Chapter 4: If You Eat Outside, Make Sure To Take Someone Who Eats A Lot With You

"This is it," pronounced Pakunoda, facing the entrance of a luxurious building of French style. There was a large line of people waiting to get in, but the three of them had managed to sneak on the front, without anyone noticing. There were also two large bodyguards at the entrance in case of any disturbance.

Nobunaga looked uneasy. "I can't believe we're doing this."

30 minutes ago…

Pakunoda and Kamui came back to their senses, as her visit inside his mind end. Nobunaga, who had started getting bored of the not-so-expected wait –usually Pakunoda was fast in the use of her ability–, blinked as he realized they were back. Immediately he redirected his attention to Pakunoda.

"So?"

She shot him a dirty look. "You should specify what is actually what you wanted me to check out in his memories."

Kamui, just a little bit annoyed at being ignored, waited in silence for the adults to end their chatter. After that he would eat.

Pakunoda saw him hesitate before answering: "I wanted to know if he lied when he said he was –and please don't laugh– an alien."

She saw the trouble in Nobunaga's eyes as he tried to say those words, as if it was a taboo he was talking about. However, after what she'd seen… there was a probability.

"An alien," she drawled, as if tasting the strange word. "I was actually considering the possibility of him being from somewhere in the Dark Continent. But an alien doesn't sound as far-fetched as my theory."

"So you think it's true?" insisted Nobunaga.

Pakunoda nodded, albeit tentatively. "The city he lived in wasn't any I've ever seen, and you know I travel a lot. There was also its name: Rakuyou."

Nobunaga seemed to understand.

"That name doesn't appear in any map of the world," he nodded, pensively.

"And the people, Nobunaga," continued Pakunoda. "Nobody apart from Kamui and a few others who –very curiously– carried umbrellas like him were even human."

"The Yato clan," murmured Nobunaga, almost inaudibly, remembering Kamui's words. "Oi, brat," he said loudly, turning his gaze upon him. "You said everyone in your clan uses umbrellas as weapon, right?"

"Wow, you're catching up, congratulations."

Nobunaga's form twitched in irritation. "You could at least make it sound less sarcastic."

Then, he sighed like an old man. "This is too much information. What're we going to do with you, little troublemaker?" He looked straight at Kamui, who simply gave him an eye-smile.

"I believe it's lunch time," he said, too happily.

Now it was Pakunoda's turn to sigh.

"First, both Nobunaga and I will need to change our appearances. We must go undercover if we're going to be amid hunters. Then, we'll need to devise a plan so we can escape without paying."

"Pakunoda," started Nobunaga, very uneasy all of a sudden, "what the hell are you talking about?"

Pakunoda pointed at Kamui. "He wants to go eat at Togui, the most expensive restaurant in all York New City. You know, the one created by the legendary gourmet hunter, Mellmann. It's thronged with gourmet hunters and other type of hunters concurring as customers, so we must hide ourselves if we're going."

"Are you crazy?!" spat Nobunaga "When did you decide this?! It's too risky! Especially at a time like this where we must lay low."

"Don't be a coward, old man," said Kamui in disdain. "Weren't you a 'professional thief'? Act like one at least."

A few veins popped from Nobunaga's head as he shook in ire. "You…"

Pakunoda, not wanting to witness more of his partner's humiliation, stood up. "Well, let's get going. Nobunaga, we'll keep talking once we get there."

Now…

Both adults had changed their attires so they wouldn't be recognize. Pakunoda wore a dull grey wig with a big sunhat and dark sunglasses, while Nobunaga had changed his samurai clothing to an elegant dark suit. Like Pakunoda, he also wore dark glasses and had his hair loose.

"Table for three?" asked one of the two bodyguards.

"Yes, please…" said Pakunoda, straight-faced.

"Well, then." The other bodyguard pushed a door to let them in.

The inside didn't look as fancy as the building façade, but there was an odour coming from the kitchens that was simply divine. There were beautiful antique chandeliers hanging like pristine lights and a little stage where classical musicians were playing. It was, in all, a very pleasant atmosphere for eating.

A pretty waitress came to lead them to a table and handed them the menu. Pakunoda was ready to see the prices; Nobunaga… not so much.

"20.000 jenny for just a glass of water!?" he half shouted, half whispered.

Pakunoda swiftly swatted the back of his head. "Don't be so surprised. At least pretend with the confidence of a rich person."

"Yeah, show 'im, Pakunoda-san. You're acting less and less than the supposed 'professional thief' you so boldly proclaimed you are," said Kamui, starting to feel more respect towards Pakunoda.

"Don't contribute, you brat!" spat Nobunaga, embarrassed. "I'm just dreading how much you're going to eat. I still remember the 'little snack' you had back at my apartment in Meteor City," he looked at Pakunoda, deadly serious. "All that it was left was sugar and salt."

With that last disquieting line, the waitress came back to note down their orders. Both Pakunoda and Nobunaga kept it simple. Kamui was another story.

"… I'll also had three orders of pickled rabbit, four Gyudon dishes, another four Yoshinoya Beef bowls…"

The waitress was scribbling down furiously on the little notepad, while both Pakunoda and Nobunaga gaped in disbelief.

There is no way he's going to eat all that!

Finally Kamui stopped talking, and the waitress seemed to breathe in relief. She, very tensely, asked between teeth: "Is that all, sir?"

Kamui gave his classic eye-smile. "Yep."

Don't 'yep' me! The waitress screamed mentally. Just what is he going to do with all that food!? He doesn't have a body like Buhara's to digest all this!

Nevertheless, the waitress smiled and went back to the bar to hang the order.

Immediately, both adults turned to Kamui.

"Are you doing this to spite us?" asked Pakunoda, weirdly calmed.

Kamui looked honestly confused. "Eh? That's the lot I normally eat."

Pakunoda remembered Nobunaga's words: "All that it was left was sugar and salt."

Nobunaga face-palmed. "Just what is your body made of? You're too troublesome."

"I guess we Yato are known for our appetites," said Kamui casually.

After that, the waitress came back with their drinks. Pakunoda spoke quietly after she had left:

"I guess you must know, but next Thursday we have a meeting in Meteor City."

Nobunaga nodded, knowing that all Spiders had confirmed their assistance to Chrollo, except him. In all this time, his worry with Kamui had distracted him of his role as Spider. However, Chrollo wasn't as tight up as he looked, so he didn't think he'd get angry if he explained carefully his situation.

"Yeah, I plan to take Kamui with me." He stared straight at Kamui, who simply turned his, expressionless.

Pakunoda appeared to understand his line of thought. "If you don't, Chrollo's gonna be mad."

Not even a minute later, the waitress along with some assistants came to their table to place on their orders.

Kamui clapped his hands together with a cheerful delight. "Thanks for the food!" And started eating.

Both Nobunaga and Pakunoda tensed as they felt the looks of basically everyone in the establishment. Figuratively speaking, on Kamui. The speed and fervour in which he was devouring all the food was easily on par with the fattest gourmet chef, Buhara. However, Kamui was by no means fat or big. It was an enigma for all the people in there as to how could such a little body sustenance all that food.

It was when he finished the last remains of his food that Kamui realized everyone was staring at him with wide gawks. He ignored it and said: "Man, I'm still hungry."

"HOW CAN YOU STILL BE HUNGRY?!" snapped Nobunaga, stridently.

"There's still room in here." Kamui patted his stomach flat as a clear sign.

"How…" wondered Pakunoda, incredulous.

Also, thought Pakunoda, feeling cornered. Everyone's attention is on us. If we want to escape we must find a way to divert the attention.

"Oi, you," someone suddenly voiced, looking straight at Kamui with crossed arms. "My friend and I are interested in you. We were wondering how much is it that you can eat, and if it's an ability of yours."

This woman actually thinks his eating's a Nen ability. Nobunaga almost felt like laughing at the prospect.

I think I know her, thought Pakunoda, frowning. Oh, yes, she's that gourmet hunter. I've seen her in the diary, I think. I wasn't interested in her note, so I skipped it.

"Huh? Who are you?" asked Kamui.

The girl pointed at herself, proudly. "The name's Menchi. I'm a gourmet hunter, you see. And you?"

"Kamui."

"Well, Kamui, you see, I'm currently the manager of this Togui's branch."

Both Nobunaga and Pakunoda paled at the statement. Where was this going…?

"So?" inquired Kamui, always the careless one out of the three.

"So," continued Menchi, "I want to propose you a challenge. My friend, Buhara, is a heavy eater and was impressed by your performance. Therefore, if you succeed eating more than him in a food contest, I'll let you and your two friends have the food for free."

Both adults gasped at the sudden opportunity. Kamui looked bored. Before he could open his mouth to say anything, Nobunaga stepped in.

"He'll do it!" he loudly declared.

"Oi! I didn't say anything," complained Kamui, though it fell on deaf ears.

"Great! OI, BUHARA, COME IN!"

The musicians stopped playing, as suddenly the ground started trembling. The instruments, and all things with no support jumped as the giant monster took step after step. Suddenly, the enormous beast appeared before Kamui.

How is this human maintaining his weight? Kamui wondered, having to stretch his neck in order to look up at him.

"What's your name?" asked Buhara, looking down on Kamui.

"Kamui."

"Menchi must've explained you everything." Then he looked at Menchi, who nodded and called the waiters through a walkie-talkie to arrange a large table with all kinds of foods. All the customers were watching, eager for the spectacle to start.

"Go, Kamui! I believe in your food storage capacity!" bellowed Nobunaga in full yearning.

Kamui blushed much to Pakunoda's amusement. "Shut up! Shouldn't you say something nicer like 'I believe in you!' instead of regarding all your belief in my stomach?!"

Both Kamui and Buhara were standing side by side in front of their respective plates, waiting for Menchi to give them the initiated.

"Are you ready, guys?!" she howled, and a crowd that had congregated around them cheered.

She's turning this into a show. Pakunoda's face twitched in irritation as she realized this.

"Go!" shouted Menchi, and both Kamui and Buhara started stuffing their faces on the spot.

Everyone watched amazed and disgusted at the huge quantities of food they swallowed in a lapse of seconds. Menchi realized, amazed, that the little kid was actually par on par with Buhara. This was the most interesting thing she'd seen in a while. That kid literally had the guts to become a gourmet hunter!

"Oi, look!" someone in the crowd yelled and pointed at Kamui.

Said Yato had taken a blender out of nowhere and, while eating at Buhara's speed with one hand, started throwing food inside it.

"Impossible!"

"Is that even permitted?"

"He's using the Mixer ability! An ability that combines rigor and will to make the most atrocious kinds of food combine to eat it all at once!"

"That's not an ability! That's just screwing food up, if anything!"

This is just turning stupider and stupider, both Nobunaga and Pakunoda deadpanned.

Finally, Kamui finished eating before Buhara and the crowd exploded in cries of cheers. Both Pakunoda and Nobunaga also joined in, though obviously for other reasons.

"Wow," breathed Buhara, shocked. "Kamui, you're amazing. I've never met someone who could eat as much as me. I'll remember you."

"That was incredible! I can't believe you've actually won. Tell me, how is it that you're able to hold up that much food?" asked Menchi, astounded.

"It comes from family. We spend too much energy as we fight, so eating a lot is a must."

"And…" started Menchi, but was abruptly interrupted by Nobunaga who grabbed Kamui's arm.

"Well, well, well, look at the hour! We must get goin', you see, we're not from here and my son needs to do his homework. Kids this days are all about playing with their consoles and leaving their responsibilities for tomorrow, ya' know."

"Wait…"

"Let's go, we're going to miss the buss," Nobunaga randomly stated.

And thus, they vanished in a dust cloud.

"What…"

And this was how the legend began. A little body, an insane organism. Not only a Yato, but also an Eating Monster.