Sorry everyone but like I mentioned in the previous chapter, don't expect daily uploads until a holiday/break occurs in school schedule. Please R&R and enjoy!

Today is the day! The Beginning of the Fierce Elite Ten Elections! All Totsuki 3rd years have been preparing over a month for this competition and we are ready to begin. First match today is Yukihira Soma vs Hayama Akira, the Artist vs the Master of Aroma. Hayama who is the favorite in this match up was the first of the two to arrive and has already begin setting up his station, due to the two's history. The whereabouts of Yukihira are unknown at the moment but wait! over there! the tunnel, isn't that him approaching the stage right now?! Is that a carrot in his mouth?!

The audience cheered once they saw Soma-kun emerge from the tunnel, students had recognized Soma's talent. His trash talk, though arrogant, was overlooked during the 2nd year because of his skills to back it up. He had quickly become the "people's chef" and grown in popularity with the other chefs.

Hayama who had impressed and awed everyone with his mastery of aroma and incredible sense of smell was considered the favorite by the experts due to his shokugeki and match history with Soma, but he was aware Soma was a different chef this tourney. He saw it in their latest shokugeki royale, Soma's cooking seemed different...better.

The category of this match was dessert, and the their dish needed to revolve around the ingredient, carrots. The judges for the first round consisted of Shinomiya-senpai, Dojima-senpai, and...

Hayama looked into the crowd for any sign of Jun only to find disappointment. Until he noticed who the third and final judge would be...

Jun Shiomi-senpai who had returned from her travel overseas had returned to be a judge for the first round of the elections.

Hayama who was stunned at first by her sudden appearance, suddenly found himself feeling angry at her for not telling him about her arrival and her participation in the election. He clenched his fist making a silent promise with himself that he would show how much frustration he had built up in the past few months after her departure from his life, he would make her understand his pain and suffering.

Soma who noticed this change in attitude from Hayama wondered if he could put his emotions aside during their match. Soma wanted Hayama to be cooking 110% without the distraction of Shiomi-senpai. He understood where Hayama was coming from though, as he also had a certain someone watching above the stands who he made a promise to and would be cooking for this entire competition. But he saw the expression on Hayama's face and the way his eyes looked after seeing Shiomi-senpai, he hoped it doesn't affect his cooking.

Urara-chan was the one in charge of commentating and directed the contestants to their stations, and in and instant everyone in the stadium could feel the mood shift from carefree to tense. Soma began tying his iconic white headband around his head as Hayama took a quick whiff of the air around him.

"Let the Shokugeki...begin! Urara-chan announced.

Both chefs begin bringing out their ingredients and it seemed like both had the same idea for what dish they were going to make...a carrot cake!

"Looks like it's the preliminary stage all over again, right Hayama?" Soma called out across to Hayama from his station.

"Indeed Yukihira, but if I remember correctly I ended up in 1st place, and you in 2nd place" Hayama smirked while replying back to Soma.

"We'll see! This time things are gonna be different" Soma boldly proclaimed and turned all his attention to his ingredients.

Hayama will be making the White-Chocolate Buttercream w/his own blend of nuts Carrot Cake, while Soma was preparing his own Super Moist w/Lemon and Butter sauce Carrot Cake Yukihira-style. Once both cakes hit the oven, the anticipation for the after effects could not be any greater. Everyone in the stadium knew both of these chefs had a habit of unleashing massive amounts of holy fragrance in the air while they were cooking separately, who knows what to expect when they did it at the same time.

Hayama was the first to finish and brought forth his dish to the awaiting judges. He gracefully presented his dish to the judges, placing it a bit harder than expected when giving it to Shiomi-senpai.

His White-Chocolate-Buttercream-Carrot-Cake looked glowed from the Buttercream sauce and the contrast with the chocolate made it look even more delicious.

"This looks fantastic Hayama-kun" Dojima-senpai praised.

"I agree" Shinomiya-senpai added.

"Uh...yeah, amazing dish Hayama-kun like always" Shiomi-senpai revealed timidly. Hayama's eyes remained on her pleading for some more commentary, he was furious inside but at the same time he wish they could go back to the Seminar and talk, just the two of them. Shiomi-senpai noticing Hayama stare at her, motioned to begin eating to the other judges.

All three took a bite and were automatically transported to a Romeo and Juliet scene, where they were played the role Romeo and the cake was Juliet. Oh how lovely it felt to dance with the cake and fall in love with such a beautiful creation. They were all experiencing love and joy and their sense of taste was at cloud nine, this dish was truly amazing until...the cake had fallen dead before their arms. The taste lingering but never lasting, the judges began to weep for such a great loss and saw the poison that Romeo drank. All three began to reach for it and as the cold liquid slid down their throat, they were suddenly brought back to the election stadium reality. The judges who were stunned by what they just experienced from Hayama's dish a uncharacteristic feeling which hasn't been felt since Azami Nakiri's time had again arose.

"..." All judges took a pause to make their assessment.

Hayama stood there arms crossed with a smirk across his face, he would force them to admit that his dish was better. Just like what Ryo's cooking is famous for. His frustration, pent up anger, and revenge for Shiomi-senpai leaving him was evident in his dish and this did not go unmissed by Soma-kun who after tasting the dish had no comment.

"Well, Hayama you presented us with a marvelous dish by far the best White-Chocolate Buttercream Cake I've ever tasted in my life." Shinomiya-senpai declared, motioning for Dojima-senpai to continue on with the assessment.

"Ah yes, you've definitely shown your growth and potential in this dish Hayama-kun since last I've judged you" Dojima-senpai announced while waving Shiomi-senpai to start.

"Oh me? Oh ok...well Hayama-kun I really enjoyed this dish it was amazing and it was like you were cooking for me in the seminar all over again, it was great until the latter part of the dish when it didn't really feel like your unique style of cooking anymore..." Shiomi-senpai concluded.

"Excuse me? Ju-Shiomi-senpai please tell me you are joking. My dish was strong and powerful with no weakness in any part: beginning, middle, and end" Hayama retorted. But before she could answer, Dojima-senpai put his hand in front of her and spoke up instead.

"I must agree with Shiomi-chan, your dish had this hidden and never before seen power and forcefulness in it towards the end, a truly despicable aftertaste." Dojima-senpai said earning a "Mhmm" from Shiomiya-senpai who agreed with this statement.

"Tell me Hayama-kun what was your motive when making this dish? It screams and begs me for revenge and suffering instead of what it should be, excitement and the hunger to impress" Dojima-senpai with no remorse in his usually upbeat voice accused, the other judges, even Shiomi-senpai also nodded their head in agreement with this statement.

"I...I-I don't know what you're talking about" He glanced at Jun who had a look of disappointment on her face, like a mother who is ashamed of her child.

"Jun..." Hayama whispered to himself. He was beginning to wonder how he let himself be overtaken by this thirst for revenge and the consequences of his actions. When a voice spoke up behind him.

"You turn a blind eye to what your cooking truly is and for, you let yourself be swallowed by revenge, you disrespect me, your opponent by not devoting your undivided attention to this match and now... that might just be your undoing" Soma-kun with serious tone in his voice said along with a look of fire in his eyes as he passed Hayama, it was his turn to present his dish.