She finally says the thing

"Cut it out you idiot," Erina screamed at Souma.

"No, I refuse." Souma yelled back; "I won't take your pity victory."

Upon hearing that Erina became enraged. Did Souma really think she would disrespect his skills by surrendering victory out of pity. She pushed Souma down onto his back like a Stag beetle before mounting him. She sat her panty clad rearend on his stomach, grabbed his wrists to keep him from grabbing her, and got right into his face.

"I'm not doing this out of pity!" Erina yelled. She paused for a second. Erina knew what she needed to say but her pride told her she shouldn't. Then a great warm feeling emerged from within her heart. One that told her it was finally time, "Souma Yukihira your dish was genuinely delicious. Thank you for the meal!"

Souma eyes widened.

"Wh-what?"

"I said," Erina replied angrily, "You're. Dish. Was. Good. So, stop being a baby and accept your victory."

Souma was in shock. He let his body go limb. Erina released his wrists and sat up (but did not get off of him). Souma stared out into space then slowly a smile grew on his face.

"Ha. Hahaha," Souma snickered beaming with joy, "You said it."

Erina blushed lightly.

"Y-yeah," she said looking away, "I mean it's no big deal. Your candy apples were good. that's just a fact. No use disputing it or anything."

"Well, that's cool," Souma said sitting up his face very close to hers, "But all that matters is that you liked them."

"Hmm," She scoffed, "because of my God Tongue."

"No because I want YOU to enjoy my dishes," Souma said with the sweetest smile Erina had ever seen, "Because I love you."

A silence fell over the stadium.

"WHHHAAAAT!!" Erina yelled face turning pure red.

"I love you I thought I was pretty clear. After the BLUE something felt wrong with me, I thought it was just that I lost that I still wasn't able to surpass you. But then later when I thought about it, I realized it wasn't the lose that irked me it was that you called my dish disgusted. It took me all night to realize why it bothered me so much and I came to the conclusion it's because I wanted you specifically to enjoy my dishes more than anyone else. Your opinion was the most important. That's why I had to leave. Because now that I know I love you, I couldn't accept making subpar food."

Souma went on like this for a few minutes completely ignorant of emotion rollercoaster he had started in Erina's mind.

"Stop it that's enough," the confused young lady yelled, "You, you can't just throw all this at me out of nowhere!"

"Why not? It's the truth."

"The truth! You want me to like your dishes and that means you love me! What kind of logic is that."

"I don't know," Souma said calmly, "but Dad told me a good chef wants to all his dishes for the woman he loves most. And that you so I guess I love you."

"YOU GUESS!!"

"I mean that would also explain why I've been so flustered during all our matches maybe-"

"Enough," Erina commands face red with anger. "Regardless of what Joichiro told you or whatever you think love is. You can't just just toss a confession at someone."

"Why not? Don't you love me back?"

Erina's brain stopped for a second.

"Gah I ha um oh wh wh," she struggled to form words. He mood shifted from embarrassment to shyness, "why would you assume such."

"It's not an assumption I was told."

"By Who!?"

"A couple people Megumi, Ryoko, Isshiki especially. The emailed me a few times just to say how angry you were but also sad and fired up. They all said it's because you missed me so much. Zenji specifically said you were being more of a Tsundere then ever since I left."

Erina wasn't sure how much more she could take. All those people though she loved Souma. That was absurd! It couldn't be true. Could it? Her heart was beating quickly. Was that just because of all the stress or something else.

"Also," Souma continued but then stopped.

"Also?" Erina asked intently.

"I could tell."

Yet another silence fell on the pair. The fact that they were half naked basically sitting on top of one another was the furthest thing from their minds.

"Well," Souma finally said with a smug smile. "Do you?"

"D-do I!" Erina said confused despite knowing exactly what he meant. "Ummm."

"Come on just tell me."

"Um," she repeated deep down she knew the answer, but she wasn't sure if she could say it.

"You can do it."

"Um," Why couldn't she form words. She had never been this tongue tied. Yet she still needed to convey her answer to Souma by any means necessary.

"I'm ok with whatever you say my feelings are my own. I don't want to influence yours even if it means you saying n-"

Souma's words were cut off when Erina leaned in and gave him a passionate kiss on the lips. Now it was Souma who had been knocked off balance. But only for a second before he grabbed hold of the back of her head and started kissing her back.