Food Feelings

Chapter 3

Once you plate your dish, you get out of your cooking zone and see Soma is giving his bowl of food to Erina. You walk over so you can see Erina's reaction to the food. When Soma pours the cubes and eggs onto the rice, it transforms Erina's eyes widen. She smells the food and blushes because of the flavour. Erina goes for her first bite except she forgot to judge it so she goes for a second bite but Soma interrupts with a smirk on his face, "You'll give it a second bite? I think you said you'll give it just one." At this, a blush of embarrassment covers Erina's face and you giggle a bit.

"Do you have any complaints!?" Erina shouts.

"I was kidding, take your time eating," Soma says with a smile on his face. You look at his dish, it really does look good. Erina goes for the second bite and then she and Soma talk about the ingredients. 'This ... isn't like any of the dishes I've ever eaten. A world of tastes not even I knew!' Erina thinks. "How is it! Aren't you glad you didn't leave before eating it?" Soma says to Erina.

"Si-Silence! I'm still judging...!" Erina says to Soma then she speaks to herself, " Even this commonplace menu transforms into a gem with creative originality!" 'This is Yukihira's cooking!' Erina thinks, 'The highest authority on food, Totsuki Academy ... the sanctuary of first-class chefs. I, who lives in the heaven of gourmet food, can't accept it! The food that this plebeian representative-like man made... I can't accept... This taste is as if I was being caressed by angels' wings and wanting them to go away... even though I don't want to accept it... my tongue is, my body is reacting!' Erina's legs felt weak so she holds onto the table to keep her balance.

"Now, how was it?" Soma smirks asking Erina "Yukihira style's Furikake Gohan, was it good, was it bad, tell me!"

"It was bad!" Erina shouted, at this both you and Soma were confused and shocked. You think with a frown on your face 'It looked so good, there's no way it was bad. I've had Soma's cooking two weeks ago, he for sure should have passed. This isn't fair Erina...'. You shiver a bit feeling as if someone was watching, you look around but can't see anyone 'Must be my imagination'.

"Erina, can I try a bite of Soma's dish?" You ask wanting to see if it was fair judgement or if you would have to intervene somewhere regarding Soma's admittance. Erina's confused at this 'Why is she saying his first name and why does she want to try some plebians food?' she thought. Erina hesitantly nods giving you the go-ahead, you try a bite and instantly feel as if you were in heaven with angel wings tickling you 'Mmm~ it tastes so good' you close your eyes savouring the flavour while a blush appears on your face. 'Just as suspected, unfair judgement. I won't speak out here because that would risk Soma knowing my position on the Council. Instead, I'll go to Senzaemon and talk with him about it afterwards'. You decide to keep the exam going and you give Erina and Hisako your dish, "Here you go, enjoy!" You say with a closed-eye smile.

Erina and Hisako take a bite of your dish and sigh in delight at the flavour. They feel as if after each bite they finish is a sad goodbye and they keep on eating the dish not wanting those flavours to leave. Not too long after they started eating they finish and that final goodbye from the flavour happens. Erina is blushing and a lone tear falls down her cheek, "I never can get used to your cooking... very few can satisfy my palate and you (Y/n) certainly can," Erina says sadly, she continues quieter so no one hears here "if it means that you had to experience those things I wish you didn't satisfy my palate" looking down knowing your cooking ability and that you would have experienced something similar that made you be able to put these emotions into your dish. Soma is confused at Erina's reaction wondering what was happening. "(Y/n) (L/n), you have passed. Soma Yukihira, you have failed" Erina says then walks out of the room and Hisako follows.

Not wanting Soma's feeling to be hurt after Erina's harsh judgement you say, "By the way Soma, that dish was really good. I think she judged wrongly." Soma smiles weakly because of this.