Italics indicate thinking

No One's POV

The arena was roaring as Clint and Kurokiba started preparing their dishes. It immediately became clear to the crowd why these two men had been chosen to work alongside Alice and Erina, they were strong, intimidating and skilled.

"Look at them." Yoshino said "Kurokiba is so focused, not blinking at all."

"But DeMister-san…" Megumi observed "He's smiling, he's reviling in the competition…"

"Kurokiba is making something with fish parts…"

"But Clint's pot…" Megumi said "Is pull of pork parts."

Is he making a classical Japanese style…or will he mix it to his style? Megumi wondered.

Clint's POV

I was right…he is going for a rich broth…Kotteri class broth.

"Are you copying me Kurokiba-kun." I smirked.

He glared "Shut your hole."

"What's wrong, lobster in your shorts?" I asked.

"People acting all chummy in the kitchen, makes me sick. It should be eat or be eaten, nothing else."

"You really think so?" I said picking up a bottle "Nothing wrong with getting to know the guys fighting in the trenches with you."

He stood over me and glared "The only thing needed in cooking is power, the power to make your opponent submit. Those who don't understand that can only make pathetic flavors.

"Well then." I popped the bottle and poured it in "If that's what you wanna belive."

There a dozens of different was to classify and prepare your ramen, the broth prep, the broth color and base, the seasoning, and even the heaviness of the broth.

For this dish I'm gonna use Miso, making this a Miso style Ramen.

I felt a pressure behind me.

"Ah…Senzaemon-Sama are you trying to intimidate me sir?" I smirked.

The judges had come down to look at my station.

"The Elite Ten really screwed me on this one you know?" I laughed "Giving the Ramen category to the American! By the way since the two of are your granddaughters aids are you even allowed to judge?"

Suddenly there was a thud and I felt the aura of the room change.

Well, Well, Well, trying to steal their attention are you Kurokiba-kun~

Roy plated his dish and brought it up.

"Eat it now." He demanded "It's…"

"Soup De Poisson Ramen."

Poisson is French for fish…it's a broth made from Fish parts and shellfish.

I can smell it over here…what warm scent.

"You see it now?" Kurokiba smirked "I put that powder on everything in this dish."

Shrimp powder…

"A flavor so good it's almost violent." Erina's Grandfather said.

Cooking with Kurokiba…it's like a street brawl.

Senzaemon-Sama took off the top of his outfit "To think you made me strip with sheer strength…I admire your courage."

I reached my strainer in and pulled out the noodles "Let's begin the real show shall we?"

I placed the bowls do "Go on ahead."

I knew after Kurokiba's dish mine would lack that initial appeal factor, but I was banking on my flavor.

"The broth…" the gulped "It's…almost brown."

If he wanted to go rich I'll just go richer.

"The toppings…"

"Pork medallions, Thick Cut Bacon, and Brisket…" I said "We can get to that later, taste what you came for, the broth as dark as mother earth."

They took one slurp of the soup.

"It's…so strong!"

"What a strong flavor!"

"The broth was made with pig bones, and bacon fat." I smirked "I fried the bacon and then poured a little of the grease in the pot. I also had some Miso, a tiny, tiny drop of soy sauce and hot sauce."

"The toppings…the medallions…"

"Made from pork belly." I said "The bacon is the same, and the brisket is old barbeque style. All of them seasoned, boiled and grilled."

"There…are no vegetables?"

"Hell no!" I yelled "This is…"

"Meat Lovers' Ramen!"

Senzaemon-Sama had taken off his shirt.

Mission accomplished…

"Give it to me!"

"No reason to yell Roy-Kun~" I smirked "Hang on a sec."

I made another bowl "Here."

He took it and started to eat it "Hmm…"

"I knew I would be at a disadvantage from the start, Ramen is such a Japanese dish a foreigner like me really has no place with it, but then I figured, maybe I can just wow y'all with the toppings. Then I remembered that not sticking close enough to the theme almost had me sunk last time, so I crafted up a broth that would play off the pig parts I used for the toppings."

"I figure, the key to winning is just make a ramen that hits harder that Kurokiba's. It's like a boxing match, playing a defensive fight would be boring, so I just decided to out punch you."

"Then…you try mine." He said handing me a bowl.

The smell hit my nose in a second.

The saltiness…it's so potent.

"The director picked up his brush."

I placed the bowl back down

The flavor…

I fell to my knees "I've been totally crushed."

"Winner: Kurokiba Ryo!"

"That is the end of today's festivities, we will resume tomorrow." The announcer said as the crowd filed out.

Hisako's POV

"Clint-kun…"

Everyone had long since left, but Clint just stayed frozen, kneeling on the floor of the kitchen. After more than an hour he trudged back to the mansion, and went right to his room.

I can't…I can't lose.

"Watch me Erina-Sama…I will win!"

"I'm expecting great things from you." She smiled "Don't forget our promise."

I have to win…not for Erina-Sama, but for Clint-kun too…I can't lose!

AN

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Till Next Time!