He needed to go. Moping around would do nothing , wouldn't solve anything. Had he really forgotten that ? The words he lived his life by , the method in which he constantly dealt with the failure against his dad and others but still managed to soar , become better, how did his way  of stubbornly conquering anything that blocked his path become so easily disregarded ?
"Damn Takumi" The boy started before getting up.
"You really do a number on me " He chuckled , raking rough fingers through his fiery , red ,hair. Souma's confidence flowed into him and he felt it rapidly coursing through his veins.
"I'm done with running. " He announced, taking a deep breath as he got up , making his way to the polar star, he knew what had to be done.

But..

First Souma needed to face against the first seat , and win. Cracking his knuckles , he began making any nessecary preparations and mentally went over his dish again . He could do this if he just thought it through logically.What was needed ? How could he create the freshest taste ?  Where could he find the ingredients ? What was in season ?

In no time the hour was upon him , making his way to the stadium he could already hear the roars of the ravenous crowd waiting to be fed a sweet victor and a bitter defeat , it was now or never.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He lost. The scores were unanimous.

Tsukasa Eishi- 3

Yuikihira Souma - 0

Souma looked up at the proud chef.
"I guess I'm joining Central then" He said seemingly carefree . Internally hoping that this was a dream and would immediately dissipate but no, everything remained as the first seat looked at Souma with his trademark bewildered look. He raised his hand slowly , silencing the ravenous crowd , as the corners of his lips dipped into a unsure frown.

"Actually , No " he countered.

"In all truth it was my intention to have you as a sous-chef , however due to your reckless style of cooking I feel that you'll only deter me more, Sorry but I don't need you" He appended beginning to walk away but before he left the centre stage he announced

"This Shokugeki is to be disregarded , any student who dares bring it up will face immediate expulsion , I am the first seat and a prominent member of Central so don't think I won't , any news paper or gossip that spreads through campus WILL be traced and terminated at the source. Do not test me!"

A chilling silence enveloped the arena as the white haired boy left . A bewildered and slightly relived Souma in the middle of it all . What seemed like hours later , but was only 2 minutes ,people began lazily shuffling out of the stadium trying to distract each other from what just happened with useless chit chats of weekend plans , outings and the coolest parties. When everyone left , the stage lights dimmed and the scoreboard turned off leaving Souma in the dark, alone . The comforting silence brought the boy back to earth as Souma solemnly left the hall. Right now all he wanted was to be alone , he didn't want the sympathies of his dorm members nor did he feel like listening to the jeers of the senpais' . He needed somewhere familiar and isolated. Remembering a place he often returned to in times of defeat to recall good memories,  Souma started his trek , however promptly after leaving the hall he made eye-contact with Megumi outside . She was behind the polar star members and was idly talking to them. They were all probably waiting for Souma . Megumi , upon seeing him and his melancholy state , shot him a understanding and caring smile as she pushed all the dorm members home , glad that Megumi didn't reveal him, the Japanese continued his voyage.

Ducking protruding branches , meandering through trees , jumping over bushes , using his memory, he eventually reached his destination. The waves lazily rolled onto the shore as it wasn't too late , probably around 7 , the luminous sky was loosing it's colour and becoming darker on the warm summer day and by 8 it would probably be a light black . Souma moved closer to the waves and sat down on the soft sands taking off his shoes and placing them next to him, neatly . His bottom on the sand and his legs stretched out towards the horizon with his torso in a straight 90 degrees angle . The feel of the grainy sand between his toes was bliss and relaxing, creating a perfect environment for what he wanted , for what he needed . Right now , in this moment , he needed to thi. How did he go wrong ? Where did he fail ? Was it the dish ? The spices ? The assembly ? The texture ? The presentation? Being alone allowed his busy mind to settle and try to make sense of things around him. Time ticked on and the sun slowly began it's descend. Bright beautiful yellows willingly dominated by red and pinks that dragged the dark blue of the night sky with them. A gust of wind blew over the boy as he contently closed his eyes. He couldn't stay too long , he knew he had to go back. But just for a little while longer , just a bit more , he wanted to savour the feeling , drink up the serenity like it was the world's smoothest smoothie or the creamiest , milkiest milkshake.

Crack!

Someone was here. The sound of a cracking branch was enough to reveal that.

Souma knew who. It was obvious . Painfully so.

He'd never told anyone that this place meant so much to him. However despite not telling , a certain boy had already noticed . This cerulean-eyed boy was always looking at Souma ,studying him , provoking him , teasing him and he could read Souma like a cookbook. As well as knowing almost everything about the older boy. When confronted the adored tsundere would stutter but manage to whisper " It's useful to know your rival ." and then Souma would tease him and he'd be blushing madly. 
Souma smiled at the fond memories almost being swept away before he was reminded that the person was behind him. Standing only a few meters away.They stayed there is hushed silence for a while , before Souma could take it no more . Inhaling he forced out a raspy greeting.
"Hi"
His mind cursed at his voice's bitter betrayal and inability to hide anything from his (ex) significant other.
The boy moved , coming closer to Yukihira and settled down infront of him, strong , determined , blue orbs staring directly into golden spheres. His back to the sea and just like the Japanese chef , his shoes carefully tucked to the side.
"Hello Yukihira" Takumi called , staring with unwavering eyes straight into Souma's own . The two stayed there. Neither made a move to say anything or do anything , relapsing into the same silence that cursed them only a minute before . Until it was once again shortly broken, but this time by the 'gentleman'. "You lost , Yukihira " Takumi stated . It was short . A word count of only three but Takumi's tone was professional , this wasn't the way Takumi would normally talk to Souma. Normally he would be happy , angry , nervous , confused , caring , embarrassed or any other emotion , never speaking professionally to Yukihira outside the kitchen , even when he'd be ranting about their rivalry , there was always a playful tone , masking a hint of adoration as Souma later learned. It had changed. Normality had changed. If nothing changed between them , was it going to stay like this ? Souma didn't like it.

"Yeah," Souma replied "I did."

Takumi did not ask a question but for some reason Souma felt obligated to reply. Not once did Souma look up to Takumi,  ever since the boy sat down Souma's head had remained bowed , gaze looking almost everywhere but at the boy , not out of humbleness but out of embarrassment , he didn't want to see Takumi pity him, of everyone who dared show any remnant of sympathy to him , he didn't want it to be Takumi. But did Aldini really pity him ?

Souma was too frustrated to think properly or he would've realised that no , Takumi wasn't looking at him with sympathy rather there was a small smirk on the smaller boy's face. But then again Yukihira didn't notice , not until Takumi spoke again.
"You're a real idiot ,you know " he said leaning forward , his face going closer and closer to Souma until the japanese could feel the half-italian's warm sweet breath mingling with his own.

"But I guess that's why I love you"He concluded. With a kiss targeted at Souma's lips, Takumi pushed him down so Yukihira's upper back and torso were now both on the sand with Takumi hovering above him and straddling the red-head. Souma was awe-struck. Was this really his Takumi Aldini ? He blinked a few times in disbelief ; it was probably a dream , an illusion , a fantasy created by his twisted deluded mind, be that as it may no matter how much Souma pondered on what could trigger such a vivid visage , it all flew back to the point that this wasn't a dream.

He was given a chance  and he'd be damned if he wasted it . Hastily , as if his time was limited , Yukihira reciprocated the chaste but meaningful kiss . The kiss meant acceptance , the kiss meant repentance and the kiss meant admiration , the kiss was to convey everything Takumi meant to him. Everything that he'd thought about whilst being apart . Everything he'd seen in Takumi in the first place.

It's not mentioned, is it ? Who fell in love first ? Well as the author it's my duty , my given role , to tell you. It was neither and both. Takumi and Souma loved each other equally. The only better contrasting pair would be that of white and black. Takumi was more of an open book, wearing his heart on his sleeve albeit a bit too proudly , but Souma mirrored him. Souma was a close book , an entire different story written behind a misleading cover. Yet he would constantly open his book for Takumi and Takumi alone, reminding how much he  meant. How much Souma treasured him . How painful the mere 24 hours without Takumi were .

"So much that I can't describe it " became a common phrase to Takumi's ears. It was used when Yukihira meant something , when he wasn't whispering sweet nothings (he barely said those though), when he wasn't trying to seduce his boyfriend ( which was a regular occurrence to the innocent Takumi because of Yukihira's teenage hormones )and it was being constantly used now.

"I'm sorry , I'm sorry , so sorry that i can't describe it , forgive me Takumi , leave me if you must but please don't ever ignore me like that again" Souma pleaded ,an out of character line for him but it was the only way he could highlight his feelings, as he pushed Takumi into his chest. 
On the dark beach , under the night sky , showered by the moon's light Souma felt Takumi's heartbeat , a soft thump that moved against his own creating a separate  melody , eventually their hearts intertwined to make a simple melody. One that was shared only by the boys and no one else , right now it was only them , not another living soul.
"I promise. I'll give you as much attention as you want , so , please, look only at me " Takumi tried to confidently declare but instead it came out as a soft dying whisper as Takumi nuzzled into Souma's shirt , which smelt of the 'failure' dish that was made only hours before. Except Takumi didn't see it as a failure . Upon tasting the dish the judges' eyes lit up gleaming with the same adoration as Souma's always had. Although Eishi had made a dish with impact, Souma had made a meal with feeling. A feast that displayed all of the older boys emotions. Love , passion, happiness, all kneaded into the dish that shone through the consumer once it was eaten. Souma had lost , not because the dish was lacking , but simply because how much it didn't fit the theme. If it was free cooking Souma would have definitely won. Undoubtably.

Souma hummed , that vibrated through Takumi's whole being. The night carried on , the moon blushed and turned away and the stars all cheered above the boys as they lay there , for god knows how long , compensating for the small time they had been apart . However, despite how short it was , both boys got time to think , to understand, similarly they reached the same conclusion.

You never know you need something until it's gone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sound of chirping birds and the rays of sun that leaked through a gap in Souma's curtains awoke the boy. Routinely , he turned his head to check the time , registering it to be 8am. It was a bit too early for a lazy Saturday morning so the Japanese boy stayed in bed for a while . His palms ontop of each other and supporting his head , the boy remembered the events of the bittersweet yesterday.

Yes , he had lost the shokugeki.

No , he had not lost everything , Takumi was still there for him , still with him.

Small bonus was that no one was to talk of the challenge , that didn't really matter to Souma anyway. He doesn't care what others think , especially those who didn't even come close to his skill. Smiling at his slight narcissism , Souma gently started to coax himself out of bed.

'Get up , Souma'

'Why I'm too tired'

'C'mon it's a Saturday'

'EXACTLY, so I should be relaxing'

'How about this' He reasoned (ironically with himself)' The quicker you get up , the quicker you can see him'

'Who ?'

Souma sighed at his own inner stupidness. 

'TAKUMI , YOU MORON'

Swiftly ending the conversation with himself Souma jumped out walking over to the closet placed in the corner of his dorm.

"Hmmm , what to wear ?" He mused out loud.

Before chuckling at his inversitility as he  picked out a striped blue T-shirt with tracksuit bottoms and a jacket tied round his waist. Since it was summer , the need for a jacket was low but Souma was told it 'Brings the outfit together' by Megumi (and Takumi sometimes) regularly . Ready after 10 minutes the boy made his trek to Takumi's house. In hopes of initiating his spontaneous plan.