Chapter 16 Return of the Golden Age
After getting back from the Training Camp, Soma decides to go back to the Sumiredōri Shopping District during the summer vacation. While he was there, he decides to reopen his own Yukihira Diner for a short amount of time. When he gets there, he notices that the Shopping District is under crisis because of a Karage Store, so with the help of his childhood friend Mayumi and a friend from Totsuki, Ikumi Mito, they create the Sumire Karage Roll to stop the Karage Store.
Right now, Soma is back to Totsuki, he notices that Megumi is having a happy face and he asks, "Tadokoro? Why are you happy so much?"
Megumi smiles at Soma and says, "Look, Soma-kun! In yesterday's cooking production class, I got an A!"
After showing the test paper, Soma smiles, "Congratulations, Tadokoro."
"Thanks, my first A in the high school division was thanks to Soma-kun, but this is the first time I got an A for myself. That's why I'm so happy!"
"I see, good for you." Soma says, "And it sure is the first time I'm seeing Tadokoro in such high spirits as well."
Ryoko comes and says, "Anyway, Megumi, you've been working really hard lately, you're all energetic in classes, too."
"Yes, I feel great." Megumi replies. "I may have gained some confidence after surviving the Training Camp."
Then Megumi is asked by Isshiki to have a Ping-pong Match, which Megumi accepts as they have such a fierce match, and at the same time, Isshiki also reveals that both Megumi, Soma, Ibusaki, and Marui are elected into the Autumn Election.
"Looks like we did it, Tadokoro, let's do our best." Soma says, but he realizes that Megumi is back to her timid and nervous self.
Yuki and Ryoko are sad they aren't chosen, but Isshiki tells them not to worry as there are still 20 more vacant and maybe they will be in one of them.
Soma is now walking in the forest as he thinks, "Autumn Election...I wonder it would be harder than the times I fought with the Elite 10...it would be a great thing that I try a new dish in my own kitchen..."
But before he can leave, he is surrounded by a group of people. Soma asks, "What's up with you?"
"You're Yukihira Soma, right? Come with us." A student says, and Soma just doesn't say anything as he goes with them.
When he walks into the room, he sighs, "If it isn't the Ninth seat: Eizan Etsuya?"
Eizan says, "You're finally here. Sumire's Karage Roll was a pretty interesting dish. I was the one who produced and did the branding for Mozuya's expansion to Tokyo. I've heard that you rebuilt the Shopping District. And this is why I call you here. Work under me, if you do, that'll make it so that you never miss a meal."
"My goal is to succeed my family's restaurant. So I have no intentions to work under anyone else." Soma says with a cold tone.
"Ha, well, I thought you wouldn't join me, you said those kinds of things, too, huh?" Eizan says. "You're bound to your own little box, the kind of cook that is satisfied as long as he can proclaim his true artisan spirit. It's only a poor and boring shop, am I wrong? Was your will pulled down because you were born in such a house, hey?"
Soma glares at the chef, and he says, "That's sure are some comments you were making. But aren't you a cook as well?"
"No, I'll subdue every cook, the scenery we're looking at is different." Eizan says as he stands up from his seat. "Sorry for taking your time, you can go back. I've decided. The Autumn Election will be the end of your "Upstart". I won't forgive anyone who dirties my career."
Soma grunts a little and leaves, he thinks, "The Alchemist...sure is ambitious, it was a good thing that I won several Shokugeki against him, which gets me a lot of money."
In the current Elite 10, Soma has already fought a lot of them because all they want for the bet is to know who he is, but they always fail and Soma managed to gain some things from them. The only one that he hasn't fought before is no other than Nakiri Erina, as she is the newest member of the Elite 10.
On the day when the Autumn Elections arrive, everyone is looking at the list of participants, and Ryoko and Yuki are glad that they are on the list.
"Hmph, it seems we'll have a showdown before we can even have a Shokugeki! Yukihira!" Takumi appears and he points at Soma, who is talking to Ikumi, who also gets into the elections.
"Oh? Even Takumi enters, huh?" Soma says.
"Don't add me in like an after-thought!" Takumi yells.
Soma also notices Alice and Ryo, he says, "Oh, Alice, you also enter the elections?"
"Oh, my. Yukihira Soma-kun, good day!" Alice smiles at the boy.
A lot of people from Polar Star are wondering when Soma gets to learn a lot of famous people, and then Urara comes to announce the rules, and that Soma is in Group A while Megumi is in Group B, and most of the participants are also in different groups.
Alice says, "By the way, Yukihira-kun, do you remember what I've said on my way out, after your 450 meals?"
"Yeah." Soma says with a smirk.
"That's good, nothing will begin if we don't win there, I hope the day comes, when Erina, you, and I fight over the Elite 10." Alice says as she leaves. And Soma says, "I'm looking forward to it."
After getting back to the kitchen, the group notices some cooking sounds, and Soma asks, "Is someone in the kitchen?"
"Probably Fumio-san?" Isshiki replies.
"No, I think there is more than one person in the kitchen..." Soma says as the other Polar Star members are confused.
As they get into the kitchen, they are shocked to see that there are a number of 7 people in the kitchen. 6 of them are chatting at the rooms while a man is cooking. The man notices Soma and he says, "Oh, Soma, you're back! Help out a bit."
"Yeah, sure." Soma says.
"Prepare this for me, I've already taken out the Dashi." The man adds.
"Okay...wait, I just started helping without thinking like in Yukihira, but what are you guys doing here?!" Soma yells.
The other six finally notice the boy and a brunette rushes over to Soma and says, "Soma-kun! It's so great to see you again!"
"Hey! Let go of me!" Soma yells.
"Looks like you are still the same." The raven man with the military outfit says.
"Um...Fumio-san, who are they?" Megumi asks after seeing the seven people in the room.
Fumio smiles and says, "These are the members of the Elite 10 during the Golden Age:
71th 2th seat (10th seat in Grade 1) Tokugawa Katsu. (德川勝俊)
70th 4th seat (9th seat in Grade 2) Fujiwara Ai (藤原愛)
70th 5th seat (8th seat in Grade 2) Takada Dorabu (高田ドラブ)
69th 7th seat Kubo Shizuka (久保静香)
69th 6th seat Qiu Tingmei (邱 庭美)
70th 3th seat (5th seat in Grade 2) Daniel Sawyer
69th 2th seat Saiba Joichiro (才波城一郎)"
"Members of the Golden Age?" Everyone exclaims in shock.
"Oh, Soma, the rice should be done." Joichiro says.
"Shut up! Just explain everything! Dad!" Soma yells with anger.
"They are related?" Everyone exclaims, and Shizuka sighs, "Are they seriously need to be loud at that?"
Tingemei smiles, "But those sure are interesting people in the Polar Star Dorm."
Isshiki walks towards them and he says, "Hello, I'm the current Seventh Seat: Isshiki Satoshi from the 91st generation. It is an honor to meet every one of you."
"Looks like the seventh seat of this year is also cute." Ai says with a smile.
"Are you sure you're going to do that all the time?" Dorabu sighs.
"Anyway, we have made our own special food for you guys who managed to get into the Autumn Elections, so let's have a toast." Daniel says.
Everyone is stunned at the food in front of their table, and they gulp at the sight of the food from the former Elite 10 members. They try out the Chicken Fajita Tortilla Pockets, and they are amazed at the taste, and also everything that is inside.
"What is this? The taste of the Tortilla Pockets...the chicken is so crispy and the vegetables are so fresh..." Yuki gasps.
"That was made from myself." Katsu says while doing a military salute. "Are you seriously wearing a military outfit?" Yuki asks with shock.
"Katsu is a very talented person, not only he is good at combat, but he also specializes in military food." Ai says.
"Indeed, soldiers devoted themselves to war for our country, that's why I want them to be in their best spirits so that they will be able to fight." Katsu says, and everyone is amazed at the personality.
"And what is this?" Megumi tastes a drink, and she gasps, "The sweetness of the pineapples, watermelons, mangoes, and all the other fruits are exploding in my mouth...it is just like I'm in a fruity kingdom..."
Megumi thinks as she becomes a princess wandering around the fruit-based houses and people. Ai says, "This is my Tropical Fruit Smoothie. It is delicious, right?"
"Ai's drinks are the best if you seriously taste them." Dorabu says. "She is also known as the Queen of Beverages at that time."
"Wow..." Megumi says.
"That pizza is very delicious...even though it is just a normal pepperoni pizza, I just thought I went to Italy all of a sudden." Daigo says.
"I'm glad that you like it, I made it when I was back in Italy." This causes everyone to get surprised, and Ai says, "Don't worry, Dorabu specializes in "Take-out" Dishes, he will try to make food that is good at keeping its quality even though it has to be taken from far away places."
"That sounds very amazing..." Ryoko says while eating the Ful medames, a stew of cooked fava beans served with olive oil, cumin, and optionally with chopped parsley, garlic, onion, lemon juice, chili pepper, and another vegetable, herb, and spice ingredients.
"Wow...this food suddenly brings me to Egypt..." Ryoko thinks with a satisfied smile. Shizuka says, "This is Ful medames, it is a popular dish in Egypt."
"Shizuka is good at making Vegetarian dishes, considering that there are some people who don't like meat or prohibited to eat them." Dorabu says.
"No way..." Megumi gasps.
Ibusaki is trying out a Scallion pancake, and he asks, "Is this the scallion pancake? The scallion is very fresh and good to eat."
"That's right, I specialize in "Taiwanese Cuisine. After all, I'm born from Taiwan." Qiu says.
"Taiwanese cuisine...I have heard of it, but I've never tried it before..." The others try it out and they are amazed at the taste of the crunchiness as if they are in Taiwan.
"And this one is my food." Daniel says as he points at the fried chicken. "This one is my homemade Fried Chicken, I'm from America, after all."
The others try it out as they feel that they are living in a desert and they are satisfied by the taste.
And after they try Joichiro's food, they feel like they are traveling around a lot of countries, and Megumi asks, "What's that paste that's smeared on the lamb meat?"
"That's Harrisa. It's an all-purpose seasoning made from chili peppers and other things native to North America. With middle-eastern traditional cooking as a base, this time I tried adding Parsley and Garam Masala.
Everyone is then asking Joichiro about his food, and Qui pats Soma's shoulder and says, "Looks like everyone is interested in your Dad's food, Soma."
"Yeah..." Soma sighs. "That's my Dad, you know."
But when they try out the snake dish, they feel it disgusting, and Soma tastes it and says, "This sure is seriously bad..."
"Right? It's so bad that it can enter the historical top 10." Joichiro smirks. And everyone in the Polar Star realizes that he is still Soma's father.
Fumio says, "Joichiro, the one who was called Ashura. But now you made food with kindness, huh..."
Ai says, "Yeah. That's sure is great. I'm sure that Gin will like to eat it sometime."
"Wait, you mean..." Ryoko asks, and they take out a picture of the former Elite 10, with Jin sitting next to Joichiro.
"So Chef Dojima is from the Polar Star Dorm too!" Megumi says. "That means he is the number 1 compared to you?"
"If you count as the seat, then yeah." Daniel says. "If you are wondering the other two, one has died, and we haven't contacted the other one. And they are the Number 3 and Number 4 at that time."
Seeing Soma's face, Shizuka hits Daniel's back very hard and she says, "You baka! Soma-kun and Joichiro are here! Are you sure you are going to say it out loud like that?"
"I'm sorry..." Daniel says while rubbing his back.
Soma sighs, "It's fine, as you can see, the one sitting beside my Dad is my mom, Yukihira Tamako, who was in the fourth seat in this picture, and then Number 2 in her third year."
Everyone feels bad for Soma, and Joichiro sighs, "Let's not think about this, how about we just continue the feast?"
The others can only sigh as they continue eating the food.
Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, I have made my own changes, I added 6 of my OCs, who will be appearing in the future chapters. I hope you like this chapter.