Just Like Magnets

Author: jaymack33

Author notes: This is my first Food Wars fic, and I own nothing, just trying to write characters I like into different situations. And I ship Erina and Soma hard. In this story I don't really want to be trapped completely by cannon, I took a peek at the future arc after the end of season 3, not really wanting to spoil anything but I'm just saying it goes on a while with literally no break in a really long arc, so I just want to do an alternate AU where some of the show is canon up to when Erina left to move into Polar Star but before the Rebel alliance started getting targeted and expelled from their losses from the Elite.

Summary: The first year is over and everyone gets a month off on break. Soma Yukihira decides to air out and open up the Diner for a month during his down time and Erina finds herself missing him and curious about the famous little Diner run by Saiba Joichiro. Erina decides to pay Soma a little visit. How far we go from there, we'll see, I'm still writing and planning it out.

Polar Star:

Everyone cheered as they came home a month off before classes begin for the next year. Whatever Azami Nakiri was going to have planned for them was going to have to wait until a month from now when classes start back up again. Some of the students would be returning to their families, some would just go to amusement parks and Resorts like Disney Land, Universal Studios, or the more in country spa resorts and some would just stay in the Dorms working on their craft having barely eeeked through the year passing by the skin of their teeth. Some of them would stay for duty the Nakiri's had run the Totsuki Culinary School for years and the new curriculum would still need to be decided so duty will always come first.

Erina unfortunately was a Nakiri on the outside looking in. She was stuck, no she wouldn't say that word, after all I kind of like it here, except for the subpar food, lower class accommodations, the strangest roommates ever (naked people running around, really?), being scared to leave and be grabbed by her father and locked in her room, but I'm kind of locked in my room here and even though Alice visits whenever she gets a chance, and Hisako finally moved in once father finally found out I was staying here, there was no point in hiding it anymore. But I still feel so trapped, like I can't even be me anymore and than there's Yukihiro-san. Yeah there is that too...

Room 303-

Erina stares at it a few heartbeats later...than a few more heartbeats later...just a simple knock...we're just friends..sort of and it's really quiet during School break. So, I'm bored, he can just say whatever stupid thing he usually says and I will knock him down a peg and he will give me one of his cocky, arrogant and annoyingly pompous grins and I will get the last word in and hair flip him, it will go way over his head, as always, he's still stupid, I win he loses, she giggles...not even noticing the giggle was for him and why hasn't she knocked on his door yet, why am I stressing out about this just do it...Knock...Knock...Knock...

I did knock right? Did I knock hard enough, she listens to the door, taking a peek around no one's looking, I'm just curious, that's all this doesn't mean anything else, is he sleeping? Her hand absent-mindedly lands on the door knob which moves slightly. The door? Is it open, well I'll just knock and open it so...what if he isn't descent...I...mean...she blushes furiously just thinking about it made her warm and tingly for some reason...knock...knock...she opens the door...Yukihirokun, I am coming in I have something I want to talk with you about, she whispers...your food really was delicious...she blushes again furiously if that lie didn't wake him up nothing...she looks at the lump in the bed...and pulls out pillows...did he sneak off...or...

"Miss Nakiri, I'm sorry if you were looking for Soma he's not here," said Megumi from behind. She waves around at the near empty room...a slight involuntary gasp followed by a cough coming from a slightly startled Erina from Megumi's presence along with the surprising absence of Soma.

"I-I was just curious that's all, I hadn't seen Yukihirokun all day and."...she tried to hold back...what was I feeling disappointment...I mean I don't hate him anymore...he's the son of my idol...which means the food he makes no matter how crude and imperfect came from...Saiba Sama's training...maybe his training was wasted on him...but still...from Saiba Sama-kun...

"I miss him too." Megumi smiled sensing the mood in the room.

Erina coughed a couple more times..."no I wasn't...just I was bored and just wanted to see what he was doing anyway, I'll just see what Hisako is up to," she made like she wanted to go quickly, I can't ask...I don't want her to know I want to know...

Megumi sensing what Erina wanted.."Uhh, do you want to know where he is now?"

Erina tried to act as uninterested as possible, she's one of his best friends...if this gets out, well I mean, it doesn't really matter anyway... "Megumi, just I mean you could tell me if you want to, or if not it's perfectly fine too it's no big thing."...she gritted her teeth...at the last words...

Megumi full of sunshine oblivious sweetness but still being able to read a room, one of her greater talents making people in her restaurant happy knowing exactly what they wanted... "Well he is back at Yukihira's running his father's place, he didn't want people to forget about the place...the longer it's closed the more chance out of sight out of mind you know."

Erina smiled slightly..right out of sight...out of mind...you know. "Uhh, thanks Megumi, uhh...could you...?"

"What is it Miss Nakiri?"

"It's...it's nothing," she turns around...why couldn't I just ask her where it is? Why couldn't I...Hisako? Hisako would know! Whenever I need anything I can just..

"If you want to know where it is I could just tell you."...she giggled happily with no implication of anything more...Erina liked Megumi...she is just as sweet as she seems to be but...still...not going to trust her...she's his inner circle...not mine..."no...no that's OK Megumi, I'm good, everything is fine, no problem."

"Hi, Hisako," she waved happily at her secretary and bestest besty in the world.

"Erina-sama, how can I help you today, I brought cards and even the latest Manga chapters you were looking for."

"Uhhh, thank you...what would I do without you?"

"Oh, your amazing Erina, you could do anything you want of course, but I'm just here to help you in anyway you need...uhh is there something else?" Knowing her friend from years together she could always tell when she wanted something else or needed something, but her pride would sometimes take a while to get it out of her.

"I, uhh noticed how a lot of students have left for spring break and uhhh."..she started playing with her fingers...not knowing what to do with them...and than she thought of a way she could ask... "You know how much I admire Saiba Sama and his cooking, he is my cooking idol you know."

"Right, Yukihirokun's father..."

Erina winced slightly at the reminder...not that she had a problem with him...anymore...besides he's not Saiba...his technique is still flawed...just like his face, his eyes, his hair, his smile...his evil annoying mocking smile...and that laugh of his...always making fun of me...grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! YOKUHIROKUN!

"Erina-sama?" "Erina?" She was waving her hand by her face several times..."Are you OK, I know their both pretty great." Saiba-kun was second ranked in the council and Soma's pretty amazing too." "I'm allowed to say that now, right?" "We're not supposed to hate him anymore?" "Yukihira Soma?"

The name popped Erina out of her thoughts..."no...of course not...he's just the ring leader of this strange place with strange students, cooking strange things who are completely ignoring my superior advice every chance they get..."

"I saw Yukihira following your advice..."

"I didn't give him any...she grumbled..."

"But, you gave him hints as to what he should do in his last cook off though..."

"I, look fine...this isn't really about him, just I'm kind of bored being cooped up in this Dorm for over a week now and getting back to his father, I am kind of curious, about his Diner, he gave up being here, opening a fine dining exclusive restaurant just to open up a lowly Diner...I'm just curious...right...maybe you could find out where it is and we could visit and..."

Hisako smiled...she was laughing it off...and it was kind of about Saiba, but her friend and boss wasn't fooling her at all. She didn't even care about this until Soma left to open it back up, if it wasn't open there would be no point in visiting anyway...she misses him and she might be curious about the place too, but he's the cook, Soma could have cooked the same food here too...he has cooked the same food here that she refuses to eat by the way...it's only when he's gone... "So Erina-sama we could stop by see how Soma's doing maybe order something from his secret menu and..."

Erina was smilng and than..."no...no secret menu, I'm not eating his food...just curious to see the Diner that's all just a visit and than we leave..."

"Whatever you say Erina...whatever you say." She turned around smiling as she searched on her web browser and searched for directions calling for their ride...it couldn't be a Nakiri car because of her father...but they would be there pretty soon...she smirked snickering slightly...what's Yukihira going to think when he sees her, he's liable to have a heart attack and Erina, what mental gymnastics explanation is she going to use to talk her way out of the fact that she just misses him...

Erina got slightly annoyed, "did you laugh, just now Hisako?" "What is so funny?" "Maybe you could tell me the joke too, I like to laugh!"

"Of course you do, uhh it was nothing...just a funny emoji...that's all..."

Erina wasn't buying it she could tell when Hisako was lying but it wasn't worth it she had a feeling she didn't really want to know what Hisako was really signalling to her...

-
Polar Star previous day:

Yukihiro Soma smiled as he grabbed his bag staring at Erina Nakiri's closed room, laughing to himself...just think so many months ago she hated me and the way we all cook here and now she's one of us...hahaha..Nakiri doesn't know everything...because she definitely didn't see that happening. He was almost tempted to knock on her door listen to the Princess get all high and mighty how great she is and how lucky we all are that we get to even be in her presence. And I'll say my goodbye and she will beg me not to go...heh heh heh heh...Nakihiri will just tell me not to let the door hit me in the ass on the way out...wouldn't want to hurt her the door now would we...hahhaha..nahh, I don't think she'll even notice me being gone.

I'm not going to lie I'll miss her. At least messing with her and her constant yelling and lying about how she really feels about who even knows. I don't think I could figure that girl out if it took me a lifetime, but I need enough time to at least make her say delicious, that is definitely going to happen! He pumped his fist at the closed door like it could answer him back as he started walking down the hall. He waved goodbye to everyone got a tight hug from Megumi telling him to keep wowing all his customers with his amazing cooking and to come back soon. He gave a wave goodbye as he went into a Taxi back to the Sumeridori Shopping District to have a short reopening of Restaurant Yukihira.

Sumeridori Shopping District previous day:

Soma walked slowly bag in hand after paying for his trip unlocked the pull down security grill & went into his restaurant. He turned on the lights took a look around pre-planning all that would be involved in the setup and than before he could even head to the kitchen for a look over...

He took a breath, feeling reminiscent of this place, I've grown to love being at Totsuki, it's been really fun, but at the same time I miss my customers too, their so happy just to eat my food...never...unlike you know who, have I ever heard any of them say disgusting. He took a breath, just thinking about her again. Why can't I get that girl out of my head. It used to be whenever I cooked I was trying to surpass my father, why do I only think about her now? "Yukiriro-kun?" A voice from behind him breaks him out of his reverie as a long time customer walks in.

"Your opening up Yukihira's?" "Please, please, please, say yes!"

Soma, just smiled shaking his, head, but laughing just enjoying the joy his cooking brought to his local customers in the Sumiredori Shopping District. "Well I was just planning out my, day I still have to buy food, and other supplies, so it could take...a...while..."

"It's OK, I'll wait!" The customer was practically licking his lips imagining the wonderful Tempura bowls, and Egg dishes that were some of Soma's many specialties.

Soma just smiled seeing his hopeful face, well I'm sure I can handle one friendly customer and...Soma did a double take and than a triple take as more and more people started flooding into the diner...

Yukihira's is opening up! Tell, me please your really back, I miss the apple fritter dumplings and the Pumpkin mocha pancakes and don't forget the Bacon cheddar cheese perogies, oh...oh...and the special Yukihira 4 seasons stir fry...to die for...

Soma, chuckled as more and more people kept flooding in, guys, "everybody, I just got in and,"...he saw their hopeful hungry faces..."I mean it will take me a while..
to get all my supplies,"... he paused...seeing if that would change their minds at all, while secretly testing how much they wanted it he enjoyed serving his appreciative customers so much...

"We'll wait, please just, please come back and cook for us!" They all begged him!

Soma just chuckled again, always keeping his thoughts hidden with his usual poker face, but still his usual devilish giggle still managed to leak through, "heheheh!" "OK, if your all willing to wait, when I come back I guess I'll be opening up Yukihira's just a little bit early, can't keep my customers waiting after all," he laughed.

A few hours later Soma couldn't believe the line he was seeing people waiting and sitting in tables. I guess they weren't kidding about willing to wait even sharing tables with strangers just to maximize the space.

"He came back!" They all cried out with happiness and reverence at the son of the great Joichiro Saiba, the master chef who had been cooking for the district for years. Soma wasn't his father, but he was damned close and better than any other cook in that district that's for damned sure!

Soma started slowly prepping & firing up ovens, igniting stoves, while orders got called out and with typical Yukihira Soma fashion he started moving quickly from meal to meal serving superb & fragrant food to very happy customers.

As they all left, he told them he really needed to close because he sometimes needed to do something at night commonly known as sleep. Soma took a breath just basking in the glow. He loved the happiness he brought to his customers faces with his cooking that was the best part, I can't wait for tomorrow when I have the actual official opening.

Next day:

Hisako and Erina started walking around through the district. Hisako kept taking a peek at Erina, not the typical neighborhood for her, as she usually ventured into more privileged upper echelon neighborhoods, looking for any recognition of the usual way she looked at these type of locations but all she saw was that look on her face. The look she'd only been using since she met...Yukihira...'s

Erina nervously looked from building to building wondering what type of lowly diner she was going to be seeing from her idol Joichiro Saiba-san. I shouldn't get my hopes up, and still, I know it will only be Soma cooking, not that I'm going to eat anything from him...she snickered...disgusting...she wished. The only thing that boy cooked that was disgusting...she'd only heard rumors about it from...her friends at Polar Star. They called it his...outliers...how bad must they be, she laughed as she looked around anxiously and than she saw the sign, she and Hisako slowly started approaching and than out of nowhere Erina pulled Hisako to the side away from the window...

Hisako: "Erina-sama why did you...mmmmphhh...mmpphhh..."

Erina whispered, "he'll hear you, don't..." "I-I-I'm not ready for him to see me yet, I'm not even sure why I'm here." "Why did I come again, Hisako, I mean that's his place, I saw it, we can just go home now," Erina said nervously while her feet refused to budge from the spot as she kept trying just to peek at the window from an impossible angle, while wondering if Soma saw her in that brief moment she had seen him...her cheeks flushed pink for some reason...

Hisako, managed to get herself free from Erina-sama and just shook her head at her blushing friend. "You, mean to tell me, we came all the way here, we haven't eaten anything all day, and even if you decided to eat somewhere else, which no offense Erina-sama, you know he at least has to be able to cook better than anyone else in this District, unless his father were to show up, right?"

Erina still looked nervously trying to see and think how they can go in, without Soma noticing, not that I should care, or would he even care, he'll just be Mr I don't give a damn about anything la-dee-dad, Oh hi Nakirei, and than he won't even give me the time of day, that jerk! Erina fumed just thinking about how Soma, didn't seem to notice or pay any attention to anything I say or do one bit...grrrrrrrrrrr! Assh...

"Erina-sama, look if you don't want to eat, that's fine, I'm going in and maybe, since I know you don't want him to know, I could bring something out to you, too?"

Erina felt cornered, I don't want to eat his food...it's disgusting...unnhhh...but I am kind of hungry though...and awww crap...that fragrance...aww...I smell his food from here.. Damn it...why does just the smell of his food make me shake...and she sees Hisako, she knows me way too well, and I didn't just come out here to look at the building, and if it isn't about the food than it's about him...or is it the food, but it's disgusting or is it about him, but he's a stupid jerky...jerk...but, he's not, I keep saying it but I don't feel that way about him anymore, except..WHEN HE LEAVES WITHOUT TELLING ME, JERK! He couldn't have just said goodbye, like he even cares...hmmmphhhh...she groaned. Yukihira-kun only cares about his food, never about...she thinks about his crazy spikey red hair, his annoying little carefree chuckle, those golden yellow intense eyes...their so intense..."Erina-sama!"...the way he throws his kitchen knife in the air and it just lands in his hand like a boomerang...he is so reckless...and crazy...and forceful and..."Erina-sama!"

Hisako decides, screw it, she can stay their pretending she doesn't care about Soma-kun, I'm getting something to eat, I like his food, and at least I'm willing to admit it... "Wait...Hisako!" She hears Erina's soft voice asking her to wait giving her pause while expecting more of her friends excuses.

"Look, maybe we'll go in, even if we don't eat anything we could still get some tea, or something, and, but none of his food, maybe a dessert but that's it, OK, Hisako?"

"Whatever you say, Erina-sama," she said with a funny knowing little smirk, that Erina felt to her bones...why does she do that to me lately everytime I want to see Soma-kun, like she thinks she knows something..she doesn't know anything...I-I-I'm not going to lie, I don't see Soma the same way anymore, there is something there, he's no Joichiro, and maybe if he listened to me just once he could be, but...I take a small look, maybe I'll just sneak in and of course he'll notice me, but at least maybe he'll keep the teasing to a minimum, he looks really busy, so even if he sees me and talks with me he won't big time me like he always does, he'll just be a normal cook to his customer too busy to mess with me like he usually does, I see a table at the far end, I almost giggle as I sort of Scooby Doo to a far table with Hisako pulling up behind me copying me except for that little giggle, remembering the time when she used to be more afraid of me...she's so forward now since that time she worked with...

Yukihira Soma...now looking straight at the both of us...

-To Be Continued-

Author's notes: I really struggled with the name of the story, I'm still figuring out where I'm going with this, though I know some of what I want for chapter 2, and feel free if you have suggestions or requests as I don't really know myself how far or how long I'm going with this yet. I only know what I'm doing with chapter 2 next and don't know my end game yet, it doesn't have to be cannon, it's hard for me to fight those two and their connection, at least when I'm writing them. The name of this story comes from a scene from one of my favorite movies called the Cutting Edge, which could be a potential plot thread so, I'm not going to elaborate, but if you've seen the movie, you probably remember the scene, if not, you should it's my favorite romantic movie ever. So, anyway if you like this and you want me to continue, please let me know, I'm a refugee from the Supergirl Karamel fandom, which I still haven't given up yet, but Sorina is my life boat, I think their ship is going to continue to sail! I love those two together!