- JACK -

I was the first to pull away from the rest of those confused individuals. I knew exactly where I was going; I didn't need to ask anyone or use any map. That's right! The King, Jack Atlas, would only ever love one thing as much as the almighty Red Demon's Dragon.

And this endless love and loyalty would lead me to the right place.

"Ramen," I demanded. "I want ramen."

The ramen vendor at the counter, a midget of a man in the filthiest apron I'd ever had the mispleasure of laying my eyes on, slowly turned around. "Excuse me, sir, there is a lineup." I looked at where he was referring to and, not to my surprise, saw many angry faces all queued up.

"So what?" I said, completely unfazed by all the eyes on me. In fact, they made me feel more important than ever. "They should know better to let Jack Atlas, the King, order first."

"Jack who?" I could feel my eyes bulge out.

"Yeah, who is this Jack Atlas? I've never heard of him."

How dare those inferior…! I cleared my throat and straightened my back, making me look taller than I already was. Now I was towering over the rest of those little midgets. "Excuse me? Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"

"Just another nobody named Jack Atlas." That was the last straw.

"I AM NOT A NOBODY!" I literally screamed. "I AM THE KING OF RIDING DUELS! Therefore, you must let me pass and order first because that is your duty as lesser Duelists."

"Isn't Fudō Yūsei the King of Riding Duels?"

"I heard he's here tonight! Forget ramen, let's go get his autograph!"

"AHHH!" I held my head in my hands. Why must Yūsei always be brought up when I should be the one being praised? Since I was King, naturally I will always be King no matter what!

All at once, midgets left the line and disappeared into the crowd, in a fiery rampage to track down Yūsei. Thank Red Demon's, and good riddance! If these lessers won't let Jack Atlas order first, at least I wouldn't have to wait as long to get served the food of the gods!

But I hate waiting. The King should never have to wait for anything! "It's my turn!" I exclaimed as I tried to get through, but these people are like chess pawns stuck to the ground; they won't even budge!

"Get back in line!" someone up front shouted.

"Make me!" I shouted back.

"You customers sure are noisy!" the midget of a vendor yelled. "I will announce that I am closing shop right after I finish serving this line."

"Wait! No!" I 'scampered' to the back of the line. "I must have ramen tonight!"

Finally, after some more bickering with the customers and the ramen vendor himself (the liar wasn't actually closing shop; he dared admit that he only wanted me to shut up), I got my adequate portion of the food only for the gods. I proceeded to shove aside some poor midget and his leftover food splattered all over his face and then I sat down on his spot. He glared at me but only proceeded to wipe off his face. Smart thing knows I would punch his guts out if he tries to mess with me.

Ahh, peace and quiet at last! Just how I like it.

Just when I was about to enjoy my precious ramen, I saw a coffee stand right across the street from where I was standing. Blue Eyes Incline, a smaller branch of the famed Blue Eyes Mountain, had opened for the first time ever! Right in this festival, too, within the reach of Jack Atlas!

What luck! In fact, I was so deeply enchanted by the Blue Eyes spell and its irresistible aroma of fresh coffee that I didn't even notice someone come up to me. What happened next, I couldn't even believe my eyes! As I was looking the other way, that same guy who I gave a new makeover with his food came and took my ramen, chopsticks and all!

He took my ramen.

Took my ramen.

My ramen.

RAMEN!

No way in Dark Signers' Hell was I letting him get away!

"HEY!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. "DO YOU WANT ANOTHER MAKEOVER? YOU'RE ASKING FOR IT!" Before long, I was already on his tail (I have long legs, he does not). "TURN AROUND SO I CAN PUNCH YOUR FACE IN!"

Once Jack Atlas is on a mission, there is no stopping him!


- CROW -

As Jack ran off, my stomach began to growl. Yūsei turned around and looked at me with a straight face, but we've been brothers for far too long so naturally I knew what he was thinking.

And whaddaya know? He was mocking me again, all without words or even facial expression. "What are you looking at me for?" I inquired. "I'm not that hungry…" Then my stomach growled again, much louder this time.

"Maybe you should go find Jack," he suggested. "It's likely he's at a ramen stand."

No way am I going to be seen with Jack's crazed attitude! "Nah, I think I will go down this way instead." I broke away from the gang and walked towards what seemed like the yatai section: a seemingly endless lane of food stands set up on both sides to serve customers fresh appetizers to meals, even desserts and beverages.

"Mmm…" I sighed as a heavenly scent that wafted under my nose. "Where is that coming from?" It smelled so good I could taste it from wherever it was. I must have some of that! Moving along the food stands, I peered into all of them, even intentionally disconnecting someone's barbecue grill until I found…

"Ikayaaaaaaki!" Fresh out of the oven was the thing that smelled like heaven on earth, I could even taste it from the aroma itself! Immediately, I reached out to grab a stick of that delicious baked squid, but someone's fist forcefully knocked me to the back of the line.

"Hey, what's the big deal?" I exclaimed, glaring at the big oaf of a man who just threw me back. "But owww, that hurt…" I muttered, rubbing my chin where I had landed roughly on.

"Watch where you're going, punk," the oaf spat. "The yatai lane is not for chibi like you!"

"Who are you calling 'chibi'?" I hollered. "I can eat like all the rest, even more!" At once, I grabbed an ikayaki stick, an okonomiyaki pancake at another stand, even a yaki-imo off someone's truck. I shoved them into my mouth and ate everything in less than a minute. All to the vendors' dismay 'cause I didn't pay before eating, but I can do that later. "Aww yeah,' I said while still chewing on the yaki imo. "That's tasty. Now I want moreeee!"

"No way am I going to lose to you, skinny punk!" the oaf said. "I challenge you to an eating contest!"

"Oh, yeah?" Is this guy kidding or what? Did he actually think he could beat the champion of this year's Neo Domino Food Competition? But I saw the determination in his eyes and decided that he was actually for real.

I'll show him then. "Alright! I, Crow Hogan, say we're on! Come on, show me all ya got!"

Behind us, cheers could be heard. Immediately, people in the surrounding areas stood back and watched us. "Go! Go! Go!" they chanted in unison, over and over again. It was like music to my ears, but at the same time, motivation to win this thing and show that no one can beat me at what I do best!

"Ahh, I'll have some of that, too," I said as I grabbed a dango stick; the oaf did the same thing. The crowd applauded and cheered. We're pretty much moving down the lane together and eating whatever we see. That way, no one can cheat and only eat the appetizers!

That's right! This is a competition that tests our stomach endurance, where time has shown again and again that it's where I have no limit!

An hour later, we were still going at it. I think the oaf even got fatter… if that was even possible.

"Hey, oaf," I nudged him in one of the fat rolls hanging out of his shirt. "You might want to slow down, or you'll be spending another ten years trying to lose all the weight you just gained in the past hour!" I laughed as I chomped down a choco banana.

"I'm not giving up yet," he said as he stuffed his face with another dish of curry rice. That was when his face suddenly turned very green. Even greener than the kyuuri cucumber I just ate. He covered his mouth with both hands and ran towards the lavatory sign up ahead.

"Hey, get back here! We have some unfinished business!" I hollered after him, but he just kept running until he disappeared.

"What a waste of all that good food." I closed one eye and put my arms behind my head. Then it crossed my mind. "So that means I won, right?"

"Oi!" came the cries from the yatai vendors. Oh boy, here it comes. "You! Time to pay for all the food you took from us!"

"You must pay extra, too, for the mess you made!" I looked around and saw stands turned over with food scattered about.

THESE GUYS CAN'T BE SERIOUS!


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