"Really? Thank you so much, Sui," Uncle Laat said, nodding. However, it was clear he didn't truly believe that Sui could revive the restaurant. While he had heard that Sui's cooking was quite popular, the boy was still young and lacked experience.
Laat's wife, Yoko, shared the same skepticism. She doubted that these two young people could devise a plan to beat the thriving fast-food restaurant across the street. Nonetheless, they were grateful for Sui's willingness to help.
Sui turned to Erina. "What do you think, Erina?"
"Wait... does this girl also know how to cook?" Luna asked in surprise. She had assumed Erina, with her noble demeanor and stunning appearance, was either the daughter of a wealthy family or perhaps a model.
"Don't let her bad temper and tsundere fool you. She's actually really talented," Sui said with a grin.
Erina's forehead twitched as she gritted her teeth. "I don't need you to explain anything for me! And I'm not a Tsundere!"
"Anyway," Erina continued, composing herself, "if we want to defeat our competition, the first step is to understand their strengths. Let's go buy some dishes from their place and try them."
"No problem," Sui agreed, and the two of them left the restaurant together.
——
When they arrived at the ramen shop across the street, they found a long line had already formed outside.
"I heard that the chef here is a seasoned ramen master named Shoichi Suzuki," Luna explained. "He's famous in other places. His ramen noodles are known for their perfect chew, and his broth is incredibly flavorful. The most popular dish is the Hell Ramen."
"Hell Ramen?" Erina repeated to herself thoughtfully.
At that moment, a middle-aged man in a chef's uniform approached them with a smirk. "Well, if it isn't the daughter of the struggling restaurant across the street. Are you here to try some real ramen? I can't blame you. Your place serves rustic slop, and it's no wonder you're out here buying ours."
"That's nonsense!" Luna shouted angrily. "My father's cooking is the best!"
"If that's true, why is your restaurant failing?" the man mocked, a sarcastic smile spreading across his face. "Looks like you'll be shutting down soon. What a shame."
Sui chimed in, trying to defuse the situation. "There's no need for hostility. Can't we all make a living in peace?"
"Hmph, what do you know, kid?" Suzuki sneered. "The food industry is cutthroat. When one place gains customers, others lose them. It's survival of the fittest."
"You're not wrong," Sui replied calmly.
Suzuki grinned maliciously. "Your cooking just isn't good enough. It's only natural that your customers would come to me."
Luna's face flushed with anger, but she had no words to counter him.
Erina, on the other hand, smiled coolly. "We'll see who's the weak one in the end."
Suzuki blinked in surprise, then burst out laughing. "Hah! You brats think you can beat me? Fine, I'll let you taste my ramen."
"Please do," Erina replied confidently.
Suzuki, caught off guard by her composure, felt an unexpected pressure from her presence. Who is this girl? he wondered, unnerved.
But still, he led Sui, Erina, and Luna into the restaurant and seated them. After a short while, he returned with three bowls of steaming ramen. "Here it is—Hell Ramen. This dish is the culmination of ten years of my hard work. Enjoy it... and after you've finished, prepare to accept the reality that your restaurant is done for."
Hell Ramen, as the name suggests, was famous for its fiery spice. The intense heat made diners break out in sweat as they ate.
The three began to eat.
"This is amazing!" Luna exclaimed. "It's spicy yet so fresh, especially the broth—it's delicious!" Her eyes sparkled with astonishment. Her family's restaurant also served Hell Ramen, but the quality couldn't compare to this.
Suzuki smiled smugly. "See, kid? You know you can't compete with me now, right? My secret broth recipe is leagues ahead of anything your family could make. And I'm not about to share the details."
Erina set her chopsticks down calmly. "Your broth recipe is simple. You start by sautéing vegetables in spicy miso, then pour in pork bone broth. After that, you add kelp and finish with a drizzle of red chili oil."
Suzuki's face paled. "W-What? How do you know that?"
Erina continued nonchalantly, "You also add a splash of milk to the pork bone broth to make it richer."
Suzuki stared at her in disbelief. It was as though she could see through him.
"And the spicy miso?" Sui added. "You probably make it by frying soybean paste, red peppers, and garlic, then mix in chicken stock and dried shrimp. You also add a little applesauce to balance the flavor with a hint of sweetness."
Suzuki's face turned ashen. "Who... who are you people?" he stammered, genuinely afraid. How could they uncover all his secrets with just a few bites?
"I thought your ramen would be something special," Erina remarked, standing up and tossing her hair back with disdain. "But it's just average. You used too much red chili oil, which makes the broth greasy. The vegetables you sautéed had no flavor, and overall, the dish is just low-quality."
Sui nodded, continuing the critique. "And the soybean paste? It's already salty. By adding more salt, you made the spicy flavor overpowering and unbalanced."
Suzuki stood frozen, his mouth agape. Even he hadn't realized these flaws in his cooking.
"Let's go," Erina said coldly. "This ramen isn't even worth considering as competition."
With that, she turned on her heel and walked out, leaving Suzuki Shoichi standing there in stunned silence.