Erina Nakiri prided herself on her composure. She had tasted the world's finest delicacies, judged the most ambitious chefs, and never once faltered.
But as she sat at her desk that evening, the memory of Kaoru Yukishima's ramen haunted her senses. The aroma, sharp, blue, and almost animal, lingered in her mind, refusing to be banished by logic or pride.
She scowled at the stack of paperwork before her, but the words blurred. Instead, she saw the way Kaoru had stood in the kitchen, cold and unyielding, daring anyone to taste his creation.
She remembered Soma's reckless grin as he volunteered, the way the class had held its breath. Most of all, she remembered the look in Kaoru's eyes: not arrogance, but a kind of challenge, as if he were searching for someone who could truly understand him.
"Ridiculous," she muttered, pushing her chair back. "It was just a bowl of ramen."
But it wasn't. Not to her God Tongue. The first taste had been a shock, so pungent and foreign that her body had recoiled. She'd nearly gagged, a humiliation she would never admit aloud.
Yet, as the aftertaste bloomed, citrus, umami, a lingering warmth, she'd found herself wanting more. It was as if the dish had stripped away her defenses, leaving her raw and exposed.
She tried to distract herself with her work, but every time she closed her eyes, she was back in that kitchen. The memory of the taste was vivid, almost physical.
She could feel the sting of ammonia in her nose, the salt on her tongue, the way the flavors shifted and changed, refusing to be pinned down. It was infuriating. It was intoxicating.
The next morning, Erina arrived at the kitchen early, determined to reclaim her authority.
She found Kaoru already there, meticulously arranging ingredients on a steel countertop.
He didn't look up as she entered, but she felt the air shift, charged with unspoken tension.
"Yukishima," she said, her voice crisp. "I'd like to challenge you to a mock Shokugeki. Here and now."
He paused, then turned to face her. His eyes were unreadable, but there was a flicker of interest. "On what terms?"
"One dish. No time limit. The goal is simple: impress me." She lifted her chin, daring him to refuse.
Kaoru considered her for a long moment, then nodded. "Very well. But I warn you, my food is not made for approval."
They worked in silence, the only sounds the rhythmic chop of knives and the hiss of burners. Erina selected the finest ingredients, her movements precise and elegant. Kaoru's approach was different.
He handled each item with reverence, coaxing out hidden flavors with salt, mold, and time. The kitchen filled with a strange harmony, two worlds colliding in the language of food.
As she worked, Erina stole glances at Kaoru. His focus was absolute, his hands steady and sure.
There was a kind of artistry in the way he moved, a confidence that bordered on arrogance, yet never tipped over.
She wondered what it would be like to cook with him, not as rivals, but as equals.
When the dishes were ready, they faced each other across the counter. Erina presented a delicate consommé, clear as crystal, infused with rare herbs and a hint of yuzu.
Kaoru's offering was a small, unassuming plate: a sliver of fermented shark, topped with yuzu foam and a dusting of black garlic powder.
Erina tasted her own dish first, savoring the balance and clarity. Then, with a steady hand, she lifted Kaoru's creation to her lips.
The initial flavor was an assault. Ammonia, salt, a deep, primal funk that made her eyes water. Her throat tightened, and for a moment, she thought she might be sick.
But then the yuzu foam burst on her tongue, bright and cleansing, followed by the earthy sweetness of black garlic.
The flavors layered and shifted, each more complex than the last. She felt as if she were being pulled apart and put back together, her senses overwhelmed and then soothed.
She set the fork down, her hands trembling. The room was silent.
Kaoru watched her, his expression unreadable. "Well?"
Erina swallowed, her cheeks flushed. "It was almost unbearable. But I can't stop thinking about it. I want to taste it again."
A slow, satisfied smile touched Kaoru's lips. "That is the truth of food."
For the first time in years, Erina felt the thrill of obsession. She wanted to understand this boy, to unravel the secrets behind his food, and perhaps, behind his heart.
As she left the kitchen, her mind raced with possibilities. She had come to break him, to prove her superiority. Instead, she found herself craving more.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Erina found herself distracted during lectures, her thoughts drifting back to the kitchen.
She replayed every moment, every flavor, searching for meaning. She wondered if Kaoru felt the same pull, the same need to push boundaries and defy expectations.
That evening, she wandered the campus, lost in thought. The cherry blossoms were falling, painting the ground in shades of pink and white.
She paused beneath a tree, letting the petals drift around her. For the first time, she felt uncertain, vulnerable. But she also felt alive.
Kaoru Yukishima was no ordinary rival. He was a force that demanded to be tasted, again and again, and Erina knew, deep in her bones, that this was only the beginning of their story.
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Please gimme your power stones tehee.
Leave some reviews to let me know what went wrong in the writings and I'll try to fix it when I have time, or you can comment it down below.
P.S English is not my first language, it should be the third or fourth if I remember my languages correctly. xD