"Did you hear…?"

"Yeah, I can't believe it… I mean, he's first chair, of all things…"

"For that guy to lose is just... He's even been scouted by top chefs! Paris, Vienna, New York... but she's… she's just… "

Megumi winced as burning stares scorched her back. She gripped the notebooks against her chest tighter, the pages crackling. The trek to her next class, Introductory Food Packaging, was three buildings over and not a single second went by without rumors flying behind her back.

First year life was heaven compared to third year. Third year meant hell camp every day, every class, every hour and minute. Homework and classes were simply another ploy to drag students' grades down, another reason for expulsion. Every student was plagued with fear for the future, the vague title of "chef" seeming farther since their first day at Tootsuki. And the slew of pressure was beginning to take its toll on friendships. Megumi felt her chest tightened as she remembered how, just two days ago, Yuki had yelled at her for being too slow at feeding the chickens. Yuki, who never used to yell at her in anger.

But perhaps, Megumi mused darkly as she walked on, nothing was worse than what happened yesterday night.

Rather, the Shokugeki yesterday night.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"I want to have a Shokugeki with you, Souma-kun."

He froze. The potato in his left hand dropped but thankfully the kitchen knife in his right managed to not, if only because of beaten habit. The golden eyes slid away from the frying pan and stared at Megumi wide-eyed.

"Wha- wha…"

"Souma-kun." She gripped the hems of her apron, but Megumi unflinchingly met Souma's eyes. "Will you accept it?"

Souma closed, opened, then closed again his mouth, for once flabbergasted. And yet… He narrowed his eyes into slits at the look in her eyes. Megumi felt fear slither down her back as something suddenly changed in the air.

After another brief moment of silence, "... Fine. What are we betting."

Megumi bit her lip. She closed her eyes, and for a split second, realized the true significance of what she was about to do. But I have to… Even if it crushes his dream. " I want you to leave this school if I win."

The sizzle of the vegetables in the pan, the low thrum of the ventilator, and the creak of the floorboards above abruptly vanished and Souma couldn't hear a thing. Only the throb of his heartbeat broke through and rushed in his ears.

Megumi continued, and he could barely hear her say, "In return, if I lose, then I will forget everything I saw yesterday and leave this school." She turned around and yanked off her apron.

Souma finally managed to utter, "W-wait a second, why-"

But the words dissipated from the tip of his tongue like the lightest souffles as she glanced behind at him. His heart nearly stopped as she gave him an expression. One that should have never been on Tadokoro Megumi, who was sweet like amber, glistening caramel poured on candied apples. But now… that caramel was burnt, bitter, the apple rotten and black.

Megumi said flatly, "This is the most convenient for both you and Nakiri-san. How could there be something you wouldn't want."

She knows… Tadokoro really did see us yesterday. "... But I'd never want for you to be expelled!" Souma retorted.

"Well, is there any other way for you two's secret to be kept?"

"I'm sure there's some other-"

"I think it's a good plan."

Megumi and Souma spun around as Erina swept into the kitchen. What is she doing here?! It's the middle of the night! thought Souma, his palms already becoming clammy. I don't know how to even talk normally to her now; this is the worst timing.

"I think this Shokugeki is a good idea. And after all, cooking speaks louder than words. It can be done theoretically as well," Erina added. She casually ignored Souma.

Megumi nodded curtly. "Then shall we?"

"Wait, you don't have my consent yet!" Souma yelled, eyes flashing. "I'll never agree to this Shokugeki if-!"

"Souma-kun," Megumi cut in. Her eyes locked with his. "If you really intend to open the number one restaurant in Japan after graduating… if you really have that ambition, then this school's just a 'stepping stone' isn't it? Well then everyone here at Tootsuki is a stepping stone."

"But you're not a stepping stone! Since when?!"

Megumi froze and Erina stiffened. Souma paused, but Megumi didn't respond. He waited another second before breathing a sigh of relief, even breaking into a smile. "Geez Tadokoro, stop scaring me, why'd you ever think that I would treat you like a stepping stone? I mean-"

"Stop it."

Souma flinched as Megumi whipped around, fury snapping in her eyes. "Stop it," she whispered. "Just stop it. I'm serious about this. I want you to leave Tootsuki because I never want to see your face again."

A thick silence settled in the room. Erina fidgeted, eyes darting between the two uneasily as they glared at each other.

At last, Souma took a deep breath and exhaled, his eyes closed. When he finally opened them, the yellow eyes had a chilling look instilled in them.

"Then let's go. Right now."

It was past midnight when the Shokugeki started, but this was no rare phenomenon at Tootsuki Academy. The word had spread like a wildfire, as it had been months since Souma of the Shokugeki had last taken a challenge, and the stadium was relatively packed.

"The theme for this match will be… desserts!" announced Mr. Chapelle. "The judges will be myself, former first chair and now alumni Eishi Tsukasa, and the editor-in-chief of the food magazine, Food, Akaishi Kurumi."

"Now then, with a time limit of two hours… contestants, you may begin!"

Megumi slapped her cheeks, shook off her drowsiness, and went straight to her icebox. Something light, something light... She blinked. Oh wait a second, I know…

Souma watched as she dug around her ice box before he turned back to his own side of the kitchen. I need to make something… something that can counteract what Tadokoro would make. What would she make? I mean, I know her pretty well- His eyes darkened. Or I thought I did. He stared at his own, rather messy/ extremely messy ice box.

Two hours came and went.

"And the first to finish is Tadokoro Megumi! What has she cooked?"

Megumi took a deep breath and stepped forward. She placed her dishes before the judges.

"Hmm… would this be a souffle?" Tsukasa inquired. Megumi nodded. "It looks… a bit… plain," he said. The puffed outer layers showed no signs of tampering, expect perhaps a glaze.

"Well, might as well eat it then…" Mr. Chapelle poked it with a spoon and daintily took a bite. The other two did the same.

"Ah, this taste," Tsukasa mumbled, the faint-stormy gray eyes warming ever so slightly. "Interesting; a carrot souffle. Carrots in souffle usually tend to be more of the savory, lunch appetizer kind of thing but this remains like a dessert. Like carrot cake, except infinitely lighter."

Megumi nodded. "Yes, the base is from carrots picked at the Polar Star Dormitory just this morning. I happened to have a good deal with me since I helped picked them."

Mr. Chapelle paused before nodding slowly. "No wonder. Such a nostalgic flavor… This taste has all the sunshine soaked from the summer sun and reminds one of a carefree afternoon day. A faint bitterness adds a hint of maturity, an adult looking back on hycalion days. Is this bitterness…?"

"Chamomile," Megumi replied. "It's mild and… helps restlessness." She gave the judges a rather pointed look.

Akaishi Kurumi smiled. "Chamomile, is it. And these other spices… a strong spiciness from ginger, cinnamon… cardamom too, gives the dish a warmth that blankets your body. The freshness from the carrots sweeps across these tastes and all of the flavors mingle into a comforting and heart-warming dish. Light yet savory, and taking into account the judges too."

In a matter of seconds, each judge polished off the souffle and the plate was left crumb-less.

"And now for Yukihira Souma's dish!" an announcer said.

The crowd began stirring in anticipation.

"I wonder what he cooked? Dang, what does first chair cook?"

"He always makes really weird dishes; I wonder if we'll see that today?"

"It's been a year already since his last Shokugeki; maybe it'll be different?"

"Yeah, well, he'll still win anyway."

Souma stepped forward, and placed his plates.

"This is my dish-"

Tsukasa abruptly stood, his chair toppling behind him. Souma froze, as did the entire stadium. No one spoke. Nothing moved. It was dead silent.

"E-Eishi-san, what-"

Mr. Chapelle had barely spoken when Tsukasa wordlessly righted his chair and sat back down again.

Souma felt, for the first time in a long time, a knot of nervousness clench his stomach. I can't leave this school, I have to stay or else...

"W… well, the appearance appears top-notch," Akaishi said uncertainly, shooting Tsukasa a look. "This fruit tart's crust is burnt to perfection, golden brown. The dome shape of the compiled chocolate and… caramel? dipped strawberries is stunning."

"Yes, each ingredient is given utmost care," Mr. Chapelle agreed. The two judges cautiously turned to Tsukasa for his commentary, but he only stared at the tart.

"Well then, shall we take a bite?"

The stadium remained unnaturally silent except for the sliding of the forks on the plates. But only for an instance.

Mr. Chapelle placed his fork down, as did Akaishi, after the first bite. Tsukasa hadn't even taken up his fork.

Mr. Chapelle turned to Tsukasa.

"I see," was all he said. Tsukasa nodded.

The judges glanced at one another again and nodded once more. The audience murmured in hushed whispers.

Souma and Tadokoro looked up at the scoreboard, but it didn't take a genius to know what the judges' responses were.

3-0. Tadokoro Megumi.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Megumi shook her head vigorously, the blue tresses flopping around her face. This was for the best, this was for the best, this was for the best. She clenched her fists as she continued down the hallway. If I didn't do that, if Souma-kun had stayed, it would've become even worse.

"Tadokoro Megumi, you have my gratitude."

Megumi paused and looked up. Erina crossed her arms as she stood in front of Megumi. "With this, everything will work out."

"U-um, are you sure you should be saying that kind of thing here…?" Megumi asked hesitatingly, growing more and more apprehensive as students began peering over to see what was happening.

"Hm? Whatever are you talking about? I'm talking about how glad I am now that Yukihira Souma is gone and out of this school."

Megumi felt a chill run down her spine as Erina flipped her hair nonchalantly. "W-well, I guess it is good for Souma-"

Erina laughed and waved it away. "That's the least of my troubles. Thanks to you, I can now ascend to first chair without any obstacles. I mean, for 'Yukihira-kun's sake?' As if. Again," she said, a cold smile freezing across her face. "This school is simply a stepping stone. I'll agree with Yukihira-kun on just this. Well then, I must go-"

"So that was all a lie."

Souma stood behind the two girls. By now, a small crowd was forming around the three.

Tadokoro narrowed her eyes. "I'm sorry, I have class." She brushed pushed past Souma and broke through the crowd, walking away almost too quickly away.

"Aren't you going to stop her?" Erina asked neutrally, eyes following the girl until she rounded the corner.

"No. Why should I?" Souma replied, just as neutrally. "I have a more pressing issue right now. We need to talk, Nakiri."

A/N: Hey, thank you for reading this fanfic! I'm thinking of finishing this entire plot up in less than ten chapters, but I hope it'll be a good read all the way to the end. :) Also, rather late, but I have almost no experience cooking so I'm really sorry that the Shokugeki part turned out boring to read... (Although there is a reason why no one responded to Souma in the plot.)

Thank you again for taking the time to read this!

~LavenderIceCream