#7minutes

Will I do the other months?

… yeah, and I totally don’t have botched ones I’ve already done. 🫥

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO🏃‍♀️

I JUST KNOW HE READ 7 MINUTES PLEASE💀🤰

Note: I hope you guys like our last trip together into this wonderful culinary world of Shokugeki no Soma. Please read the final notes.

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6 months later

Erina felt drops of sweat fall down her chin. The ragged breath doesn't take the smile off her lips. She might say that adrenaline had become costumary, but it would be too pretentious to associate her outbursts and desires to him. But really...Who she is kidding? Erina Nakiri, queen of the whole gastronomic world, became a total vassal of her own heart. And it beat faster every time certain golden eyes gawked her body for too long. The heiress shivered as she noted the way he gawk her from her golden hair til her end of her high socks. They seemed to record every detail of her, lost in her, their slave. She wonders if this stare battles and the half smiles will always going to leave her breathless. But at the end of the day she doesn't want anything else ... is better to live breathless than to live without him. She was interrupted by a high, cheerful voice. Yuki, the judge of the time, announces the end of another chapter between the powerful couple of the famous Totsuki school.

“ Time is up! You may serve the dishes!”

Erina tried to focus more on her dish than on the glittering golden eyes that seem to have no other source of attention than absorb the minute details of her body movement.

“I present to you my dessert: hot guava soup with spices” - the blonde finished her presentation with a perfect french,  wishing to jurors to enjoy the meal. From the corner of her eye, she noticed her boyfriend approching with that mischievous grin of his, he was tring to get a better look at the dessert she had made.

"I hope you saved me a little, Nakiri."

"You know very well the answer to that, Yukihira! Wasn't that the deal?"

"I can't wait to tasty it, but first I think I need to defeat you, Am I right?"

"In your dreams Yukihira!"

They were both interrupted by the jury's groans of satisfaction. On one side Joichiro seemed to almost cry with each spoonful, on the other Sezaemon Nakiri had already undressed, exposing his shirtless chest while savoring dessert.

"I think you can give up before you go through another public humiliation, Yukihira "

The boy just smiled, put his lips close to the girl's ear and whispered.

"You know very well that you drive me crazy when you get this worked up, don't you?"

Erina felt her cheeks flush, his breath tickling her neck. She could feel his mischievous smile forming, the one he always gave when he could pull a shy expression from her. Soma looked into her eyes again, the tension between them dense, almost solid. And he chose not to come any closer. The chef wasn't sure if he would be able to get out of the situation alive if he let himself be carried away by the desire to kiss her. He was sure she wouldn't like being kissed in public at all. He simply chose to slide his fingers under her left cheek as he realized the jurors were no longer eating but paying attention to the couple. Soma felt his face flush and spoke calmly to his girlfriend again.

"I think it's my turn. And this time  I guarantee it. You will say 'delicious' Erina."

The young woman felt the seriousness in his words and swallowed hard when he called her by her first name. Something they just do in the privacy of their room.

"Gentlemen, I present to you my dessert: 'Mascarpone ice cream with nutmeg'. Enjoy!"

What followed was a demonstration of pure gastronomic pleasure. Joichiro rolled his eyes as Sezaemon tore the clothes he had stripped before. Despite the great commotion, the result was not the expected by the couple.

"So Gramps, Pops ... who won this shokugeki?"

"I think you drew again, young Soma."

"A TIE?" the young chefs exclaimed in surprise.

"I can't believe you put me in the same level as him again, Grandpa."

"Pops you can't be serious? A tie? But I was sure that this time I had improved my technique"

"Now calm down, you two. I think I have an answer to that - Joichiro spoke while exchanging complicit glances with the old director - If the old man here allow me, I can explain a little something or another about harmonization.

The older Nakiri just nodded allowing the old student to continue. Joichiro got up and placed both dishes on the kitchen counter. He narrowed his eyes and realized that a young audience was watching him intently. He smiled at the seriousness before his own eyes. What was missing here was lightness.

"Of course you must have read the story of the two lovers of Verona. Romeo, the witty, dreamy, happy, brave and loyal boy. Juliet, for her part, was a spoiled, obedient, strong, determined, romantic girl. The great tragedy of the Capulets and Montecchios came from a single sentiment. Love. The only one capable of unit the unimaginable. Romeo's impetuosity and Juliet's sweetness. It was based on Shakespere's novel that one of the most famous and appreciated sweets of Brazilian cuisine emerged, it is called Romeo and Juliet or simply guava and cheese. That's when I learned that every Romeo" - Joichiro took a spoon of Sorbetto from his son's dish - " Would be nothing without his Juliet" - He ended up adding Sorbetto to the guava soup.

Erina couldn't disguise the flush on her cheeks at this point as Soma watched his plate blend with Erina's so that a new rosy color appeared.

Saiba offered two spoons to the couple and finished "I present to you Romeo and Juliet in Nakiri Yukihira style"

This time, it was Soma who blushed he just seemed less embarrassed compared to the almost purple coloration of his girlfriend's cheeks. He wondered if she had forgotten to breathe at some point. The young couple sank their spoons into their plates, taking equal halves of the guava soup with marscarpone sorbetto. And as the flavors mingled and complemented each other, the whole house seemed to be in the middle of an earthquake. The stronger flavor of mascarpone rediscovered sweeter guava notes. Nothing overlapped, everything was completed in a dance of incredibly delicious flavors. In the end, Erina couldn't contain herself, with trembling mouth and anesthetized body, she uttered the sentence that Soma expected to hear ...

"It's delicious"

Soma came out of the trance instantly. With wide eyes and cheeks still trembling after the gastronomic attack he suffered.

"What .... what did you just say Nakiri?"

"Hm?"

"Did you happen to say ... my food is delicious?"

"Hmpf! Of course not."

"No no. Don't lie. I heard it. Okay I was in a trance, but I did hear ... everybody listened"

Erina could very well admit that the boy's food was delicious, she had already admitted her feelings, why not admit that his food was delicious too? However, this was a battle she didn't want to finish anytime soon. After all, a competition between them was much more fun and interesting. She let a mischievously smile scape her lips and spoke again.

"That's right. I admit the food was delicious. But as I remember, this dish is not just yours. It's my guava soup that is completing the dish. And if there's something I cooked on the dish, it wouldn't be less than delicious, would it?"

Soma took a deep breath. He hated having to admit she was correct. The two watched their friends throw themselves in a battle for a piece of dish that the God's tongue blessed as delicious. Soma took advantage of this cue to approach his girlfriend from behind and whisper in her ear.

"You ... you are very ... very smart and very beautiful for your own good, Erina. Don't think that this competition is over because it isn't."

Erina smiled, pleased.

"I expected no less from you, Soma."

The blonde felt the boy's breath on her neck and his fingers trace the curve of her waist.

"You know me. Always ready for a challenge."

"Especially the impossible ones?" She let her head rest on the boy's chest.

"Especially yours."

That same night, after everyone had tasted and approved the couple's dessert, the young people were reunited in Marui's room, where an end-of-semester party was taking place.

In one corner, Erina and Soma argue over some irrelevant subject. Clearly they had more fun with discussions than for the reasons that led to it. Ryo was struggling to keep Alice still, the girl seemed unconscious to the effects her body induced in the boy every time she wiggles on his lap while trying to find a comfortable position to continue reading a school gossip magazine. The cover had it in bold letters the article "Top 10 Most Powerful Couples from Totsuki".

"I don't believe we are in second place, Ryo!"

"Miss ... please stop moving"

"How can you stay so relaxed knowing Soma and Erina are in front of us?"

Ryo made a low sound as he felt the girl fit perfectly on his hips.

"Miss ..." he gasped once more.

"We have to reverse this, Ryo!"

"Alice ...!"

"What ..." - The girl stopped in the middle of her question. There was a familiar pressure from the boy in the lower part of her back.

"Don't you realize you're driving me crazy?" He's whispered, this time in the girl's ear.

She felt strong arms encircle her waist and bring her closer. If before she doubted, now she was sure that Ryo was very… very happy to have her on his lap.

"Ryo ... this is ..."

"Don't think that just because we're in public my body won't react to yours. You don't know what you're dealing with, Alice."

She shivered and felt her body tremble againts his. Her eyes almost closed when she felt her boyfriend's warm lips on her neck. She bit her lip to avoid a pleasant moan.

"I don't think we need to prove anything to anyone. But if you want, we can start now."

Alice opened her eyes in astonishment. The bold proposition was tempting, but deep down Alice likes to maintain the family's reputation. She also knew that scandals of the sort were not beneficial at all either to her competition with her cousin or her relationship with her boyfriend.

"No..no we don't have to...not now and not here however, I think later, in my room, we can .... test your offer.

"As my lady wishes"

In another corner of the room, Hayama offers a cup to Hisako, who smiles at the scent of cinnamon in her chamomile tea.

"I see you put your own touch on my tea."

Hayama smiled, almost embarrassed to explain.

"Let's say I found the lesson from Mr. Saiba much more enlightening"

The boy intertwined his fingers with his girfriend's free hand. The girl with pink hair, in turn, couldn't avoid a flushed smile. They continued a shy conversation while the scent of tea envelops them.

"Have you asked for an autorization from Nakiri... about us spending a week together?"

"No"

"No?"

"It's not that I'm not going to talk to her ... what I mean is I'm not going to ask for an autorization. She is my friend ... I don't need her permission."

Hayama couldn't explain the feeling of pride on his chest. To see his girlfriend as confident and as free as she was right now made him the happiest man in the world. So much so that he couldn't avoid to kiss her right there. A quick but not less breathless one. The boy heard her stutter his name. They were not a couple who showed public affection like Alice and Ryo, nor were they obvious as Soma and Erina. Hisako likes to think that their relationship was so theirs that it didn't have to be anyone else's.

"Akira ?!"

"Forgive me but I couldn't help it. I am proud of you Arato."

The girl just smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder as she drank the tea that smelled like him.

Not far away from there, right on the dorm counter, Takumi takes courage to ask a question that should have been asked months ago. He had already lost count of how many times he had gone out with Megumi, He knew the names of all her family members, the full explanation behind the lucky charm, The've watched all the Disney movies together from the oldest to the last ones released in the movie theaters. Still, he felt his hand sweat and his heart skip a bit.

"Takumi, are you sure you are alright? Don't want some tea or a painkiller maybe?"

"N..No ... I mean ... don't worry Megumi I ... I'm fine just... just a little nervous"

He ran his hands along his golden threads of hair, searching for trust and to help him keep it calm. Takumi couldn't handle matters of the heart the way a boy with an entire fan club dedicated to him was expected. The charisma and charm guarantee him fans but nothing too close to the safety of romance.

"Hm..right. So ... why are we here?"

"I just ..."  the boy swallowed hard..spired deeply and tried to continue " I need to ask you something, Megumi"

"Hm ok. You can ask"

Takumi approaches her, getting so close he could see her perfectly long lashes. His eyes confident and so bright that they were able to reflect the moon. Megumi no longer fought against the tide that always pulled her into the immensity of his gaze.

"Megumi, I know we are friends and that we have been going out for quite some time. You're such an amazing company and I don't even feel the time go by when we're together. I like our conversations, the way you smile when you like a movie or when you finish a new recipe, you teach me either with your words or with your look. Your words inspired me to be better every day and I finally understood that I don't need to overcome anyone but myself to be better. You make me feel at easy, you give me confidence and I think I'm repeating myself but you surround me with so many good feelings that I keep thinking how wonderful it would be to live on this magic ride with you every day and how happy I would be if I could do the same for you ... so ... if you can ... I mean... if you want ... I would very much like...hmm..."

"Takumi" the girl smiled her heart couldn' possibly stand so much apprehension.

"Okay..sorry ...well..." the young man cleared his throat and intertwined his fingers with the girl - Would you give me the honor to be my girlfriend, Megumi?"

Takumi notice the girl's cheeks flushing, and felt his own neck burning from the spreading flush. Finally he saw her smile shyly.

"I ... I do ... I do! Of course I accept!"

The boy didn't contain his happiness, hugged her tightly and they twirled.

"I thought you would never ask"

"I ... I'm sorry for keep you waiting ... I ... I wasn't sure what to do ... what to say ..."

"It doesn't matter now." She puts her forehead to his and spot his gaze traveling from her eyes to her pink lips.

"Megumi ... may I ..."

"Yes, please!"

Megumi saw him smile before feeling his hot lips. She smiled during the kiss. Happy, light and extremely in love. When facing the room, already holding hands, they were welcome by the angry voices from Alice and Erina, who is once again discussing about something irrelevant. Their boyfriends were doing nothing to appease the heirs. Ryo chose to remain inert and Soma was to entertained laughing about it.

"What's going on here?"

Alice withdrew her red eyes from the battle with her cousin's purple ones and fixed them on the new couple's clasped hands.

"Ahhh more competition! Yes..I'm happy for you two ... yes ... everyone here sure expected this to happen but NO !! I am not going to make it easy for you now that you are the new couple from school"

Takumi and Megumi feel drops of sweat fall from their forehead. Those from embarrassment rather than heat.

"What is she talking about?" Takumi decided to voice the question for both of them. And it was Hisako who provided the necessary explanation.

"Don't worry. She's been that way since the gossip magazine article put her and Ryo at second place in the school's top most powerful couples"

Hayama, who had his hand on Hisako's waist, completed.

"Alice is a very troblesome especially when it comes to competitions. I honestly don't know how Ryo can handle it"

"It must be because he really loves her And believe me a grumpy Ryo is worth a thousand cranky Alices"

The four laughed before hearing Yuki exclaim from across the room.

"Right ... Right ... We are all very happy and some of us very much in love. But there is a very large portion here that is BORED TO DEATH!"

From the girl's side, Sakaki sighed as She nodded.

"Yuki is right. What can we do to pass the time?"

Alice practically jumped with excitement as she spoke .

"I HAVE AN IDEA!"

And with the same speed she spoke she was also barred by a set of voices.

"NO, ALICE!"

"Ahh, come on guys!"

While Alice complained on one side and their friends laughed on the other, Erina and Soma looked at each other. They seemed to imagine the same thing. Who would have thought a silly game would give them a lifetime in paradise.

-THE END-

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ANNNNNDDD CUT!

What a RIDE?! I can't believe it's over. It really took me a while to post the last chapter because I didn't want to say goodbye to this fic. It gave me wonderful moments ... some troblesome ones ( yeah the whole "I was plagiared thing" was a hard one) ... but the vast majority was full of emotion. And I owe it all to you. My readers! To all of you. Whether you're a ghost reader, or if you always comment, whether you're the one who just likes it and favorite it, whether you're the one who eagerly waits, the ones who resisted and has accompanied me til here. I have no words to thank you all. Each of you has given me strength, taught me, and thrilled me in its own way. I hope I managed to get a few sighs fro you guys, a few laughs and the main one,  I really hope that I somehow made of your day a better day ... even if was just little bit. Writing fanfics is like an outburst… you don't expect anything… no waiting for feedback … but hearing from you has undoubtedly been the best of experiences I've ever had. To all of you ... my eternal Thank you and until next time! Love, Maddie