A/N: Should I be writing another story, when I have multiple unfinished wips? No. Did I do it anyway? Yes. Have I been obsessed with Ryo x Megumi lately? Also yes. Here is the fake dating au no one asked for. Enjoy.
Helping hand
Megumi was cursed. She was cursed and bound to spend her entire life by herself. When she had finally admitted her tiny crush on Souma to herself, he had started dating Erina. It had been a long time coming, but somewhere in her heart, Megumi had harbored hope that Souma had a special spot for her.
Looking back, it was obvious that Erina was the one who held the special place in his heart. It had always been. From the beginning Souma had been hell-bent on making Erina acknowledge his cooking, and as Megumi thought back, he hadn't fought as viciously for anything else.
Still, finding out that her two friends had started dating made Megumi's heart clench painfully. It wasn't like Megumi had been ready to tell anyone about her crush, but hearing the news had broken something inside her. Maybe because of how she found out. Souma hadn't mentioned it to her, nor had Nakiri-san when they spoke a few days prior. No, Megumi had found out through the school newspaper along with some of the Polar Star residents. It had been Ryoko who discovered the article as they were having breakfast one morning.
"Guys, you need to see this…" Her eyes were blown wide and scanned the pages with insane speed, causing everyone to look at her in concern. Marui and Ibusaki exchanged glances, while Megumi tried to catch a glimpse of the article. Yukihira, Aoki and Sato had yet to arrive and Isshiki had already left ahead of everyone else.
"What is it? Shokugeki? Riot? Another competition?" Yuki asked rapidly as she poured herself some orange juice. The people at Totsuki always had something cooking to surprise and challenge the students, so it was probably another trivial announcement.
"It says Yukihira-kun and Nakiri-san are dating." Ryoko barely managed to avoid the spray of juice that left Yuki's mouth. Megumi's spoon clattered to the floor, but she didn't notice. Her eyes shot to the newspaper in Ryoko's hands.
"WHAT!" Yuki all but shrieked, making everyone wince. She snatched the paper from Ryoko and quickly started reading out loud, not even bothering to clean up the mess she had created on the table.
"Spring is finally here, and with spring always comes young love! Totsuki's Ice Queen and headmistress, Nakiri Erina, is finally thawing! Who seems to be melting her frozen heart you ask? None other than last year's transfer student, oddball extraordinaire and 1st seat of the Elite 10, Yukihira Souma! The new couple was found canoodling at campus and when asked, admitted they had been dating for a while- what the hell?" Yuki sputtered indignantly and narrowed her eyes at the paper.
"Canoodling? Who even uses that word anymore?" Ibusaki asked over Yuki's sputtering. Megumi suddenly felt like a knife had been stabbed through her heart. What was going on?
"This has to be a joke right? Yukihira never mentioned dating Erinacchi! They would have told us first, right?" Yuki asked, now gaping at the article. She read, and then reread it, but her confusion only grew.
"I don't know, Yoshino. It is a private matter, and you in particular have a tendency to be extremely nosy." Marui commented and reached for the paper to have a look. His expression was neutral as he studied the article, but Megumi noticed the slight lift of his brows that indicated curiosity.
"But we're their friends! Shouldn't they have told us, before they went to the school paper? How is it private if they announce it to the entire school?" Yuki argued. Ryoko hummed thoughtfully, while Ibusaki simply shrugged. "Maybe they were found out by accident?" He suggested calmly, ever the voice of reason.
"But it still doesn't make sense! I call bullshit. We would have known if they were dating." Yuki insisted.
"Calm down, Yuki. Maybe they had a reason for keeping it secret? After all Nakiri-san has quite the reputation to uphold." Ryoko thought out loud. No one had noticed Megumi's silence, and she tried quelling the sudden anger and disappointment she was feeling.
"Whatever, we'll just ask Yukihira when he comes down." Yuki grumbled and crossed her arms over her chest. Remembering her spilled juice, she reached for a few napkins and started wiping the table, muttering to herself.
"Just leave it be. We don't know all of the circumstances surrounding the matter." Ibusaki pointed out, which seemed to placate Yuki somewhat.
Conversation around the table came to a still as they all ate their breakfasts. Megumi didn't feel hungry any longer. Now that the initial shock had worn off, she took time to examine her emotions. She was hurt and disappointed that Souma hadn't told her anything, but she understood the need for privacy given their respective positions at Totsuki. She hadn't even known that Souma liked Erina as more than a friend, or that Erina reciprocated those feeling.
It was so sudden, and it didn't explain why Megumi felt tears stinging her eyes. She discreetly wiped her eyes with her sleeve and finally noticed that she had dropped her spoon earlier, quickly picking it up and wiping it with a napkin. Megumi had more or less regained control of herself when Souma came strolling into the dining area a few minutes later, but the sight of him sent another pang of pain through her chest.
"Yukihira, explain yourself!" Yuki demanded the second she saw him and shot out of her seat. Souma seemed surprised and looked everyone over. "What's going on? Explain what?"
"This article!" Yuki shoved the paper into his face and Souma stepped back to read as he grabbed the edges. Everyone around the table waited with bated breath for him to confirm or deny the claim in the newspaper.
"Oh that. Yeah it's true." He simply said and placed the paper on the table, not noticing the incredulous stares directed at him. His eyes scanned the page quickly and a small smile appeared on his face. Megumi heard his words, but they didn't quite register in her brain.
"What?" She finally asked, her voice shaking slightly. That seemed to catch the attention of her two girlfriends, whose expressions simultaneously shifted from confusion to concern. They might have been unaware of the tumult Megumi felt, but they could tell that something was off right away.
"Yeah, sorry for not telling you guys, it must have slipped my mind." Souma shrugged and grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl, before taking a seat next to Marui.
"Slipped your mind? How long has this been going on?" Yuki asked with a raised brow. No one else said anything, all too busy trying to process the scene in front of them.
"Since last week I guess?" Souma bit into his apple. Yuki fought to remain calm.
The temptation to rip into Yukihira was great, but she knew he was nothing but an honest idiot, who most likely had forgotten. Instead, she took a deep breath and sat back down. When the guys finally changed the topic and included Yukihira in their conversation, Yuki exchanged glances with Ryoko, who had been busy watching their unusually quiet friend.
"Megumi, is everything okay?" Ryoko touched her arm and Megumi jumped. She could feel her friends' concern, but she needed a moment alone to clear her head.
"I… I have to go. I need to drop by the Regional Cuisine RS before class. Congratulations, Souma-kun." Megumi spoke stiffly and fumbled with the strap of her book bag, but her red haired friend didn't seem to notice her tone. He merely turned to her with a wide grin on his face that sent a stab of pain through her.
"Thanks Tadokoro!" He waved cheerfully as she sped out of the room.
Once outside, Megumi took a few calming breaths. She would not break down. Sure, finding out that they were dating had been unexpected, but she was in no position to be upset. She hadn't never even intended to tell Souma about her feelings, so this was actually a blessing in disguise. Now Megumi could get over this silly crush and focus on her goals of improving her cooking.
With renewed resolve, Megumi retrieved her bike and set her course for the main campus, intent on getting through the day without any more surprises.
It had been nothing short of a grueling day. Of course every student at Totsuki had read the newest gossip in the school paper, and they were sending Megumi pitying, confused or downright disappointed looks. She had thought nothing of it in the morning, but once lunch came around it was hard to ignore all the stares.
"Why is everyone staring at me?" She whispered to Yuki and Ryoko as they sat in the cafeteria for lunch. She could feel numerous gazes on her, but they quickly disappeared when she looked up.
"They probably thought you and Yukihira-kun would end up together and are watching your reaction." Ryoko's gaze swept across the tables in the vicinity, and she too noticed how people averted their eyes very quickly.
"What?" Megumi's voice was small. Ryoko's words sent a fresh wave of pain through her, when she was reminded of her crush. People had been thinking that?
"Well you guys have practically been attached at the hip since Yukihira transferred in." Yuki supplied helpfully. Despite the truth her words held, it didn't stop Megumi's insides from twisting painfully.
"That's not true…" Megumi protested weakly. She felt a bitter stab of betrayal, thinking about how Souma had kept quiet about his relationship.
"It just seemed like you were particularly close." Yuki argued, before adding in a hushed voice, "Poor Nikumicchi, I wonder how she is holding up." It had been quite a while ago that they discovered the blonde's feelings for their dense dorm mate. They didn't imagine she was taking it well. Despite her tough exterior, Mito Ikumi was a sensitive girl at heart and her connection to Erina would only add fuel to the fire.
"Do you think we should reach out to her?" Ryoko asked thoughtfully. Nikumi had been in love with Yukihira for so long, it was going to be awful for her and she would probably need some support.
"Maybe we should give her some space?" Yuki suggested slowly. She wanted to support their friend, but as Marui had said earlier, this was a very sensitive topic and they didn't want to pressure Nikumi. Megumi silently agreed that it would be better to wait a little, though she briefly considered sending her a message and invite her to tea.
"Let's see how it goes." Ryoko finally conceded, still frowning.
The next two days it only went downhill. The incessant whispering was getting out of hand. Megumi had caught a glimpse of Nikumi only once, and while her head was held high, Megumi didn't miss how her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy. Nikumi smiled weakly and waved to her from afar, and Megumi's heart went out to the blonde girl. She had thought about her friend for a long time after that.
The way Nikumi carried herself just after having her heart broken was oddly inspiring. Megumi had come to the conclusion that she would keep her crush on Souma a secret from the other girls at the dorm. She had been meaning to tell them at some point, but now there was simply no reason to. She loved her friends, she really did, but she also knew them very well. Yuki would no doubt scold her for not acting and missing her shot, and Ryoko would give her advice on how to move on, and more than anything Megumi wanted to avoid their pitying looks. The faster she buried these feelings, the better.
Megumi will be having a hard time for a while, so be easy on her. Until next time! (=w=)/