WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Season 5, Episode 13 of Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, now streaming on Crunchyroll.
In the final episode of Food Wars!, the BLUE tournament reaches its climax in more than one way. On the face of it, this tournament is designed to determine the current generation's best chef. However, the real stakes are for the Nakiri family. Mana Nakiri put all her hopes into Asahi Saiba his crossed knives style, so he could make a unique dish to satisfy Mana's lofty tastes, But he failed that mission. Now, Erina is her mother's best hope. And it was all Senzaemon Nakiri's idea.
Soma's Cooking is All For Erina
The final match of the BLUE is underway: Soma Yukihira vs. Erina Nakiri. They're the very best Totsuki has to offer, but as the match gets underway, the two chefs have very different approaches to this duel. Erina is under intense pressure to satisfy her mother's God Tongue and prove herself worthy, but she's only doing that out of a sense of obligation. The pressure is mounting, and Erina is nearly at her breaking point. That's when Soma wanders over to her half of the kitchen and samples her broth.
Soma is disappointed, and he wonders aloud how he can enjoy victory of Erina keeps cooking like this. Erina watches as Soma takes the lead in the match, and what he presents is a rather nostalgic dish that manages to break new ground at the same time: Eggs benedict over rice fit for a queen. That may sound silly at first, but it's all part of how the Yukihiras cook. This is a throwback to the first dish that Soma ever made for Erina, and it includes elements of the first dish that Soma ever saw Erina make. Of course, this dish's quality is off the charts.
Soma is cooking this for his friend Erina, and its flavors astound Mana and sets off an entirely new sort of gifting, a warmer and gentler kind. Erina samples it, and declares it disgusting, because she's about to do better. She is all fired up with the power of friendship, and she will create something to beat Soma and make her mother happy. Never before has Erina's heart been on fire like this, and not a moment too soon. Senzaemon's plan is playing off at last.
The Nikiri Family is Healed
A brief flashback makes it clear that Erina indeed won the BLUE, with Soma taking second place, but that wasn't the real victory. Whatever Erina cooked, it won over her mother's heart and God Tongue alike, and the Nakiri curse is finally broken. Everyone is coming together and reconciling, even Azami. By now, Azami has given up his selfish scheme to rule the entire culinary world, and he isn't trying to control Erina's future anymore. Instead, he just wants what's best for Mana, to free her from the horrors of the storm. Erina has completed that quest for him, and now, Azami can join the Nakiris in peace. In fact, he's humbled enough to state that he's not worthy of the Nakiri name.
The assembled Nakiri family gathers for a pleasant outdoor lunch, with a number of ex-Noir chefs joining them. Senzaemon is delighted that his children, grandchildren and in-laws are together as a real family once again, and Mana feels much the same way. Another scene makes it clear that Erina will be Mana's personal chef, and Mana trusts Erina with the job. They're even in a good enough mood to start a silly rivalry over it, Yukihira style. The Nakiri family's future is secure at last, all through the power of cooking for the sake of beloved friends and family. It is clear by now that love triumphs over cold ambition, and that is the real secret to creating dishes that the world has never seen.