new note here. This is lamperouge rolo's and my freshly edited chapter. I rewrote and added a few things here- mainly some dialog, mainly because I think there wasn't enough of that in my story. So that'll be the case for all the chapters following this one. More dialog and rewritten text overall. I still hope you guys give it another read and see for yourselves what changed. I'd be super happy if you told me about it, guys. And I hope you enjoy it, of course.

One last thing. I'll always be leaving my edited notes at the end of the chapter. Just to inform you about what I mainly focused on in my edits. Thank you very much for reading this, guys. I really can't say this enough!

With that, let's move on with the original welcoming message, shall we?

Hey everyone!

Thank you so much for actually giving this a try, and a big welcome to my very first story. I have to say, I've never written a fanfic before, so this should be pretty interesting, right?

I intended this to be a short fiction with only a few chapters to see how it would go for me, but who am I kidding? I'm always dragging things out, so there's no way I'll be able to keep this short, hahahahahah. I always read tons of new stories here, and for the longest time now, I wished to publish one myself. But unfortunately, I never had the time, or felt confident enough to do that. Now though, I thought I could finally give it a shot, and… here we are.

I'm extremely nervous about this, mostly because I'm not from an English speaking country, you know? Regardless, I really hope this first chapter turned out okay.

Please, guys, write me a review and tell me what you think. I'm so not confident when it comes to these kinds of things. So please, tell me your criticism or general thoughts. That would really help me out.

So without further ado, I present you the first chapter of 'Truth'. I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer. Unfortunately, I don't own Shokugeki no Soma, but if I did… let's just say Soma and Erina would have hooked up a long time ago, hahahahahah.

And with that, I wish you a beautiful day/night.

Take care, everyone!

It's finally over.

At last, the nightmare has ended.

Outside, just past the doorframe leading towards the wide balcony of the Polar Star dormitory stood Nakiri Erina, watching the night sky with a peaceful expression on her face. Despite the strong winds blowing, she's pleasantly surprised that she feels somewhat warm out here. Unlike the Régiment de Cuisine arena, which had been a cold and uncomfortable place to be in.

Shrugging off her uniform jacket, she made her way towards the balcony banister on the other end and took a deep breath. Fresh air. Just what she needed.

And yet, despite the calmness around her, Erina's eyes were still slightly glazed, reflecting the countless things on her mind. It had been quite a while since the last time she felt so at ease like this, and it was exactly why she intended to savor every last bit of peace she could- before their second school year starts throwing all kinds of new challenges at her. She sighed.

"I suppose it's only natural. We are almost second-years…" As she relaxes her gaze on the stunning view of Totsuki academy at nighttime, she hears the music blasting from inside the dorm- where her newfound friends are currently partying. It's still quite strange to admit that the people she once looked down upon have now become her most trusted companions- aside from Hisako, Alice, and her grandfather. Seeing them having fun now brings a smile to her face. And even though this party is very different to the ones that she's used to- loud music, freshly made snacks, and Ryoko's special rice juice-, it's special nonetheless. After all, this celebration marks their victory over Central, ending her father's insane regime and turning things back to normal just earlier today. Or so she hopes things to be from now on.

They were all so happy about it that most of them even shed what seemed like an endless amount of tears- unsurprisingly lead by Tadokoro.

Erina shook her head, smiling. That girl is very sensitive to high-tension situations involving her friends, so it's no wonder she enjoyed herself to the fullest when they won. Back in that suffocating arena, the heiress had made a silent vow to always lend her a hand whenever she could. After all, it was Tadokoro who had guided her to this dorm while she was completely soaked from the rain that fateful night. And for that, she would forever be grateful.

Sighing again, she gripped the banister tightly, sorting out her thoughts. At first, she had celebrated with everyone else inside, laughing and chatting to her heart's content, but then… Erina quickly found that she needed some quiet time alone to dwell on these past events properly. There are things she needs to understand- a missing link why all this had happened in the first place. Without knowing about that, she can't turn things back to normal. Without that, she can't celebrate.

Just what in the world had happened to her father that turned him into such a… tyrant? What circumstances had pushed him over the edge that he would go as far as to intend to shut down all diner shops around Japan- or even further. She honestly couldn't tell what's going through his head anymore- not that she ever had, or ever would.

All she knows is that it has something to do with Yukihira-kun's father, but that's about it. She has no idea why a connection was even there.

Would he know? Could she get some answers out of the man she secretly calls her idol? After all, they seemed to know each other pretty well. And now that she is going to be the new headmaster of the academy, she should have the luxury to make appointments with whomever she sees fit, right?

Although, it probably wouldn't be so easy to simply get up and leave all her new responsibilities behind, just so she could pay Saiba-sama a visit. All the students are counting on her now to get rid of every last one of Central's ridiculous ideals, sub-organizations, lapdogs, whatever was left of them inside Totsuki, and she most certainly wouldn't let her classmates down. Now that her grandfather is about to retire, it's up to her to fix the mess her father had left behind in his rampage. The school needs a fresh start from the horror it endured, and Erina wants to change things as soon as humanly possible. So leaving the school to get some answers isn't an option at this point. Personal affairs shouldn't matter for the time being.

She doesn't even have a clue if Saiba Joichiro is still in Japan or not. For all she knows, he could be landing at the airport of some distant country right about now.

Maybe she should just forget about everything and simply let her body relax for once. Who could say, perhaps there would be an opportunity to travel abroad once the school affairs are properly taken care of.

With that thought, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the warm breeze against her skin, loosening her grip. It really does feel nice and peaceful out here, the sensation gently coaxing her into a trance-like state of quietness and even blocking all sounds coming from inside. The temptation to just fall asleep right here and now becomes nearly overwhelming, and for a second, Erina even considers sitting down on the bench a few feet away from her and let sleep's welcoming arms embrace her. It's been far too long since she's had a proper rest.

"I can't believe I'm actually tired… What a joke."

"Could've told ya that would happen. Why don't cha go get some shuteye already?"

"Because I-" All of a sudden, reality came crashing back down on her. The calm state of her muscles was overridden by her heart skipping a few beats at once, a rush of electricity running through her entire body.

Because of him. The boy who saved her from all her terrors, her fears, her inhibitions, and her insecurities. Or so her gut told her. Good thing she never listens to it in the first place.

She quickly cleared her throat and turned to see him casually leaning against the doorframe of the balcony entrance, hands in both pockets, a lazy grin on his face. How long had he been standing there? Wasn't he in the middle of an 'epic'- his choice of words, not hers- Shokugeki with Isshiki-senpai when she left?

Confused, Erina arched a brow at him before shaking her head with a small huff. Try as she might, she would never be able to solve the big puzzle that was Yukihira Soma, so why bother starting now?

"I can't go to bed now," she said, her tired eyes meeting his, "It would ruin the mood for everyone. Not to mention, it's rude." With that, she turned to the night sky beyond the balcony again.

He stood still for a little while longer, probably just a few more moments, before pushing himself away from the open doorframe and making his way towards her. As his steady footsteps echoed in her ears, the heiress refrained from glancing back at him, feeling herself flush when he let out a small sigh.

"If ya say so…" Resting his arms on the banister next to her, his gaze went up to the stars as well. A light breeze blew through his messy hair when he broke the comfortable silence once more, "Why are ya out here on your own, Nakiri? You totally missed my victory against Isshiki-senpai back there. We started playing poker right after that too, and I was looking forward to beating you again."

A quiet chuckle escaped his lips at the sight of her turning her head away from him, arms crossed. She's sure, he loves to do that. Annoy her just when she feels relaxed. And it drives her insane.

Right now, however, she just blows out a breath and turns back to him with a glare, feeling that it isn't worth it to start yelling at him for his lack of manners. "Hmph. As if you could. We both know you will never beat me in anything, Yukihira-kun, so I suggest you watch your tongue before something bad happens to it." That should do it.

But even though the heiress intended to sound harsh and condescending, she couldn't stop the slight upward pull of her lips, ruining the desired effect. Yukihira's reaction is instant- laughing out loud while clutching his stomach.

"Seriously? Ya still gonna be that way after everything we just went through? Gimme a break." He sighed, shaking his head in amusement, "And besides, don't ya remember how often I've won the last time we played cards? You really suck at that, ya know. No point in arguing." His head snapped towards her, seemingly delighted when she shut her mouth, face turning to the other side again.

"I have you know, I'm not that bad at it. You… must be cheating."

"Seriously? Man… high and mighty as ever. You really are somethin' else, Nakiri." He gave her one of those sincere smiles she had rarely seen until now, silently mesmerizing her before his eyes wandered up to the stars above, "But… I guess that's just one more thing we all like about cha."

"W-what?! Are you making fun of me?!"

"I'm not, I swear."

No, it was no use. She couldn't force her blush away. He just has this certain charm to him that always leaves her flabbergasted and embarrassed. But, as hard as it is to admit, she feels happy to hear him say those things. Even if it could be meant as a mere joke. "Oh whatever," she says, feeling her heart pounding, "I can't keep up with your strange logic anyway."

"What d'ya mean? There's no weird logic to what I'm saying. I meant it."

"Really, Yukihira-kun. Right now, it isn't funny."

"Huh?"

"Forget it." She turned her face towards the welcoming night breeze as an attempt to hide her fluster. She had no time to think about this again.

Ever since she stayed at the dorm and lived there with this odd group, she discovered a drastic increase in her heartbeat and a strange fluttery feeling in her stomach whenever Yukihira was near her. It didn't seem normal, but there hadn't been a good opportunity to figure out what was going on with her. All the heiress could get out of it is that she finds it frustrating to be around him for a certain amount of time, and when she isn't, she immediately wants to see him again. It's a paradox in itself that needs solving at some point, mainly because she can't stand not knowing why he's stirring these strange emotions in her. It's unusual for her to feel this way towards anyone, especially when the other person involved is only now becoming a friend of some kind. Erina doesn't like it.

But for now, she has no intention on diving into those depths quite yet. She wants to tell him to leave, or preferably get off the balcony herself, but instead, she just sighs and averts her gaze.

They indeed went through too much together to turn the tables back and be enemies again.

"Why did you come out here, Yukihira-kun?" she asks. A weak attempt to distract herself. "If the others are playing cards in there, shouldn't you be with them too?"

"Yeah, I should, huh…?" He trailed off, arms still leaning against the balcony banister as he viewed the night sky above them. The wide grin on his face melted into something softer, his amber orbs mildly unfocused. It's as if he isn't here with her, chasing after his own thoughts in silence. Briefly, she wondered what exactly he was pondering over but chose not to ask, feeling like this was a private moment.

And then, he opened his mouth, voice lowered to a murmur, "Well, to be honest… I guess I didn't feel like playing while you're out here sulking on your own."

"What? I wasn't sulking. I'm just thinking."

"Or that." His words cut her off faster than she would have liked, her brow arched in confusion as she watched him warily. "I went out to look for you 'cause I don't think you need to stress about anything that happened anymore. Just relax and have fun, would ya?" He turned his head slightly towards her, smirking. "If you're too tired to do that, just go to bed."

Eyes narrowing, she gripped the banister again. Tightly. He sure could be insistent. "I already told you I'm not going to. And why would you get the impression that I'm stressing over something? I'm perfectly fine, as you can see." Her knuckles turning white begged to differ, but Erina casually ignored that.

"Yeah, that's the thing. I am looking at you." He sighed, "C'mon… ya don't wanna share it?" His smile was gentle, his eyes inviting. Erina has to admit, she's a little impressed.

Who would have guessed that Yukihira Soma, of all people, would be amazingly perceptive? Not that he's stupid, quite the opposite in fact, but seeing that certain glint in those amber depths actually surprised her.

"I… I'm not sure… No?" Since when had she become one of the people he kept a watchful eye on? It was almost like he knew exactly when to come out and say the right words to effectively cheer someone up just when they need it the most.

But does she even need it?

A loud 'yes' suddenly echoed in her mind as she gaped at him, the word repeating itself over and over again until there was nothing left but the painful truth. She is uncertain. Lost even. And she hates it.

The battle with Central is over. They had saved everyone who was on the brink of expulsion. Her father left as abruptly as he had appeared. She was declared the new Headmaster of Totsuki academy- unofficially, but still. Everything should be alright. But then, could she even continue to spend a decent amount of time with her new friends after the summer break is over? Who would guide her to become a good director now?

At this point, she really just wants to stop thinking all together and fall asleep right on the spot. Let the complicated issues be solved on another day.

"No. I'm fine."

"That's not how it looks from over here, Nakiri." She gaped at him when he uttered those words, not sure if she heard correctly, "Hey, don't gimme that look. I'm not that ignorant, ya know. You always up and run off whenever there's something bothering you. You wanna deal with it on your own, and, I get that, I really do. But you…" He shook his head, ruffling his messy hair in frustration before their eyes met, "Never mind… Look, Nakiri, I'll say it again; if you're tired, just go get some rest. No one would say it's rude, trust me. They'd all be for it. You're the hero of the day, right? We know ya need to sleep at some point."

"I'm not denying that. I just… don't feel the need to right now, that's all."

"Yeah, right. Ya look like you're 'bout to fall over."

"What was that? I-I am not."

"'Course you are. Look at you. You can't even stand straight." He paused, placing a hand under his chin as his smile turned mischievous, "Want me to carry ya to your room?"

"W-what?! No!"

"Then don't tempt me. Jeez. You're too stubborn for your own good, ya know that?"

Erina's eyes widened, her tone sarcastic when she asked, "I'm stubborn?"

"Yeah, you are." He suddenly poked her cheek with his index finger, brows knitted together in a childish pout. "And you make it really hard to talk to ya. Even after all this time."

She blinked once, twice, a third time before bursting out into hysterical laughter, her hand held in front of her mouth to try and stay as graceful as possible while tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. She should never ever have underestimated this goofy person before her. Maybe he's annoyed because he thinks she doesn't take care of herself. If he is… Erina can't help but laugh at the silly way he displays his concern.

Then, her breath hitched. It really is true. She can't deny that their conversations bring her joy. It's crazy, yet somehow, Erina knows she would continue to cherish every second she shares with him. Each moments feels like a breath of fresh air the heiress hadn't realized she needed so badly. Even if his presence stirs something within her, she feels content right now. His unexpected comments are a good example of why she savored his company so much these days. No one could predict what he would say next, ever. This must be a unique trait of his.

And while she continues to laugh merrily, the redhead in question tilts his head to one side, looking at her fondly with a smaller, much softer, and more affectionate smile on his face. "See? Was that so bad?"

"What… what do you mean?" She wipes the last tear away, her laughter finally subsiding.

"You're having fun."

"Oh please. I hardly consider this fun."

His grin widens again as he shrugs, "Well, it looks like you're having fun to me."

"You are delusional then."

"Ah, just admit it. I won't tell anyone, promise."

A small sigh escapes her lips when she sees Yukihira's boyish grin. The wind blowing through his hair makes him even more confident than he already seems to be.

"Alright, fine," Erina says after a moment of silence, "I may or may not be in a better mood now that I have some company. Was that good enough for you?"

Shaking his head, the redhead next to her chuckles, "Too vague. That barely counts as an answer."

"Well, too bad. It's all you are going to get, Yukihira-kun. Take it or leave it." Her tone was playful when she smiled up at him, her amethysts squinted. Then, suddenly, Erina remembered something she should have said to him much earlier today but never had the chance to. And her eyes widened when she realized she should have thought about this a lot sooner.

After all the hassle of bringing everyone some new clothes, and arguing with him some more about his careless act of switching strategies in the middle of a battle, she had completely forgotten to give him her sincerest thanks.

With her blush at full display again, the blonde took a deep breath and turned towards the young chef still eying her. Now then. How to begin now? "Yukihira-kun, I… I wanted to tell you that… I-I mean it's not much, and I'm not sure if it would even mean anything to you or not, but… well…" No. Not like that. Why is this so hard? All she has to do is say 'Thank you', nothing more. There's no need to be nervous.

And yet, here she is, feeling unnerved to the very core.

Yukihira, for his part, was patiently waiting for her to continue. He didn't say a word, not teasing her or making fun of her, for once- as if he knows that this is going to be important to her. All she receives from him is a small gesture with his hand that's meant to encourage her to go on, and despite it being somewhat considerate of him, she finds that it actually makes her more nervous.

Clearing her throat, she tried to gather her thoughts again, determined to get the right words out this time, "I-it's just… I wanted to… thank you, actually… For, well, everything you did. Thank you for helping me find my own path again. And for reminding me of the way I wanted to cook. And for teaching me how important it is to have friends by my side who encourage and support me along the way. I'm deeply in your debt, and although I feel like there is nothing I can do to ever repay you, I will still try my best to do so. You have my eternal gratitude, and… again, I'm sorry for causing so much trouble for you and the others here at the dorm. None of you would have had to deal with this mess, if… if I hadn't come here in the first place." She was rambling, she knew she was, but couldn't stop herself anyway. The words were finally out, and she felt great about having this burden somewhat lifted off her shoulders.

It had to be said at some point anyway.

Not sure how it actually happened, the heiress finds herself bowing her upper body low in front of him- the very chef she had insulted on so many occasions before. Her bangs concealed her face, blocking it from his view as a particularly strong gust of wind blew through the rest of her long, honey-blond locks resting on her back. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her heart hammering. And inside her mind, Erina prayed that this awkward moment of silence would end soon.

After all, it was a little disgraceful for her to be in a position like this, and she swore to herself that there would never be another situation where she had to bow her head in front of somebody again. If Alice were here right now, she would surely burst into laughter, tell her to straighten up again, and not let herself go like that. Erina didn't care.

When she didn't hear a response for yet another couple of seconds, the heiress decided that enough is enough and opened her eyes to risk a glimpse up at the boy in front of her. She wanted to tell him how rude he was for not responding, only to find herself staring at his perplexed face, chin almost touching the ground and citrine orbs looking like they were about to pop out of his head. He was just gawking at her, unable to speak, and shook his head multiple times as if trying to confirm for himself that this was real.

Is it really that hard to imagine she would be grateful to him for all he had done these past few months? Maybe it is from his perspective… She hadn't exactly been the friendliest out of all those people around him. She had hated him to the core, after all.

Now, however, he had helped her escape a repeat of her childhood trauma. And for some reason, that thought made her sigh as she straightened up again. If she were to explain all this to him, he would surely fail to see the irony in it. She herself hadn't even seen it until today.

Yukihira blinked a couple of times when he finally got over the initial shock, rewarding her with the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. A fact her mind refused to acknowledge.

"Nakiri…? What are you…? What was that?" The first things coming out of his mouth were hard for Erina to make out, which eventually led her to believe that, despite his best effort, it would take him until morning to say what he wanted. It actually is adorable watching him struggle with his words, but again, she would rather bite her tongue than acknowledge that.

A creased brow and a few more headshakes later, Yukihira tried again, "What are you talking about?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head, "Why would you thank me? Or even apologize? Nothing that happened was your fault, Nakiri, and we all helped out because it was the right thing to do, remember? It was our own decision, that's all there is to it. You… you have nothing to thank me for. If anything, it was more like you helped us- helped me- out in the end."

"…Are you trying to mock me?"

"No. I'm serious. You were the one who led us through this whole thing, and I kinda feel like I should be thanking you for that instead. Without you… none of us would've made it, and as much as it pains me to say this, even twice in one day, you still… are the best cook in this school. It was all thanks to you we were able to win." He paused, watching her reaction with careful eyes before he shook his head. "Man, I really don't like sayin' it."

Erina, despite herself, smiled. She really hadn't wanted to give him any kind of reaction, especially not after she'd already blushed furiously the first time he said it earlier today. But she just couldn't suppress the small curl of her lips and the dust of red settling over her cheeks when she watched him ruffle his hair more vigorously. He was being earnest, and she believed every word to be the biggest compliment she ever got from him.

"I-I see."

"But," he closed his eyes and crossed his arms, no longer looking at her, "lemme make this clear too, since I keep repeatin' myself anyway. I will come for ya, Nakiri. Just you wait. One day, I'll take the title of 'greatest chef around here' from you, and that day is gonna be sooner than you think." Finishing his rant, he took a few deep breaths to calm himself. It wasn't the first time this had happened today, but for some reason, it felt more intimate than back at the arena. More private.

She couldn't stop gaping at him as he returned his gaze to the stars above, arms still crossed over his chest. If it weren't so dark, she would've sworn she saw the slightest hint of a blush on his face. And it made her heart beat faster all over again.

"Oh man… now I feel like I'll never be able to get that image out of my head. Seriously, Nakiri. Bowing? You're way too much sometimes, ya know that? I didn't see this comin' at all."

"Well then, I'm glad to hear I can surprise you every once in a while. You shouldn't be the only one to shock people, right?" She crossed her arms as well, smiling when she noticed he was close to laughing again.

"I don't remember ever shocking someone this much. I thought I was havin' a heart-attack for a second."

"Oh did you now? Perhaps now you know how it feels for me whenever you do something unexpected."

"You get a heart-attack?"

"Well…" She paused, trying to find the right words, "Something close to one."

"I see. Guess I'll try to remember that next time."

"Please don't make it sound like you are going to do something stupid again, Yukihira-kun. I don't think I can handle that twice a day."

A chuckle goes past his throat as he shakes his head, not bothering to take in her distressed expression. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna do anything today."

"Good. Oh, and as for your declaration earlier… All I'm going to say is I can't wait to see you try and reach my level of skill. I'm more than ready to take you on anytime you want, Yukihira-kun. However… I still believe it will take you a lifetime to be where I am. Don't forget, you are challenging the God Tongue."

"Is that a threat?"

"More like a friendly reminder. Though you are welcome to try. I will gladly show you where you stand."

Again, Erina isn't entirely sure, but she could have sworn that she saw the smallest hint of a blush spreading on the boy's cheeks again. However, as soon as the thought hit, she dismissed it right away, figuring that it couldn't possibly be true. Yukihira Soma? Blush? Never. Her imagination is just playing tricks on her.

Suddenly, a devilish smirk appeared on his features as he leaned down a bit, intentionally invading her personal space. The challenging glint in those amber eyes told her everything she needed to understand that backing away with an embarrassed flush would be the wrong course of action in this scenario. He was addressing the God Tongue, not Erina right now.

"Oh, is that so?" The color in his eyes darkened, his excitement evident, "Bring it on, Nakiri. Talking all big like that won't help ya in the long run. I'll get there, just have a little patience. A lifetime isn't that long, ya know?" His voice betrayed not one amount of self-doubt, quite the opposite, actually. And albeit unwillingly, she had to admit that she believes him.

This chef standing before her has the potential to reach great heights in the future. She'd known this for a while, but was simply too proud to accept it. What had changed?

She doesn't know. He would never reach her level of culinary perfection anyway so she had nothing to worry about, right? For some reason, that thought doesn't sound quite as delightful as she thought it would. Hoping that Yukihira would never be able to stand by her side as an equal feels… wrong to her. He deserves to be at the top, hence why she suggested him to be the First Seat to begin with. He clearly had proven himself, multiple times, but sadly, his reputation still needs a lot of work. Having a humble background could prove itself to be quite the issue when trying to make a name in the culinary world. He would have to face many obstacles and hardships along the way, and yet… she has the feeling he's more than capable of handling them all. If there is one fact she knows about Yukihira Soma, it would be his burning desire to face and overcome every challenge, every opposition put before him.

And right now, his statement just feels like the perfect dare to start off his journey to the top.

Erina simply grinned right back at him, flushed cheeks and their close proximity ignored, "How interesting. It would appear my declaration of gratitude gave a certain someone the delusional idea he could actually best me in a Shokugeki."

"It's not delusional if I can pull it off, right? Ya won't even see it comin'. I'll make damn sure of that."

"Now that sounds more like a threat, don't you think?"

He shrugged nonchalantly, eyes flaming with confidence, "A promise, I'd say."

"To beat me? Seriously, Yukihira-kun. You are hopeless."

"Ya think so?" His challenging gaze locked into hers.

"Yes, absolutely."

He gave her a low chuckle in response, but said nothing else after that.

A few seconds passed without either of them attempting to move away. Erina found herself lost in those impressive depths of pure gold, pleased where she stood. If it's her or him moving closer, she has no idea, but what registered to her is that the distance between them had shrunk to mere centimeters. She could already feel his warm breath tickling her skin, their noses lightly touching. His head was turned towards her as he continued to support his weight on the balcony banister. The heiress had turned her whole body to face him instead, only having one hand holding on to the cold metal next to her. For support?

The wind blew in her ears. She was unable to form even one straight line of thought as she felt her heart wreaking havoc inside her chest. Again. Always 'again'.

What is happening to her? It began as a harmless look of intimidation, but something shifted inside her that now, all her senses are focused on him, and him alone. The tingling sensation at the pit of her stomach is coming back with full force as she barely keeps her eyes open, her adrenaline rising.

"…Ya know what? I think I really am at this point."

"Hopeless…?"

"Yeah…"

"What makes you say so, Yukihira-kun?" She answered his whisper with her own.

"Dunno. I'm actually… not thinking at all right now." Yes. She could relate.

And then, the short distance between them closed and their lips finally met. The kiss is somewhat shy and cautious, no one knowing where to go from here until Erina slowly started to press her lips a little harder against his. Bolder. Her emotions are overtaking, freezing her mind blank. She's lost.

Yukihira tilts his head further to the side, trying to get closer. The once innocent kiss slowly turned into something much more demanding, and she couldn't help but enjoy every bit of it. He opened his mouth, sending his tongue out to lick over the blonde's lips, causing a pleasant shiver to run down her spine and her knees to weaken instantly. She followed his example as she pressed herself further into him and allowed her own tongue to meet his half way. A shock wave of pure pleasure went through her body the moment they started battling for dominance, switching from Erinas mouth to the redhead's and back as an attempt to get the other to submit first.

It actually is quite funny how they tried to overwhelm one another even in an act neither of them had indulged in before.

Eventually, it was Yukihira who took control once again, completely ravishing her mouth by exploring every inch and every corner his tongue could reach. At this point, the heiress had the feeling her legs would give in any second, the kiss draining all her energy with each suck, bite, and lick he gave her.

The redhead seems to have picked up on that as well and quickly holds on to her hips with both hands, bringing her closer to his body to support her. Oh lord.

Clinging to his shirt in an almost desperate manner, she pressed herself even harder against him, wanting to feel as much of him as possible. And even though it was warm outside, Erina still seeked his natural body heat for some reason.

What is she doing? What is he doing? It's as if his lips are pure fire compared to her own. He somehow drives strange sensations out of her without even needing much effort. She's sinking into a quicksand of passion, and the harder Yukihira sucks on her bottom lip, the more she loses herself in the rush.

He's doesn't seem to be feeling any differently. Judging from the way he shivers all over and presses her harder against his body, he hasn't had enough yet as well.

And while her hands slowly release his shirt and move up to cherish his face, his own wander tenderly along her sides before going all the way around her waist, causing her to let out a small muffed sound of delight. His touch feels so perfect and… just so right against her skin, she finds herself secretly wishing, begging, for more. He's literally kissing her senseless right now, and she has nothing to counter that.

The best part? Neither of them actually know what they are doing, their mind's clouded beyond recognition.

After what feels like an eternity, but probably was just a few seconds, they slowly break apart to get some much needed air. She can still feel his shaky breath against her skin as her blush now resembles his hair. A thin layer of sweat runs down the side of her face due to the pressing heat around her. Their eyes lock as she feels a pleasurable jolt of electricity going through her entire body, caused by him still having a firm grip on her waist whilst her own hands rest on his shoulders. She doesn't want him to let go- not yet, and apparently, he agrees, tightening his grip around her waist.

Now, the question as to what had just transferred between them seems all the more real and eye-opening to her. Had they actually just…

She found the answer in Yukihira's eyes, asking her similar questions as he stared at her uncomprehendingly. She could practically see the gears in his head turning. He seems confused, maybe bewildered even, and she can't blame him really, feeling the same amount of puzzlement herself.

Why did Yukihira kiss her? Or had it been her initiating it? She honestly can't remember who made the first move. Does that mean no one can be held accountable?

How did this even happen?

Slowly, she let go of his shoulders, feeling able to stand on her own again. Yukihira quickly released her- as if just realizing that he was still holding on to her waist. He took his hands back like he had burned them, blinking at them before looking at her.

Red with embarrassment and shaking all over, she tries to calm her heart, her pulse, her racing mind. She needs to get it together quickly.

So she takes a step away from him, waiting breathlessly- almost desperately- for him to address her first. She just can't come up with anything proper to say at the moment no matter how much effort she puts into it.

"Nakiri… How…?" Yukihira tried clearing his throat, his voice hoarse, "I'm- I mean…"

"There you are! Soma-kun! Nakiri-san!" His stuttering was interrupted by a fast approaching Tadokoro, waving a hand at them to get their attention.

Thrown out of their dazed states, they jumped in fright to bring more space between them, not wanting to give away any indication that what they had indulged in more than harmless chatter.

Tadokoro seemed confused, and Erina didn't really blame her for it, considering she too would have been confused if she saw two of her friends behave somewhat strangely. After all, both students aren't able to so much as even look at each other. It's bound to imply something.

"Guys? What are you doing out here? We were starting to get worried after neither of you came back. Is everything okay? Soma-kun… you look like, you've seen a ghost."

"Uh… no- I mean, yes- I mean, no! I just… well, you see, we just…"

"We just, eh… talked! I mean," Erina cleared her throat, trying to control the suddenly high-pitched tone in her voice, "we just talked for a while, a-and when I thanked him for… his good work earlier today, he got- he got into this state all of a sudden. H-he will get over it, I'm sure." God, she's a terrible liar- even if, technically, this doesn't count as a real lie. Yukihira had definitely been shocked to hear her thanking him earlier. And, considering the situation, she couldn't very well tell the Bluenette what actually happened. If only she hadn't stuttered as much…

"Oh, I see." Tadokoro breathed, a gentle smile spreading on her face before she gave their flabbergasted friend a scolding look, "Soma-kun, it's not polite to respond this way."

"Yeah… sure, I guess I- hold on a second! What?!" His eyes widened with disbelief, his expression sobering up quicker than Erina thought would be possible after his failed attempt to talk to her, "I'm not being impolite. I just- she'd caught me off guard. I didn't expect us to k-" a clear of her throat almost caused him to choke on his words, the redhead catching himself quickly before he eyed Erina first, then looked back at the confused Tadokoro, "I mean, I didn't know she would… Sorry, what were we talkin' about again?"

"About how she thanked you for… something?" Erina released a nervous laugh as the Bluenette tilted her head to one side, blinking at them with her innocent eyes. "Are you okay, Soma-kun?"

"Oh, yeah… I am, I am. Thanks." Yukihira scratched his head and turned to give Erina another unsure look. She sighed. "Anyway, that was it. Can you imagine Nakiri here actually thanking you or even apologizing for something? Ever?" He pointed his thumb at her when he met their blue-haired friend's curious gaze again, causing her nervousness to subside and her left eyebrow to twitch.

How can he turn into his cocky, unnerving self so quickly? Not even five minutes ago, he hadn't been able to keep his hands off her. Or his tongue in his own mouth… Immediately, Erina feels herself flush, and quickly ends her thought's right here. There's no need to remind herself of what he had just unleashed within her. Her mind is not capable of handling any more heat.

"It doesn't matter, Soma-kun. She was being nice. You don't have to act like you don't care. We both know full well you do…"

"Huh? But it was her who-"

"Who, what, Yukihira-kun?" With another twitch of her brow, the heiress made one confident step after another back towards him, hand raised to swiftly flip her hair back, "I have you know, I am perfectly capable of thanking someone, or humbly apologizing for my mistakes if the situation requires me to do so. Can you say the same about yourself, Mister 'I feel so invincible, I might as well challenge the whole school to fight me for my future First Seat'. I haven't even scolded you for that foolish stunt you pulled yet. Care to explain what the hell that was even about, Yukihira-kun? Are you seriously that desperate to be expelled?"

"What? Hold on, hold on. Where did that come from all of a sudden? I never said I was invincible, did I?"

"Ehm, guys…?"

"You might as well have. Honestly, do you think it's fun to get on everybody's bad side like that? I can't believe you." She huffed, not caring about the fact that she was desperate to try and get her mind off the kiss. At this point, she just needs a topic to rant about so that her frustration can be relieved in a different way.

She simply chose the best thing available, even if they had already settled the issue back at the arena. She silently apologizes to the redhead before getting a hold of his cheeks again, trying her hardest to ignore the pleasant shiver that ran down her spine upon the close contact, "And don't think I forgot about that trick you pulled in our Shokugeki earlier too. Throwing all our plans out the window like that, honestly. You put us into one hell of a risky situation, are you aware of that? I will never work with you in the same kitchen again."

"Ow- ow."

"G-guys? Hey."

"Not even if you beg me to, Yukihira-kun." He caught her hands and pulled away, not releasing his hold on them.

"You've got to be kidding me. Seriously, Nakiri? This again? I already told you I knew that you would get us outta this, remember? Let it go already!"

"Tell me what happens if I don't."

"I'll-"

"Guys, please!"

Both turned their attention back to the now uncomfortable looking Tadokoro standing there with her hands clenched into fists in front of her chest. They were surprised to see the girl actually raising her voice for once and shutting them up so effectively. So much so, they couldn't stop blinking at her.

"I understand the problem, but perhaps we should go back inside now before the others get upset and start searching for all three of us? Soma-kun, please."

"Yeah, fine…" He rubbed the back of his head when Erina pulled her hands out of his surprisingly gentle grip. "Guess we should get back." Not looking at anyone as he walked past them, Yukihira made his way towards the open door, his hand quick to ruffle his already messy hair.

The heiress couldn't help but glance over at him as she and Tadokoro followed suit, unsure of whether or not she had overreacted just now. It wasn't as if she had tried to play the blame-game on purpose. This all happened because the previous event kept repeating itself in her mind over and over again, trying to drive her insane.

It was a good thing they acted like nothing had happened in front of their blue-haired friend, but… how would they proceed from here? The next time they'd be alone together, would he tell her then what he couldn't right now? Erina prayed for things not to get too awkward between them from this point on. She doesn't want to lose a comrade right after realizing what a great person he actually is.

First, however, she needs to calm down her rampaging heart. Then, go get some much needed rest. And after that, she can start worrying about everything else.

For one day, Yukihira Soma has done enough to get her riled up.

Annndddd that's it for the first chapter!

I really hope you all like the edits. I myself was literally cringing at how bad my writing used to be (or even still is, I dunno!) I'm so sorry about that! It won't happen again, I swear!

With that said, I'll get straight to editing the second chapter!

Take care, everyone!