Hearts in Twos

Chapps 7: End of Hell

****

A small bundle of energy with unruly red hair came bursting through the doors of the kitchen

"What took you so long?" Little Erina pursed her lips together in annoyance

"Sorry! But we had an event at school that I couldn't skip out on."

The mention of school instantly doused her annoyance away

"Oh, about what exactly?" Her voice laced with curiosity with a tinge of a disheartened tone

Soma thought none of it and replied enthusiastically, rumbling on and on about how his sports-themed day went

The thought of going to school made her feel envious of the boy infront of her. It was a mystery to her why her grandfather didn't allow her to leave the house

"What's like going to school?" She asked

"It can be boring, ya know. And it's not like we always have something fun to do in class."

If what he said is accurate enough then maybe it's not worth it

"But there are people that can make my day better though." He continued

'I changed my mind.'

He turned to her with the biggest smile she have seen so far, "And by the end of the day, I have you."

Erina looked at him with wide eyes and suddenly felt her cheeks to warm up, "Don't just say stuff like that, Soma-kun!"

"What's wrong with what I said?" Soma tilted his head to the side

The face he is making made her annoyed for some reasons and could only stare at him dumbfounded

"It's true right? I may not be here all the time but you do have me and I have you as my friend."

A sudden curve of her lips and her body felt lighter from his mere words alone that made her realize how much he means to her

****

After hours of trying to come up with the right recipe to use in the morning, Soma finally settled on an egg dish

The Polar Star dorm members were divided into two. Half going to the Banquet hall A, the rest on letter B; where their next task will be held at. Each immediately going to their stations to prepare mentally and the things needed

Soma went to his assigned station shared with a random male student that he didn't know the name of, who immediately scoffed at his appearance. Silently criticizing him for his chosen dish that he thought was bound to fail

As Soma was minding his own business unlike some of them, a voice from the intercoms echoed throughout the hall

"I expect each of you have prepared and are ready. So now I will be explaining the conditions for this task." Dojima Gin says while watching everyone in a secluded room with multiple monitors along with other Tōtsuki alumni

Then a horde of supposedly the hotel's own staff that provides the ingredients they use for the resort and their families, as well as the hotel's guests all came in

It surprised the students greatly as they were introduced as the judges

"Your dish must be worthy of acknowledgement from the judges and must have a total of 200 servings until the allotted time of 2 hours. Those who meets the criteria will pass!"

Soma started prepping for the ingredients and getting ready for the show he planned

Things were going smoothly as he immediately attracted people, enticed by his live cooking