After hearing that Yukihira and Eizan did a Shokugeki to take down the Polar Star Dormitory or not, made everyone want a shokugeki to fight for their own clubs and such.

Several days laters...

In a room, Azami was talking to Isshiki.

"Satoshi Isshiki, Seventh Seat of the Elite Ten. Today, you will step down from the Totsuki Elite Ten Council, along with the Third Seat, Tosuke Megishima, and the Eighth Seat, Terunori Kuga."

"This happened faster than I thought it would."

"You are calmer than I thought you'd be."

"I was more than expecting it. Someone who does not ascribe to Central's teachings, like me, in the Elite Ten would only be a hindrance, wouldn't it?"

"It's helpful that you require little explanation. The other Elite Ten members are in agreement, as well. Well, Rindou Kobayashi was the lone protest."

"You aren't forcing Erina Nakiri, your daughter, to step down?"

"She will eventually return to my side. Even if Akio is with me, I am certain that she will join me in my cause. Well, thanks to you, we're going to be very busy."

"With Shokugeki?"

"That's right. You worked behind the scenes, reaching out to relevant parties to lay the groundwork for these new rules we must now follow. We must allow organizations who wish to overturn our closure directive to face my pride and joy, the soldiers of Central."
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In another room, there were 11 people.

"'Rule Concerning Shokugeki Involving Organizations Opposing the Azami Organization, also known as the Isshiki Rules.' Who names stuff after himself? That's kind of annoying."Momo glares at the paper that she had read out loud to everyone.

"Still, because Isshiki clarified that Central cannot contact judges, the legitimacy of their ruling has been established. Of course, I was against rigged matches in the first place." Nene said as she looks over at Eizan.

Eizan looked away and clicked his tongue.

"There's a clause requiring Central to accept any Shokugeki challenges that involves overturning the organization's closure, too. Isshiki's pretty thorough." Rindou said smiling.

"It's also annoying that this forces us to face subpar opponents. I was first place in overall sales at the Moon Festival. They should just have Central win by default every time." Momo said as she stretches her stuffed cat, Bucchi.

"You'll just have to accept this, Momo-senpai." Nene said to her.

"And Rindou-senpai, please wear the Central badge. You too, Akio-san."

"Really? But that looks like it'll always get in the way." Rindou pouts as she's on the floor with her legs to her chest.

"Don't "really" me, please."

"But, but..."

"Don't "but, but" me, please."

"Okay... the rest of you should put your badges on, too, before Nene gets mad at you."

"No need to tell me twice." A different student said.

"Nene-senpai..." Akio spoke up.

"What?" She looked over at Akio.

"I forgot mine. So I won't have to wear it right?" Akio said, looking at Nene with a serious look and his eyes still dull.

Nene sighed, "Fine. Next time you have to wear it."

"Mhm.." Akio nodded as he hummed.

"Well, let's get going, then. It's time to start hunting the survivors." Rindou said as everyone in the room got ready to leave.

In three different arenas, there held a Shokugeki. The new Central members were named Rentaro Kusunoki, Mea Yanai, Shigemichi Kumai, and Rui Kofuru. All of them were second years. The second year central and Momo were in Arena C. Akio entered the building to examine the Shokugeki. He saw that Rentaro was running his mouth and Yukihira and Takumi were talking to him.

"You're the first year who defeated Eizan, and you're one of the students from the Autumn Selections. I wouldn't run your mouths to me if I were you. I'm an elite who will shoulder the next generation of chefs." Rentaro said as if he was bragging.

"An elite?" Takumi asked.

"That's right. I'm an elite hand-picked by the current academy director. You shouldn't try to oppose me." Rentaro said as he held up the Central badge.

"I feel no sense of identity from you. Your strong emphasis on being chosen comes across as a reflection of the low self-esteem you experienced beforehand. Is your inability to avoid describing yourself as an elite due to a lack of confidence in your own cooking?" Takumi said with a small smirk.

"Oho! You said some smart-sounding stuff there, Takumi. So, was it true, senpai?" Yukihira said.

"You assholes!! I'm gonna beat you up-" Rentaro was about to finish until Kumai picked him up.

"Don't act out." Kumai said.

"Shige! Let me down! Hey!" Rentaro struggled.

"I'm not letting you down."

"Fine, I'll do as you say! I will! So let me down! Don't carry me around!"

"Haha. You're so easily provoked, Ren-chan." Mea laughed.

"Shut up, Mea! Listen up first years. I'm gonna fight you in a match one day!"

"Just go, okay. Make sure you nail the last match, too!" Mea said.

"Huh? He's got another match?"

"Oh."

"Hm?"

"Alice Nakiri?! Kurokiba!" Yukihira turned around to see them.

"Ara, you two. Hello!"

"Why are you here? You joined a research society?"

"I was shocked, too! When I was in junior high, I did a Shokugeki against the Cutting Edge Cuisine RS. Of course, I won. I'd taken their space and equipment... but I'd apparently became the RS's chief on paper! I was shocked to learn about it!"

"That's horrible on so many different levels." Takumi said.

"So that's why you got dragged into the hunt for survivors, huh." Yukihira said.

Alice laugh, "You may call me Chief Alice."

"You didn't even know for all this time."

"Why do you care whether the research society gets shut down, then?"

"Hmm. Well, I suppose..."
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Rentaro asked Alice to have a Shokugeki or else their RS will shut down and then Kurokiba got mad and fired up to take down Rentaro.

"So, Ryo-kun's the one who'll be in this match. Go, Ryo-kun. Expose that self-proclaimed elite for what he truly is."

"Osu!"

"Ryo-kun, don't you dare lose! I'm ordering you to win as the chief of Cutting Edge Cuisine RS! I'm not going to let Uncle Azami get his way anymore."

Akio watched from the crowd and watched the Shokugeki start.

'I never liked that Rentaro, so Kurokiba defeat that big mouth.' Akio thought.

Akio walked down to where the Shokugeki was happening. He quietly stood next to where Momo was sitting at but Momo noticed him quickly.

"Why are you here Akio-Chan?" Momo asked.

"I'm here to examine the new second year Central. If they fail, I would have to report it to my father."

"I see."

Rentaro was the first to finish and gave his dish to the judges and gave one to Momo.

"Oh, right. Momo-senpai, please try my dish as well!"

"Why me, too?"

"This dish has a little gimmick that employs a certain sweet. I think you'll like it."

"Is that supposed to be a challenge to me? I'm picky about sweets!"

"Hm?" Everyone in the Arena looked beside Momo and saw Akio.

"Akio? Why are you here?" Rentaro asked.

"To watch you fail." Akio said bluntly.

"You think, I will fail? Just because your the director's son doesn't mean you're still a first year! The current director hand-picked me, so I'll ask again, why are you here, Akio?"

"I'm here to watch you fail. Azami told me that if one of the members of Central fails, I must report it to him. I choose this arena because it's a higher chance of the new members to fail because of their arrogance." Akio said.

Rentaro was about to yell at Akio until Akio looked at Rentaro, his eyes resembling his father's. Rentaro clicked his tongue and turn around, walking away.

The judges all took a bite and Momo also took a bite. They had a great reaction to the dish. Rentaro explained what was in it and how he got it. Next was Kurokiba. When the judges took a bite, their reactions were also great. Now everyone were having troubles who the winner would be. The judges took another bite and one of the judges spoke.

"The salmon's delicious umami and flavor are far more vivid in this dish!"

Everyone's face were a bit intense.

"In Ryo Kurobika's dish!"

"What?!" Mea said out loud.

"Indeed, there is no doubt. Kurokiba has the edge in maximizing the salmon's potential!"

"Yosh!" Yukihira pumped his fist.

"What the-?! What are you geezers saying?! My heating method was impeccable. There's no way my dish is inferior to his-" Rentaro was desperately trying.

"Shut your mouth. If you're not convinced, why not trying it out yourself." Kurokiba said towards Rentaro giving him his dish.

After a while, explaining what was in Kurokiba's dish and was was Rentaro's dish and comparing the two, Kurokiba was announced the winner.

"Kurokiba is the winner!"

"Ryo Kurokiba has won!"

The first years, Yukihira, Tadokoro, Takumi, Kurokiba, and Alice, were having a little celebrations until they heard clapping.

"That was a good match."

"What?" They looked up.

"Eh, Director Azami?"

"Seriously?!"

"Uncle Azami, it's been a while."
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8 years ago in Scandinavia, Alice would write letters to Akio and Erina. Even if they didn't write back, she would continue to write. On rainy days or snowy days, Alice would always check the mail box, but the results were the same, empty. No letters for Alice, because Azami would rip those letters that was for Akio and Erina.
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"Hello, Alice. Thank you for taking care of Erina." Azami smiles.

"Uncle Azami." Alice glares at him.

"Father. Please tell me when you were gonna come." Akio sighs as he looks up at Azami.

"Akio. Make your way up here. I don't want you to be with them." Azami said as he stretched his hand out as if asking Akio to take his hand.

Akio hesitates and started walking forward until Alice and Yukihira grabbed his wrist. Akio looks behind him and for a second his eyes brightened but became dull again. He looked at them with a bit nostalgic look but still smiled at them.

"Father told me to go up there with him, please let go of me. If I don't go up there, Erina would be in trouble.." Akio gave a sad look.

"Akio-chan.. you don't have to listen to him anymore." Alice said.

"Alice, take care of Erina, if I don't listen to him, Erina will end up getting hurt. So let go, please." Akio pleaded.

Alice and Yukihira were looking at Akio before letting him go. Akio gave a small smile before turning around to his father. When Akio left to go up, Alice glares at Azami. But all Azami did was smile as if he won. When Akio got to where Azami was, Akio looked down at them, his face almost replicated his father's.

"Now, Alice, your Cutting Edge Cuisine RS was the only one to win a Shokugeki in today's survivor hunt. The other 32 organizations all suffered defeat and will be disbanded."

"Regardless of other outcomes, Ryo-kun won against Central. Can you still insist that your way of thinking is absolute and correct, Uncle?"

"How disappointing, Alice. I thought you would support my utopia of true gourmet dining. The Nakiri family has a responsibility to advance the world of gourmet dining. That's what this great revolution is for."

Erina walks in but Alice doesn't seem to notice her. Erina said very quietly, "Father?! Does that mean Akio's here? .... Alice..."

"I can't agree with your methods, Uncle. Nor do I wish to. That's all."

"What a stubborn child you are. You even took my beloved daughter out of the house without permission. But good thing that you didn't take my beloved son away too. Consider whether you have the right to speak to me that way."

"I don't care! I am angry. I will never forget what you have done, Uncle. I don't like you, Uncle Azami!"

Everyone was surprised or dumbfounded by Alice's outburst.

"I will not let you do what you want with Totsuki Academy! With Erina and Akio!"

Erina was surprised at Alice's words but Akio gave the saddest look ever.

"I see. Well, do your best. For today, I'll just congratulate you one your one victory. Akio, we shall leave now." Azami turns around to exit.

"Yes, Father." Akio said as he gave a quick glance at Alice and the other first years before turning around and followed Azami.

In the hallway, Akio saw that Azami started to bite the tip of his thumb in frustration. Looking at the sight, different side of Akio suddenly kicked in.

"Father, it's alright. Everything will be alright." Akio worries about his father and patted his father's back.

Azami glanced at Akio before he stopped biting his thumb. He petted Akio's head before walking forward with his back straightened. Then when Azami walked further away, Akio went back to his miserable, dull self. Akio walked behind Azami as if he hadn't done the thing he did earlier.
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"If only Uncle Azami had not interfered, we would've been so, so, soooooooo~ much better friends, Erina, along with Akio. How rude of him. Besides, you've been looking too gloomy lately! Why don't you stand up straight and proud?! You've been holed up in your room in Polar Star Dormitory, haven't you?!" Alice said.

"H-how dare you! You're the one who made me run away from home!"

"That's because I couldn't stand to see you all terrified of Uncle Azami!"

Erina was taken back at Alice's words.

"Listen! You have to show him! You have to show him that you're your own person! That you won't just be someone's puppet! You can't stay in your shell forever! Got it? Also, we have to get Akio-chan back! Akio-chan is in a very miserable state and we must save him. So you have to get stronger and have your brother back!"

"Alice..."

"Besides, I intend to hand you and Akio a crushing defeat some day! I can't have you be a shrinking violet when I need you to be my worthy foil." Alice said as sparkles were around her.

"What did you say?!" Erina got angry.

"What?"

"Everything you make tastes disgusting, anyway!"

"You said "disgusting"!"

"I said "disgusting" because it is disgusting!"

"They're actually really close, huh?" Yukihira said smiling.

"Don't say that to them. It'll only cause trouble." Kurokiba said on the side to Yukihira.
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Next day, the first years had their classes. The instructors were obviously in Central. Akio finished first in his classroom and changed into his school uniform. He walked around and smelled some food that seemed to be eaten already. Akio followed the scent and saw Yukihira, Tsukasa, Erina, Tadokoro, and Hisako in a classroom. Akio was shocked at first but kept his straight face on.

Akio popped his head and kept his composure. "Tsukasa-senpai?"

Everyone looked at the door.

"Eh?! Akio?!"

"Akio? What're you doing here?"

"Akio-sama!"

"Akio?"

Akio ignored most of them and walked up to Tsukasa.

"Tsukasa-senpai, I'm bored. Let's play!" Akio smiles at Tsukasa with his dull eyes.

"Hm, okay. Let's go then." Tsukasa said.

"Wait, Akio!" Erina called out.

Akio looked back, "What?" He said bluntly.

Erina was shocked and hesitated.

"If you got nothing to say, I'll be leaving with Tsukasa-senpai." Akio said, as he gripped Tsukasa's sleeve.

This signals Tsukasa that Akio wants to leave badly.

"Heh heh.." Tsukasa awkwardly laughs. "We'll be leaving now."

They both walked out of the classroom, until they heard Hisako, Tadokoro and Yukihira talking to each other and Erina walked out the classroom to ask Tsukasa something.

"Tsukasa-san. Do you take pity on Yukihira?"

Tsukasa turns around and looks at Erina. "Pity? I'd say it's the exact opposite. His cooking won't waver or change, no matter how much I try to force it. That's why I thought it'd be dangerous to have him around me. That's all. Well, see you later." Tsukasa said as he turn around and starts walking.

Akio was about to follow before whispering that was for Erina, "Have lots of fun before things becomes complicated."

Erina heard them and was about to stop Akio but Akio was already far away. Erina had a sadden look before going back.

"Are you okay, Akio?" Tsukasa asks.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Perfectly fine." Akio said but still gripped on Tsukasa's sleeve.

"You know, this and that are yeah but you don't look fine at all." Tsukasa was awkward with this current situation.

"I'm sorry," Akio sighed.

"Oh, no, it's fine." Tsukasa tried to comfort Akio.

Akio leaned his head on Tsukasa's shoulder as they were walking.

"A-Akio?" Tsukasa became super stiff at the sudden touch.

"Please let me stay like this for a little bit, human warmth is better than a pillow." Akio said.

"Y-yes..." Tsukasa nodded slightly, his face kind of pink.
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A Few Days Later

In Arena B, Tadokoro, Ikumi, and Marui won against the Central. In a room above, Tsukasa, Azami, and Akio were in there, sitting.

"There's something different about these first-years, compared to any other year. And in my opinion, I believe Soma Yukihira is at the center of that." Tsukasa said as he puts his head on his hand.

"Hm. Soma Yukihira.... He's one of the members of the Polar Star Dormitory, was he not?"

Akio nodded as if replying to Azami.

That Night

At the front door of the Polar Star Dormitory, Yukihira opened the door to see Azami first and then Akio behind him.

"Wh... The new director. Azami Nakiri..."

"Hello there, Soma Yukihira-kun. I just happened to be in the area."

Azami went to where everyone else was at, like he knew the place. When he appeared, everyone stood in front of Erina to protect her.

"Father... Akio..."

"Wh-What do you want?"

"Stay back! Don't come any closer!"

"New Director. What brings you here along with Akio?" Isshiki asked.

"I came to see my daughter with my son. Does that reason not suffice?"

"We're in the middle of a celebration. Could I ask you to kindly leave?" Isshiki asked.

Azami looked over at Erina, "Erina, come here."

Erina was shaking, but her legs moved slowly.

"Nakiri-san!"

"Erinacchi! Don't!"

"I was wondering what all the fuss was about. You come all the way back to the academy doing whatever you want. Honestly, your insolence never ceases to amaze me, Nakamura." Fumio said to Azami.

"Nakamura?"

"Eh?"

"Haha. Come now, Fumio-san. I go by Nakiri now. Besides, that's rather cold, considering an alumni from this dorm has come to visit."

"What?!"

"He can't be!"

"An alumni from the Polar Star Dormitory?!"

"I took the time to do a little research on you, Azami-dono. Azami Nakamura..... In the fall of your first year in high school, you won the Third Seat in the Elite Ten, and ended up the First Seat in the next year. Some years later, you married the daughter of the Nakiri family. Then earned the name "The Clan of the Demon Lord of Food," and he became a top star in the cooking world that everyone acknowledged. Until he was exiled by Senzaemon-dono." Isshiki said, explaining a little about Azami.

"He's a former First Seat?"

"When he was about our age, he was already the Third Seat in the Elite Ten."

"However, I can't let this fact slip by. This man was going to try to destroy the very form he grew up in without a second thought." Takumi said.

"I wasn't trying to destroy it. It just happened the Polar Star Dormitory was included among the groups I was trying to destroy." Azami said with no guilt.

"Whatever the case may be, you're not welcome here anymore. Leave, Nakamura." Fumio demanded.

"Very well. I'll see you soon, Erina. I'm glad to see you're doing well." Azami said as he turns around to leave.

Akio looked at the other students that were present and bowed at Erina as if telling her that he was sorry. He turns around and leaves, following his father.

"Erina will eventually come back to me on her own. I'll leave her be a little longer until the time of the great revolution." Azami said before hearing the door and looked back.

Yukihira was there.

"Heya."

"Oh? Are you seeing me off?" Azami smiled.

"Well, there's something really simple that was bugging me. Despite how many years you lived here, you don't feel anything for this place, Nakamura-senpai?" Yukihira asked.

Before Akio went into the car, he was curious about the conversation that was happening.

"Do you hold me in contempt? The world I seek is not in this dorm. At least, not right now."

"Not right now?"

"The golden age of the Polar Star Dormitory when I was here... There was a senior that I looked up to very much. He was unpredictable, yet refined. He was truly a genius. The memories of this chef continue to warm my heart... Joichiro Saiba."

Hearing the name, Akio stood up straight and his eyes started twinkling a little.

"Huh?" Yukihira seemed surprised by hearing the name.

"At the pinnacle of my youth, he was there. It was as though his genius technique and his talents were different from any other on a genetic level."

"So, uh... I'm not sure if you know this but, Joichiro Saiba.... He's... my dad." Yukihira said.

Erina opened the door and heard this also.

Azami's expression changed immediately, "You're... Saiba-senpai's son?

"Man, Nakamura-senpai, I didn't know you knew my dad."

In the back, most people that was in the building came out and heard their conversation. Takumi seem to not know but Yoshino showed her phone to him and Erina took a peek at it and saw Joichiro Saiba.

Azami started to chuckle, "Now then... How much of this is a coincidence, and how much of this was planned?"

"Huh?" Yukihira was confused.

"This concerns you as well, Soma Yukihira-kun. The great revolution that I've brought to Totsuki Academy... is nothing more than the salvation of the culinary world that ruined Saiba-senpai.

"Ruined Saiba-sama?" Erina seemed to look like she was in despair

"That salvation is almost complete. I'm a lucky man, since I'll be able to show Joichiro Saiba's son the fruits of my labor." Azami said as he enters the car.

"Yukihira!" This was Akio's first outburst ever since Azami came.

"If you're really Joichiro Saiba's son, please take care of Erina in my stead!" Akio bowed and looked at Yukihira with a smile that seemed like he was happy but frowned as Joichiro Saiba was deeply connected to his father.

'If I ask father about Joichiro Saiba, I may know more..' Akio thought.

Azami rolled down the window, "Akio, hurry up."

Akio snapped out of it and nodded, going inside the car. Then they drove off.

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Hope you enjoyed this chapter!