After Soma's declaration of trying to take the seats of the Elite 10, Takumi says, "Hold on, Yukihira! To take away their seats, are you going to challenge them to a Shokugeki? Don't be so brazen! Have you forgotten! A Shokugeki can't take place unless there's a mutual agreement. It doesn't matter how much faith we have that we'll win, if we can't even challenge them, there's no point. There's no reason for Central to even consider accepting such a challenge."

"There is something we can do as a wavier." Soma says, "And I'm sure that Uncle Azami will agree no matter what."

"If you are going to find headmaster Azami, he's probably here right now." Rindo says as they turn around in shock. Soma asks, "When have you been standing there?"

"I accidentally heard you trying to take over the Elite 10, which is something very crazy." Rindo says.

"So you mean Father is here at this venue?" Erina asks as they rush out to find him trying to board the helicopter.

"Father!" Erina yells as Azami turns to see the four students.

"What is it, Erina and Soma? Don't tell me that both of you still hanging around those people. In only a few days, all of them will be expelled." Azami says. "Though you had given me a lot of trouble, Soma. To think you would try to take the same tests as those people."

Soma says, "You sure talk about how everything you do is correct. But the fact that we're still here right now just goes to show that your absolute correctness isn't worth a damn. As you see, all of your Central members have never won a match against me because of your teachings in the past. And I'm going to use that into practice. Our group right here against your members to a Shokugeki."

"A full-on match, huh. There simply isn't any merit in me accepting in such a match. I know very well of your strength. So you don't need to prove it to me. Now could you please stop delaying me and let me on my way?"

As Soma is about to retort, he feels a hand rubbing his hair. "Oh man, ever so cold, aren't ya? Nakamura? Don'tcha think you should speak nicer to my precious one and only son?"

Everyone gasps to see Joichiro and Senzaemon, along with the other members of the Elite 10 members of the Golden age, except for Dojima Gin.

"Everyone!" Soma gasps in surprise.

"Hey, Soma, we heard you got your revenge on Shiomi's pupil." Shizuka says.

"You did a great job, we're very proud of you." Dorabu adds.

"Never mind that! Is it you always show up outta the blue?" Soma yells.

"Why are everyone here? Including Grandfather and Saiba-sama?" Erina asks.

"Erina-chan, it's great to see my niece grown so much." Joichiro says. "Sorry to barge in, but we have something to speak to your Dad about, too."

Joichiro turns to Azami and says, "Soma's position, I don't think you should throw it quite yet, you know. So let's make them do it the usual way. A team battle: The Regiment De Cuisine."

Azami says, "Saiba senpai, and the rest of the senpais, it would seem you don't fully understand the situation at hand. Allow me to explain, the moment that I took the headmaster's seat from Senzamon-dono, I had already achieved 90% completion of my plans. Currently, everything else is merely cleaned up. There is absolutely nothing you could possibly offer me that would merit accepting such a challenge."

"Then what about if we lose, we'll pledge allegiance to you as part of your soldiers?" Katsu asks, causing Azami to gasp in shock.

"We'll cast away the ideology and skills we've refined and become the embodiment of the cooking you so wished for." Daniel says.

"We'll help you deliver your salvation and become your dog to your true gourmet." Fujiwara adds.

"Is this for real? Then so be it!" Azami says as he is delighted, and then they decided to set the rules for another time.

"We'll bring back our friends and stop you from destroying Yukihira Diner." Takumi says. "We will win! That much is certain."

Megumi adds, "Me too, though I am scared, I want to save everyone. And I know very well about that place and I want to protect it as well."

"I look forward to the day of the battle, with that said, I'll see you all on Rebun Island." Azami says as he leaves.

Once he is gone, Joichiro says, "Now then, let's hurry up and get you all into special training."

Qiu adds, "Indeed, as you are now, there's not a doubt in my mind that you'd all lose if you took them on."

"I know it of course..." Megumi panics.

"In order to defeat the current Elite 10, save your strength and prepare for the battle. Starting tomorrow, we'll train." Soma says.

After a while, Soma decides to ask Joichiro and the other senpais about their past and why Azami is acting like this, and the others are also at the same place.

Dojima says, "I see. So the negotiations with Azami proceeded successfully."

"Chef Dojima, did you know that they are all coming to Hokkaido?" Megumi asks.

"The one who guided them was me. For the sake of this day, we worked out a plan in secret with them." Dojima says.

"We know that if we become the baits, Azami would surely accept the match." Qiu adds.

"And sorry for taking advantage of your exam system." Katsu says, "But if you all can take the majority of Elite 10 seats, then we will be able to dismantle the Azami administration."

"So Dad, I want to know everything about your generation." Soma says. "About my mom, about Uncle Azami, and about you guys."

Fujiwara says, "Let me begin with this, as you can see, we are in the same Elite 10, but we are in different years. And Azami and Katsu are both first grade at that time."

"You can't deny, the best two members of the generation, they are Joichiro and Tamako." Dojima adds.

"Saiba sama and Aunt Tamako?" Erina mutters.

"But if you're talking about the seats, you are the first seat..." Takumi says.

"If you are just counting the Shokugeki's, then Joichiro has the most win of all of us, with Tamako come in second." Qiu says.

"Indeed, if only Joichiro behaves at that time, he would be the first seat without a doubt, and Tamako decides to stay at the second seat because of her personal reasons." Shizuka adds.

Joichiro says, "Just like what I've told you about your mother, Soma. She is a perfect chef who doesn't like people mocking her, that's why she has become the first Phantom. She might be able to win against everyone, but she never won against me."

"I know that. That's why you fall in love with each other." Soma nods. "But I want to know how you got the name Ashura? And why did Mother go into depression back then?"

"There is a famous competition at that time, it is called BLUE. Bishoku leading under 35 entrance. It is a world youth cooking championship. And Joichiro was given a letter to participate in it." Daniel says.

"A lot of people are thinking that he got the letter is just a fluke, so they want to challenge him through the Regiment de Cuisine." Dorabu sighs, "It is a 1 vs. 50."

"1 vs 50?" The four of them state in shock, and Joichiro just sighs as he doesn't want to talk anymore. Soma notices it as he just sits beside his father as they listen to what they're talking.

"During the BLUE, Joichiro didn't show up, and we were very worried if he skipped out of the tournament. We tried to find him anywhere." Katsu says.

"And both Tamako and I found him, sitting alone in Chandra's Room. At that time, he is exhausted after all the cooking, and he doesn't know what his goal is. We realized that we were the ones that forced him to weather that storm all by himself." Dojima frowns.

"Senzaemon-dono comes and he asks Joichiro to leave the country and do some soul searching. And that's why he never returns to Totsuki for graduation." Fujiwara frowns.

"As for Tamako, when she becomes the second seat, she is still doing Shokugeki with the others, but she wasn't the same as before. She becomes much harsher when she was the Phantom, and she also continuously blames herself for Saiba senpai." Daniel says.

"And that's how it went down, all those years ago." Joichiro says. "To be honest, I wouldn't even mind it if you ignored all of what they just said. None of that should have had any effect at all on your generation anyway. But there's no denying that we're using you guys' match to achieve our own ends."

Soma says, "At first I was thinking if my Mom or you did something bad to Uncle Azami and made him do everything on me like some sort of revenge...But I'm relieved."

"Sou-kun..." Erina mutters.

"Did you guys think I'm pathetic? No matter the reasons, I ran away from cooking itself. That's the most pathetic thing a chef can do." Joichiro says.

"But I know for sure that both you and Mom are now working together, and you guys were enjoying cooking so much that you open the Yukihira Diner together." Soma says. "That is enough for me."

"And for all of you, there's no need for an apology." Takumi adds. "In fact, without your help, Chef Dojima, or everyone in the room, we'd never have even been able to challenge them to the Shokugeki in the first place. We should be grateful. Please watch over us! Now is our turn to fight! I won't let Azami tug at the strings of power as he wishes!"

"I'll do my best as well. For Soma, for Yukihira Diner, and for everyone." Megumi says. "I have been to Soma's diner when I was having my Stagiaire, I have seen the place and how precious it is to Soma-kun and others. I don't want it to be gone as well."

As for Erina, she frowns a little at how the other three are showing determination while she isn't. Soma asks, "Eri-chan? What's wrong?"

"I want to save everyone from the bottom of my heart...but to do so, I'll have to fight with Father's Elite 10...turning against father...fighting him...me...just thinking about it makes me scared..."

"Then we're going to start the special training right now. As your first assignment in preparation for the Regimine De Cuisine, we'll be having you face off in 3 vs. 3 Red-and-white battles!" Dojima says.

"Gin is still the same as usual." Joichiro says with a laugh and the others know he means, but Gin takes it as an insult and he yells, "Joichiro! I can't even count the number of times I was led around by the nose cause of your nonchalant requests!"

"Oh? If you've got a problem, bring it on! I told you already, I'll take you on while I give these kids their special training!" Joichiro says.

"Fine! You're on!"

Everyone is now looking at the two with a weird expression, as they are not sure it is the time for them to fight.

Here is the new chapter, and this is the start of the training arc. I am going to add some more stuff in this arc since it is very important. I hope you like this chapter.