Uncovering the truths about Erina Nakiri’s family tree has been very interesting and manga fans are up for another major family drama in the upcoming installments. “Shokugeki no Soma” chapter 301 will be most likely filled with flashbacks to further introduce Mana Nakiri — Erina’s mother.
First, to recap, Erina’s block in the ongoing Bishoku Leading Under-35 Entrance (BLUE) was suddenly changed. She will now have to face even more Midnight Chefs before getting into the final round. Erina knew exactly who to confront about this unfair changes and it, ultimately, led to the official introduction of Mana. “Shokugeki no Soma” chapter 301 is expected to feature more details about Erina’s estranged mother.
It can be recalled that Erina’s mother left her while she was still young. Mana turned out to be the current bookmaster of the World Gourmet Organization (WGO) that allowed her to change Erina’s competition block. It also appeared that Erina had always known that Mana is the one in charge of the BLUE exams because the younger Nakiri knew exactly where to go when her block was changed. However, this was a surprise to Soma, Megumi, and the Aldini brothers and they will probably face Mana in “Shokugeki no Soma” chapter 301.
Soma originally wanted to confront the bookmaster only because he also wanted to fight in more cooking duels like Erina. But all four of them ended up overhearing Erina and Mana’s confrontation, therefore, learning their real relationship. Redditor u/Chingaruna517 speculates that, in “Shokugeki no Soma” chapter 301, Soma will either continue to confront Mana or the WGO bookmaster will ask for the four Totsuki students to enter her room.
If this encounter happens in “Shokugeki no Soma” chapter 301, it will certainly lead to a sequence of flashbacks where Mana will narrate why she left Erina and why they became estranged to one another. The same fan theory suggests that Asahi Saiba will intervene in this confrontation while Senzaemon Nakiri, Mana’s father, will also possibly appear to offer some clarity. “Shokugeki no Soma” chapter 301 will be released on Sunday, March 3.
