"How are you feeling, son?" Joichiro tugged at the lapels of his suit jacket.

Soma stood in front of the mirror, fastening the cufflinks onto his sleeves. He surveyed his reflection. His Italian suit, courtesy of Takumi's connections back home, fit his lean frame well. His spiky red hair was freshly trimmed and his face was clean-shaven. He fiddled with his bowtie, then looked back at his father.

"Never better, Dad." He smiled earnestly, closing his eyes and scratching the back of his head. He felt like his usual self, easygoing and up to any challenge. Except for the butterflies in the pit of his stomach. "How do I look?"

Joichiro looked at his son and felt sentimental. At only 23 years old, he had accomplished so much. He had lead the Rebel Alliance to victory against Azami Nakiri's Central and became the first seat of the Council of 10. Seeing the extent of his son's potential, Joichiro did what he had always planned to: he designated Soma as executive chef of Restaurant Yukihira, the diner that had been his pride and joy since he was old enough to hold a knife. Soma's first order of business as executive chef was to open a second location in Tokyo, which was now on track to become the first casual Japanese eatery to earn its third Michelin star. Soma initially told him that setting up shop in the city was "good for the Yukihira brand" and that he "wanted to stay near Totsuki to lend a hand." Joichiro had offered his full support knowing full well that his decision revolved around the institute's current headmistress. He remembered what he had told him before sending him off to Totsuki: "Find someone who makes you want to give her the best food you've ever made." Soma had hung up before hearing this advice, and yet here he was, about to marry the Divine Tongue herself. He was his father's son, alright.

"Well? Is it that bad?" Soma scratched his head, interrupting his father's train of thought.

"You look pretty good for someone who's lost 800 food wars to me," Joichiro said mischievously.

Soma scowled. "Too proud to mention my 30 wins, are ya? I'm gaining on you, old man!"

"Still going on about that on your wedding day, eh?" Joichiro laughed. "In all seriousness, son. You look sharp."

Soma flashed him a grin and nodded with determination.

Suddenly, there were three knocks at the door, followed by familiar voices: "Hey! Let us in for the Polaris alumni reunion!"

Hisako swiftly entered the bridal suite, clipboard in hand. She knocked on the bathroom door. "Miss Erina, the bouquets and decorations have all been set up to your standards. Room service will be sending soufflé omelettes with mimosas shortly. Lastly, a light snow is falling, just as the weather report said." From the moment Erina had asked her to plan her wedding and be her maid of honor, Hisako had devoted nearly all of her waking hours to the event. She combatted fatigue with herbal remedies (and, secretly, lots of caffeine) to make her best friend's day nothing short of magical. Together, they had selected the most appropriate choice for a destination wedding: the Totsuki Resort in Hokkaido in December, the beginning of winter. Where Soma and Erina's relationship began to evolve.

"Thank you, Hisako," Erina replied from the tub. "When the bridesmaids arrive, please see to it that they are comfortable. I'll be out shortly."

"Certainly, Miss Erina." As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. She opened it to find Alice, Megumi, Ikumi, Ryoko, and Yuki. "Welcome, everyone! Please come in."

"Woah! This place is huge!" Yuki looked around in awe. "Is there any food? I'm starving."

Megumi and Ryoko giggled. "Oh, Yuki…"

Shortly thereafter the food arrived, as did the makeup artists and hair stylists. All Totsuki graduates, the bridesmaids chatted about their careers and personal lives. Erina emerged from the bathroom wearing a lush pink robe and slippers. Her long blonde hair, slightly damp from her bath, was in a regal bun atop her head. "Hello, everyone. Thank you for travelling so far to-"

"Erina!" the Polaris girls basically tackled her, having not seen Totsuki's headmistress in months. "How are you?! We're so excited for your big day!" Ikumi and Alice hung back, playing it cool by acknowledging her from afar.

Erina blushed. "I- I'm doing very well." A hint of a smile emerged at her lips. "Time to get ready. Hisako, itinerary?"

In her wildest dreams, Erina had never imagined that she would be getting ready with a group of women- for her wedding of all things. The idea alone would have once made her embarrassed. But these girls had become her friends at Totsuki- they had been by her side and protected her during her most difficult times. Even her cousin Alice, whom her father had made every effort to distance her from, was now a welcome part of her innermost circle. There was no group she would rather be with on her special day.

The girls took turns in the bathroom putting on their bridesmaids' dresses: deep purple strapless floor-length gowns that were hand picked by Erina. Megumi decided it was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen, let alone worn. She nearly fainted when she saw the price tag. Ikumi felt strange wearing so much fabric. Alice secretly wished that it were red instead to compliment her own eyes. Yuki cried tears of joy when she saw hers, while Ryoko consoled her. Hisako had a hard time putting down her clipboard to put hers on. As each girl emerged from the bathroom, they settled into chairs around the room as the hair stylists and makeup artists went to work. Erina sat in the center of it all, still wearing her robe. Her long blonde hair was now out of her bun. Suddenly, she turned towards Megumi.

"Megumi-chan...have you talked to Soma yet today?"

"Yes, I have. Why?"

"Um...how is he doing?" she asked shyly. She and Soma had agreed not to talk prior to the ceremony.

Megumi beamed. "He's doing great." She and Soma had been best friends ever since he first transferred to Totsuki, and that hadn't changed since they graduated. She had texted him earlier to check in and his response was just as she expected:

Yo, Tadokoro! Ready to party?

"Very well..." Erina replied, feeling relieved. Although she didn't question Soma's love, she was wounded by her father's upbringing. Even as the headmistress of Totsuki Academy and one of the most powerful culinary giants in the world, she could be vulnerable at times.

Hours passed, the girls chatting amongst themselves as the artists put the finishing touches on hair and makeup. Finally, Erina looked at the clock on the wall: 2 PM. Her hair and makeup were done, meaning it was time to put on her dress. She took a large sip of her mostly untouched mimosa to calm her nerves, then excused herself. She entered the walk-in closet and closed the door behind her. Hisako was on standby.

Her dress hung on the back of the door. It was a custom Vera Wang, with a crystal and organza-embroidered top, lace straps, and a flowing chantilly lace bodice. She took her robe off and delicately removed the straps from the hanger. She carefully stepped into the gown, pulled it up over her chest, and slipped into her ivory Louboutin pumps.

"Hisako," she called, ready for assistance.

"Coming, Miss Erina!" She rushed to the closet and gingerly opened the door.

Her jaw went slack.

"E-Erina," she said when she finally had words, forgoing formality. "You are a vision."

The process of getting ready was very different for the groomsmen. Hayama, Ryo, Marui, Isshiki, Ibusaki, Aoki, Sato, and the Aldinis showed up in their suits, ready to go at 11 AM. Therefore, their time in the suite was spent drinking and sparring with each other. Joichiro had left to meet up with Dojima, who had been trying to reach him for months and was therefore ready to kill him.

"This is such fun. Just like old times at Polaris," remarked Isshiki, who had successfully resisted the urge to strip.

"Yeah, and even more fun because this isn't my room," Marui reminded everyone, beaming.

"Don't worry, we'll come over soon!" Aoki and Sato slapped Marui on the back and ruffled his hair, making his eyes go wide with horror.

Hayama and Ryo sat in the corner, tipsily arguing about the importance of fragrance to a dish.

Soma laughed at the interactions around him. Although they were professional chefs now, nobody had changed much since Totsuki. He saw his best man approaching him. "Yukihira," Takumi said in his usual serious tone. "As soon as you get back from the honeymoon, we're having a rematch."

Soma smirked. "Ready to lose again?"

"I won't be losing to the likes of you!" He glared at him. Takumi and his brother Isami owned a successful Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant in Tokyo, so he and Soma saw each other -and had food wars- frequently.

"I'll believe that when I see it," Soma teased.

Takumi's expression softened, and he hit Soma on the back. "Alright, tough guy… you ready for the big day?"

Soma grinned. "I've never felt more ready for something in my life."

Takumi sneered. "That's not saying a lot." It was no secret that Soma had a tendency to wing it, especially when the stakes were high.

"Hey!" Soma laughed. "Speaking of, how about you and Tadokoro-chan, eh? Gettin' serious?" He elbowed his friend.

Takumi looked down, his cheeks tinged pink from the alcohol and the question. "Y-you could say that…"

At quarter to 3, the groomsmen made their way down to the hotel lobby. Soon afterwards, the elevator opened and the bridal party stepped out.

Takumi stared as Megumi walked towards him, her dark blue hair pulled back in a sleek bun and her golden eyes rimmed with glitter. "You look beautiful, mi amor," he said, taking her hand and bringing it to his mouth, planting a light kiss. She giggled and threw her arms around him, kissing him firmly on the mouth.

Ryo and Alice made intense eye contact, and it became clear what- or, rather, who- they were doing later.

Hayama's eyes lingered on Hisako, then quickly darted away when she noticed. She returned the gaze when he wasn't looking.

The rest of the collective groom and bridal party took turns taking swigs from a flask.

It was almost time.

Erina waited alone in the bridal suite. She glanced at the clock again, which read quarter after 3. Hisako had snapped out of her shock at Erina's beauty to help zip up her dress and adjust her veil before taking her leave. At Erina's request, the bridal party had gone downstairs prior to the reveal. So far, Hisako was the only person to see her like this. The next person to see her would be knocking on the door any minute now.

She gazed out the window at the snow lightly falling and thought of him. Soma Yukihira. Suddenly, the memory of their first kiss played like a movie in her mind.

"Dig in, Nakiri." Soma had a shit-eating grin on his face as he placed a steaming hot bowl of morphing furikake rice in front of her. They were at Yukihira in his home village. "I updated the recipe just for you. It's way better than the first time I made it."

She scowled at the sight. "Yukihira, you're the top spot on the Council now. Don't you know better than to serve this slop? No flashy tricks can revive this commoner dish, it simply-"

"Just try it." He pushed the bowl closer. "I'm not giving up that easy!"

She watched as the golden aspick flooded the rice, and she salivated. She remembered the first time she ate it...he could never know. "Must you always be this insufferable?"

She hesitantly picked up her chopsticks, and after a drawn-out pause, she took a bite.

Her body quivered as the flavors of the chicken, more intense and addicting now than the first time, sent her into a dizzy umami dream. She could barely control the pleasure she felt building inside her, alongside the tension that was bound to spill at any moment.

She couldn't deny it anymore.

"Well?" He smirked. "Say it."She suppressed a small moan. "I- I won't."

He slowly closed the gap between them. His normally joking tone became serious, his voice low. "My cooking. What do you think of it?" His stare was intense, his eyes darker somehow.

Her heart squeezed in her chest. "It's- it's..." She gazed into his eyes. Their faces were inches apart. She hoped he could read her mind.

Within a split second, he did. Soma took her face in his hands and pressed his lips against hers. And she kissed him back. Their mouths intertwined for what felt like eternity, their breathing shallow when they came up for air. He smiled softly, looking into her eyes again. "Well?"

She blushed crimson as she looked up at him. "You idiot... it is...acceptable," she said before their lips crashed together once more. The rice got cold.

Tears came to her eyes, which she quickly blinked back. "Get a grip, Erina. You'll ruin your makeup," she said out loud.

*Knock* *Knock*

"The door is open," she said.

Her grandfather, Senzaemon Nakiri, opened the door. He was wearing a tux, his long hair in a ponytail down his back. A far cry from his usual robes.

Tears filled his eyes.

"Erina," his voice cracked as a wave of emotion washed over him. He walked over to her and they embraced.

"Grandfather," she said. "Please- don't cry. You'll get my dress wet." She smiled into his shoulder.

"I am more than blessed to walk you down the aisle today," he said. "And you couldn't have picked a better man to be your husband."

She kissed his cheek and wordlessly took his arm. They made their way to the elevator.

Soma stood at the altar, Takumi at his side. Looking out over the crowd, there was a sea of talent from the culinary world. Gin Dojima sat with Joichiro, who had somehow charmed his way back into his good graces. Miss Fumio sat beside them, smiling warmly. Kojira Shinomiya, Hinako Inui, and Fuyumi Mizuhara sat together, with Fuyumi sitting between the two to squash any inevitable fighting. Soma spotted Alice's parents, Soe and Leonora, who had left Nakiri International unmanned to attend. Tsukasa and Rindo, former first and second seat of the Council and now a married couple, sat beside Kuga. As usual, Tsukasa looked panicked over something as Rindo talked him off the ledge. Kuga chuckled as he put his hands behind his head, placing his feet on the seat in front of him. It was a small, intimate crowd of people that both he and Erina loved and admired.

Soma shifted in his shoes, his heart rate picking up.

He was about to marry Erina Nakiri. Surely he must be dreaming.

As his mind wandered, the memory of his proposal resurfaced.

*Knock knock*

"Who is it?" Erina called from beyond the door.

"It's me," Soma said.

"Oh- come in," she replied.

Soma stepped into Erina's office. He had come from Yukihira Tokyo wearing his chef's robes, which were soiled from a long day of cooking. It was 10 o'clock on a Monday night, and despite the time, Erina was hard at work. She had been in meetings all day and was reviewing applications for transfer students when he entered.

"I seem to recall a recent conversation we had about you working too hard, Headmistress." he smirked. It wasn't unusual for her to work until midnight on weekdays, and he knew her schedule was packed with tastings the next day.

Erina sighed and looked up at him. She was wearing a white button-up shirt, navy blazer, and black A-line skirt. Her hair was in a sleek ponytail and her glasses sat atop the bridge of her nose. She looked so sexy like this. "I can't simply abandon my duties because I feel tired," she said matter-of-factly. "The institute relies on me, just as they did my grandfather." This conversation was a broken record. Still, he loved to tease her.

He strolled past her desk and situated himself behind her swivel chair, placing his hands on her ever-tense shoulders. He pulled the collar of her shirt back and began to work his thumbs into her skin rhythmically, massaging away the stress of her day. She pressed backwards against him and revelled in the luxurious feeling. He leaned down. "They might need you," he growled playfully into her ear. "But I need you more. Especially when you wear this outfit."

She sighed contentedly as he dug into a tender point at the nape of her neck. "Soma-kun," she gasped. She swiveled around in her chair to face him, then reached her hand up to touch his face lovingly. "How was your day?" she asked.

"It was good. We were as packed as ever," he said with a smile. He reached for her hand and pulled her up to standing. "I think it's going to happen, Erina. The second Michelin star…"

Erina smoothed her skirt and looked up at him, her eyes twinkling. "Don't let this inflate your already enormous ego...but it wouldn't surprise me at all."

He grinned. "Too late!"

"Oh, shut up," she scoffed, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him in an attempt to silence him. It worked.

She peeled back from their embrace and faced her desk. "I promise, I'll be done soon," she said. She began to organize a stack of papers. "There are so many transfer applicants this year. I need to make sure I review each file thoroughly…so as to make the best possible decision for each candidate."

Soma turned towards the wall and stepped away from her. He slipped his hand into the pocket of his chef's jacket where a small black box was tucked away.

"You never do anything halfway, Erina. That's one of the many things I admire about you."

She sifted through the papers with her freshly manicured nails, making sure everything was in order. "I simply do what is expected of me," she said as her cheeks tinged light pink at the compliment.

"I completely understand wanting to make the best possible decision. That's part of the reason I'm here," he said gently.

"What do you mean-" she began, and turned towards him.

Soma was down on one knee with the black box in his hand. He opened it to reveal a 3 carat princess-cut diamond ring that Hisako had helped him pick out.

Her eyes widened and her mouth hung open in shock. She took a small step towards him.

"I know that I'm in my dirty chef's uniform and that we're just in your office," he said. "And I thought about doing this in many extravagant places worthy of your elegance and grace." He swallowed. "But I wanted it to be private, and in a place that means so much to both of us."

Erina clasped her hands over her mouth.

"Erina, I love you more than anything in the world. You've had me since the day we met. I want to be yours forever...if you'll let me."

She paused for a moment, her eyes brimming with tears. "You dummy!" she cried. "Of course I'll marry you…"

He could barely contain his excitement, his heart swelling in his chest. He slid the ring onto her finger delicately, then their fingers intertwined. He pulled her close to him and kissed the top of her head.

Erina fell noticeably silent for a moment. "Whatcha thinking about?" Soma asked, slightly nervous.

She paused, then giggled lightly. "It's just- this completely exceeded my expectations...from what I read in my manga…" she admitted, embarrassed.

Soma laughed and held her tighter. It was so her.

The organ began to play and the wedding procession began, confirming that this was, in fact, reality.

The bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the aisle, stepping in tandem in their assigned order. Next were the ring bearer and the flower girl, an adorable young boy and girl from the Nakiri side of the family. Then Hisako. Which meant Erina would be next.

The butterflies in Soma's stomach were on overdrive.

She stepped out into the cold, her arm linked with her grandfather's, and began her walk down the aisle. Every head in the crowd turned.

The crystal embroidery on her dress sparkled. Her long blonde hair fell down in waves beneath her veil, framing her face. Peeking out from beneath her hair were a pair of Swarovski crystal teardrop earrings. Her porcelain skin was soft and dewy, the apples of her cheeks a pale pink. Her eyelids shone golden, framed by elegant winged eyeliner and long black lashes that made her large purple eyes sparkle. Her billowy bodice gave the illusion that she was gliding towards him.

Soma's mouth went dry. His heart was pounding. Beautiful didn't even begin to describe her.

She was an angel before him.

After what seemed like an eternity, she joined him at the altar. She faced him, and he looked deeply into her eyes.

"Erina," he whispered. He reached for her hands.

"W-what?" She stared at him expectantly, feeling slightly self conscious.

He felt himself blushing. "You look stunning."

She blushed and smiled, which drove him even crazier. "Thank you...you look very handsome too." Her cheeks burned. He looked so good. His suit fit him perfectly, and his golden eyes twinkled beneath the scar at his eyebrow.

The wedding officiant began the ceremony. Soma had a hard time concentrating with a literal goddess before him, but he did his best. The time came to read their vows, which they had decided to write themselves. He knew it would be a challenge for Erina, who was easily embarrassed when it came to her feelings. But since when did the Divine Tongue stray from a challenge?

He would go first.

He took a carefully folded piece of paper from his pocket, opened it, and cleared his throat.

"Erina," he began. "The day I met you, unknown to me at the time, my life changed forever. I presented a dish to you that you said was disgusting, and I became obsessed with changing your mind. Every dish that I made from that point on, whether a failure or a success, you were my motivation. At just 15 years old, grown adult chefs cowered before you, knowing your opinion would make or break their careers. You were so poised and elegant. And I, being who I am, was stupid enough to stand before you and ask your opinion, too." He flashed his typical goofy smile.

Erina and the crowd laughed.

"But when your father returned, I saw you become vulnerable. I learned about the trauma that you had endured to get to that point, realizing the immense weight on your shoulders at all times. I felt an even stronger motivation to stand by your side. As people who cared about you rallied around you, the wall you had put up started to come down. And it was then that I realized that I didn't even know the half of your true power. I saw your selflessness as you tutored the members of Polaris so they would pass the training camp here. I saw your face light up when you talked about your idol. And lastly, I saw you start to have fun- with your friends and your cooking. I had never seen a more beautiful sight. It wasn't long before I fell madly in love." Tears started to fill his eyes. "You shaped me into the man I am today. Anything that I accomplish, I have you to thank. I vow to honor you for the rest of my life. And I'm sorry to say- I will never stop asking you whether or not my food tastes good."

Erina's eyes were brimming with tears. "Thank you," she mouthed. The weight of his words made her heart sing.

It was her turn.

Hisako handed her a piece of cardstock. Erina cleared her throat.

"I grew up with a skewed vision of love. I was constantly being torn in two different directions- to choose between true gourmet and happiness. As time passed, I chose true gourmet, because that was all I was raised to understand. I was taught that being the Divine Tongue should bring me all the satisfaction in the world. The truth is, it did the opposite." She cast her eyes down. "My life was bleak for so long. I had no friends- only subordinates and rivals. At the peak of this loneliness, you took my entrance exam to Totsuki. You were confident and adventurous, treating the kitchen like your personal playground. I wanted so badly to force you into a box, to make you align with my values at the time. But you wouldn't. I didn't know what to do.

Regardless of how poorly I treated you, you never stopped challenging me. It was infuriating. I tried so hard not to like your cooking- not to like you. But my heart couldn't help it. When I was thrown back into the pattern of manipulation, you offered me your hand. You pulled me out of my downward spiral, told me to perk up. You taught me how to enjoy cooking, to enjoy life. You made me feel valuable for who I really am. You don't realize it, but you truly saved my life..." Tears streamed down her cheeks now. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had a chance. I didn't deserve your kind treatment then, and sometimes I still think that I don't. But I vow to spend the rest of my days making sure you know...not only how much I love you, but how much I admire you. Thank you, Soma Yukihira...my love...for helping me to choose happiness."

She looked up at Soma, who was weeping. "Oi, Nakiri," he said. "What have you done to me?"

There wasn't a dry eye in the crowd.

"Do you, Soma Yukihira, take Erina Nakiri to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

He smiled. "I do."

"And do you, Erina Nakira, take Soma Yukihira to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do," she said confidently.

"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Soma took Erina in his arms and kissed her like his life depended on it. The crowd clapped.

They walked down the aisle hand in hand as the organ played, their loved ones applauding. They had officially begun their next chapter.

And now, it was time to celebrate.