Chapter Text
* * * * *
- By the way, is Nakiri-san not coming ? Takumi asked as they all stood on the terrace of the dormitory, still bathed in the setting sun’s light.
- She said she had something important to take care of back home, today.
- I guess Miss Secretary is headed over there, too.
He nodded to the two Polar Star girls as Nakiri Alice giggled next to them.
- Today’s the day Aunt Mana is returning to the mansion ! she said with a smile.
- Eh... I guess we should tell Yukihira, too, Mito-san intervened.
He noticed Saiba-san approaching them through the window, his son following closely.
- You won’t have to, I heard it, the latter stated.
- Oh, you’re still here ? We thought you might have abandoned us to run off and train somewhere !
Takumi didn’t even try to repress his snort. Though it was only light teasing from Hayama, it would have been extremely on brand for him to do that.
- Well, I did think about it but since I’m second seat now, I can’t really do that, he grumbled. Plus, since we had a party for my second place and all, it wouldn’t be fair to leave before we throw one for Nakiri.
If Yukihira noticed the look they all gave him, he didn’t say anything about it.
* * * * *
If Souma needed to find words to describe this evening, it would have been “absolutely normal”, although the various screaming coming from the Polar Star dormitory might have indicated otherwise to a foreign observer. Inside, everyone was cooking and laughing, forcing each other to try whichever new combo they had come up with. Well, okay, this last one was mostly him. In all and any cases, the mood was high tonight, just as it ever was. Yet, one voice didn’t make itself heard as much as it often did, and the absence didn’t go unnoticed for long. She was the star of the party, after all.
- Guys, do you know where Nakiri went ?
A chorus of negative answers answered him, and he sighed.
- Hey, Souma’s right, I haven’t seen her in a while.
- We’re making this because she won the BLUE, she should at least stay with us !
- I’ll go look for her.
As he left the room, Souma could physically feel the way everyone stared at him. He knew it because it wasn’t the first time – actually, he had noticed that each and every time Nakiri’s name came from his mouth. Of course, he also had a clear idea of the reason behind it. No matter how it seemed, he wasn’t an oblivious idiot... Not that he really cared, though, Nakiri and him didn’t have that kind of relationship, and he wanted to find her for the sole purpose of making her eat some of his awful apple butter shrimps in their mint sauce.
He looked up every floor, calling her name once in a while and not getting any answer. Eventually, he decided to check the porch. Maybe she had wanted some fresh air and gone outside. Arriving in the hall, he noticed the door was open and a small silhouette was sitting right behind it.
- So that’s where you hid.
Nakiri turned her head towards him, but didn’t react more than that. She shrugged weakly as he walked and went to sit on the staircase next to her.
- You’ve been gone for a while now, ‘you alright ?
- Ah, yes. I’m just thinking about... Things.
Her hair hid most of her face, and Souma could only guess the reason.
- All alone in the cold ? he taunted and tossed her a blanket, previously grabbed from the living room. I don’t know a best way to get sick.
- Shut it, I didn’t ask you anything ! she shot back at him.
Here it was, the energy that suited her way better than that previous mood of hers. She pulled the cover around her with a pout, and he swore he had heard her whispering a vague “Thanks... I guess”. Souma grinned but didn’t say anything. No need to push her further than that, at least for now, so they simply sat in silence for a bit. Nakiri didn’t utter a word but at least she didn’t mope like before and that was already better. He didn’t care about the why’s and how’s, but honestly found seeing her like this very annoying – how could he compete with her if she felt so low ? It wouldn’t be a fair fight and he hated this thought.
- Get back inside, they’re wondering where you disappeared.
- In a minute. You kind of interrupted me mid-thought process, she scoffed.
- Wow, I forgot how amiable you always are. Well, I’m going back first then.
- Hey- she started, her word suspended in the air.
He stopped to look at her as she curled up in the blanket, and raised an eyebrow at this. Nakiri opened and closed her mouth a few times like she was struggling to decide what to say and for a second, he considered leaving. She started talking again before he could do it, thought, so he leaned back against the doorframe.
- Ugh, this is weird. Listen, I know it’s not like we’re super close or anything...
(She was right. Except for their rivalry and occasional teaming up – that still ended in a competition anyway –, they had never really bonded with each other.)
- And I know I haven’t always been... the nicest to you...
(She was still right. Nakiri had this special talent of making herself insufferable. Not that he hadn’t tried to appreciate her at first, but there was a limit to his patience.)
- But... But you’re here, and I think I need to vent, and...
- And you’re finally ready to put this damn pride of yours asides ? Never thought that’d happen. He sat back next to her. Well, tell it. I don’t have all night.
- You’d be willing to listen to me ? she sputtered, looking almost surprised.
- Aren’t you the one who asked me in the first place ?
- I just didn’t expect you to be so thoughtful, she huffed, and he stared at her, half-offended, half-amused. Don’t take it against you, I simply don’t get the reason why you’d to that for me.
Souma stared at her for a few seconds. If he had to give a single reason, it would be to get her back on tracks. As his main rival, he needed her in top condition, and if letting her talk could achieve it, he didn’t really see a reason not to do it. Hadn’t he already told her ? How could he be happy when he won if she looked like this ? He had never seen her losing to something like that, after all. Nakiri was this kind of person that always got back on her feet after getting kicked down, the one he had never beaten no matter how much he tried, so of course seeing her like that was infuriating.
- Then, what were you thinking about ? he finally said instead of answering her.
- Huh ? Oh, right. It was about my mother.
- Your mother ?
He leaned down, his back plopping against the cold tiles. From the corner of his eyes, he had seen Nakiri freezing, before nodding slowly. He looked away, focusing on the sky while waiting for her to pursue. He could guess where this was going and wasn’t the most comfortable with it, but he had asked anyway and had no other choice but to listen.
- We saw each other last week, and I though we could have mended things, but after all of this with the BLUE, and with Asahi, I just... There’s a lot to process, and I’m not done with it yet. And yet, I can’t stop craving her approval when I cook for her. I don’t even know why !
* * * * *
- Welcome home, Mother.
- Thank you Erina. The older lady smiled. I’ll be looking forward to your dishes every day, now. You are the WGO Bookmaster’s personal chef, after all.
- Yes, it’s an honor.
- And fear not. I have prepared my bucket in case your dishes are not up to par.
Was that her mother’s way to show affection ? Through tease ? Erina surely hoped it was, but she frankly couldn’t be sure of it. It wasn’t like they were close enough so that she could recognize when her mother was being serious or not. Maybe one day she would get to. For now, wasn’t the best course of action to play along ?
- That is quite alright. I will gladly bring you down a notch or two, she said icily.
Her mother locked eyes with her, an unreadable flicker in her gaze.
Maybe one day she would get to understand her mother, but today wasn’t that day.
* * * * *
So let me get this right. You spent your life trying to make your mother like your cooking, but never was able to ? The irony's amazing.
- But that wasn’t even the worst. My mother I might forgive. Not yet, I can’t just ignore the way she left while... Anyway, I know she had her reasons to do that, and I should forgive her, and you know what ? I think I could. But, she inhaled sharply, my father was there as well.
Souma still laid on his back but he had turned his head towards her, now. He had no idea what to say to that. Comforting people wasn’t his strong point, and after so much time spent developing their rivalry and hostility towards each other, this was even worse when it came to Nakiri. Thankfully, she was able to lead the conversation by herself. It had surprised him a little, especially the length of her tirade, and hearing her whining was annoying but it seemed necessary for her to externalize it. He mentally sighed and buckled up for the next part.
* * * * *
- I had something to tell you about Saiba Asahi. And I also... Came to say goodbye. Before I met Mana, there was a time I was extremely careless. And it was then...
Erina stared at her father in shock. His head hung low, and his eyes seemed unable to meet hers. At this time, a realization came upon her. This man in front of her, this man she had feared, and loved, and hated her whole life... At this time, this man who told her what he had done with another woman, and how he had hurt another child, was simply... Pathetic. But those weren’t the words she needed to say to him.
- You’re absolutely awful, Father, she snarled, and it was the only warning she gave before getting up and slapping him as hard as she could. You say you’ll leave the Nakiri family because you irresponsibly left a child all alone ? That you can’t bear this name anymore ? Do you want me to congratulate you on developing basic decency ?!
She gazed at him, laying on the floor. She had feared him, loved him, and hated him all at once. But now, truly, she only felt disgusted.
- You want to leave ? Go right ahead. You’re absolutely right when you say you don’t deserve the Nakiri name. So go seek this other child of yours, or don’t – I couldn’t care less. But don’t you ever, ever pretend to be my father.
He looked at her like a wounded beast. She never had imagined seeing him like that could be so therapeutic. She averted her gaze on the door, and without another look back, she left the room.
- Goodbye, Nakamura Azami, she spat.
* * * * *
Souma couldn’t repress a snicker as she finished telling the interaction.
- Did you really call him by his former name ?
- And what if I did ? she shot back defensively. Why is that making you laugh ?
She huffed before starting to pout. Ah, there she was again, the real Nakiri Erina. It was good to see her, and no matter how much he’d like to tease her, he felt now was a good time for honesty. She had thrown her pride away and poured her heart open just now, after all.
- Haha, sorry, I guess it strangely makes me proud of you. I mean it. I admired how you stood up to him after the promotion exams, and knowing you finally put this excuse of a genitor into his place makes it even better.
His words had been harsh but after what she had told, he guessed she wouldn’t mind.
- Well... I still feel like I did something wrong, deep in my guts. But rationally, I don’t regret it a bit. Let’s pray this feeling will go away.
- Knowing you, it will. My main rival doesn’t take shit from anyone, hum ?
- She certainly won’t anymore, she smiled boastfully, and it looked so right on her face.
She looked up at the sky, just like he had done for most of their discussion, before suddenly lying down as well.
- You know, I really like it better when you’re like that.
- What do you mean ? she inquired without taking her eyes of the clouds.
- When you’re confident, and way too full of yourself. I already told you so but defeating you when you’re already down is no fun at all.
- Humph ! Like you could ever defeat me in the first place !
Yeah, just like that, he thought. So hurry to solve your family problems – I’ll wait for you until you’ve done it, and then I’ll finally bring you down your high horse.
Which reminded him that he had almost forgotten the main reason why he came here in the first place. He still had to make her taste those apple butter shrimps in mint sauce, didn’t he ? Nakiri probably sensed something in the air, or maybe she noticed the sinister look on his face, because she jumped on her feet and put some distance between them before he could even say anything. Dang, she really knew him. He got up as well with a grin and took the tupperware he always had on him before opening it. Immediately, she acre smell of seafood filled the air, only barely countered by the fresh aroma of mint.
- Oh, no, I already know what’s going on and I won’t stand for it ! Put this nightmare – no matter what it is – away !
- Come on, Nakiri, don’t I deserve payment for hearing you out ? he cackled.
- I am never telling you anything else ! No, don’t... Yukihira, don’t you dare- !
She started to run and he didn’t waste a second before chasing after her, chanting her name ominously in the deserted corridors. Now that was what he had wanted, and according to the smile he could have sworn to see on Nakiri’s face, she didn’t really hate it either. Yes, this was how they were meant to be. Rivals, frenemies, maybe they’d even grow to be friends someday, who knew. As long as they could challenge each other, as long as he could try making her admit she liked his cooking, it would be fine for him.