After some beeping sounds, Joichiro manages to get the call and says, "Oh, Soma? What's up?"

"What do you mean what's up?" Soma asks. "Where are you right now?"

"Aren't you the one who called me through the phone? And I'm just in New York for my next client. So what's the matter?"

"Did you know that the old gramps made our restaurant one of the Stagiaire places?" Soma asks.

"Is that so? Then this should be easy for you, Soma." Joichiro says.

"It's not!" Soma yells. "We have been doing what those Stagiaires were doing in the past years! What am I supposed to do to leave visible results?"

"Is Soma-kun yelling at his father that much?" Megumi asks the other two girls, who nod with a little wry smile.

After Soma ends the call, Megumi asks, "So Soma-kun, What did your father tell you?"

Soma sighs and says, "He didn't tell me that much, because he is still serving his own customers overseas. I guess we can try to continue our work here in the Stagiaire."

"What do you mean by that?" Megumi asks with a little panic.

"It means, Since have told the customers that we are going to open the restaurant for a week because of our Stagiaire, we still need to do our work for the customers." Soma says. "So Tadokoro, let me teach you some of the restaurant's recipes."

"Sure!" Megumi says with determination as they all go to the kitchen. Aki asks, "So Soma-kun, we want to know about something, are you two dating?"

Soma turns to Aki and Mayumi and he says, "We are, is there something the matter?"

This causes both girls to yell in surprise, and Mayumi can feel her heartbreaking at the news. "No way...Soma-kun...and Tadokoro-chan..."

Aki slaps Mayumi's back and says, "I told you! You should have confessed to Soma-kun fast, or else he would be taken."

"But..." Mayumi says with tears in her eyes.

Megumi turns to Soma and asks, "Is there something the matter?"

Soma sighs and says, "Nothing else. Let's continue."

At the same time, the inspector is watching from the windows, and she says, "Yukihira Soma, Tadokoro Megumi. Headmaster has sent you two here for a specific reason. Now let's see what will you do to pass this Stagiaire."

After several days, Megumi is now working at the same speed as Soma when cooking his family's recipes, Megumi also tries to change the recipe like what she did to Shinomiya's Vegetable Terrine. But Soma doesn't get mad at her for doing so, as he thinks that what matters is that the customers like it, and he also asks Megumi to write down the changed recipes so that Soma and the others can learn in the end.

Megumi also teaches Soma how to cut the Monkfish, while in return, Soma teaches her how to make his mother's specialty: Fried Rice. While they are cooking, a lot of customers that know Soma well start to murmur at the two people.

"They really look like a great couple, don't you think?" "Indeed. They reminded me of Tamako and Joichiro when they were younger, I really missed those days." "Soma-kun really find a nice chef and a nice girlfriend."

As for his childhood friends, Mayumi feels very sad to see that she never gets a chance to be with Soma because of Megumi, but they also try to learn more about each other after school. And they can see why Megumi is the perfect choice for Soma.

The final day has arrived, and both Soma and Megumi are approached by the inspector. The two of them are very nervous as they don't think they have done something for the Stagiaire.

"Yukihira Soma, Tadokoro Megumi. Both of you have passed the final Stagiaire." The inspector says, much to their shock.

"But why? I don't think we have left some visible results." Soma asks with confusion.

The inspector says, "The final Stagiaire is said to be the difficult one. In the restaurant, there are some times that the main chef won't be working because of personal reasons, and without the main leader, some people have been panicking and that causes a lot of customers to wait for a long time to get their dishes served, or sometimes they are forced to close for a day because of it. Both of you have managed to overcome this problem even though you are the only members of the restaurant."

"Really? That was it?" Soma opens his mouth wide in shock.

"Looks like we have worried too much, Soma-kun." Megumi says.

"Yeah, but I guess it is better than nothing." Soma says. "But hey, we have done our Stagiaire, that means we can just go back to Totsuki."

Megumi nods with delight, and much to their surprise, everyone is bidding them farewell, as they are taking the motorcycle back to school.

"So Tadokoro, what do you think of the Sumiredori Shopping District?" Soma asks.

"It's fun. I mean, I get to see those who support Soma-kun with cooking. It reminds a lot of my home." Megumi smiles.

"Is that so. Maybe I will go see what your home looks like." Soma says.

"By the way, Soma-kun...can I have a request?" Megumi asks.

"What is it?" Soma asks.

"You have been calling me by my last name, can you call me Megumi just like close friends will do?" Megumi asks with a blush tone.

"Eh? If you want to...I'll try to do it." Soma says. "Megumi?"

Megumi feels a little warm in her heart and she says, "It feels a little weird, but I think I might be used to this."

"I hope so." Soma says.

After getting back to the Polar Star Dorm, Soma says, "We're back."

Fumio notices them and she says, "Yukihira? Megumi? You're the first one, huh?"

"Oh, Fumio-san! It's been a while." Megumi says.

"They say people change after just three days, but I like how you two are looking now." Fumio smiles. "And Yukihira, you have a lot of mail for you."

Soma is confused as he opens the mailbox, and both he and Megumi are surprised to see so many letters. "What are those?" Megumi asks.

"Those are Shokugeki letters." Soma sighs, "I got a lot of them when I was the "Phantom", but right now they are all challenging me to the Shokugeki as myself, huh?"

Just then, a man rushes into the room and he says, "Excuse me, you're back, huh? Yukihira Soma."

Megumi gets a panic attack from the sudden arrival, and Soma asks, "Who are you?"

"I'm a High School Division Second Year: Kabutoyama Tetsuji! I saw you at the finals of the Autumn Election. I hoped we could face each other directly. Have a Shokugeki with me!" Kabutoyama says.

Soma knows that he is the Iron Skewer, a tough guy whose Shokugeki winning rate is over 80%.

"Almost every single second year who survived this far is like that." Fumio says. "It's a swarm of warlike beasts who seek to polish themselves by battling. And all of those beasts who were waiting for you to come back. They're a bunch who recognize Yukihira Soma as someone strong!" Fumio says.

"That's right! Now that you've survived the Stagiaire period, the time for you first years to fight each other is over." Kabutoyama says. "All of you first years are now standing on the same field as your upperclassmen."

"If that's the case, I'll accept your Shokugeki." Soma says.

"Ehh?" Megumi panics a little, and Kabutoyama says, "Great! I'm happy you accepted!"

"Well, if you're okay facing someone like me...hehe..." Soma sighs.

"Don't be modest. As for the date, I know..."

"Let's do it now." Soma says, much to the senior's surprise. "Ah, Fumio-san, all those letters in the mailbox, I'm accepting all those challenges so don't throw them away. You know, there are plenty of things I wanted to test for real, so I feel really lucky. Oh right, what about the theme? I'm okay with anything you want, senpai."

As the senior is staring at Soma, Megumi also looks at her letters and she gasps, "Even I got letters as well!"

"Of course, you are also one of the top 8 in the Autumn Elections after all." Fumio says.

When the Shokugeki is on, the others also arrive at the Polar Star Dorm, Isshiki rushes to them and says, "Ah! Guys! I'm glad you're all back!"

"It was pretty difficult though. Praise us!" Yuki says.

"Of course, I'll praise you, Yoshino-kun! You're a good girl!" Isshiki says as he notices Daigo and Shoji, "And Aoki-kun and Satou-kun got unexpectedly groggy! To think even they, with their prided stamina, got exhausted like this..."

He turns to Ibusaki with the glasses in his hand, "Ibusaki-kun, that thing in your hands, it can't be..."

He rushes to see Marui, who manages to pass, but looks like he is about to pass out.

"But where is Yukihira and Megumi-chi?" Yuki asks Fumio, who replies, "Oh, if you're looking for them..."

Megumi is watching the Shokugeki in the stands, until she hears a familiar cry, "Megumi-chi!"

Megumi turns around and she gasps to see everyone from Polar Star. "Everyone!"

"Is it true? Yukihira is doing a Shokugeki?" Daigo asks.

"Yeah, his opponent is Kabutoyama Tetsuji senpai, a second-year...and..." Megumi says.

"He won!" The others are gasping in surprise at the sight. Ryoko also looks around and she says, "Look...most of the spectators are from the middle school division, but there are plenty of the high school division second year powerhouses here too."

Soma walks towards Kabutoyama and says, "Well then, since I won, as we promised, you have to teach me the ropes of skewering."

"Fine, that was the condition for this challenge, after all. I'll teach you whenever you want." Kabutoyama says.

"Now, erm...did anyone here send me a challenge letter?" Soma turns to the audience, some of them are raising their hands, Soma says, About the Shokugeki, don't tell me "Let's do it in a few days." How about we do it now? Hey, it's ok, right?"

The Polar Star are shocked to see how Soma is challenging them just one after another without stopping, Yuki asks, "Yukihira changed, didn't he? He's as carefree as usual, though..."

Megumi says, "Indeed, he's full of vitality and having fun. It is thanks to his stay at Shinomiya-senpai's restaurant..."

"Wait what? The one who he challenged Shokugeki with you?" Both of them are surprised as Megumi tells them what Soma told her, and everyone sighs as that are how Soma is.

After defeating some more, Soma says, "Here's a message to all of you present here. You see, I'll gladly accept any challenge, no matter when or from who. So you don't have to do troublesome things like sending challenge letters."

Megumi turns around a little and she also notices five of the Elite 10 members, from 6 to 10, are standing together, as she gulps a little. Both of them are looking at how Yukihira Soma is doing in the Shokugeki. But, only Isshiki and Erina's assistant Hisako knows his true identity: Phantom.

Here is a new chapter, and this is the end of the Stagiaire Arc, or in the anime: Season 2. In the next chapter, Soma will begin his challenge against the 8th seat in the Moon Banquet Festival. I hope you like this chapter.