Hello guys!

As promised, I'm back with the epilogue before the end of summer or August, depends on how you view summer I guess. I'll keep the longer author note for the end :) Hope you'll enjoy.

Thanks to everyone who read, followed, favorited and reviewed :D

Disclaimer: I don't own SnS.

Epilogue: What if your hell became your heaven?

Christmas Eve, ten years after the 92nd generation graduation, Nakiri mansion

"Megumi!"

Despite not seeing Megumi in person for six months, there was absolutely no way that Yūki could mistake that shade of blue. Megumi's hair was a bit longer now, pulled into a low side braid, a loose strand breaking free as she turned around to greet her friend, a bright smile immediately taking over her face.

"Yūki-chan!" Megumi greeted, a little softer than Yūki but just as enthusiastic. Her orange-haired friend crossed the last meters separating them and immediately engulfed her in a bone-crushing hug.

"How have you been? I feel like I haven't seen you in, like, forever." Yūki whined as she squeezed Megumi a bit before loosening her hold and pulling away to take a good look at her friend.

Megumi smiled fondly at Yūki's antics as she took the chance to look at her as well.

Yūki's hair was getting longer and was still pulled into twin high buns so only her bangs were the indicator of its growth. Her turquoise eyes sparkled with happiness and for that, Megumi was glad. When she had learned that she wouldn't be able to graduate from Tōtsuki, Yūki had broken down and for a long time, her smile didn't reach her eyes. They had lost their spark.

But now, she seemed happy. Yūki worked in a renowned meat restaurant but still took the time to visit Fumio-san at their old dorm whenever she had some free time. Of course, they called each other regularly and tried to meet up every other month with Ryōko - who still had to show up tonight. Ryōko had called earlier to excuse herself as she had to close her Kōji and fermented food restaurant today, her employees having already left to join their family.

"We video called each other yesterday, Yūki-chan." Megumi reminded her as her smile widened slightly, causing Yūki to fully pull away and cross her arms, pouting.

"Yeah, well, it's not the same. Forgive me for missing my friend."

It was too much. Megumi couldn't keep herself from laughing at that and Yūki broke her offended act to appreciate the sight of her laughing friend. It seemed like her heartbreak twelve years ago was only a far memory now. Megumi looked so free as she laughed. The facts that it had been more than twelve years ago and that she had been happily married for five years now could have something to do with it as well.

Megumi's happiness was contagious and soon, Yūki found herself smiling. Her eyes shifted to a small bump on Megumi's stomach and suddenly, she couldn't help but laugh, happier than ever.

"When did it happen?! You didn't say anything!"

Megumi gradually stopped laughing, confusion overpowering her amusement. "Eh...?" She scrutinized her friend for a moment before noticing her gaze fixed on her belly and promptly proceeded to flush in embarrassment. "Ah..."

Megumi looked away as she composed herself before facing her friend again. "I wanted to tell you today. It's been five months now." she declared with a small happy smile.

Yūki's face softened as well in quiet happiness as she slowly approached her hand, only touching it after Megumi had nodded her agreement.

"I guess your husband must be really happy about it too." The two exchanged a secret smile before Yūki's eyes wandered over the room. "Speaking about it, where is he? I don't see him anywhere."

"Yeah, one of us had to stay and help my mother. There are a lot of customers right now and she wouldn't have been able to handle it on her own, so he volunteered. We're gonna celebrate tomorrow instead." Megumi explained.

"With your husband?"

Megumi and Yūki startled in surprise, the shock of it ripping a strangled shriek from their throats as they simultaneously turned towards the direction the voice had come from. Looking back, they shouldn't have been surprised to discover Nakiri Alice curiously peering at them from less than a meter away but at the moment, they were.

"Since when have you been standing there?" Yūki managed to say after a few deep breaths.

"Only a few minutes." Alice answered nonchalantly as if this was the most natural thing to do and the two friends exchanged a look before turning back to the white-haired heiress. The look of their faces must have been a bit weird because the next thing Alice said was, " Don't give me that look. At least I'm not like Ibusaki-kun who's been standing there the whole time without saying a word."

Yūki's and Megumi's eyes widened in shock as they both whipped their heads in the direction Alice was pointing to and discovered Shun standing just behind Yūki and shrugging in a not-my-fault-you-didn't-notice-me way. The two women startled once more before Yūki started to reprimand Shun for being so quiet.

Alice watched her go at it for a minute or two before her eyes wandered to the bluenette next to her. Megumi had a fond smile on her face as she watched her past dorm mates bicker but what caught her attention was her slightly round stomach.

"You're pregnant too?"

Megumi blinked out of her slightly dazed state before turning to face Alice once more. The white-haired vixen pointedly glanced at her belly before looking up again and it clicked.

"Ah, yes. I'm five months in now." Megumi said with a smile, just as Alice's wording caught her attention. "Wait- too?" Megumi glanced down at Alice's stomach, slightly hidden by the newborn white-haired baby girl sleeping in her arms, in surprise. "Didn't you just deliver?"

A sharp burst of laughter broke free from Alice as Megumi's word sank in. When she recovered a bit, she explained, "Not me, Crystal was born only a week ago. It's Hishoko-chan who's pregnant."

"Ah." Megumi blushed, embarrassed over her mistake before she looked around for the purple-haired woman. She had caught a glimpse of her when she entered but she couldn't see her now. She wouldn't mind catching up with her as they hadn't seen each other much besides during the graduates' reunions when they both managed to attend them. Megumi only knew that she was still working with Erina at Tōtsuki and got married five years ago as well.

Seeing her looking around, Alice spared her from more unfruitful searching. "She stepped out for a second to check on her 3-year-old son. Apparently, he refused to calm down in spite of her husband's tries."

"Oh, I see." Megumi nodded in understanding before focusing back on Alice. "By the way, why did you reunite the 92nd generation on Christmas Eve? I heard you had an announcement to make?"

"Ah?" Alice asked as her eyebrows rose towards her hairline, "Who told you that?" she added, the confusion obvious on her traits.

Megumi clearly remembered her writing that she had news to share with them on the invitation card that she had received but she wisely chose not to bring it up and continue listening to her former classmate.

"I don't really have an announcement to make. I just wanted to introduce you all to Crystal and catch up. It's been a while since our last reunion." Alice stated, letting her gaze wander over the room.

"Oh."

Megumi let her attention fall back onto the little baby girl. She already had some hair on her head, mainly white like her mother's with a single black strand gently resting on her forehead. She was so cute.

As if Crystal sensed eyes on her, she slowly opened her eyes and yawned before slowly blinking and curiously looking at the person leaning towards her. She was still safely tucked in her mother's arms so she allowed herself to observe the stranger. Then, deeming it not interesting enough to keep her eyes open, she let them fall shut and let sleep pull her away once more.

"Awww...she has red eyes too!" Megumi cooed at the baby girl.

"Well, both her parents do so it's no surprise. My son has them too. But, I'm pretty sure they took mine." Alice winked as if it was a secret and Megumi chuckled a bit.

"He's five years old now, right?" Alice nodded in confirmation as Megumi tried to find him in the ballroom but couldn't. The little boy with gray hair and black and white strands was nowhere to be seen. "Where is he, by the way?"

Alice gave a quick look around before looking back at Megumi and shrugging. "He's probably causing trouble with his cousins somewhere. Since we're in Denmark most of the year they don't see each other a lot but when they do, it's like they were never apart in the first place." Alice said with a chuckle. "Always causing trouble here and there. It's really lively when the Yukihiras come to our Tōtsuki house."

Megumi looked confused for a second before a flash of realization hit her. "Ah, yes. Sōma-kun did mention they were living somewhere else at some point."

"Yeah." Alice easily confirmed, "Apparently, neither wanted to leave their family house behind so they both did and bought a house somewhere in the middle. It was the same with their family name but Erina finally agreed to take his when Ryō said he didn't mind becoming a Nakiri. 'I don't really care about that.' he said so Erina agreed to become a Yukihira. Even if she still insists to be called Nakiri. They're always arguing about that." Alice finished with a fond shake of her head.

Megumi couldn't help but laugh at that. Somehow, she had no trouble imagining it. It brought back so many memories. Some happy ones and some bittersweet, but she could look back without feeling any pain now. The only feeling left was nostalgia and amusement. The couple was always funny to watch when they bickered.

"Speaking of the Yukihiras, where are they? I think I heard Sōma-kun at some point but I haven't see any of them for a while now." Megumi asked as she brought her pointer finger to her chin in thought.

Alice's red eyes shone with mirth as a secret smile pulled her lips up. "I think Sōma-kun is trying to catch a little bit of sunshine..." she said before her attention got captured by incoming guests and she excused herself, taking back her host obligations.

Her parting words left Megumi blinking in confusion. She was pretty sure the Sun had just disappeared behind the horizon.

So what on Earth did she mean by that?

"Himari!"

Loud giggles disrupted the serenity of the Nakiri gardens, soon followed by the sound of footsteps rapidly getting away from the origin of the voice, strawberry pink hair flowing in the wind and disappearing behind high bushes.

True to her name, the 5-year-old girl who they belonged to was a little ball of sunshine and happiness, her smile always warming her parents' heart. She was born to them in the middle of spring five years ago, and Sōma and Erina couldn't think of a better name for the baby girl who was already the light of their life.

"Come back here!" Sōma exclaimed as he chased after his little princess. His hair had grown longer and he had been wondering if he should cut it short as he had them when they were stillo enrolled at Tōtsuki. It kept getting into his eyes at less than convenient moments. Like right this instant as he tried to catch up to his little girl.

Just a few minutes ago, Himari had tried to feed some roasted shrimp and pistachio ice cream to her baby cousin. Fortunately, Erina had spotted her before she could actually reach the little Crystal who had been in her arms. In Erina's eyes, this was the habit that she could have lived without her children taking on. One Yukihira doing it was already too much. She didn't need more. (She decided to turn a blind eye to the fact that his father was doing it before him for her sanity's sake). But it looked like she had little to say in that instance.

When Sōma had seen the storm brewing inside his beautiful wife's purple eyes, he had immediately called the girl out which had led to this unplanned chase as Himari literally fled when she realized that she had been discovered. Himari knew that her father was all for her cooking adventures but she also knew for a fact that her mother was very much against them and would scold her for a long time if she caught her so the response had been almost automatic. (Feeling her mother's eyes on her may have also been a great deciding factor in her choice of action.)

Himari continued to run through the gardens, trying her best to keep her giggles in as she tried to get her father off her tail. She knew it was kind of hard to do given her previous unsuccessful tries but it wasn't impossible and she would prove it tonight, Himari thought as she went past another row of bushes. Now, she just had to reach the forest and hide. That would certainly throw him off.

Soon enough, Himari could see the end of the gardens and the first few trees that announced that her freedom was within reach. A few more meters and she would be out of harm's way.

A triumphant grin slowly stretched her lips as she was now a single step away from her goal only to be wiped off her face when she felt a strong pair of arms encircle her waist and lift her off the ground. She didn't need to look to know who they belonged to.

"Dad!" Himari whined as she struggled to get out of his hold.

"Caught you!" Sōma said, laughing as he turned on his heels and started to make his way back to the manor.

"No! Put me down!" Himari complained, pushing even harder on the arms that encaged her against his chest.

"No can do~" Sōma singsonged before suddenly losing his careless attitude. "I told you not to go inside the forest alone. What were you trying to do?" he scolded, his tone stern and not allowing discussion. Himari could recognize a lost battle when she saw one.

Hanging her head down in shame, she answered in a small voice "I'm sorry... I just wanted to hide behind a tree."

"You could have gotten lost or worse. Don't do it again."

"...yes, father."

Himari sounded so contrite that Sōma's posture softened a bit. He had to admit that scolding wasn't his favorite parental activity but he knew that it had to be done. Still, he loved to see his children happy more than sad and remorseful. He loved seeing them with a smile on their faces, especially when he was the one who put it there.

"Hey Sunshine," Sōma called, waiting for Himari's golden eyes to meet his before continuing. "Want me to tell you how I met your mother?"

Himari's face immediately lit up with a bright smile, the purple speckles floating in her eyes shining with excitement. She was always eager to hear her father narrate their story. He always added little details and his facial expressions and gestures were always so funny. She had already heard it a hundred times but she wouldn't mind hearing it a million more.

"Please!"

Sōma continued walking until he spotted a bench, proudly standing in front of a tall hedge. Smiling, he settled down on it, sitting his princess on his leg so that he could face her as he talked.

"It all started when my father suddenly decided to close the diner for 3 years. I remember that day, I had a rude customer that messed all my meat up and tried to make me close the Yukihira but I shut them up with my cooking real fast!" Sōma exclaimed with a big grin as his little princess returned it right back to him. "I was cleaning up our sign when he told me. Your grandpa was just that inconsiderate of me. Didn't even care about what I had to say." he added with a firm nod before continuing, spurred on by the giggle that he elicited from his girl.

"Then, he told me that it was time to go refine my cooking in a cooking school. I couldn't understand why and I really thought I had nothing to learn there - that is, until I arrived at Tōtsuki's entrance. There were so many people crying, begging not to be dropped out that I just had to call your grandpa and that's when he told me that it was an elite school with less than 10% of graduates."

Himari ooh-ed at that as she gripped her father's shirt, eager to hear more.

"I had to pass a transfer exam to get in but when I got there, the examinator was a girl who was studying there! I was so confused. And then, all the other candidates started to run away when they learned that she was the judge! They didn't even cook!"

Himari gasped in shock. No matter how many times she had heard that story, she just couldn't understand why a chef would just leave without even trying to cook. Her papa had always told her that a chef should always give their all in the kitchen.

"They all just left?"

"Yeah! All, except for me who clearly surprised the girl by taking her test. At first, she wanted to fail me without even tasting my dish!"

"She did?!"

"Yeah! And even when she clearly enjoyed my Transforming Furikake Gohan, she said it was disgusting and failed me."

Himari's mouth dropped open as she watched her papa with wide eyes. "Why would she do that?"

"I don't know, Sunshine, I don't know. Even now she refuses to say my dishes are delicious for some reason, always saying that hers will be even better."

Understanding flashed into Himari's golden eyes but she remained silent, hanging to Sōma's every word.

"I was starting to wonder what I was supposed to do since your grandpa had left already and closed the restaurant. And then I received an acceptance letter in my mail. First thing I thought was, why say it's bad and refuse me then accept me? But when I met that girl again at the entrance ceremony, she seemed genuinely surprised to see me..."

Himari tilted her head in confusion as she looked up at her father.

"Yeah, that part was really confusing for me too sweetheart." Sōma said with a fond smile as he bopped his daughter's adorable nose who scrunched it even more adorably in response.

A few feet away, hidden by the evening shadows, said girl was tenderly watching two of the most important people in her life animatedly conversing.

At first, Erina had planned to go up to them and scold her mischievous daughter for a bit (she really didn't want her to continue with her father's food experiments, her life had been hard enough trying to escape from one Yukihira's food disasters) but after realizing what the two were currently talking about, she had decided to stay hidden. She had no wish to be interrogated by the duo at the moment and it would only be a matter of time if they did notice her. She didn't know how long she'd be able to avoid explaining herself regarding this first decision but she was willing to test her luck and see how far it would take her.

It had nothing to do with the fact that her children's puppy eyes were still as effective as ever when it came to things like that or the fact that she felt herself wavering a bit more every time they asked - which was a lot thanks to her stupid redhead who told them the same story every time he had the opportunity. At this point, Erina was convinced that he had made embarrassing her and putting her in a tight spot a life goal. He was succeeding.

Erina released a light breath as she softly shook her head.

She should really turn the tables on him. She had plenty of stories to tell of her own. So much that she didn't know where to start - but, if she had to, she would probably start with that.

Nakiri mansion, ten years ago

"...you want to what ?"

Erina could do nothing but stare at her boyfriend of two years. She didn't realize how much she had overworked herself until this very moment (being the headmistress was certainly not a walk in the park) but she must have because there was no way that she had heard that right. It seemed like auditive hallucination was actually a thing.

"I want to go on a world round trip after graduation." Sōma repeated from his seat on Erina's office couch, his golden eyes fixed on her and his tone, nothing but serious.

He wasn't kidding.

If his goal was to catch Erina's attention, he had succeeded.

She had been swamped with paperwork and preparations for their graduation ceremony that would take place in three weeks. There were still many things to plan amongst all the other things that required her attention. The Elite Ten had their hands full as well and Erina had never been more thankful to have Hisako by her side. Her friend and secretary still assisted her perfectly even with her Elite Ten duties on top of her usual load.

But despite it all, Erina still barely had time for herself, much less for Sōma. They hadn't been able to spend much time together except if you counted texts, lunch breaks, classes and when Sōma occasionally offered to keep her company while she was working in the evening like he was now. She didn't always allow him to be there when she worked because, well, Sōma was a distraction, but she was missing him too much - even if there was no way she was admitting that out loud.

Erina loved having him around and for once, she was only minimally distracted by him, still keeping an ear out in case he had something to say like now, when her boyfriend had found it appropriate to drop the news on her.

"What? And you're just telling me now?"

Erina could feel her temper slowly rising but it immediately deflated once she realized the implications. How long would it take? How much time was he planning to spend away from Japan?

Away from her?

"Well, we've been pretty busy lately, you especially, and I never really had the chance to tell you." Sōma explained, his right hand coming up to rub his neck in discomfort. Maybe waiting hadn't been such a good idea.

"A chance?! We're texting often enough! And we eat together every time we get the chance!" Erina stood up, slamming her hands on top of her desk in the same movement before continuing, uncaring of the papers currently flying around. "You've probably been thinking about it for some time now, haven't you?!"

Sōma flinched, averting his eyes for a second before letting them fall back on the heiress. The truth was that he could've evoked the idea at multiple occasions but he didn't. This wasn't the type of news one announced over text so he had wanted to talk with her face to face. Unfortunately, during most of their meetings, he just wasn't thinking about it, and the rest of the time, he just happened to think about it when Erina was busy with something else so she would tell him to wait until she was a bit less busy - except she never was. Actually, she only got busier.

He didn't dare look her in the eye, not too keen on seeing her expression when he would answer, because he couldn't push it back anymore and this, this wasn't going to be pretty.

"I first thought about it after our first stagiaire period." Sōma simply admitted, lifting his eyes up to meet hers.

He was expecting to see a lot of emotions in her eyes, they argued often enough for him to know that she was probably going to blow up at him within the next few seconds so he braced himself, prepared to take it all before the storm calmed itself and they could talk about it properly.

Except it never came.

In fact, they seemed to gradually extinguish themselves as their owner processed his words. When her lips finally parted, only two quiet words fell from them.

"...I see."

Then, under the dumbfounded gaze of the redhead, she simply proceeded to reassemble her fallen papers and take her seat back at her wooden desk. The blonde lifelessly rearranged her files to get back to work, picking her pen up from where it had rolled next to the shīsa proudly standing in the corner.

"You can leave."

It was Sōma's turn to be taken aback.

"...what?"

"You heard me." Erina retorted, not even sparing him a glance as she started to go through her report.

Sōma was rendered speechless, unmoving from his spot even if she clearly wanted him gone. He couldn't just leave like that, he had brought it up because he wanted them to talk about it, not ignore it.

"Aren't we gonna talk about this?"

"What is there to talk about? You clearly decided everything already." Erina riposted, barely slowing down her work.

Sōma's eyes widened as dread settled in the pit of his stomach. He had a bad feeling about this.

"I didn't. I have some ideas but nothing's set in stone yet. I wanted to talk to you first."

That made Erina lift her head up and level the redhead with a cold stare. She clearly wouldn't be hearing any of it at the moment.

"You had two years for that! Two years, Yukihira-kun! You had your chance, now leave."

Yukihira-kun.

She never called him that anymore. She had said it was too impersonal when he had asked her about it one day.

He had seriously messed up this time.

"I can't."

"What ?" Erina's voice was obnoxious and Sōma knew he wouldn't have a chance to talk with her any time soon if he did cross the threshold." I'm telling you to leave!"

"And I'm saying I can't!"

"I don't care! Leave!"

"I do! I can't leave like that!" Erina's eye twitched in obvious irritation as her face slowly flushed, her eyebrows furrowed and her mouth pulled into a deep scowl.

"You clearly didn't have a problem with leaving before! So get out!"

Sōma had a feeling she wasn't talking about the trip anymore.

"I won't."

"Why?!" At this point, Erina had risen from her seat once more, her eyes the storm of emotions that Sōma had expected to see in the first place, anger and frustration battling to stay afloat and not give way to the hurt that was threatening to drown them.

"Because I love you!" Sōma finally exclaimed, closing the distance between them as Erina froze in her tracks, her eyes filling with unshed tears. "I love you." Sōma repeated more calmly, "And I don't want to lose you."

A lone tear escaped from Erina's eye and she furiously brushed it away before taking a small step away from her desk, increasing the distance with the redhead once again.

"It doesn't seem that way when you decided to go on that trip all alone."

Sōma sighed as he searched for words that wouldn't worsen the situation.

"To fully explore different types of cuisine and further improve my own cooking, I need to go and visit those countries myself. I learned a lot through my years at Tōtsuki but the world is vast and there is so much left to discover." Sōma explained, searching Erina's eyes as he talked. "If I don't go, I'm just going to end up regretting it for the rest of my life. I don't want that."

Erina had to admit that he did mention wanting to explore other countries' cooking a bit more in depth. She just never thought it would have been on a trip around the world or so soon. They barely had the time to talk and just be together these days. It would be even worse if he wasn't in Japan anymore. And Erina wasn't sure how to deal with that.

Sōma seemed to have seen where her thoughts were going because he quickly sidestepped the desk and invaded the bubble she had created to protect herself.

Gently cupping her face, he forced her to look at him as he spoke. "I probably won't be able to contact you as much for some time but I'll do it every time I get the chance. I'll send you postcards at every stop too. So much that you'll be sick of it. And when I'll come back, I'll use all of my new knowledge to make you a dish that you'll be forced to admit is delicious." Sōma finished with a small grin.

Erina snorted softly at that. "You wish. My dishes will always be better." she whispered, sniffing a bit as her lips formed a small pout.

Sōma couldn't help but smile at the sight of it. More than two years had passed since they had officially gotten together but he was still as affected as ever by her adorableness. With the added bonus that he could kiss her pout away every time he wanted to now, which he did without hesitation.

The kiss was sweet, conveying all the emotions he couldn't voice directly to her lips and Erina melted against him. Her hands slowly came up to grip his shirt, bringing him that much closer as she lost herself in the kiss for a moment, putting all her worries behind for a few seconds - or hours because who was counting. It could have lasted a small eternity for all she cared.

When Sōma finally pulled away and opened his eyes, he noticed Erina still had hers closed (as always after a kiss) and smiled lovingly. Some things never changed. After admiring his princess and the way her eyelashes kissed her cheekbones for a few more seconds, he gently pecked her lips, luring her into opening her eyes - which she unhurriedly did, a dazed look swimming into those purple pools he often lost himself in.

"I would have taken you with me if I could, but you're the headmistress. They need you here." Sōma quietly explained before planting a kiss on her forehead and tucking her hair behind her ear. Golden clashed with purple once again as he continued talking, as softly as he had before. "Maybe we'll be able to meet abroad sometimes. And I'll try to come back whenever I can."

Erina didn't say anything, simply looking at him with her big, beautiful eyes before giving a shy nod, fisting his shirt a bit more to keep him close in case he decided to back away without her consent.

"Want to help me plan my trip later? We can do it together." Sōma proposed as his lips curled into a small hopeful smile. Erina gave a firmer nod in response this time and Sōma tenderly rested his forehead against hers.

"I have no plans of abandoning you so you're going to have to deal with me for a very long time." Sōma affirmed with a grin and Erina couldn't help but let out a wet chuckle at that.

That, she would be more than happy to deal with.

Nakiri gardens, present time

...maybe she would leave out their intimate moments out of her story.

The point was that her children would surely have plenty of questions for their father after this particular story. Erina could already hear them and she was curious to see how he would come out of this one.

After that day, they had indeed planned his trip together - if determining his general direction and where he would start could be called that. Though Erina had told him about the places he couldn't bypass as well.

That said, she still hadn't had any idea regarding how long it would actually take. Without her noticing, almost two years had passed already. Erina had tried to drown herself in her work to soften the pain that his absence was causing her but it hadn't really worked. Still, time seemed to pass faster that way. And then, on her birthday, where she had been rereading the postcards he had sent (always finishing with a 'Can't wait to make you try it!') and wishing he was next to her, Sōma had suddenly popped up out of nowhere. "I wanted to surprise you." he had said after nearly giving her a heart attack but she retaliated by caging him in a bone-crushing hug. There was no way either of them would ever forget that day.

Erina couldn't contain the smile that lit up her face as the memories slowly flowed into her mind. She had been so happy that day that she had believed that she would never feel that happy again. Until Sōma proposed 6 months later.

After that, her life had been a succession of happy moments, their wedding a year after his proposal, the birth of their daughter on that fateful spring day, the first time they held her into their arms, the birth of her son two years after, cooking for (and with them when she was in a good mood), and love, so much love.

At night, when she was snuggled against her husband's firm chest, her head just above his heart, she sometimes wondered how her life would have turned out if Sōma had never been accepted in Tōtsuki. She wanted to believe that they would have found their way to one another somehow but she knew it wouldn't have been the same. She couldn't believe she almost let him go like that. She was so happy right now, his heartbeat steady and comforting.

Sometimes, she would think about her father and how he had educated her. She remembered those days filled with darkness where she was praying to be saved but no one ever came for her. She wanted to tell her younger self not to lose hope. That there would be better days ahead. That her someone would come. And that he'd give her the strength she needed to free herself, even if he probably didn't realize how much his very existence had helped her.

"Why are you crying, Mommy?"

Erina startled out of her thoughts with a jump at the voice that suddenly disrupted her reminiscing.

Looking down, she discovered big amethyst eyes staring right at her - only different from hers because of the golden speckles they housed - worry bleeding out of them. Erina melted at the sight of her 3-year-old son, running her hand into his reddish blonde hair in a gesture that wanted to be comforting.

"I'm not crying, sweetheart."

Hiroto frowned up at her, having obvious trouble in believing her.

"Then why are your cheeks wet?"

Surprised, Erina lifted her right hand to her cheek and indeed, her fingertips came out wet. She was crying and she hadn't even realized.

Scooping up her little boy into her arms, she let him rub the tears away as she watched him fondly. Hiroto was frowning in concentration as he gently wiped the tears away. When he was satisfied with his work, he smiled proudly, looking up into his mother's eyes with a grin as he spoke.

"There. No tear."

"No tear." Erina agreed before placing a loving kiss on his forehead.

"Are we interrupting something?"

Erina startled for the second time that night.

There weren't many people who crept on her like that so she really shouldn't have been surprised when she discovered incredibly familiar golden eyes curiously peering at her, amusement clear in their owner's voice. Erina scoffed at him in mock offense.

"I should be the one asking that. Weren't you busy over there?"

Her eyes widened as the words exited her mouth and she turned alarmed eyes towards her husband, hoping against all probability that he hadn't caught on her mistake.

"Oh?" Sōma asked, his eyes full of mischief. "How long have you been standing here, princess?"

And there went her hopes.

"What? I-" Erina tried to make up some kind of explanation, looking anywhere but at the redhead currently smirking at her.

"Ten minutes? I was watching Mom."

The small innocent voice of her son rose from her arms, and Erina immediately looked down at him, betrayal painted all over her face. Hiroto's purple eyes stared back at her in complete innocence, not understanding why she was looking at him with that look and Erina could only sigh in resignation.

"Really now?" Sōma asked teasingly as he ruffled his son's hair.

Hiroto happily giggled as he tried to bat his father's hand away from his hair. Even if she had been betrayed by her own son, Erina's heart couldn't help but melt at the scene and she internally cursed at that. Her son was just too cute.

"Were you eavesdropping on us, Erina?"

And her cute son just sold her out to her mercilessly teasing husband. Why did it always end up like that?

"I- I wasn't! I was just...passing by." Erina said with a small nod in a definitely unconvincing voice.

"And you stopped there for ten minutes because...?" Sōma trailed off as he raised his eyebrows at her, daring her to say something back.

"That was- because-" Erina had trouble thinking straight with how close the redhead currently was and the rapidly decreasing distance between their faces wasn't helping at all.

Her mind blanked out and Erina knew she had no way out of this one.

She was trying to find a way to distract him from it when she felt her son start to wriggle and push at her arms, evidently wanting to be let down. When she looked between them, she noticed that Himari was pretty much doing the same. While the distance had decreased between their parents, it had almost come to nothing between their two children and they were less than happy about that.

"Let me go!" "Put me down!"

Himari and Hiroto were both pleading to be released from Sōma's and Erina's hold respectively, thrashing around to loosen it and slip away from them. Taking pity on them, they let them down and watched (in amusement for Sōma) as they immediately took several steps back from them.

"Why would you do that with us between you?" Himari asked, clearly displeased by the whole situation. The look on her face was so disgusted and indignant that Sōma felt the urge to laugh, doing his best to repress it.

"Sorry, Sunshine." he said, not looking - or sounding - sorry at all and Himari only scowled at him in response which caused him to completely lose control as laughter broke free from his throat. Scoffing at him one last time, Himari turned away and took her brother's hand in hers.

"Come on, Hiroto. Let's go back inside and see our new cousin." They had barely taken a step in the mansion's direction that Himari stopped in her tracks, looking over her shoulder at a spot behind them and exclaiming "You too, Shōta! Let's go see your sister!" surprising the couple who could only watch as their nephew emerged from the shadows and joined his cousins before they all resumed walking away.

A beat of silence passed before Erina spoke up. "Shouldn't we go after them?"

Sōma only grinned at her and pulled her close, trapping her in a warm embrace. Erina felt her face heat up at the sudden proximity, unable to get used to it even after all those years.

"Cute." Sōma murmured, softly kissing her pink cheeks. "Can't believe you still blush around me after all those years."

Erina's blush only deepened at his words, her lips forming a slight pout.

"Shut up."

Sōma laughed at that and leaned in to gently peck her pouting lips. Erina chased his lips a bit when he pulled away but Sōma only chuckled at the adorable sight. She obviously wanted a proper kiss but he wouldn't give in so easily. He loved kissing her just as much as he loved seeing her pout at him in mock annoyance - like she was now.

Gripping his shirt a bit tighter, Erina started to forcibly pull him down to get her kiss herself since he was playing hard-to-get when she heard a ruffling sound. Reluctantly pulling away, Erina turned toward the direction it had seemed to originate from.

Seeing his wife stare at a small hedge, Sōma curiously looked at it as well. They waited for a few moments and sure enough, it moved again.

Completely pulling away from her husband's embrace, Erina slowly approached it, careful not to make any noise as she kept her ears open for any type of sound.

A step away from it, she heard the hushed voice of her daughter rising from behind the bushes.

"See? I told you, they're being gross." Erina's brows furrowed in irritation.

"...who is?"

"My parents, of course." Himari replied easily before freezing.

This wasn't her cousin's voice.

Slowly looking upwards, she discovered the seething face of her mother.

"Retreat!" Himari screeched before running away without looking back, her brother and cousin not far behind her.

"You little-! Come back here!" Erina yelled before giving chase, fully intending to give the three of them a piece of her mind.

Lurking in the shadows not too far away from the scene, Alice glanced at her husband, quietly standing by her side.

"You should probably help her out, Ryō-kun. She won't be able to catch them all by herself."

"Yeah." Ryō agreed with a nod, looking down at his sleeping daughter and caressing her hair before adding a calm "I'll be right back."

Alice watched him walk for a few seconds before her gaze fell back on her sleeping little snowflake. "You're going to grow up in a really lively family, you know." she whispered, doing her best not to wake her up.

When she will be older, Alice will happily tell her about all the things she did when was younger, how she left for Denmark, how she learned molecular cuisine, and so much more - without forgetting how she brought her uncle and aunt together. She was sure Crystal would enjoy it as much as she did. She would probably press her for details that she would excitedly give and Erina would probably try to keep her from doing it because 'What are you telling your child, Alice! That's embarrassing.' but she would do it without her around anyway. Her grandfather would probably help too, seeing as he loved spending time with his great-grandchildren.

Hearing the sound of cries and happy laughter in the air, Alice couldn't help but smile.

Yeah, she couldn't wait for that time to come.

End

Hope you enjoyed this snippet into their future ;)

Answer to guest review:

The reviewer: Really? I am really super happy to know you enjoy it so much x) (and sorry that it took so many years to finish it… ^^') Thank you for reading it and taking the time to share your thoughts with me x) (Same… Hope to see it in the manga epilogue…)

Thanks to the registered reviewers as well, Silvode, Albertrojas, Celestia's Paladin, HP-DG-SB-NR-RG-PN, acpeters, TheseusLivee, MrAwesome8, NPwall, Manny Siliezar, JuniorL Cloud, TheVampireStrahd, LeoneKun, Bartlebysama, nagitochris, sarara1 8, Generation Zero, Dragonqueen1993, woofy, Eramis8, CALARMADO ANIKI, silentworld94, Meazm, and Zancrow (who you kinda have to thank for me finishing this now x) ) :D

I honestly can't believe this is over. I've been through ups and downs while writing this and it really was a hell of a ride.

I want to thank every single one of you who decided to give this story a chance, to accompany me on this journey and encouraged me with your words (without realizing maybe), even more for those who stayed with me since the start of it all. It has been a great learning experience as this was only my second fanfic and I can't thank all of you enough. Thanks for being so great and so patient with me. I love you!

And be careful of misunderstandings.