Chapter Text
It was two in the morning and Takumi was fretting over what outfit to wear.
Damn that Yukihira, he thought as he discarded another shirt on his bed.
It was supposed to be a private event, but somehow, most of the student population was present. (Everyone was there. No way they were gonna miss this.) Their Shokugeki wasn’t even promoted or anything, but apparently a Shokugeki is a big deal when it’s Soma himself who challenges someone.
All their friends aren’t surprised it turned out to be Takumi.
“Nii-chan, go back to sleep,” said Isami with a yawn.
The audience never really bothered Takumi. He was here to cook. He was cooking to win.
“Yeah. Just a minute. I remembered I have a shirt that would go well with these pants.”
Now, it’s not that Yukihira never takes Shokugekis seriously, because he does. He always gives cooking his all. But, as the student population watched the two chefs cook, they couldn’t help but think - but feel - that it was different this time. This time, the glint in Yukihira Soma’s eyes wasn’t just because of his passion for cooking and the thrill of being in a Shokugeki.
The First Seat’s aura was different as well. It left everybody on the edge of their seats and there was heavy tension in the air.
Isami sighed and went back to his room. If his older brother was going to sleep through his entire date tomorrow then so be it. It might actually teach him a lesson.
The stadium was mostly silent as they watched the two chefs cook. Their whole friend group was present and watching from Erina’s private room. The possessor of the god tongue had taken a few hours off just to watch this. These were the only two chefs who had defeated her after all.
(It wasn’t an official Shokugeki, but Takumi had crushed Erina 4-1 the first time he won against her.)
“I wonder who’ll win . . .”
“Aldini never really defeated Yukihira in an official Shokugeki wherein Soma bet his first seat, did he?”
“He tied with Soma-kun a bunch of times though.”
Isami snickered. “Their battles ending in a tie always annoyed nii-chan.”
Takumi landed face-first onto his bed and groaned. Why was this so fucking hard? It’s just picking an outfit for fuck’s sake! He was good at that!
He wasn’t even planning to think much on his outfit in the first place. Takumi had gone to bed that night thinking he could just wear simple clothing from his closet to wear. He didn’t even get a wink of sleep.
And now here he was, frantically searching his closet for the perfect outfit because ‘I’m not losing to Yukihira when it comes to appearance.’
The audience was entranced by the two chefs as they moved around putting their dish together. From what they’re seeing (and smelling), it would be very difficult to decide on a winner.
Everyone held their breaths in anticipation.
Then finally, finally, Soma is done. Takumi does not look away from his work.
No words were spoken. The arena was silent. And then the judges were unclothed.
Everyone gasped. They haven’t even tried the dish yet. It was even more surprising to see that they themselves we unclothed. It was a bad idea to watch a competition between the top two chefs of Totsuki without bringing in some food, but they realized quickly that normal food would not satisfy them.
The judges tasted it, and their eyes blew wide as they were taken through a whole new dimension. Before they knew it they were on the floor. Their bodies could not support them from the amount of pleasure they were getting from the food. Remembering their pride and dignity, they shakily sat back down, panting.
Takumi had finally picked an outfit and was fixing his now messy room. He was deep in thought. He just couldn’t understand why Yukihira was doing this.
And then Takumi was serving his food, and the judges felt as though they were either the most blessed, or the most cursed. Whatever piece of clothing anyone had was gone. The dish looked absolutely delectable. Takumi had always taken careful preparation in the appearance.
When they tasted the food they thought they had died. They were sure they’d died and were brought back to life. Tears were streaming down one judge’s face. The effect on of eating both dishes consecutively had been too much.
Once the food was gone, everyone waited for the judge’s verdict. They were whispering among themselves as Takumi and Soma stood side by side. Soma’s face wore laid back expression, smirking like he had already won. Takumi’s eyes were narrowed, almost glaring, and he was frowning deeply.
When the judges finally turned around, they had a winner.
1-2 Yukihira Soma
The stadium burst into cheers. Yuki was laughing maniacally.
Takumi stiffened as Yukihira turned towards him. They shook hands, and Takumi knew the bright, cheerful eyes of his only rival will haunt the rest of his nights.
-
The date had been surprisingly . . . pleasant.
It was a bit awkward at first - well, for Takumi anyway – and Takumi knows he had been acting like a tsundere the entire time. (Yuki kept calling him a tsundere, but refused to tell him what it meant so he asked Megumi instead.)
“Nii-chan, Yukihira-kun is waiting outside.”
Takumi took a deep breath and stood in front of the door, making no move to open it. Isami sighed and resisted the urge to face palm. Why was his nii-chan so cool when doing anything cooking related, but is a total dork in everything else?
“Just open the door, nii-chan.”
“Shut up! There’s still three minutes left before I’m considered late!”
-
He admits he had panicked when he found out where Yukihira was taking him. Takumi never really expected the date to be so . . . wholesome.
“Wh-What are . . . Why are we going in a hotel?!”
Yukihira snickered. “You’ll see.”
Takumi’s face was as red as the tomatoes he cut up this morning. 'What does Yukihira think he’s doing? What is he planning? He isn’t taking me here to eat lunch, apparently.'
Takumi thought that his heart would jump out of his chest when Yukihira brought out a key and they entered a room.
“U-um, don’t you think we’re moving a bit too fast?”
The blonde thought he would just wither and die there because of embarrassment. He can’t believe he just said that.
Yukihira looked at him, eyebrows furrowed. “Hmm? What are you talking about, Takumi? We’re here to watch movies.”
Takumi looked at him incredulously. “You mean to tell me that you booked a hotel room just for us to watch movies?”
The redhead grinned and flopped on the bed. “Yep. Now c’mere.”
Takumi looked at him for five more seconds before sighing. “At least take off your shoes,” he grumbled as he took off his own. Yukihira didn’t take off his shoes, but he stood up and told Takumi to wait on the bed.
“I prepared some snacks before we came here. They should last us a while.”
Takumi awkwardly sat on the bed. When they finally got settled, Takumi sworn he could have died of embarrassment as Yukihira pulled him close and cuddled him, nonchalantly eating nachos while the first movie played.
That was his first date.
-
His first kiss was a little more public than he would have preferred, but it was okay since it was with the person he loved liked. They were in France, and Takumi and Yukihira were facing the three-time champion of Guerre de Cuisine, the ultimate cooking face-off for chefs eighteen and under internationally. Last year had been unfortunate. The pair from Turkey overpowered Yukihira and Tsukasa Eishi, who had joined due to the fact that he had lost with Kobayashi Rindou the year prior. Yukihira and Tsukasa were both amazing, but Guerre de Cuisine was all about teamwork and the best dish you can produce as a pair. Such competition was perfect for the Aldini brothers, but Isami had recently been having migraines, so the final candidates were Takumi and Soma.
Soma wanted to defeat the current champions. If it meant being one step closer to finally being able to defeat his father and become the best chef in the world, then he would do it.
He and Takumi had the perfect coordination and teamwork. They were not going to fail like the supposedly perfect pair of Kobayashi and Tsukasa, who had known each other for years. They had a bond stronger than that. And so he believed they would win. (It’s not like they have any other choice. They were under direct orders from Erina to completely obliterate the Turkish pair. Apparently the Headmaster of the school where they attend is not only a rival of Erina’s, but brags that her students have higher skill than Totsuki’s.)
-
Takumi had seen the pair before, from afar and through the giant flat screen TVs of the arena. Now that he was right in front of them, he decided that he didn’t quite like the look on their faces. Their auras were different, and their posture and stance oozed with confidence. Normally, the Italian chef didn’t have a problem with this, but the pair looked at them like they weren’t even worth looking at.
It pissed Takumi off to be looked down upon.
He and Yukihira looked at the direction of Erina who gave them a firm nod. They looked back at their opponents. They had their Headmaster’s permission. In the giant arena, mercy ceases to exist.
-
They had won.
It was 5-2 and they had won.
The screams and cheers of the people in the arena were loud, but they were not heard by the pair that had just won what was considered to be an impossible battle. Almost no one in the audience entered the arena believing the pair from Japan would win. How could they? Totsuki was younger than most of the elite culinary schools across the world. They had produced magnificent chefs, of course, but the number was almost nothing compared to what the other schools had accomplished.
Erina had been working hard to prove Totsuki’s worth, and this was just but another one of her Elite Ten’s accomplishments.
But they defeated the world’s number one pair (under eighteen) and they were live and no one can deny their skill now. They have nothing left to prove.
Takumi locked eyes with Soma. They were both breathing heavily. The cooking was intense and the Turkish pair (who they learned were named Alim and Ayfer) proved to be formidable opponents. They weren’t champions for nothing.
And then Takumi was laughing as Soma pulled him into a hug right after they shook the hands of their opponents. Soma smelled of sweat and spice and fire and Takumi didn’t mind. He undoubtedly smelled the same, which made him want to take a nice, long shower.
His partner pulled away, and he opened his mouth to say something. But before he could, Soma’s mouth was on his. And they were kissing . . . on live television. And their friends were watching and oh god.
Takumi was flushed red by the time Soma pulled away. The cheering got louder and Takumi could have sworn he heard Yoshino squealing even though he knew she was in the dorm in Japan. Soma laughed at Takumi’s face, and the blond chef smacked him.
“Idiot! Don’t do that when were in public!”
“So you’d rather we do it in private where it’s just the two of us, then?”
Takumi’s eye twitched and he pushed Soma away from him. The redhead laughed and followed Takumi, who was now heading to the exit without even collecting his things.
Erina-san will take care of it for us, he thought.
He got inside their service and crossed his arms over his chest, face burning with embarrassment. Yukihira probably stayed to receive their award. The way he acted was undignified. (Later he’d find out that what he did was fine and that they did not disrespect any countries or schools.)
He touched his fingers to his lips.
That was his first kiss.
-
Soma’s body was warm under his touch as it pressed against his. One of Takumi’s hands cupped the back of Soma’s neck while the other roamed his boyfriend’s broad back under his shirt. The redhead had Takumi pressed up against the door in his room. The others had already passed out and were undoubtedly fast asleep in Marui’s room. And if Takumi was a bit drowsy before, he certainly wasn’t now.
The blond moaned as Soma moved to his neck, biting and sucking at as spot right where his pulse was. When he pulled back he made a soft noise of satisfaction before dragging Takumi to his bed. Soma made Takumi sit on his lap as they resume making out.
When they broke apart for air, Soma began unbuttoning Takumi’s shirt. Soon it was off and so was Soma’s.
“How far do you plan to go with this?” asked Takumi.
“As far as you’re comfortable with,” Soma mumbled into Takumi’s lips.
Takumi nodded and pulled his boyfriend for another kiss.
It was his first time.
-
Isami could not stop laughing.
“S-seriously nii-chan?”
He let out a snort and laughed again. Takumi was already red in the face as he hit his brother.
“S-Shut up! You are not helping!”
Isami took deep breathes to calm himself once more.
“I’m sorry, nii-chan. But are you serious?” he said just to tease his brother.
Takumi fell back onto his bed with a groan, hands covering his face.
Once Isami had somewhat calmed, he got up from where he was sitting and sat on the edge of his brother’s bed instead.
“There, there, nii-chan,” he said, patting his brother’s knee. “From what you told me, I don’t think Soma-kun minds that you sneezed after giving him a-“
Takumi screamed as he shot up to cover Isami’s mouth. “Don’t say it out loud!”
Isami laughed again as Takumi burned red beside him.
It was the last time he was going to Isami when it came to these kinds of things.
(Not really, but he vows every single time.)