Hayama is the next in Area A, as one of the judges, Makito Minatozaka, asks, "Your dish was a "Fish head curry" correct? It's a curry where you can enjoy the most delicious parts of the fish, the eyes and the cheeks. It's an exciting dish where you serve the entire head."

But much to the judge's surprise, it is rather small and there is a lid made of Nan on it.

"Eat it by pressing the spoon on the Nan so that it falls into the dish." Hayama says as he throws a spoon to Soma, who catches it and tries out the dish Hayama made for him. But just as he does what Hayama wants, the aroma explodes as it reaches up to even the stands. Under the lid, the head's flavor has melted into the splendid curry that is even more delicious than it was already. Mix with the Roux with the nan, and it is just like the Pot Pie Soup that originated from French.

"There's Holy Basil...and he uses the fresh leaves!" Natsume says in shock.

Holy Basil is a spice considered sacred in south Asia, smelling it sends a sweet sensation running through the body, as it is valued as "God's secret wonder drug" In Ayurveda.

"Fresh Holy Basil isn't really distributed in Japan...getting ahold of it is incredibly difficult!" Natsume says in shock. "Just how did you get it?"

"We cultivate it all year round in our seminar." Hayama replies. "The cultivation method is a secret."

After hearing the students say about the seminar, Natsume realizes that they mean the authority in terms of spices, Professor Shiomi Jun. Soma tastes it and also thinks that there is something else, and he asks, "You added Yogurt, huh?"

"Correct, Yukihira. Holy Basil is really peculiar in that it might run the rest of the spices if you make one false step, but you can make it mild by using yogurt." Hayama says.

After tasting, Natsume asks, "Hayama-kun, won't you become mine? What should your annual salary be? Name your price, one hundred million? Two?"

Hayama says, "Sorry, but I fight for Jun. That's all there is to it."

As for Hayama's score, it is at the top with 94. Kurokiba Ryo mutters, "Milady will get mad at me...well, I just have to do my best in the main tournament..."

And much to everyone's surprise, there are two judges who give Hayama a perfect score, and Erina, who is standing in the VIP area, is quite surprised.

"He got the perfect score not even Nakiri Alice could have. A true masterpiece." Isshiki appears besides Erina and says.

"Why are you here? What about the judging in Block B?" Erina asks.

"Fufu, I left someone to deal with the last few things." Isshiki sasy.

"Besides, this room is supposed to be off-limits to unauthorized people." Erina yells as she refers to Fumio, who is also there.

"Well, well. I let it slide as part of my role as a dorm mother." Fumio says.

"Besides, did you also come to Area A to see how Soma-kun will fare?" Isshiki asks.

There's no way!" Erina yells, but they divert their attention as Soma is the next one to come on stage. Soma places the dish in front of Hayama and says, "Here, this is your portion, Hayama!"

Hayama notices Soma's face and says, "What's with that face?" He thinks, "This is a guy who didn't even know a fundamental spice, "Curry leaf" until a month ago. Why is he smiling? After eating my curry?"

"Well, I just thought that my idea wasn't all that bad after all." Soma says as he takes off the lid, which turns out to be an Omelet.

Everyone is confused since Soma was making Risotto, but Soma just takes out the spoon and reaches it into the air. "This is it. The second Aroma Bomb!"

He slashes the omelet open and the aroma is just the same as Hayama, which spreads out to the stands. Hayama is also surprised to see that Soma has the same idea as him.

"This is Yukihira Top-quality dish, the "Curry Risotto Omurice!" Soma says.

Ikumi says, "The rice inside the egg shines with a bright gleam. It looks like a Donburi covered with a superb sauce!"

Ryoko adds, "Amazing...what a mellow smell...I break into a smile almost instinctively!"

Judge Shigenoshin says, "The level of expectation is just as high as that of Hayama-kun's curry."

After eating, every one of the judges are feeling like they were being punched by the blows of flavor. Makito Minatozaka finds himself on the verge of breaking down, believing the risotto's viscosity to be in harmony with the fried eggs' moisture.

Natsume says, "It seems the deciding factor is the sauce... it has Oyster sauce as its base and it's accented with honey, the mild sourness is rich and works well. He made two grades of taste with this sauce and the risotto inside."

"I see. Hayama-kun's curry was an explosion from an odorless state, but you can call this an "Induced explosion of Aroma"! The Aromas inside and outside blend intermittently and try to tempt us!" Shigenoshin replies.

Hayama is tasting the dish and he realizes the smell that he misses, he asks, "It's Mango chutney, right?"

"Chutney you say? That's enough to produce this deep flavor?" Natsume asks in shock.

"This is my homemade blend of Mango Chutney." Soma says as he takes out a bottle. "I added this when I was cooking the rice."

Zenji Marui and Roland Chapelle find this method rather unconventional, as adding chutney to curry is something only done in Japan. By doing that, however, Sōma was able to create a delicious dish.

"The omelet that he used during the Training Camp, and the Risotto that made him lost to his father...I never thought he'd use a combination of those two for this challenge." Isshiki says. "He hasn't wasted a single on, out of his 490 loss against his father and 168 loss against his mother."

"Hmm...that's one thing of putting it. He doesn't want to leave them as failures." Fumio adds.

The judges find it difficult to rate Sōma's dish, as Akira's dish was great as well. Shigenoshin believes that both of them fight with their own style, thus exchanging blows and fighting for the first place.

In the end, they also give Soma a score of 94, which ties Hayama, as the judges give them each 19 with Makito giving him 18.

"What's this? three of the five judges gave Contestant Yukihira Soma more points than they give Contestant Hayama?" The announcer says in shock, and Makito says, "Gentlemen! Don't you understand the greatness of that almost-artistic curry? That technique that made the best use of Holy Basil?"

"The theme is strict "Curry Dishes". We're not only judging the choice of spices, are we? The point is the satisfaction the dish produces." Shigenoshin says.

"Indeed, but Hayama-kun's curry was excellent in that regard. But Yukihira-kun is also very good..." Natsume says.

"The dish that made me want to eat it many more times was Contestant-Yukihira's and..." Before the other judges can say, the judges are now fighting over who is right and who is wrong, with Natsume trying to stop the fight but failing.

Chapelle thinks, "In the main tournament, there are only two results, you win or lose. If they were to have a direct confrontation, I wonder who would win..."

And with another student taking fourth place, the 8 cooks that will advance into the tournament have been chosen.

Back in Polar Star dorm, everyone, including Takumi, Ikumi, and Isami, are now celebrating Soma, Megumi, and Takumi to get into the main tournament. While the three people find it weird to see Isshiki in a naked apron.

"So what's the deal with the fourth place in Group A?" Soma asks, but none of the members know who he is and what he is about.

After the party is over, Soma is now standing on the balcony of the roof, and he is now thinking a lot.

"Soma-kun, so this is where you were." Megumi says.

"What's wrong? Tadokoro?" Soma asks with a smile.

"You looked a bit weird..." Megumi says. "I'm worried about you."

"Is that so? Sorry about it." Soma sighs.

Megumi sighs and says, "But still, you managed to tie with Hayama-kun. That's very amazing."

"Really?" Soma rubs his head with a small smile, "It's just, I seriously went for the win, I felt like I could get a perfect score from all five judges, but Hayama...he used spices I didn't even know of and made an amazing dish. I, too, want to know about many other worlds, I want to learn about many cooking techniques and ingredients, that's why I have become the Phantom. I...I want to become stronger...just like my Mom."

"Soma-kun..." Megumi looks at him with surprise, as Soma turns to the girl, "By the way, I heard that you used ingredients from your hometown in your curry. That's quite good."

"But...somehow I still can't believe it...that I'm in the main tournament..." Megumi says. "I mean, I was almost expelled half a year ago."

"That sure brings back our first lesson. That was the first time we worked together." Soma sighs.

"It's all thanks to you, Soma-kun. I was able to get this far." Megumi says. "Because Soma-kun was there for me."

Soma says, "It's not that all, you had the right stuff, to begin with. Tadokoro, your food is great. It's like it warms your heart. I liked it."

Megumi blushes a little as she says, "Hehehe...that makes me really happy..."

Ikumi, Yuki, and Ryoko are watching in the shadows, as they are curious as to what they are doing. And right now, Soma and Megumi don't know what to say as Soma starts to remember what the alumni said to him.

Soma says, "Tadokoro, there is something that I want to confess."

"What is it? Soma-kun?" Megumi asks in confusion.

"The thing is...well...I really don't know how to start this, but...I think..." Soma shakes his head and says, "Screw that..."

Megumi is confused at what Soma is talking about, but much to her surprise, Soma walks towards her and grabs her by the wrist as he kisses Megumi on the lips, causing the blue-haired girl, as well as the three people who are watching from the shadows, with shock.

After breaking the kiss, both Soma and Megumi are now blushing hard, and Megumi asks, "Soma-kun! What was that about?"

Soma says, "I'm sorry, Tadokoro. But ever since I met you in Chapelle sensei's class, I have had some feelings about you that won't shake off from me. And those feelings become complicated like it is some sort of drug, it made me do the Shokugeki with Shinomiya Senpai just not to let you get expelled or trying to make some food for you...I think...I've fallen for you..."

Megumi is now into her panic mode, as she has never thought that Soma, of all people, will confess to her. Ryoko, Yuki, and even Ikumi are also surprised to see what's going on, and Ikumi also feels that her heart is aching.

"I'm sorry for my actions if you're not feeling the same-" Soma says.

"I like Soma-kun as well." Megumi says it out loud, causing the boy to be shocked.

"You do?" Soma asks.

"It's thanks to Soma-kun that I managed to come this far...from almost being expelled, to become a participant in the main Tournament of Autumn Elections..." Megumi says. "My mother told me...In order to put your heart into cooking, you must think of someone you hold dear..."

Soma says, "My Dad said the same thing, the secret to becoming a great chef is... meeting a woman that will make you want to give all the food you make to her."

After a while, Soma and Megumi are silent before Megumi asks in a timid tone, "Can we try to do that again?"

Soma knows what he means, as they kiss under the moonlight with full passion, but their kiss is interrupted by Isshiki and the others as they continue the party, much to the two's annoyance, as they have some explaining to do.

Well, now SomaxMegumi is finally here, I hope you enjoy the confession. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be the start of the Main Tournament.