After the results, Kuga is now frustrated, considering that he lost the sales to Yukihira Soma, who has challenged him back in the Autumn Leaf Festival, and then he hears a voice, "Kuga! You really lost in sales?"

"Rindo senpai!" Kuga is surprised, and both Soma and Megumi notice the girl. Megumi says, "The second seat..."

"Boy, Kuga! You really are hopeless! Aren't you, Kuga?" Rindo asks.

"Oh shut up! I don't want to hear that from someone who's not participating in the Moon Banquet Festival just to go around eating!" Kuga yells.

"What are you saying? Going around eating is a way of participating." Rindo says. "And you know, it's because you stayed in your booth all the time that you lost to your junior's stall, am I wrong?"

"Shut up!" Kuga yells.

Soma and Megumi are sweatdropping at the sight of their bickering, and Kuga sighs, "He got me...with this, all went according to Yukihira-chin's plan."

"Eh? What are you talking about? The Moon Banquet Festival is five days long, right?" Soma asks. "The challenge is still going."

And in the final day, Soma, Megumi, and Mimasaka are working on their seats, there are not many people compared to the previous day, but they still manage to get first place of the day.

"You sure are working hard, Yukihira Soma." Rindo walks towards Soma. "But at this rate, winning in the sales total looks a bit impossible. You got really close, though."

"I know. I never thought I'd lose in terms of business. So I'm really frustrated." Soma frowns a little.

For the total sales, Soma's ranking is 2nd place, with 100 tickets less than Kuga Terunori, he sighs as he should have won this considering that he is the Phantom, but if he does that, his disguise will be exposed.

Rindo asks Soma and Megumi to come with her to the Uptown area, and when they arrive there, Megumi gasps, "Wow, it's like a whole different world in comparison to the other areas!"

"Looking at this, you'd never believe in a recession." Soma says. "Not only that, by this hour most central-campus and main-street booths are closing up, yet everything here is still going."

Rindo says, "Most everyone here is rich enough to stay on campus or at the Totsuki Resort. With that kind of customer base, most booths at the slopes tend to offer full-course dining."

Soma says, "We have enough money to go eat at Nakiri's restaurant...but for the others..."

"Don't worry, I'll cover ya both for Tsukasa's place. After all, he is the only one left. Hit that, and I've got 100% completion." Rindo says.

"In just five days, you ate all 120 booths at the festival?" Both Soma and Megumi exclaim in shock.

"Yep! I've given my all." Rindo says.

As they get into the restaurant, they see that the only chef inside is Tsusaka Eishi, as he feels like he is in a different world. They also notice how Eishi is panicking not to disturb the plating.

But after trying his dish, they all feel amazed by the taste. Eishi comes to the group and he says, "Umm...is the room warm enough? Are you comfortable? The air conditioner isn't making it too cold, is it? If it is, tell me right away!

Soma and Megumi are taken aback by the attitude, and Rindo says, "Geez, lighten up! Keep obsessively fussing over your customers like that and it just makes things more uncomfortable, not less."

"It does?" Eishi panics. "What should I do then?"

"Like I've told you a billion times, just stand tall and do what you do." Rindo says. "But your ability to pick out the best aspects of the best ingredients is as sharp as ever. You've got a good eye. But y'know someday, I'd like t taste a dish that's got more of you in it."

"You see, my cooking doesn't need any of me in it." Eishi explains. "When I cook, I believe it is my job to completely erase myself from the dish. All that is important is the goodness of the food. I concentrate on nothing but that, honing it until it's perfect. But paradoxically, erasing myself like that is in fact just a different way of expressing myself. All of that wrapped together is the essence of Eishi Tsukasa's cooking."

After Eishi goes to serve others, Rindo says, "But still, he doesn't think of anyone else as his own rival, except for the very own person who manages to beat him several times. That is the Phantom."

Megumi asks, "But why? I mean why Tsukasa-san will treat him as his rival?"

Rindo says, "Just as Eishi said, he erases himself from the dish, and the Phantom also does the same thing as well. That's why he is capable of beating him, but I never thought the two of you would be close to Phantom just like we did."

Soma sighs, "It's a long story."

Back at the Uptown area, Erina asks, "Have the customers arrived?"

"The only exception is Yukihira Soma's reservation, which happens at night. But you're keeping one table free again today." Hisako says.

Erina frowns a little, as the table is for two people who she admires, Saiba Joichiro, and his son who she refers to as Sou-kun. But Hisako notices a door opening and they are confused a little.

But just as they open the door, Hisako says, "Dear customer, have you made a reservation? We only accept customers with reservations..."

But she flinches as she knows who the man is, and Erina also flinches as she sees the black-haired man in front of him. "Father..."

"It's been a while, Erina." The person is no other than Nakiri Azami, Erina's father. "My darling daughter."

Erina is sweating at the sight of the man, and after Azami sees the others, and he says, "Erina, your cooking doesn't exist to be served to these kinds of people. You must be more selective in who you work for. It's going to taint your dignity."

The others are angry at the man in front of them, and Kita says, "That man should've been banished from Totsuki many years ago!"

Hisako recognizes the person in front of him as she hears from her parents, and she also notices Erina's trembling. "Erina-sama, are you alright? Do you feel unwell?"

The Sendawara sisters also try to ask Azami what he is doing here, only to be taunted back by saying, "Is your business of spreading child-decivings flavor around the world going on?"

And then he also explains that he is here to Totsuki to bring it back to its proper state, and he explains that the True Gourmet food resembles excellent paintings, sculptures, and music, and everything isn't cuisine is Fodder. And the way he talks, causes Erina to shake more than usual.

"Now, Erina. The first time I taught you about "Cuisine" was ten years ago. I want you to show me how much you have polished your skills."

"I've been telling you, we don't accept any customers without a reservation!" Hisako says.

"Isn't that table open?" Azami asks as he sits down on the table that Erina prepared for two people, and he says, "Bring me your wine menu. Erina, how long will you keep me waiting?"

At the same time, Soma and Megumi arrive and Soma says, "Yo, Nakiri. Sorry that we're late."

"Yukihira-kun?" Erina asks, and the name perks Azami's interest as well.

Soma also notices the other judges as he greets them, and he notices Erina's face and she asks, "Huh? What happened to you?"

But as he looks at the person that Erina is looking at, he gasps a little as he is also trembling. "Yukihira, huh? Very interesting." The man stands up after seeing him, and he decides to walk out of the restaurant. Megumi turns to Hisako and asks, "Who was that black gentleman?"

"He was Erina-sama's father..." Hisako says as she also notices Yukihira Soma trembling a little. "Soma-kun, are you alright?"

Soma sighs and says, "I never thought I would have to see him again..."

Erina hears Soma's words as she is a little confused, as if Soma knows her father personally.

When Azami steps outside, he is surrounded by staff members and Senzaemon. Azami says, "I was just about to go visit you. I should be the one going to you, so. Having you come for me is an honor. It has been a long time, father."

"Leave! You have no right to be here." Senzaemon says. "I'm sure I told you that you may never again call yourself a Nakiri."

"I was the one who polished Erina's "God Tongue", and Yukihira's "Angel Eyes" to what it is today. Even if you banish me, the blood and education won't disappear."

"That was my and Joichiro's worst mistake. Leaving Erina and Soma to you back then."

"I made a mistake too. I wouldn't have permitted Totsuki to become like this." Azami says.

"Cooking is everything at Totsuki. Anyone can rise to the top as long as they're skilled."

"How ludicrous. If you intend to create "True Gourmet food", then it is the pinnacle of foolishness to keep inferior students enrolled."

"We're not the ones who decided that. The ones who determine Totsuki's future are the young cooks with both talent and power! Your objections won't change anything!" Senzaemon yells.

At the same time, Soma is being held by Megumi as they head outside, and Rindo arrives as well. Azami takes out a note and says, "The Totsuki Elite 10 council. According to their seat number, they have certain discretional privileges. They're the highest decision-marking entity in Totsuki. In the past, there have been examples of them making important decisions regarding the Academy's management. They are given privileges equal to or even greater than those of the Academy's director. For example, if more than half of the Elite 10 members desire something, that immediately becomes the Academy's consensus opinion."

Rindo turns to Soma and asks, "Yukihira Soma, who would you side with?"

Soma flinches a little and he decides to say, "I don't know what you are talking about."

"And here I thought you'd take this side, too." Rindo says, causing Soma to flinch a little. "After all, a new wave is coming, you know? Riding it is very exciting."

It turns out that six of the Elite 10 members are appointing Nakiri Azami as the new director, including the first and second seats.

"No way..." Soma says as his sweat is dropping. Megumi asks, "Soma-kun, what's wrong with you? Why are you trembling like this..."

"It's because..." Soma says, but then Azami walks towards Soma and he says, "It sure has been a while, how were you doing, Yukihira Soma..."

"Uncle...Azami..." Soma mutters, causing Megumi to be surprised.

"It is great to see you again." After that Azami leaves, causing everyone to glare at the person.

And this is a new chapter, as you can see, I have made some changes to this chapter, considering a lot of people have been asking me what the phantom means about Soma's bad past. And I have to do something very weird for this story so that it reveals why I decide to pair Soma and Megumi instead of Soma and Erina like in the other fics, anime, and manga. I hope you like this chapter and I will try to reveal the past of Soma in the next chapter.