Chapter 38: 38 – Food Wars – VI – Return of the Nice Guy

A small, hole-in-the-wall ramen restaurant in downtown Tokyo. There, Yuri sat at a table, covering her face in her hands.

What a mess. She had been determined to chase after that guy and make him confess to whatever he did to her grandfather, but instead she broke down crying in front of him.

How did it even end up like that?! Sure, she had been stressed recently since the Torabu Clan were trying to pull her grandfather back from retirement and the Seiryuu Alliance were moving in on the restaurants her grandfather managed, but to think that she would break down in front of a despicable man like that...!

Yuri groaned and then raised her head, looking around the place. Since her thoughts weren't giving her any peace, she might as well distract herself by examining her surroundings.

The place itself wasn't very elaborate. Was it because that John didn't have much money, or because he reserved it in a haste? Either way, the facilities weren't too special.

The wooden walls were chipped and worn down. There were some stains on the floor, the chairs were old... Even the table she was sitting at was worn-out.

It was a sort of place that Yuri wouldn't find herself in even if she was forced against her will. And yet, there she was.

A part of her told her that she should just leave. Like that man said, things would be over if she just went home.

And now that she had calmed down a bit, she realized that he was right.

The first time she saw him, the man walked in with the look of someone determined to ruin everything. But after examining the situation, that John had abruptly walked out and apologized.

She was the one who tried to push things further, and as a result got everyone embroiled in that mess. Because of that, her grandfather had to make some concessions to the Torabu Clan Head from her actions.

Her grandfather also chastised her and made her go through some harsh cooking lessons, but it was only fair considering the mess she made.

And then there was just earlier. She was the one who started everything again. The man, that John, had been actively trying to avoid trouble. And her grandfather wouldn't have done anything if she hadn't acted up either.

Then he wouldn't have had to experience whatever that John did to shake her grandfather's resolve.

In short...

"It's... all my fault again, huh?"

Yuri muttered in a soft voice.

That man was right. If she kept acting up like this, then a day would come where there wouldn't be anyone who could cover up her mistakes. And at that time, it wouldn't be her who was hurt the most, but her grandfather.

That... She couldn't allow that.

After all that her grandfather... after all that Grandpa did for her.

After he took her in when Mom and Dad died in the plane crash, leaving her alone.

After her 'absolute taste' caused so many issues when she was younger for his apprentice chefs and friends, causing Grandpa to withdraw from the public eye.

After he diligently honed his skills so that she could eat without being disgusted from the imperfections in food...

She-

"Oi!" A sharp male voice called out.

Yuri flinched and looked up.

John walked over, wearing a black apron and a hairnet. Staring at Yuri, he said, "Don't you start crying again now! Do you know how much of a hassle it was getting you here without making it look like I was kidnapping you or something?" Carrying a glass of water with him, he placed it in front of Yuri and said, "There. Something to cool you down."

"Hmph." Yuri scoffed but took the glass of water. "It's your fault to start with."

John threw his hands up and said, "Whatever. Just don't break out in tears again. I've had to deal with too many crying women in my life, and I'm due to deal with at least one more in the near future... who also wants to wring my neck out." The blonde young man narrowed his eyes and shook his hands. "Argh... Why is my life like this? Did I piss off a god or something back on that trip? Did I get cursed by picking up that jade talisman back in China?"

The man was rambling. However, it seemed like he didn't have any bad intentions towards Yuri at least. If anything, he seemed like an annoyed uncle having to deal with his sibling's troublesome daughter.

"Pft." Yuri shook her head and raised her glass of water to take a sip.

What a ridiculous thought. Thinking that a guy like that could be a reliable uncle...

John turned to Yuri and said, "Anyway, calm down, get comfortable, or whatever. I've called your grandpa to let him know where you are... and since you were so determined to see how I cheated, I'll make for you what I did for him."

Yuri lowered her glass before taking the sip and glared at John. "And I'll make sure you regret it when I find out exactly what you did."

"Sure, sure." John waved his hand and walked back into the kitchen. "Just calm down and get out of my hair when this is done, alright? Alpha and Beta are already going to be pissed off at me for messing around- Ah. Crap. I forgot to get Beta her coffee and frosted donut..." He groaned, disappearing into the kitchen.

Yuri shook her head at the man's antics and then raised her glass again.

She hated to admit it, but the guy did have a point. She really should calm down so she that could think clearer about this situation.

With that decided, she took a sip from her water, intending to use its disgusting mineral water taste to focus-

"Eh?"

Yuri blinked and then looked at the glass.

There was ice clinking around. And the glass wasn't anything special. But...

Yuri frowned and took another sip.

...Nothing. At least, no minerals, additives, or anything like that. Not even the faintest trace of soap from washing the glass or any impurities from the ice cubes.

Yuri's frown deepened and she peered into the kitchen.

The curtains were in the way, but she could make out the facilities over there. John moved about, pots and pans clattering. There was the sound of a knife slicing through ingredients on a cutting board. But even so, there wasn't anything outstanding back there. It was far from the sleek and modern kitchens her grandfather used... and it was also impossible for there to be high-end ingredients in a place like this.

So then... how did he get the water so pure?

Yuri glared at the glass and said, "I must be imagining things."

It was the stress and the fatigue. That had to be it. That was the only reason why her Absolute Taste was telling her that the glass of ice water was pristine. The refreshing experience had to come from that. It had to.

So, Yuri took a careful sip, making sure to focus completely on her taste buds.

...Nothing. Just a refreshing cool sensation touching against her tongue.

She took a bigger drink, letting a decent amount of water slide down her throat.

A refreshing chill, with nothing detracting from it.

Out of frustration, Yuri narrowed her eyes and drank more. Gulp. Gulp. Gulp... before she knew it, the glass was done, leaving only the ice cubes remaining.

But she couldn't sense it. No, she couldn't understand it.

How? How did that man get the water so pure? Even purified water didn't taste like this... No, not even distilled water.

Yuri narrowed her eyes and turned to the ice cubes. It must be that. The secret had to be in the ice.

Tilting the cup back towards her mouth, Yuri let the ice cubes slide down and then bit into one.

A satisfying crunch. Not overly frozen, making it hard to chew, but not too soft, dissolving instantly. As if the man had been expecting her to do something like this, the ice cube was at the perfect temperature and texture.

But... how?!

Yuri shook her head and then tried out another ice cube. But she didn't get any answers from that either.

Another... then another... and before she knew it, the glass was empty.

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At that time, John walked out from the curtains again, carrying a water pitcher. He looked over at Yuri and then blinked. "I... didn't think you were that thirsty."

Yuri looked up and flushed before slamming her hand on the table. "I'm not!"

"Right." John slowly nodded, staring at the empty glass. "You aren't thirsty at all-"

"How?!" Before he could keep talking, Yuri interrupted him and said, "How did you get the water so pure!? How did you get the ice so pristine!?"

John blinked and then he laughed. "That's what you're wondering about?" He shook his head and then said, "Should I show you?"

"Yes!" Yuri nodded and said, "I don't believe that you aren't using some sort of trick!"

"Again with that trick nonsense..." John shook his head and then grabbed Yuri's cup. "Here." He lifted up the water pitcher and said, "This is a pitcher of tap water filled with some ice cubes. Following so far?"

"Don't patronize me!"

John rolled his eyes. "Whatever... Anyway, I just poured you a glass of water. Nothing special. See?" Saying that, he tilted the pitcher of water, letting the water splash into the cup.

It fell in a cascade, a rough waterfall without any grace or finesse.

Seeing that, Yuri was confident. Snatching it back the moment John was finished, she took a sip, and- "E-Eh?!"

John chuckled. "You must really be thirsty after all, huh?"

"This... doesn't make any sense." Yuri muttered and looked into the glass.

The haphazard way he poured it. The soap scum on the outside of that water pitcher. The fact that it splashed against the side of the glass.

All of that should have caused imperfections. The air should have introduced some impurity in the water.

But...

"...Am I really just that thirsty?"

John shrugged. "Could be. Anyway, I'll leave this here with you." He set the pitcher down and said, "I'll be finishing up the ramen in about ten minutes, so keep yourself occupied until then, alright? And if you need something, just call out. It's only us here anyway, so it's not like you need to be shy."

Yuri felt like retorting to that, especially since it seemed like the guy was going out of his way to accommodate her and be patronizing.

But her curiosity got the better of her.

She kept drinking from the glass of water, taking short sips, long sips, gulps... all to try and figure it out. Nothing. Then she tested the ice again, nibbling, crunching, swallowing... again, nothing.

And then her glass of water was empty. Frowning, she reached out for the pitcher and poured herself some more water. "...It must just be some special water."

That was it. Despite how the restaurant looked, that man probably had high class ingredients in the back. So then it shouldn't make any difference if she poured herself another glass.

Self-assured, Yuri filled her glass again and then took a sip-

"Pft!"

-Before promptly spitting out the water that touched her tongue.

Yuri wiped her mouth with her sleeve and then stared at the pitcher, her eyes wide.

An acrid and bitter taste. Soap scum that was sweet but laced with a chemical aftertaste. Impurities that clung to her tongue, making it feel almost coated with slime.

Yuri pushed her glass of water away and then blinked, at a complete loss.

That... didn't make sense.

She did the same thing he did. The water was the same. And the glass was the same too.

So... how was there such a big difference? How could the water be so... dirty when she poured it and pure when he did?

Was it a difference of skill?

No. That man's actions had been haphazard at best.

Was it magic?

As if. Such a thing didn't exist in this world.

Then... Was it really that? Were his words about cooking requiring 'soul' the difference?

No, that was impossible.

Yuri tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear and muttered, "I must just be exhausted."

It was the only possible explanation. In her fatigue from running after the guy all day, the stress from everything occurring in the background, and the guilt she felt, she must have just not noticed it until she took conscious action herself.

Right. That had to be it.

Absolutely.

No other explanation.

"..."

Yuri glanced at the cup of water again and reached over to take another sip to check-

"Blech."

She quickly reached into her purse and pulled out a palate cleanser she kept on hand, wiping her tongue off.

After a few minutes of that, she finally managed to wipe away the disgusting traces she tasted from the water.

Shortly after, John walked out from the curtains, holding a tray with two steaming bowls of noodles. He glanced at the abandoned cup and said, "Finally quenched your thirst?"

Yuri shook her head and said, "Just hurry up and serve me."

"Fine, fine." John walked over and placed one bowl of ramen in front of Yuri. Afterwards, he pulled out a wrapped pair of chopsticks and a soup spoon, handing them to Yuri.

Yuri shoved them back and said, "I have my own pair." That said, she pulled out her gold plated spoon and fork from her purse.

"My." John smiled and said, "I've heard of being born with a silver spoon, but a gold one-"

"Oh shut up." Yuri retorted at John and then pulled her bowl close to her.

John shrugged and picked up the unused eating utensils before sitting down across from Yuri.

Yuri stared at him for a few moments before looking down at her bowl.

It was nothing special. The ramen noodles were barely passable. The slices of beef inside were floating with a thin sheen of grease. And the few cut vegetables were done so haphazardly.

Like the bowl she saw in the arena earlier, the bowl of ramen was just your run of the mill food.

Still, since the water had been odd, Yuri didn't discount it. Instead, she twirled a bit of the ramen around her fork and lightly blew on it to cool it down. After that, she brought it to her mouth and took a bite.

Then-

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