Akido Barbecue Restaurant
When Aunt Akido saw Hikaru Kinoshita, her expression turned deadly serious.
It was as if she had spotted her greatest nemesis there was not a trace of her usual smile.
"You're here!"
"I'm here!"
"You shouldn't have come…"
"Did we run out of free passes for this month?" Hikaru asked sheepishly.
Aunt Akido froze. That's right… all the free visits for the month were gone… oh no →_→
"Little one, my dear, you're always welcome. Right this way."
"Uh… (︶︿︶)=凸"
Hikaru realized then that a woman's ability to flip moods might have nothing to do with age.
"This counts as two times, or I won't acknowledge it," Tokuyoshi Kato said quietly, sitting next to Kazuya Kinoshita.
It was a trap! You promised two kids, and he brought five. Did he think he was taking a family portrait? Ridiculous!
"What? Senior Kato actually thinks someone who breaks a promise can be a comrade?" Kazuya exclaimed.
All eyes turned to Tokuyoshi, making sweat bead on his forehead.
"Senior Kato, someone who breaks promises shouldn't be a teammate," Pot 彩静 added.
"Teacher, you shouldn't team up with such a hopeless person," Mikoto Uchiha said.
"Who's he talking about (๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)?" Hikaru asked, catching his brother's hint, blinking adorably.
"Uh… oh." Before Kazuya could answer, Tokuyoshi quickly covered his mouth.
"Uh… never mind the details. Let's eat. This is the first… 'official' treat. Enjoy it, okay? Haha (ಡωಡ) hiahiahia."
Kazuya raised his hands and nodded, offering no resistance.
Tokuyoshi exhaled in relief. Better to lose money than suffer public humiliation. Otherwise, he'd practically have to commit seppuku in front of everyone.
Four kids could eat… how much could it really be? Don't panic (ΘдΘ;)
Just as Tokuyoshi reassured himself, Shigeru Uchiha slammed his hand on the table and looked at Hikaru.
"Let's have a real man-to-man showdown. Who can eat more do you dare to accept?"
Tokuyoshi: ∪･ω･∪
Brat, don't use my money as a bet…
Minato Namikaze: (x_x;)
Shigeru sure has guts…
Kazuya: (^_^)
"Alright! I'll be the referee. You two have a real man's showdown. Go, Hikaru! Do it! (ง •̀_•́)ง" Kazuya said.
"Shigeru, then it's settled. Let's see who wins…" Hikaru's fighting spirit exploded as he jumped to his feet.
Bring it on. If men don't clash head-on, how can friendship be forged? Shigeru, consider yourself my comrade.
"Yes!"
Tokuyoshi suddenly felt a bad premonition, but laughed at himself. Two kids how much can they really eat?
"I'm glad to see you so full of energy, but don't overeat and hurt yourselves."
"Teacher Kato is so kind!" Hikaru said, eyes sparkling. Then he glanced at his brother with mock disdain.
Kazuya thought to himself, If the gentle teacher doesn't snap later, this brother will handle it!
"Can I take your orders?"
Aunt Akido brought the menu, stepping forward like she was sounding a battle horn.
"Meat… 50 pounds! (ಡωಡ)"
Cough! Tokuyoshi nearly choked on his tea.
"Hikaru, wasting food is wrong. Can you really eat this much?"
"Bring it on. If we waste food, the bet is off," Kazuya supported his little brother.
Tokuyoshi felt no relief. He collapsed onto the table, resigned. Not a mindless villain he knew Kazuya was confident in his plan.
The ninja world was full of strange techniques, just like the Akido family.
He looked around, scouting escape routes. Ninja may make money, but Tokuyoshi was just a teacher. A C-rank mission paid only 10,000 ryo per month the lowest possible.
One pound of premium pork belly cost 30 ryo. Hikaru had ordered 50 pounds 1,500 ryo not counting the rest of the group.
Then…
"Don't think about running. A ninja with poor character cannot uphold the Will of Fire," Kazuya said, voice dark.
Tokuyoshi: "…This guy is a dog! ∪･ω･∪"
Sizzle. The pork belly cooked over the flames, filling the air with a rich aroma.
Hikaru and Shigeru didn't touch their food yet, staring each other down with fiery determination.
Once everyone else was full, the real battle began.
Kazuya asked Pot 彩静 to grill for the two boys, with Mikoto helping. A "beautiful assistants cooking the meat" strategy what a tease…
Pound by pound, Shigeru fell behind, losing face with each bite.
Hikaru, however, continued eating in silence, showing Shigeru that he was serious.
This quiet resolve made Shigeru think: This brat isn't bad…
In Tokuyoshi's groaning, a tentative friendship formed between the two.
Twenty pounds, fifty pounds, one hundred pounds.
"Teacher Kazuya, stop him! Hikaru's turning into a ball!" Tokuyoshi pleaded.
"It's fine. Kids need to eat. Only then can they grow," Kazuya replied, confident his brother would teach the senior a lesson.
Tokuyoshi twitched at the "grow" comment. Eating won't magically increase height.
Time passed. Hikaru shoved food into his mouth: 150 pounds, 200 pounds, 250 pounds, 278 pounds.
"Gah "
"I'm full!" Hikaru pressed his hands together, nodding slightly.
"Shigeru!" Mikoto praised. "Amazing! He literally ate himself into a ball!"
"Is this even okay? How will you go to school tomorrow?"
"I digest fast," Hikaru said with a grin.
Kazuya stood up, smiling. "That's enough for today. Boss, the check, please."
Aunt Akido brought the bill, beaming. She pointed to Tokuyoshi: "Total 9,324 ryo. You can pay 9,300 ryo."
Tokuyoshi froze. 9,300 ryo kept ringing in his ears. One thought: I'm bankrupt…
He waved the kids ahead and whispered quietly after they left: "I didn't bring enough today… can I put it on credit? (´罒`)"
"Credit? You want a free meal?" Aunt Akido's smile disappeared. Her face darkened, chakra gathering.
"Tokuyoshi Kato!"
"Teacher Kato, are you okay?" Mikoto asked outside the restaurant.
"You have to trust your teacher."
"Okay!" Mikoto nodded, saying nothing more.
She wanted to say she had enjoyed the meal immensely. Maybe she should have treated them herself (ಡωಡ).
As an Uchiha, money wasn't an issue.
But she remembered her mother's advice: "Mikoto, don't make decisions for men they're all proud."