Chapter 38 Soma's Past
"Okay, with this, we've made our decision." Tsukasa ends the meeting with the other members of the Elite 10 about the new headmaster of the school, and of course, Soma is also there in the Phantom disguise, but inside his mask, he is trembling as he can't believe everyone is going through this.
After the meeting is over, Soma and Isshiki are back at the Polar Star Dorm, and the others gather around Isshiki to learn about the new headmaster, then they also manage to see the appointment speech, as Azami says how he is going to change the Totsuki Academy.
"Hisako. Thank you for your work until today." Azami says. "I think you from the bottom of my heart for supporting Erina while I wasn't here. I'm sure Erina's burden was lightened quite a bit thanks to you."
"Wait a second, what does that..." Hisako asks with horror, and Azami says, "Starting today, you're relieved of your secretarial duties."
Erina and Hisako are shocked, but Erina can't rebel against her father, which makes things very complicated.
"There's no need to worry. I will be by your side from now on. I'll choose all of your clients from now on. I'll put all of my efforts into making the most of your abilities, Erina. Let's join hands and work hard together. OK? Erina?" Azami asks.
"Yes, father..." Erina mutters, and then he says, "And now there is only one more..."
In the dorm, Soma is now sitting in his room while Megumi opens the door. She asks, "Soma-kun, are you alright?"
Soma frowns and says, "I don't know why...those memories of a bad past, it is starting to go back into me...why is he here? Don't tell me he is here for that again..."
Megumi asks, "What's that, and what do you mean?"
Just then, much to their surprise, the former headmaster Nakiri Senzaemon arrives at the room and he says, "I can answer everything. Please excuse my sudden visit."
"For-mer headmaster?" Megumi trembles a little at the sight, and he says, "Tadokoro Megumi, right? This is the first time we've talked to each other directly."
Soma says, "Headmaster Senzaemon. What are you doing here..."
"I am here to talk to both of you." Senzaemon says. "After all, I was the one who advised Joichiro to have Yukihira Soma apply to Totsuki, and also the one that makes Soma the 0th seat."
Megumi asks, "What do you mean by that?"
"It is about Soma and Erina." Senzaemon says, "You can say...both of them are actually cousins like Erina and Alice are."
"What?" Megumi gasps in shock.
"The man who took over my role as the headmaster, Nakamura Azami, is actually Yukihira Takamo's younger brother." Senzaemon says. "But they have been separated when they are little, Tamako was raised in the poor, while Azami is raised in the riches."
Soma says, "That's true...and I have never told everyone, but...the first time I met Nakiri, or I shouldn't hide it, Eri-chan, is when I was 6 years old. I was taken to Nakiri's residence to learn. Do you remember the Elite 10 of my Dad's year? The Golden Age? He was in the third seat when my Dad was the second."
"Seriously?" Megumi asks.
"Yeah, and then he became the first seat for two years, that's why my Mom was still the second seat when she graduated." Soma says. "Eri-chan and I played a lot, just like how Alice and I were. But it was also the beginning of the nightmare."
"What do you mean nightmare?" Megumi asks as Soma is going into a flashback.
(Flashback)
"Uncle? Where are we going?" Young Soma is walking in the hallway, and Azami says, "Erina, Soma, do you wish to become a good cook?"
"Of course." Soma says.
"Good, then come with me. I'll teach you about "Cooking" now." Azami says with a wicked smile.
Then all Soma is enduring is to pick which is the proper food by using their god tongue and their angel eyes. Soma says, "But even though it is not perfect, it is still good to serve..."
Just then, Soma notices that Azami is hurting Erina, and he says, "If you don't want me to hurt Erina, do it."
"Father...it hurts..." Erina says as tears are about to appear in her eyes.
Soma is horrified at how his uncle tries to threaten both him and Erina for doing this. And for Erina, she has to do it for Soma's sake. Eventually, Erina falls into the darkness completely, while Soma continues to struggle.
And the time comes when Senzaemon arrives, Senzaemon says, "Nakamura Azami! You're exiled from Totsuki! Not only did you do to your own daughter, but you also did to your nephew as well!"
"How shocking, father-in-law. My education would eventually have perfected God's Tongue and Angel's Eyes." Azami says.
"What you did wasn't "education". It was brainwashing! You're too dangerous! You may never again call yourself a Nakiri." Senzaemon yells.
(Flashback)
Soma says, "At that time, I was taken back to my old diner, my Mother and my Father were worried about me. They are both angry, and I couldn't cook for 6 months..." He turns to Senzaemon and says, "But I never knew it was you who saved me back then, after all, our first meeting was when I was seven when my Dad asked me to serve a dish for you back then..."
"Indeed." Senzaemon says, "That's how he was banished from Totsuki, I sometimes got information about him. About how he was creating a community overseas exclusively for wealthy people, or how his base was in the USA and he'd been expanding his business into the near and middle east and South Asia. I never thought he would cause an uprising by currying favor with the Totsuki Elite 10. I'm such a disgrace."
Megumi asks, "So does that mean the so-called Education ingrained in Soma-kun and Nakiri-san as well?"
Senzaemon says, "Both of them are recovering, but Soma is faster than Erina considering Joichiro took him around the world to remember the fun times of cooking. And Erina is getting better as well."
Soma says, "Megumi, I'm sorry, but can I talk to the Former Headmaster alone?"
Megumi nods as she leaves the room, as Soma and Senzaemon decide to go jogging as well. After a while, Senzaemon says, "Azami knows that Erina's heart is still trapped inside a birdcage, that's why I want you to help her, Yukihira Soma. You managed to escape that cage, and I'm sure you can bring Erina back."
Erina is now sleeping and she has a bad dream, she is dreaming back into her past, as she sees how Soma was being grabbed by Azami.
"Father! Please let Sou-kun go!" Erina yells, but Azami says, "Then do it what I said."
"But...I don't want to do this, father!" Erina cries.
"Then I don't need the both of you." He throws Soma to Erina as they both drop into the trash can, it is at that moment that Erina wakes up.
Erina thinks, "It has been a long while since I had that dream...how is Sou-kun...I wonder if he's doing fine..."
Senzaemon continues to talk to Soma as he says, "His modus operandi is most like the same as it was 10 years ago. He'lllimit and supervise all of Erina's interactions with the outside world. And create a situation in which she can only rely on him. At this rate, Erina will be locked up inside a lonely place where no one's voice can reach her."
"Is he going to do the same thing to me then?" Soma asks.
"I don't know, but I know for sure is that Angel's Eyes are used to see good food even in bad ingredients, which is something that is quite different to God's Tongue. I don't know if he wants to use your eyes again to find the best food, but I ask you to save Erina."
And at the same time, Erina hears a faint sound, and she turns to see Alice manage to get into the house as she is here to bring her out of the mansion. Hisako is also there, and they all manage to run away.
"My letters, I sent so many of them, but you never replied!" Alice yells at Erina.
"Th-that was..." Erina mutters.
"I know, that's why we're becoming runaways! In times like this, boys and girls around the world run away from their homes. We can't let Uncle Azami have his way like this."
"But...I can't disobey my father..." Erina frowns.
"Don't be so spineless! You need to show willpower! Erina!" Alice says.
"Running away is fine. But where are we going?" Ryo asks.
"Can we just go to the Arato Family's mansion?" Alice asks.
"But people under the Nakiri come and go from my place all the time, we can't hide her here!" Hisako says.
"And milady Alice's room and my room are both in the Nakiri Mansion." Ryo adds.
"Eh? Isn't there anyone who can keep her?" Alice asks.
"Don't talk about Erina-sama like she's an abandoned cat!" Hisako yells.
As they are arguing, Erina is just staring at them, not knowing what to do, and then the rain comes, and it is the same time that Megumi arrives.
"The rain's getting heavy." Soma says. "I should go back soon. Former headmaster, I know a lot of things happened with Uncle Azami on that day. But I have promised Erina that I will make her say delicious through my cooking. I won't give up until that day happens."
Then Soma leaves, and Senzaemon nods as he knows that Soma is the only one that can save Erina.
"Tadokoro Megumi-chan?" Alice asks.
"What's wrong? What are you all doing here in the rain? Anyway, you'll catch a cold like this. So come, and take shelter from the rain!" Megumi says as they realize that they are at the Polar Star Dorm, so they quickly rush there to clean themselves up.
Soma arrives back and he sees both Hisako and Erina, she says, "It's Nakiri..."
"Sorry for the intrusion." Erina says.
"And Arato as well. Why?" Soma asks.
"It's a long story." Hisako says as they explain the runaway. Then Soma asks, "Where are the other two?"
"Milady Alice has already gone home." Hisako replies.
Fumio comes and brings her to the bathrooms, and at the same time, Azami already knows about the runaway.
"Should I dispatch some personnel?" The staff asks Azami, who replies, "As expected from Alice, she acts fast. Let's see...just search for where she went. I want to let Erina do what she pleases for now. Cancel all the tasting jobs tomorrow until she returns."
After the staff leaves, Azami looks into the document and he says, "I already know where she will be, after all, I never thought he would be here...this is getting interesting."
As for the Polar Star members, at first, they are reluctant to shelter Erina, but after hearing what she has suffered, they all welcome her by having her taste some of their food.
Arato turns to Soma and says, "Erina-sama is changing, she's become gentler. When I first met her, amidst her beauty, I could feel as if there were some deep darkness. From there, little by little, step by step, she's changing."
"I can see." Soma adds. "And Arato, I think you've mellowed quite a bit too. Like compared to when the Stagiare started."
"Is that so? Let's not talk about me." Hisako says.
"Yukihira-kun. It seems that you became good friends with Hisako during the Stagiaire Period...just what happened?" Erina asks.
"It's a long story." Soma says as he walks away, much to the others' confusion. Megumi rushes to Soma, who has gone back to the room. Megumi asks, "Soma-kun, are you still fine?"
"I promised the former headmaster that I'm not letting her get back into Uncle Azami's hands, that's why I am going to stop him no matter what." Soma says.
"Soma-kun..." Megumi says.
"For his plan, both me and Eri-chan are keyroles." Soma adds. "And I am not going to let that happen."
Here is a new chapter, and as you can see, I decide to make Soma and Erina cousins. That's because there is a special role for Soma in my story, and Azami also tried to take advantage of Soma's ability: Angel's Eyes. The next chapter will be Eizan and Soma's Shokugeki, and I hope you like this chapter.