A Different Beginning, a canon-divergent telling of Food Wars. Or an attempt, lol. Enjoy.

It was nice day in Japan. Nothing out of the usual, sunset finally setting in.

"Grandpa," a small honey blonde with lavender eyes groaned to her elder beside her as they walked. "Where are we going? Feels like we've been walking forever…"

"Now, now dear, where almost there to our destination." The old man in his green robe responded, holding the small girl's hand in his.

"But where? We're long way from Totsuki Academy," she continue to bother. "And there's nothing here but shops!"

It's true, Sumeridori Shopping District as the name implied, was known for it's vast array of shops. Still, there was one place in mind that the old man was very eager to visit.

"Patience my dear Erina," they continued to walk. "Do you remember my dear friend Saiba Joichiro?"

"Saiba-same!?" Her eyes widened with excitement. She remembered the one and only time that man visited her home. She remembered his food, the first time she ever tasted something so delicious ever since she enhanced her God Tongue.

"I see you do remember him, huh?" He saw her excitement as she no longer groaned about.

"Are we going to his home?" She now bombarded her grandfather with questions.

"Not quite."

Finally, after a long walk, the two finally stood in front a diner. Restaurant Yukihira, the sign above the shop said.

"This… this is the place?" Erina's excitement dwindled at the sight of the small diner. She'd been to many places, especially high end restaurants, this was the first for her. "Are… are you sure this is where Saiba-sama is? Is it even the same Saiba?" This wasn't what she had in mind.

"Are you really doubting the status of the place because it doesn't suit your status, young Erina?" The old man raised an eyebrow at the youngster.

"N-no b-but…" She began to stutter. To think her idol would work at a small run down diner. It was ludicrous to think someone with his culinary skills would stoop so low as this. "I would've thought Saiba-sama would work somewhere that suited his culinary prowess…"

"Where a person works does not equate to skills, young Erina, come." The two finally entered the shop.

Upon entering, the shop had no customers, not surprising Erina of course.

"Senzaemon, is that you?" A man with long maroon hair stood in front of line. This was no doubt, Joichiro Saiba.

"Surprise, surprise." The old man greeted.

"I see you brought Erina-chan with you too." He gave the small child a dashing smile which cause Erina to blush ever so slightly.

"H-Hello again!" Erina greeted.

"Hello to you too," he greeted back. "Come on, sit."

The two Nakiri's took their seats.

"Busy night?" Senzaemon asked, seeing the diner empty.

"Everybody had just left actually." He answered.

"How come you work here at a diner?" Erina asked.

"Erina…" The old man stared down the child, seemingly asking a rude question.

"It's fine old man," Saiba didn't mind the question, after all, most people always ask him the same question every so often. "Well you see, I opened this shop so I can freely cook the food I can to make people happy."

"But can't you do that at other places?" Erina continued with her questions.

"While that's true, most places here in Japan though are quite restricting when it comes to freely cooking," Saiba explained. "That's why I opened this shop with my wife."

"Hmm, I guess." She was seemingly fine with his answer.

"Speaking of your wife, how is she?" The old man asked.

"Well you know, still traveling the world trying to find her specialty," Saiba answered. "She calls me at least 3 times a day just to see how we're doing."

"We're?" Both Nakiri's said out loud.

And at that right time, a young boy with the most fiery eyes and red hair came from the back of the kitchen. He looked no older than young Erina, which was at best 8 years old. "Dad, do we have any more custo…mers?" His word broke as he a saw both Erina and Senzaemon.

"Oh Souma, just in the nick of time, I want to introduce you to someone," Saiba held his son front forward, with his hands holding on to young Souma's shoulders. "This was my old principle back at Totsuki Academy, Senzaemon Nakiri and his granddaughter, Erina."

"Hello there." The old man greeted.

"Dad? You're Saiba-sama's son?" Erina had never thought her idol was married, much less with a kid as well.

"Saiba-sama? I just call him dad." Souma said with a pokerface.

"Ah, so this was the youngling you were talking about I see," Senzaemon thoroughly examined the young boy. "Young Souma looks like his mother, strikingly as well."

"He's got my attitude but he has more of his mother's look," suddenly, the phone in the back rang. "That's probably her right now calling."

"I'll get it!" Souma hurried to the back of the diner to answer.

"Well, you guys have been here for more than 5 minutes and I haven't even given you guys a menu yet, my apologies." Saiba snickered as he reached over to get some menus for the Nakiri's on the counter.

"Thanks." They both thanked him.

After a couple of minutes, the two had decided on their dishes. "I think I'll just have the beef stew, of that's alright."

"A number 5? Got it," Saiba now turned his attention to the young Nakiri. "And you?"

"What's this about a transforming furikake gohan?" She raised an eyebrow at this dish as she could see a picture of it in the menu. "Looks pretty normal to me."

"Oh there's something special about it." Saiba now began preparing the dishes.

"Dad! Mom wants a word with you!" Souma yelled from the back.

"Alright, come take over then." Saiba proceeded to lower the temperature of the stove.

"Wait, you're gonna let Souma cook?" Erina was surprised at this.

"Yeah, he's been cooking for about a year already." Saiba answered.

"And he's only 8? Impressive." Senzaemon was astounded by this feat.

Souma came back to the line with an apron and white headband. "Alright pops, I'll continue."

"Good, this shouldn't take long, I hope." Their conversations were actually long.

As soon as he went to the back, Souma raised the temperature to what it once was.

Erina watched as the boy prepared her dish. She didn't know what to expect from the son of her idol. To think he can already cook at this age… She thought to herself. I've had chefs no older than Grandpa bring me food to taste only to end up breaking their dreams about their flaws in their cooking… She began to doubt the level of Souma's cooking.

There's no way he can make the same level of culinary prowess as Saiba-sama... She gulped down on her saliva, a bit anxious.

Her grandfather was still at awe at the boy's cooking skills. This boy is something… He thought to himself and then looked right over at his granddaughter. She's always had the most top notch chef come in to use her God Tongue, I wonder how she'll react to Souma's cooking right now.

"Alright, it's done."

Just from the scent, Erina couldn't help but smell the aroma, blushing no less. There's no way he could've made this level of aroma! She trembled.

Senzaemon noticed her small trembles. I see then… He smiled, knowing her resolve.

"Here you go, beef stew is up first!" He gave the elder his meal first.

"Why thank you." He took a deep whiff before engulfing himself to his plate.

"And here's yours, Erina." Souma gave her a dumb full smile.

Her blush became more noticeable. "T-Thanks."

"Oh my," both younglings turned to look at Senzaemon only to be greeted by his naked-ness. "This Beef Stew is fantastic!"

"WHY IS HE NAKED!?" Souma was now scarred for life.

"GRANDFATHER!" Erina cried at the sight of him naked.

Couple of seconds pass and he was back to normal. "Sorry for my sudden outburst, won't happen again." He deeply apologized for putting the children in a scarring moment.

"No, no, it's fine, you're just expressing yourself, that's all!" Souma sweat dropped as he tried defending the elders response to his food. He turned his attention back at Erina who look dumbfounded at her dish. "What's the problem, Erina?"

"This… this looks like a normal Furikake to me…" She seemed disappointed.

"Oh no, there's some transforming alright," Souma grabbed what seemed to be a small container containing a jelly like condiment. "Here's where it transforms!"

He dropped them into her plate and in an instant, the small cubes melted right in front of her, solely from the heat of the rice. It changed! And what is this new aroma I smell? Chicken? Her mouth began to water. Is this what Souma is capable of? Is this what happens when you freely express yourself?

"Pretty cool ain't it?" Souma took off his headband.

Erina was still in disbelief. Her father had always told her that freely cooking was a curse, that plan in motion was the best solution for cooking.

All those times thinking of her father scolding her, molding her into something that suited him. Thinking that there's only one way of cooking.

That way was shattered, simply by meeting Saiba and Souma.

"Something the matter?" Souma could see the young girl stuck in trance.

"Erina?" Her grandfather now looked at her. And in that moment, he could see his granddaughter in tears.

"Oh God, oh God!" Young Souma began to panic. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, no, it's nothing." Her tears were joyful ones. She began to wipe them and proceeded to eat her meal placed in front of her.

Bit by bit, chew by chew, Erina could not believe the meld of flavors in the Furigake. She has eaten thousands of food from skillful chefs but none have made her God Tongue satisfied as much as the Furigake. This is amazing!

Souma could see that Erina was enjoying his food. "So, how was it? Was it good? Was it delicious?"

"It's splendid!" She said with a mouthful.

"Awesome! It might even be better than my dad's!" Souma grinned, thinking maybe he'd finally surpass his father in something.

"Oh no, the meal he made the one time he visited us far exceeds this, but this is still plenty great." She admitted, crashing down the high spirits she had just given Souma.

"WHAT!?" He couldn't believe what she had told him. "You mean to tell me that it's still not good enough?" He had a façade of tears coming out, disappointed at the outcome.

"It's still rather pleasing to my God Tongue." She chuckled at the flustered Souma in front of her.

"What's a Good Tongue?" As the two conversed, Saiba had finally come back from the back room.

Not disrupting the two youngsters conversation of course, he poured some tea for himself and the elderly man. "So I see they're getting acquainted."

"Quite an odd duo they are." Senzaemon admitted as he sipped from his hot tea.

"Speaking of odd, how's Azami? Still giving you trouble?" They began their own conversation.

"More than ever," Senzaemon looked over at Erina. "The way he's been treating Erina, he's turning into a monster."

"In what way?" Saiba raised an eyebrow.

"He's teaching her his way of cooking, how there should be principles in cooking, that freely cooking is nothing disastrous," he continued. "How it almost destroyed you."

"Tch, figures." Saiba just rolled his eyes. While it's true that while he attended Totsuki, that his way of cooking was rather aggressive, to him and others, after he met Souma's mother, he finally found something to be happy about.

"But after she met you and today meeting your son, I can clearly see that some of that spell Azami had rubbed on her is beginning to rub off." Senzaemon added.

"Think so?" Saiba now looked over at his son. The boy was cheerful, and so was Erina.

"No, I believe so," he clarified. "Speaking of which, have you decided if you want Souma to start middle school at Totsuki?"

"I don't think it's the right time yet," the long marooned hair man said. "Souma still has a long way before him before he ventured out on his own to figure out his style of cooking."

"Same goes for Erina," Senzaemon looked at the time. 9:04. "Well, it's getting late and I should be heading back now with my granddaughter."

"It's closing time as well." Saiba added.

"Come on Erina, it's time to go home now." The elderly man stood up from his chair, stretching after his meal and tea.

"Coming," she turned to look at Souma. "Bye then Souma."

"Hey, I'll make you a promise," Souma began. "One of these days, I'll definitely make you say that my cooking is better than my father's!"

She could see the fire in his eyes. It caused her to slightly blush. "Idiot," she chuckled. "Okay then Souma-kun, until then." Erina got up from her seat and stood next to her grandfather.

"It's a deal then!"

The Nakiri's had finally left the shop, leaving the two chefs to finally close up shop.

"So, you're gonna make her say that your food is superior to mine, huh?" A smirk had shrouded the man's face.

"Hell yeah, you just watch Dad!" Souma was eager to the challenge.

"You're still at 59 losses against me and counting." Saiba started to laugh about.

"One of these days, I'll take that stupid smirk off of ya!"

7 years later…

Of all things why the hell did that old man sent me to this school? Souma, now a 15 year old, thought to himself as he walked around the most prestigious culinary school in Japan, Totsuki Academy. I don't belong here, all these people and I'm the one that stands out!

Souma had finally made it to the entrance exam. Souma took a seat on the bench, next to another student. "Hey are you taking the exam?" The stranger gave Souma a smile while having a cup of tea by the bench.

"Ugh, yeah." Souma answered.

"Oh sorry, allow me to introduce myself, I'm Nikaidou Yoshiaki and my family owns a French restaurant." The man introduced himself.

"Oh what a coincidence, my family owns a restaurant too." Souma was somewhat relieved that the man had come from the same cloth as him.

"No coincidence, everyone here comes from a thoroughly bred cooking industry," Nikaidou explained. "Say, what's the name of your restaurant?"

"It's Yukihira." Souma answered.

"Yukihira? Keeping it traditional, I see." The man continued with his drink.

"Oh, it's nothing special," Souma rubbed his head as he explained. "It's just your typical diner that's all-" Souma suddenly got kicked off the bench.

"YOU DAMN PLEBIAN! DON'T YOU DARE BOTHER TO SIT NEXT TO ME!" The man's attitude quickly changed.

People started to surround the commotion between Souma and Nikaidou. "Are you serious?" "I heard he's just from a diner." "What a stupid commoner!" They all mumbled to each other.

"Only those with a prestigious name can make it through the roughness of Totsuki Academy, no way a pleb like you could ever make it!" Nikaidou continued to mock Souma.

"Listen here!" Souma held Nikaidou by the collar, scaring the blonde man with his boldness. "You've never even tasted our style of food! Don't you dare tell me what I can and can't do!"

"LET GO OF ME!"

Souma finally let go and began to go where the exam was. Damn that bastard! Souma hurried. To think he thinks that a person like me won't survive… I'll show him!

Souma began to look around the room, looking for the examiner.

"Listen up!" A female voice came from the front. "Today I was entrusted with today's entrance exam!"

Huh? It was a girl and she look no older than him.

"My name is Erina Nakiri!" She introduced herself.

Erina? Why does that name feel familiar? Souma raised an eyebrow.

"Hisako, bring out the table." She instructed whom seemed to be her secretary.

"Yes ma'am." The pinkette brought out the table with ingredients.

"The main ingredient for today is Egg," Erina held an egg, up high. "You will have one chance of making a meal worthy of my God Tongue. If you succeed, which I doubt, will earn you your admission to Totsuki Academy."

God Tongue? Now I definitely heard that from somewhere as well! Souma continued to try to piece everything together.

"I will give you a minute to withdraw from the examination if you want." Erina grinned.

Everybody lost it and began to flee the area.

"What the?" Souma was bewildered at the sight of everyone fleeing. He then saw the man that mocked him earlier, fleeing as well before Souma stopped him in his tracks. "Hey man, where are you going?"

"DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT PERSON!?" The man shrieked at Souma.

"I feel like I do but I can't quite but 2 and 2 together yet." Souma sweat dropped at his own answer.

"She earned her pass from middle school division as the top student!"

"And?"

"She's a genius that is the youngest person in history to enter Totsuki's Elite 10 Council, an organization in the academy that makes the most important decisions!"

"So?"

"She has been served the most elegant of food around Japan from the best chefs, her judgement is known across all industries! If she deems your food poorly, she will disregard you as a non talented chef!"

"In laymen terms?"

"Her word is her say! She will doom your life!" And like that, the man ran away, leaving only Souma to face her.

"Looks like everyone ran away." Hisako noted.

"Figures," Erina scoffed. "Looks like the number of applicants today is zero."

"Like any of them would've been able to pass to begin with." Hisako chuckled.

"Well I guess I'm free for the rest of the day, maybe I shall work on a new dish today perhaps." Erina thought out loud.

"A n-new dish?" Hisako now trembled, thinking about how delicious her new dish would come out if she tried it.

"Oh, it looks like someone has been getting a bit anxious for one of my new plates huh?" Erina could see the excitement Hisako has let out.

"N-no, it's not like that Erina-sama…" She lied.

"So the only ingredient I have to use is egg, huh?"

And just like that, the two turned to face the only person who accepted the challenge. "Y-Yes." Hisako answered.

"Oh, cool then!" Souma let out a relieved sigh.

"Do you really want to though?" Erina now had a cold demeanor to her. Who is this guy?

"Oh cool, these knives look top notch!" Souma completely disregarded her question.

"Hey, don't play with those!" Both women scolded.

"Oops, sorry!" Souma put the knives back where they go.

"You still have the option to withdraw, you know?" Erina explained once again. He'll leave, just like they all did.

"And leave without cooking something delicious for you? I think not!" Souma know put his white headband.

And before her eyes, Erina faintly remembered a flashback. Of a boy with a similar attitude. What was that? Erina disregarded it. "Well, what do you have to offer that will satisfy my God palette?"

And without answering, Souma began to cook.

After several minutes of trying to figure out what the man was cooking, seeing a pot only with rice and the man finally picking up the eggs, Erina broke her silence. "Okay, what are you making?"

"Isn't it obvious?" The man only grinned.

"I found the man's papers, Erina-sama." Both girls now scrolled through his transcripts.

Yukihira Souma… Erina faintly thought out his name. That name… it feels familiar…

"Well if you must know, I'm making our shop's special." Souma explained.

"Shop's special? Just what are you planning Yukihira-kun?" Erina now crossed her arms, waiting patiently for the reveal.

"Restaurant Yukihira's Secret Menu, number 8!" He yelled out.

Another faint flashback of hit Erina. This time of her looking at a sign with those exact words. "Secret… menu?"

"Furikake Gohan." He finally revealed, which left both girls speechless.

"You can't be serious?" Hisako had a poker face.

"You're screwing with me aren't you?" Erina slammed her hand onto the table. "You really are a base of a level of a chef, I knew this was a waste of time."

"It's not just a normal Furikake," he continued, which piqued the interest of both girls. "It can transform."

"What?" Both women said.

"Here, it's about to be done, I'll show you." Souma now prepared his dish.

After several seconds of preparation, he showed his dish to Erina, bringing back another faint memory, not just to Erina but to Souma as well. What was that? Both of them with the same thoughts.

"This just looks like a normal Furikake to me…" Erina was disappointed. "I knew a second rate chef like you would tease me like that, I don't crave it at all."

"Believe me, that's not it's final form." And with that, Souma dropped what seemed to be a brownish small jello like squares on top of the Furikake.

A new aroma arose from the dish as the heatness of the rice melted the jello. What's this smell? Is this chicken? Her body ache for the dish which each whiff she took. And suddenly, she finally remembered.

"It's true form." Souma smiled.

And with that smile, Erina could remember him, back when they met. The one and only time she met the boy and his father that changed the way she looked at cooking. "Sou… Souma-kun…"

"Souma-kun?" Hisako noticed the change in her mood.

And in that instance, Souma finally remembered where she knew Erina from. Almost 8 years since they last saw each other, but he finally remembered the girl and the promise he gave her. "Wait a minute, I remember now! You're that one girl who came into our diner 8 years ago with your granddad!"

"You idiot!" Tears flowed down Erina's face as she finally remembered the boy. "That was a long time! I can't believe we both almost completely forgot about it!"

"Uh, what?" Hisako just stood there as both the man and woman began to realize who they were.

"I mean, who would've thought we'd meet again, at this place of all places?" Souma rubbed the back of his head, chuckling as the two reunited.

"It's rather peculiar actually." Erina wiped her tears.

"So, uh, how do you guys know each other?" Hisako finally broke her silence.

The two stared back at the pinkette as she awaited a response.

Author's Note: And that is where I'm leaving this at.

I meant to make this as a one shot but then everything just started to come piece by piece together, making it like this.

Also, I suck at having an upload schedule considering I also have work to attend to as well. I'll try to update this as soon as possible!

Hopefully you guys enjoy my different take on this story. See you next time!