Chapter 03: "Food Competition" (Part 1)
- Oh, but how hot... Is there still a long way to go?
Lys Vtuber says wearily, as she tries to lighten as best she can the temperature rise she's having right now. The day had started in the best possible way: she had woken up early after a good night's rest, had taken a refreshing shower and then put on some of the best outfits her wardrobe could provide, had even had some of the best pancakes for breakfast. I could never have ever prepared. That's right, these were hardly burned. And after a few more little things, Lys was finally ready to start this excellent day, because it is not just any day. No sir. Today is the day you will be able to show the world your magnificent culinary skills, because today is the biggest food competition ever organized in the city, with a magnificent cash prize, as well as an irresistible job opportunity in the most luxurious restaurant and largest in the entire city. Without a doubt, today is a day that Ella Lys cannot miss, because it is the day that she will be able to fulfill her dream... And get some money along the way. Yes, all very nice and all, but right now, Lys might be considering doing something else if the endless line prostrating in front of her was any indication, not to mention the terrible heat she's being subjected to: feeling like its skin is cooked in contact with the sun's rays. It did not help her to get up early or be early in the day to appear at the contest facilities, much less wanting to look more than presentable, because all the freshness that she had on her melted as the hours passed.
- Ah! 5 hours! I've been in this bloody queue for 5 hours and I still can't see the ticket, let alone the end of the line!
She exclaims in utter frustration, bringing her sweaty hands to her head, ruffling her already shaggy hair. She assumes it was obvious, right? That is to say, this is an unrepeatable opportunity, once in a lifetime, it was obvious that so many people wanted to try her luck and skills, but... Did they have to be so many?! Almost half the city! Lys couldn't believe it, with her just being in line, she was already tired, overwhelmed, hungry and, little by little: hopeless. Among the thousands of participants, surely there would be someone who was much better than her. Hell, maybe half are better than her! In that moment, Lys forgot for a moment about the heat and exhaustion that had been weighing her down, only to focus on the great possibility that she would fail and have to go home, not only empty-handed, but also, with her dream. shattered… He sighs heavily, before turning his gaze back to the crowd lined up before him.
- Well, whatever comes: I'll do my best.
She says it with a regained determination, willing to wait as long as it takes for her to have her long-awaited opportunity.
[ 3 hours later ]
- I want to die...
She says in an almost dead voice, leaning against the wall as she keeps moving forward as best she can; at least this time she is already closer to the entrance and registration area, only having about 20 people in front of her and moving forward. She can feel her soul almost slipping out of her body, but she has already sacrificed enough today and her goal is closer than ever to want to give up at this point. She moves a few centimeters before turning back, breaking out in a cold sweat as she notices that the line is still just as long, if not even longer, because no matter how far she goes, she can't see the end.
"I pity the last one that was formed."
Lys thinks, noticing how the people in front of her move again. She proceeds to move forward as well, when at the slightest movement she bumps into a girl causing her to stagger backwards. She holds onto the wall she was previously leaning against as she directs her gaze towards the person she bumped into. A girl a little shorter than her, with blond hair tied in two fluffy pigtails; she wears a kind of red and black Victorian dress, as if she were some young lady from a respectable family. Lys stares at her for a long time before her mind makes a sudden loud click... She wasn't there before!
-Ahm... Hey, she excuses her.
She tells him a little shyly, standing straight again to address her word, but she doesn't receive a response from the girl, to which she tries again a little harder.
- Sorry.
She repeats louder in her voice, leaning in a little now to be closer to the girl she just completely ignored. Either that, or he wasn't clear enough with her. Once again, she receives no response, to which Lys has no choice but to raise her voice even higher, trying to get her crude attention.
- Hey, I'm talking to you!
- Huh?
The girl in question turns to Lys's almost scream, showing her defined and smooth face; Lys stares at her for a few seconds, appreciating the slight but vibrant smile the girl gives her. "Gosh, she's pretty…" Lys thinks, before mentally slapping herself and fixing her eyes sharply at nothing. "Don't start on your damn fetishes, writer."
- You need something?
Lys is brought out of her thoughts by the most beautiful voice she had ever heard, a voice that made her almost blush instantly, directing her gaze once more towards the blonde girl, now focusing her eyes on the ostentatious chest. it loads...
"Shitty writer, stop putting me in your fucking situations!"
Lys mentally exclaims, to which the ever omnipotent writer replies with a haughty and stern "No"; but since history must progress, well... We will have to continue.
- Cojum...
Lys coughs into her hand, clearing her throat before answering her as cordially as possible.
- Actually yes. See, I have a weird suspicion that you weren't there until a few seconds ago, so... would you mind not getting in line and waiting your turn like everyone else?
- Hmm?
The girl stares at her with a marked confusion on her face, which is not let go by Lys, who only waits to hear her answer.
- Get in line? What are you talking about? If I've been here all this time.
- No! I'm sure you weren't trained before! Much less in front of me.
Lys raises her voice again, feeling irritated by the teasing expression the girl shows, at the same time that she shows a huge smile. "This guy...!"
- But what are you saying? I would never do something similar. Could it be that you simply have a bad memory? Or maybe your tiny brain does not allow you to process what is happening around you? Oh, poor thing.
- You...! Smug little girl!
- What? I don't hear you with so many people around us. Not at all when I'm walking down the line, where I've clearly been here all this time.
As it is, she turns around and takes a few more steps, completely ignoring Lys's gasp out of sheer frustration. If she weren't for all these people, and the fat old man pushing Lys forward to get her ahead of the line: she'd already be giving that rude little girl what she deserved. Not only had he clearly cut into line, but he was making fun of her. "I... I'm going to destroy her in the competition! She just waits..." She thinks as she takes her place, glaring at the back of her newly recruited rival...
[One record and several epic battles later]
It had been quite difficult, really. And in fact, she never believed that she would get this far. After making it through round after round, stumbling through the semis, and getting rid of the occasional conspiracy involving some of the contestants... Yeah, typical stuff at these events. Lys had made it to the grand final. Yeah, it's pretty impressive, she had made it this far thanks to her raw skills... And a little help from the writer, but don't tell her that because she'll freak out on me later. Anyway, as I was saying: Lys is more than nervous, as well as smart and determined, because her rival to beat to be crowned the best chef in the entire city is right in front of her: neither more nor less than the same girl who he had made fun of her, that she had sneaked into the same line in which she was more than 6 hours and that she swore to win. The time has come and Lys is going to teach this brat a good lesson in manners by beating her... And I don't know how someone would learn manners with a culinary spanking, but hey, fanfiction stuff.
Lys and the girl walk onto the stage, positioning themselves at their workstations as the judges stare at them. The final battle is about to begin.
- Very good, ladies and gentlemen! Are you ready for the grand finale of this great and hard-fought competition to decide once and for all who is the best cook of all?
The commentator snorts at the top of his lungs into the microphone, positioning himself between the two contestants as he points at them one at a time.
- At the left-side! The lady who has ferociously destroyed each of her opponents according to what I read from the script because otherwise, I wouldn't have believed it. This is Lys Parker!
He points his hand in the direction of Lys, her name resounding in every corner of the stadium… Which must have originally been a small television set, but that is not epic at all, the mere net.
- And on the right side! Terror itself made person, annihilating its opponents in such ways that I can't describe because they could end up canceling me. This is Akai "Haachama" Haato!
He points to the girl now identified as Haachama, who still wears the same smirk she gave Lys earlier. Without a doubt, Ella Lys is going to enjoy her like she never erases that smile from her face. She takes one last look at him before heading to her side of the stage for her…
- You only have 10 minutes to prepare your ultimate dish! And remember, for as long as the confrontation lasts: anything goes...
"Hmpg. You don't need to tell me twice," Lys thinks as she laces up her apron and proceeds to collect her utensils. Noticing how her opponent makes the same move, without even separating her eyes from her. "This ends here and now."
- Ready? In 3… 2… 1… Let's cook!
Lys and Haachama look at each other, before starting their culinary battle… Oh, my gad. This is going to be epic, daddy.
To be continue...