Shokugeki No Soma

Chapter 4: Underworld

Soma was laying there that night the two women who loved him more than anything the two women who went into the barren wasteland that had nothing but pain in it just to save him. Yet, they did not know he was going to be leaving again this time for good that tomorrow would be the last meal he made them. Hearing rumors that his mother could be alive in a food cult called the underworld and there was no way he was going to pass up the potential to see his mother after thinking she had been dead all this time.

Alice laid there next to Soma her head in the crook of his neck smiling at his scent knowing he was next to her and that he loves her enough that he could not outright pick her cousin over her and he wasn't like Ryo that just said yes to her he was unmovable and nothing was hotter than knowing she had no power over him that he was the one in full control. Soma was everything he was handsome and smart sometimes but since his food only got better with each Shokugeki was honestly scary she could only fear the day she may go into a food nirvana from all the purely blissful foods he would make.

Erina laid there snoring ever so quietly as once again the nightmare came to her again that night she was running in the dark she could not tell where she was going but she heard men behind her and she was afraid Soma and Alice were no were to be found she was all alone but unlike the time her dad was in control she was not in a cage for what he used for her protection as he said she was in the blackest of nights with nobody around but the noises of men and women laughing as they slowly approached her knowing full well that she could never escape running faster and faster she refused to be hurt by these people tears flowing as she ran yelling for Soma to save her but still no response.

-THUMP-

Erina laid there as she woke up tears everywhere as Soma looked directly into her eyes trying to see what was wrong as if her eyes were telling a story while he walked over to her just holding her ever so gently in his body as he rocked her back and forth looking at her not saying a word knowing that she would tell him if she had wanted to talk about it and he did not want to hurt her and cause her anymore pain as he just thought he might now have to leave even earlier but did not want to leave her and Alice while they were wide awake knowing they and everyone else might just hunt him down to drag him back he couldn't even tell his father even if he had wanted to because he did not want to get his father's hopes up for nothing. He hated that no matter what he did at this point he would be hurting someone as Erina fell asleep in his arms once again silently drifting off in to a peaceful sleep this time as Hisako walked in looking at him quizzically knowing he would give her all the answers she wanted only to see him pointing to his phone so she grabbed it as he wrote her a text.

Txt msg

Soma: I think Erina had a nightmare, but I do not know why she was in her sleep crying can you give her anything to help with it discreetly.

Hisako: I will see what I can do

Soma: Between you and I can you keep an eye on these two for a while longer for me

Hisako: Why

Soma: I have something I need to finish

Hisako: I will give you two weeks and I want location on your phone at all times

Soma: Deal

They just stared at each other she knew he was lying somewhere in the messages, but she did not know where, but she sat there as he laid Erina down next to Alice as he and Hisako walked out of the room going down the stairs to see everyone laying all over the place as they walked past them quietly opening the door and slipping out.

"What is going on Soma" Hisako stated staring at the boy knowing he had some stupid idea, and she would not like it. "I can't tell you, yet I am sorry, but could you help me pick out a ring and necklace for the two Nakiri girls. I know I want to get Alice a necklace to match her ring and Erina a ring to match her necklace, but I also want to get them a special ring to show my commitment to them even though I am leaving again." He said as Hisako just walked next to him knowing that Soma meant what he said even when he wouldn't let anyone in just as they had gotten to the jewelry shop she looked at him as if he was insane knowing that nothing she said would convince him to tell her but she would let Alice and Erina know they deserved that much at least right what is the worst trouble could have actually started.'

There they walked around just admiring the beauty together talking about what was to come as he slowly let his mind drift further and further away remembering this would potentially be the last time, he would see everyone and his family's restaurant as he held back the tears. He could not let anyone know the pain he was going through for if they knew they would most certainly try to stop him from doing it but he had to go through with this he would not let the underworld rule the food world as long as he could fight he would. The underworld just remembering the conversation with them gave him nightmares but if it kept Erina and everyone safe he would gladly give his freedom up for them to have a free world of enjoyable foods.

Hisako looked at him and asked "Soma at least tell me what is going on since I cannot tell anyone please?"

Soma stared at her while they continued to walk "I am joining an organization known as the underworld they want to destroy all the great chefs in the world that have a big name or came from big places like Totsuki and people like Gordon Ramsey who didn't even go to a big cooking school but I am joining and in return they will leave everyone close to me alone so the Nakiri family, your family, my dad and restaurant, and the polar star dorm friends and family. My mom might also be alive and working with them and if it means I have a slight chance of seeing my mom and possibly saving her I will go even if I lose myself I will go to save her its not fair that she goes through all this to save me and I cannot do anything to save my mother and that's why I don't want them knowing because if I get hurt I don't care but I would lose everything if any of them got hurt" he whispered knowing she would hear him but nobody else would be able to hear what he had said as they arrived at the store just after 10 am.

They slowly walked into the jewelry store which surprised both of them how my fine jewelry options they had and as he stared he knew that he knew nothing of what would look good on them but he knew that he loved them and wanted to get them the best he could and as he looked and looked he motioned her over to show her the white gold necklace with gold plate holding the most beautiful ruby he had ever seen the ruby looked exactly like her eye color it was perfect and the golden plate rivaled his eye color and there was no way he could ever pass that up as he told the man he wanted that while he moved looking for a ring for Erina. Moving almost through the whole shop he had found nothing until he got to the very last case in the shop and he saw it was so simple yet so beautiful and nothing could change his mind as he saw this ring the banding was a simple gold band with just the most beautiful amethyst in the center it looked like Erina's eye was in the ring he was at a lost for words as he told the man he wanted that ring also with the necklace the man looked at him confused because the two items did not match in the least yet he wanted them both as the man was thinking he had a girlfriend and a mistress before he looked at Hisako "Don't you think they will love these" was all he could say before tears started to overwhelm him. "Anything you get your two ladies who are currently waiting for us and I mean anything you get them, they will love it unconditionally" she said rubbing his back remembering the time she was saved by Soma when she had almost lost Erina and she vowed she would not let Erina and Alice lose Soma to this underworld group they would all talk about it when they got back to the shop he did not deserve to go through this pain alone as they left he walked off "I need to get some fresh air I don't want them to see me crying before I give them their gifts but can you hold on to them please?" he said as he handed the bag to her and walked off before she could ever respond.

Group Text

Hisako: Everyone, Soma is trying to run away again but this time he is going to be doing something completely reckless knowing it will destroy him mentally

Erina: What do you mean he just seemed sad his mom died, and I thought he was ok since we had helped him? What is he doing?

Alice: I do agree with Erina here what is our boyfriend here doing?

Joichiro: If he is doing something he has to have a good reason I would also like to know it.

Senzaemon: If you believe he is in trouble we will help

Mana: I cannot let my son-in-law disappear yet

Erina: MOM NOT NOW

Leonora: What is happening?

Soe: Soma will be fine I bet he is stronger than anyone else here.

Asahi: What could be so bad that he is disappearing he beat the Noi…. Oh, crap please tell me he is not getting involved with those people in the U-world

Everyone: What is U-world Hisako? Asahi?

Hisako: It is the underworld and from what Soma told me they had threatened all of you and he is giving himself up so that you guys would not have to ever come in contact with them and he also said that there was a possibility of his mom being alive and working with them.

Asahi: That idiot they will not in the beginning but once he is broken and lost then they will target us again it is how they work they are slow and meticulous. They want him to believe that we are safe and once they destroy everything inside you then they attack those you love again if they deem them worthy to force into submission.

Everyone: What do we do?

Asahi: One minute

Soma was added to the chat

Soma: What is up everyone?

Asahi: I have a question for you and be honest.

Soma: Ok?

Asahi: Have you ever met the underworld I just met one a few weeks ago and they tried to get me to join them telling me that with the two of us they would be unstoppable.

Soma: uhhhh who is the underworld?

Asahi: Soma please do not lie to me I need to know so I can make the right choice.

Soma: Can we talk about this in private like in person so that nobody will know what I am about to tell you?

Asahi: I am alone in the bathroom.

Soma: Fine yes, they came up to me to recruit me and told me if I did not, they would hurt everyone I cared about and their families.

Erina: AND YOU THINK YOU DOING THIS WOULD NOT HURT ME

Soma: I should have known that everyone was in this chat…. Sorry but you all mean too much to me that I could not risk any of you so I gave myself up to them.

Erina: You get back to the restaurant right now or I will find the underworld idiots and join also

Soma: Do not I am here I was just clearing my head… Hisako can you give them both the things

Hisako: No, you want them to have them you do because I know if I do it then you will just run to a plane and leave

Soma: Cannot blame me for trying but no I am on my way back

Azami: Why would you even think to do that…

Soma: They said that my mom was with them and that I could see her again and I know I saw her dead, but I guess it gave me hope that I could see her again and make up for lost time… sorry dad

Joichiro: Hey we but heads like your mom and I did but I love you and plus if I lost you where would I be what would I do you saved me when your mother died it was you challenging me to cook offs all the time even when you lost over 500 times to me you still refused to give up so I don't want you to do this alone at least let me help you.

Mana: My son-in-law is not doing this alone I am going with also and do you dare try to say anything

Ryo: I am coming also we are rivals and rivals help each other against other people

Takumi: Do not count me out and I am sure Isami is also wanting to help along with the rest of Polar Star Dorm

Isami: I am definitely in

PSD: We are helping Soma we will not let you do it all on your own like you did with Eizan.

E10: We are also helping you Soma.

Azami: I will also lend you my strength Soma

Asahi: I owe them some pay back so count me in

Alice: well, my boyfriend is not going anywhere with potential girls without me there

Erina: That makes two of us

Soe: I can't let my daughter go without me going to help her

Leonora: I am coming fufufufu I want to see how this love triangle plays out and who knows maybe by the time they graduate I will have a grandchild

Everyone: NO

Alice: Mom why do you do this to me

Mana: Maybe Erina will give me a grandchild first

Soma: Can I leave this conversation

Everyone: NO

Soma: Ok just asking because I feel like they just are wanting to start pumping out kids for them

Mana & Leonora: I would not be opposed to that

Shinomiya: You cannot just leave your "master" behind I will be coming also

Gin: Count me in

Hayama: I am coming also if Hisako is going

Hisako: I am going to keep Erina safe

Soma: Why I do not want anyone to be hurt because of me

Erina: I hated you when you enter Totsuki because you were not someone who had everything but you had nothing and your food was the best I had ever tasted but what struck me a curious is that no many how many times I told you that your food was disgusting you some how made it taste better and I fell in love with you then as you pushed so hard to show me the beauty of food and nobody else could do that if I lost you I would lose a part of me and I do not want that.

Alice: I guess I fell in love with you when we had our first match in the Autumn Elections. Nobody ever defies us Nakiri's but you did you did not care about who anyone was you would give everything to help everyone and it slowly changed how I saw you then when you fought Central and declared you were making your specialty as an appetizer and lets not forget when you fought Asahi you risked everything to make a dish nobody else could have ever made you kept making my heart race and wonder what it would be like to kiss your lips.

Leonora: awwwwww my daughter is so adorable

Mana: Erina that was a beautiful confession

Soma: ehhhhhhhh well I am almost home see you in a few

End convo

Soma slowly walked onwards to the diner as he texted the leader of the underworld challenging him and his top 100 men to a cooking battle if they won, he would join them but if they lost the underworld would disband and not even a second later, he replied only if we can have Erina and Alice join also. Sending a message back give me a week to consider it I will meet you at the diner since everyone now knows and we can iron out all the details and once again he replied I will be there at 1pm and he replied ok letting the man know that this would be the beginning of everything happening it would be the opening of chaos and the only way to stop it was to destroy them all in food battles. Finally, making it back to the diner everyone glared at him but ran to him to hug the kid.

Soma finally got the bag from Hisako as he pulled out two boxes handing one to Alice and the other to Erina as they quickly opened them to only stare as the necklace and ring as Soma walked past everyone before going behind the counter calling his dad over. "I need your help I plan to ask them to marry me I kind of figured Hisako would tell them, and it was easier to have her do it" he whispered to his dad as they both started to grab all sorts of ingredients. "Only if I get to see the rings" he responded to his son smirking. "Dad can you help me pick out meat from the back for our last battle" he said trying to hide his grin. "Fine but we are using egg as the main ingredient" Joichiro retorted.

In the back he pulled out two rings one was a beautiful Ruby with a yellow beryl in in with a white gold band and the other ring had a yellow beryl with a pink topaz in it with a pure gold band around it. His dad just stood there in silence surprised as not only the beauty of the two rings but the fact that his son was so greedy to take two women. "You cannot have both come on even I only had one wife" he whispered. "Are you getting jealous that I might have two" his son snickered back at him as they grabbed the meat and walked out to start the battle of father and son "I will only approve if you can beat me right now and show me that they are both the reason you are cooking" he whispered to his son. As soon as they separated, they were off cooking like crazy soon everyone stood there in silence watching as the two danced in the kitchen as they cooked against each other. Soon, Joichiro brought his dish out to everyone as he made a waffle egg souffle with bacon, onion, and peppers in it and on the side was very light miso soup made only from vegetable umami as they ate they saw all the battles that he had with his son it was as if they were all in every battle these two had not only the ones that Soma did to improve but even battles showing how nasty some of the food they could make could get. Soma continued cooking as he took bites from his dad's dish when he had a second but just as he finished, he grabbed out containers for everyone as he filled them two containers were slightly bigger than the rest as he slid the rings into the bottom with a note saying, "Do not open until you have eaten and decided on the food." As everyone opened the boxes, they saw at the top was Erina noticed to be the Transforming Furikake and she opened the side container to see the cubes as she dumped them in to have everyone else follow suit noticing how it tasted so much better than when she first had it making her way to the second of the three containers she saw his Curry Risotto Omurice as she smiled knowing full well that once it was opened this place would have the smell of all the spices he used and as if on queue her mom broke it followed by everyone else it was becoming more and more over powering and she could barely stay conscious from the lovely smell from all the spices he had used in the dish and finally they had gotten to the final where he had put his eggs benedict fit for a queen as he then spoke up this is not the same eggs benedict you all saw a blue where I made if for Erina and Mana to both enjoy I call this new one Eggs benedict love's true form Family-style hehehe just as he finished they all took a bite in to the dish and once again they were living in the past but this time it was going through each memory that Soma made with Erina and Alice as they grew and challenged each other and they saw his persistence as they got to the end it showed the memories of him in the Shokugeki with Eizan as everyone defended Polar Star Dorm and no matter what the memory showed you could tell Soma was in the middle lifting everyone up and if there was a fight he was the first one on the front lines to defend everyone he loved. "So Erina and Alice how was the dish and everyone who won?" Soma asked but before anyone else could respond his dad walked up to him "I admit defeat this time that dish you made was made purely out of love and so as our deal you have it now go do it" he said looking at his son growing up with tears in his eyes "It was Delicious Soma" the two girls said in unison as he then reached in and grabbed the last boxes looking down at the ground he did not know how to do this but he knew that they were going into the darkness and he wanted to show them what they meant to him before they all went into a battle they may very well lose so he looked at Erina as he knelt on the ground only to see Alice glaring at him as he chuckled "Erina you are the most stubborn woman I have ever met and when I first saw you I fell in love with you and every time I made you a dish I noticed I wanted to make it better but no matter what it could not get there until today when I found out what I was missing and I know it is terribly greedy of me but will you be my wife Erina?" he said not even a breath later he tackled him kissing him ravaging his lips against his mumbling "yes, yes, yes" into his lips as she did not want to stop but knew she needed to as he slid the ring on her finger to see the most beautiful pink topaz and yellow beryl in a simple but elegant gold band. He then turned his attention to Alice while standing looking down at her as he wanted them to each have a special moment of their own "Alice when I was cooking for Erina I could tell I would never completely make a dish that was perfect for her because part of my heart belonged to you and today was proof of that when I made my first true specialty and realized my specialty was family but Erina was not the only person I wanted to be my family I became greedy when I fell in love with you along with Erina it tore me apart thinking I would have to pick one of you but I can't do that I would never be compete unless I had you both so Alice will you also marry me?" he barely finished before Alice jumped into his arms yelling "YES" she then quickly kissed him gently on the lips catching him by surprise as she kissed him gently yet she was so out going as Erina was shy yet she kissed him so roughly as they finished he just stood there and smirked then remembered one thing he forgot but he knew he had to do it this way to keep them both completely off guard "Senzaemon, Leonora, Soe, Azami, Mana, and Asahi I know I should have asked you all first but would you let me have both of your daughters hands in marriage I promise to love them equally and to strive to always make more dishes taste better so that neither of them despair to the god tongue Erina has and I promise to always make time for all off us as a family so that your daughters can stay connected and if not connect even more to all of you?" he said as he looked away only to see his dad crying only to hear a resounding "Yes and about time" as they all laughed knowing that this boy would always keep their daughters safe the food he had given them proved it all to them and no words were needed to know that to be true. "Oh, yeah I won't be back to school for at least another week Erina" Soma chuckled as he looked at her giving him the death glare. "WHY NOT" she yelled at him. "I kinda sorta invited the head of the underworld here to iron out some details" he said as he tried to run out the door only to feel to hands grab him and he knew these hands to well but not before he got slapped over the head not once but twice from the two ladies he just proposed to. "OW" he yelled as everyone laughed as the two glared at him pushing him into a chair and both sitting on one leg while they held him. "Why did you do that?" the two asked in unison. "It was either he comes here or I go there and I figured if you all are insisting on helping I would be best that you all meet the head of the underworld since we will be going against him and his 99 best cooks." Soma stated as if it was no big deal earning him two more smacks as everyone continued to laugh "If you both plan to keep hitting me non-stop we can call this marriage off" he said only to have them both glare at him "No, we are hitting you for not thinking and making us keep you in line you are lucking we are not hitting you even more but since he is coming to meet you here us three and our families will all stay here to make sure we do not miss him and find out ALL the details" Erina said putting a big emphasis on the word all only to see Soma nod "If you even think about sneaking out I will personally castrate you my love" Alice said with a huge grin as Soma's eyes widened as he shook his head up in down as he understood she probably was joking but he would not risk it.

Hope this Chapter reaches everyone in good moods the darkness is not over yet just thought some light before the dark would be nice.