Sup guys, another 11 days another chapter. Hope you guys been doing well in 2021~~~. I've been occupied with work recently so its a bit of struggle to think of the plot and write it at the same time. Onto some good news and bad news~, the good news is that the government finally reinstalled lockdown on my state and I have more time to write this story while the bad news is a douche of a supervisor asked me to translate a full 30 E-book during lockdown. Haaah.

A big thank you to you all for supporting this story~~ 130+ Followers with 100+ favorites for my first story damn~~. By the way, I have also been watching some new anime's that had came out recently. Horimiya and Slime Season 2 are top of the list for me.

Onto the reviewers corner again~~

I'mAlsoAWe: Thank you for the continuous support man~~ hope this story continues to entertain you.

tooManyPopes: Ah shush~~ you're gonna make my eyes water with your review. Its really hard to incorporate a sad scene in Shokugeki No Soma since it just screams comedy but thanks for the kind review man~~.

FoodWarsJunkie: Just saw your update on your own story, something is rising and its not my motivation...cough...cough. Well moving on, thanks for the constant support as well MY G.

IndraAshura: Hmm it seems I misquote my footnote my bad, this is the last chapter for the childhood arc and hopefully this chapter lives up to your expectation and answer. Yup, I really feel blessed that my parents and grandparents are still with me even now. Thanks for the support my guy~~

NPCGamer11: Thanks for the compliment as well as the tips regarding how children act. Maybe I have portrayed them as a bit too mature in this story. Umu Umu, don't worry you will see a lot of of their rivalry when they get in Totsuki Cough...'Training Camp, Autumn Election'. Haha, this is the last chapter for the childhood arc so grab onto your seatbelts and let the Enrollment arc takes it course.

NinjaFang1331: Wow, a late reviewer. I was just about to release this chapter when I saw your review. Thanks for the compliment man and enjoy the story.

Surprise to see something falling out from the untouched photo album, Soma leaned down and picked up the fallen material. With further inspection, he could see it was a key. But, what was it for? His father and mother never mention anything regarding it.

While he was busy wondering about what the key was for, a sudden windy breeze blew through the slightly ajar window turning the pages of the photo album. The pages continue to be flip over until it finally stopped on the page where Tamako was carrying a baby Soma in her arms. Putting the key aside for now, Soma took the photo album in his hand and began flipping through it slowly.

Smiling lightly to himself, Soma flipped over to the next page which was him holding a knife for the first time. Soma sweat dropped to himself thinking what his parents was thinking when there wasn't even a picture of him walking for the first time. 'Did they set their priorities straight?' Soma could not help but wonder to himself.

Realizing how futile it was to put the word 'logic' with his parents, Soma flipped to the next page which was the day that her mother had cut her hair short. He remembered fondly of that day when her mother wanted to cut her hair in preparations for Parents day. He could not help but chuckled to himself that her hair turned out like that because she dozed off in the middle of cutting her hair.

One page after the other, memories surfacing from just a photo. Precious moments that can't ever be forgotten. Anticipating the end, Soma slowly flipped to the last page and was surprise to see it was a photo of him, Erina and Alice sleeping together on Alice's bed. Soma's face turned bright red just imagining the faces of his parents walking in on him sleeping with his dear friends. 'How embarrassing' Soma thought to himself.

Closing the diary, Soma thought back to his mother words about how she will always be by his side supporting him whenever, wherever. Fondly holding onto the headband her mother gave her, he decided to go downstairs to make something. Once he stepped out of the room, he was caught off guard by the brightness of the light coming from downstairs.

"Is Tou-san drinking again?" Soma said to himself as he descended down the staircase. What was downstairs however was something that he did not thought of or expected in a hundred years.

'Am I dreaming? Have I fallen asleep on the stairs?' Soma confusingly thought to himself as he pinched his own cheeks. "Ouch!"

"What are you doing?" Startled by the sudden sound. Soma looked up and saw Alice staring at him with bemused eyes. "Did you thought that you were dreaming about us?" Soma looked away the instant she asked that as he knew she would tease him about it.

"AH, you did you did. Hahaha Erina, Soma-kun thought we were his imagination" Alice giggly informed Erina.

"Hmph, does us being in your kitchen surprise you that much? Not very welcoming are you hmm." Erina teased Soma.

'I never thought Erina would be the one who teases me, it seems like she is in a good mood. What is going on?' Soma thought in his mind and he stuttered his reply: Nonono, you both are very welcome here. Its not the first time you been here, but it's the first time I did not knew anything about it. So…urm…what's with the getup?"

"Hehe, do you like it?" Alice asked as she twirl in front of Soma. "How about you show Soma as well neh Erina" Alice teased her cousin after finishing her demonstration.

"No way, that would be urm…embarrassing. Cough cough, Saiba-sama lent us these aprons when we told him that we wanted to cook something." Erina explained to Soma.

"Huh? Are you guys hungry? You should have told my dad or me to cook something, you're the guests after all." Soma said as he began walking to the counter.

"Ok stop right there~~~, now you be a good boy and sit right here." He was unfortunately stopped by Alice and usher to the seat in front of the counter.

"Haa…you really are clueless sometimes. We are gonna cook for you and before you ask any questions, don't. You will know once you eat our dish." Erina said.

"?! Erina-chan and Alice-chan will be cooking for me?! This will be the first time I see both of you cook in person. I tried Erina-chan cooking before and it was so delicious." Soma said as he remembered the cake Erina made.

"Mou mou, wait until you try mine. I'm gonna blow Erina's dish out of your mind. You hear me Erina? Today's the day I will make a dish better than you." Alice said proudly.

"You do know that we are going to make this dish together right…"

"…"

"…"

"Ah, I forgot…Teehee. Well I'm still gonna do a better job than you on preparing the ingredients." Alice said as she moved back to the kitchen to join Erina.

"Hai hai, you better not slow me down Alice. If you can't keep up even now, you have no hope of keeping the promises you made." Erina said.

"Now don't you worry about me dear cousin, there's no way I will forget the promises I made with you, Soma-kun and her." Alice said confidently.

Satisfied with her reply, Erina began her own preparations to make a dish that she never pictured herself to cook. Taking in some deep breaths and picturing the dish, she started to get to work on this very special dish.

Flashback

"Knock…knock… You wanted to see us Yukihira-san?" Erina asked as she opened the door to see Tamako motioning them closer.

"Is everything alright Erina-chan, Alice-chan?" Tamako asked.

The question surprise them both as they were not the one in a hospital bed right now. Thus, they can only blindly reply with: "Yes, everything's fine."

"Hehe, that's not what I meant dear. What I meant was how are you feeling? Is anything still affecting you or haunting you?"

Giving time for both of them to think, Tamako told both girls hand into hers and softly spoke: "Its ok for you to not act tough, its ok for you to cry. You both are still kids yet you both experience things that are not meant for even adults."

Seeing both girls holding her hands more tightly, Tamako continued: "Alice-chan, you always give off this happy yet goofy impression and it brightens up many people's heart. Soma told me that you have the most determination out of you three to achieve what you want." He told me that you are much cleverer than him and one day you will make a dish that will blow his brain. Oops…that was meant to be a secret. Well whatever~~~"

"Erina-chan, I heard what had happen between you and your parents. I'm very sorry about what you had to go through. Was it scary? There's only us here, you don't have anything to hide.

"En…it was scary when Otou-sama changed into someone completely different…but what was even more scarier was when Soma-kun fell unconsciousness in front of me. I'm really sorry Yukihira-san…I'm sorry for letting Soma-kun get hurt because of me… I was so afraid that he was not gonna be my friend anymore… I was also afraid that Alice and Soma-kun were gonna leave me alone for what I have cause them." Erina said as she clutched tightly onto Tamako's cold yet warm hands.

"Knowing Soma, he would have brush the whole matter aside and came looking for you immediately right?"

"En En~~~ You should have seen the look of worried when Soma woke up. He came rushing to the door and almost bump into me. Erina no baka, we care about you more than you think.

"Sheesh I get it Alice no donkan, you two will most likely stick with me forever."

"Hehe, just like what Soma told me. You both really do care about each other, you both look more like sisters than cousins."

"Na…Who wants to be sisters with her. Hmph!" Both Alice and Erina replied the same thing and look away at the same time.

"I'll just leave it at that then. Hmm, have Soma told you what the dish he made for me was?"

Both of them just shook their head in response.

"Why don't both of you give it a try?"

Opening the container, both of them could see that inside was the most common of dishes 'Fried rice'. They just can't wrap their heads around why this dish is so special. Yes, this was the first dish that Soma learn from his mother but still…

Remembering that it was never wise to judge Soma's dish just from appearance, they both took a bite from the rice and were transported back when Soma first started to cook.

Soma's first experience as chef was amusing to say the least. Spilling food on the floor, adding in the wrong ingredients, burning and cutting himself was not foreign to him. He was so clumsy that his father even thought he was not cut out to be a chef.

But, he never gave up. What drove him was that whenever he fell down, his mother was there to encourage him. Always cooking his favourite dishes, giving him the lift he needed and just by being with him in the kitchen gives him an additional boost to do better. Why was he so passionate about cooking? It was to make her mother enjoy the dish she first taught him.

Every inch of disappointment when Soma lost to his father in making this dish was on full displayed to Erina and Alice. Gutted but not defeated, he would always bounce back and challenge his father again without seeking advice from her mother. He knew that only a dish he made by himself can give him the satisfaction and fulfilment when his dish is fully completed.

Jumping back to live, Erina and Alice were already touched to tears about how passionate Soma was when he was cooking. They told Tamako that this dish is indeed worthy to be called Soma's best dish.

"Sometimes it's just the little things that gives you life and purpose. Could I count on the both of you to keep looking out for my dear Son, can you promise me that whatever happens you two will always be beside him and supporting him?" Tamako said as she reached up and wipe the tears off the two Nakiris.

"You don't even have to say it Yukihira-san, I will always be beside Soma-kun. No matter how far he goes, Me Nakiri Alice will always catch up to him."

"I Nakiri Erina will also give you my word that whatever happens, Soma-kun would not be alone. He will always serve as my pillar of support as I am to him."

"Cough cough…urgh…I'm thankful that Soma-kun has found people dear to him, I already told him my regret of not seeing his become the best chef in the world…looks like I may add another since I won't be there to see his wedding with both of you…Cough cough…"

"Could you grant me this last wish…Can I hear both of you call me…" Before Tamako can finish, Erina and Alice had already spoke what was in her mind.

"Hai…Okaa-sama…"

"En En…Good girls…Cough cough…Looks like I have little time than I thought…I guess this will be our final conversation."

"Okaa-sama…Okaa-sama…" Both Alice and Erina could not resist their tears from falling as they left the room to call everybody back in for her final moments.

The kitchen was filled with silence as Soma did not want to interrupt them and Erina seemed to have a telepathic communication with Alice as they seemed to be able to work fine together without speaking. Ingredients were given at the exact time by Alice and Erina took them in stride. There was not a misplaced heartbeat as they both work in perfect unison. It seemed like more of a synchronize event more than cooking to Soma as he pictured them both gliding around the kitchen gracefully.

After 45 minutes, the cooking was done as Erina turn off the stove and Alice went behind Soma's back and close his eyes. Sniffing the aroma of the dish was enough to make Soma's mouth watered, he can't wait to see what was placed in front of him.

Slowly removing her hands from Soma's eyes, Soma was able to see a familiar looking dish. A dish that has inseparable ties with him. Unsure of what to say, he looked at up and saw Alice and Erina gesturing him with their eyes to taste the dish. Those eyes were filled with anticipation and anxiousness.

Soma hesitated slightly before tasting the dish. One bite after another, there was nothing spoken. Silence filled the air as Erina and Alice held onto each other as they await Soma to speak. The tension was amplified as the spoon hit the now finished plate, his expression was covered but if you look closely, you will see that tears have started decorated the empty plate.

"Is everything all right Soma-kun?! Was it not good enough?" Erina and Alice said as they rushed towards the sitting Soma.

Deciding that action speaks louder than words, Soma pulled both of them into a hug. Softly whispering to them: "Thank you. Thank you for everything."

Soma finally understood why they were here at night, why they were in the kitchen and cooking. It was all for him, they wanted to cheer him up, to remind him that he is not alone. Once he took the first bite, he could not stop as the dish was near identical to her mother's. The taste was still lacking but what he got out from the dish was something more. Something that was lacking in his own dishes, 'warmth'. A dish taste can be replicated but what gives a dish meaning is the amount of feelings and detailed care you give to the person eating it. What he tasted from this dish was genuine and sincere care from his dear friends.

"Soma-kun, you have already succeeded in expressing your feelings to us." Alice started.

"Now its time for us to do the same" Erina followed.

"Soma-kun, we will always be beside you. No matter how bad the situation is, we will go through it together." Erina and Alice ended their speech together as they hug Soma back tightly.

"Hmm? You three are still up during this hour? The old man's gonna kill me if he sees wrinkles on both your eyes."

"Tou-chan/Saiba-sama/Joichiro-san?" The three asked.

"Who else would it be? Why don't you three go to bed while I helped you guys cleaned up and no buts since it is already way past your bedtime."

"Fine/Hai" The three replied as they began to make their ways upstairs.

"Oi Soma catch" Joichiro said as he threw something at Soma. Upon catching it, Soma could see it was the key he found.

"Check the lowest drawer in Tamako's room would you." After saying that, Joichiro begun to wash the dishes.

Quickly making their way upstairs, Soma began looking intently at the drawer mentioned. He never thought this unlockable drawer that his parents never fixed had something hidden in it.

Anxiously inserting the key into the hole, he began wondering what was inside the drawer that his parents was so adamant of keeping a secret for. Feeling curious, Erina and Alice also leaned in to get a closer of what it is inside. Upon opening, they could see two headbands as well as a small white book.

Interested by the book, Soma decided to open it to find out what secrets lies within it. The content inside the book was familiar to Soma as it contains all of his recipes. Every single one of his failures or his attempts to incorporate ideas into the main menu was also recorded inside. Shocked by the discovery, Soma began flipping through the pages quickly in hopes of finding an answer. After 60 pages, Soma finally found the answer he was looking for. The page consisted of a message written by his mother.

"Soma, if you are seeing this then I may not be around anymore. What you just seen in this book is exactly what you think. Your father may have rejected your ideas to put them in the menu but he was always pleased that you thought off dishes that are unique to you. This book was actually his idea, I was just writing the words instead of him. What a stubborn guy your father is… By the way, I know Erina and Alice are beside you right now. You three were always the cutest together, whenever I see the three of you together I have high hopes that none of you will fall where Joichiro did. Good luck in the future you three, I am always beside you even if you can't see me anymore. Love, Yukihira Tamako."

"Wow…I never knew Tou-chan was someone like that…"

"Hehe, you are quite similar to your father Soma-kun. Always unpredictable."

"Looks can be deceiving, especially with the squid dishes you both make…Urgh."

"Come on, they're not that bad… you both should really give it a try."

"Hell no/No way Mister."

"Hmm…Now I got two more headbands…What should I do with them…Ah I know. Alice-chan Erina-chan would you…" Before Soma could finish, Erina and Alice had already put their right wrist out seemingly knowing what he was planning to do.

After tying the headbands to both of their wrist, the three of them continued to joke around with comments like "We are basically engaged to you now Soma-kun and I was expecting a ring but this will do for now" until drowsiness finally caught up to them and drifted them off to dreamland.

"Looks like he found out eh the kiddo…You really can't keep any secrets from him eh Tamako." Joichiro said as he smoked a cigarette and look out the window to see an angel version of Tamako smiling happily at him.

A week has passed since then and everything was back to normal…Well…not everything as Soma was adamantly challenging his father everyday which resulted in Erina and Alice also joining in as well.

"Seeing the fire in your granddaughters really put a smile on your face eh Senzaemon-dono… This is even tougher than the time I face 50 people is a Team Shokugeki."

"HAHAHAHA, the great Saiba Joichiro is feeling tired from cooking battles with children. I wonder what Gin's gonna say."

"Shut it Gramps…those three are gonna be a force to be reckon with. A new trio eh… reminds you of the past huh."

"Indeed. Who can say that they won't surpass the golden generation. Only one way to find out."

"Soma, Erina-chan Alice-chan come here for a minute. Senzaemon-dono have something to say to you three."

"What is it Jiji/Oji-sama?"

"How about enrolling into Totsuki Academy?"

"EH?!"

Well...another cliffhanger haha.. I'm not that bad guys, I'm gonna leave you a sneak preview for next chapter. By the way, the next chapter will probably be before 3rd of February since I want to finish that chapter and focus on my boy "Xiao".

PS: 'A street restaurant huh, looks like we indeed are quite similar Yukihira Soma. However, does your skill match up to what I heard.' # said as he adjust the headband of his wrist.

Hehe, easy to guess right? What is he doing there huh? Find out next time~~