Author's Note:

Hello, everyone ahh! Thank you for so many nice reviews last chapter. Every one of them made me very happy.

Thank you for the continued support and for giving this story a chance. I hope you'll enjoy today's chapter as well.

We're slowly getting towards the Autumn Elections /sweats/ a arc I dreaded ever since the very beginning. I hope I'll do okay!

Once again, thank you for reading!

Oh also, announcement: But I created a poll on my profile! For you to vote your favorite out of all the OCs that have appeared so far! Your opinion would greatly interest me!

"We have a lot to cover today, so we really should be getting started. Now that...", Hiraku who had been 7 minutes late felt the first seat's eyes burning on him, "...everyone is here."

Before the newly-crowned fourth seat could defend himself however, the first seat already went on. Not that Hiraku had a good excuse anyway. "Welcome and thank you for showing up today, even in your spare time."

"It's not like we had much of a choice." Shigeo murmured while he disinterestedly typed around on his phone. "I could think of numerous better ways to spend my free days than-" "As mentioned in the E-mail I sent to all of you, today's task is the selection of the first years that will participate in this year's Autumn Elections Preliminaries."

Hiraku looked at Akio next to him. "There was an E-mail?" Akio could only give a nod back, a certain frantic disbelief in his green eyes.

"Some of you might have heard one of the teachers call the 115th Generation the 'Jewel-Rebirth'. This is because a notable number of offsprings of chefs that were part of the infamous Jewel Generation happen to attend this generation. Mimasaka-san here suggested we should start the selection with discussing the so-called 'Reborn Jewel' first and then move on to the-" "I want to bring up my little sister!" Hiraku suddenly interrupted the first seat.

The Elites turned to him, most surprised, some frowning. Hiraku did not mind the looks and only continued. "Her name is Kimiko and she transferred here this year. She's good enough to outdo her generation though, even the ones that are offsprings of Jewels or whatever. She already had a Sho-" "Yukihira." The first Seat sharply interrupted Hiraku's ramble. Next to the redhead, Akio had already begun to nervously fumble with his fingers.

"Can you, for once, just listen? I just told you that we'll focus on the Jewel-offsprings first. I can understand that you want to promote your sister and we'll be getting to her. But for now, I want us to stick to schedule, okay?" "But-"

"Yukihira-kun." Ran Mimasaka warmly interjected. "Your little sister has gained a lot of attention in the brief amount of time she's here. Not only within just her generation. We'll talk about her as soon as the Jewel-Offsprings are off the table, but I'd say that you don't have to worry much about her participation. As Organisators of the Autumn Elections we all want it to be an exciting event after all." With that she gave a friendly wink towards the fourth seat.

Hiraku opened his mouth but as his head did not provide him any further arguments he ended up closing it again and leaned back into his chair.

"Thank you, Mimasaka-san." The first seat took over again. "Let us begin the selection then."

The first seat then held up the first document of many more to come. It showed a picture of none other than Kaori Hayama, alongside a short, flawless, profile and a long listing of achievements. "We'll start with what I'd argue is a pretty clear case. The generation's valedictorian and the little sister of our sixth seat, Hayama Kaori."

The first seat turned the document around and briefly overflew the thing while elaborating. "What is there to say? She has straight As in all of her cooking-related classes, teachers and students alike talk highly of her, in this year's Trainings Camp she was the first one to finish 200 servings and has been recommended by each and every chef that examined her in camp, one of them being a member of the Jewel Generation, Takumi Aldini." He lowered the document a little to eye his colleagues. "I think she very much qualified herself for the Autumn Elections, or is there anyone that disagrees?"

As no reply came, the first seat laid the document aside and typed Kaori's name into the open text document that his laptop displayed to him. "Thought so, then let's move on to the next name I have listed here..." He picked up a new sheet of paper and held it up for the group to see.

"The son of a former third seat."

—

The Seventeenth Plate - The Chosen Ones

—

The burning summer sun shone its rays on Totsuki's campus. But the heat did not stop a wide array of highschool first year to straight up sprint out of their last classes for the day, all having just one destination in mind.

Among them was Mika Aldini. Quite quick to her feet, she was one of the first students to reach the large board that was set up in Totsuki's central area.

A couple minutes after she had arrived the large linen that hung over the board was swept aside, revealing the letters 'A' and 'B', as well as two lists of names.

Various exclaims and cries emerged around Mika, mostly consisting of "I MADE IT" and "I DIDNT". She however paid little attention to it, as she was busy analysing the board herself. Finally Mika announced. "I'm in the same group as Yukihira!"

Mika hadn't doubt for a second that she was chosen to participate in the Autumn Election Premlins, wether or not her and her rival were in the same group was the only thing that interested her.

Now she stomped on the ground and sulked. "Damnit, that means we won't face off in the first round of the Main Tournament." But right after having done so, a realisation hit her and it brought a haughty smirk on her full lips. "Second or final round it is then."

Having decided this, Mika turned her head to look for her rival in the crowd. But the only familiar face she found was that of Yasu Ibusaki.

"Group A..." Yasu mumbled when Mika suddenly appeared next to him, hands on her hips and asking. "Ibusaki, where is everyone?"

"Oh hey, Aldini." He then said when he turned his head to the blonde. "I know that Chi-chan is still in her seminar meeting, but I don't know about the rest, sor-" Before he could even finish the sentence, Mika suddenly grabbed his arm and began pulling him into the opposite direction of the board. "Come on, we gotta search Yukihira. How is she not here yet? I swear!"

—

"...Chieko-chan? ...Chieko-chan!"

It took Madoka Enomoto three light pats on her most priced student's shoulder for the little girl to finally tear her eyes away from the book in her hands.

"Sorry, Enomoto-sensei." Chieko gave an excusing smile before inquiring further. "What is it?"

Madoka couldn't help but to smile as well, unable to blame the young girl for getting sucked into those paragraphs. But it was quick to weaken again, as if she felt sorry for Chieko, when she answered. "There's...someone who wants to talk to you."

Based on Madoka's tone, her side glance to the door, the fading of her smile, Chieko was quick to come to a conclusion. Her brows sunk downwards and she asked. "It's him...isn't it?"

As Madoka replied with a nod, Chieko let out an exasperated sigh, before closing her book and abruptly standing up from her chair. "I'll see what he wants."

She set her focus on the door and marched towards it. "Shigeo-senpai!" She called out curtly when she opened it and met the sharp, yellow eyes of Totsuki's eighth seat.

"Marui, hello." Shigeo replied with a cocky smirk. Behind him, Umino nodded at Chieko while Yamada lifted a hand. "I missed you in my lounge the other day." Shigeo then continued, his voice as smooth and melodic as always.

Chieko's eyes however just narrowed as she stared daggers at him. Before she could say anything though, she took a note of something in Shigeo's hands. The irritation on her face faded slightly to make way for confusion instead. "Are...those...?"

"Hydrangeas." Shigeo held the bouquet of blue flowers up and right into Chieko's face. "They are still your favourite, no?"

It took Chieko a couple of heartbeats to tear her eyes away from the hydrangeas, which did indeed happen to be her favourites. She gave Shigeo a frown. Not the slightest bit discouraged, Shigeo only chuckled while his smirk grew. "Let me be the first one to congratulate you, Marui."

"...Congratulate me?" Chieko repeated, not-understandingly. Shigeo nodded in return.

"You see...", he said while taking a step closer to her, "...As member of the Elite 10, I can inform you that you have been chosen to participate in the Autumn Election Premlins."

This sentence caught Chieko completely off-guard and sent a lightning bolt through Chieko that made her flinch slightly, while all suspicioun melted off her face to be replaced by blank surprise. Adoringly Shigeo's eyes softened a little bit at that sight. "Does that really surprise you that much?"

Before Chieko could answer, Umino spoke up. "You're in Hall A, Marui-chan." "The same hall the Boss and me were in last year!" Yamada proudly added. Finally, Shigeo took over again and directed Chieko's direction back to the bouquet by giving it a faint shake. "Congratulations, Marui."

Still being in a slight trance, Chieko could only stare at the flowers at first. But finally she lifted her head to meet Shigeo's eyes. "I got into this fairly...right? It's not your doing?"

Surprise hushed over Shigeo's face before he replied. "But of course, Marui." And just like that he was smirking his smug smirk again. "Why must you always assume the worst of me?"

"You're giving me and everyone else more than enough reason to." Chieko sharply said. Amusement glinted in Shigeo's eyes at that. He leaned a little bit forward. "Will you take the bouquet now?"

Chieko threw him another scowl and let out a huff, but finally she took the flowers out of his hands. "Thank you, Shigeo-senpai. Now if you excuse me-" "Why in such a hurry?" Shigeo purred. "You're always so quick to run away, little one. I wanted to give you an offer to appropriately celebrate you making it into the premlins. You know, Saito Somei recently added a few delightful summer-specials to his menu."

"I can't afford that!" Chieko fiercely retorted. Shigeo in return only made a waving hand motion. "The price is nothing you have to worry about. I just want to grant you a nice evening. Maybe we can also discuss the matter of you becoming my assista-" "It's about that again!"

Chieko balled her free fist and stomped on the ground with her left foot. "I won't become your assistance, Shigeo-senpai! And the only thing I'd discuss at dinner with you is for you to leave Kimiko-cchi alone! What was that deal with your little show-act there at the Shokugeki? I know you have your problems with her brother, but leave her out of that!"

Shigeo crossed his arms, the smirk not leaving his face. "Marui, not just your impressive intellect but also your fighting spirit...They'd be of great fortune. Please give me a chance to elaborate my offer in more detail at least."

"I'm not interested!" Chieko shot back before making a sharp turn. "Thank you for the flowers, Shigeo-senpai. Have a nice day!"

Then she hurried back into the library, Shigeo, Umino and Yamada watching her.

"You'll convince her someday, Boss!" Umino felt the need to assure Shigeo, once Chieko was out of sight. "You always get what you want!" Yamada fiercely nodded.

"Hm~" Shigeo got a hold on his chin. "Having her be part of the Network would be of great benefit, indeed." His smirk grew. "But her being as stubborn as she is is what makes Marui so interesting."

—

"Looks like our beloved, prickly duchess was placed in Hall B."

If looks could kill, Lola Nakiri would have dropped to the ground right on the spot when Kaori Hayama turned her head to meet her eyes. But luckily for Lola, we don't live in such a world. And so she remained unshaken by Kaori's glare and merely continued.

"Shame, I ended up in Hall A. But Mona here is in the same hall as you." Lola smirked. "I suppose, I'll have to wait for the Main Tournament, to finally kick you off your throne."

"Don't be ridiculous." Kaori sighed, exasperated.

"Am I?" Lola tipped her cheek, a faint chuckle escaping her. "I remember last year's Autumn Elections very well." Kaori tensed, but Lola continued. "The finale was quite a spectacle, don't you agree? Seeing the valedictorian dethroned like that..." She paused a couple seconds before her grin widened. "...By a transfer student of all things."

"I do not know what you're trying to imply." Kaori sharply hissed before Lola could say anything more. She made an abrupt turn. "I'll be the victor of this year's Autumn Elections. No one else. Not you, not your sister and most certainly no transfer student."

—

"Yukihira, how much more often am I supposed to open the RS kitchen for you just because you want to test out a recipe?!" Harumi scowled at her most priced student while simultaneously turning her key in the lock.

Kimiko gave an apologising smile while scratching her head. "Sorry, Tsujimoto-senpai but I don't know where else to go."

Harumi raised an eyebrow. "You do know that your brother owns almost a quarter of this school's kitchens?" But before Kimiko could even say that she did not want to make use of Hiraku's privileges, Harumi already turned her head away and opened the door of the French RS' kitchen. "But I suppose it's a good thing for you to not rely on him to make it through this shitfest of an academy. You can call yourself damn lucky that I consider you above the average student."

Harumi gave Kimiko another sharp look before finally taking a step into the kitchen. Kimiko followed. "What do you want to make by the way?" "I have an idea for an Soufflé." Harumi turned her head at that. "Soufflé?"

However before Kimiko could elaborate further, a yell was heard out of nowhere. "YUKIHIRA THERE YOU ARE!"

And just like that Takayuki Hojo stood at the door of the French RS. Just two seconds later, Kazuo's head appeared to peek behind the doorframe as well.

"Hojo?" Kimiko questioned that sudden arrival, while Harumi behind her spat. "What do you want here?! This is outside your territory!"

"I'm certainly not here to have tea with you, your highness!" Takayuki shot back just as loud and curt as Harumi, whose head became red with anger. But Takayuki ignored that, as his eyes only fell back on Kimiko. "What the hell, Yukihira?! How can you just chill here at a time like that! Honestly! You've been here for a few months now and still you can't keep up with Totsuki."

The boy took a step into the kitchen now, resulting in Harumi to ball her fists. "Like take that Shokugeki of your big brother as an example! Yukihira we warned you about that douchebag Eizan Shigeo! How could you just go along with him?! The guy's a fucking sadist! And an asshole! I thought we made that clear?! You should have just called me up! I would have punched that fake-ass smile of his out of his stupid face-" "Ehehe, you see, Kimiko-chan." Kazuo decided to put a halt to Takayuki's foul-mouthed rant and gave Kimiko an excusing smile. "Takayuki-kun was worried about you." "I WAS NOT, MIMASAKA!"

"Eh.." Was all the contribution Kimiko could make to this conversation, before Takayuki swiftly turned back to her and barked. "Why are you still standing here, Yukihira?! We gotta go!"

"YUKIHIRA!" Once again, Kimiko did not get the chance to make any further inquiry. Because right then, another on of Totsuki's fiery spirits sprinted into the kitchen. Kazuo, still standing at the door, flinched and went red instantly at her sight. But Mika Aldini did not notice as all her concentration was on the blonde transfer student.

As ever so often, Mika pointed her finger at the more than confused Kimiko. "I've searched every corner for you! Yukihira! How dare you? What are you doing here? You are supposed to be at the board-" "Hey, I'm telling her this already, Blondie!" Takayuki suddenly interjected, making Mika notice him for the first time.

"What business do you still have with her?!" Mika then snarled, after having eyed Takayuki from foot to head.

Kazuo could only watch in horror from the door. Yasu, who had been following Mika, appeared next to him. "Did you find Yukihira, Aldini?"

"Okay that's it!" Harumi roared then, making poor, unprepared Yasu flinch a little in surprise. But Harumi only stomped forward, danger flashing in her poisonous green eyes. "My RS is not some fucking hotel's lobby where you can stroll in and out however you please! You better get fucking concrete about whatever the fuck you want from Yukihira, or I'll kick all of you out!"

She crossed her arms, her face mirroring an expression one would only find in Yakuza-themed mangas. "So?!"

"For real though." Kimiko saw her chance and took it. "What is the up? Why have you all been looking for me?"

Simultaneously Mika and Takayuki turned towards her and together they shouted. "The Autumn Election Premlins candidates have been revealed, Yukihira!"

Kimiko was not exactly smarter than before with that answer. Which is why she tilted her head, only replying. "...The what?"

Harumi's eyes however had widened at Mika's and Takayuki's exclaim. "That is today?" Suddenly she had her head turned to Kimiko as well, bringing the number of eye pairs burning on Kimiko up to three. "Yukihira! What the fucking hell are you doing here?!"

"I wanted to make a Soufflé, Tsujimoto-senpai!" Kimiko more or less wailed at this point: "You know that!"

"You can show me tomorrow, Yukihira! This is important!" Harumi ordered and before Kimiko even knew what was happening she already felt herself getting pushed towards the door. "The Autumn Elections are a goddamn highlight! You got to know if you're in or not, Yukihira! Think about us for a second, will you?! You've got to represent the French RS there!"

With sorrow in her heart, Kimiko came to the realisation that the Soufflé had to wait. Too tired to fight with not just one but three of Totsuki's most fiery spirts, she let herself get pulled along.

When the group of first-years then strolled through the halls, leaving Harumi behind, she figured she could at least find out what these Autumn Elections were.

Kazuo had been tongue-tied ever since Mika appeared on scene. He was walking a little behind, his head completely read. Not wanting to bother him and knowing that asking Takayuki or Mika would only result in a hour-long rant, Kimiko settled on asking Yasu. "So what are these elections?"

"It's a cooking tournament held every year and fought by the highschool first years. Only 60 students get chosen from it and it's an event that attracts eyes far beyond Totsuki's grounds. All of the current Elite 10 members have participated in it when they were first years and that has pretty much been the standard." Yasu answered, without turning his head to Kimiko. "You see why such a rumpus is made?"

"Yeah, I think I do..." Kimiko replied, still trying to sort the flood of information she had just received in her head. A glimmer of excitement sparked in her.

Finally the group made it outside and to the board that had been the major topic of today.

"You're in Group A!" Mika loudly announced before Takayuki could, while also making a presenting hand gesture towards the board.

Kimiko whistled. "Cool."

"Cool?!" Mika repeated in disbelief. "That's all you've got to say?!"

Takayuki rolled his eyes. "Honestly, Yukihira."

"Congrats, y'all!" The group turned to see Hideyoshi, Daisuke and Chieko approaching them. Hideyoshi then ran his hand through his hair and arrogantly grinned. "If I hadn't been tasked to take over the hosting, of course I would have been chosen as well." "So-So was I, by the way!" Daisuke then quickly added, before unsurely looking at the ground. "...I mean, I was chosen for hosting as well...ah."

"Where do you have those flowers from?" Yasu rather asked Chieko, instead of giving Hideyoshi much attention. Not that this could stop Hideyoshi, of course. While tints of red gleamed on Chieko's cheeks, Hideyoshi rubbed his pointer and middle finger against his thumb. "From Sir Money-Bling-Bling himself, of course, Ibusaki. What do you think?"

"Chi-chan!" Yasu sharply reprimanded his friend, who only got a bit more red. "He practically pushed them into my hands, okay?!"

More and more the teens began to split into several different conversations: Chieko and Yasu having their discussion, Hideyoshi and Daisuke once again arguing about god-knows what and Takayuki asking Kazuo why he had been so quiet the entire the time.

Mika meanwhile let her gaze sweep through the crowd. "By the way has anyone seen-" She stopped mid-sentence as her eyes just then happened to find exactly what she had wanted to ask for. "Hiroshi!" She then called out and began walking to her cousin. This also alerted Kimiko however, who chose to follow, not sure which of the other conversations she could have joined anyway.

"Oh, Itoko-chan! Kimiko-san, good day." Hiroshi greeted them, without even really looking at them.

"Hiroshi, where have you been the entire time?" Mika questioned once the two girls stopped next to the boy. "Have you looked at the board already? What group did they put you in?" Kimiko gave a faint smile. "Seems like I was not the only one who got the news late."

Hiroshi didn't reply at first.

Then he sighed. "Itoko-chan..."

He then slowly turned his head at last, smiling at them. Weakly. But what truly sent a shiver down Kimiko's spine was how dim and cloudy his usually so bright, blue eyes looked. She felt her throat turning dry at that sight.

"Itoko-chan...I am in no group." And while Mika's face went blank in shock, Hiroshi whispered. "I was not chosen."

—

"The son of a former third seat", the first seat spoke while holding up a document, "Aldini-Tadokoro Hiroshi, merely called just 'Tadokoro' by most." He let his gaze sweep over the remaining Elites who all held a copy of the same document in their hands.

"I don't understand..." Akio was the first one to talk, after having studied the paper in his hands. "There's barely anything listed..." His voice got a little bit quieter and unsure . "As if he has not accomplished a single thing..."

"I noted so as well." Another voice, much more confidently, boomed through the room. "There seems to not be a single significant thing about this boy, other than his surname of course." The third seat observed. He then slammed a fist on the table and came to his personal conclusion. "That's not enough to let him participate in such a prestigious event as the Autumn Elections!"

"But he's the son of a former third seat..." The 7th Seat chimed in. "This does not make any sense at all, there has to be more to him!"

"I agree." Ran spoke up after her eyes had gone over the document for a second time. "Something about this is not adding up to me." She laid the document aside and folded her hands. "I believe we should give this boy a chance."

"We can't chose the candidates based on gut-feelings!" The third seats was quick to retort. "There is not a single visible reason for this boy to be deserving of a participation in the Autumn Elections."

"Now, I think you are judging a bit too fast." The first seat tried to argue. But a tingling, female voice emerged near him right after. "It might be strange but quite frankly the boy fails to meet our standards for each category." The second seat placed her copy down and with a certain final tone, she said. "I am sorry, but I can not possibly consider him worthy for the elections like that. It would also be unfair towards other students in my opinion."

The first seat subtly pressed his lips together before he turned to one of the few council members who did not say a word yet. "Eizan Shigeo?"

Shigeo was not even looking at the document, personally having decided that his mobile was so much more interesting. "Eh, what do I care? I don't even know who that is."

"I'd very much appreciate it if you could take this more serious, young Eizan." The first seat sharply warned him. Right after the third seat barked. "Put your phone down this instant! It's disrespectful!"

Shigeo let out an annoyed groan. He adjusted his glasses, while tearing his eyes from his mobile's screen for a good 5 seconds. "If we let him through, we would have to let all kind of randoms through."

The first seat sighed, before turning his head. "And you, Yukihira?" "I'm for whatever the majority is." Hiraku shrugged.

The majority decided to vote Hiroshi Aldini-Tadokoro out.