Hey, it's me. I know my last fanfic didn't go as well as planned, so I'm counting on this one to make up for it. These series of one-shots are intended for easy-reading, so all seriousness aside, do enjoy. I'll try to keep this as far from OOC as possible, as it revolves around the released chapters of the manga.

I don't own Shokugeki no Souma.

~Take Care~

Takes place after the mission assignment, in chapter 265. Erina asks Souma not to try anything funny during his assignment with Tadokoro.

They were dating for quite some time now. Three months and two weeks, to be exact.

There's only a few people who knew of their secret relationship, including Hisako, the Polar Star residents, and the rest of the Elite Ten. Other than that, people were really oblivious to her connection with him—even the teachers of Totsuki had no idea that they both were together.

Probably it was because Erina had refrained from meeting him in public, and their usual contacts each day only consisted of phone calls and short text messages, if not the usual Totsuki board meetings. Sometimes, she would visit the dormitory when she was free of her paperwork and tasting appointments, but such circumstances were rare occasions, as she had almost no time for herself.

One thing for sure, though. No one was knowledgeable of their treasured first kiss.

Occasionally, she would ask him to browse the manga store with her when their schedules are both vacant, but considering they would get caught strolling intimately in the city area by other students, that stuff almost never happens.

It goes without saying, though, the boy was getting on her nerves almost all the time.

As clueless as he is carefree, that nature of his regularly irritates his secret-girlfriend to the brink of exasperation, often making her hang up his call whenever he starts to grind her gears. It's Yukihira Souma we're talking about—there's no creature less dense than this individual in terms of romance.

Nonetheless, he gave her hope—no matter how tiny it may be.

She actually looks forward to meeting him the next day. Even if in the afternoon (or in the evening which follows) before he had constantly made her sigh audibly in annoyance. Even if he had joked inappropriately in front of the Totsuki board members. He definitely added a little zing to her daily life, that's for sure.

She might not admit it, but she kindalikes the presence of him.

It was on one particular day that he and Tadokoro were summoned to her newly-acquainted office.

Previously, Hisako had recognized there was something fishy going on in a certain hot spring town, about a traditional Japanese bathhouse-slash-hotel that suddenly went off the grid without issuing any notices. Moreover, the hotel had deep connections with Totsuki academy, so this further worries our new and beloved headmistress.

No phone calls, no letters, no nothing. The managers and staffs didn't say a single word when they decided to shut down the business. It was when the rotten smell of bad intrigue reaches Erina's nostrils, that the blonde decided to assign two of the Totsuki's Elite Ten members to investigate further.

Those two individuals were Yukihira and Tadokoro.

They—the other members of the Elite Ten—left her no choice. Each of them were preoccupied with their respective affairs, for example, Alice's pub expansion in Denmark, or Hayama's journey to Morocco in search of top-quality cayenne peppers. The only vacant people in the council were only them both, for the time being.

She actually hated the idea of the two being together—one might call it jealousy. Why can't Hayama delay his trip? Why can't Takumi leave the enlargement of Trattoria Aldini to his brother? Why can't she go with him, instead—oh, that's right. She had mountains of documents to finish.

Even so, no matter how hard her feelings tried to show themselves, she had to keep professionality above all else.

With the two finally here, the impromptu meeting started.

The meeting finished with Erina dismissing the duo.

"Yukihira, I need you to stay for a moment," she stated, stopping the boy in his tracks. She, too, had insisted for them both to address each other using their usual nicknames during formal or semi-formal occasions. Intimate-slash-private nicknames were only used in certain special times, much to her enjoyment.

"What is it, Nakiri?"

"You do realize you're going away for a few days, right?" Erina said, seeing Tadokoro left the room accompanied by Hisako (as the blonde's Captain Sidekick). Now it's only him and her in the spacious office.

"Uh, yeah. You practically just explained it to me not five minutes ago."

"I know," she paused. "Look, just call me when you get there, alright?"

"I will—are you going to miss me?" he grinned, teasing her.

"Wh—What are you uttering such nonsense…?! I only want to know your progress, that's all. Since you're not the very dependable guy for the job, I should at least feel worried for you," she flared up, while trying to hide her stammers.

"Ahahaha, don't worry about it, Nakiri," was his simple reply.

"But seriously, you should call," she held his hand softly.

"Hmm, since I'm not the very dependable guy for the job," he mimicked her. "What if I forget?"

"Then put a reminder on your phone…!" she asserted, eyes slightly concerned.

"Hmm, alright, alright. I'll call," he rubbed her palm with hers, ready to leave. He was about to reach the door when she called out to him again.

"And Yukihira, one more thing?"

"Yeah?"

"N-No funny business while you're there, okay?"

He was taken slightly aback, unsure what Erina had meant from her stuttered sentence earlier. Cocking his head to the side in bedazzlement, he asked "what do you mean?"

"You. And Tadokoro. No. Funny. Business."

Being the densest cloud that he is, he shook his head in confusion. "I'm not really sure what you mean, Nakiri."

"Just—Just don't do anything stupid, understand?"

"Ah, I get it," he clicked his finger. Erina could've sworn she was regretting her own insistence just now. "You're jealous, aren't you?"

"I'm not jealous."

"Yep, you totally are."

"No, I'm not," she got even redder.

"Calm down. I'm not going to try your idea of funny business and whatnot, alright? You don't need to be so jealous about it—besides, she's my best friend. If anything, I'll protect her," he smiled warmly at Erina.

"I told you already," her cheeks puffed. "I'm not jealous."

"Why don't you take Tadokoro's place instead?" he grinned, knowing that he completely overturned the assertive side of his girlfriend.

"…I can't. Just—Just call me when you get there, okay...?"

"Gotchu, Nakiri. I guess I should be going, then," the red head said, turning his way to the door. Her palm, however, stopped him again for the second time while it grabs his arm. "What is it now?"

"…take care, Yukihira."

"Will do, my queen."

With that, he left the office, grinning, leaving the heavily blushing Erina alone.

I hope that this is good enough. This idea has been bugging me for quite some time.

Something private was preoccupying my mind when I was writing this short chapter, so I don't really think it would live up to my expectations. However, please do leave your honest reviews. You are the ones who decide if this fanfic is worth continuing or not.