Chapter 1 – The More Things Change, the More they Stay the Same
Totsuki Tea Ceremony and Cooking Academy is home to some of the brightest and most elite young chefs in the world. Months ago, two of the school's top chefs collided in the prestigious BLUE tournament. The academy's director Nakiri Erina and the first seat of the Elite Ten Yukihira Soma. Their battle brought about a new world of flavor and creativity as the winner would be whoever could create a dish never before seen on planet earth. Even after unleashing a dish that he worked on over and over to improve, a dish that amazed everyone, even Nakiri Mana, Soma was unable to make Erina say the word delicious and in the end, it was Erina who took the top spot at the BLUE with some help from Soma's dish, (even if she may not want to admit it).
The conflict in the Nakiri family had come to an end and they could finally be a family again, with a new addition in Nakiri Asahi. Even though all was good in the Nakiri family once more Erina felt there was still something missing. That something was Soma. After losing at the BLUE he felt he still had more to learn if he wanted to surpass his dad and make Erina say delicious. Soma left Totsuki and travelled the world to learn new techniques and dishes and after six months returned to finally make Erina say the words he promised he would make her say long ago.
It was a bright morning at the Polar Star Dorm. Tadokoro Megumi entered the kitchen at 7 a.m. rubbing her eyes while wearing her pajamas, "What a nice morning. Huh Soma-kun?!". Megumi morphs into her chibi form as she says this.
"Oh Tadokoro, how's it going?", Soma says when he sees her, he too in chibi form and with that usual happy sound in his voice.
"How long have you been here for?".
"He's been in here since five this morning", Fumio-san says as she enters the kitchen.
"So, Nakiri-san still hasn't said delicious?".
"No, and we all know he won't stop trying until she does", replies Fumio-san while placing her hand on her chin.
"That does sound like Soma-kun alright", Megumi says with a smile on her face.
"Hey, do you two want to try this dish I made?". Soma places the dish in front of the two and they begin to eat.
Fumio and Megumi both explode like fireworks and say in unison "Amazing".
"Osomatsu", Soma says as he unwraps his towel from around his head but as he does, he thinks to himself, "It's still not enough though".
The scene shifts to the Shiomi Research Lab. Nakiri Alice strikes off a line with chalk on a board placed on the wall. The board has many more lines on it divided into two sides.
"The score is now Ryo-kun 49 wins, Hayama-kun 49 wins".
"Damn it!" Kurokiba shouts with an aura of fire surrounding him.
Hayama grins calmly as Kurokiba turns to him, "Fight me again".
"You really want to lose that badly huh?" Hayama responds while continuing to grin.
"We'll see what you're saying after this match Hayama!".
"Actually, I'm kind of bored. I know let's go see Erina".
"No! I'm going to beat Hayama!".
"But Ryo-kun!", Alice pouts at Ryo with her chibi face.
The two continue arguing and shouting with each other while Hayama just looks at them with a sweat drop on his forehead. Alice then reaches to Ryo's head and takes off his bandana.
"Fine" Ryo gives in with his monotone voice.
"Yay!" Alice smiles once again in chibi form.
Inside the headmaster's office Nakiri Erina is working hard to keep up with all her duties as director of Totsuki.
"Here is your Chamomile tea Erina-sama".
"Thank you, Hisako,", Erina says while taking the cup and saucer. "The aroma is delightful and very relaxing".
"I just thought you might need something soothing right now to help you get through all your work".
"This is exactly what I need thank you once again Hisako".
As Erina prepared to continue her work, suddenly there was knock on the door.
"Erina!", Erina turned her head and looked at the door as she heard her cousin's voice.
"Alice?" Erina said as her cousin entered her office. "What are you doing here?".
"Me and Ryo-kun were going to go try out this new café that opened recently and we wondered if you would like to come?".
"I'm sorry Alice but I have a lot of work to do".
"Oh, Erina you're such a party pooper" Alice replies while pouting at her cousin.
"What? No, I'm not!"
"Yes, you are, Ryo-kun agrees with me".
"Sure" Kurokiba retorts with a lack of emotion in his words.
"See?".
"I'm sorry Alice, maybe another time. I want to try finish all this before dinner tonight".
"Fine, me and Ryo-kun will just have to enjoy it ourselves. Let's go Ryo-kun".
"Kay" he responds in his usual tone.
"Have you decided what dish you are going to serve tonight Erina-sama?" Hisako asks as Alice and Kurokiba leave.
"Yes, I have and I was wondering if you would mind tasting it and giving me your opinion on it?".
"I would be honored Erina-sama".
The two smile at each other as Erina continues her work.
Later that day, Soma and everyone else gather together at the Polar Star Dorm for one of their usual parties (taking place in Marui's room of course).
"How many times do I have to say it? Why do you always use my room for these parties?" Marui argued.
"And how many times do we have to tell you?" Daigo answered.
"Your room is the biggest dude" Shoji responded.
"Which also means it's the hardest to clean!" retorted Marui.
"Don't worry Zenji this time we'll cleanup for sure" Yuki said with a smile.
"You say that every single time though!".
The group just laughs as they continue to have a good time.
"Man, these parties are always fun but they just feel like they're missing something without Isshiki-senapi" pondered Soma as the other members of the dorm thought about it as well.
"He did always bring a lot of life to them" Megumi responded.
"Especially when he wore nothing but that apron" Ibusaki Shun added.
"I sure do miss that" said Soma while everyone nodded and laughed.
A knock on the door came and Ikumi, Mimisaka and the Aldini brothers came in.
"Do you mind if we join?" Ikumi asked.
"Of course not, come in" Ryoko answered.
The party continued on as everyone kept talking and socializing.
"Well, Yukihira-kun have you managed to make Nakiri-san say your food is delicious yet?" enquired Takumi as they drank from their plastic cups.
"Nah" Soma explained as a depressed purple aura surrounded his chibi design.
"Oh, I see" Takumi responded thinking maybe it was a mistake to ask.
"But don't think I'm going to give up. I'll keep going for as long as it takes and no matter what I will defeat Nakiri".
"I never doubted that you would" Takumi replied with a smile on his face.
Soma grinned and chuckled. "Hey I made this really disgusting dish earlier do you guys want to try it?"
"NO!" everyone replied in unison.
Elsewhere at the Nakiri mansion, Erina had just arrived home for dinner with her family. She entered the dining room to be greeted by her mother and grandfather.
"Oh, hello Erina" Mana said as Erina entered the room.
"Good evening, Mother, Grandfather. I shall get to work on dinner right away. Where is father and Asahi-oniisama?".
"They won't be joining us tonight Erina. They went off on their own to do some things" Mana replied.
"Oh, well I shall prepare a meal for just the three of us then".
"Before you do there's something we'd like to talk to you about first" Mana said. "Take a seat Erina".
Erina took a seat and began listening to her mother.
"I've been talking to father about this and we've come to a final decision on it. At the BLUE you managed to create a dish never before seen and with it you ascended above everyone else. You unleashed a new world and a new path of flavor has been discovered. But we believe that we are only seeing a small part of that world. And we want to see what lies beyond what we can see now. That is why as Bookmaster of the WGO we will be no longer be holding the BLUE, instead we will hold a new tournament".