Arato Hisako was thrill and worry at the same time. She wondered how two conflict feelings could fill her as gasoline into a dying car. Walking back to the mansion with hands full of beautiful blue hydrangeas, the pink head couldn't stop to wonder about the upcoming event. Her best friend was going to marry with her late nemesis who turned into the best influence she could ever desire for her. Honestly, Hisako never thought her friend was going to be this happy. Well, of course she tried her best to bring happiness to Erina's life. However, just after years of partnership and attempts, it took just one single and stupid food combination from the dinner boy to make the great Nakiri Erina to smile. And for that she would be forever grateful to Yukihira. He saved not only Erina but also herself.
As she was walking upstairs to her friend's room she met Nakiri Alice already at the top.
"Mou Hisoko-chan! You sure took long enough!"
The herb specialist allowed herself to breathe deeply the flower's perfume to help her concentrate into the task and not the desire to murder her best friend's cousin.
"Did you get the old item, miss Alice?" Her voice seemed relaxed. Such was the power of Hydrangeas. Hisako took a mental note to plant it at home.
"Well of course I did!" With her head held up high, Nakiri Alice showed her confident attitude, however her eyes showed so much softness that made Hisako think that every question about the said item would be irrelevant right now.
"Hisako-chan, Alice-chan!" Megumi's voice could be heard from the entrance of the mansion interior. The girl ran as fast as her heels allowed her to meet with her friends so they could make it together to the bride's room.
"Megumi-chan! Just in time!" The white haired Nakiri exclaimed as finally the three of them were together again.
"So, I assume everything is here. I got the blue hydrangeas for the blue item"
"And I got the best old item I could find in the house! Just take a look at it!"
As the two other girls took a close look at the old item, they couldn't help to stare at the beautiful brooch with a photo of an outstanding woman.
"Is she…" Hisako couldn't finish. The woman was a perfect copy of her best friend.
"Yes…I got an old item with a picture of Erina's mother."
"Well done miss Alice!"
"This is really sweet Alice-chan! I'm sure Nakiri-san will be very glad"
"Mission accomplished with honors! As expected of me!" of course Alice couldn't let her little conquer pass by without praise herself. Hisako and Megumi couldn't help but smile at her auto confidence.
"Well, it took me a while since I couldn't find Soma-kun but I finally got the borrowed item…" Megumi couldn't finish it. Hisako was already in a full "kill Yukihira" mode
"WHAT?! YOU COULDN'T FIND THE GROOM?! I'M SO GONNA KILL THAT BASTARD IF HE TRIES SOMETHING OUT OF THE ARRANGEMENT! AND SO HELP ME GOD IF ERINA-SAMA EVER FIND OUT HE IS NOT THERE WAITING FOR HER I'M GONNA..."
Megumi never thought Hisako could say such violent words and just tried her best to calm down the girl. Blessed Soma and his damn luck that he was caught by her and Takumi and not his fiancée or her secretary.
"Actually, he said he was nervous so he asked to Kurokiba-kun and Hayama-kun to help him relax. So, they decided to do a Shokugeki and I found them at the mansion's kitchen in the middle of it."
"THEY WERE DOING WHAT?!" This time Megumi had to deal not with only a very angry Hisako but with a very mad Alice as well.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE RYO-KUN STARTED A SHOKUGEKI WITHOUT ME! WHAT A TRAITOR?!"
"I'M SO GONNA KILL AKIRA-KUN FOR MAKING MY JOB SO MUCH HARDER THAN IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE! WHAT THE HELL HE WAS THINKING?!"
"Alice-chan, Hisako-chan! Please calm down! It was just a slip and I already manage to undo the damage. Me and Takumi-kun already helped them to get it together and recompose themselves. Indeed, now they are all fixed up and waiting for us downstairs. We just need to give all this to Nakiri-san and we are ready for the wedding to begin."
Alice just maintained her pouting face while Hisako took a deep breath to collect herself.
"You are right Tadokoro-chan. Let's give these items to Erina-sama and make this wedding happen!"
"Yeah..yeah…let's get over it already… After all, Now I have some issues to discuss with Ryon-kun after this."
They return to walk down the halls getting closer to Erina's room.
"By the way Tadokoro-chan, what have you gotten for the borrowed item?"
"Oh that! Well… I got Soma-kun's cloth. However, I don't know if we can still use it as a part of the dress since He was using it, not a minute ago, in the Shokugeki."
At this they finally arrive at Erina's door. Alice knocked on the door while Hisako took a good look at the items in front of her.
"Well I believe we can put all of it in the bouquet's arrangement." At it, she took the white cloth and enveloped the blue hydrangeas. At the end of it, right at the lace's center, she put the old brooch and created a simple and beautiful bouquet. The two other girls admired her work with bright smiles and glittery eyes.
"I believe, that we won't need that daisies' bouquet anymore"
"Agreed" Both of the girls smiled widely.
"Nakiri-san will love it!"
"Yeah I believe Erina will find it very appropriate"
Hisako smiled for both of them gratefully. However, something was not right just yet.
"Talking about Erina-sama, did you not just knocked the door, miss Alice?"
"Yes! I did."
"Maybe she just didn't hear it." Megumi said as Hisako knocked again.
And there was no answer.
"This is weird coming from Erina. Normally she responds immediately"
The girls shared a look of worried before Hisako tried one more time.
"Erina-sama? Is everything alright? We are here with the items you requested. Please open the door"
Still no answer. Alice clutched her ear at the door in an attempt to hear something.
"I can't hear anything" Alice's voice barely appeared as she continues tried to capture a single sound.
"ERINA-SAMA! PLEASE ANSWER ME!"
Now Hisako was desperately knocking on the door. Megumi held the bouquet in her hands and frightened expression on her face. Alice tried to hear something that wasn't Hisako's screams. Something was off. They could feel it.
INSIDE ERINA'S ROOM
Erina could hear her best friend call her name. They probably were worried sick about her. Yet, she couldn't say a thing. It was like lose the ability to speak, breath and feel anything other than a deep fear.
Her father's eyes were like blackholes. Big enough for her to fall into it again and lose her essence.
"ERINA-SAMA!"
She could feel the concern as her friend continues to cry out loud.
"Mou Erina! Enough with the games! Open the fucking door!"
She could hear her cousin's voice full of agony. Besides the way it was phrased, Erina feel the angst hidden behind the swear.
"Should I get someone to help?" Now she could hear the sweet voice of the kind Megumi and all that she could wish was for them get out of there and leave her with her fate.
Azami looked to the door. Eyes sharp and cold ready to kill hopes and dreams.
"Please" Erina whispered to him "Please don't" she could feel the hot tears making their ways through her beautifully painted face.
As she begs she could feel his smile wide in an almost Machiavellian manner and his hold onto her arm tight. She prepares herself for the worst.
OUTSIDE ERINA'S ROOM
"That's it! Something is up! ERINA IF YOU DON'T OPEN YOUR DOOR RIGHT NOW! WE ARE GOING TO PUT THIS DOOR DOWN...well not exactly we BUT SOMEONE WILL!"
Hisako rolled her eyes at the discourse "Megumi! Please go get someone…anyone...something is off!"
The herb specialist didn't have to say it twice. Megumi was already at the middle of the way to get someone to help.
She forgot her heels and the pain she would probably feel tomorrow. As soon as she got at the garden where the ceremony was being held she notice Soma already at the altar waiting and as soon as she walked through the red carpet she heard the music starting to play and every eye in was on her. She smiled awkwardly and motion to the direction of her fiancé who was previously chatting with Hayama and Kurokiba still about the missed shokugeki.
"Takumi-kun! Takumi-kun!" She was breathless. She didn't even know how to start. If it was supposed to be before or after each breath.
Takumi looked at her with worry in his eyes. Kurokiba and Hayama with curiosity and not too distant Soma looked the scene with interest.
"Principessa! What's wrong? You are shaking!"
"Takumi! Is Nakiri-san she…"
"What's wrong with Erina?" Megumi didn't know how Soma just emerged beside her. His voice full of concern.
"Soma-kun…I I don't know she just.."And then they heard.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
A desperate scream. One capable of cross the chest and break the heart in one stroke. It was her. Soma knew. This cry for help was hers. He didn't have to say a thing. His body was already in full velocity moving without bother with anything that wasn't her.
Megumi, Takumi, Hayama and Kurokiba followed him in a heartbeat. Senzaeomon and the rest of the Nakiri clã followed with the security and with Joichiro right after. The rest of the invited stayed in shock wondering what was going wrong. Isshiki Satoshi, known for being great with the public, decided to take care of the ones who stayed. He kissed softly the hand of his wife Kinokuni Nene, that was attached to his on and moved to the center of the altar.
"Keep calm everyone. I'm sure it is nothing for us to worry about. Let's just keep it together till we got some news, alright? Let's just keep the harmony we were so comfortable with and hope for them to get back as soon as possible. We won't leave without a msr and mister Yukihira Nakiri, will we?" and with some more words, Isshiki manages to keep the public entertained while wishing that nothing very bad has happened."
Soma couldn't barely remember how to breath. He just wanted to hold her. To make sure she was alright and with him. As soon as he arrived at her door he started the screams himself.
"ERINA! ERINA! WHAT HAPPENED?"
Alice and Hisako were already in tears. Not knowing what to do.
"ERINA! BABY, IT'S ME! OPEN THE DOOR! OPEN THE DOOR FOR ME, ERINA!"
Soma was punching the door so hard that at some point small stains of blood could been seem. He felt a hand in his shoulder and found Kurokiba and Hayama right beside him. One look was enough to know that they would help him put that door down. "ERINA IF YOU ARE HEARING ME, JUST GET AWAY FROM THE DOOR AS FAR AS YOU CAN! I'M GONNA BRING IT DOWN!"
Nothing could be heard. Not an answer. Not a single sound.
"Let's do it" it was Kurokiba's turn to break the silence.
Soma took a deep breath preparing himself not only to physically bring down a heavy door but also getting ready to what he could possibly find behind it. However, nothing in the world prepared him to what he found when the door fell flat to the floor.