Toriko: Namu's Buffet.
Chapter 22.
"Meeting the Grandparents. Part 2"
The sun had set, and the moon was shining brilliantly in the night sky. The moonlight made its way into the Setsuno Dining Hall where Namu, Tsubaki, and Jujube sat patiently, waiting for the food to be served.
"Is it ready yet?" Namu asked, impatiently.
"Don't be rude, Namu." said Tsubaki as she lightly slapped Namu muscular arm.
"It's ready." Setsuno stated as she put two bowls in front of Namu and Tsubaki, and another on the floor for Jujube.
In the bowl was a very clear, almost invisible liquid. The savory smell of the liquid rose from the bowls and into the noses of the young Combo partners.
"Ahh," Namu said in satisfaction. "I've been waiting for this. The legendary Century Soup."
Namu and Tsubaki placed their hands together and closed their eyes.
"We give thanks for this meal. Itadakimasu."
"Itadakimasu." Tsubaki repeated.
Tsubaki picked up the soup spoon that was in front of her, her excitement too big to hide. She gently brought the spoon to her mouth, and was hit with many delicious flavors at once. Tsubaki could make out a few of the flavors, but the rest were a mystery.
"Delicious. Simply delicious." Tsubaki said, as she smiled.
"My grandma's a legend for a reason." Namu said with a grin.
"She is, isn't sh-"
Tsubaki looked towards Namu and was shocked to see a dozen empty soup bowls.
"Would you slow down, you glutton?!" Tsubaki yelled.
"It's amazing, what d'ya want from me?" Namu replied.
"That's enough!" Setsuno yelled. "Don't be rude to women, Namu."
"Yes grandmother, I sincerely apologize." Namu bowed his head in fear, sweat dripping from his face."
"Wow," Tsubaki thought. "that's the first time I've seen Namu afraid of anything. Just what kind of punishments did Lady Setsuno put him through?"
A few minutes later.
"Welp, I gotta take a leak. I'll be right back." Namu got up from his seat and made his way to the bathroom.
"Namu's told me a lot about you, Tsubaki." Setsuno said with a grin.
"Really? Nothing bad I hope."
"He said you're an amazing chef, and you're more talented than you know."
"He said that?" Tsubaki blushed, her cheeks turning a reddish pink color.
"I'm sure you noticed it. My soup, that is." Setsuno said, her grin turning into a slightly more somber expression.
"I did." Tsubaki said in a serious tone. "It's really incredible, but I feel like there's something missing. I just can't put my finger on it."
"The truth is my Century Soup is just a replica."
Tsubaki was surprised at first, but then she remembered her parents mentioning a legendary soup made from thawed ice somewhere in the Human World.
Just then, a short, elderly man with a pompadour entered the dining hall.
"Jiro-chan!" Setsuno greeted her old lover with a smile and a wave.
"Secchan." Jiro returned his beloved's smile with one of his own.
"That's the legendary 'Knocking Master' Jiro?! He looks like a freakin' bum!" Tsubaki thought to herself, not being dumb enough to say it out loud and anger her hero, Setsuno.
"You must be Tsubaki." Jiro said as he sat next to her.
"Yes sir." She replied.
"Namu tells me you're his new Combo partner." Jiro said, as he poured a pink-colored liquid out of a large gourd-shaped bottle into a sake cup.
"Yes, that's right." Tsubaki said politely as she pondered what the pink liquid was.
"I noticed you've tried my dear Secchan's Century Soup. As it turns out, it's almost time for the real thing."
"What?!" Namu yelled as he left the bathroom. "The Century Soup is almost ready?!"
Namu ran towards his grandfather before tripping on Jujube, who was sleeping on the floor. Despite the loud crash of Namu falling face first into the ground, Jujube kept sleeping, possibly dreaming of the Gourmet World Ingredients his ancestors carried in their DNA.
Namu jumped up off the floor and continued towards his grandfather.
"Is it really amost ready?!"
"It'll be a few days, but yes." Jiro said, downing another glass of the pink liquid.
"You thinkin' what I'm thinkin', partner?" Namu asked Tsubaki.
"The Soup dish in your Full Course?"
"You know it!"
"Well," Setsuno said. "Sounds like you two have an adventure planned."
"This is cause for celebration!" Jiro smiled, downing another sake cup.
"Is that Doham Spring Sake?" Namu asked.
"Sure is." Jiro replied. "Would you like some?"
Namu poured some of the pink sake into a cup and drank.
"Man, that's good!"
"Can I try?" Tsubaki asked.
"I don't know, Tsu. This isn't exactly for weak drinkers."
"I think I can handle sake." Tsubaki said as she swiped the cup from Namu's hand.
Tsubaki poured some Doham Spring Sake into the cup, and drank. There was a very loud thud as Tsubaki's passed out body smashed against the floor, waking up Jujube from his nap.
End of Chapter.
Author's Note: Hey guys. Hope you enjoyed this one. I'm sorry if this chapter wasn't the best, I wasn't feeling very inspired today. I'm fine, just a sorta writer's block or something. I'm glad I finally got to do my "Tsubaki drinks Jiro's Full Course's drink and immedietly passes out" joke, I've been wanting to do that for a long time.
Until next time. JA NE!