Shokugeki no Soma isn't my personal property. All rights reserved to the mangaka.

"Listen, Souma. The secret to become a chief is meeting a woman who will make you want to give all the food you make to her."

Nakiri Senzaemon, Tootsuki Academy's Director, was looking at the young man named Yukihira Souma who was bickering with his granddaughter, named Nakiri Erina. In a few weeks prior, he was told that Yukihira Souma was going to have an exchange students program with another school in foreign country, but everything was still a rumor. During the time when the rumor spread out in the whole academy, he was quite shaken because the only potential student to challenge his granddaughter was going abroad will be quite a disaster for her development. In order to prevent such event to occured, he would need to make an effort, It was all about making the greatest generation in the last 50 years of Tootsuki academy. But knowing that Yukihira Souma was the son of Saiba Jouichiro or also known as Yukihira Jouichiro, the rumours wasn't going to stopped because at the time Yukihira Jouichiro was working abroad. Meanwhile, Yukihira Souma himself wasn't saying anything about the rumor which made everything even more confusing. 'Like father like son. He is another stray cat, I wonder what am I supposed to do. Without definite information regarding this rumor and the target place of his exchange program, this is going to be a bigger problem.'

A few days later, Nakiri Alice was going to the academy to make an audience with her grandfather. It was such a nice morning, Alice was really enjoying the environment of the school, Tootsuki Academy. Along with Kurokiba Ryou, she was walking the main path of the academy. A big gate could be seen through the path, entering that gate they were walking leisurely. "It's okay, Pops. Going somewhere in this world is easy, but to make that into reality, I know that skill alone wouldn't be enough, so stop being worried. It's annoying." Suddenly the voice of Yukihira Souma was heard in the lounge. "Yukihira-kun?" she said, hearing that voice. She was peeking through the door and seeing that Yukihiria Souma, a transfer student who entered the academy a semester prior, talking through his phone, 'I wonder who is he talking to', she thought. "You said that I'm not good enough three months ago, and now this. What's with the change of heart? ", Yukihira said. 'He said 'Pops', so that means he is talking to his father, who is his father anyway?' she wondered the matter in her mind, suddenly Ryou said "Milady, can we go now?", "Whoa, Ryou don't scare me like that. Ah, please wait a moment." she answered his question with the intention of hearing a little more of Yukihira's conversation, then she set her eyes to the room and saw that it was too dark to see the inside, "What happened?" she said, "Nothing happened." Yukihira answered her. Then she was stunned, she turned around and saw that Yukihira is walking to the Director's office, she quickly chased him, "So, what did you talking about with your father?" she asked walking along Yukihira with Ryou following her. "It was nothing, my Pops was saying some crap again." Yukihira said, she persisted to ask him again "What kind of 'crap'? You talked like it was a big problem, there is no way that it was a 'crap'", "It doesn't matter. Anyway, I'm going to see the director, where are you two going?" Yukihira said to redirect the subject of conversation. "..." she was silent for a moment, "Milady?" Ryou wondered for a moment, "Oh, yes. I am going to see my grandfather, too. To talk about the school trip next week." She said rushly. "I see, is there a problem about the trip? Didn't get enough tools?", Yukihira asked teasingly. "You talk like I never get enough of cooking progress, there is no problem about it. What about you? Do you go to report some complaints?" she retorted. "Ahahaha, no, there is no complaint. I just want to asked something to him." he answered with a laugh. "What do you want to ask?" she curiously asked. "A few things about the graduation." he answered with a yawn, "What about the graduation? It's still quite few time to talk about it, isn't it?" she continued asking him, "Hmmmmm." Yukihira murmur. "Is it a private matter?" she keep asking as her curiosity getting bigger. "Yeah, you can say that." Yukihira close his eyes when he answered, "Is that so?" she said giving up. "Milady, we are here." Ryou said. "Thanks, Ryou. Shall we go in, Yukihira-kun?", she said, the smiling Yukihira said "Of course."

The next few days after that event, Alice was keep on wondering what did Yukihira talking about with her grandfather. At the director office, she was gone out before Yukihira and her grandfather started talking, so she doesn't have any idea about it. "I wonder if Erina knew about this" she murmured. Then she started rushing to see her cousin. In the Nakiri mansion, Alice went to Erina's room. "Erina, are you in there?" Alice opened the door rashly, then the door was pushing Nakiri Erina to the floor "Argh ...Ugh, what is wrong with you, Alice?" Erina asked touching her sore nose, seeing this Alice asked immediately "Aw, sorry about that. By the way, Erina." "WHAT?" Erina asked angrily. "Do you know anything about Yukihira Souma-kun's transfer?" Alice said smoothly not minding her cousin's high voice. "What? That guy is going to transfer?" Erina asked seriously to Alice, seeing this reaction Alice then pushed it even further by saying "Ooh, so you don't know about it, either? I guess the only one who know about it is our grandfather, then." "How do you know about that? Did that guy say something about it? Why grandfather come up in this?" This time her curiosity has gone over her, Erina asked even more. "No, I didn't hear anything from our grandfather. But Yukihira-kun had a discussion with him a few days ago." Alice said calmly, "Did you involved in that discussion?" Erina said with the same level of calmness. "... No, we go to the director's office together at the time. But I leave before they start discussing the matter. I should've put my ear on the the door." Alice said, pouting. Then Erina said "What about you? Did you hear anything from that guy?" "'That guy?' You mean Yukihira-kun?" Alice asked for confirmation to her cousin. Gritting her teeth Erina said "Yes, that guy. Who do you think we're talking about here?", "Well, you never said his name so I just wanted to be sure." Alice said, slightly snapped Erina said, "Then, did he said anything about it?", "Well, no, at least not directly." Alice said hesitantly, noticing this Erina then said "You heard something, did you? What is it?", "It was the moment before we go to the director's office. He said something about not to worry about his skill to go around the world with his father." Alice said touching her head trying to remember that point. "Then did you ask him about it?" Erina try to confirm the matter, Alice then said trying to mimic Yukihira's quote "He said 'It's okay, Pops. Going somewhere in this world is easy, but to make that into reality, I know that skill alone wouldn't be enough, so stop being worried. It's annoying.', and that it was a 'Private matter about graduation'." "Going around the world and private matter about graduation? If you ask me there is nothing private about graduation." Erina said wondering, "It seems that he was trying to keep it for himself and grandfather, I don't know anything else about it, I came here to confirm it and found out that you don't know anything about it. It was disappointing." Alice said trying to anger Erina. "What do I know about that guy's businesses? It has nothing to do with me?" She said trying to convince her cousin. "Hmmmmm, is that so?" Alice said confirming her cousin's statement, "Yes, that is so", Erina said forcefully. "... Okay then, if you say so. I'll be going now.", Alice said bidding farewell to her cousin, leaving her cousin confused with Yukihira's situation.

The next few days, it's Monday, Erina intended to make a dish in her study, trying a few recipes to perfect her own personal recipe. Perfection was all that she ever asked in her life as a chef and in a dish, whoever ever made it for her. There are only two dishes that ever made her satisfied and ask for more of, it was Saiba Jouichiro and the other person. She had always been dreaming to reach the same level or even surpassing the former, but it was also the truth that the other one had been pushing her to her limits. It was very annoying of him to make her remember everything to the present time they shared. She always made efforts to made him kicked out of the academy, but the problem was that he stand at the same level with her in every sense of skills aside of her 'God's Palate'. Her memory of their moments were making him even annoying to her dislike. "I wonder how is he supposed to go for exchange programs, if he just make it this far. Well, this exchange programs will make him out of my sight for a while. But, I hope it will last forever. That way I will no longer see him face to face ever again." She said while cleaning the plates and other tools in hand. After changing her clothes and go through the lounge, then she see her grandfather was walking alone to the director room. She was quicken her step to greet her grandfather, but she was stopped when she saw that 'That Guy' was greeting her grandfather in a well-mannered gesture. "There is something I would like to discuss, Nakiri-dono, can I take your time for a moment?" he asked the kimono-clothed elder, "Is it about the same thing as the last time you came to talk to me?" Nakiri Senzaemon asked, at the time he noticed that Erina was peeking at the two of them by making a direct eye-contact to her, with this Erina quickly hide herself, she had skipped a heartbeat by then, she was afraid that if she made any involvement to her grandfather's current situation she was making herself a problem, and she didn't want that. "Yes, sir. In that side there is no longer problem about continuity and confirmation regarding studies in this academy, the only thing left is this side of confirmations. 'If it possible, the faster would better' is what he said, sir." 'That guy' said to her grandfather, "If it was the matter then let's continue this conversation in the office." Senzaemon said entering the director's room, 'That guy' said "Yes, sir." By then Erina fell to her knees with sweats on her head trying to calm her heart. After a calmer condition Erina then off to somewhere else far from the director's office.

In the classroom, Erina sit on her chair to think about the event a few minutes prior, "Continuity and confirmation? What did he mean by that?" She murmured while putting her head on the desk. She was thinking about the rumor that spread out in the school but considering that none of 'That Guy''s friends said nothing, it could be all just a false rumor and 'That Guy' will stay in the academy which is a disaster for her. 'By his friends, which means Tadokoro-san will be one of them, I wonder if I can ask her about this.' Erina thought for a moment trying to searching for connections that have the truth about this rumor. She then got up her chair and go out through the door of the classroom, by then she bumped into someone who was taller and older than her making her stepped back, she looked up to see the person then she see her grandfather standing in front of her. "Erina..." Senzaemon said calling out to her, "Excuse my manner. Good day to you, grandfather. Did you have any business in this area, grandfather?" she asked trying to make a conversation aside of the event prior. "You can say that, I also have the right person to talk about it in this moment." Senzaemon said reading her face and mind, Erina started to panic in the inside and asked "Is it me, grandfather?" "Yes, Erina, it's you" Senzaemon answer definitely, then he continued "By the time you saw me and Yukihira in front of the director's office, I'm sure that you have some questions about it. Is there anything I can hear from you?" "Is it okay to ask about matters of 'That Guy', I mean Yukihira Souma?" Erina asked with irritation of mentioning 'That Guy's name, 'Why am I supposed to go through this?' she asked in her thought. "If it's about Yukihira Souma, I might can answer a few of your questions. But I, myself have a few limitation about this matter." Sonzaemon said to Erina, 'So grandfather can't just say anything he wants about 'That Guy' either,' she thought then following with the question of the matter "Is it true that Yukihira Souma is going to have an exchange students program in the future?" "I'm sorry, dear granddaughter, about this question, I myself have no assurance to make this happen" Sonzaemon said with an expression of regret in his face, seeing this Erina asked "Why is that, grandfather? Isn't it a matter regarding to academy beside Yukihira himself. As the director of this academy, you certainly know about this progess?" "Yukihira has a few invitations from abroad." Sonzaemon said, this surprised her, the she asked "Foreign invitations? Why is that, grandfather? I know that he has the potential to get such skill, but he is still behind me. Why is he the one who get those invitations not myself?" "That kind of confidence is good, my dear granddaughter, but one defeat has changed everything." Sonzaemon said to answer her questions, but this statement didn't do any justice for her, then she asked her grandfather for confirmation, "What do you mean by defeat, grandfather?" "Do you remember about the last competition in Tootsuki Academy, Erina?" he asked her about the last tournament she participated. She then remember the tournament that made 'That Guy' on the same level with her. At the time during the tournament, starting from the pre-qualifications, both of them, she and 'That Guy' were on their peak time of academy, scored 100 points in every match which is pre-qualifications, last sixteen competitors, quarter-finals, semi-finals. Everyone of them is stunning moments for Erina and 'That Guy' making a new history in Tootsuki Academy as the Ultimate Candidate of Ultimate first Seat in Tootsuki Elite Ten. But in the end the tournament is stopped by the finals which is the most memorable finals ever in the academy. The finals were completed in three straight draw by both of two finalists scoring perfect points in three duels of culinary. But by the time of the fourth day of the tournament, both she and 'That Guy' didn't attend the match, as she heard from Arato Hisako, her personal aide. Remembering that tournament is hurting her reputation as 'God's Palate'. "What about that tournament? I doubt it has any connections to this matter where Yukihira Souma has invitations, what do you mean by defeat, grandfather? As far as I know we didn't have the match in the fourth day." she tried to retort her grandfather, "Do you not understand about that match, Erina?" her grandfather asked her, she stubbornly said, "No, grandfather, the only thing that I know is that we have the same position at the tournament, and no one defeat the other." "Do you really not understand about that final match and meeting between you and Yukihira Souma, Erina?", "No, I don't understand grandfather. If it was the reason I have no invitations in the present please tell me, what is it?" She begged her grandfather for answer, "..." her grandfather really not expecting this behavior from his granddaughter, but seeing that Erina was saying the truth about his questions, he asked her "Do you remember what was your final words in the third final in the tournament, Erina?" "Yes, of course I remember my own words grandfather, what is ..." she began to say but it hit her to understand the meaning of every action of 'That Guy', when he was no longer interested in her, whether her cooking or herself after the tournament. Going back to the beginning of her rivalry againts 'That Guy' when he said his words in the beggining of his enrollment in the Tootsuki Academy. "Do you understand now, Erina? What happened to him when he heard those words from you?" her grandfather, she then asked "You mean after when I said that 'it was good'?", "Yes, those very words... Those words are the only thing that he ever aiming for since being enrolled to this academy. Since then he never have any interests this school. That acknowledgement was the only goal that his culinary adventour, if you can say so, and it arrive at the final step of the top of his progress in academy level, in this matter he can certainly say that he is the sole Ultimate First Seat of the Tootsuki Academy's Elite Ten, defeating The God's Palate. In another words he stands one level above you, making you take the Second Seat of the Tootsuki Academy's Elite Ten Council." he said so firmly "So this entire time, I've been sitting on the Second Seat of the Tootsuki Academy's Elite Ten. I am the loser of the tournament and 'That Guy' is the sole champion. Is that what you are trying to say grandfather?" She convince her grandfather to answer, she made a serious face this time. "Yes, that is what I've been trying to say, Nakiri Erina. Your defeat isn't what was taken from you but what you have given to him." Sonzaemon said to her granddaughter, she then asked him "Is this why the rumor was started to spread through the academy this few months? That he was considering an exchange with a foreign school?" "The main root of this rumor is at the time when Yukihira Souma was taking a few weeks off from academy." he started to take a walk while telling her a few information about the First Seat of Tootsuki Academy's Elite Ten. They keep on talking until the day was dark and nobody can hear them again.

Four days forward, it was three days prior to school trip. Yukihira Souma is having a nice leisure time by reading a few magazines about the culinary world. Those magazines had been in his sight in the last few weeks, he even took more new magazines after talking to his father, a week prior. "Just reading this magazines, it sure is boring. And it's Friday, means three days left for academy study trip. Osaka's going to be boring when I have nothing to do. By the way... where is Sakaki and the others. Sakaki said that she wants to go somewhere with me today, did she forget about it?" Souma thought loud. "Yukihira Souma, there is a guest for you. Please go to the lounge immediately." said Daimido Fumio-dono through the loudspeaker to his room, "Thanks, Daimido-dono. I'll be right there." Souma said as he started go out of his room. 'I wonder who would pay me a visit at this time. Is this person going to ask me to have a nice day or what?' he thought in his mind by closing his eyes as he approach the lounge. In this room he can see everyone who live in the Polar Star Dormitory chatting to each other, they were Sakaki Ryouko, Marui Zenji, Yoshino Yuuki, Ibusaki Shun, Tadokoro Megumi, Ishikki Satoshi-senpai and Daimido Fumio-dono herself, along with other people who Souma himself had to remember by efforts, but the most surprising presence in the lounge of the Polar Star Dormitory are Arato Hisako and Tootsuki Academy's First Seat of The Elite Ten, Nakiri Erina. "Hey, guys. What's with you people, together in the lounge, is there any event that I missed recently?" he asked everyone in the room, "What are you doing, Yukihira? Doing all by yourself in your room, you're supposed to spend your time outside, especially today is Friday, and it means tomorrow is holiday." Ishikki-san said cheerfully by putting his arm on Souma's shoulder, "That's right, Yukihira. You need to go take a fresh air outside. You're not a N.E.E.T. anyway." Yoshino said by pointing her index finger to Yukihira. "Well, it's true. But, for today you have some guests Yukihira, those two are your guests today." Daimido-dono said by making a gesture to Arato and Nakiri, "... So you two are coming here to see me, what can I do for you two?", Yukihira said with a smile in his face, seeing the two ladies. "I have a business with you today." Nakiri said with a serious face, "Are we going to talk about it here? Or in my room?" Souma asked Nakiri by pointing his thumb behind him. "No, we need somewhere else more private." Nakiri said bluntly, this made averyone in the room murmuring to each other, "She said it's a private conversation," Ishikki-senpai said, "Yeah, I heard her, what do you think is it about?" Ibusaki asked, "Maybe it's a confession?" Marui asked them, his question makes Sakaki dan Tadokoro made sad faces, Yoshino, who noticed them said "You, idiot, don't say that. Look, what have you done to Sakaki and Tadokoro?" she then punch Marui in the stomach and Marui himself is fall to his knees, "Ugh, I'm so..r..ry," Marui said while touching his stomach, "Why you little ...? There is no way Erina-sama going to talk about something indecent like that, this is a matter regarding the academy's Ten Elite, isn't it Erina-sama?" Arato said while directing her anger to the students who live in the dormitory. "Stop it, Hisako. That's right we're going to talk about the matter regarding the Ten Elite. But in my part I'm going to talk about the problem between us." Nakiri said bluntly, this shocked everyone especially Sakaki and Tadokoro, in Tadokoro's part she was losing her consciosness, then Sakaki finally opening her mouth "What are you going to talk about?", "It's something that I, myself, my grandfather and 'This Guy' know." Nakiri said and made it clear to Souma that no one else need to hear their conversation. Souma slightly surprise by her statement. "I see, that oldman finally opening his mouth to you. What did you do to him, anyway?" Souma said nonchalantly while making a serious face. This seriousness of Souma shocked everyone, because he barely show it aside of the moment he made in shokugeki or anything related to cooking. "I've done nothing to him, I just asked him normally a few days ago." Nakiri said with the same seriousness on her face. "So, that was you, the one who hide herself in the corner near the director's office. What made you concern about it anyway?" Souma said looking directly to Erina's eyes. Because of their lack of information about the problem regarding these two people, they can't keep up with the conversation with Arato and Daimido-dono included. "Daimido-dono, do you know what they are talking about?" ask Sakaki to the dormitory manager, with everyone getting closer to hear her explanation, "I don't know, but it could be regarding the rumour about Yukihira having an exchange programs." Daimido-dono said while stroking her chin. "You're right, with Yukihira didn't talk about it at all is kind of weird but, for Nakiri-san to know about this, it could be very important to the Ten Elite." Yoshino said while putting her hands into her pant's pocket. "That's right, I'm surprise that you noticed me at that time. The only concern for me is that how you directing your attention to something else than your study in this academy. How do you know that I was the one who hide in the corner at that time?" Erina asked with her left hand on her waist, with an unchanged expression Souma answered, "It's wasn't hard with the oldman staring at somewhere behind me and your confirmation. But I never thought that you will confront me directly like this." "From this point, this conversation will go even further, let's take a walk. Excuse me Daimido-dono and the residents of Polar Star Dormitory." Erina said, gesturing her body to make Souma following her going outside. "Ah, Erina-sama please wait for me." Arato said while started to chase Erina, but then Erina turned around to face Arato, "Hisako, this is a private conversation. I will need you to stay in this place for a moment. No one will hear us that way. And you, come with me." Erina said so and Arato then persist to come with her, "But, Erina-sama. For you to go along this guy is an indecent thing to do, isn't it? Please let me come to accompany you to protect you from this guy." Arato said, but Erina said "NO, THIS IS SERIOUS, ARATO!" it was clearly a command for Arato as she was surprised to hear her secondary name from Nakiri's mouth, and the aide didn't want to disappoint her lady, "As you wish, Erina-sama."

With that Nakiri and Souma go by themselves with Nakiri personal car and driver. "Why did Erina-sama so serious about this? And why did she bring him with the car, anyway? What about something happened to her by that shameless, pervert guy? When the time it's happening it will be too late." Arato said in her panicked and disappointed voice. "I need to follow them and find out their discussion," said Arato started to go and follow the car. "Please stop it, Arato-san," Tadokoro said stopping Arato, she then turned around and see that Tadokoro was holding her hand with her own. "Let me go, you little ..." Arato started to spat but Sakaki also started to pull her hand to prevent her going after the pair. "Please, don't go" Tadokoro begging her not to go, "Yes, I think we need those two to settle things by themselves. You can relax here. Besides it was clear that Nakiri is adamant about her command" Sakaki said pulling Arato's hand. "... Huuuuh. Okay, I will try not to chase after them. Such a confusing day. Why would Erina-sama want to talk to him by herself, anyway?" Arato said sighing and started to take a seat on the chair. "As expected, it was very unusual for her acting like that, isn't it? I wonder what happened between them?" Ishikki said, thinking about the prior event. "A few days ago they were bickering to each other with their own natural expressions in their face, to think that they have a bigger conflict between them is unthinkable." Yoshino said, leaning on the wall, "Well, that's true, but I think the most unusual is that Yukihira made that expression," Daimido-dono said reminding the mentioned expression. "Yeah, that's the weird thing. Usually Yukihira will make a relaxed expression even in a serious conversation. I wonder what is it to do in his discussion with the academy's director. Have anyone heard it from Yukihira?" Yoshino said, "No, I don't think so", Sakaki answered, closing her eyes, "Neither do I," said Isshiki-senpai. "I haven't hear a thing from Yukihira or the Nakiri himself." Daimido-dono answered. "Anyone else?" Sakaki asked the others, but in return Marui, Ibusaki dan Tadokoro shook their heads, then they shift their vision to Arato "I don't know about it either," Arato answered their unvoiced questions, then Sakaki asked "Did Nakiri-san didn't say anything on your way to this dormitory?", she take a seat across Nakiri's aide, "As I said before, she didn't mention anything about this in our way here, it's just that she always make that serious face when we mention about Elite Ten Council. I know that Elite Ten is an organization that Erina-sama take seriously, but I never know that she would be this serious." said the pink haired student, "Talking about the Elite Ten Council, didn't you know anything Isshiki-senpai?" Tadokoro asked the Seventh Seat of Elite Ten Council, who answered "Hmmm, as far as I know there is no problem in the Ten Council, beside that, the First and Second Seats of the Elite Ten Council haven't been decided belong to any student, whether it's Nakiri-kun or Yukihira-kun.", "About those positions, is there no solution yet about the most important position in the Elite Ten Council of Tootsuki Academy?" Ibusaki asked, "By so far there is no Second Seat of the Elite Ten, but Nakiri-kun has been acting as the First Seat of the Elite Ten Council, and as her direct rival, Yukihira-kun never present, not even once, in the Elite Ten meeting so far." Isshiki explained in a serious face. "How about Nakiri, has she been acting differently since she took that position?" Marui asked, thinking for a while after that question Hisako said "No, as far as I know, neither in the house nor in classes. But I can see changes in her life since last year's tournament.", "By the last tournament, did you mean the third final in the spring last year between those two?" Sakaki tried to confirm, "Oooooh, what changed about her? Tell me, tell me...!" Yoshino asked forcefully, this made Hisako backing away a little then answered, "Ugh, since that tournament Erina-sama started to go out by herself frequently, leaving me behind and practice on her cooking event harder in more than one occasion.", "Then, could she get a boyfriend then? It's that time of a teenager after all." Daimido tried convince and teased at one time. That comment made Hisako stood up and exploded, "THERE IS NO WAY THAT ERINA-SAMA HAS A BOYFRIEND!", "Whoa, calm down Daimido-dono just teasing you, don't be angry" Sakaki said, trying to calm the pink haired aide down, "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha... I'm sorry about that, it's just that it was unexpected development that I never have in my mind. But if it was the truth, then what should I do? Will she just throw me away and leave me behind by myself. Hu, hu, hu, hu, hu, wa, wa, wa, WAAAAAAAAAAAAA...!", Arato's outburst was a shock for everyone, they never thought that the serious and protective aide will change her expression of anger to such one of a wail. "Oh, please stop it, it's embarassing you know, there are boys here you know," Snapped Yoshino, pointing Arato to Ishikki-senpai, Marui and Ibusaki's direction, "Calm down, okay, Arato-kun?" Ishikki-senpai said trying to calm Arato's wail, "Should we go somewhere else?" asked Ibusaki, pointing himself and Marui. "It's okay, I'm sorry to have this kind of personality. You can stay in this room", Arato said, shedding her tears, Tadokoro then responded to her statement, "It's okay Arato-san, that personality of yours is what Nakiri-san likes about you.", "Thank you, Tadokoro" Arato said, smiling and hugging Tadokoro with a calmed expression and everyone in that room released tired sighs. After a few moment calming herself, Arato then asked them, "How about Yukihira Souma? Has anything different about him lately?" Everyone then saw everybody else and lifted their shoulders with and expression of not knowing, then Sakaki said "We have no idea aside of he often stays in his room for the past few weeks at those times I often hear that he talked to someone else, like a serious business, it seems like he was talking to his father", "As far as I know Yukihira-kun made a little effort in cooking recently", "How do you mean by that? By 'made a little effort in cooking'." asked Arato, then the shy-girl of the group answered "It was like he only used what was in front of him, for example if Daimido-dono take a few ingredients on the kitchen's table which are eggs, beefs, and cucumber, then all he would made dish from are those mentioned ingredients, at the time he wouldn't even open the refridgerator.", "We have no complaints because it was good as always, but the other thing is that he didn't enjoy the cooking process, I don't think he thought about it, he wouldn't even talk when he started to make the dish." Ibusaki said. "Why would we have such a troublesome students, anyway? After he had been through a lot of thing since his transfer." Daimido-dono said, sighing and closing her eyes. Then the Polaris Star's Dormitory was getting noisy by the time.

At tens of minutes prior, Nakiri and Souma were in the limousine enroute to a shopping area in the town, this made Souma quite confused about the route of their journey as he asked "Where are we going, Nakiri?", "It doesn't matter, does it? As long as we can have a good time to settle things." Nakiri said, taking a sip of her hot tea, "We have been here for the last thirty minutes, are we not just getting started?", asked Souma, it's true that the route was confusing, but he is no longer care about it since Nakiri made that statement, "It's here. Please stop the car." Nakiri said as the car is stopped in the entrance of the shopping center, then the both of them got out of the car, "We're going to be fine by ourselves here, please come again later." she said to the driver, hesitantly the driver said, "Is it okay Erina-sama? You know that I, myself isn't really know about that young man, but I also have a job of protecting you.", "As I said before, we're going to be okay, I'm not alone, and if my grandfather or Hisako asked anything, just tell them that I asked you go for a break, I'll be gone for a moment", Nakiri said firmly, then the driver gave up and leave the two of them by themselves to enter the shopping center. "Shall we go, then?" Nakiri asked him, Souma then started to walk ahead of her without saying anything. "You're rather quiet, today, aren't you?", Nakiri said trying to make conversation while walking beside him, looking straight front Souma said, "I have nothing to say, why would I not quiet?", Souma said trying to halt any conversation, this made Nakiri quite not happy, "You really are annoying, aren't you? And here I am talking and walking with you, the least thing that I imagine to do", Nakiri said louder than before, peeking to her side she then said, "Are you not going to say anything even at this point where I know everything about your little scheme in the next... I don't know, weeks? Or months?", still looking at him she can see that he won't say anything, she finally get enough of him and pull his sleeve, surprising him, "What are you doing, Nakiri?", he asked him without any intention of following her of go against her at the moment, "Let's go somewhere where you can never be bored," she said, heard that statement from her, he then responded, "Why do you think I'm bored right now?", "Because you're boring in the first place", She responded back quickly, pulling his sleeve they were going to a movies, "This is a good way to make me feel better", she said with a big smile on her face, seeing this he was deadpanned and asked, "Why do you think that this going to make me feel better?", "Are you deaf or something? I said before that this would make ME better, not you, you idiot.", she said pointing at him and then at her, "So, is it okay for me to go and wait for you out there rather than here?", asked Souma, he then started to go back outside of the movies, but before he can go she pulled his sleeve again before she took her seat and said, "Are you really call yourself a man? What kind of man leaving a lady alone in a crowded place?", "I've never said that I want to see this thing with you, did I?", Souma asked impatiently, pointing to the screen, this made people around the started to shift their attention to the couple, losing her patient and, "JUST BE QUIET AND SIT DOWN, WILL YOU?!", she shouted and pulled him even harder than before making him sit loudly on the nearest chair, this made the surrounding people stopped at their tracks, "Fine...", he said giving up on her to watch the movie, Nakiri then took a seat beside him with an unhappy face, "Can't you do that since the beginning?", she said sighing at the situation without noticing their surrounding started to move again, but this time they take a distance from the couple, made a space of seats surrounding Nakiri and Souma, "This movie is telling a friendly guy who tried to get attention a tsundere girl in his class at the beginning, but their relationship which was not exactly friendly is changing to the other way around as the guy is taking a distance from the girl who then make her effort to bring the guy to his old self, this movie is telling us every effort of that girl, it is a very girly story, isn't it? She makes the best of herself to fight for the guy's affection against the girls in his group." She said while closing her eyes trying to remember the line of story out of shoujo manga she read as she smiled, Souma didn't respond to her making her a little irritated, "You really aren't saying anything about this aren't you? Fine be that way but, don't leave this seat," she said as she started to pay attention to the screen, "..." and Souma was still quiet as he closed his eyes, 'What is this girl thinking?', he thought as he for once peek on Nakiri in a while, 'Sigh, as long as I stay here, it won't be a problem, right?', he said in his mind as he closed his eyes once again, he dozed off on the screening time, Nakiri didn't realize his state at the moment as the movie was getting serious.

"I like you" said the tsundere girl in the movie, as the guy was making a way too ordinary face and started to leave the girl, "Wait, where are you going?" the girl said, without turning his way around to see her face he said, "It's nothing, I'm going home," and he leave her alone in the classroom. This scene reminded Nakiri to her conversation with her grandfather four days prior and found out the secret of the guy beside her to made a move in his study progress, next she took a glance to the guy beside her and saw that he is sleeping, this made her very bad in her heart then she clapped her hands on his cheeks and made a loud sounds and voice, "AW... What the hell was that for?" this guy said, shocked and tried to touch his cheeks with his hands but only found her hands in the end, while gripping her hands he said, "Uugh, I don't know what you're scheming but would you let my face go, it hurts, you know?!", "You deserve it, anyway, this much is obvious", she said removing her hands from his face, "If you wanted to wake me up, you could've just do that in a normal way. Why do you need to use that much force anyway?", he asked as he was rubbing his cheeks, "Look the movie is ending, at least watch this part together, will you?" she said while rubbing her hands to each other, and put them on her chest, "Okay, okay, I've got it, I don't even know the progress of the story," he said, "That's because you were sleeping on that part, don't complain, just be quiet and watch it, it still has a few minutes left," retorted her, then both of them paid attention to the movie.

Thirty minutes after the last moment, and fifteen minutes after the end of the movie Souma and Nakiri were walking out of the movie, with some people were looking at them, this made Nakiri upset and said, "What are you people looking at?", this outburst made people started to walking away from the both of them, "Can we go home now?", asked Souma, this question made Nakiri face him directly, "What? We watched movie as you asked. If that's all I'll be going then.", he said as he walked away from the spot. "Wait", Nakiri said, this made him stopped but still not facing her, "Don't think that I will let you go just like that, you think that I forgot our main problem?", she said as he was still not looking at her, "Your main objective was to make me acknowledge your food, isn't it? And you thought that made you win?", she asked him with a small grin in her face, he then turned around but still not looking at her eyes, then she continued, "If you want to win then you have to make me accept it, why are you acting like you've won from me while our contest is still a draw?", she then put her left hand on her waist and was waiting his answer, "I'm going out of this city" Souma said which infuriated her, "Why are you taking this path?", she asked impatiently, "It doesn't matter isn't it? I've achieved my objective. That is all that matters to me" he said as he lifted his left hand and made it into a fist then he said "I'm going home" with that he made his way home, after he said so she chased him and put her hand to his shoulder which stopped him, "What do you ...", before he finished what he was saying "SLAP", her palm made its way to his face with an angry expression on hers, this action pushed him down on his behind, then she started to say something which go through the darkness, without any care to the people in the shopping center.

A few hours since Yukihira and Erina-sama's leave from the Polar Star's Dormitory, there sat Arato Hisako making a worrying face. "It's been four hours and they still not get back, where are they going?" Hisako said, making the people in the dormitory shifted their attention to her, and Sakaki respond "Maybe they are on their way back right now, Yukihira isn't someone who goes late for something unnecessary, don't worry about it." "Of course I worry about her, especially in her condition right now, we saw that she was more emotional more than ever this afternoon anything bad could be happening." Arato said with concern in her face, this irked Ishikki as he said, "So, you're worrying about Yukihira, then? Wow, I've never thought that everyone would made their attention to him before this.", "Wha... What are you talking about, Senpai? I-I'm not concerning for that guy, he's creepy and that make Erina-sama in dangerous moment when we separated." Arato said unconvincingly, this made Sakaki curious and she said, "Arato-san, are you ..." before she could finish her sentence the front door was opened showing Nakiri and Yukihira entered the room, "Erina-sama, you're back. I've been worried about you, are you okay?" Arato said approaching Nakiri, this made Nakiri a little surprise but she respond, ''Y-yes, I'm okay. For now we'll going home. Thanks you for time everyone." Nakiri made such statement with an unprecedented concern from her and a little irritated emotional condition in her part, "Yes, you're welcome, Nakiri-kun. Are you going home immediately? Why don't you have some dinner for now?", Ishikki-senpai asked her wishing that she would take a little time in the dormitory for a little more time, "..." hearing that offer Nakiri thought about it for a moment and said, "Of course I would like to have a dinner for now even though we had some in our back here." this information registered instantly to the people present in the room, "Oooooh, is that so? In that case, you don't need them anymore, don't you? But why would you have another then?" Isshiki-senpai asked with a jumping heart inside him, this was another question that made other students curious as well, then Erina asked, "Well, I just want to confirm something with a personal request of mine. Is it okay?", this made them all even more wanted to find out. "What kind of request?" Daimido-dono asked her directly, looking at the senior lady Nakiri said, "I want someone to make me a dinner today.", "Who is that someone?" Sakaki finally asked specifically. Waiting for her respond, everyone is hearing their own heartbeat, well, except one "In that case have a good dinner. I'm going to bed." Yukihira said still with a hurting cheek on his face, before Sakaki tried to stop him Nakiri then respond, "Yukihira Souma" this made Yukihira stopped his step but didn't looking at them, "Since this is related to our discussion before, I want you to make me a dinner.", such sentence surprised everyone in the room, "Yukihira make you a dinner? Are you serious?", said Sakaki to Nakiri, "Yes, I am serious." said Nakiri with a deeper voice, then to Yukihira she said, "If you really confident of your skills then you don't need to worry, aren't you? Yukihira Souma?", she said his full name without any intention of stopping, "Discussion? What were you talking about?" Yoshino asked Nakiri, "It's none of you all's business. So, just get started. Yukihira Souma." Nakiri said urging Yukihira to make her a dinner, "...", Yukihira this time looking at her eyes but without any intention of making a voice, "Are you scared?", Nakiri said tried to rile him up. "Sigh, okay, okay. Girl, you are persistent." Yukihira said giving up to her and lifting both of his hands with a sigh, this made Nakiri smiled and said "Of course, I am. I am a girl, aren't I?", "Just take your seat there, I'll bring it up right away." Yukihira said with a small grin on his face, and go to the kitchen to get started, this change made Arato wonder, "What was that, Sakaki? What is going on?", Arato asked to the black-haired girl to find out, with a shake of her head, Sakaki answered, "I don't know but..." as she started to trailed, Arato wanted to be more sure, she pushed even more "But, what?", "He... Yukihira is making dinner with all he's got, it's a rare opportunity to see this." she said with a little sadness on her eyes, this make Arato confused and said, "Well, of course. For Erina-sama, it would be a bad dish to make it with a half-hearted effort, wouldn't it?", "No, this really is a rare event." suddenly Tadokoro said, making Arato a little shaken, but Tadokoro said even more, "You see when Yukihira-kun was making a dish with a limited number of ingredients he still made a very good one, for example you remember that first final last year, right?" asked for her confirmation Arato said, "Of course I remember, it was the best food that could compete with Erina-sama's food, what about it?", Sakaki said then to answer her, "Whether you believe it or not, the dish that mentioned by Megumi was even better than that final dish." Surprised, Arato wasn't believe it, "You're kidding, right? I mean, sure it is quite some time after that final, but he didn't make a real effort about making dish previously, right? How could he do that?", "Because at that moment the academy's director was here to talk with him about something as he made the dish that Megumi mentioned before." Sakaki said so surely, "WHAAAAAAT? Erina-sama's grandfather was the one who tasted it? Is it true?" Arato asked the Seventh Seat of the Elite Ten, changing his view to his junior Isshiki said, "Hmmm, well that's true. I can't believe it either, but he surely said 'I've never tasted anything as good as this one, What did you do in your days off, Yukihira Souma?', that meant that it was very good, wasn't it?", hearing that Arato said, "I can't believe it. But it was a while ago, right?", "Well, we should be hear Nakiri's opinion about it then", as Yoshino said that, Yukihira said confidently, "It's ready", "Then let me have it", she said so with her hands took chopsticks to taste the Furikake Gohan, seeing the dish she smiled and said, "You haven't changed at all, aren't you? Looking at this dish, reminding me to our first meeting", "Of course, I haven't changed and in our first meeting, you said that it was bad, so I want to hear your honest opinion this time", He said with a confident smile on his face "..." she said nothing as she took the first taste of Furikake Gohan and the next ones to the point of emptying the bowl. As she finished she said "Thanks for the food", "So, what do you say about it?", Souma asked with an expectant smile on his face, she put the chopstick and said, "It was bad", this surprised Yukihira as he was deadpanned, as the others come and said, "That's impossible, let me taste it" Sakaki said, then Tadokoro also said, "Yes, I'd like to taste it too", "Let me have it" shout Yoshino to them and then so are Isshiki-senpai, Marui and Ibusaki and even Daimido-dono also came to take a taste of it. But Arato then said, "See, Erina-sama said it was bad, so whoever said it was good then it's not good enough, isn't it Erina-sama?" she then took a look at Nakiri, but Nakiri shifted her eyes from Arato to turn her back at them all making Arato confused of her behaviour, "IT'S GOOD", everyone else said, Sakaki, Marui, Tadokoro, Yoshino and Daimido-dono tried to asked her honest opinion, "But..." Nakiri started to say something as she took a look at Yukihira Souma, waking him up from his condition to a good listener and observer, "... Let me eat it again next time." she said then took her leave from the spot, her words made Yukihira smiled widely and said, "Of course, I will, till you said it honestly. I'll see you guys tomorrow", as he also took the stairs to go to his bed, hearing this Arato then chased Nakiri and said, "What do you by that, Erina-sama? Wait for me, Erina-sama!". Minutes after that event Daimido-dono said, "What do you know? The tsundere 'God's Palate' has her own weakness, isn't she?", "Yes, she is. I've never thought that it was to this level Yukihira-kun made her changed" Isshiki-senpai said. Then Sakaki, Marui, Tadokoro, Yoshino truly took that event to their heart, exceptionally to the first and the second last, "With a good dessert let's end it all tonight, I'll going to bed. Sweet dreams, everyone" Isshiki-senpai said as he also took the stairs to go to his bedroom, "Good night, everyone", "Sweet dreams", "Good evening, everybody", "Night, guys", "See you tomorrow", each of every student said their greetings and took their rest leaving Daimido-dono in her thought, "Good night", she said turning off the lights.

Monday, Three days later, "Well, with the absent of the First Seat of the Elite Ten in front of us today I, myself as the Second Seat of the Elite Ten will take the charge of our timeline in the next one week trip to Osaka, everyone please cooperate with us." Nakiri said to close the ceremonial opening of the academy trip, then everyone respond with a big applause. "What did she mean by 'Second Seat of the Elite Ten'? She used to take the First Seat's job in the prior months wasn't she?", one of the students said to her fellow classmates, then the other said, "I guess she did, I mean we didn't even know who the First Seat in the first place, but even if that person made an appearance, she would even stand out than that person", "Yeah, you're right and then that person would even resign of the First Seat of the Elite Ten, right?!", "Yeah, of course you're right", after that discussion the laughter is being heard here and there, Nakiri continue "Even everything that's been happen in this recent time, the First Seat of the Elite Ten has a message for everyone in this academy as the following 'I'm a useless person in organizing 812 students of Tootsuki Academy, but we have the best students on the stage in taking care of that. Don't worry about anything else, let's just have some fun to fulfill our youth, other than that I will take care of it myself. Personally written by the First Seat of the Elite Ten of Tootsuki Academy.' that's all that he said.", "Ugh, it sounds like we have a carefree First Seat of the Ten Elite this time, I wonder if this would be okay?" a student said worriedly, then the other said, "Don't worry, if he said so than it would be okay, now let's move onto the next schedule", Nakiri was still continuing the speech "As the message of the First Seat of the Elite Ten mentioned before that the nine of us will be fully support the students to make a progress in the academy trip, the first step in the timeline is ...". The first step was a schedule of every class of taking the trip way out of the city, this year instead of Osaka, they were going to Kyoto where rather than exploring the progressing the skills of the students they are trying to push the second year students to find out they're own identity.

While everyone was ready to go, Souma himself was still in his room to take care of a few things he left before, "This is gonna be my last day in this dorm, isn't it?" he said smiling and looking at the room he had been in for the last nine months, "To think about it, it's been a long journey since that time", he said while reminiscing every moment of his life in the dorm , everything that include him and his friends and Daimido-dono , smiling at those memories he then exit the room and put the key under the rose pot in the corridor in front of his room's door, then proceeding to exit the dormitory, at the lounge he saw Daimido-dono was reading the magazine, "Hey, Daimido-dono, what are you doing?", he said to make Daimido-dono noticed his presence, seeing to his direction, Daimido-dono said, "Hey there, Yukihira. So this is it, isn't it?", "Yeah, it is", he responded to her, she then closed the magazine and faced him, "It's here, the academy trip. It's supposed to be exciting, are you got yourself excited, Yukihira?" she asked expecting a cheerful reaction from him, knowing this he then said, "Of course, Daimido-dono, I can't wait to taste the air of Kyoto. I hope this won't be too quick to end", "Is that so? Well then good luck to you and the others, while you're at it you need to explore the city. Enjoy yourself. Oh, one more thing" she said to see more of his features and smiled, "What is it, Daimido-dono?" Souma said, waiting for her next words, then she said "Give Nakiri Erina my regards", "Of course, I'll mention it to her when I see next time. Good bye, Daimido-dono" He said bringing his baggage outside through the front door then closed it. "I wonder if he really understand what I said by 'regards'" She said while watching Souma going to the academy through the window, "Well, if he don't, he will surely find out in this trip" she said, closing the window.

On the hills, Souma was walking through the only road towards the Academy main building, this road was refreshing as it's always been, Souma was inhaling as much as possible the fresh air, "Hmmmmmmmmm, it's always been a good weather, I'm glad to have the chance of knowing this place", then he take his phone from his pants pocket and saw that it's 10 A.M., "Oh, I've got to hurry, If I don't I will miss them again", as he said that he fasten his step. After a few minutes of walking he heard a car approaching him, and he turned his head to see his right side finding a car stopping right there, "..." he said nothing as he saw the car. A few moments after looking at the car he saw the windows was going down, "Yukihira Souma" said the person inside the car, it was Nakiri Senzaemon, as he realized that it was the Tootsuki Academy's Director he said his greeting, "Good day to you, sir. Is there anything you need?", hearing that from the young man, Nakiri-dono then said, "No, I have nothing like that. But are you going to the trip that scheduled for the rest of the week?", "Yes, sir. I'm sorry for a rude gesture, but I'm afraid that I need to go there as soon as possible, it's been past the meeting time" Souma said as he then started to walk again to the destination. "Wait for a minute, Yukihira Souma" said Nakiri-dono to him, this made Souma stopped on his track, "I'm afraid to say that the meeting is done and you seems to be the one left behind", he said to Souma, this shocked Souma as he fell on his knees "For a First Seat of the Elite Ten show this kind of behavior is the first time in the history of the Academy Council, this is interesting", said Nakiri smiling at him, then Souma stand up and look back at the director, "I'm sorry for this personality of mine, Nakiri-dono, if it's the case then I would go back to the dorm, now if you're excuse me", Souma said as he bow to the older man and go straight to the dorm direction with a slumped shoulder, "As I said before wait a minute Yukihira Souma", the director said to made him stopped once again, turning around Souma said, "Yes, sir?", "Why don't you go with me for a moment? Come onto the car", he said as he open the car, this made Souma confused but he got in the car with his baggage in the back of the car itself. "If I may know where are we going, sir?" Souma said after settling himself on the chair. "We're going to see my granddaughters", Nakiri-dono said as he put his hands on his chest looking at Souma, "Didn't they go to Kyoto for the academy's trip?" Souma asked for his confirmation, then Nakiri-dono responded to him, "They are going alone than along the rest of the students, Erina prefered to take the trip by herself and Alice prefer to stay with her cousin but Arato and Kurokiba went with the other students. With you, you three will go to Kyoto", "Hmmm, it seems very like those cousins. Is it okay for me to go with them? I don't want to make a fuse", asked Souma stroking his chin. "It's no issue, they could use some company", Nakiri-dono said looking at him, "Why is that?" Souma asked confusingly, Nakiri-dono who pick up a cup of a tea answered him, "Because I said so", startled, Souma said, "O, ooh, I see, I understand", "By the way, Yukihira Souma", Nakiri-dono said seriously, this made Souma take a serious face too, "Yes, sir?" he said, "In the end, will you not change your decision?", asked Nakiri-dono, thinking about it for a moment Souma then said, "... No, sir. This time I'm quite adamant about it", "So, in this academy, with Erina who is the only one capable to compete with you for the First Seat of the Elite Ten, is not satisfactory?", asked Nakiri-dono while taking a sip on his hot tea, waiting for him to drink his tea, Souma said "No, this is not about satisfactory cause or anything else related to the organization", "What is it about, then?" asked Nakiri-dono after he put his cup on the table, "This is about a goal", Souma respond to him looking straight to director's eyes, hearing this the director then asked "What kind of goal that required something more than a competition", "Well, a competition is a good way to push students to do more, but it's not enough for me, sir", "What kind of goal do you have in mind, Yukihira Souma?", Nakiri asked curiously, with a smile Souma respond,"My goal in this academy was, as you know, to make Nakiri Erina acknowledge my dish, as for the present goal that I have is to defeat my father in cooking competition", knowing his father, Nakiri-dono realized that it's still a big dream to have, "So, the only thing you have in mind is being the same level as your father. I know that your father wasn't even capable of achieving the First Seat of the Elite Ten in the past, but I know that having a big goal is a good thing, but why to this far?" Nakiri-dono said, stroking his beard, Souma, with a nostalgic smile said, "Because I always am the one who make the challenge and I want to achieve it, but the main point is my old man's recognition of my dish, since I was little my old man is a goal and my only teacher in cooking and students' job is to surpass his teacher", "Is that so? Then there is nothing I have to stop you, then", Nakiri-dono said with a stoic face and realized that the car was stopping "Ah, here we are, they're waiting for us", then the driver opened the door to let the both of them out of the car.

A few moments prior, in front of the academy building Nakiri Erina and Nakiri Alice was waiting for their grandfather to arrive, they were chatting to each other, "Because you're one of the Elite Ten, aren't you supposed to go with the other students, Erina?" asked Alice to her cousin, a little irritated by her cousin Erina then respond, "You're the same as of that. Why are you here anyway?", "Well, I don't want to go separate ways with my cousin, that's why I'm here right now", Alice said teasing her a little, "You are pretty much settled in the Elite Ten, are you? Don't underestimate our job in this constitution, a carefree attitude won't cut for it", Erina Said scolding Alice harshly, with a pout Alice said "Hmmm, don't say that, just relaxed on taking care of that in this trip besides, aren't Yukihira-kun is very carefree and relaxed person, even though he's a member of the Elite Ten Council?", "That person isn't relaxed person, he's not doing his job at all, don't make him an example in Elite Ten", Erina said with an unhappy expression and voice, "Even if he is the First Seat?" Alice trying to convinced her again, "Even if he IS the First Seat of the Ten Elite Council, why did we have to talk about him, anyway? And he seems to be not coming to the trip, what an irresponsible person" Erina said with a higher voice in her part, Alice then switched to a serious state asking her, "So, what do you know about his rumor of exchange program?", this question made Erina caught off guard as she said "What made you think that I know anything about it?", then Alice was smiling widely at her cousin, this made Erina a little worried and said, "What is it? Why are you smiling?", "Because I saw you ..." she started to say but then they saw that the car they were waiting for was here, and Alice said, "Oh, look grandfather is here, let's go meet him" and they went to approach him as he go out of the car with an unexpected guest, "What?" Erina said, seeing him with their grandfather.

Getting out of the car, Souma saw the cousins approaching the both of them and said "Hey you two how is it going?", "What are you doing with grandfather? And What are you doing by still being here? Aren't you supposed to go stay here not going to the trip?", she asked him impatiently, "Oh, come on, Erina stop it, grandfather is here too", Nakiri Alice said making her cousin glaring at her as the both of them now looking at the grandfather rather than the student, "So, what is this about, grandfather?" Nakiri Alice asked the director, smiling at them the director said "The three of you will go to Kyoto together because the rest of the students have gone with on the bus scheduled for this event", "Are you serious grandfather? Why are we supposed to go there with this person? I've had enough with Alice, but with this guy? I think I'll pass the trip" Nakiri Erina said while turning back, going back to the Academy, Nakiri Alice then said "Ooooh, some words for someone who responsible in organizing the entire second year. Leaving them all on the others' hands is a well done job", "Nakiri Erina I won't stop you not coming to the trip, but think about yourself and your studies, this trip is a part of it after all" Nakiri-dono said seriously, this made Nakiri Erina think about it once again, "Yes, grandfather I understand" she said with a sigh, Nakiri-dono with a smile then said "Good, I'll let you take your leave then, and Alice", he called out to the cousin, "Yes, grandfather?", she said with a curious face, Nakiri-dono then said, "Please look out for them, especially your cousin", smiling and looking back at the other two Alice then said, "Fu fu fu fu, don't worry grandfather, now we will take our leave then", "See you next time, grandfather", "Good bye, Nakiri-dono", the three of them said their good byes, and took the car to leave the academy, "I hope this trip will change your mind, Yukihira Souma" he said with an expecting look, after they are no longer in his sight Nakiri-dono turned around to go to the academy with a smile.

A few minutes later, in the car, sat the three top students of Tootsuki Academy. Yukihira Souma, Nakiri Erina and her cousin Nakiri Alice. Silence has been keeping them in their seats with an unrelaxed gesture, Souma was sitting in front of the girls, the girls were sitting beside each other, well for the Second Seat of the Council. "Oh, this silence is really make me uneasy. By the way, Yukihira-kun" Nakiri's cousin said making Souma's attention shifted to her. "Hmm, what is it, Nakiri's cousin?" said Souma trying to remember her name, this made Nakiri's cousin to make a pout on her face, "Muuuuu, it's Alice. My name is Alice and I'm Nakiri too. Don't make a confusing nicknames for me", "Sorry about that, it's just that I always call my friends with their family names, but I don't think that it was so confusing", Souma said with a smile on his face, this made a curious expression on her face and asked, "Why do you think that it's not confusing people?", "Because I've never talked about you two in front of my other friends or acquaintances", said Souma as the matter of the factly, his statement made her even more curious, "Why is that?", she asked, thinking about it for a while he then said, "Hmmmm, I'm not sure but we never talked too much to each other recently aside of your cousin about anything but cooking", his words made her to push him a little harder in words "So you want to know anything else about us aside of our cooking activities?", "No, not really, what made you two interesting are your culinary skills rather than personal matters", rejected Souma to her question, "In that case, can I asked you a personal matter?", she asked him which made him smiled and answered, "Yeah, sure, shoot", Nakiri Erina then got curious about other Nakiri next words to made her quiet interested, then Nakiri Alice said "Is it true that you're going to take an exchange students program?", this question made Nakiri Erina turned her head to her cousin who was smiling at the young man, then she also took a look at the said young man, who was smiling at her cousin and open his mouth, "Why do you want to know about that?", "Well, honestly speaking, I just want to know about it, in details if I could", she said lifting her hand and opening her palm then close it again, "So what do you say? Is it true?", she said trying to make him talk, with an apologetic smile he said, "If I told you, you won't tell anybody?", curiosity was getting over her and answered, "Of course this is a matter of both the council and student's private rights after all", "It doesn't sound convincing to me, are you really not going to tell anyone?", Souma said unconvinced, this made her a little upset, "Why are you so secretive about this? Even though you told Erina before", she said making Souma and Nakiri Erina surprised and then Souma looking at the other Nakiri with a frown and said, "Did you tell her anything?", "No, I didn't, and Alice. How did you know anything about me knowing something about this matter?" said Nakiri Erina with a quite upset expression, "Because I saw you," Nakiri Alice said looking straight to Nakiri Erina "talking to our grandfather a few days back", she continued her sentence, this made Nakiri Erina confused "Why do you think that we were talking about this guy?" Nakiri Erina said pointing to Souma, "The first time I saw you and grandfather, I was not so sure that you were talking about him, but the other event had me convinced that you were talking about Yukihira-kun", Nakiri Alice said as she took a sip on her tea, "What do you mean by 'other event?", this time, looking at her cousin Nakiri Alice said, "On Friday, I saw you to have a date to see a movie", this made her a little anxious and made Souma making a sigh as he said, "I knew it that event would cause something", "What made you thought of that?" Nakiri Erina said looking at him with an irritated face, "Don't make that face to me, it's your fault not mine", said Souma with a frown as he closed his eyes, "Well, what made you thought of that, Yukihira-kun?", Nakiri Alice asked him as she try stopped her cousin arguing with him, "There was no way that arguments and slap won't get any attention from people, besides ...", he said making an eye contact with the cheerful girl, "I saw you in the shopping center at the time buying a few clothes, I'm not sure if Kurokiba was with you or not but it was definitely you" he said turning his eyes to the scenery of the side of road, "That date weren't a good one, I see that, but furthermore you have a good observation skill. At that time I sent Ryou home before I went tailing on you two", she said smiling at him, with her palm on her cheek, "It wasn't a date, Alice, I just need a room of privacy out of friends and acquaintances, so the public space was the best choice", Erina said explaining her reason of took him a ride to the movies, "From that event I convinced that what Erina wasn't happy with your decision Yukihira-kun, for your rival made an unexpected movement is really hard to take, after al. So, are you going to tell me or what?", she asked once again, "It you'd not tell anyone, I have no complain", Souma said trying to make an agreement with the curious Nakiri, then she sigh "Huuuuh, okay I won't tell anyone. Then spill it", she said making a good posture of listening, seeing her okay with his condition then he said, "Okay, I'll be honest, I'm going to have an exchange students program", "Hmmmm, so that's the truth about the rumor", she said stroking her chin, then she take a peek at her cousin and see that the other Nakiri is very not happy about this decision, "When is the you exchange student program starting and where are you going?", "Honestly, speaking I was going to follow my old man to U. S. A. but then again, I want to take a different path from him", he said with a closed eyes and folding hands, hearing this Nakiri Alice then asked, "So when and where are you going?", "I'm going to Canada next week", this stunned the girls and Nakiri Erina then said, "WHAT? Didn't you say that the time is next one or two months? Did you lie to me, Yukihira Souma?", being too upset Nakiri Erina was standing in front of them. "Time is keep moving, Yukihira-kun" said Alice with a frown, "Are you sure it would be good to take it so fast? Isn't there any period to take that programs?", "Well, to be true it's not exactly an exchange program. I just accepting their invitation to work there, with an offer of giving me a professional certificate, so I won't be expelled out of the academy" he explain to the sitting Nakiri, hearing this Nakiri Erina wasn't happy, "Are you ignoring me, Yukihira Souma? Answer me!", said her, this made Souma take his attention to her once again, "I didn't lie to you, it's just that there was a change in the agreement with the employer group, saying that they want me as soon as possible, so I decided to go there next week after the academy trip", he explained to the hotheaded Nakiri as she said "But still you lied to me by saying to me today", "Is there no chance of changing your decision to have this program, Yukihira Souma?", asked Nakiri Alice to him which made him to look at her and said, "I'm afraid no", then Nakiri Erina slapped him on his face making his face red, this action made both Nakiri Alice and Souma surprised of it,"Whoa, calm down Erina, it's his decision to do so, let's appreciate it a little", Nakiri Alice said restraining her cousin by holding the arms with hers, "Are you okay, Yukihira Souma?" she asked the boy, as he rubbed his cheek and lean on the chair, "I'm okay, don't worry about me, this isn't the first time she slapped me right on my face", "You deserve it", Nakiri Erina said with her body slumped on the chair as her cousin took her there, "What made you so upset about this, Nakiri?", Souma asked the angry Nakiri, who then giving him a piercing look, "What do you think I am?", she then asked him which made him confused as he answer, "A friend and a rival?", "So, you just leave your rival in the dust after you defeat her?" she asked still with a piercing look, but this made Alice understood about her cousin, 'I see, he would make a bigger block in her growth, but the most important thing is that she ...", Alice thought as Souma said "Of course not, but that is just that you're no longer my goal , Nakiri", Souma said while looking at the long-haired Nakiri "You are my greatest rival that I could possibly find, I'm not regretting anything between us which pushed each other to the highest level in the academy. But with this goal accomplished, nothing chained me anymore and I need to move on" he said with a smile, but this didn't change Nakiri Erina's mood as she said "You a runaway kind of man are you? Leaving someone when you have a mark on that person's memory", trying to stop the argument between them Alice said, "Aside of us three, is there anyone else know about this? I mean aside of me, Erina and our grandfather", "Hmmmm, my friends in the dorm don't know anything about this, the first one to know is, of course, the director, the next one is your cousin and then the last is you" Souma said while trying to remember the one he told about the matter folding his arms on his chest, "How about the Elite Ten and the staff? They are a significant part of the academy." asked Nakiri Alice to him, thinking about it once again Souma said, "I'm not sure if the director or your cousin is still keeping their lips closed, but I didn't tell them either", "Did you tell them, Erina?" Nakiri Alice asked her cousin, Nakiri Erina then looking at Souma and said, "No, I didn't tell them", "Did you tell your aide, then?", asked Nakiri Alice once again which made the long-haired Nakiri angry and shouted "NO, I DIDN'T TELL ANYONE", but this didn't convince the mischievous Nakiri as she asked her again, "Are you sure?", "AS I SAID BEFORE, I DIDN'T TELL ANYONE AND STOP ASKING THAT ALREADY", she shouted again to her cousin as she shifted her view to her to the person beside her, this made the other Nakiri sigh and said, "Huuf, you don't need to make a loud voice, you know? I get it, I just wanted to be sure", "You made me do it with your persistence, I hate that part of you", Nakiri Erina said quietly as she turned her head to the window. "Speaking of which, where are we going right now? There is no way we're going to Kyoto with car, is there somewhere we can get another transport to go there?" Souma asked the cousins to stop their argument and change their focus out of each other. "We're going to the Nakiri Residence to get on the transport" Alice said to while pointing at the mentioned place, "We're going to Kyoto by Nakiri personal airplane", she said to Souma, "Hmmmmm, is that so?", he asked as he take a look at the place, "You're so lucky to have a lift on the Nakiri's transport, if this is a normal situation you'd need a commercial transport, just be thankful, Yukihira Souma", Nakiri Erina said to him, he then looking at her for a while, "...", "What is it? Do you have something to say?", The hothead Nakiri asked, to interrupted their conversation Nakiri Alice then said to tease both her cousin and Yukihira, "Did you fall in love with her, Yukihira-kun?", asked her as she made her cousin shocked, "What are you asking so suddenly, Alice?", Nakiri Erina said anxiously, hearing this Nakiri Alice ignored her and keep asking the young man, "So did you, Yukihira-kun?", she was expecting a certain answer out of Yukihira, hearing that question again, Yukihira said, "... No, that's not it", his answer then made Nakiri Alice more curious which made her say, "What is it?", "It's just that... it was very rare opportunity for your cousin to say my name so frequently, so it just bothers me a little", he said pointing at the long haired Nakiri, "Why did you think of that?", the cheerful Nakiri asked, "She seems to be hating me, because she never say my name until now unless there are a certain situation like talking to the director, but this time she said it so many times that I lost my count", Souma said thinking about it again, hearing this Nakiri Alice smiled and asked her cousin, "Is that so? Then Erina, what changed your mind?" to her anxious cousin who looking at the scenery, "I ..." before finishing her sentence then the car is stopped and Souma said, "We're here, let's go then", "Yes, your right, let's get moving", Nakiri Alice said as she take one last look at her cousin, then the both of them come out of the car following the young man to take the airplane going to Kyoto immediately.