Distraught, Purpose, Relationship

by YuugoRyou

A retold of Shokugeki No Soma where Soma, Erina and Alice met up before Tamako sadly passed away, before Erina fell under the grasp of Azami and before the sense of loneliness kicks into Alice. A Soma X Erina X Alice fanfic. (Childhood arc and Totsuki training camp done) Autumn Elections in progress. (Monthly updates)

20. Chapter 20

SUP GUYS! I hope you haven't forgotten this story as I know I haven't. Everyday while doing my project I was like do I have the time to write a bit and eventually I managed to finish it before the deadline I set for myself. Yeah...I'm still in the middle of doing my project mainly because my supervisor suck as she only replied after a week I send my draft...Like wtf... Anyways, enough about me. I kept you guys waiting long enough so this chapter will contain the 2 semi-finals, a few surprises and some new characters hehe~~ I hope you like it. And don't worry, I will never abandon this story.

PS: Huge thanks to the 480 people who favourtie my story and the 568 people who have followed it~~You guys are the best~~

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Now onto the Review Corner~~13/14 reviews for me to go through~~Just review anything you want~~Ask me any questions you want~~ You can also recommend me dishes, matches or characters~~~

IndraAshura: Sup my G~~Exams? Those are way easier than what I am going through now haizz...Appreciate the humor bro~~Maybe I'm not really sane nowadays haha~~Yes, she will be joining Hoseki and Every member of Hoseki will have their spotlight in the Moon banquet Arc. Hisako is wild I tell you haha~~A bit of bias since she's my second favourite character in the anime~~The crowd are mostly dumb~~ It's like those keyboard warriors who know nothing but sound like the know everything~~ Nope~~(The cherry will be pop soon~~) Megumi and Kurokiba will eventually have a winner(Maybe in the next chapter~)

IndraAshura: Be proud My G~~You will be the first one to featured twice in the same review corner~~Don't worry about reviewing late, IRL is hard to manage after all~~Hehe~~You will know what I mean at the end of this chapter~~Yes~~~Erina is growing to be quite a tease but not quite Alice level though~~ Urara is so fun to write, she is basically the mascot that can be placed anywhere~~ Well, breaking the fourth wall can relieve some stress when you read a boring paragraph so I do it to let you guys know how I feel as well~~Sure, you can add it to your story~~ Glad you like that part~~there's more coming in the future~~Hayama lost because I genuinely think Hisako in the anime did not display her full potential..heck even Alice was nerf to the gut. Well~~You can see what happens to him in this chapter~~ Yep, you finally got a question correct. Congrats~~ Thanks MY G, stay safe and I will be waiting for your thoughts in the next chapter~

CincyRail: Sup man~~Thanks~~Greatly appreciate it~~Good to see your hardwork finally pays off. Hopefully mine will when I graduate next year~~ Alice, my favourite character and the easiest to write since she can basically pull anything off~~ Thanks for that but I prefer not to miss my deadline~~ Don't want it to turn into a habit after all haha~~ Stay safe and enjoy your work man. Looking forward to hearing from you again.

Anikong: Thans man~~ Appreciate the kind words~~ Yup, I guess too much thing about cooking will eventually bore you guys so I reduce it a bit~~ Hope you like it~~ Hehe, you got your wish and maybe a little more~ Looking forward to hearing from you again.

Fyranth: Thanks man, hope you like this chapter as well~~

NinjaFang1331: Thanks man~~ Hope the food wars in this chapter entertain you as well~~

lotto1212: Thank you, glad you like the changes in the story~ I try my best to maintain their personality but it will be harder since characters do grow. Yes, I do research on the food I used in my food wars. I don't want to half assed it and ruin your fun. Man, your English is good. Have more confidence in yourself.

NANLIT: Sup man, good to see you doing well. Yup, they are a bunch of hot-headed idiots after all haha. Hayama will have his own development~~Maybe in this chapter who knows haha~~Hmm, you somehow got the interaction right but not the match up...Strange but I'll give you a free pass~~ That generaton will play a part in the upcoming arcs~~so don't worry. There's time for the ignorant others to learn~ Stay safe man and looking forward to hearing from you again.

Jose Jesus Calderin: Thanks man, glad you like it~~Thank you again for the kind words~~Yep, Hayama will have his moment especially if you know where I'm going with him in this chapter~~

GunBlade2021: Thanks man, appreciate the kind words and stay safe yourself

Dragon King Ryouga: Hi man, thanks for the kind words~ Yup, too much cooking makes it boring I think so I'll reduce it a bit ~~

FateFan: Hello, thanks for the kind words. Appreciate it~~ I see, Hayama is rank pretty low in my book as well. True, you do have a point there with him being in the Elite 10. Haha, you really do hate Hayama do you~~ let's see will this chapter help change your mind a bit.

E.T. 2000: Thanks for the review again~~Yes, every dish in my story has been written after I done my research~~ Those are some interesting matchup you propose~~ Let's see what I can do about it~~

Rudra: Thanks for the kind words and review and I hope you are feeling better now. It's your lucky day since I will be updating this story when you just finished it~~ Good suggestion, let's see if I can make it happen (No promises~~)

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"Winner: Arato Hisako!" Urara announced as the screen displayed an overwhelming 5-0 victory to Hisako.

"..."

Silence ensured the arena as the realization that the pre-tournament favorite was now knocked out in the first hurdle of the main tournament. To some, it may come as a shock but to some, it was a thought that they did not dare to voice out. Sure, Hayama was also their favorite to win the whole tournament but the display shown by others gradually altered their perception. And this last match finally proved their suspicion was correct. The facts were literally thrown straight at their face in the preliminaries but, they refused to believe it until it actually occurred in front of them. Hayama Akira has lost.

While everyone was still trying to come to terms with what had just happened, a sudden blur tackled Hisako to the ground where everyone slowly regained their senses.

"Hisako Onee-sama~~ Congratulations~~~"

"Oof!"

"Hehe~~~I always believe in you Onee-sama~~I told you that you were going to win~~" Nao said as she embraced Hisako tighter.

"Cant…breathe…" Hisako weakly voiced out from the death bear hug Nao was currently enveloping her in.

Knowing that Nao has no intention of letting go, Hisako took a peek at Nao and smiled at the sheer happiness radiating from her expression. Finally relenting, she let Nao have her way with her. (Not in the way you're thinking you perverts~~)

---

While the winner was busy being showered with affection, the unfortunate loser could only look down at the ground below in defeat.

Disappointed…Angry…Sad…These are only some of the adjectives that Hayama could use to describe what he is feeling now. For the first time in his life, he had suffered a crushing defeat to his pride.

Deciding that his best course of action was to disappear before causing himself and his dearest someone even more embarrassment, he quickly walked off the stage and away from the arena.

Well…That was supposed to happen until three pairs of legs stopped him in his tracks.

"Running away from a lost now? Are you seriously that egocentric?" A cold voice resembling a queen resounded in front of him.

Trying his hardest to lift his head up, he was met with a pair of purple-pinkish eyes filled with disappointment, a pair of cartoonist red eyes, and a pair of curious-looking yellow eyes.

"Heh…gracing me with your presence just to rub salt on my wounds?" Hayama sarcastically said to the girl standing directly in front of him.

"Let's go, Soma, Alice. I don't think he is in the mindset for us to converse properly." Erina said as she walked past Hayama without battling him an eyelid.

Following her stead, Alice walked past Hayama with eyes of mischief before leaving him with some parting words. "Don't get so grouchy about it~~It's not like we will think any less of you~~~You could say you live up to our expectation~~"

"Tch…" Hayama begrudgingly grumbles.

Knowing that there was only one person left, Hayama waited for the impending words of his rival that he proclaimed himself but… it never came.

Deciding to face him head-on, Hayama looked at Soma straight in the eyes when he saw a smile on his face.

"...What…"

"Heh, you finally dare to look me in the eyes."

"If that's all you have to say, then you best don't leave your girlfriends waiting." Hayama said as he started to walk past Soma.

Just As Hayama reached his side, Soma decided to ask him. "It hurts right?"

"That's a funny thing to ask Yukihira. Are you expecting me to be smiling away at my own defeat?

Ignoring his sarcastic remarks, Soma follows up with another question. "What will you do about it?"

"Huh?"

"It already happened. What are you planning after this?"

"...Probably loiter alone in the seminar away from everyone" Hayama replied after a long pause.

"Even from 'her'?"

Seeing that Hayama slightly flinched from his question, Soma patted him on the shoulder and said " It's ok to lose a match that you gave all your effort in but it's not ok to lose track of what made you compete it in the first place."

After giving his last piece of advice, Soma patted Hayama on the shoulder twice more before leaving him be.

It was not until the sound of Urara's announcement that made him realized that he was still standing still at the same spot and staring at the already gone trio.

Deciding that he needed some time alone to process everything that just had happened, Hayama slowly strived away from his original path and wandered towards the forest of Totsuki. But little did he know, a devil in disguise was following him every step of the way.

---

Directing your attention back to the 'main' reason why you guys are reading my story, we join back with Soma and girls as they walk into the arena and were greeted with a sight of two girls snuggling with each other.

"Erina! Alice! Yukihira! This isn't what it looks like!" Hisako quickly tried to explain but to no avail.

"Hmm~~~Can't you be less cliche Hishoko-chan~~~That's a quote normally used by couples who are caught in the act~~~" Alice said with a cat-like smile.

"As much as I want to disagree with Alice, seeing you not resisting in the slightest is hard for me to stand by your side Hisako." Erina said as she look at the still hugging duo.

"Uuu...Even Erina as well..." Hisako cried out as her face flushed red.

"Heh...it looks you are winning in all the right department today Arato, let's hope your streak continues and draw me in the next round." Soma said as he looked at the two with an amused expression.

"And why would I want to draw you when I can face Alice, Megumi, or Kurokiba?" Arato asked as she slowly stood up while dragging Nao.

"This is why~~"

"YELP!"

"Erina?" (Hisako)

"Yeah, don't you want to kick my butt after stealing your empress?" Soma asked with a cheeky grin as he pulled Erina to his side.

"Only your butt? You're taking me too lightly, Yukihira" Hisako replied with a smirk of her own.

"What is with your fixation with my crotch?!" Yukihira can't help but voice out.

"Tch…I just want to remove that impurity away." Hisako said as she gazed at a certain part blankly which caused Soma to flinch slightly.

"You have been watching too much Ancient Chinese drama! Even so, I should be the king and not a eunuch!" Soma said as he made use of his position and hid behind Erina for cover.

"Haa...you both do know we're still in the arena you know..." Erina complained as she was caught in between their banter.

"Hehe~~~This looks just like the game kids used to play~~~what was it called~~~Oh~~ Eagle & Mother Hen~~~You make a fine mother hen Erina~~" Alice can't help but tease.

"Zip it Alice…and do tend to the one standing next to you as it seems she is suffering from the previous conversation." Erina said as she gestured to the blushing figure standing beside Alice.

"B…bu…but…c…cro…cross…"

"Oi~~~don't tell me you're one of those girls who can't say words like butt and crotch~~~"

"EEE!"

"Hehe~~~who would have thought Urara-chan has a phobia to words like Mmph?!" Just as Alice was going in for another round of teasing, she felts two figures tackling her to the floor"

"Alice Onee-chan~~~"

"Alice Onee-chan~~~"

"Oof!"

As everyone in the arena felt a sense of deja vu, they all looked on at what appeared to be two 'kids' hugging the white-haired Nakiri princess

"Haa~~~how many times did I tell you both to not spear me as a greeting…" Alice whined but her face says otherwise as her lips curved into a smile at seeing the two figures snuggling against her.

"Hehe~~we're sorry Alice onee-chan~~~"

"Sorry~~"

"Yosh~~how about we do this again~~" Alice said as she lifted the three of them up and opened her arms wide welcoming the two.

"She's really good at taking care of kids~~~Don't you think so, dear~~?" Leonora suddenly appeared next to Erina and Soma with someone else accompanying her.

"Of course~~~My lovely Alice-chan is such an angle after all~~" The man replied with a doting smile.

"Sōe Oji-sama, Leonora-Oba…Leonora-san " Erina greeted the two in which they smile in return.

Before Soma could give his own greeting, Sōe turned to him and said: "This doesn't just mean that I approve of Alice-chan having kids with you. I don't expect any grandchildren anytime soon! Am I clear, young man?!"

"No promises~~~especially seeing how assertive and aggressive she is~~" Soma teased which further enraged Sōe.

"HUH?!"

"Ma ma~~~I always told you Alice would resemble me the most dear~~~It's safe to say who is her favorite parent~~~" Leonora joined in the teasing as well.

"NO!" Sōe screamed as he cried out in despair.

"Haa…I bet this will give the world a whole new perspective about the Nakiri's now…How should I resolve this…" Erina wondered as she looked at the antics of her family.

Feeling a tug on her shirt, Erina looked down and saw the two blonde kids looking at her expectantly.

"Urgh…I guess it won't hurt to remedy the situation later…" Erina said as to convince herself as she gave the two their expectant hug.

---

After giving them a minute-long hug, Erina put on her serious facade and managed to restore order. Taking control of the arena like a queen, she left no room for arguments as everyone including her family kept quiet and follow her commands.

As everything was back in order, she gestured to Urara that it was time to commence the draw show for the semi-finals of the main tournament.

Saluting at Erina's order, Urara assume a military posture as Erina walked past her and continue to remain in that posture until Erina rejoined back with her lovers.

"Ahem! As Erina-sama requested, we will now be commencing the start of the draw show. But first, we would like to invite the remaining participants and our headmaster Nakiri Senzaemon-dono on stage."

On cue, Soma, Alice, Hisako, Megumi, and Kurokiba walked out on stage from four different gates while Senzaemon stood in the center of the arena where the balls were located.

"Before we proceed with the draw, we would like to illiterate that Contestant Tadokoro Megumi and Contestant Kurokiba Ryo will be counted as one contestant and the one who draws them will engage in a three-way battle with them." Urara explained before any confusion occurs.

"Now then, would Nakiri Senzaemon please draw the first name out of the pot?" Urara said as the spotlight turned to Senzaemon as he dipped his hands into the bowl and drew the first ball.

Opening the ball, he smirked as he saw the name inside it and lifted it up for everyone to see.

"The first contestant to be drawn is Yukihira Soma!" Urara announced as the crowd gave a round of grunts hearing that name.

Disregarding the crowds' reaction, Senzaemon went on and drew the second name from the pot and gave a bemused expression after seeing the name inside of it.

"His opponent will be…Arato Hisako!" Urara announced as the crowd cheered loudly this time around. It was safe to say who's side the crowd was on.

As instructed, Soma and Hisako both began walking from their respective gate to the middle of the arena and face each other down.

"Should I really be surprised that we will be facing each other after what you said earlier?" Hisako spoke first.

"You're the expert in karma and fortune, you tell me~~" Soma cheekily said in reply.

"Very funny Yukihira… But I do wonder who Erina will be cheering on?"

"Heh~~Knowing her, she would probably give us both words of encouragement when we are alone."

"Hehe~~I can't disagree with that. May the best partner for Erina win, Yukihira." Hisako said as she held out her hand for a handshake.

"Yeah, may the battle of the childhood friends begin." Yukihira replied as the two firmly shook hands with each other with a smirk.

"The first semi-final match has now been confirmed! Moving on, to confirm the validation of the draw. Headmaster-dono, would you please draw the remaining two balls." Urara instructed as Senzaemon dove his hands right back in and drew the remaining two names.

To no one surprise, the last remaining names were the last remaining contestants. But, there was slight amusement for everyone as one of the names was written as KuroMegu. One could only wonder who wrote the names~~

As Alice cheerfully skipped towards the center of the stadium, Megumi and Kurokiba were casually strolling towards the center while handing in hand.

"Wow~~~Megumi-chan has become so bold~~~Good to see Ryo-kun nature has been rubbing onto you~~~" Alice said with her usual tease.

To everyone's surprise, Megumi did not blush and responded calmly. "Hehe~~~I'm sure Soma-Kun has been rubbing onto you much longer~~"

Caught off guard by Megumi teasing her back, That Megumi! Alice could only gape her mouth wide in shock as Megumi giggled at her expression.

"Hehe~~~so this is what it feels like to tease others, no wonder you do it regularly Alice-chan." Megumi said with a smile.

"My sweet old Megumi-chan has been ruined by this...this beast...Haa...I should have listened to Erina for the first time in my life..." Alice said as she dejected her shoulder depressingly.

"Oi, hurry up with this fiasco. I have better things to do." Kurokiba suddenly spoke as he was getting bored. He would much prefer spending his time with his two life necessities. Cooking and Megumi.

"Nah?! How dare you speak to me like that?! I'm still your boss you know! You better watch your tone Ryo-Kun..." Alice said as she glared chillingly at Kurokiba.

"Heh...Make me...You know how we usually go about settling our disputes..." Kurokiba challenged as he reached towards his headband.

"Hehehe~~~there are some buttons you best not push Ryo-kun~~~I wonder~~what punishment I should give to a bad doggy~~" Alice said with a smirk as she leaned in for a handshake.

"I will be awaiting my paycheck Ojou." Kurokiba smirked and shook her hand in reply.

Seemingly left out of the discussion, Megumi confidently walked up to them and placed her hands over the two.

"Don't leave me behind! I'm here as well you know!" Megumi said as she looked both of them straight in the eye with a pout on her face.

"Hehe~~~don't worry~~~I would never forget the one who ruined my perfect score~~" Alice said with a bright smile.

"Uuu...you really do have a grudge against me Alice-chan..." (Megumi)

"Tch...we best not end up drawing again..." (Kurokiba)

As the pleasantries were now done, Urara invited another Nakiri on stage to continue the program. "Thank you Senzaemon-dono. Moving on, let's give a round of applause and invite the founder of Nakiri International and the son of our own Headmaster, Nakiri Sōe-dono"

On cue, Sōe walked on to the stage with a stern and confident demeanor befitting of a Nakiri. It was a stark contrast to the daughter-con everyone saw moments before but no one dared to call him out for it.

"Additionally, Nakiri Sōe-dono will also be serving as one of the judges for the semi-final alongside his wife Nakiri Leonora-dono and his father Nakiri Senzaemon-dono." Urara nonchalantly added on as the crowd struggled to take in this bombshell of a statement.

"Three prestige individuals who bear hold of the name Nakiri is going be the judges for the semi-finals?! I thought having two was stress, having three is..." (The crowd)

"Hehe~~what do you all mean by three? There are two more judges you know~~" Alice suddenly spoke up as she looked at Urara.

"Yes, the final two judges who will be accompanying the Nakiri trio will be Cilla-dono and Berta-dono" Urara said to confirm Alice's statement.

"Huh?! Two kids?!" The crowd said in shock as the two blonde kids walked out and joined Sōe.

"Kids? You're not wrong if we compare you to them~~" Alice replied to the irk of the crowd.

"Cilla and Berta are geniuses in brain physiology and culinary sensitivity. Furthermore, they are both self-recruited by my wife Leonora herself. Their ability to judge dishes is undeniable and unquestionable. Unless you all can do better." Sōe said as he adjusted his glasses anime style and glared at the crowd.

To no one surprise, the murmurs of discontent immediately died down, and the program resumes with Cilla and Berta drawing the themes for the matches.

"Cilla, what did you get?" (Berta)

"I got apples Berta. What about you?" (Cilla)

"I got squash. Another autumn ingredient it seems. Which one would Alice Onee-sama prefer Cilla? (Berta)

"We don't get to choose Berta, Nassan told us which one of us draw first gets assigned to the first match." (Cilla)

"I see, so which one of us drew first?"

"..."

"..."

As the two turned to Sōe, he could faintly hear the chuckles coming from his wife and daughter. "That's what I get for asking for more daughters…"

After giving it some thought, Sōe decided that Berta was the first one to draw, and thus the theme for the Soma and Hisako match will be Squash while the theme for the three-way tie between Alice, Megumi, and Kurokiba will be apples.

"There we have it, the matches and themes have now been locked it. The semi-finals will be conducted one week from now and the contestants are required to bring in their own set of ingredients for the matches. That is all, thank you." Urara thanked as she marched off the stage with a proper 90-degree posture that could make any soldier proud.

---

"Hah~~Got to say, despite you upgrading our bathroom numerous times, it can't compare to this." Soma said as he relaxed into the soothing water.

"Duh~~no matter how many rooms I removed, there's not enough space for a bathroom swimming pool with statues shooting water like here~~" Alice said as she was scrubbing herself with soap.

"Maybe we should come back here more often or we could just stay here during the weekends." Erina suggested as she rinsed herself off.

"That sounds good. Leave it to Erina to come up with a plan." Soma said as he took in the wondrous sight in front of him.

"Hmm~~Appreciating what you see?" Alice said as she was now standing in the direct view of Soma.

"Very"

"Good to see that our boyfriend is not like those typical harem protagonists eh Erina~~" Alice said to Erina who was now beside her.

"Urgh…Don't remind me..I can't believe I gave in and joined you in watching some anime like To Love-Ru and Infinite Stratos…" Erina complained as she dipped her feet into the water.

"Hehe~~to my defense, those were the earliest release of this genre. Nowadays, this genre is all about isekai~~" Alice said as she joined Erina and Soma in the bath.

"Reincarnated as Yukihira Soma and conquered the culinary world by pleasuring women. That sounds like a great title…Oi!" Soma muttered which earned him two splashes of water.

"Hehe~~~I don't think it will be that easy Soma~~~Cilla and Berta did say you look pretty average." Alice revealed to the shock of Soma.

"Hehe~~I do remember them saying that. They also thought that Kurokiba suited Alice more." Erina revealed for a double whammy.

"Ok! Time to teach those rascals a lesson!" Soma said as he stood up revealing his prize artifact to the girls to see.

Well, if this fanfic ever gets animated, then the producers might change the scene to Erina blushing and screaming Kyaa~~and Alice throwing something at Soma which leads to Soma falling on them which leads to the girls fainting in embarrassment which leads to someone walking into the bathroom at that exact same time which leads to further misunderstanding which leads to…PAUSE! Yep…That's enough imagination for now.

Returning back to the fanfic written by yours truly, Erina and Alice just acted indifferent as they have seen it numerous times now.

"Thinking about it, when did you ever meet them, Erina? I for sure know that you did not travel to Denmark like Alice." Soma asked after he sat back down.

"Hmm…this was the first time I met them in person actually…"

"Eh?" (Alice and Soma)

---

Ring~~~Ring~~

"Moshi Moshi? This is Nakiri Leonora speaking~~~"

"Leonora Oba-sama, it's nice to hear your voice again."

"You have the wrong number, sorry dear. Goodbye."

Ring~~~Ring~~~

"Hai~~This is Nakiri Leonora speaking~~Is it the same person~~?"

"You know it is me, Leonora-Oba…"

"HMM~~~~?"

"...Leonora-san…It's Erina. It's good to hear that you sound as young as ever"

"Oh~~~why, if isn't Erina-chan~~Fufu~~~you really do have a way with words~~~I'm delighted to hear from you~~~"

"Sigh...Alice really does resemble you..."

Leonora just smiled as she could picture Erina sighing with a troublesome smile on her face.

"Anyway…Leonora-san, would you…"

"Leonora-dono, is it Alice Onee-sama?" A second voice suddenly resounded from Leonora's side as Erina stop what she was going to mention and listen on.

"No~~this is Alice's cousin or should I say sister in hand fufu~~~" Leonora said as Erina nearly dropped her phone.

"Is it the rival and best friend that Alice Onee-sama always mentions?" A third voice spoke to Erina's surprise.

'Did Alice forget to mention that she had two younger siblings?' Erina can't help but wonder.

Her answer came immediately as Leonora just laughed and reply: "Yes~~the very same~~Fufu~~do you both want a word with her~~?"

"Can we?!" Both voices sounded in surprise.

Deciding that her matters can wait, Erina took the initiative and greeted the two. "Hi, my name is Nakiri Erina, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Yeah, so that's basically it. I seriously thought I would have two more Alice's chasing after me.."

"Mu~~what does that suppose to mean~~You know you love me~~~" Alice said as she scooted closer to Erina.

"Heh~~So there were strangers to you, yet you instinctively hug them. You will be such a great mother, you both will." Soma said with a sincere smile which the girls reciprocated.

Just before they got out of the bath, Soma decided to ask Alice how did her mother recruit those two. Alice tilted her head in reply: "Okaa-sama found them in a restaurant. When she walked in, she saw the chef cowering under two girls who were giving him a ~~the next is history I guess~~~"

'Like mother like daughter…' Both Soma and Erina though as they could imagine Leonora dragging the two back to her headquarters as Alice did with Kurokiba with a smile on their faces.

---

As they finally got out of the bath and got dressed, the trio walked down the stairs that lead to the living room and saw two heads of the Nakiri's chatting happily with one another.

Yes, if you guys haven't guessed it yet, they were now currently in the Nakiri Mansion.

"I expected you two to stay in there longer considering how you deserted this place and left me alone for him." Senzaemon spoke first while faking a hurt expression as he noticed the trio.

Alice and Erina just giggle at their grandfather's childish antics but Soma fell right into his trap.

"Well, you could always drop by at our place sometimes Gramps. I doubt anyone would feel surprised seeing you there considering the people they met now" Soma suggested as Senzaemon gave him a smile in acknowledgment.

"Heh…Good to see you respecting the elder's boy. That's one trait I'm glad that you didn't inherit from Joichiro." Senzaemon said with a light chuckle.

As Soma and Senzaemon continued to converse, Alice greeted the other figure in the room as Alice gave her father a big hug.

Just as Erina felt a bit left out, she felt two hands grasping her own. Looking down, she saw Cilla and Berta smiling warmly at her. Then, she felt someone guiding her head backward as it landed on something soft. Looking up, she saw Leonora giving her the same warm smile.

"Just this once okay?" Erina said as she relaxed into Leonora's bosoms as Leonora just softly giggled at her.

After a while, Erina felt her hands tug as she looked down and saw fearless innocence from Cilla and Berta.

"Erina Onee-chan! We have accepted your challenge!" Both said with conviction.

"Hmm~~You both think you can please my palate~~?" Erina asked with a challenging grin.

"Of course!" The two replied with confidence.

"Hmm~~Just so you know~~Soma failed the first time around~~"

"We're nothing like him!"

"OI!" Soma shouted from his seat.

"We're way better than him!"

"OK! You got yourself a challenge you rascals!" Soma said as he stood up and chased the two across the living room.

As the Nakiri's smile wryly at the scene in front of them, they could only wonder how a night intended for relaxation turned into a battle between a sister's boyfriend and the sister's younger siblings. Well…if anything, this serves as added entertainment to a once dull Nakiri Family.

---

While Soma and crew were enjoying a pleasant time in the Nakiri Mansion, a lonely figure was seated in the middle of the forest contemplating what he should do next.

"Guess I should head back huh. Hopefully, Jun is asleep right now." Hayama said as he stood up and started to head back.

But, it seems like fate has decided to throw a curveball at him as another figure suddenly appeared from behind the trees.

"Heh, how the mighty have fallen"

"Who?!"

"Oi oi, don't try and re-enact a scene when a villain shows up to convince a good guy to switch sides." The figure said as he slowly made himself visible to Hayama.

"Eizan…"

"There's no need to be so hostile Akira, I'm just here for a quick chat."

"Heh, that's exactly what a villain would say."

"Who's the villain, who's the hero is up to one's interpretation. Enough of that, I have an offer for you Akira."

"Decline" Hayama replied immediately and started walking away.

"So you don't care about your little seminar?" Eizan stated which caused Hayama to freeze in his tracks.

"I'm sure that you know your seminar is suffering financially now. Heh, that's what happens when you place all your bet in attracting sponsors by winning the Autumn Elections."

"...Get to the point.." Hayama said while gritting his teeth."

"Lucky for you, my boss took interest in your talent and cooking. He said that he understands the craft behind your cooking, unlike those mere plebeians." Eizan said which caused Hayama to widen his eyes.

"...Take me to him…" Hayama said after much debate.

"Heh…Follow me…" Eizan said as he led Hayama away.

---

The night before the semi-final

"This hasn't happened in a long time…" A redhead figure said as he was lying on his king-size bed alone.

Was he talking about the fact that he was without the company of his lovers or was it the fact about him being unable to sleep due to sheer anticipation? Only he knows the answer.

Deciding that it was the latter, he slowly got up and headed downstairs to where he will feel most relaxed: the kitchen.

Once he arrived at the kitchen, he noticed that it was dimly lighted and a pink-hair figure was enjoying her tea while gazing outside the window.

"Arato?"

Being called, Hisako turned around and her pupils widened slightly when she saw the figure.

"Yukihira?"

"Yo, can't sleep?"

"Yeah. I take it that you have the same reasoning?"

"Yeah, a certain opponent has been occupying my thoughts."

"That's good to hear." Hisako smiled at the compliment.

"It's been a while since I faced someone while going in blind. I have no idea what she can and will make and it gets me fired up even more." Soma said while enjoying the tea Hisako poured for him.

"Yeah, it's frustrating. I always thought that focusing on my own expertise was enough but then three people rudely barge in and destroy my view."

"Heh~~that's the first time I've seen you complaining about Erina."

"Hehe~~we're friends, aren't we. There has to be something I can complain about her."

"Heh, good to see you moving on from the serious and uptight secretary from before." Soma said which earned him a light punch from Hisako.

"I didn't say it was fine for you to complain about me."

"Trying to injure an opponent before a match? Where is your dignity Hishoko-chan~?" Soma teased while imitating Alice's nickname.

"Perfect! I've always wanted to punch Alice once." Hisako said as she went in for another punch but Soma just calmly sidestepped it.

As they forwent about sleep, the two continued to exchange silly talks with one another until a grumpy Nao drag Hisako back to her room leaving Soma alone in the kitchen.

Left alone, Soma just gazes at the direction of the Nakiri Mansion."I wonder how did the party go…Heh, I bet they both left early."

---

True to his prediction, the two were currently now in Erina's room changing out of their formal dress.

"I wonder how Soma is feeling right now." Erina suddenly spoke.

"Probably feeling the same as us~~Lonely" Alice replied as she laid her head on the pillow.

"Haa…F*** those parties! I'll never join one again!" Erina vented as she unconsciously cursed.

"Hehe~~it's amazing how one incident stops others from approaching~~" Alice said gleefully.

"Yeah…no one expected a woman, least from a Nakiri to bitch-slap someone…" Erina deadpanned.

"I will do it again. It wasn't just the fact he was staring lecherously at me, it was the fact he try to touch me with those greasy ass hands." Alice said with disgust.

"Haa…To think there's a similar event during Christmas…Yeah…Scratch that." Erina said as she lied next to Alice.

"Hehe~~maybe by then Soma will be a Nakiri or we will be a Yukihira~~" (Alice)

"That sounds nice but we still have a long way to go before making it a reality Alice."

"Hehe~~we'll make our first step in the Autumn Selection Finals"

"Alice! We can't let the readers know!"

"What? They already know that I and Soma is gonna be in the final~~ What were you so scared about Erina~~Is it something to do about you~~"

"Alice!"

"Hehe~~Don't worry Erina. The readers are smarter than you think~~They would have probably expected it by now~~"

"Who goes around spoiling their own story…Really…what a troublesome author."

While the author desperately tries to prevent Alice from revealing more spoilers, please turn your attention to the KuroMegu pairing who are preparing for the semi-finals in their own way.

---

"Good work Kurokiba-kun" Megumi said as she handed Kurokiba a towel after his workout session.

"Thanks." Kurokiba thanked as he began wiping the sweat off.

Glancing towards his girlfriend, Kurokiba could see the stark difference in the way she carries herself now compare to before. She's much more confident than before, she still acts shy around new people but heck, he was not someone that can be called socially adept as well.

"Here, it's peanut butter and banana mix with strawberries." Megumi said as she handed Kurokiba the smoothie.

"I would never have imagined this when living with Ojou. In fact, I was the one who gave her drinks after my workout." Kurokiba said as he took the drink with a smile.

"Hehe~~all the more reason if you needed any for the match tomorrow." Megumi said while giggling.

"Heh…It sounds like you're fully prepared for once. I miss the girl who was busy flustering over her ingredients."

"Uuu…don't remind me of my tendencies to be clumsy …"

"Heh…you will still do well. You always did."

"Muu…praises like that are unfair …" Megumi said while blushing heavily from the compliment.

"Heh…This will probably be the first time I go into a match against Ojou, feeling I can win." Kurokiba said while smiling at her reaction.

"En, I have someone to cook for after all." Megumi said wholeheartedly after recovering which caused the two to move closer to each other while leaving no gaps in between.

---

It's safe to say that the remaining participants had an eventful night before the day of beckoning but someone who unfortunately fell in the previous round was currently in turmoil.

"Damn it! Why did it end up like this?!" Hayama said before downing the whole bottle of liquor.

'Gulp gulp gulp~~'

"Haa…Appreciation for my talent my ass…Everyone is the same in the end!" Hayama said furiously as he recalled the conversation he had with Eizan's boss.

Before he could slam the bottle into the ground, a slight creak in the door caught his attention.

"WHO?!"

"Eek!" The figure cried out as she dropped onto the floor.

"...Jun…?"

"Hayama-Kun…"

"You were awake? Sorry for waking you…but I need time to myself…Please leave me alone…" Hayama begged as he faced away from Jun.

"My my~~~that's not the way to go about it Spice boy~~~" A new voice suddenly said as Hayama turned back and saw a hair color that resembles his rival.

"Your…"

"Hehe~~We can save the introductions for later. But first, why don't you listen to my offer~~~Hayama Akira? The figure said with a feline smile.

For once, Hayama thought maybe…just maybe…the wheel of fate is beginning to turn in his favor.

---

"Attention everyone! Welcome back to the semi-finals of the 43rd Autumn Elections. I'm your host, Urara Kawashima! Please take your seats as we will be conducting the start of the first match in just a few minutes."

"So…when does your effect wear off..?" Soma turned to his girlfriend and asked.

"Probably by the end of the day…Hopefully…" (Erina)

What are they talking about? It was obviously Urara who was now dressed as a full-fledged commander with stars on her jacket and everything.

"Wait…where is Alice?" Erina suddenly asked as the third member of their group just suddenly disappeared.

"Haa…I wonder what kind of an introduction I will walk out to today…" Soma sighed as Erina turned back to the screen and saw Urara saluting at Alice.

As on cue, an announcement was made to alert the participants to get ready.

"About time! See you back here or on the stage Erina. " Soma said as he got up from the couch.

"Hmph! I'm coming with you…until the hallway" Erina suddenly said to Soma's surprise.

Smiling at his lover, Soma extended his hand which Erina gracefully accepted as the two walked out of their waiting room and into the backstage hallway.

In the hallway, Soma quickly caught sight of his opponent who was experiencing the same thing he was now. Linking arms with his lover?

"Yo, when did you change your routine for relaxing? I thought you would be sipping some tea." Soma called out as the two girls turned to face him.

"Yukihira, Erina." (Hisako)

"Erina-sama…Yukihira Soma…." (Nao)

"Good to see you are fully prepared Hisako. And good day to you as well Nao. It seems like both of you have gotten quite close." Erina teased as she zeroed in on their linking arms.

"Hai Erina-sama...Hisako Onee-sama has been spoiling me lately…" Nao blushed which caused Hisako to blush as well.

"Cough…those are just rewards I gave to her for helping me with my recipe…" Hisako said while stuttering.

"Heh…Erina didn't even offer to help." (Soma)

"Oh~~? You never requested for my help dear Lucifer~~" Erina whispered into Soma's ear.

"Maybe if you weren't so engrossed with your anime you would have noticed ~~" Soma teased back.

"Maybe if someone pleaded, I would have given him some pointers~~"

"Maybe I don't need any pointers your highness~~"

"Urgh…" As Hisako and Nao wondered when would their flirting stop, someone appear in the hallway and shouted at them.

"Hey! Don't leave me out!"

"Yup…All hopes have gone…" Hisako and Nao grumbled.

"Muu? Why do I feel like I'm not welcome by you two?" Alice asked while tilting her head.

"Haa…nothing…" (Hisako, Nao)

---

"Attention Everyone, we will now be inviting the two contestants for the first match of the Autumn Selection semi-finals. Would the contestants please head towards your designated gates thank you."

"That's our cue Yukihira. See you later Erina, Alice, and cheer for me Nao." Hisako said before leaving.

"Hmm~~~Nao get some extra treatment eh~~~" Alice said which caused Sadatsuka to turn into White Sadatsuka for a moment.

"I'll be off. See you in the final Alice, then it's your turn Erina" Soma said as he left immediately after.

"Soma must be very excited to face Hishoko~~he didn't even wait for us to respond~~" (Alice)

"You know Soma…the stronger the opponent…the more excited he gets…What's the phrase? Oh ya…Battle maniac…" (Erina)

"Erina-sama, Alice-sama. Does Hisako Onee-sama stand a chance?" (Nao)

"Of course. There's nothing as certain in the world of cooking. One mistake, One moment of ingenuity could turn the whole tide around. And Nao, Hisako is capable of doing that." Erina praised.

"En~~~Hishoko has finally earned respect for herself, not as Erina's secretary, but as Arato Hisako. Just listen to the cheers she's getting~~" Alice followed up as the trio listened in to loud cheers for Hisako.

"Arato-san, give it your all!"

"Hisako-sama, fight!"

"It looks like the first contestant needs no further introduction. You all know her, You all love her, it's the one who defeated the pre-tournament favorite in a clean sweep, its contestant Arato Hisako!" Urara announced as the crowd erupted even more violently than before.

As the gate opened, Hisako walked out to a monologue about her. Surprised by this, she walked slower as to relive the journey that brought her here. Step by step, she could hear her own frustration of not being worthy to Erina, her goal to help her, her desire to be beside her and lastly, her wish to surpass her. As she is near the center of the stage, a video suddenly starts playing that shows her final words to Hayama. "I'm already beside her but I have set my sights beyond her"

As the video ended, Hisako now stood directly at the center of the stage where everyone could see her. Silence, dead silence filled the arena like no one expected this kind of introduction. Then, a single clap, three claps, a whole group of claps, a whole stadium of claps resounded around her as if to praise and applause her efforts for making it here.

Feeling a lump forming on her throat and tears threatening to fall from her eyes, Hisako could not find the words to describe this feeling. After giving herself a few seconds to recover, Hisako faced the screen and gave her brightest smile. "Thank you."

Not letting anyone time to recover, a song started to play and the gate holding the other contestant started to open.

Not even waiting for his introduction, Soma walked out to the sad song by We The Kings. As he took the first step, his eyes widened when the screen showed a picture of someone he cherished the most.

"Kaa-san…"

Every step he took, a different picture popped up. A picture of her as a delinquent, a picture of her with long hair, a picture of her with short hair, a picture of her smiling proudly at him, a picture of her crying and apologizing, and lastly a picture of her posing.

As Soma finally reach the center, he immediately took 'her' headband and imitated the post, and shouted. "Osomatsu!" Then, the song ended fittingly as Soma let a few tears drift from his eyes.

Again, the stadium was filled with silenced other than the occasional sound of someone crying. For once, the crowd gave no negative reactions towards him, they just can't. There's a fine line between hate and heartless and they were definitely not the latter.

"Sniff…with that…we conclude the introductory of the first two contestants…" Urara said somberly as Hisako and Soma are now directly facing each other.

"She really was someone incredible, wasn't she?" (Hisako)

"Yeah. I can't believe she can experience this herself." (Soma)

"Really…to gone through the trouble of preparing this for us…"

"Yeah…always giving the best surprises…I don't believe I can hold back anymore…"

"Hehe~~then you best win Yukihira. Don't you forget our bet~~~" Hisako reminded as she made a scissor gesture.

"Heh, bring it Arato." Soma said as the two gave each other a firm handshake and headed to their designated kitchen.

---

"Before we proceed, let's invite the five judges who will take charge today." Urara informed as the five judges made their way to their designated seats. Senzaemon was seated in the middle flanked by his son and Berta while Cilla occupied the seat next to Berta and Leonora sat next to her husband.

"Now, just a final reminder. The theme for this match is squash and you are allowed to use any ingredients that you have brought in your cooking. The judging will start exactly three hours from now. So, without further ado, begin!"

Immediately, the two sprung into action. Not leaving a moment of hesitation, they began their preparations no doubt fired up by their unique introduction.

As per usual, the judges began discussing their speculation of what the two contestants would make.

Stroking his well-kept beard, Senzaemon spoke first: "This match is bound by fate. From the ingredients to the contestants."

"Yes, Tou-sama. A fated meeting between two of Erina-chan's dearests. An ingredient that tastes the best in Autumn to boot as well." Sōe said agreeing with his father.

"Fufu~~Soma-chan who is not bound by conventional methods and Hisako-chan who modernizes traditional medicinal cooking~~I just can't wait~~what about you two Cilla-chan, Berta-chan?" Leonora asked the two.

"Squash is very high in beta-carotene, which provides about 50 percent of the vitamin A and also contains vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. Unlike summer squash, which has edible skin and can be eaten raw, winter squash is usually peeled and must be cooked." Cilla spoke first.

"To answer your question Leonora-sama, they are 23 types of squash that they could choose from. I for one am doubting that they will go with the obvious Kabocha or Japanese pumpkin as it's too convenient to them" Berta followed up.

"Aww~~You two have reverted back to work mode, you could let loose you know~~"

"No, that would be unprofessional." Cilla and Berta quickly replied.

"Eh~~~"

Ignoring Leonora's pouting, the judges look on as Hisako brought out her ingredient first. To their surprise, it looked like zucchini with its medium green skin covered with fuzzy white hair.

The judges were not the only ones surprised as the crowd wondered if Hisako has deliberately put herself at a disadvantage. Normally, squash shapes like zucchinis are referred to as summer squash. And here she is, bringing out a summer ingredient in an autumn event.

But, they were some people who knew better than to judge her prematurely.

"Hisako is really following her roots, to think I would see yet another ingredient used in medicinal cooking."

"Hehe~~Hishoko has decided that she's going to cook her way after all~~But, this ingredient could pose a problem for Soma~~

"Hisako Onee-sama…"

---

"Haa…This won't do… something is lacking…"

"Hisako Onee-sama?"

"Nao? You're awake early? It's still 6 in the morning."

"Hehe…living under the same roof as Onee-sama would eventually give me some of your traits…"

"I don't know if I should feel worried or happy about that…Anyways, good to see that I'm influencing you in a good way" Hisako smiled at the figure in front of her who was still clad in her pink pajamas ironically.

"Hehe…Onee-sama is my Onee-sama after all…" Nao just giggled in reply as she inched closer to Hisako.

Looking at the pot Hisako was stirring, Nao took a sip from the pot and immediately frowned.

"Onee-sama…what are you making?"

Not noticing the frown, Hisako casually replied: "It's a prototype of what I'm going to make in the semi-finals. How does it taste?"

"It tastes disgusting…Unpolished…Unrefined…Unsettling…" Nao replied without holding back.

Surprised by the harsh feedback, Hisako took a sip herself and felt her eyebrows furrow. "I admit that this is not my best work but to say it's disgusting is…"

Interrupting Hisako, Nao just glared straight at her eyes. "This dish is not something Onee-sama would make. My Onee-sama is better than lowering herself to her opponent!"

"!"

"It's Yukihira Soma…So what? Is he more creative? Maybe. Will he make a dish never seen before? Probably. But! He would never want Onee-sama to match him in those aspects! He wants, I want an Onee-sama that faces him as Arato Hisako! The Arato Hisako who cooks with her specialty!" Nao vented with a fury Hisako had never seen before.

Waiting for Nao to calm down and using the time to think about what she said. Hisako came to a realization. '...Heh…It looks like the pressure has really got to me…What am I doing…Why am I trying to emulate Yukihira's style…Hehe…I was probably scared of him despite acting all tough…It seems like I've lost before even getting into the kitchen…But…'

"Nao." Hisako softly called out to the girl who had currently turned her back against her.

"..."

"Nao, I'm sorry…Forgive me?"

"..."

Deciding that actions speak louder than words, Hisako leaned in and captured her waist from behind which earned a yelp from Nao.

"You sound quite cute there Nao~~" Hisako whispered which caused Nao to shudder.

"Thanks, Nao~~I'm sorry for betraying your expectation. Would you lend me your hand with an Arato Hisako theme recipe~~?"

"Of course, Onee-sama~~"

---

Jumping back to live, Hisako stopped herself for a moment and gazed at the screen with the most tender expression ever.

Even though they were no words spoken, Nao could make up what she wanted to convey. ""This is our recipe Nao, watch me."

Giving the most blissful smile she could muster, Nao continued to watch on as Hisako returned back to her preparations.

Not one to be left out of the spotlight, Soma brought out his own main ingredient which was much more familiar to the viewers.

"It seems like Yukihira is planning to use Butternut squash. It's a no-brainer of a choice really considering they are exclusively winter varieties." Takumi explained as the Hoseki members watch on from the stands"

"As for Arato Hisako's ingredient...I see...No wonder it was so familiar..." Mihoko said after figuring out the ingredient.

"Hmm~~? Do you know what it is Miyokochi?" (Yuki)

Ignoring the nickname, Miyoko went on and explained that the green zucchini is actually called fuzzy melon or Chinese squash. In China, they refer to it as Mo Qua or Mo Gwa as it is a variety of winter gourd.

"I see, it must have some uses in medicine if Arato-san is using it." (Ryoko)

"Yes, this fruit has been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurveda medicine for centuries. Some rumors in China also said that it can prevent diabetes and heart disease." Marui explained.

"As expected from the book nerd, you're like a walking encyclopedia ." (Ikumi)

Giving a grunt of disapproval at the nickname, the group continued to observe as Soma suddenly brought out rice?

"Classic Yukihira. Rice with Butternut squash combine perfectly." (Shun)

'Is that really just it? What are you hiding from us Soma-Kun…?' Isshiki silently thought as his intuition was screaming at him this was just the beginning.

As if to answer Isshiki's question, Soma brought out several more ingredients and began chopping and dicing them separately before placing them together. Then, he brought out his secret weapon.

"What is that…?"(Crowd)

"Slam! That's….that's a Couscoussier!" Sōe cried out as he stood up from his seat.

"Couscoussier is a traditional double-chambered food steamer used in Berber cuisine. It's made of two interlocking pots where the larger one holds the soup/stew while the smaller one placed on top of it holds grains. Senzaemon explained further.

By using this, it allows the steam of the soup/stew to enter and seep through the grains. It is perfect for cooking…" (Leonora)

"Yeah, it's perfect for cooking Couscous and that's precisely what I'm making." Soma said as he then turned to look at Hisako.

Noticing his challenging remark, Hisako responded by bringing out a pot made of clay?

"You're not the only one with surprises Yukihira. This is an idea Nao proposes and I'm going to make it work. Right here, right now!" Hisako said as she brought out a new set of ingredients including transparent noodles.

"Berta, the pot she brought out is…"

"You're correct Cilla. That clay pot she brought out is different from our Japanese donabe (A special clay pot chefs use to place their food and cook them under a gas burner), it's a pot where ancient doctors trained in Chinese medicine used to cook their medicine."

"I heard of that~~Chinese and Ayurveda Specialist stated that cooking in a clay pot not only has a variety of health benefits~~but also makes for an easier cooking process and in the end, produces a more flavorful and nutritious dish." Leonora said as Cilla and Berta nodded their heads to confirm.

"Hahaha! This is truly a match befitting of the Autumn Elections semi-final! Two generational chefs using everything at their disposal to give themselves an edge!" Senzaemon said loudly as he look at the chefs like a proud grandfather.

---

"Attention contestants, you have 10 minutes left to finalize your cooking! Please use this remaining wisely!" Urara announced as both Hisako and Soma quickened their pace even more and placed the final delicate touches on their dishes.

"BEEP! Time!"

As the audience held their breath in anticipation, Soma and Hisako looked at each other, daring the other to make the first move. After a long minute of staring, the two cracked into chuckles, lightening the tension around the stadium.

"Heh, I always wanted to try it once. It looks quite cool when anime character does it." (Soma)

"Hehe~~it almost felt like we were having a match in kendo rather than cooking." (Hisako)

"So, should we settle this the old fashion way?" Hisako suggested.

"You're on!" Soma immediately complied.

"Rock Paper Scissors Shoot!"

"..."

"..."

The crowd could only look on wordlessly as Soma walked up to the panel while grumbling. "I should have stayed with rock, damn scissors!"

As the five judges looked at him with a bemused expression, Soma placed his dish in front of them and said his usual catchphrase: "Oagariyo, this is Soma-style Butternut-Squash Couscous"

As the judges lifted off the lid, they were assaulted by the sheer colorfulness of the delicacies placed on display.

"Not only does it looks good, but it also carries a sweet and nutty aroma that just entices your appetite." Sōe commented as he took in the whole dish.

"You took a large risk in choosing couscous boy. Couscous is mild and neutral in taste so it all depends on the stew you used." Senzaemon said but Soma was unnerved.

"Fufu~~it looks like he knows what he's doing~~Let's take a bite shall we~~?" Leonora instructed as the judges went in for their first bite.

Before the judges could even give their verdict, the dresses or robes of the judges burst apart. If you're all wondering about Leonora, Sōe had actually anticipated this as he immediately threw his coat to cover her. Yeah, take that, you horny bastards.

"There…there it is! The explosion from Nakiri Sōe-dono!" Urara exclaimed loudly as the crowd looked on in astonishment. They could only wonder how good was the stew was prepared to accommodate the lack of taste from the couscous.

"The roast butternut squash taste so sweet and nutty~~It's so creamy and buttery that it fills my mouth~~~" Leonora said enchantingly which caused numerous students to have a nose bleed.

"The word couscous refers to both the tiny semolina pearls themselves and to the dish of couscous topped with a hearty stew. Yukihira Soma! You have fully embraced it from the stew you prepared!" (Sōe)

"Cilla…I'm falling in love…" Berta absentmindedly muttered as she continued to partake in the dish.

"...Berta! Snap out of it! Don't fall under the dish of a devil!" Cilla who managed to resist better immediately called out to her sister.

"But Nee-san…the combination of ingredients is too much…I can taste the well-prepared chicken broth, the sweet taste of the tomatoes and squash, the tinge of spiciness from the onions and cayenne pepper…and…Aah..." Berta muttered before her brain short-circuited and she eventually collapsed from the taste.

"Berta!"

"Heh, why don't you explain the rest of what your sister can't~~" Soma said as he held out a spoon intending to feed Cilla.

"You…You!" Grasping the opportunity, Soma gently shoved the ingredients inside Cilla's mouth.

"...It… it's too much...The tri-factor of nutty flavor from the almond, chickpeas, and butternut squash is…is overflowing my brain…Kyuu…" Cilla explained what she could do before she too collapsed.

Like a predator locking onto his next prey, Soma turned to look at a shuddering Leonora. However, Senzaemon came to her rescue to the reader's disappointment.

"Boy, the earthiness and woody flavor from the parsley and cinnamon round out the dish perfectly. But…I can still feel an intense sweetness and a nutty feeling lingering in my mouth…Care to explain boy?" Senzaemon inquired curiously.

"Heh~~To answer your question gramps, the first ingredient is raisins. Due to its small size, I can secretly add in a sweet, tangy, and intense flavor that adds even more texture and sweetness to my sweet and savory dish. But~~the second one you need to find out yourself~~" Soma said which caused Senzaemon to pout. Yes! That Senzaemon!

"This…this deep, warm, aromatic yet bittersweet flavor… I figure it out! This is Nutmeg!" Sōe said excitingly like you finally solve a question in maths.

"Nutmeg? When football players get the ball through the other player's feet? I thought it was called Panna." Someone in the crowd shamelessly said.

"No, you idiot! Nutmeg is the seed or ground spice of several species of the genus Myristica (A family of flowering plants). In contrast to other nuts, nutmeg isn't a tree nut, but rather a seed. Therefore, it is safe to consume by people with tree nut or peanut allergies." Sōe immediately explained as he glared at the student who made the silly comment.

"Fufu~~again~~~it's the perfect addition to a comforting sweet and savory dish~~Once again, you have wow us Soma-chan~~" Leonora praised as she gave Soma a pat on the head as a job well done.

Smiling as he reminisce about the past where his mother would too pat him on the head after a finished dish, Soma let out his second shout of the day. "Osomatsu!"

---

As the judges needed a few minutes for themselves to recover, Soma walked back and stood next to Hisako who congratulated him for his performance.

"Congrats on being the first chef to knock out a judge without food poisoning"

"Heh, if they even show any symptoms of discomfort, I have the best doctor I know breathing down my neck, waiting for her opportunity to pounce."

"Oh? I didn't know you held me in such high regards Yukihira."

"Like I always said, respect is earned, not given, And the chef beside me has demanded my utmost respect to give it my all."

Caught off guard by the sincere praise from Soma, Hisako thought back to her conversation with Nao about her being herself. Flashing him a smile and thanks, Hisako walked up to the recovered judges and presented her dish.

"Please enjoy. This is our clay pot noodles with Chinese squash." Hisako said as she lifted the lid revealing a pot filled with transparent noodles and Chinese squash.

"If I recall correctly, you also served noodles in your previous battle with Hayama Akira." Sōe inquired as Hisako nodded in confirmation.

"Let's see how far you have grown Arato Hisako." Senzaemon said as the judges leaned it for their first bite.

To the crowd's disappointment, Hisako's dish did not earn an immediate reaction like Soma's dish. Thinking the outcome has already been decided, they miss the crucial fact that the judges had not stopped eating the dish.

"As expected of Arato."

Just as Soma finished his comment, Sōe who had just finished bowl granted his blessing again as the judges were onced again disrobed.

"Hahaha! You have also gone for a base that contains a neutral flavor like Yukihira Soma! You too have placed all your bets on the ingredients!" Senzaemon praised while laughing at the situation.

"Arato-chan~~the noodles you used~~~there are different from the one you used against Hayama-kun~~This flows smoother when consuming~~" (Leonora)

"Yes, the noodles I used for this match are cellophane noodles or glass noodles. It's a gluten-free noodle that is made from mung bean starch. It's different from the transparent noodles we eat in Japan which are made from potato starch." Hisako explained to the amazement of the crowd.

"Haa...Berta...Once again I can taste the sweetness of squash dispersing throughout my mouth..." (Cilla)

"Yes Cilla...despite it not being in the same level of that devil...This mild sweet flavor pairs up perfectly with the salty, fishy flavor from the dried shrimps spread on top..." (Berta)

"That's not all, the final ingredient that blends all the dish together is the numerous Goji berries or Wolfberries spread on top. The sweet yet sour combination gives the whole dish an added ooze that Yukihira's Soma dish lack!" Sōe said to the shock of the crowd.

---

Does...Does that mean Yukihira Soma has lost? Before the crowd could voice out their thoughts, the result was shown on screen as the judges have finished giving their verdict.

"Winner, Yukihira Soma 4-1!"

As the announcement came forward, the crowd could only voice out their surprise at the decision. Wasn't Arato Hisako's dish better than Yukihira Soma? So why has she lost?

Before the crowd could protest any further, Sōe took reign and began explaining to the crowd.

"The difference that decided this match was the everlasting flavor from the main ingredient. Despite me saying Arato Hisako's dish has more fitness in flavor than Yukihira Soma's, the continuous sweet and nutty taste in Yukihira Soma dish brought out the most from the main ingredient which was squash. But! Don't you dare criticize her for not choosing a squash with more flavor, she has shown us what a specialty really is, isn't that right, Tou-sama?"

"Indeed. This young girl has shown herself in this dish., the face of the cook cooking this dish. Despite knowing that her choice of squash would lack in overall flavor, she still stuck to herself till the end. That is something worth respecting!"

As the crowd turned to Hisako expectantly, Hisako just smiled and replied. "Yes, I have anticipated that it could be a possibility. Against someone who could bring out overwhelming flavors, it was the most plausible outcome that my squash would lack in comparison."

As people in the crowd asked for her reasoning, Hisako gave a gentle smile and replied: "I didn't compete with him in that aspect not because I couldn't, it's because I won't. That's not a dish Arato Hisako should make. I tried it before and it was terrifying. It was not because it tasted bad but it was because the more I made the more I felt lost. Thankfully for me, someone dear to me saw it and brutally woke me up. Hehe~~That was possibly the most terrified I ever felt before. Terrified of losing her trust, terrified of losing her. That's why I have no regrets in making this dish as it defines me as a chef."

"Hmm? But who voted Arato Nee-san? Is it you Berta?"

"No, I voted for the devil Cilla. Is it Leonora-sama?"

"Fufu~~the one who voted for her is none other than Otou-sama." Leonora laughed as she gestured at Senzaemon.

"Eh?!"

"Yukihira Soma, do you disagree with my verdict?" Senzaemon asked Soma first as he stepped forward to explain.

"No, I think it's a fair decision. Arato's dish is more suited for gramps after all." Soma just chuckled as he finished his own bowl of Arato's dish.

"Indeed. Despite your dish overwhelming her in terms of ingredients, the sheer nutritional value from her dish does more than make up for it. I'm old after all, the healing factor from her medicinal cooking is just what I need ." Senzaemon praised as he looked at Hisako.

"Thank you for your kind words, Senzaemon-dono." Hisako bowed in thanks.

"Yo Arato, it was a great match. Too bad I was the one who lost" Soma suddenly said as he appeared beside her.

"? What do you mean Yukihira? You won four votes to one."

"Yeah, but if we judge it based on noble and ancient rules. The head decision is final you know."

"Pfft…what's up with that~~You're really are a sore loser Yukihira~~" Hisako laughed.

"Yeah, I am the most greedy of chefs after all." Soma said as he laughed as well.

"Next time, next time I will beat you fair and square. In a Shokugeki." Hisako suddenly proposed after they finished laughing.

"Heh, I'll take your word for it Arato. I will be looking forward to it~~" Soma said as the two exchanged a firm handshake and walked back to their backstage waiting room.

On cue, Urara announced a five-minute break for everyone to have their refreshments or to just answer nature's call (Go to the bathroom).

---

As Soma and Arato continued walking, they caught sight of five silhouettes waiting for them in the hallway. Before even one could make any form of greeting, Soma immediately dashed forward and interlocked his lips with Alice.

"Mmm?!" Caught off guard by Soma. Alice could only stay captive as Soma expressed his bursting emotions to the girl who set everything up for him.

After a whole minute of expressing his deep love, Soma separated his lips from Alice but still held onto her dearly, leaving her a blushing mess for everyone to see.

"Alice…Alice is blushing…" Hisako said in shock as she rub her eyes continuously to make sure the scene in front of her is real.

"Awawa…Soma-Kun is so aggressive.." Megumi stuttered while blushing from the affection Soma showed.

"Hmph, you do know she needed permission from a certain someone to make this happen you know…" Erina mumbled softly with a tinge of jealously.

Before she could yelp in surprise, Soma silences her lips by placing his over hers and allowing her to feel what Alice just felt.

"Mmm~" Getting over her initial shock, Erina relaxed into the kiss and she melted from the passion Soma is showering her with.

"Is that better my queen?" Soma asked after eventually separating himself from the best delicacy in the world.

"Baka…" Erina complained with a smile as she remained in Soma's embrace.

After realizing he was not alone with his lovers, Soma looked up and saw three blushing girls and a stoic Kurokiba looking at them.

"Yo?"

"Yo my ass Yukihira. A bit of a warning would be appreciated." Hisako complained with a red face.

"It's not my fault though, I already told you that I can't hold back anymore."

"Damn males with their uncontrollable hormones." Hisako said but she suddenly shuddered as her danger sensor reacted violently as she felt fingers interlocking with hers.

Knowing who the person was without even looking, Hisako could only plead. "Now now Nao, there's no need to follow the act of an idiot."

"Then I'm an idiot in love…" Nao said as she dragged Hisako away from the hallway to their waiting room.

Ignoring the two who had just left, Kurokiba and Megumi congratulated Soma on his victory before heading towards their gate as they were told to walk out together.

With them leaving, Soma was left with his two beloveds who were still recovering from the intense session he had just given them. Placing yet another kiss on their forehead, Soma whispered a heartfelt thank you which made the girls nudge their head deeper into his shoulder.

But, all good things have to come to an end as Urara informed the people in the stadium that the semi-finals will resume in a few moments.

Begrudgingly removing herself from his boyfriend's embrace, Alice grumbled: "Muu…I should have told Urara to give us a few more minutes~~"

"Hmph…it's a good thing the hallway is a non-surveillance area or else everyone would need even more time to recover." (Erina)

"Oh? Did you think I was done? Just wait for tonight after you win. You vixen~~" Soma teased as he gave Alice a nice smack on her rear.

"My~~Finally feeling frisky eh Soma~~But, I don't think it will only be me considering what happens later fufu~~" Alice teased back.

"? I've been wondering…what else have you two been hiding from me?"

"Nothing. You best get going Alice, their introduction is about to begin."

"Hmm~~? Trying to get rid of me so quickly so Soma can have a private interrogation with you~~? Erina you ecchi~~" Alice teased which caused Erina to blush slightly.

"Oh don't you worry~~we will be going through that as soon as Alice leave us alone right Erina~~~?" Soma said as he joined in on the fun.

"Mou! Stop giving hints Alice! And Soma, please just be patient. It's as good as a surprise Alice prepared for you." Erina said as the two relented their teasing and softly grasp her hand and apologize for teasing her too much.

"Apologies accepted. Now get going before you miss out on the fun~~" Erina said to Alice who just sighed at her cousin. Who's the one giving hints now.

"Alice, I will be waiting in the final. That's where we will finally settle our score."

"Of course~~See you once I'm done, Erina, Soma~~" Alice said before leaving and heading to her gate.

---

"Welcome back everyone, we're now going to invite the first two contestants on stage together. They are currently the school's newest couple, Tadokoro Megumi and Kurokiba Ryo!"

On cue, the lights in the stadium went off as the two walked out with their hands linked with each other. There was nothing special about their introduction as it was just a silent walk until they reached the center where a video suddenly started playing.

"Everyone, let's give Megumi and her boyfriend our best support!"

"Megumi! Megumi ! Megumi! Kurokiba! Kurokiba! Kurokiba!"

Caught off guard by it, the two watched on and saw the people they met back in Megumi's hometown cheering for them both. That was not it though as once the video ended, a similar chant echoed from one section of the stadium.

There they were, every single one of them. Holding banners and light sticks with their names on them, they began chanting even louder than they did in the video.

Then, Kurokiba felt some water on their intertwined hand and he turned to his girlfriend in worry. But, the expression on her face was one filled with happiness.

Following his girlfriend's gaze, Kurokiba saw that she was looking at someone in the crowd. Despite the darkness they were in, Kurokiba could see why her girlfriend suddenly became emotional. Seated on the front seats were none other than her parents, his soon-to-be parents, their parents cheering them on.

Feeling a warmth similar to where they confessed to each other, Kurokiba held her hand even more tightly and enjoyed this warm sensation.

Then, the lights suddenly came back on as a sound of a door creaking could be heard. There stood the one who made this all possible. Walking out with no special effects or not even a song playing, she arrived at the center of the stage and asked the two: "Hehe~~Did you like it~~?"

"Alice-chan!"

"Oof!"

Immediately, she was tackled down by Megumi who was continuously giving her thanks.

"Oi Ryo-kun! You know I can charge your girlfriend here for intended assault of a fellow participant you know."

"Ojou…don't hide your embarrassment…"

"Wha…?"

"Thank you, Ojou. For making this happen."

"Even Ryo-kun?!" Alice complained again. But if you look closely enough, you could see a tinge of redness on her cheeks.

---

After Megumi eventually let go of Alice, the event resumed with Urara reminding everyone that this is a three-way battle and the theme for the match is apples. Repeating what she said in the first match, the three headed to their designated kitchen and waited for the signal.

"Begin cooking!"

Just like usual, the judges began giving their own take on how the match will unfold. Despite all of the judges having relations with Alice, they swore to not give any biases in their judging. Words of a Nakiri are to be taken seriously after all.

"This will be a tough match for Kurokiba-kun~~He can't use any seafood as it will overpower the flavor of the apples~~" (Leonora)

"Kurokiba Onii-san will have something prepared, he's up against Alice Onee-chan after all." (Cilla)

"En en, Kurokiba Onii-san always wanted to prove himself to Alice Onee-chan after all." Berta said as she thought back to the numerous bout the two have in Denmark.

"I think Tadokoro Megumi could the pose the most problem, she was the one who denied Alice perfect score back in the preliminaries." (Sōe)

"Indeed. Both Erina and Alice has spoken highly of her, she's not one to be underestimated." (Senzaemon)

As to reinforce their point, Megumi brought out her choice of apple which were green apples. Then, she began slicing them in a fan shape but not all the way through by leaving half an inch of the apple unsliced.

Not one to let her girlfriend take all of the attention, Kurokiba began slicing his apples in half. Coincidentally, the apples he chose were the same green apples that Megumi is using.

Doing something completely different from them, Alice brought out an ice cream maker before placing her complete mix into it.

"Apple ice cream? Isn't that too simple-minded?" Someone in the crowd said as he was disappointed by the choice.

"Idiot. Who says the mix contains apple? She hasn't brought it out yet"

"Who?!" The student shouted but he immediately regretted it once he saw who he was speaking to.

"You disagree? So why are you not down there competing?"

"My apologies!" The student immediately apologized before turning tail and fleeing.

"Fufu~~there's no need to scare them you know~~"

"Tch, you know how ignorant brats get on my nerve."

"Just like Soma-chan~~?"

"Heh, I'll be waiting for his grand revealing."

---

Without knowing what was happening in the crowd, Alice continued her preparation as she brought out her apples which were orange-red in color. Removing the core, she began slicing them and then dipping them in another mix.

Then, to everyone's shock. Kurokiba also brought out an ice cream maker and placed his mix inside of it.

Not one to be left out, Megumi began adding softened butter, flour and eggs into a bowl and using a hand mixer to mix them together.

If it wasn't obvious by now, the three have decided to go with desserts! What are the coincidence eh~~

Deciding to up it a gear, Kurokiba brought out a fruit with a red-purple exterior. He immediately began squeezing the juice out of them before boiling them and pouring them into the bowl containing his apples.

Befitting of a match between the master and apprentice, Alice decided to one-up Kurokiba again by bringing out a bottle of wine?

As the crowd was busy looking at the battle between the extravagant pair, Megumi was left to her own devices. She was now done with the mix and began spreading the texture on a springform pan. Carefully spreading the textured evenly, she then gently placed her four fan-shaped apples on top of the textured before sending it to the oven to bake.

Having some time to rest, she looked on as Kurokiba too placed his dish into the oven to bake. When she turned to look at Alice, she saw her busy preparing five different things at the same time. Was Alice finally showing her true skill? Megumi could only feel amazed as she could now see that the Alice from before was just her 'playing around'. Just look at the difference in effort.

Not one to get discouraged, she held onto the charm that her mother gave her and patiently waited for her dish to finish baking.

After an hour of patient waiting, two timers went off at the same time as Kurokiba and Megumi removed their dish from the oven. Giving their dish some time to cool off, they sneaked a glance at Alice who was now done with her preparations. She was now leaning on her refrigerator with her eyes close.

After letting their dish time to cool off, Megumi and Kurokiba began adding some final touches to their dish. Megumi ended off her dish by sprinkling some confectioner's sugar on top of it while Kurokiba placed a scoop of ice cream on top before placing some seeds on top.

Feeling that someone was looking at her, Alice opened her eyes to see Kurokiba and Megumi looking at her. Noticing that they were done with their dish, Alice just said:

"You both sure are quick~~You can go ahead~~Good luck~~"

Surprised that Alice's dish was not yet finished, Megumi and Kurokiba looked at each other before accepting Alice's proposal to not wait for her.

"Ladies first."

"Hehe~~Thank you Kurokiba-kun"

With that, it was decided that Megumi was the one who will present her dish first. As the chant of Megumi began echoing around the stadium again, Megumi now stood before the five judges.

"I hope you all like it, this is my Mutter's Apfelkuchen."

"Presenting in German? I like her already Cilla~~"

"I do as well Berta~~Kurokiba Onii-san gotten himself a wonderful girlfriend"

"Mother's apple cake. So this is a family recipe?" Sōe inquired.

"Yes, this is Hahahue's (Mother's) recipe. She always baked this cake for our family's Christmas gathering." Megumi answered with a smile.

"Hahaha, if this tastes as good as it looks. I might have to buy the recipe from her" Senzaemon laughed as he took in the beautiful form of the cake.

"Fufu~~a beautiful golden butter cake filled on top with fan-shaped apple slices and confectionery sugar to make it look like snow. I agree Megumi-chan~~I would love to know the recipe." Leonora said as she was amazed by the details of the cake.

"Hehe~~I think Hahahue would faint from hearing this~~" (Megumi)

"That's too bad~~But, we would eventually meet since we are Kurokiba-kun adoptive parents after all ~~" Leonora teased which caused Megumi to blush.

"Now now dear, let's partake in this cake before it gets cold. We would not want to disrespect her recipe after all." Sōe said as the judges went it for their first bite.

The first thing that stood out to them was the huge crunch sound after biting into the apple.

"It's delicious Berta. The apples are firm and crunchy. When you bite into it, the juice just flows around your mouth." (Cilla)

"It's a very good combination Cilla. The tart and acidic taste balances out the sweetness from the butter cake." (Berta)

"Fufu~~it tastes scrumptious Megumi-chan~~It tastes just like home~~" Leonora said she used a toothpick to pick up the apple slices.

"The apple is so dense in flavor, it basically fills your mouth. You bake the cake perfectly as well. The cake has no sides which are too hard or too muddy to eat." Sōe praised.

As everyone turned to face Senzaemon waiting for his verdict, he just kept quiet until Sōe decided to ask him.

"Give it a moment Son. Her cooking will eventually take effect." Senzaemon said to the confusion of Sōe. But, when he looked closer, he could see that he was still fully clothed just like the other judges.

"What does that mean…Explode!" Just as he was about to ask the question, his gifting activated.

"Hahaha! Tadokoro Megumi, your dishes really are old burners. I have learned my mistake." Senzaemon laughed as he referred to the match between her and Kurokiba.

"No, my specialty is hospitality after all. Or should I say old-fashioned?"

"Indeed! You are old-fashioned but that does not mean your dishes lack in comparison to the modern firepower of other chefs! You are best in what you do after all!" Senzaemon praised as he finished the last slice of Megumi's cake.

"That really took me off guard, my gifting never activated like that before." Sōe said as he picked out his fallen coat.

"We are too used to judging extravagant and creative dishes nowadays that we need to let old-fashioned dishes like her sink in before judging. Don't repeat the same mistake as me Son, I almost cost her a spot in this semi-finals." Senzaemon told his son as they look on at Megumi's retreating figure which was accompanied with a large round of applause.

"Of course Tou-sama." Sōe acknowledged by nodding.

---

Once Megumi reach Kurokiba's side, she was greeted with a bright smile and sincere words only reserved for her. "Good work."

"Thank you, now it's your turn. I'll be waiting."

"Mn."

Placing his dish in front of the judges, Kurokiba who decided not to wear his headband for this match told the judges in a lazy voice. "This is my dish…Apple Cobble"

"It's great Cilla. We finally get to see the Kurokiba Onii-san we are used to back in Denmark"

"Yes Berta. The Kurokiba Onii-san who challenged Alice Onee-chan in her specialty" The two cheered which cause Kurokiba's lips to curve upwards slightly.

"It's been a while Kurokiba-kun. I see you have gone for a fruit dessert with a thick-topped filling." Sōe said after looking over the dish.

"Yes. But, my fillings are covered with something different though." Kurokiba replied mysteriously.

"My~~I can't wait to taste it then~~It just looks so juicy and bright~~~" Leonora said excitingly.

"Very well then. Let us begin tasting." (Senzaemon)

Immediately, their gifting took effect as their senses were overwhelmed by the amount of flavor.

"This sweet yet tart flavor~~It reminds me of...Yes~~ Pomegranates~~These seeds on top and the juice are made from Pomegranates!" Leonora exclaimed.

"The word Pomegranates derives from medieval Latin pōmum "apple" and grānātum "seeded. They are not only bold in flavor but they are also very refreshing to consume." Sōe added on

"Mmm~~~Oishii (Delicious)~~~The apples are also the same Granny Smith apples (Green apples) your girlfriend just used~~" (Cilla)

"Umai (Delicious)~~the sweetness from the vanilla ice cream and heavy cream just stays in your mouth~~" (Berta)

"Kurokiba Ryo, the unsalted butter combined with your dry ingredients made for a wonderful topping for your apple filling. Not only that, but you also added pomegranate seeds which are sweet with vanilla ice cream which has a clean flavor to allow the sour flavor from your apples to rise up to the surface. This has been a masterclass in ingredients usage!" Senzaemon praised as the crowd applauded Kurokiba for his performance.

But then, a timer resounded as the crowd stopped their clapping and turned towards it. There stood a happy Alice removing her dish from the refrigerator.

Noticing everyone staring at her, Alice just tilted her face in confusion before looking at the judges' table. Clasping her hands in apology, she said: "Sorry~~You can carry on you know~~ I still need to put some finishing touches~~"

"Haa…she really knows how to steal the spotlight from you…" Kurokiba grumbled which earned some chuckles from the judges.

Walking down the stage, Kurokiba joined back with Megumi as they patiently waited for Alice to finish her dish.

---

"Time!" Urara announced as the time for cooking as ended.

Breathing a sigh of relief as she barely scrape through, Alice brought her dish to her family who was eager to know what exactly was she making that took nearly 3 hours to complete.

For dramatic purposes, Alice has a cold fog covering her dish for added effect.

Already used to Alice's playfulness, they just calmly waited for the fog to disperse and when it did, their jaws nearly dropped.

"Hehe~~Please enjoy my Apple Galette~~"

"A…Alice…Not that I'm doubting you but…is this really apple galette?"Sōe asked as the first one to recover.

"Mou! You should have more faith in me, Papa! Everything on display here is apple~~ Except for the ice cream though~~Alice cheerfully said.

"If…If Alice Onee-chan says so…" Cilla said as she took a bite of the thin slice of apple on display.

As soon as she did, she was knocked off from her seat. Yep, legit knock-off.

"Cilla! What happened?" Berta immediately crouched next to her twin.

"The…the apple…maple syrup…Too delicious…" Cilla muttered out before falling unconscious.

"Berta-chan~~ I saw Soma fed Cilla so I'll do the same for you~~Here~~" Alice said as she gently shove a piece of apple jelly into her mouth.

"!"

"How does it taste Berta-chan~~"

"It…It tastes so sweet and complex! The juice is made from Cox apples/Cox's Orange Pippin."

"Wow~~got it in one~~You're doing well Berta-chan~~Why don't you try this one~~" Alice praised before placing an apple ball into her mouth.

"It's..too much…Alice Onee-chan…I can also taste orange…lemon zests…cloves, star anise, and…five-spice…and…Kyuu…" Berta managed to mutter some ingredients but passed out in the end.

"Aww, you were just lacking vanilla pod though~~Well then, sweet dreams~~" Alice said as he gently laid her down next to her twin. Then, her eyes zeroed in on the remaining three.

"Fufu~~we can talk about this Alice~~there's no need to make your mother faint right~~"

"Of course not~~But~~~I want my dear mother to appreciate my dish~~"

Gently scooping up the cream, she placed it in front of Leonora who has no choice but to accept.

"It's so sweet! I can taste so many different apples inside of it~~ but how?!"

"Hehe~~this cream is made from Calvados~~" Alice explained as Leonora widened her eyes in shock.

"A brandy made by mixing More than 200 varieties of apples! No wonder!"

Not letting her mother have time to recover, Alice scooped up her homemade ice cream and fed her.

"! This taste of autumn! This taste of concentrated apple, treacle, and spices! Without a doubt! This is black butter ice cream!"

"Correct~~ As expected of mother~~" Alice said as she moved on to her next target.

But, he who had already disrobed, had expected this and had already finished his portion. Seeing her daughter pout at him, Sōe began explaining: "Your apple crisp was delicious dear, the crunchy texture made from cox apples and caster sugar just brings out my sweet tooth. The lemon you added was brilliantly executed to balance the whole dish out"

Last but not least, Alice turned to her grandfather who was looking immensely proud at her. "Dear, I never would have imagined a mint caramel Opaline cake decoration to be edible. The final dusting of icing sugar on top was just the cream on the crop."

"Hehe, thank you~~I aim to please after all~~" Alice said as she imitates Soma's words.

---

"Winner: Nakiri Alice 5-0!"

The announcement came as no surprise to anyone as just the sheer complexity of her dish was enough to convince anyone that she was the clear victor. But, they were two that still needed some convincing.

"Alice-chan!"

"Ojou!"

"Let me taste it!" The two said together.

Not surprised by their reactions, Alice just smiled and replied: "Of course~~I'll get two extras from the refrigerator~~~"

Just before Alice headed off, a roguish voice spoke up: "Oi, Yukihira's girlfriend. Get one of me as well."

"Hmm~~? Is that a tone someone who lost should use~~?"

"Tch…that's why I hate brats…"

"What was that~~? I didn't hear an apology~~~"

"...Fine!…I would like to try one…" The man said while gritting his teeth.

"Why didn't you say so earlier~~? That wasn't so hard was it~~" Alice said as she handed him one.

"Yare yare, you should know when to be honest with yourself." Another figure approached and said to the man.

"Shut it."

'Tap'

"?" Feeling someone tapping her on the shoulders, Alice turned around and saw someone she hasn't seen in a long time.

"Mind if I have a try, ~?"

"You made it!" Alice exclaimed as she gave her a hug.

"Of course I did. I would never pass up this opportunity" The figure said as she returned Alice's hug.

"Whoa?! What's everyone doing here?." A new voice said as he arrived and saw the people on stage.

"Mr. Yukihira, it's good to see you're the same as always." The figure that hugged Alice greeted him.

"Yo~~~it's you. It's been a while, have you been well?" Soma greeted back with a tinge of excitement in his voice.

"I'm well now, considering what's going to happen next." The figure said cheekily.

"What's going to happen next? Oh~~I know. You'll be one of the judges for my match with Alice."

"Hehe, not quite. You have one additional opponent" The figure said as she gestured behind Soma's back.

"?!" Turning around as quickly as he possibly could, he saw Erina standing behind him with the most shit-eating grin ever.

"Surprise~~"

---

Phew~~Made it in time~~So~~how was it~~? Did you like it? Did I caught you off guard~~? Who was talking with Hayama~~ Who were the three characters that appeared in the end~~ Here's a tip 2 male 2 female~~ Let's see how many you guys get right. I will be waiting eagerly to see your answers~~

PS: Next chapter will probably be a week before Chrismas maybe. I still have my project to finish these two weeks so I'm not touching this story until I'm done~~So pardon me if it is another long wait for you guys~~

PS:Many of u asked me if I do research of the dishes and yes I do. Here are the recipes I used to write the food wars in this chapter~~ Just google it and you'll find it~~

1. Butternut-Squash Couscous (Soma's dish)

2. Hisako's dish is in Chinese so it can't be put in. (Yes I can read Chinese~~)

3. Oma's Apfelkuchen (Megumi's dish)

4. Apple-Pomegranate Cobbler (Kurokiba's dish)

5. Galette of Cox's apple and mint opaline, black butter ice cream (Alice's dish)

PS: Always stay safe guys and girls, I will see you all in the next chapter~~