Our heroes have arrived in a new city. It's called Glutera City. It's home to several restaurants and each one is great in their own way.

"Look at this place." Rukia said as all of them had a look around the place.

"So many food options." Orihime said as she was going over all of her choices. "Maybe ramen with wasabi and honey. How about pasta with chocolate and veggies." As she was going over all of her food options, Ichigo and the others were a little disgusted.

"Where does she come up with something like that?" Ichigo said.

"I don't think we want to know." Chad said.

"Ichigo, can we try one of the restaurants. Pretty please." Orihime pleaded.

"Only if you promise we don't get to try anything you come up with." Ichigo said. They say you are what you eat. So what is Orihime?

Pokemon

Every trainer has a choice

To listen to that voice inside

I know the battles maybe long

Winners may have come and gone

I will carry on

Yeah, this dream will last forever

This dream will never die

We will rise to meet the challenge every time

(Advance challenge)

Yeah, this dream keeps us together

This shows that you and I

Will be the best that the world's ever seen

Cause we will always follow this dream

Pokemon

(Ichigo's voice) Everyone's a Food Critic

Ichigo and the others to decide to try one of the restaurants. They were able to get a seat, but the wait for their orders was pretty long.

"What's taking so long? Shouldn't it have been here by now?" Ichigo asked.

"You think a city with lots of restaurants would have the waiters more free." Orihime said.

"Here we go." The waitress said as she handed each one of them their food and gave Absol some pokemon food. "I'm terribly sorry for the wait. It's been a little anxious since we have a special guest and we want to have a good impression."

"A special guest? Who would that be?" Rukia asked as they all tried to enjoy their food.

"That would be him over there." The waitress said as she pointed to another table. All of them noticed the strange attire this person was wearing. He wore a white robe-like attire with a mask over the person's face. They couldn't really see anything about his actual body. No hair color, no eyes, nothing. He also had a pokemon with him and it was a Swalot.

"Who is that?" Chad asked.

"His name is Aaroniero. He is one tough food critic." The waitress said. "He takes a sample of everyone's dishes and takes a taste of it. He evaluates it and sees if the restaurant is still good. His word can have an effect on a whole restaurant."

"He's that big around here?" Ichigo said. They watched him as he took what was left of his food and gave it for Swalot to eat.

"He also has a Swalot with him. Judging from the size of its whiskers, it's a male. I guess that pokemon is perfect if he is what the waitress says he is." Rukia said.

"On top of that, he also happens to be the gym leader of Glutera City." The waitress said. All of them were really surprised to hear that.

"There's a gym in this city and he's the gym leader?!" Ichigo said. He was looking for a place to have his seventh gym battle and it looks like he found it. Ichigo and Absol had some of their food and went over to talk to him.

"Ichigo, wait. I don't think you should bother him." Rukia said, but Ichigo wasn't listening. Aaroniero took some notes on the food he had.

"Did you enjoy it, Swalot?" Aaroniero asked.

"Swalot." Swalot did seem to enjoy it.

"Excuse me?" Ichigo said as he made it over.

"What do you want? I'm a little occupied right now." Aaroniero said.

"My name is Ichigo Kurosaki. I just heard you're the gym leader of this city. I want to challenge you to a gym battle."

"Absol." Ichigo was hoping for him to say yes. Aaroniero appeared to be staring at him, but Ichigo couldn't tell what he was thinking with that mask over his face.

"Idiot!" Rukia said as she smacked him on the head as she and the others came over. "You can't just ask him like that. You're causing a scene and could disturb the other customers. Can't it wait until another time for you to ask?"

"It's fine." Aaroniero said as he continued his work. "You wish to have a gym battle? I will take your challenge, but it will have to wait. I have another appointment to keep at another restaurant. Swalot, do you have room for more?"

"Swalot."

"As I even need to ask." Aaroniero said.

"You know, his Swalot looks a little cute." Orihime said.

"Swalot are capable of swallowing anything." Chad said. "I guess what it thinks of food is important for a food critic like Aaroniero to know."

"Swalot is a poison-type. That must mean that he specializes with poison-types at his gym." Rukia said.

"Excuse me, Mr. Aaroniero?" All of them looked to see the manager come by. "Did you enjoy your meal? Have you made your evaluation?" He seemed a little anxious as to what he would say.

"The taste and texture was exquisite as usual." Aaroniero said. "However, there seems to be too much pepper in the mashed potatoes. You must be able to find the right balance of condiments, seasoning, and such. As for Swalot, Swalot doesn't seem to have any complaints. For the service as well, I shall give your restaurant an eight out of ten."

"Thank you." The manager said as he was glad to hear that. "I promise we'll do our best and next time will be better."

"He got an eight out of ten. That doesn't seem so bad." Orihime said.

"Wouldn't you try to do better than that in your performances? Even if you got a good score?" Ichigo said and Orihime can see his point.

"We should be going now." Aaroniero said as he placed his money on the table. "Come along, Swalot."

"Swalot." Swalot followed Aaroniero as they were making their leave.

"Wait." Ichigo said and the two of them stopped. "Is being a food critic really all that?"

"Indeed. Would you like to see for yourself?" Aaroniero said.

"Sure." Ichigo said.

"I would love to." Orihime said and Chad would like to as well.

"Guys, we barely ate and we still have to pay." Rukia said. They didn't realize that until she said so.

"It's fine. We don't mind waiting. They're not expecting us for about another hour." Aaroniero said. So he and Swalot decided to wait and allowed them to eat. Once they were all done eating, they were on their way to Aaroniero's next restaurant. "Are any of you still hungry?"

"No thank you. You don't have to pay for any of our meal." Rukia said.

"We're just tagging along to see what your job is like." Chad said.

"Is it a great job?" Orihime asked.

"Of course." Aaroniero said. "It allows you to try different kinds of food. Each dish can be just as good as the last and I take notes so I know what to compare it to."

"And you allow Swalot to try some as well?" Ichigo asked. "Wouldn't a Swalot swallow just about anything?"

"Yes, but Swalot should enjoy it himself and it makes sure that none of that good food goes to waste when I can't have it anymore." Aaroniero said. "Pokemon should be allowed to have an opinion as well."

"That does make sense. I guess it wouldn't be a good idea to waste so much food." Rukia said. "Having Swalot eat some of it is a guarantee that no food will."

"Here we are." Aaroniero said as they arrived at the other restaurant and it appears to be a little fancy.

"I feel a little underdressed." Ichigo said.

"This restaurant might be a little fancy. It has four stars, but it is good." Aaroniero said. "Don't be shy. Let's go on inside." Aaroniero and Swalot went on in with Ichigo and the others following. They were showed to a round table, but Aaroniero was the only one who ordered any food.

"So do you eat at places like this all the time?" Ichigo said.

"Sort of." Aaroniero said. "It's not like I eat for free, but it can be quite rewarding." Aaroniero's food was brought and was given a nice looking steak with a soup on the side. "It does look nice, but looks can be deceiving." Aaroniero reached for his silverware and started to cut a piece of the stake off. "Let's see how it tastes." He lifted the piece up and Ichigo realized something.

'Wait. He's got to take his mask off to eat it.' Ichigo thought and he watched carefully as Aaroniero was about to eat it. 'Let's see what he looks like under that mask.' They were all about see Aaroniero's face, but he really covered his face with his arms and they couldn't see him eating. All of them practically fell out of their chairs from seeing him do that. "Seriously?"

"Absol."

"Why is he even wearing that mask? What does he have to hide?" Ichigo said. Aaroniero continued to eating the steak and had some of the soup and none of them were able to see his face.

"How is it?" Orihime asked.

"Pretty good." Aaroniero said as he took some notes. "It's my first call, might change, but I say this restaurant is as good as usual. The food here seems to hold a great balance of nutrition with great flavor. It's important to understand that when you're me. Most people tend to overlook it."

"Are you serious? I'm not paying this!" One customer was complaining about the food and was starting to cause a scene. "The food was terrible and you expect me to pay. Not happening."

"Sir, please calm down. You're disturbing the other customers." The waiter said.

"So get me a decent meal!" The man complained as he tossed the plate of food on the floor. He was creating a scene and Aaroniero wasn't going to put up with it as he made his way over.

"You shouldn't really waste food like that." Aaroniero said.

"Mind your own business." The man said. Aaroniero took a look at the food with it splattered on the ground. Aaroniero reached down and grabbed a piece of meat. He still kept his face hidden, but it sounded like he ate it.

"Eew!" Some people say as they couldn't believe he actually ate food off the floor.

"That's gross." The man said.

"I think it's quite delectable. It holds a lot of flavor and holds the right balance of nutrition." Aaroniero said. "That's the problem with people these days. They just don't know how to appreciate good food. They don't have a significant taste. Swalot, how you have a taste of it."

"Swalot!" Swalot was able to eat the splattered food and cleaned the spot.

"That's unhygienic." The man said.

"People went through a lot of trouble to make this food for you, no matter how spoiled you might be." Aaroniero said. "You should show some respect and have some of it. That way, most of it doesn't go to waste."

"Look, go sit down and just mind your own business." The man said as he refused to listen.

"I'm sorry, but someone like you shouldn't really be here." Aaroniero said. "Swalot, could you please escort this man out of here." Swalot made his way over to the man and swallowed him whole.

"No way!" Orihime said. "He just ate that man alive!"

"Wait for it." Rukia said. Swalot went over to the door and spat the man out as he rolled right out the door.

"Pay no attention to that man. Your food is quite delicious." Aaroniero said. People were impressed with what Aaroniero has done.

"Aaroniero's actually quite insightful." Rukia said.

"Yeah. He sure has a way with words and food." Chad said. "If he's a gym leader, he might know how to test you. This gym battle of yours could be a tough one."

"So be it. I'll be ready." Ichigo said as he was looking forward to this gym battle. Once Aaroniero was done, all of them stepped outside.

"I do love my job. Now for my second job." Aaroniero said. "Ichigo, if you still wish to battle me, I will take your battle tomorrow."

"Sounds good to me and I can't wait." Ichigo said. His seventh gym battle is insight and Ichigo is excited for it.

Meeting Aaroniero was a delicious meeting. Ichigo and his friends got an insight to being a food critic and now they'll see what kind of gym leader he is.

"Just one thing, Aaroniero. How come you wear that mask?" Ichigo asked.

"Good question. Well…" Aaroniero explained how he got his mask and it was a real shock to all of them.

To Be Continued….