Author's Note:

Didn't I say in the last chapter that I'll update next week? Let's just say that I lied so here it is~

Please enjoy and review

Muah~!

Disclaimer: SNS ain't mine


Chapter 2

Grave

Soma got up from the bench and went to the parking lot where he left his moped yesterday.

He's been walking a lot lately that he always forgot to take his moped, which results for him becoming later to his classes than ever and eventually missing them. Which also results of him getting yelled by the headmistress for being a truant whenever they unexpectedly meet on the hallway.

Nakiri always seemed to know if he'd gone to his classes for some reason.

He sighed as he finally found his moped, he hopped into it while putting on his helmet and started the engine. He then rode off away from Totsuki to go to his home in Sumiredori shopping district.

After minutes of riding, he parked his moped and got off from it.

Seeing that the diner was open, he must have known that his dad opened it for a worthwhile. He got inside and saw regular costumers enjoying their meal and Joichiro in the kitchen.

Joichiro looked up to see who got inside and smiled that his son was here.

With a knowing look in his eyes, Soma immediately knew that he had to help with his dad. So after greeting with costumers who knew the son, Soma went to the kitchen.

"Prepare two bowls of rice, chop the lettuce and take out those marinated eggs from the fridge" Joichiro commanded as he vigorously stir his spatula on the pan. Soma obeyed what the older Yukihira said.

"One bowl of motsu-nabe please!" a costumer exclaimed to which the head chef responded to his order in the same energy.

Just some minutes later though, Soma's phone vibrated in his jacket. And it vibrated a lot.

The father and son duo went on until they closed the diner for the night.

Soma cleaned the counters and proceed to wash the dishes. While Joichiro locked the diner's door and turned to look at his son.

During their work in the kitchen, the infamous Asura can tell that his spawn is feeling under the weather.

But of course he knew what is it and it is not rare in this time of year.

Every time when Tamako's death anniversary is approaching, Soma would have this unlikely behavior like spacing out and have a much less attention span than usual. Sometimes a tear would unintentionally fall down his cheeks.

And the older Yukihira knows that approaching his son first in the usual teasing manner would be a good idea. Since he too, don't want that at first.

That and their shokugeki can be settled after their mourning or so.

So he greeted his son with a genuine smile, to which Soma smiled back. Their smile was bittersweet.

And if someone was looking at the father and son right now, one could tell that they both have the same amber eyes glazed with longing and sadness.

"Tomorrow we'll leave early, father is also here. He'd gone straight to his room"

Soma nodded at the info.

Then they both go to their rooms after a small talk of their day.

Soma laid down his bed and stared on the ceiling for a while.

He then remembered that he did not make contact to his friends nor remind them that he's at his home.

So he took out his phone and saw 4 missed calls from Megumi, 7 texts and 1 missed call from Isshiki, and 10 missed calls from Erina.

He sighed as he texted Megumi and Isshiki that he has family matters to attend to, specified that tomorrow is his mother's death anniversary and that he is sorry that he didn't told them about that before he left.

Then he thought if he'll text Erina about it. But then he proceed to text Hisako instead to relay the message to the heiress.

Something that was troubling inside his mind was also connected to Erina.

It seemed that his father didn't dare to ask what troubles him since he might have noticed it. But Soma found it fortunate that the Asura didn't.

While it was true that he is emotional because of his mom's death anniversary. That was only the surface of what troubles him.

He remembered the day when the Nakiri patriarch, Nakiri Senzaemon begging him to save his granddaughter.

Try as he might, but he can't help the feeling if he should be honored to be the knight of that blonde princess, or a tool to free her from that cold golden cage.

A tool.

He shook his head, why the hell is he thinking about this? Why is it affecting him that much?

Well if somebody who's soft-hearted and determined was shared to them about the God's Tongue childhood trauma. Anyone would like to save her right?

But then he also remembered the day after BLUE when his father was talking to his friend, Dojima Gin.

Soma had unintentionally eavesdropped and heard those words coming out from his father.

"I did not want Soma to be here in Totsuki in the first place but that old geezer asked me to"

…Confirmed, Soma was only a student in Totsuki for one thing… a tool.

And just like that, the weight he felt in his heart got even heavier.


A few hours ago before Soma went to home. Isshiki was worried that his obnoxious kohai wasn't there.

He even checked the kitchen and the room 303. Which was not locked for some reason.

He even asked his dorm mates about Soma's whereabouts. But even they can't answer that.

Tadokoro Megumi placed her hands on her chest, worrying about her redheaded friend. She had called his number a while ago but he didn't pick up. She made it sure she called at least four times.

"Wait" the pigtailed girl said as Isshiki turned his head to her "I'll call Hisako-san if Soma went to Nakiri Manor" in response of what she said, Isshiki nodded his head.

Shun and Maui were speculating where Soma is, as Yuki and Ryoko joined them. Daigo and Shoji were arm-in-arm with each other while placing out suggestions as well. While Megumi took out her phone and dialed Hisako's number.

Hisako responded immediately "Hello, what is it Megumi-san?" she spoke through the phone.

"Uhmm by chance, is Soma-kun with you in Nakiri's home?" The bluenette asked shyly.

"…No, why is he not there at Polar Star dorm?" Hisako asked back.

"No he is not" Megumi answered

At Nakiri Manor, Erina looked at her aide/bestfriend, placing down the files on the table.

"What was it Hisako?" Erina questioned her aide at the same time approaching her.

The pink-haired teen lowered her phone as she said goodbye to Megumi on the phone ending their call. Then she looked at Erina.

"Yukihira-kun hasn't gone back to the dorm, Tadokoro-san asked if he was here"

Erina felt herself flinch as her purple orbs showed concern. But she rubbed it off and harrumphed.

"I swear, this idiot goes off nowhere!" the blond princess crossed her arms under her chest, cheeks puffed. Hisako just remained silent as she smiled.

"Why don't you call him?" Hisako suggested innocently which caused Erina to blush furiously.

"W-well" Erina fidgeted her fingers struggling to remain her posture. She then took out her phone and scrolling through her contacts to call Soma.

Her heartbeat was erratic as she pressed call. Why is her heart beating so fast?

As her phone is still ringing, she looked at Hisako and can see her bestfriend's sly smile.

She frantically flail her free hand "I-it's not like t-that Hisako! T-t-this is only for p-professional means!" then she did her best serious face but failed because of her red cheeks.

"What are you talking about Erina-sama?" Hisako switched her smile into an innocent one then chuckled when Erina turned away from her.

Hisako was actually joking around when she suggested Erina to call Soma, but she never knew that Erina would take the bait.

The phone is still ringing waiting for the redhead to respond.

But he never picked up.

Erina looked blankly at her phone as steam is starting to come off her ears. She dialed again.

After about 10 missed calls, Erina gave up. 'How dare he!?' she then goes to her room without leaving a word to Hisako, in which Hisako can understood about that.

So Hisako just sighed then she heard footsteps coming her way.

"What's with her?" Alice came up and looked at the hallway where Erina stomped off.

"Soma is missing and he didn't pick up Erina-sama's phone calls"

"Geez, just as I have to explain about the vacation she stormed off" Alice said as she sat down next to Hisako then she continued "maybe Yukihira-kun is at his diner"

Hisako gaped at that. Of course! Where else would that redhead go if he is not at Polar Star Dorm?

And then moments later when the two were talking about Erina's feelings to Soma, Hisako's phone vibrated.

She looked at it and saw it was Yukihira-kun's message.

"What did he say?" Alice jumped at her seat and scooted to Hisako in order to see Soma's message.

They read his message then felt a bit sad. "So that's why he is feeling off…" Hisako said then she got up, so does Alice. "Let's go to Erina's room then" Alice said as the two went to Erina's.


The blonde heiress was out the porch, staring at the night sky. The stars seemed to look at her too as waves of a pleasant (and slightly irritating) memories about the redhead came flooding at her.

It's not like this is the first time he ignored her calls, just past few days he did that too. And it annoyed her. Before BLUE, they were always interacting with each other, but after that…

Did he perhaps, got tired of her? Didn't he promised making her say 'delicious'? Did he gave up? Is calling his dish at BLUE 'disgusting' the last straw? Is she reaping what she sow?

After all, the only thing that she does to him was to constantly berate him.

If she's being honest right now, she wanted Soma to cook for her forever and she'll do the same for him too as well. And if she did say the word he's been trying to make her utter, she's afraid that he'll stop cooking for her.

But who was she to keep him by herself?

She felt her tears forming and guilt spreading in her chest, then she heard knocks from her door, stopping her train of thought and stopping her from crying.

"Come in" She said

Then came in Alice and Hisako "Erina-sama, Yukihira-kun just texted" Hisako said which made Erina relieved and at the same time a bit envious. From the fact that Soma texted Hisako instead of her.

"He said that he is at his diner for family matters" Hisako continued quietly uttered the last two words.

"Family matters?" Erina titled her head, confused, did something happened to Saiba-sama?

Then Alice explained "he said that tomorrow is the death anniversary of his mother"

At that Erina looked at Alice with wide eyes then shifted her gaze away from her cousin, understanding this matter of her first seat.

"No wonder why Yukihira-kun is always spaced out these days" Alice said as she went to her cousin and placed her hand on the blonde's shoulder.

Alice noticed that Soma's unintentional neglect to the heiress made the blonde overthinking stuff that relates to… self-hatred.

Besides, what they need in these days are relaxation, not tense moods and uneasiness. That is also why she suggested a vacation.

"Maybe when Yukihira-kun comes here after visiting his mother's grave" Erina looked at her cousin as the sly Alice continued on "we can or you can comfort him and he'll be back in his happy and cheerful self!" Alice cheered her cousin with a wide smile, her crimson eyes beamed. She intentionally emphasized the 'you' part.

She, just like Soma, loves to tease the blonde heiress.

"Wh-w-w-w-whaaAt!?" Erina blushed furiously, steam coming out of her ears and her hands shaking.

"Alice!" Hisako intervened but smiled a bit. It's hard to admit but she also likes seeing Erina being love struck.

Alice just laughed, it's nice to lighten the mood like this.

"That's absurd Alice!" Erina puffed her cheeks at the food scientist.

Then the white-haired princess continued her teasing, she can't just let this slide "Just hug him and maybe kiss him on the cheek when he gets back, I bet he'll likes it"

"ALIIIICE!"

At the amusing sight as this, Alice might have to revise her vacation plan for the sake of romance between Soma and Erina. This got her so excited!

As for Erina, when Alice said that her mind went wild with imaginations of her kissing Soma and hugging him 'SO LEWD!' she screamed at her thoughts.


Isshiki senpai and the rest of Polar Star Dorm kids were relieved at the news and were a bit saddened. Now that it is all clear why the ever laid-back redhead got silent than usual.

For they too planned to make Soma cheer up when he gets back.

Now Isshiki had his worries at rest and he can finally have a good night sleep, but he sent a comforting message to his kohai in which his message was replied for a short while.

The sense of relief also comforted Megumi.

Everything seemed okay for now.


The night sky was subsided as morning came in and in the air there is a delicious smell lingered upon. The source came from the kitchen of Yukihira Diner. Joichiro was cooking for breakfast, his father-in-law Kazusato, is drinking tea and reading the newspaper. His son, Soma, is upstairs, having a shower.

Joichiro and Kazusato were already dressed for the occasion, completing their attire with dark hanten jacket.

Soma came down to greet them, he also had his hanten jacket on and a casual attire underneath.

The three men ate their breakfast served by Joichiro.

As usual, the eldest Yukihira praised his son-in-law in making such delicious breakfast. In which Joichiro smiled at his father-in-law's praise.

Soma just watched the two men with a smile. Breakfast always seemed to be more warm and delicious when it is shared by family, even if one is missing.

Few hours and destinations later, they arrived at the cemetery where Tamako's grave is at.

They prayed at the graveyard and after that Kazusato decided to go back at the car saying that he'll wait after the two are done.

Joichiro stared with longing in his eyes, he missed his love of his life so much that sometimes it pained him. His heart ached to be embraced by Tamako's touch.

For Soma, he also missed his mother a lot. And he wished he can cook for her like he always did before with his father.

Soma glanced at his father, he wonders.

His father gave him an advice that the key to become a great chef, is to meet a woman and cook for her forever.

Could that be really it?

The father and son go back to the car. Soma looked at the window and stared at the landscape.

This peculiar determination he have grew larger in his mind. His heart is now set at the decision he'll make. But he needs to do something before indulging in his decision.

Because for some reason… holding a knife seemed empty.

Making Erina say 'delicious' and beating his dad seemed… pointless.

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Back in Nakiri Manor, Nakiri Mana is looking out the gardens while holding a piece of paper that is a DNA test report.

On the bottom it stated "Probability of paternity: 99.9996%"


Author's Note:

I wonder who could that be? Lol we all know who's that!

To be honest, Asahi is like a last minute antagonist in the fifth plate lol, I do believe that his plot could do better than being the 'love rival' of Soma

If only they could take advantage of him being the son of Azami and yada yada yada trying to be known in Nakiri family I don't know HHAHAHAHAHA

Many Sorina fans don't like Asahi and I can understand and respect that.

This means that I don't dislike Asahi that much. I can actually see him and Soma getting along just fine. (Maybe I'll create a fanfic involving these two, ya know? Brotherhood perhaps?)

Meh- Until next chapter! Bye!