Now it is Joichiro's turn, and everyone is thinking about what he made. But after he serves the dish, he says, "Please taste it, this is Joichiro's special rich ramen."

Everyone facepalm at the sight of the big bowl of ramen, and Megumi asks, "Ramen? In the morning?"

Qiu looks at the soup and says, "The soup looks a little dense..."

Isshiki thinks, "There are some areas that eat Ramen in the morning. But, of all things, it looks like a think and syrupy seafood soup. For the sleep-deprived Tadokoro and Fumio-san, who's already old, this dish is a bit..."

Katsu chuckles and says, "Well, that's Joichiro for you."

Fumio is a little angry as she stands up, "Good grief! You've always been like this! Joichiro! There's a limit to how unpredictable you can be! You would nonchalantly bring out new dishes or strange foods for Shokugekis! That's why you lost against opponents who were nothing special!"

"Phew...well, I was touchy back then." Joichiro says.

"You're no different compared to then." Qiu adds.

Megumi says, "But wait, the soup look looks dense, but somehow it has this light and mellow smell to it..."

"You're right about that..." Fumio says as they decide to taste the soup. But after they tried it out, they can't stop eating the Ramen.

"The noodles were kneaded with Yuzu Juice! They're this thick, but I just naturally keep eating!" Megumi says.

"Or rather we can't stop eating." Katsu says as Soma gulps at the sight of them eating.

"The soup was mixed with Soy Milk and Parched Flour Miso. However...how does it have so much body with just that?" Fumio asks.

"I added grated "Shrimp Taro Roots", which have a rich flavor and fine viscosity, by doing that, the body of the soup becomes creamy."

After eating, Megumi says, "Somehow...my body is getting warmer."

Isshiki says, "That's the effect of the Spicy Oil, Grated Ginger, and Garlic. The Soy Milk's mellowness softens that stimulation. This gently and slowly warms up your body."

"The toppings are also a display of Tenderness." Fumio says as they notice that the Ramen is actually for the Vegetarians who can't eat meat. So Joichiro uses fried Lotus root slices, Tempeh, and other vegetables to make this.

Everyone feels that the dish is making them going back to their younger ages, and then they have to decide to vote.

"Well then, now let's get to the verdict. Yukihira Soma and Joichiro, put forward the tableware of whichever you think was more delicious." Fumio says.

And after picking the votes, it turns out to be a 4-1 win for Joichiro.

"Oh? Only Katsu-san has a different opinion than us." Qiu says.

"Joichiro's dish is good, but I'm not Shizuka, I prefer having real meat for breakfast. That's just my opinion." Katsu says. "And besides, as a soldier, I respect Soma-kun even though his loss is decided."

Isshiki walks to Soma and says, "Soma-kun, your dish was truly delicious, too. However, I was also left a bit unsatisfied by it. Even though it's morning, I just finished working in the field, so I was looking for a more filling dish. Joichiro-san's was perfect for that."

"So my dish only meets the bare minimum of their demands, but Dad's, he was also thinking of how to make all of them feel more satisfied." Soma thinks.

Joichiro says, "You've grown a bit, haven't you? Apple Risotto, that was quite an interesting dish."

"Indeed." Qiu says. "And we have heard that you're participating in the Autumn Elections, too."

"It will be somewhat different from anything you've faced before. It's a great stage where talented people compete ruthlessly." Katsu adds.

"Listen well, Soma. Don't go losing to anyone until you lose against me again." Joichiro says while pounding his chest.

"Hm...I guess that's Joichiro's way of encouraging him...so they speak with their dishes, huh?" Fumio thinks.

"Leaving that aside, now it is my 490th win! Soma!" Joichiro teases, and Soma is now furious.

"Damn it!" Soma yells as he takes out the notebook and so does Joichiro.

Katsu says, "They're doing it again..."

"What were they doing?" Megumi asks with confusion.

"Whenever they have a Cooking Showdown with each other, they would record their victories or loss. And trust me, those dishes they have recorded can become a best-seller cookbook if they are willing to sell it." Qiu says.

"It's my win again, not having even one loss is kinda dull, too." Joichiro says.

"Shut up! I'll win next time for sure!" Soma yells.

Megumi realizes how Soma always had challenges like this and doesn't give up, she yells, "Soma-kun! I'm going to give my best at the Autumn Election, too! I'm scared, but I'll challenge it with all I have!"

Soma smiles at the girl and says, "Yeah. Let's get fired up!"

Just then, everyone else arrives at the kitchen, as they have some big news, but when they realize what just happened, Ai yells at the two Alumni and says, "Why did you invite us to the cooking showdown! Katsu! Qiu!"

"Sorry, but you guys were still sleeping." Qiu sighs.

"But still, Joichiro made a Vegetarian Ramen? I'll definitely want to try it out." Shizuka says.

"Anyway, what's the important news?" Soma asks.

And then Yuki takes out the letter which has the theme of the first round of Autumn Elections, which turns out to be Curry.

"Curry Dish? So we should just make curry?" Soma asks.

"But, since it is a curry dish, it's not just limited to curry rice, right?" Megumi asks.

"There's "Naan" eaten with genuine Indian Curry, Curry stew, and curry udon, too. Well, making a dish that's too ordinary might not be a good idea with all those VIPs there." Yuki adds.

After the other Polar Star Students leave, Soma and Megumi, as well as Fumio and the other Alumni are the ones in the kitchen, Daniel says, "Come to think of it, didn't we have a junior in the Polar Star Dorm who likes to make curry?"

"Yeah, the victim, though." Dorabu says as he glares at Joichiro. Fumio says, "Oh, that girl is now a teacher at Totsuki. She teaches second-year classes, so I guess you haven't met her."

"Her name is Shiomi Jun." Ai says. "Besides teaching classes, lectures at seminars that researches spices in general, she was one of the members of the Polar Star's Golden Era like us, though she is two years younger than Katsu."

"And if you think of it, that means she is the youngest person in history to be selected as a Professor in Totsuki..." Qiu says.

"Well, she was my junior in the Polar Star dorm. I looked after her a lot." Joichiro says.

"More like Tamako has to stop you from giving her those dishes..." Katsu says.

Before Soma and Megumi decide to find this Shiomi sensei, they bid farewell to the Alumni who are now getting back to their own works. Megumi says, "Anyway, Soma-kun's father sure is an amazing person. To think he was the second seat after Dojima-senpai, and the other alumni, who are also the top as well."

"Yeah, up 'til now...I was determined to reach it, but now I really want to see the view that not even Dad got to see what it looks like at the top." Soma says.

"Soma-kun..." Megumi admires Soma a little at what he is thinking.

"Alright, Tadokoro. Let's aim for the Elite 10 together." Soma says.

"Eh? That's impossible for me!" Megumi panics.

"You can do it, I know it for sure." Soma says.

After a while, they manage to get to the building where Shiomi RS is located, and Soma says, "This place is worn out than I'd expected...Not like I can say much, coming from the Polar Star."

"Is that amazing teacher really here? What should I do if she's scary like Chapelle-sensei?" Megumi panics.

"Don't worry, from what Shizuka-senpai told us, she won't be that scary." Soma says.

After getting into the room, they find the teacher who is making spices on the ground, and she panics, "A visitor? Sorry! I'll brew some tea right now!"

But Soma and Megumi are thinking if she is just a student in the RS, and Shiomi panics, "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking full enough!"

"No, don't be...don't bother about us!" Megumi says.

"I...I space out and people get mad at me because of it a lot...so, I'm sorry."

"Awawah...Um...sorry for intruding so suddenly."

"Don't be, it's totally okay, I'm really sorry."

Soma sweatdrops at how Megumi and Shiomi are apologizing a lot to each other like it is some sort of loop.

"So, who are you?" Shiomi asks.

"Erm...are you perhaps Shiomi sensei? I'm the son of Yukihira Tamako." Soma says.

"Tamako's son!" Shiomi panics again and says, "I'm sorry, I didn't know her son will arrive here! I'm very sorry!"

Soma facepalms as the apologizing are going to happen again, a boy with grey hair and darker skin walks into the room and says, "Hm? What's going on?"

After calming down for a while, Soma asks, "So how did you know my mother?"

"I was in the Junior High Division at that time, and I lived in Polar Star. And there was a senpai named Saiba, he kept using me as a guinea pig until Yukihira-senpai manages to save me all the time." Shiomi says. "I got emotional scars that would last forever because of Saiba senpai."

Soma and Megumi decide not to talk about both Tamako and Joichiro getting married, and Soma says, "But your appearance looks so young, how did you do it?"

"Maybe because I've always eaten food with lots of spices. Many of them have esthetic effects." Shiomi says, "Speaking of which, how is Yukihira-senpai? Is she doing great?"

Soma frowns and says, "Well, she passed away when I was 8..."

The news hit the teacher hard as she starts to burst into tears, and she says, "I'm sorry to hear about that...it must be very hard for you, right?"

"Yeah, but my Dad and I are trying to move on. So it doesn't matter." Soma says.

Megumi says, "Um...we're students from the Polar Star dorm, and we wanted you to teach us some things about curry..."

Before Shiomi can answer, the boy from before comes with a tea set and he says, "Sorry, we finally have some visitors and I haven't introduced myself. My name is Hayama Akira. I'm her assistant and also a first-year from the High School Division just like you two."

"But you normally don't enter Seminars until the second year, right?" Megumi asks.

"About that, this woman needs me. She can't do anything but inker with spices." Hayama says. "Right? Jun?"

"It's Professor Shiomi!" Jun yells at Hayama. "Hayama-kun, you're my assistant! As such, you should be respectful, and-"

"Jun, you forgot to water the plants today." Hayama says. "I did it for you and who received the visitors you neglected last month? You forgot about it last week too and your precious spices were about to die, weren't day?"

Soma thinks, "She's getting even smaller..."

Then Shiomi and Hayama are teaching them about the spices and even let them taste some of the dishes. Soma then says, "This guy...while he was cooking, he never looked inside the pot...just by the rising smell of the ingredients and spices, he can perfectly grasp the state of the food inside the pot."

After explaining, Hayam says, "I honestly laughed when I saw the theme for the preliminaries! For it to be a curry dish of all things."

"So you're also in the election, huh?" Soma asks.

"I'm in the A block with you, Yukihira Soma, or should I say...the Phantom?" Hayama asks.

"Did you know that because of your smell?" Soma asks.

"Well, first of all, every first-year student knows your name because of what you have said in the Entrance Ceremony, and you're right about the fact that I used the smell to know who you are, after all, you also have an ability known as Angel's Eyes, right?" Hayama says. "It will be an honor to defeat you in the elections, after all, the one who will take the Totsuki's Top, is the one who is in control of cooking in control of the Aroma, in other words, me."

"Well, thanks. But if you can save me the trouble, I want you not to reveal this secret to others. After all, I'm doing this because of my deceased mother, and she won't want me to reveal my own secret to the whole school." Soma says. "And not to mention, your curry was really good, and I'll pay you back for it later."

"Later?" Hayama asks.

"I'll make you taste the curry better than yours in the Autumn Elections." Soma says.

"Oh? You didn't realize anything after eating my curries?" Hayama asks.

"I did, they were terrific. There's someone who can make something I can't, that makes me green with envy." Soma says with a smirk.

After that, they bid farewell to Hayama and Shiomi, as they get back to the dorm to research for spices. Soma also does some Shokugekis as the Phantom to get some of them in other RS, and he has been trying them during the whole summer. And after a while, the Autumn Elections is finally here.

Here is a new chapter, and as you can see, Joichiro wins the match again, and they also met Shiomi and Hayama, who are also important characters in the anime. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be the elections.