Kaoru Yukishima stood at the edge of the Polar Star kitchen, arms crossed, watching Soma with a mixture of irritation and reluctant admiration.
The terms of their last Shokugeki had left him in an unfamiliar position: assistant to his rival.
For a week, he was to follow Soma's lead, help with prep, and, most humiliating of all, attempt a category he had always avoided, sweets.
Soma, of course, was delighted. He tossed Kaoru a clean apron and grinned. "Ready to get your hands sticky? Today's lesson: honey and heat."
Kaoru scowled but tied the apron around his waist. "I don't see the point. Fermentation is about depth, not sugar."
Megumi, already at the counter, offered a gentle smile. "But sweets can have depth too. You just have to find it."
Soma set out jars of honey, fresh fruit, and a tray of eggs. "We're making a honey soufflé. It's all about balance. Too much heat, and it collapses. Too little, and it never rises."
Kaoru watched Soma work, noting the confidence in his movements. He tried to mimic the technique, but his hands were stiff, his mind racing with doubts.
The kitchen felt too bright, too open, nothing like the controlled darkness of his fermentation chamber.
Erina arrived, her presence commanding as always. She leaned against the counter, arms folded, eyes fixed on Kaoru. "Having trouble?"
Kaoru bristled. "I don't fail."
Soma laughed. "Everyone fails at soufflé the first time. That's the point."
The morning passed in a blur of activity. Kaoru struggled with the delicate process, his first attempt collapsing in the oven.
Megumi offered quiet encouragement, showing him how to fold the egg whites gently, how to judge the right moment to add the honey.
Soma teased him, but there was no malice in it—only the easy camaraderie of rivals who had come to respect each other.
As the day wore on, Kaoru began to relax. He found himself laughing at Soma's jokes, accepting Megumi's help without protest. The kitchen, once a place of tension, became a space of learning and growth.
Their final soufflés emerged golden and trembling, the scent of honey filling the air. Kaoru tasted his creation, surprised by the complexity of flavor.
The sweetness was tempered by a hint of bitterness, the texture light but satisfying. For the first time, he understood the appeal of sweets.
Erina tasted his soufflé, her expression unreadable. "Not bad. You're learning."
Kaoru met her gaze, a spark of challenge in his eyes. "I learn quickly."
That evening, as they cleaned up, Kaoru found himself standing close to Soma, their shoulders brushing.
The accidental contact sent a jolt through him, unexpected and confusing. He glanced at Soma, who only grinned, unbothered by the closeness.
Megumi watched them, a knowing smile on her lips. She saw the way Kaoru's guard had dropped, the way he allowed himself to be vulnerable, if only for a moment.
As the week went on, Kaoru's confidence grew. He experimented with new flavors, blending fermentation and sweetness in ways he had never imagined.
The kitchen became a place of discovery, of laughter and shared triumphs.
By the end of the week, Kaoru was no longer just an assistant. He was a part of the team, his walls lowered, his heart open to the possibilities of friendship and something more.
On the last day of his assistantship, Soma handed Kaoru a small jar of honey, a grin on his face. "A souvenir. For your next experiment."
Kaoru accepted it, feeling a warmth in his chest he hadn't expected. "Thanks. Maybe I'll surprise you."
That night, the dorm was filled with the scent of baking. Kaoru worked quietly, testing new recipes, blending the lessons he'd learned with his own style.
Megumi stopped by, offering a taste and a word of encouragement. Even Erina appeared, sampling a honeyed miso tart and nodding in approval.
As Kaoru watched his friends enjoy the food, he realized how much he had changed.
The kitchen was no longer a battlefield, but a place of connection, of growth. He was still learning, still pushing boundaries, but he was no longer alone.
He looked at Soma, at Megumi, at Erina, and felt a sense of belonging. Whatever came next, he was ready to face it, surrounded by friends, fueled by the sweet taste of possibility.
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Please gimme your power stones tehee.
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