The first phase of the exam will be conducted in several different rooms in groups, and for each group, there are 5 people. Soma finds that he is partnered with Alice, Ryo, Megumi, and Yuki.

"To think both Soma-kun and Alice-san is..." Megumi frowns.

"Yeah, but that is how it should be, this should be an excellent chance to give uncle Azami a taste of his own medicine." Alice says. "Right? Yukihira-kun?"

"You're right about that." Soma says as he notices Erina in a different group. "But I was the one that asks Uncle Azami to be paired with you guys. I want to show him that those pathetic cheating won't defeat the five of us."

And the examiner tells them that the theme is Salmon, and each of the groups is given the best fish, but when it's Soma's group, they got Hocchare, the Salmon that already spawned and at death's door, and the worst quality.

"I see, so this is the first exam, huh..." Soma says as he looks at the salmon. "And not even my Angel's Eyes are going to help with this."

"If you have any complaints with the ingredients we have provided, you are more than welcome to go procure ingredients of your own." The examiner says, as she is confident that the season for Salmon is long over, and Totsuki has already brought all the fish.

"We'll make this salmon into some snacks after this is over." Soma says.

"Is that all we've got? Isn't there some way to make these taste amazing, like how you always do with cheap ingredients?" Yuki asks. "There should be some way of cooking that'll make even these salmon taste excellent!"

Ryo says, "These Hocchare have the least amount of fat of all salmon year-round. Even the curing process Yukihira used during the election won't work this time around. Doesn't matter whether you use rice bran or sake mold, the curing process takes a few days. And we only have until sunset."

Soma smiles and says, "If you think we are giving up right here right now, then you're wrong."

Everyone is surprised to see Soma's personality changed, and only Megumi and Erina know the truth. Soma says, "There's no need to resign ourselves to expulsion. We can just make the most delicious dish in this room."

As the five of them walk out of the room, the others are shocked to see that they really are going out to find the fish. After a while, they manage to get the fish back, and everyone is shocked to see it.

"Those salmon are top-of-the-line!" "The firmness of their flesh, the sparkle of their scales...no matter how you look at it, they're exquisite!"

"These are...Tokishirazu!" The judge is also surprised, as it is a fish that comes from Spring through Summer, and they are not fully mature Salmon, so they have a lot of nutrients in the meat.

"If you don't know, there is the Brine method." Alice says as she explains what it means.

Soma says, "It is a good thing that we have Dorabu-senpai sending us over here from the brine freezing companies."

"Yeah. I'm just glad as well..." Megumi adds.

The examiner knows that her plan failed, but she knows that it is only 30 minutes left, and they don't have time to prepare the meal.

"I never thought I'd be teaming up with you, Yukihira-kun." Alice says.

"You can say that again. Kurkibra, I'm gonna have to ask you to prepare these on the double." Soma says.

"Who do you think you're talking to!" Ryo is in the berserk mode again, "Don't order me around!"

Everyone in the room are shocked to see their speed in cooking, and the judge can't help but admire the thick layer of fat and tightness to the meat.

"Now our meal is ready. It is Yuan-style grilled Tokishirazu!" Soma says.

The judge takes a bite, and she can't help but feel the deliciousness of the dish. Soma says, "Now then, Ms. examiner. Don't you think you spoke a little too ill of us I can tell you that I, at least, won't throw in the towel at stuff like this. It's all part of a day's work to fight with the supplier to ensure the best quality ingredients, and making sure to put out a well-made dish are both the job of diner chefs."

The judge groans in anger as she yells, "All five members of Yukihira Soma's squad! You pass the first phase of the exam!"

Everyone sighs in relief as they get past the first phase, and the examiner also learns that none of the rebels have failed the exam. Soma takes out the phone and talks to Dorabu-senpai. "Thank you, Dorabu senpai. Your take-out company sure is the best."

"No problem, Soma. Anything for you to stop Azami for doing something reckless." Dorabu says through the phone as he ends the call.

Megumi says, "But we can't just give up yet. This was just the first phase, and there are five more to go..."

The others nod as they all go outside as they are now taking the train to their second location. And the train they are taking is the Moon Shadow, Totsuki's proud luxury sleeper liner. Yuki is so happy that she has tears of blood, but Hisako is not going to let them rest as they are going to continue the Hokkaido lecture.

Soma walks into Erina's cabin as he asks, "Eri-chan, do you want some fried salmon skin chips?"

"You also cam as well, Sou-kun?" Erina asks.

"What do you mean?" Soma asks.

"I mean, a lot of people have come to me, if they had any free time, they should have just rested, Tadokoro-san even left that tea here for me..." Erina says.

"Well, Megumi said this a few minutes ago. She feels bad that you have been worried about us, so she wants to do something for you too." Soma says. "I guess it's just that everyone wants to say thank you to you, y'know."

Erina blushes a little and says, "But I'm not in this for the thanks! I'm just doing what I see it..."

And then they notice the starry sky as they are in awe at it, Soma says, "Every time I look at the stars, I always think of my mother."

"Is your mother close to my father? Considering that they're siblings." Erina decides to ask, and Soma sighs, "They are very close in school, and I guess it might be why Azami has to do this revolution...it is not just for my father, but my mother as well..."

Erina frowns a little, and she notices how close she is now with her cousin Yukihira Soma, she sighs a little and she is a little happy that she gets reunited with her Sou-kun.

In the next exam phase, Soma and the other rebels are the last ones to enter the kitchens, considering that their examiner is also one of the members of Central named Endo, and he said that the theme is noodles. As they are separated into groups to their stations, they find that there are no noodles left.

"I see, so that's how it's going down." Soma says. "I can't believe they won't even give us ingredients at all this time around."

"I guess this is why they made us wait until the end. But this shouldn't really be a problem, should it?" Takumi replies.

But just as they are trying to go outside to buy some ingredients, only to find that they are stranded in the blizzard. Soma decides to ask Dorabu-senpai for help, only to be replied that the blizzard is too strong for him to come.

"We're trapped!" Megumi panics.

"Hahaha! If this were a novel or movie, it'd only be a matter of time till a murder or something happened." Takumi says.

"But that doesn't mean we don't have a plan B." Soma says as he walks back to the kitchen, much to the two's surprise.

After a while, Endo gets a call from the staff that the rebels are cooking as nothing has happened, and he rushes to the stations and Soma says, "What's with that face, Mr. Examiner? There's no way something like this would make us quit. What we did before coming here was a hundred times harder than this. Your plans are barely better than children's mischief!"

After hearing that all the students are making noodles, Soma reveals that they are using potatoes to make Gousetsu Udon, and with the potato starch that was used for the dusting flower, everyone made their own noodles.

Soma is the first one to complete, as Endo looks at the dish and he is surprised to see the toppings, save scallions, and shiso leaves.

"Think you could take a bite before the noodles get too soggy?" Soma asks as he tastes it, and he can feel the potatoes in the dish, considering the broth has mash potatoes, and the topping is potato mochi.

In the end, not only Yukihira Soma, even Tadokoro Megumi and Takumi Aldini pass the exam. The others also pass their own exams as they cheer their victory.

"Guh...Erina-sama! If you didn't go and do the unnecessary, this group would have been easily failed! They're a bunch of pushovers! They've only managed to make it through because of your mercy! If not for your hints-"

"That isn't true." Erina says. "I only taught them about the special characteristics of the potato. They managed to think up using the Gousetsu Udon as a means of taking advantage of these characteristics all by themselves. You would do well to remember this, these people are not the kind of cooks you will be able to push around."

Endo realizes that Erina is now looking like Joan of Arc herself to liberate Totsuki from the yoke of Central, and he kneels down in defeat.

After the exploration in Sapporo, Erina, Takumi, Megumi, and Soma are now back at the train as they don't see the others. Hisako calls Erina as she says, "Erina-sama! Where are you right now?"

"What's the rush Hisako?" Erina asks.

"No, it's just that I couldn't find you so I got worried." Hisako says as she reveals that her train just left 30 minutes ago.

Soma says, "About that, there is something that I should have told you. For the rebels, the third match is going to be facing against the other 9 members of the Elite 10. Right? Rindo-senpai?"

Takumi and Erina are shocked to see the second seat with them, and Rindo comes out and mutters, "This place sure is cold...but what Yukihira said is correct. From the third stage onwards the route splits and coincides repeatedly. Everyone gets split up...and in the worst case meet in the final stage. That is if all of you manage to survive."

Erina asks, "You know about this, Sou-kun?"

"I know...Tsukasa and Rindo told me about it." Soma says. "You said that my opponent is not you nor Tsukasa senpai, that means it is one of the new members of the Elite 10, huh..."

"I would've liked to keep it a secret." Rindo says with a smile. "Now good luck to all of you."

And when they are now at the station for their third match, Soma asks Rindo, "So who's my opponent?"

Rindo has Soma looks at the balcony, and much to his surprise, it is no other than Hayama Akira, the one who already knows the truth of Soma's identity as well as being in the same place as him in the Autumn Elections.

And here is the new chapter, sorry it looks kind of rushed, but to me, these are just important chapters but the same as the anime. So I just want to make a short description. In the next chapter will be Soma vs Hayama. I hope you like this chapter.