After taking a bath, Soma is now sitting at the new bed as he looks around, he mutters, "This place is not that bad after all, but it sure is too quiet."

Just then, the ceiling opens and a senior peeks out of it, causing Soma to panic. "Wooooh!"

"Hey there, transfer student! Come! We're having your welcome party!" The senior says.

Soma is a little confused, but he goes there anyway, and they arrive at a room as a boy named Marui Zenji says, "I told you, I'm busy studying for the written exams! If you're having a party, feel free to do it in another room! Why do you always do it in my room?"

The girl named Yoshino Yuuki says, "It can't be helped, Marui's room is the biggest of all, and it is always clean when we come."

As Marui is arguing, Megumi is still shivering at the fact that Soma saw her nude body and vice versa, she thinks, "Sorry Mom...I can't become a bride anymore..."

"Megumi, listen, I am very sorry about what happened today." Soma says, feeling guilty for the girl as he just wants to make a good impression for her.

"It's fine..." Megumi turns to Soma and asks, "Wait, Soma-kun, you passed the dorm entrance skill test on your first try?"

"Well yeah. I'm glad I somehow managed." Soma sighs.

"That's amazing, I don't think there aren't much people who passed on their first try." Megumi says.

"Ermm, so I guess...what about you?" Soma asks, and Megumi turns away with a frown as she remembers how she took 3 months to take the test.

"Hey, I called out for everyone in the dorm, you know? But there's not even half of them here." The senior named Isshiki says.

"Well, it can't be helped, right?" The boy named Daigo replies.

"Isshiki-senpai tells us to gather almost every day, so everyone's got tired of it." Shoji replies.

"They got tired? That can't be, right? I mean, Tadokoro-chan always participates."

Megumi frowns and says, "But if I don't participate, he'll come to wake me up a few minutes later."

The girl named Sakaki Ryoko says, "He'd eventually give up if you ignore him, Megumi. You sure are conscientious."

"Listen, everyone! Youngsters living under the same roof and eating food from the same stove. This is youth! This is being a student! I yearned for that, so I came to this dorm. Now let's enjoy bright dorm life!"

"That's fine and all, but just stop coming to call us using the loft." Shoji sighs.

"So, I'm a second year, Isshiki, call me "Isshiki-senpai"! Everyone else here is first-year like you. Welcome to the Polar Star Dorm, Yukihira-kun." Isshiki says.

"Now let's have a toast. All of you, grab a drink." Ryoko takes out a bottle and pours to Soma's cup, but as Soma takes the cup, he asks, "Is it fine to make this much noise? I mean, it is very late right now."

"Don't worry, the place is surrounded by the forest, no one will hear us." Ryoko says.

"But what about the dorm mother?" Soma asks, and then he hears her voice from one of the callers. "Hey, you people! I have Daikon broiled in Soy Sauce, have someone come for it."

As Daigo and Shoji leave, Yuuki says, "Remember to come back before Fumio-san starts bragging about the Elite 10."

Ryoko says, "Speaking of that, I remember that Fumio-san mentioned about a member of the former Elite 10 named Yukihira Tamako, is she related to you or something?"

"Oh, that's my mother." Soma says as everyone is shocked. "No way! You were the son of the former second seat of the Elite 10?"

"Yeah, but the sad thing is that she perished when I was little, we didn't spread it out loud, though."

This causes everyone in the room to be surprised, and Megumi says, "I'm sorry, we didn't know that..."

"It's fine, both Dad and I have moved on, but it would be better if the memories weren't resurfaced." Soma says.

"But I remember that Fumio-san said something about Angel's Eyes, can you also do that as well?" Yuki asks.

"Well, it is true that I have that kind of ability, I mean, that ability helps me make normal ingredients into the best recipes." Soma says. "Maybe one day I'll be able to show you how it works."

Then he notices the 1.8 Litres bottle with a handwritten label, and the murkiness of the drink, he asks, "Hey, this can't be illicitly brewed sake..."

"No, it's just juice made from rice." Ryoko says with a smile.

Soma is a little hesitating, but he eventually drinks it, and suddenly he becomes drunk and so are the others, except for Megumi who sighs at how Soma is getting along with them. Not only that, but Isshiki also shows his naked body with an apron to add entertainment. Everyone also takes out their specialties for Soma to eat, and Soma decides to return the favor by handing the dried squid to others, except for Megumi who is terrified of that dish.

After everyone falls asleep, Soma and Isshiki are the ones who are still awake, and Isshiki prepares the mackerel for Soma to eat, and after tasting it, he feels like he is standing naked in the new spring.

"It's too good. His level is vastly different from the other dorm students. Even if he is a second year." Soma thinks.

"By the way, Soma-kun, no, should I call you...the Number 0 of the Elite 10...the Phantom?" Isshiki says with the eyes emitting some aura.

Soma's sweat drops a little and says, "So you know, huh? Maybe I should give the headmaster a talk..."

"He didn't tell me, I found out about it by myself. You may be able to fool everyone, but not me. After all, ever since the Elite 10 learn that you are not coming to the school, I have suspicions about you. It is after what you have said during the opening ceremony, and the fact that you are the only transfer student, that proves my idea." Isshiki says. "But you don't have to worry, I won't tell everyone about it, that is...if you make something to show me."

Soma says, "So you want to taste my cooking, huh? Wait for a bit. I'll show you why I am the Phantom Seat."

As he prepares the mackerel, he says, "Isshiki senpai, your food style is Japanese, right? Then it will be better to do one of my mother's secret menus."

And when he is cooking, the smell wakes up Shun, Yuuki, and Ryoko.

"What's Yukihira-kun doing?" Yuki asks Ryoko, who replies "He's cooking. Maybe he is still hungry."

Shun, who was already awake, states, "It's a cook-off."

"A Cook-Off?! Why? And how?" Yuki asks.

"I wonder, but it seems that this match was a challenge from Isshiki-senpai." Shun says.

The three watch as Sōma cooks his dish and ignore Isshiki's state of dress, or undress in this case.

"Now it's done. Yukihira's secret menu number 20, Mackerel Onigiri Chazuke!" Soma says as he places the dish, "This dish is normally made using Salmon. But today I tried making it using Mackerel."

Isshiki, Shun, Ryoko, and Yuki look at the bowls of rice balls with seer fish and some kind of tea. It looks pretty rough, but it smells delicious.

"Ano, what did you pour over this dish?" Ryoko asks the other redhead as she tucks some of her hair behind her ear.

Soma happily answers, "Seaweed Tea. The soft saltiness and rich flavor are perfect for rounding out a meal."

Yuki rubs her stomach and says "Geez! It smells so good, you can't help but get hungry!"

Isshiki looks at the dish and thinks, "This looks like nothing more than plain old Chazuke. This is a dish that you can find in a common diner... "

And then all four of them take a bite of the food, and they all enjoy it.

"Wow! The seer fish is really juicy! But even better, the skin is crispy! It's like every bite is overflowing with savory flavor!" Yuki says in surprise.

With a flushed face, Ryoko says, "Simply grilling it would never give the skin this crispiness. How'd you do it, Soma?"

"Poêlé. You cooked this fish using the Poêlé technique. That was a French cooking technique." Isshiki states.

"Yeah, I learned it from my Dad. He said it's the best way to cook up a fish with nice, crispy skin." Soma adds.

"So did your Dad study French cuisine?" Isshiki asks. And Soma says, "Including my Mom, of course. Not only that, but Chapelle sensei also teaches me a lot of French techniques as well."

"What? The chef who never smiles?" The others are shocked, while Isshiki just thinks, "Interesting combination, one that no one has ever thought of! The pure white rice... Almost looks like little gleaming flakes of snows... The dark seer fish pushes its way up proudly through all that white... Like the vitality of Spring itself! With this one simple dish... He has portrayed the moment of Spring's beginning!"

Soma takes off his headband and says, "It wasn't much."

"What an exquisitely beautiful snowmelt, Sōma." Isshiki says.

"Your Spring breeze wasn't bad either senpai. It was so fresh, I could feel it." Soma replies.

And then they shake hands for the great match, which happens at the same time Tadokoro wakes up, as she is stunned to see what is going on.

When the others are leaving, Megumi asks Ryoko, "Why was Isshiki senpai challenge Soma into a cook-off?"

"I wonder...I guess that he's a whimsy person." Ryoko says.

"It's no use worrying about what that odd-ball thinks." Yuuki adds. But Isshiki just looks at the two with thoughts.

After the others leave, Soma and Isshiki are now in the hallway as he says, "Since you technically win the match, as promised, I'll keep your identity a secret."

"Thanks, but I think that you're not using your full strength, just so you know, I am not using that as well." Soma says with a smirk.

"You don't need to worry if I didn't realize that." Isshiki smiles. "But I want to know since you were the Phantom Seat from 3 years ago, why weren't you a part of the Junior High division?"

Soma sighs and says, "Three reasons, first, my Pops said that I wasn't ready, which is right, I have a lot to learn. Second, my mother was not a happy person when she was in Junior High division, and I respect that. And finally, the headmaster is the one that asked me to become the Phantom Seat, since then, I have been traveling around the world to meet all kinds of alumni and learn from them."

"That's wonderful! Soma-kun! I'm so moved right now, students living in the Polar Star should be like this..." Isshiki says, and Soma just sweatdrops.

"Yeah, if there are no more questions, I need to get some sleep." Soma says as he leaves, and Isshiki just smiles, "Soma-kun. With that cooking of yours... you really will change the world of cooking. But on the way, you will gain enemies, and I hope you could overcome all of them.

Here is a new chapter, and looks like Isshiki already knows Soma's true identity as the Phantom Seat. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter might be the RS.