Yukihira Soma hated cooking, there was no doubt about it.

But… it wasn't always like that. He used to have a passion for cooking. An unhealthy obsession in watching different ingredients boil together in a pot full of flavor and aroma. Even if it was bad, it didn't mind him, what was learning without a few mistakes? In fact, his cooking potential started way when he was young – a toddle some would consider. At his family restaurant, with his mom and cooking legend dad by his side. He was on a path in becoming one of the most prominent figureheads in the cooking business. Yukihira Joichiro even pegged him being an elite member at his old alma mater. His mom, Yukihira Naoki, would always chide his husband for putting such high expectations on his teeny shoulders.

Yes, Yukihira Soma loved cooking and experimenting with food along his happy go lucky parents.

Well…he used to anyways.

Laying on his bed, in his single bedroom apartment, Soma rubbed his tired eyes as he stared on his dull celling. Cocking his head, he groaned in distress as he saw his alarm clock displaying the time, which was almost three in the morning. He was hell tired, but if he slept now, he would just be groggy for school later on. And he hated feeling groggy.

So, accepting the fact that he wouldn't be sleeping anytime soon, he crawled out of bed. It was dark as he peeked outside to his street.

He remembered around a couple months ago. When his dad wanted to go to a very prestigious cooking school. He remembered the last face to face conversation that both of them shared before Joichiro went off.

…

"Tootsuki…"His dad mumbled out.

"Huh?" Soma stared at his dad. "What about it?"

"I want you to go there" Joichiro's face was casted downwards, fully knowing what the answer was.

"No" Soma said simply.

Joichiro gave a sad smile. "You're wasting your talents Soma"

"I don't care!" the teen looked indignant. Why couldn't he just understand? "I don't care how good I was in cooking, how much potential I had… I- I…" Gritting his teeth, Soma clenched his fist, trying to calm himself down. How many times did he had to have this 'conversation' with his dad?

"Your mom would have wanted it…" The second Joichiro said it, he knew it was a mistake.

He glanced at his son, who looked back in disbelief. His mouth slightly agape as he absentmindedly rubbed his right arm. It was already a decade since the incident with his mom, ten years without any of them bringing it up, and he used it in this context? Unbelievable.

Soma looked away, his eyes down casted as he licked his lips.

Soma wasn't angry anymore. He was just… depressed.

"Goodbye Joichiro" Soma muttered out as he walked up to his room.

"Soma! Wait!"

There was no signs of anger in Soma's voice, no signs of distress in his gait. Soma was just miserable now.

Soma didn't even slammed the door, it was just a quiet opening and closing. And Joichiro knew, that was the last time he was going to see Soma in three years.

Running his hand through his hair, Joichiro cursed himself. He should have just kept his stupid mouth shut.

"Goodbye…" Joichiro sighed dejectedly as he looked up the stairs and to his son's door. "Soma"

…

Turning on the TV to some twenty four hour news channel, he sighed as he sat down in front of his study table, staring at the unopened envelopes with his Dad's name written on them.

He knew what was inside of them. He knew the money his dad sent on a monthly basis from god knows where. But he didn't want to use them. He was guilty enough not giving his dad a proper farewell and not answering his calls.

His stupid so called pride didn't want anything to do with the money.

That was why he took part-time jobs. The money wasn't that much, but it was enough to get him going.

For food, he didn't cook. The closest he considered to cooking stuff was the tuna sandwich he made a few weeks back but usually, it would be take outs from the local convenience store. It wasn't healthy one bit and the taste of the food became staler every passing day. But he didn't mind it.

Anything was better than cooking…

…

Yukihira Soma left home earlier than usual today. But it didn't really made any difference. The sun still shone directly on his face as he walked out his door. Which was slightly annoying.

"Damn you Sun" He mindlessly cursed.

The walk to school wasn't anything new. Same cobblestone walkway, same commuting people, same dull buildings. He'd hoped to save enough money for a motorbike so he would fast forward his bland commute to school. He passed by local street venders who greeted him cheerily. He was always up and early and the town wasn't that big. So they all basically knew the kid.

"Soma-kun, early as usual" A gruff voice greeted him.

"Good Morning Fuigahama-san" Soma returned the greeting.

"Mayumi" the local fish vender shouted. "Soma's here already, wouldn't want to keep him waiting!"

"I-I'll be right…" Soma could hear a large thud from inside "Down" she groaned.

Soma smiled nervously at that. Was she okay?

"Man are you a sight for sore eyes Soma" The Mayumi's dad said in relief.

"What happened Fuigahama-san?"

The old man sighed "Last night, my eldest daughter brought a boy home for dinner, and I actually thought it was going to be a decent guy this time. Oh how stupid I was"

"Let me guess… Tattoos".

"No, piercing holes. Bigger than his nostril" The man scoffed in disbelieve.

Soma blanched at that. "Uh… some decent guy will come soon… I guess" Though, deep down, he didn't believe that.

"Boy, I wished she would just find an honest guy like Mayumi did with you"

"Uh…w-we're not like that Fuigahama-san"

"Oh c'mon" The old man snaked his arm across Soma's shoulders, "My daughter's cute enough, isn't she?" He gave Soma a lecherous grin. "If not for you at least give this poor old man some hope"

Soma chuckled nervously.

However it wasn't long until Mayumi came and punted his Dad back on his head.

"Ow!"

"I can't believe you're trying to sell off your own daughter. I'm not even out of high school yet!" Mayumi shouted, face slightly flushed.

The man looked sheepish. "I'm not… I was advertising that's all"

"Hmph" Mayumi grabbed Soma by the sleeve and marched away from the store.

"Nice seeing you Fuigahama-san" Soma managed to say, before he got dragged away by Mayumi, beginning their way to Sumiredori High school.

…

Nakiri Sanzaemon stared through the tinted glass of the backseat of his Limo at the red headed boy known as Yukihira Soma. He stared as Soma chillingly walked passed the parked vehicle, unknowing that the passenger inside had his sharp calculative eyes on him.

"Grandfather…what are we doing here?" The sound of his granddaughter, Alice Nakiri, chimed in.

"I'm looking for…someone" Sanzaemon answered promptly.

"…this is boring me, grandfather" she pouted.

Sanzaemon raised a grey eyebrow at that. "You were the one that wanted to follow me, dear granddaughter"

"Well… I thought it would be better than just staying at home" She replied. "I mean, Erina's being a stick in the mud again and there's like nothing better to do at home" She crossed her arms and huffed.

An idea went into Sanzaemon's head "How about I give you something to do?"

Alice's eyes lighted up curiously. "What is it, grandfather?"

"An assignment if you will" Alice nodded in understanding. "You see that boy, with that red hair?"

"Uh…" hey eyes squinted. "I guess"

"I want him in Tootsuki" he gruffly said.

"Eh…" Alice tilted her head in slight confusion. "You want 'him'" Alice pointed to the redhead "…in Tootsuki?"

"Yes"

Alice stared at her grandfather "Are you… going senile, grandfather?"

Sanzaemon sighed. "No I'm not going senile, Alice. An old student of mine requested a favor from me"

Alice placed her index finger below her bottom lip. "I'm not sure I get it" she airily replied with a spacey look. "But can't you just offer him a scholarship if you want him so badly?"

"It's not that simple. He is a special case… he has already expressed that he didn't want to attend Tootsuki"

"Oh…" Alice finally getting it. "You want me to persuade him then?"

"In a way"

"I'm still not so sure about all of this…but it sounds intresting." And god knows, her sense of curiosity wouldn't be stopped by the fires of hell itself.