AUTHOR'S NOTE: I don't own Shokugeki no Soma.

Disclaimer:

This is a short AU. Though, I think Sorina fans will like the idea.

Azami has always known that this is how it would end.

Azami still remembers with the smile on his lips how he first met his future mentor. He remebers the man he first saw as someone superior to him. Someone, he would never surpass! Saiba-senpai has always created the masterpieces of gourmet food! Never would his food have even one more grain of rice than necessary! His power and talent were that of a God!

But those dumb fools... They were the ones to blame for this. Their constant demand of access to such art of culinary for all, including mere peasants and commoners, was what led his dear Saiba-senpai down the dark path in which his genius was buried.

If only they didn't push him down that cursed road of experiments, Saiba Jouichirou would be alive!

Not in the coffin with his former classmates and teachers gathered under the rain. It was just too painful. Even for him, the man who rarely showed any emotion, it was impossible to keep absolutely calm about it. No, he didn't cry. He didn't yell or turn his gaze away.

Instead, his eyes seemed to radiate even more hatred and rage towards the world his father-in-law has foolishly tried to create. He looked at his child, three year old Erina. And his heart hurt once again. Azami looked at the raining skies. Did the Fate decided that two geniuses like Saiba Jouchirou and Yukihira Katsuni have already accomplished enough? Or did it do this just to give him a sign?

A sign that the world, his father-in-law was seeking to craft, would take away even such great people like his senpai?

"I wonder what is going to happen to their son now?"

"I can't believe they are dead..." Shiomi Jun managed to mumble through constant sobbing and sniffing. They were really close friends. "S-She... They have always been careful on the road..."

"Nakiri-san?" Azami heard someone call from behind. Turning around, he saw the one whose presence he deemed tolerable. Minegasaki Yaeko was the woman in her late twenties but she has already proved herself a valuable resource of information and ally. He hired her not so long ago to assist with some paperwork but a few days ago, when his senpai died, he made sure that one of the most valuable gifts from Saiba would belong to him, if such case occurred. "All documents are ready. You are officially the legal guardian of Saiba Soma."

Saiba Soma, huh? It had a certain ring to it. Azami was glad nobody heard their small conversation. They didn't deserve to know about what would happen to the heir of Saiba-senpai's genius. Not after what they did.

"Thank you, Minegasaki-san." Azami spoke softly, no emotion of triumph evident in his monotone voice. He took the photo of the little redhead with his parents by his side. How could he tell the little boy about what happened? How would he react? that was something too painful to imagine. He looked at akiri Senzaemon and gritted his teeth. "I will make sure that you have your revenge, Saiba-senpai..."

Without a second glance, he took Erina and headed towards the car.

"Daddy, where are we going?" She asked a little bit worried. They usually waited for grandfather to come with them.

"We are going to pick up a friend. I am pretty sure, you will be happy to have a new friend, right?"

Something in her father's voice told erina that he was not lying.

nobody can tsay for sure what happened after that faithful night. Seven years later, Nakiri Senzaemon officially banished his son-in-law for his severe methods in training his own daughter's ability, called God's Tongue. To everyone's surprise, however, Nakiri Azami showed no resistance and didn't even try to get the guardianship over Erina. From what he said, "Erina was the imperfect project, which failed to accomplish whathe required." Starting from that day, Nakirir Azami's name was never mentioned neither in writing nor in conversations.

Saiba Soma was gone and never found again. His disappearance took a serious toll on many friends of late Saiba Jouichirou. They all thought he was adopted by someone and had his name changed.

... But they were wrong.

Moon Banquet Festival.

The famous event when the territory of the whole academy turns into the small country of gourmets. Games, tastings. competitions and even entertainment shows! But this year, something dark was approaching the academy.

"Huh?" The young man, no older than 15 years old, stood in front of the small booth, where you could compete against the president of the research society. His golden yellow eyes were sharp and held no emtion but sense of superiority. His blood red spiky hair were slid back. His attire consisted of the white shirt and black suit. Nothing more and nothing less. "It sounds interesting."

"Oi, are you sure you want to take me on right off the start?" The supposed leader asked with arrogant grin. "You knwo, I can give you a few quick lessons and then you can beat me 100%!"

"No, thanks." He answered calmly in the manner similar to his legal guardian. "i just wanted to have someone to play around with." Soma ignored the glare from the upperclassman and grinned, releasing his own monstrous aura of suppressing power. the second year was shaking in fear as he practically saw the giant sillhouette of the cloaked skeleton manifest behind the unknown man. " I think we are gonna enjoy this..."

People gasped at how merciless the battle was. It was the slaughterhouse as the young man destroyed every one in this booth.

Their Pride was Stolen.

Their Belief was Broken.

Their Dreams were Crushed.

Their Will was Destroyed.

"Damn..." The young man chuckled as he walke away, leaving the losers behind. "I guess, I did go too far, huh."

He looked at the map of the place and smirked.

"It has been a while, Erina..." He whispered with the malevolence in his voice. "I guess, I should come and say Hi..."