Alice checked her phone for what felt like the fifth time since she'd arrived back at the mansion. The home screen still stared blankly back at her; no missed calls or new text messages. No word from Sōma.

She hadn't been too concerned initially; she wasn't Sōma's keeper. He could've easily been side tracked by something on his way back. But as the afternoon turned into dusk, and dusk turned into the true darkness of night, she grew worried. Her worry only grew when her calls went unanswered and her text messages sat without a response.

She called Erina to see if she had any insight but her cousin hadn't seen Sōma since they'd left him to go find his sister. She'd asked around Polar Star and confirmed that it was the last time any of them had seen Sōma that day.

Alice had thanked her and hung up but that only left her alone with her thoughts. She'd tried speaking to Ryo but he'd been less than helpful. He was never very talkative and he only became even more silent at the mention of the red head. Alice didn't directly ask but she was sure he still resented the Yukihira chef for what he'd done to Alice. It didn't seem to matter to him that Alice had long forgiven Sōma for his indiscretions.

Her parents were much the same; hours spent on the phone trying to convince her mother of Sōma's worth went nowhere. She couldn't seem to forgive the boy for kissing another girl. The things she told Alice she'd do to her father if she ever even suspected he was doing something like that made Alice pale just thinking about it. For most women, it would've been simple hyperbole but Alice's mother was even stronger than she was and could quite easily carry out any of the number of things she'd claimed she would've.

Her father had mostly remained silent on the matter but that was message enough; he simply refused to speak with Alice about the issue. After their first conversation about it, he'd forbidden her from bringing it up with him.

But papa, just listen!

I don't need to, Alice. I know more than enough from what my father has told me. The Yukihira boy is out of control and I have no interest in seeing you involved with him.

But he's doing all of this for Erina's sake!

His reasons aren't the issue; his methods are. He's the type of man that would see the world burn to see his goals accomplished, trust me on that. This family does not need another Nakamura Azami in it, Alice!

Her father's words had stunned her and they hadn't spoken on it since.

Alice checked her phone absently and noted both the time and the lack of any sort of notification whatsoever. If Sōma was going to contact her, he would've done it by now. All she could hope is that he was okay and that he got in touch with her soon.

Despite resigning herself to that, she didn't stop worrying. All she could think about was what could've happened to Sōma as she prepared for bed. He plagued her dreams. He was on her mind the moment she awoke the next day. She couldn't stop her thoughts from revolving around her errant ex-boyfriend.

After checking her phone and his room, she felt the pit of worry in her stomach grow even further. His room was untouched; there's no way he'd spent the night there. Another call to Erina only produced the same results as last night; no one had seen hide nor hair of the Yukihira chef. Instead Erina told Alice to turn on her television, as her father was preparing to make the announcement for the third trial of the Elite Ten Selection. Maybe they'd be able to gather some clues from that.

XXXXXXXX

"Greetings, dear students." began Azami. He sat behind his desk, hands folded before him. His smile was fixed in place, polite and empty. "As you know, the tasks for this year's Selection were dictated by our graduating Elite Ten members. They each independently devised a challenge of their choosing, designed to ensure the Elite Ten following them will be the best that Tōtsuki has to offer."

Azami placed his hands flat on his desk.

"As you know, regrettably, we lost our third seat, Megishima Tosuke, earlier this year. He simply was not open to the new direction that Tōtsuki was taking. He was unable to reconcile his beliefs with those of Central's and, for the good of us all, I was forced to dismiss him. I would've liked nothing better than for him to be here today, with a unique challenge of his own for the Appetizer course, but that is simply not to be."

Azami sighed sadly, shaking his head in sorrow. Or what appeared to be sorrow.

"Be that as it may, I've stepped forward in his place and devised a challenge that I think would be suited for the Selection. I've kept the details hidden, even from those on the Elite Ten Council, so I'm sure it will be an equal surprise to you all."

Azami cleared his throat, picking up a piece of paper that rested before him.

"The third trial will take place in a little over a week's time. Those still participating are to gather in kitchens A through C in the South hall with whatever tools and ingredients you feel you'll need next Saturday at 10 AM sharp. The challenge itself is quite simple. You will have two hours to cook an appetizer from this pre-approved list."

Azami gestured and, though he couldn't see it, he knew that the camera feed had switched to a slow panning over the list in question.

"I've composed this list myself; these appetizers represent the pinnacle of haute cuisine; any restaurant capable of serving even half of what I've compiled would boast at least a two star Michelin ranking. Don't fret; this list is also posted on the main Tōtsuki website and on each billboard throughout the administration building."

Azami gestured again, bringing the cameras back to focus on him.

"As you may have noticed; the list was composed of not only appetizers but also starters from several branches of fine dining. It's not customary, but I found the diversity it offered to be worth the break in tradition. Per Akanegakubo-kun's challenge, there will be examiners patrolling. They are there to assess your cooking methods; it's not enough to get something that simply looks like top tier cuisine. You must also use the proper techniques in its preparation and that's what my examiners will be looking for. They will be closely scrutinizing just how you come up with your dish. But that will only be a third of your score for this particular trial. The remaining points will be allotted by your judges."

Azami's smile grew a touch more genuine, which only served to make it even more discomforting.

"The judging for this phase of the Selection will be particularly rigorous. I've handpicked the judges myself and I can tell you that they are in an entirely different league from any judge you've had thus far, up to and including those that served at the Autumn Election. But I won't spoil the surprise here; their identities will be revealed when the time comes. See you all next Saturday."

Azami waved, the broadcast light on the camera winking out almost immediately after the motion.

He sighed softly before looking to the right.

"What did you think, was I being too melodramatic Sōma-kun?"

Sōma's cold, golden eyes looked back at Azami's. He stood straight, arms clasped behind his back from his position just outside of the camera's frame.

"A small amount of theatre is needed every now and again in a position such as yours, Nakiri-sama."

Sōma's tone was calm and polite, respectful. Empty.

Azami nodded to himself, agreeing with the teen but not deigning to respond. If Sōma was offended, it didn't show on his face.

"Of course, of course. Now that the announcement is out of the way, I do believe you and I have an appointment to keep; please go and prepare the room for us."

Sōma nodded mechanically.

"Right away, Nakiri-sama."

Sōma nodded in assent, exiting the office briskly.

Azami smiled coldly as he gazed at the dark wood door Sōma shut in his wake. It felt good to reclaim one of his wandering toys. He'd given Sōma so much leniency that he was worried he'd started to lose him. But one simple word had reassured Azami that Sōma was still his, first and foremost.

Azami frowned as he thought under just what circumstances he'd been forced to reclaim Sōma under.

XXXXXXXX

Azami pulled into the parking lot of the East Hall building at speed. He braked, turning the bike at a slight angle, causing the entire frame to rotate and slide, bringing him to a smooth halt directly in front of the parking spot bearing his name. He turned the bike off, the loud noise of the engine abating instantly, before kicking down its stand, getting up and removing his helmet in one smooth motion. He perched the helmet on the motorcycle's display, smiling softly as he did so.

He didn't often ride motorcycles; he'd learnt how to do so many years previously but he rarely indulged the habit. Much too dangerous. But it was still just as exhilarating as he remembered.

He began ascending the steps, ignoring the glances and whispers from the students around him that noticed his entrance. He rolled his sleeves down, idly noting the sweat rings on the shirt. That simply wouldn't do. He'd have to change. Luckily, this shouldn't take long. He simply needed to check in with the examiners and Momo personally, ensuring that Kida had followed his instructions to the letter. It had been a struggle to convince the fourth seat to allow him to select one of the judges but she'd folded beneath him, as all did eventually. Azami wasn't often denied.

"Ah, excuse me, sir?"

Azami paused, looking towards the high pitched voice. He saw a girl dressed in a navy chef's uniform. She had dark black hair that fell to just past her shoulders; it was messily tousled in a way that Azami would've chided Erina for at her age but Azami held his tongue; he didn't have the time or inclination to waste on some random child.

"Yes?" he inquired. She bowed politely in response; her bearing calm. Her dark violet eyes made Azami frown; they seemed familiar though he was sure he'd never seen the girl before in his life.

"I was just wondering if you could direct me towards the auditorium where the Elite Ten Selection is taking place; I'm afraid I got turned around on my way back to it." she said with a small frown.

"Ah, you're one of the children here to assist then?" asked Azami, slightly intrigued. He'd assumed she was simply some wayward middle schooler.

"Yes, I am. The task only just finished and I had to wash my hands. None of the station sinks had any antibacterial soap." she said, grimacing.

Azami nodded sympathetically. He could relate. He hated the feeling of unclean hands after he was done in the kitchen. It simply wasn't comfortable by any means.

"As a matter of fact, I'm on my way there myself. Shall I escort you?" said Azami genially.

The girl blinked in response, eyebrows furrowing as she looked up at Azami before shrugging.

"If it wouldn't be any trouble."

"I assure you, no trouble at all."

They began walking down the hall, their steps unhurried.

"So, may I ask who your partner was for the challenge?" asked Azami idly.

"Yukihira Sōma." she said. The mention of his wayward enforcer perked Azami's ears although he was careful to ensure his expression didn't shift.

"Ah, I see. A bright young man, one of the best in his year if I'm not mistaken. Am I to assume you're one of the children from the DEF kitchen then?" asked Azami, keeping all displeasure from his tone. He'd been informed by Tsukasa about Sōma's little stunt and it had taken mere minutes for his team to ferret out just where the unknown group of children had originated from.

"Not exactly." said the girl guardedly. "I'm more of an independent chef, I suppose."

"Ah, I see." said Azami. "Quite remarkable, considering your age."

"I'm nine years old." she said, almost testily. "Plenty old enough in my dad's opinion. My brother's been cooking since he was three."

"Impressive." said Azami idly, noting the auditorium doors ahead of them. "Well, here's our destination…I apologize. I'm just now realizing I neither asked for your name nor offered you my own. How impolite of me; allow me to rectify that."

Azami held out a hand, smiling down at the girl.

"I'm Nakiri Azami."

Azami saw the girl's calm expression morph into one of utter, jaw dropping surprise. She took a step back from him, almost stumbling into the wall as she simply kept staring at him. Azami frowned, wondering at the odd reaction. What about his identity could've provoked such a response?

He stepped forward, laying a hand on her shoulder. The way she flinched in response only made Azami more curious.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

The girl didn't respond. She simply kept looking up at Azami and he found her shock had been replaced with fear. Wide eyed, speechless fear. He frowned further before looking at the top of her head, near the center of the tousled mass of dark black hair. Something had caught his eye. He reached forward without thinking; wondering at what he must have seen.

That's when he heard the rapid pattering of footsteps coming from the adjacent hallway. He stopped, looking to his left to see the form of Yukihira Sōma come barrelling into view. The boy looked left before looking right and freezing. He looked at Azami, frozen in place as his eyes met Azami's own.

In them, Azami saw the moment Sōma made the decision to attack him.

Sōma rushed forward, his eyes focused on Azami's own. The look of murderous rage in them prompted Azami to take action, his movements calm but hurried. He stood quickly, stepping forward and snapping his fingers as he did so.

Sōma stumbled in his run, almost falling straight to the floor. He snarled, an inhuman sound before lurching towards Azami once more.

He snapped his fingers a second time.

Sōma gasped, stumbling further. His eyes wavered between rage and confusion before settling on the former. Their golden depths lit up as he walked towards Azami, his hands balled into fists but his pace slow and plodding.

Azami waited until Sōma was almost in arm's length before snapping his fingers a third and final time.

Sōma came to a complete stop, his arms falling listlessly to his side. His head fell forward, his chin thumping against his chest. He would've tipped over if not for Azami moving to grip his right shoulder firmly. With his other hand, he gripped Sōma's hair and angled his head upwards.

The look on Sōma's face was blank and lifeless; empty. Not the focused and cold emptiness that he'd become known for but the kind of emptiness more suited to the dead than the living.

"Dritte." said Azami firmly.

Azami released Sōma's hair, letting his head fall forward as he gripped Sōma's other shoulder. Sōma's body began to twitch, his fingers flexing and moving unpredictably. His shoulders shook in Azami's grasp, causing the man to grunt as he struggled to hold Sōma in place. For all that he was shorter, Sōma was stronger than he was. He slammed Sōma's back against the wall, eliciting no noise from him but a gasp from someone else.

Azami looked over to the girl, who was staring at the boy in his grip with a horrified expression.

"Girl."

Azami's tone contained none of his previous, false affability. She looked at Azami, barely able to tear her eyes from Sōma's twitching form.

"Leave. Now."

She didn't move. Azami grit his teeth and felt his control slip as Sōma continued to shake. He didn't have the patience for this. He let his mask slip further and the intimidating look he gave the girl was one he was sure she would remember.

"GO!"

The girl yelped, turning and running blindly down the hall. Azami spared no more thought for her, focusing his attentions on Sōma, who'd begun to shake more frequently but less intensely. It was a good sign. It meant his training still held; that he still had control, despite all of the rebellion he'd let Sōma foster with himself.

As Sōma's fits subsided, Azami released his shoulders. He stepped back, folding his arms as he simply continued to watch. He didn't have to wait long. Sōma stopped shaking completely and took one deep breath. His hands flexed once or twice, curling into fists before subsequently relaxing.

"Well, how do you feel, Sōma-kun?"

Sōma's ear twitched at Azami's voice but he didn't move immediately. He continued standing completely still for a moment before taking another deep breath looking up, his eyes sharp and hard.

"Greetings, Nakiri-sama."

"Welcome back, Sōma-kun."

XXXXXXX

"Do you see Alice anywhere?" asked Erina concernedly, looking around the gathered crowd of participants. The amount of people still competing to be in next year's Elite Ten had certainly decreased but there was still a crowd numbering in the dozens in the preparatory rooms attached to the South hall.

"I don't believe she's arrived yet." said Megumi, clutching the strap of the bag she held over her shoulder. She was looking around as well but she didn't see the distinctive shock of white hair that was Alice's anywhere.

"Kurokiba's not here either though." noted Takumi. The blond boy stood near Megumi's side and had a chef's case slung across his shoulder.

"I'm sure they'll both arrive with plenty of time to spare." said Isami, an identical chef's case held in his large hands. "I wouldn't worry."

Erina nodded absently in response to the Italian chef's assurance but she didn't voice her inner concerns. Alice had been growing progressively more and more distraught as time passed and there was no word on Sōma's whereabouts. Joichiro had left Tōtsuki the same day to take Kumi back home and hadn't returned since, though he'd left word with them that he had no idea where Sōma was but that he was sure he was fine.

This vague assurance did nothing to settle Alice's nerves and Erina knew she'd probably spent more time worried over the missing redhead than preparing for the third trial. She wished she could've done more for her cousin but there simply wasn't time. While the dishes her father had dictated were widely varied; none of them were easy and very few had been covered at all in their classes, meaning they had to devote time to research and experimentation.

The fact that they could do so much in a little over a week was a testament to their skill. Which was probably intentional on Azami's part. Anyone that couldn't do at least that much wasn't worth being a part of the Elite Ten Council.

"Ah, there she is." said Megumi, pointing to the rear entrance doors, where Alice and Ryo could be seen entering. Erina headed towards them, doing her best to ensure she didn't break out into a jog as she got closer and noticed her cousin's state of being.

"Alice…" said Erina worriedly, drawing close to her. "Are you alright?"

The Danish Nakiri's normally pristine white hair was limp and lied flat on her head. Her normally bright red eyes were dull and had bags underlining them. The wan smile she gave Erina was nothing like the mischievous grins her cousin was known for.

"I'm fine, Erina." said Alice, waving off her concern. Ryo cleared his throat pointedly, glancing down at Alice. She rolled her eyes in response, groaning. "Ok, fine. I'm not fine. I still haven't heard from Sōma. I waited as long as Ryo would let me at the mansion but he never showed. At this rate, he's going to miss the trial. And then what would all of this have been for?"

Erina placed a hand on her cousin's shoulder comfortingly.

"This is Yukihira-kun we're talking about, Alice." she said, smiling softly. "I'm sure he's fine. And he'll figure something out; if there's one thing Yukihira Sōma excels at, it's getting out of a tight spot."

Alice smiled in response, raising her hand to meet Erina's on her shoulder. She gripped it tightly.

"I hope you're right, Erina." she said. "I really do."

"I know I am." said Erina, with more confidence than she really felt. "Have faith in him."

Alice hummed noncommittally but didn't say anything further. Although she continued to hold Erina's hand, even after she'd let go of her shoulder. The blonde didn't mind, more than happy to be there for her cousin. They stood together, not saying anything. There wasn't anything that needed to be said. Alice needed emotional support and Erina was there to give it.

After a few minutes of warm silence, Alice released Erina's hand. She gave Erina a grin that was a little more reminiscent of her usual.

"Thanks." she said. "I do hope you don't think this means I'll go easy on you in there."

Erina smiled in response to the familiar competitiveness before furrowing her brow.

"You're ten years too early to challenge me." she quipped sarcastically, flicking her hair imperiously and turning her back on her cousin. She couldn't see her but she could practically feel Alice's cheeks puffing up from where she stood.

"You're only four months older than me!" shouted Alice, shaking her fists at Erina.

"I'm talking about the gap in our skills, not our ages." said Erina coolly, shaking her head.

"You really haven't changed at all! Still the same, big headed Erina." said Alice, stomping her foot for dramatic effect. "I can't wait to take a needle and let all of that air out one of these days."

"I welcome the challenge." said Erina, smiling to herself as she marched away "angrily". The soft giggling she could hear from her cousin as she begin speaking to Ryo was like music to her ears.

"So how was she?" asked Megumi as Erina approached. She'd debated going with Erina at first but had decided against it. Sometimes, there were things meant for family and family alone.

"She's…not the best." said Erina, glancing back to where her cousin stood, chatting amiably with Ryo. "She still hasn't heard from Yukihira-kun and the stress is definitely getting to her. I really hope he manages to show up sometime soon, for both their sakes."

Megumi nodded but before she could speak further, the doors at the front of the room opened, admitting the form of one Nakiri Azami. He strode into the room calmly but briskly, not a single hair out of place. The small pockets of conversation in the room died off as the headmaster of Tōtsuki stood at the front of the room.

"Greetings, all." he said. "The task is due to start in fifteen minutes; everything you need to make any of the appetizers on my list will be either at your stations or in the storage containers arranged to the far left of the arena. Feel free to take as much as you need, though I would caution you to not be too overzealous; proper planning is just as much a part of cooking a dish like this as chopping a vegetable or braising a cut of meat and you will be graded as such."

Azami looked out over the crowd, smiling at the arranged students.

"Now, it's time to introduce you to the judges for the third trial. I've departed from convention with my choice, I will admit. Firstly, there will only be two judges for today's challenge. They will each give you an evaluation of your dish, along with a score based on its culinary merit. This score, combined with the score given by my examiners, will serve as your score for this portion of the Elite Ten Selection. As with Saito-kun's challenge, you won't know your score and it will be added to your previous scores by our administrative team."

Azami clapped his hands together briskly. He noted the small twitch his actions elicited in a particular member of the crowd and his smile grew.

"Secondly, the judges won't follow the typical pattern that you've all become familiar with. As you know, it's almost tradition for Tōtsuki to have judges from within the upper echelons of the culinary world. Be they alumni, company owners or prestigious culinary family heads. We have no shortage of renowned men and women eager to assist in advancing the next generation of Tōtsuki students; such is our prestige."

Azami clapped a second time, firmly. The sound echoed in the quiet room, resounding off of the walls.

"Erina-chan, are you alright?"

Even though it was whispered softly, Azami heard the inquiry clear as day. He looked to his daughter, who had her head down. He could see her holding another girl's hand with both of hers in a white knuckled grip. He didn't address it; he simply continued speaking.

"For this trial, I thought it more important than ever that you be judged by the very best the culinary world has to offer. This is why the trial itself is so simple and straightforward; you all will have your hands full contending with the judges I have chosen for you. Established restaurants with years of tradition have been felled in one swoop of their tongues and I expect them to be no less stringent when dealing with those that would compete to be the next Elite Ten."

Azami clapped a third and final time.

"Erina-chan!"

He saw his daughter fall to her knees, shaking. Her arms were wrapped around herself and she was deaf to the blue haired girl's calls. Those around her were now turning to face her with looks of concern, and questions.

"Erina-san? Are you alright?"

"Nakiri-san's shaking, what's wrong?"

"Zweite."

Azami spoke the word firmly but softly, projecting his voice with force. His utterance went unnoticed by most, preoccupied as they were in crowding around his daughter. He thought he saw a pair of sunglasses turn to face him in response but he ignored them; he was focused on watching Erina through the gaps in the crowd around her. He watched as her shoulders began to shake even more violently, startling the crowd around her further.

He watched as they continued to badger and question her; unmoved. He saw as the shaking started to subside and her hands began to still. He watched as she stood to her feet, ignoring those that even now inquired after her health. Her chin came up and he saw her eyes pan the room dispassionately before settling on him.

He couldn't keep the warm smile off of his face. He raised one hand, gesturing towards her. He began to speak again, raising his voice over the din of conversation that had developed.

"Without further ado, I present to you your first judge. Heir to the cooking world's most prestigious lineage and possessor of the world's most divine palate; Nakiri Erina. Come and stand with me, daughter."

Erina began walking forward but found her progress stalled by the hand gripping hers. Her eyes moved to the blue haired girl's.

"Please release me." she asked.

The girl shook her head, stubbornly keeping hold of Erina's hand. She raised it and drew something into it with her finger, whispering words that Azami couldn't catch. Erina looked down at her hand before looking back up at the girl.

"Please release me, miss. Otou-sama needs me." she said simply, clinically. Azami felt his smile grow at the deference in her tone. He'd missed his daughter; his real daughter. It had really been too long.

When the blue haired girl showed no sign of releasing Erina's hand, Azami cleared his throat pointedly.

"Tadokoro-san, would you be so kind as to let go of my daughter's hand?"

Azami's tone made it clear that his request was no request at all. The girl bit her lip, looking anxiously at Erina. She released Erina's hand but she spoke again, the words tumbling out of her mouth.

"Erina-chan. Please. You don't have to do this." she said quietly.

"You're right. She doesn't." said Azami kindly. "I would never force my daughter to do something she didn't want to. Erina, if you so choose, you're free to stay where you are. You are in no way obligated to assist me."

Erina looked at him for several measured seconds before looking back at Megumi. Without a word, she turned and walked towards Azami, taking her place at his left side. Azami beamed down at her, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Your assistance is most appreciated, Erina."

"It's no trouble, Otou-sama." she responded levelly.

Azami looked back to the crowd of students, who were now eyeing him warily. They weren't ignorant to what had just occurred; it was no secret that there was a divide between Azami and his daughter. No one dared bring it up within earshot but Azami knew that it was common knowledge. In the months following his assertion of control over Tōtsuki, Erina had made it clear she stood in opposition to him even if she wasn't as vocal as some of his other detractors.

To see her standing at his side, obedient and supportive, was jarring to all in the room with the exception of Azami, who was simply happy his daughter had come to her senses.

"Erina will be exempt from being scored for this portion of the Elite Ten trial; this does not mean she automatically receives full points; it simply means where the rest of you will be judged out of one hundred points, she will be judged out of eighty. This is also how it will work for the second judge I have chosen for you, as he too is part of the Elite Ten Selection process this year."

Azami gestured towards the door.

"Yukihira Sōma is already in his place at the judging table. Why don't you go and join him, Erina?"

Erina nodded her assent before turning and leaving through the door Azami had indicated.

"While Sōma-kun's palate is much…shall we say, newer, it is on a level comparable to Erina's. He's been employed as the Nakiri family's official food critic for months and his work has been exemplary; I have the utmost faith in his abilities."

Azami shook his head, chuckling bemusedly.

"It's quite remarkable what the right training and mind set can do, even on someone as low class and talentless as Yukihira Sōma. Simply remarkable."

Azami turned and gestured for the students to follow him. He led them through the double doors into the adjoining kitchens, urging them to choose stations at their leisure. Erina and Sōma were sat at the front of the kitchen block; they each held clipboards in their hands and were talking in soft voices with each other. As Azami approached, they fell silent.

"Are you both ready?" he asked.

They nodded in eerie, robotic unison.

"Wonderful." said Azami, looking at his watch. He nodded to the examiner that stood at the front of the room, who nodded back in confirmation. Azami looked out to the Tōtsuki students prepping their stations. His eyes lingered briefly on those he'd mentally labelled as "problem children".

His niece was talking in urgent tones to Saito's nominee, waving her hands frantically. The blonde girl nodded back worriedly, more reserved but no less concerned.

The Italian twins were going over their tools; the blonde was rubbing a cloth over a broad bladed tool that Azami recognized as a mezzaluna. It had been years since he'd seen one outside of Italy.

The winner of the autumn elections was calmly sorting through a veritable hoard of what appeared to be unlabelled, black bottles. Azami recognized them as the standard containers for the Shiomi seminar. He felt a brief flicker of irritation at the sight. He'd made it clear to Sōma that he'd expected the seminar to be summarily shut down but he'd allowed himself to be swayed by the boy's argument at the time and its dissolution had been pushed aside in lieu of more important things.

He was beginning to lament allowing Sōma to run unfettered for so long; clearly he'd been busy in that time. It had taken all week to reassert his hold over the youth, let alone get anything useful from him.

He glanced at his watch before giving the examiner another nod. The man threw his hand into the air.

"You may begin!" he proclaimed, just as the clock in the room struck ten.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Terrible. The crab is completely overpowered by the cucumbers flavour. You erred in the pickling process; in a true Crab and malt, the crab is the focus of this dish; the rest of the ingredients are there to complement it." said Erina disdainfully, pushing the plate away from her.

"In addition, your presentation is sloppy." said Sōma critically, eyeing his mostly untouched plate.

To an observer, the plate was beautifully presented. The colours were aesthetically pleasing, the vegetables and meat were arranged well and it smelt amazing. It almost looked like a painting more than it looked like food.

Sōma pointed at the arrangement of sliced cucumbers.

"Your pieces are chopped unevenly. The difference is slight but noticeable and your food isn't good enough to camouflage that."

The student bowed his head under the collective weight of their gaze.

"You're free to leave, Amanu-san." said Erina, looking away.

He nodded meekly, leaving immediately through the large double doors Sōma directed him towards. There were no spectator stands set up for this challenge. Once the judging was over, the students were expected to leave. Those not participating in the exam watched the action from afar, through the cameras Azami had placed beforehand.

"Another waste of time." commented Erina, idly looking out over the cooking students.

"Agreed." said Sōma dispassionately.

"By the way, it's good to see that you are well, Yukihira-san." said Erina flatly.

"Is it now?" asked Sōma. "Why exactly is that?"

Erina didn't respond. She opened her mouth halfway but paused. She didn't truly know why she'd said what she'd said. It had just come up, an unbidden and half formed thought along with a group of feelings she didn't understand.

"Azami-sama thought it best if I remained out of contact." continued Sōma once it was clear that Erina wasn't going to speak. He idly noted, but ignored, the red eyed glances he kept receiving from the kitchen station nearest to him. "I needed time to acclimate myself to being in his service once again."

"I understand." said Erina. "I too need to acclimate myself to…to..."

Sōma's eyebrow quirked and he looked over at Erina, who was emptily staring down at her hands.

"My apologies, Yukihira-san. I'm feeling rather odd today, it seems."

"I suppose that's not very surprising." said Sōma. If he was fazed by the comment, it didn't show in his demeanour. "It's been years since your conditioning, after all. Some change isn't completely unexpected after being buried for so long."

"Buried?" questioned Erina, looking over at Sōma. "What do you mean by that, Yukihira-san?"

"I suppose you were rather young; it's understandable that Azami-sama wouldn't have explained the nuances of your treatment to you."

Sōma looked around, taking in the working chefs with a critical eye. He swept his gaze over the room, noting the various stages of preparation that each of the participants were at and what this said about the dish they were attempting to create. He individually assessed each one, running the numbers in his head and glancing at his watch. There wouldn't be anyone prepared for judgement for the next several minutes, unless someone made a critical misstep in their dish's preparation. He was sure the examiners would catch and remove anyone that foolish before they even made it halfway to the judges' table. Thus, Sōma concluded that he had the time to explain exactly what he meant to Erina

This litany of assessment, evaluation and calculation took Sōma exactly eleven seconds.

He looked to Erina, who was still looking at him expectantly, her purple eyes hollow.

"As you know, Azami-sama chose to attend university after graduating from Tōtsuki." said Sōma.

"Yes. He attended Osaka University, where he graduated with a double major in business and psychology." said Erina promptly, as if she was reciting from a textbook.

"Correct. As part of that program, he spent time in Germany on a fellowship, where he studied conditioning techniques as part of his course work. He became particularly interested in the work of a psychologist known as Franz Krause. He was known for his work with the human mind and the ability for it to be influenced and manipulated by application of external stimuli under stress. Most of his research didn't gain traction, as many deemed it unethical and a violation of basic human rights. Brainwashing, some called it."

Sōma snapped his fingers absently.

"Azami didn't let the censorship stop him; he was able to find some of Krause's lost work and recreate its effects. He worked on refining the research and putting it to his own use. It took him the bulk of his time in Germany to fully complete it but he was pleased with the results. He used some of what he learnt on you, when you were a child."

Erina didn't seem bothered by the revelation that her father had used controversial, mind altering research on her. She simply continued listening to Sōma speak.

"Azami didn't need to refine your tongue; it was already perfect. He needed to refine you. You were still too immature, too childish and too free spirited for what he sought for you to become and so he took steps to change that. He wanted to mould you into the perfect representation of his desires for the cooking world. And to do that, he needed to ensure you would listen to him and him alone. He couldn't afford for you to be tainted by outside perspectives; lesser perspectives. Thus the need to bury you." said Sōma.

"I…I still don't understand." said Erina, blinking.

"How old are you, Erina?" asked Sōma, watching as another chef began to approach the completion of their dish. He recognized him as Kurokiba Ryo; someone Azami had labelled as an issue, more for his deference to Alice than anything else.

"I'm fi-…no, I'm sixt-…"

Erina stopped, nonplussed. Her expression didn't change but it was clear she was confused.

"You're trying to decide whether you're five or sixteen." said Sōma. "You…this shell that Azami's cultured in you and buried hasn't seen the light of day since he left over a decade ago. Trying to reconcile it with who you've been for all of the time between will be challenging."

Erina looked down at her hands again. She realized why they felt so uncomfortable; they seemed too large. They felt completely natural but, when she looked at them, they also looked like the hands of someone else; the hands of an adult. Not the child she thought she was. She'd been asleep for so long and then to suddenly just wake up in that classroom, surrounded by unfamiliar yet familiar people…it was more than a little jarring. She'd been relieved to find her father there, waiting with open arms.

"Ah, Kurokiba-san. I see you've prepared an oyster dish for us." said Sōma, turning his attention away from Erina to watch Ryo approach their table.

"Yup. Grilled Oysters with Ättika." he said dully, placing the plates before them. His bandanna was tied firmly around his wrist, the berserker gone and hidden now that his job was over.

Sōma picked up an oyster by its steaming shell, idly noting the heat on his fingers. It would've been too hot to the touch for someone that wasn't as used to pain as he was. He used a small fork to extract the meat, placing it into his mouth.

He closed his eyes, stilling. A beat passed before his eyes opened and he looked at Ryo critically.

"An admirable effort. One of the best we've seen thus far, though I've noted a number of flaws, mostly minor and of no significant note. Your choice in vinegars was passable but ultimately could've been better; I assume there wasn't time to procure a more authentic Ättika directly from Europe?"

Ryo nodded, yawning as he rubbed at the back of his neck.

"Yup. A week's not enough time, really. Anything I got here that quick would've been subpar; not worth the trouble or expense."

"A fair argument." said Sōma. He took another shell into his hands, plucking the meat from it and taking another bite. "The slight dash of garlic you added also heightens the oyster's flavour as well; it works with its inherent saltiness. A simple dish but the skill with which you executed it is clear."

Sōma picked up his pen, marking down notes to that effect on his clipboard.

"Do you have anything to add, Erina?" he asked. Ryo showed no reaction to the overly familiar form of address.

The honey blonde haired girl was chewing thoughtfully on her first oyster; she'd waited for it to cool further before attempting to taste it. She swallowed and nodded thoughtfully.

"I agree with Yukihira-san's initial assessment, though I believe he was remiss in approving your usage of garlic. While slight, it did outbalance the natural flavour of the oysters. Still noteworthy but an error that you would be wise to avoid in the future, Kurokiba-san."

"Roger." he said, giving a lazy salute. "Anything else? Or can I leave?"

"You're free to go, Kurokiba-san."

"Great." he said. He moved to walk away but paused before he'd made it more than a few steps.

"By the way. Yukihira?"

Sōma looked over at Ryo, an eyebrow raised.

"Yes, Kurokiba-san?" he replied softly. Their eyes met and whatever Ryo saw in Sōma's caused him to sigh and shake his head.

"Forget about it."

He continued walking away, exiting the room. Sōma watched him leave, wondering at the oddity. It was rare for Ryo to do anything without purpose; he was simply too uninterested for that. But Sōma didn't have time to contemplate it further; the next participant had already stepped up to be judged.

"Ah, Tadokoro-san. What have you prepared for us?" asked Sōma.

Megumi was holding two platters in her hands. Her head was down, her bangs covering her face and leaving her eyes in shadow. Her lips were pursed tightly and she placed the plates before Sōma and Erina before stepping back and clasping her hands. She didn't speak.

Several seconds passed before Sōma spoke again.

"Tadokoro-san?"

At the clinical address, Megumi flinched but she still didn't speak. When it was clear she was going to remain silent, Sōma turned his attention to the platter and uncovered it. He eyed the contents, humming thoughtfully.

"I see you've prepared a seafood appetizer for us as well, Tadokoro-san. A hamachi based ceviche, if I'm not mistaken."

Sōma tried it, chewing as his tongue went to work, each part of the dish passing over it and being evaluated critically. He tasted several things; most prominent among them mint and grapefruit flavourings, alongside the yellowtail's freshness.

"The mint and grapefruit give the dish a brisk and refreshing taste." said Sōma. "The onion's flavour along with the chili peppers' spiciness interacts rather well; the meat of the tuna you used is also quite sweet, indicative of a fresh, juvenile specimen. A commendable dish, worthy of any traditional Japanese restaurant, I would say. What say you, Erina?"

Sōma turned to face Erina, who was staring down at her plate, frozen. The look on her face was still one of emptiness but Sōma could see the apprehension in her bearing; not quite fear but something approaching it.

"You should try it, Erina-chan."

Sōma glanced to the side to see Megumi, who had raised her head to look directly at Erina. She had a determined expression on her face.

"It's really good. I made it just for you."

Sōma arched his eyebrow at the words; moreso due to the intent with which the blue haired girl said them. However he refrained from commenting and simply watched as Erina picked up a piece of meat and placed it into her mouth before biting down.

XXXXXXXXXX

Darkness. Complete darkness surrounded them both. The two girls were across from each other, perfectly visible despite the sheer blackness of their surroundings. Megumi looked at Erina, her face near tears.

Erina-chan…

The blonde girl was sat on the floor, her feet tucked underneath her. She leaned against the bars of a gilded cage that completely surrounded her. There was no door, no lock, no key. It was a seamless construction of metal imprisoning her within its solid steel bars. The expression on her face was listless and defeated. Megumi recognized it; it was like the expression she'd first worn on that night when, all those months ago, Alice had "kidnapped" Erina and she'd found them stuck in the rain.

Erina-chan…

Megumi knelt in front of the cage, reaching out to hesitantly touch one of the bars. Her fingers passed through it as if it wasn't even there. She continued reaching forward until her hand found its way to Erina's and she gripped her hand firmly. Erina didn't stir or move in response.

I'm here for you. I promise I will never leave you alone again.

Erina's hand twitched and her fingers moved, barely encircling Megumi's. Her dull purple eyes moved to focus on Megumi's bright golden ones. Megumi stared right back, her expression earnest and warm.

I love you, Erina-chan. Do you understand me?

Megumi felt the grip on her fingers tighten, ever so slightly. She smiled softly, reaching her other hand forward to trace a symbol into Erina's open palm.

You are so much stronger now.

Erina's grip tightened further and her dull eyes began to regain some of their former life. She raised her free hand and reached forward to try and touch Megumi's forearm.

Yes. Fight for yourself, Erina-chan. Fight for your freedom.

Erina's hand met the metal of the cage and, unlike Megumi, didn't move any further. The metal was solid and unyielding. Erina stilled, looking down at where her fingers were splayed across the metal bar. Without warning, her hands fell, lifeless and her eyes lost what little shine they'd begun to develop. Megumi gasped but, before she could react, she found herself an immeasurable distance from Erina's cage. Someone stood in front of her, barring her way; a person that hadn't been present before.

The features were very familiar but the way they were displayed and arranged was quite different. Shorter hair, rounder cheeks, a pudgier but smaller frame. The same purple eyes and honey blonde hair, though noticeably lighter in its shade.

This person was undoubtedly Nakiri Erina but it was a Nakiri Erina younger than Megumi had ever seen. She couldn't have been more than five years old. Thick manacles attached to chains that spiralled off into the darkness were clasped around her neck, hands and feet. Like the cage, there was no lock or key for these restraints.

The child was glaring at Megumi, her fists balled up and shaking in rage. The chains trailing from her wrists and ankles were vibrating with tension; they would've been clinking audibly if proper sound existed in this place.

You shouldn't be here; only Otou-sama is allowed here. You have no place here. LEAVE!

XXXXXXXX

Erina looked up coolly from her clean plate, placing her fork down to rest atop it.

"A job well done, Tadokoro-san. The yellowtail is quite fresh, as Yukihira-san mentioned. Your bold use of sweetness with the fruits you selected clashes somewhat with the strong flavouring found elsewhere in your dish but the effect is mostly harmonious. A truly excellent showing."

Megumi didn't smile at the praise; she simply bit her lip and continued looking towards Erina.

"Is that all, Erina-chan? Is there nothing else you have to say about my dish?" she asked.

"Well, the mint leaves you used weren't freshly picked; they were clearly packaged leaves as opposed to freshly bundled leaves, though that did little to detract from your dish. The grapefruit could have been slightly fresher as well but it would be unreasonable for me to expect you to have every single ingredient at its optimal freshness. You prioritized the yellowtail's freshness, as you should've."

Erina leaned back, folding her arms. The smile she gave Megumi was perfectly polite and also perfectly empty.

"Good work. That's all I have to say, I suppose."

Megumi frowned noticeably but didn't speak further. She simply bowed politely and left the stage. Erina watched her walk away, wondering why the sight of the girl's turned back made her feel…something. Something unpleasant. She didn't want her to leave but she wasn't sure why; she couldn't ask the girl to stay for no reason. Otou-sama wouldn't be pleased by the disruption.

The thought of her father caused all others to leave her mind.

Yes, he wouldn't be pleased. So she would let the girl walk away. Even if some part of her rebelled at the prospect.

Erina looked up as she noted another participant coming forward. One she recognized.

"Alice."

The white haired girl continued walking up towards the judging table; two platters effortlessly balanced on the crook of her left elbow.

"And just what have you prepared for us today?" asked Sōma, nodding at the white haired girl. She glared at him in response.

"Sōma-kun." she said coldly, pointedly turning her head away from him. "Where have you been all week?"

"Ah, my apologies." said Sōma with an embarrassed smile. "I was simply attending to Azami-sama. He needed my assistance for the preparation of the third task and I didn't have much time to spare for…frivolities, as it were. I'm sorry if I worried you."

"What a crock of shit." bit out Alice, the profanity startling Erina. Her cousin wasn't supposed to use bad words. Neither of them were. It wasn't allowed. They could get in trouble.

Alice returned her gaze to Sōma's, her expression anything other than cool.

"Excuse me?" said Sōma calmly, tilting his head.

"I'm not interested in whatever polite excuses he's making you give out. I know you, Sōma-kun. You wouldn't just disappear like that. Tell me the truth." said Alice. Her red eyes were alight with anger.

"I'm afraid I am, Alice." said Sōma genially. "Once again, I'm sorry for any undue stress I may have caused you."

Alice narrowed her eyes at Sōma before looking over at Erina. Her gaze softened.

"Are you alright, Erina?" she asked.

"Yes, I am well, Alice. Thank you for your concern." said Erina lowly, averting her eyes from Alice's. The warm sincerity in them was off-putting to her for some reason she couldn't place.

"Are you sure? Things don't exactly seem…normal with you." she said carefully, watching her cousin closely.

"Yes, everything's fine. Otou-sama needed me and I decided that it was my duty as his daughter to assist him, that's all. There's no need to concern yourself." said Erina calmly. "I have heard that Otou-sama has been letting me do what I want for some time now; I can hardly begrudge him for wanting me back at his side. I'm sure he missed me very much."

"I'm sure he did." said Alice evenly. The odd wording, along with Erina's expression, caused alarm bells to ring in the back of Alice's mind but this wasn't the time or place to address such things. She frowned softly but resolved herself to wait for a better moment to get her cousin alone; something wasn't right.

Alice placed the platters in front of the two judges before stepping back with a small bow. "For my dish, I've prepared a creamy Kuzu Parmesan Gnocchi, nestled in Pea water."

"I presume you used a centrifuge to prepare the pea water beforehand?" asked Sōma, lifting one of the dumplings onto a spoon. He examined the dumpling closely, noting the rich colour and solid consistency.

"Yes. The process takes several hours. I filed the appropriate notice with the examiners and got prior approval to do so."

"Excellent." said Sōma. He leaned forward, placing the spoon into his mouth. He started to chew thoughtfully, his eyes closed as he tasted the dish. The smooth flavour of the Kuzu was carried well in the full bodied taste of the parmesan cheese. He noted the fine balance of seasonings, identifying exactly which brands of salt were used. It seemed Alice had gone for a mixed batch, as opposed to using a single one.

He opened his eyes to comment on this but found that Alice had already begun walking away.

"Alice?"

Alice paused in her stride.

"I still get my points whether I stay and listen to your judgement, right Sōma-kun?"

Sōma blinked in confusion before nodding slowly.

"That's correct. The dish has been made and presented. There is, strictly speaking, no further reason for you to stay."

"Good. Because if I had to suffer through one more fake polite word from you, I was going to scream. So I'm headed home to catch up on some of the sleep I missed because of you. Is that alright?"

The statement was delivered with almost acidic sweetness and the question at its end couldn't have been anything other than rhetorical. Alice continued walking away, ignoring the soft conversation that sprung up between her cousin and the Yukihira chef.

She resisted the urge to dance and skip as she walked down the stage's steps and towards the door. She also struggled to ensure her smile stayed small and self-contained; it wouldn't do to lose control when so many unfriendly eyes were around.

She'd been so worried and concerned; she'd known that Sōma hadn't really tested himself against Azami in the months since he'd first returned to Tōtsuki. He'd freely admitted that he had no idea how he would react if Azami tried to assert control over him like he once had. After each new day of no contact from him, she'd become sure that he'd fallen back under Azami's sway. She'd been almost certain that, when next she saw him, he would be little more than an empty shell following Azami's every command.

And that's certainly what he looked like. Sōma was an amazing actor. She'd almost been convinced. But then he said her name.

Alice.

No Alice-san or Nakiri-sama or any other formal, distant form of address. She'd looked at him and, in his eyes, saw something familiar. Something she would've missed if she hadn't been looking for it.

And then she knew. She knew Sōma, her Sōma, was by no means gone. The rules of the game had simply changed, as he'd warned her they might. Now she'd simply have to wait on the sidelines as Sōma continued on his own. At least for now. Her stomach churned as she thought about just what that could mean, knowing what she knew of what Azami had done to Sōma before.

But she had faith in him. He would see this through and, when the dust settled, they would be rid of Nakiri Azami, once and for all.

XXXXXXX

"I trust everything went well, Sōma-kun?" asked Azami. He was seated across from Sōma in the backseat of his personal car. The dimness of the evening outside was contrasted by the brightly lit interior of the car. Azami's chin was resting on a gloved fist as he considered the stoic redhead before him.

"Indeed, Azami-sama. Erina-sama seemed to be adjusting well to the changes. There's obviously more refining that needs to take place but I am confident it's nothing beyond your ability to handle." Said Sōma. His shoulders were straight and his hands rested on his lap, folded.

Azami hummed but didn't say anything further. He simply looked at the younger chef. Sōma didn't react; he simply continued sitting silently. The silence in the car couldn't be called heavy but it also wasn't light either. It was as neutral and placid as the expressions they both wore; Azami's one of false, empty sincerity and Sōma's one of simple emptiness.

After several minutes, the car gently pulled to a stop in front of the Nakiri manor. Sōma waited but Azami simply gestured to the door with his hand.

"Go, Sōma-kun. I have other matters to attend to. I won't require your services for the rest of the night." He stated.

"As you wish, Azami-sama." Said Sōma, bowing his head. He maintained his strict, rigid posture as he climbed out of the car and shut the door. His back was perfectly straight as he walked into the manor, its hallways empty. He paused briefly at the painting of a blonde haired woman in a yellow dress but he continued on.

His steps were even and perfectly measured as he approached the door to his room. He entered it, smoothly shutting the door behind him. With one smooth motion, he locked it before leaning against it and taking one deep breath.

He opened his eyes.

"It wasn't much."

And then he smirked.

XXXXXXX

A/N: Another chap down. Woohoo! So some sorta-important stuff happened here. Things are getting tense. Erina's back in her cage, the third task is over and Sōma's once again been brought to heel at Azami's side. I didn't really bother going into detail about it because it's just appetizers and I also don't want us to get bogged down. The story needs to progress. We got two more tasks and a bunch of other stuff that needs to be resolved. So marching onwards! See you guys soon.