A/N: The Shokugeki is finally here? Will Sōma beat Ikumi? Or is the Donburi Research Society yesterday's leftovers? You'll find out if you read this chapter. :)

Also, attention, I have a tumblr blog where I post stuff (ideas and questions and thoughts and more) about this account. So… Follow me? The name is "stygianhazardff"

Disclaimer: I do not own Shokugeki no Sōma. And every time I read this manga, I get hungry.

"Looks like we're all set…" Sōma muttered to himself as he gazed at the ingredients and tools he had specifically chosen for this Shokugeki. There was no more time to second guess himself. To be honest, he was sure that this was the best he could do. The only thing that could potentially ruin his chances was if Ikumi managed to make her rice coexist with her A5 meat. He took a deep breath to calm himself before closing the lids on the coolers. He carefully picked one of them up. "Well, are you guys ready?"

"Yeah," Kanichi grabbed a few coolers. He was still really nervous about the Shokugeki. Yet he had managed to keep himself composed enough to not slump down and admit defeat like he had the day they had first met. It was an amazing improvement. The past days spent trying out Sōma's dons had managed to up his confidence about this whole thing. Still though, he gulped nervously as the time to the Shokugeki was quickly ticking down. "It looks like we're good to go."

"Yes!" Megumi eagerly picked up the remaining bags and moved to stand next to Sōma. It was hard to tell if it was to be supportive or to hide behind him before they walked onto the stage. On the plus side, she had finally managed to stop pacing and praying.

"All right!" Sōma grinned readily at the two of them. "Then let's go win this Shokugeki."

Sōma started walking down the hallway. Megumi and Kanichi quickly followed behind him. Already, all of them could hear the noise and feel the vibrations caused by all of the students in the stands. It was evident that the stadium was pretty full. Sōma wondered if this was their equivalent to sporting events, since the Tōtsuki didn't appear to have any sports teams. It would sort of make some sense.

"Do we have sports teams?" Sōma asked them randomly.

Both of them started at his bizzare question at such a bad time.

"U-uh," Kanichi had to gather his thoughts before he could reply. "No? I mean, why would we? This is a cooking school."

Megumi nodded in agreement.

'Yet we have windmills, camping areas, giant gardens, laboratories, and livestock in the weirdest places…' Sōma thought sardonically. Still though, at least it couldn't get any weirder at Tōtsuki than this.

"Are you ready?" Kanichi asked Sōma hesitantly. They were nearing the entrance and Kanichi's skin was starting to look paler the closer that they got to it. From beyond their sight, they could hear the announcer describing the events and what was about to happen.

"I was born ready." Sōma stated confidently. Inwardly though, his mind was in another place entirely. He glanced around as if expecting someone to pop up out of nowhere. No one was in the hall way with them though.

Megumi didn't have time to say anything or comment on Sōma's distractedness because they had finally reached the entrance of the arena. As soon as they cleared the threshold, both she and Kanichi moved as if to hide behind Sōma.

The light momentarily blinded all of them. Once the spots cleared from their vision, they could see all the students sitting or standing all around them. Kanichi and Megumi seamed to shrink in on themselves. The boos directed at Sōma seemed to be effecting them too.

"What's going on here?" Kanichi asked Sōma in total confusion. "It's like everyone in the stands is out for your blood."

"Huh," Sōma looked around curiously. "I'm not sure."

Megumi really wanted to say something, but stage fright had hit her hard.

Undeterred by what was going on around them, Ikumi started to confidently walk up towards Sōma.

"What are you doing?" Erina asked coldly. Behind her, Hisako had stopped and stared in surprise.

"Whatever do you mean?" Alice smirked as innocently as she could. It wasn't much, and it did little to appease Erina. "I heard there was an interesting Shokugeki going on today, so I wanted the best seat possible."

"You could just sit with the commoners like you usually do." Erina retorted. She made a move as if to walk away but stopped at the sight of Alice pulling her phone out of her pocket triumphantly.

"Nuh uh!" Alice denied. "I can go where I want. I'm a Nakiri too, after all. That spot isn't just for Elite Ten members you know. Besides, I got grandfather's permission beforehand because I knew you'd be as difficult as ever."

Ryō discreetly looked the other way at that last statement.

Alice gleefully showed her phone to a shocked Erina. Erina could only stare at it in dismay. Their grandfather had indeed said that Alice could go wherever she wanted as long as it wasn't off limits. Unfortunately, the place in question was such a spot.

"E-Erina…?" Hisako asked timidly. She would normally have been more verbose to whoever would dare talk to Erina in such a fashion. But this was Alice. Her cousin. There was next to nothing that Hisako could do to her, and both of them knew it.

"Hpmh," Erina flicked her hair and turned around sharply. Very well, you may do as you wish."

"Don't I always?" Alice asked mockingly. She had to fight not to laugh at the obviously irritated Erina. "Well, that's settles that. Let's get going, Ryō-kun."

"Yes, ojou-sama." Ryō intoned before dutifully following behind her. He regarded both Erina and Hisako inquisitively. They seemed worth fighting. Erina especially. Hisako didn't seem that worth it though. She was content with her station. That just wouldn't do. Erina was the real big fish in the current generation at Tōtsuki. Someday, they would fight.

"Ryō-kun!" Alice yelled angrily into his ear all of a sudden.

"Yes oujou-sama…?" Ryō absentmindedly rubbed his now numb ear and turned so that his good ear was facing Alice.

"I asked you if you were paying attention." Alice pouted.

"I was, ojou-sama." Ryō said.

"Then what did I say last?" Alice asked.

Ryō racked his brain to come up with the right answer. He hadn't been paying attention at all. There were three possible choices. Molecular Gastronomy, the transfer student, or Erina. Given the situation, it was either the transfer kid or Erina. That gave him a 50/50 shot. Not good odds. "You were saying… We should hurry so we don't miss the Shokugeki?"

"Mhm…" Alice stared at Ryō probingly. "Close enough."

Ryō silently let out a sigh once Alice had turned around.

They both reached the viewing area above the Shokugeki arena just as Erina had sat down. Erina glanced at them before turning to look down at the proceedings. Hisako chose to stand behind her and keep an eye on Alice and Ryō for the time being. Alice shot her a mocking smile before turning to look down at the arena. Almost immediately, her wine red eyes connected with a warm golden and she smiled benevolently.

"Is that?"

"How?"

"Why would they come here?"

"What's going on!?"

"The both of them?!"

Sōma and Ikumi both stared up at the viewing area in shock while the crowd went wild. Both for different reasons though. Ikumi was focused on Erina. Sōma, on the other hand, could only stare curiously at Alice. Their eyes met immediately and Sōma couldn't help but reflexively answer her smile with one of his own.

'What is she doing up there?' Sōma thought briefly before an answer hit him. 'Ah, she probably just wanted the best view. Man, I should sit there next time there's a Shokugeki.'

"Why would they both come to this Shokugeki?!" Kanichi stared at Alice and Erina in total shock.

"Huh?" Sōma turned to look at Kanichi. "What are you talking about?"

"ATTENTION!" Urara yelled out angrily in order to quiet down the rowdy students in the stand, effectively drowning out Kanichi's response. They immediately shut up. "Thank you… Now then, will everybody who is not taking part in this Shokugeki please get off the stage? Now then, contestants to your positions! Remember, whoever loses will lose everything today. Shokugekiiiiiiiiiii START!"

Sōma glanced at Alice one last time before moving into position.

"What brings you here anyway?" Erina asked Alice once the match started.

"No reason." Alice answered flippantly.

Erina's eyebrow twitched angrily at Alice's answer.

"It's unlike you to come to such small scale Shokugeki's, Alice-sama." Hisako said once it looked like Alice wasn't going to answer Erina.

"I was bored and had nothing better to do." Alice was looking down at the stage, completely focused on Ikumi as she started cutting her A5 beef. She did note that Sōma didn't seem even half as impressed as the rest of the students watching though. A fact that made her chortle internally.

Erina took notice of her staring and smiled smugly. "I wasn't aware that you were interested in the people I plan to add into my faction.

"Is that what you think?" Alice snorted. "Oh, don't worry. I may be looking, but I don't really care. In the end, they will lose to me too."

"Because of what you learned while in Denmark?" Erina questioned. "You put too much faith in your food science that you neglect the basics."

"Why worry about the basics when I've mastered the intricacies of food preparation?" Alice asked confidently. "Your way of cooking is too old fashioned. Don't worry Erina, you'll see that I'm right once you and I have a Shokugeki."

"I'll look forward to it," Erina turned to look back at the match. Down below, the uproar had finally died down once the crowd had seen what Sōma had deigned to bring to the match. "Cheap supermarket meat? Hmph, as expected from a backwater diner chef."

Alice's finger twitched at Erina's harsh remark. Outwardly though, she managed to appear calm. She was totally glaring at Erina in her mind though.

Ryō glanced at Alice momentarily before looking back down at the match. It was definitely a step up from the other matches he had seen since arriving at the academy. And this two seemed to be evenly matched in terms of skill. Ikumi may have a lead because of her A5 beef, but that didn't matter too much. What really mattered was the finished product. And right now, it was hard to tell which way the vote would fall. Ryō leaned forward to get a better look.

Erina and Hisako started talking about Ikumi's skills. Alice paid them half a mind. Inwardly, she was thinking back to the past two days she had spent helping out Sōma. She didn't have enough time to help out much; still, she felt that she had managed to give Sōma enough food for thought to give him a fighting chance. The don he had made for her yesterday was leagues above what he had first served her when they started brainstorming. If he kept improving as much as he usually did, then he should have a don that could beat Ikumi by now.

"It looks like they should be done soon, ojou-sama." Ryō said with a bored tone of voice.

Alice focused on Sōma. He seemed to be smiling. At the very least, his cooking would likely finish without any mistakes. That was good. "So what do you think?"

"It depends on the judges," Ryō said indifferently. Seeing that Alice was about to ask again, he rephrased his answer. "But from what I saw, the transfer student has a better shot at winning."

Alice tried to get a better look at their dons. Unfortunately, both of them had already been covered up. Ikumi started to walk up with her trays and confidently placed them in front of the judges. The judges immediately uncovered them and looked down at the don in surprise. Alice's eyes narrowed at what she was looking at. The don appeared to be flower made of meat on top of rice.

The judges appeared to be very favorable towards the don. They ate it eagerly and couldn't stop commenting on it. Within moments, the meat was all done and they started to eat the rice. Alice didn't pay any attention to their comments or actions though. She was too busy wondering what Sōma would present and if he managed to complete the ideal don that he had been thinking of yesterday. She figured it would be ok. If Sōma could make Chapelle-sensei smile, he could definitely impress these judges.

"Did you notice ojou-sama?" Ryō asked Alice.

"Huh?" Alice turned to look at Ryō.

Ryō stared at her for a moment before looking back down at the judges. "Look at the bowls that Mito gave them. Do you see what's wrong?"

Alice turned to look at the bowls and immediately noticed what Ryō was talking about. There was still a lot of rice left in the bowl. That was a huge embarrassment for a chef. She turned to look at Erina. Based on the expression on Erina's face, she too had realized what had just happened and was not pleased at all at what she was seeing.

Sōma finally moved forward and placed his bowls in front of them. They slowly opened them before gazing in surprise at the don in front of them. Alice couldn't blame them. The don looked just as good as Ikumi's don, in a different sort of way. The judges tentatively took a bite. As soon as they swallowed, they kept going with no signs of stopping.

"Seems like that's that," Alice said smugly while turning to smirk at Erina. "What do you think, dear cousin?"

Erina didn't rise to the bait. She kept glaring down at the judges table.

Below, the judges had quickly finished Sōma's don in less than half the time they took eating Ikumi's. The outcome was obvious, but the validation was still sweet once they had all hit the button signifying that their votes had all been casted in Sōma's favor. Sōma smirked and whipped off his headband while saying something. Alice got up at the same time as Erina. Both of them started to walk in opposite directions. There was nothing more to be said between them now.

"Vacate the kitchen that we gave her, Hisako." Erina said sternly.

"Right away, Erina-sama." Hisako jotted down the note on her planner.

Alice took one last look at the exuberant Sōma before smiling and leaving the room.

Down below, Sōma noticed her exit and quickly said goodbye to Kanichi and Megumi before leaving the arena. There were questions that he needed answered. Like how to get to that room she had been sitting in.

OMAKE

"Are you drooling over there, transfer student?" Ikumi asked mockingly. She was standing next to her A5 beef like a proud mother. And she did indeed have a lot to be proud about.

"Eh?" Sōma seemed unconcerned. If anything, he looked like he was awfully smug. Behind him, Kanichi and Megumi were both struggling to push something out onto the arena.

"Huh?" Ikumi looked at the thing they were carting in. It was a a stand that looked a lot like hers. It was also covered in a tarp just like her A5 meat. A familiar scent tickled her nose. But this time, it was coming from their side of the arena. "No way…"

"Ha!" Sōma yanked off the tarp with a flourish. Underneath it laid his very own A5 beef.

"What?!" Ikumi and the entire crowd of spectators yelled out.

In the very back of the stadium, a student by the name of Mimasaka Subaru stared in complete shock. To think that there was another student at Tōtsuki who did Shokugeki's the way he did. This required further investigation.

"You're not the only one with A5 beef, you know." Sōma smirked at Ikumi's stunned expression.

"B-b-but h-how…?" Ikumi stammered out in shock. She recognized that cut of meat. It came from her father's company. It was a special order, so special that not even she could get it for this Shokugeki. How on Earth could this transfer kid from a simple diner afford such a thing?

Up above, in the viewing area, a very smug Alice crossed her arms and smiled. "All according to plan."

A/N: And there you have it. The Shokugeki is over with. Of course Sōma won. lol

Next up is… Either the day before/of the training camp or another Alice and Sōma hanging out day. I'm still thinking about it. Honestly, don't expect much Alice/Sōma to happen until near the end of the training camp. Just a heads-up, for those of you who are impatient. Relationships don't just happen, people usually become friends first.

Ah, and as of right now… These are the votes for the pairings of the Halloween Special I'll be posting next month.

Alice – 3

Hisako – 2

Ikumi – 2

Kurase – 1

Rindō – 3

Ryoko – 2

I've only been getting votes for after the Autumn Leaf Viewing, which I was hoping to do anyways. So that means the Elite Ten will possibly be in the fan-fic and the girls who are a part of the Elite Ten are potential love interests for Sōma. So the voting on the time period is done.

Again, reminder, please feel free to follow "stygianhazardff" on tumblr for updates/thoughts about my fan-fiction stuff.