“Curry udon, extra spicy for ya, boss!”

Hanabi set the bowl down in front of Goro, smiling patiently at the old man. He didn’t even look down at the bowl, too busy matching Ai Li’s glare as he blindly picked up his chopsticks and drew the noodles up to his mouth, barely acknowledging the flavor.

“Good. Get me tea.” Goro ordered, his glowering only increasing as Ai Li brought a spoonful of miso soup to her lips. “You slurp your soup like a toddler.”

Ai Li swallowed before answering. “You eat noodles like an impotent.”

“What was that?!”

“I’m not raising my voice for a pervert!”

“I’m no pervert!” Goro growled. “I’m not interested in doughy little youngsters who can’t even work their way into a bra!”

“Ew!” Ai Li gagged. “That word sounds so gross coming from you!”

“What?! Bra?!”

“Stop!”

“Bra! Bra, bra, bra!”

Ai Li covered her ears and wailed as the customers all watched in mixed amusement. “HANAAAAA!”

A tea kettle slammed onto the countertop between the two, causing them to flinch and look up at Hanabi’s ever-smiling face. Her eyes opened slowly, and the two quickly turned away from each other to avoid the sheer ire pouring out from her gaze.

“Ahem… Boss, this is Ai Li, the friend I made at the healing center!”

Goro mumbled something that was half profanity, half a greeting.

“Ai-chan, this is my caretaker, Goro Ohno, owner of this establishment.”

Ai Li didn’t say a word, and instead, loudly sipped her soup until the old man’s eyebrow was twitching.

“You two will be nice to each other.” Hanabi said with a pleasant expression. “Or else!”

Goro swiftly looked her way. “Or else what, girl?! Are you threatening me in my own—” He cut himself off when Hanabi’s head creaked in his direction. Malice visibly squirmed just beneath her hostess body language, and he decided to just munch his noodles.

Ron and John, not sitting too far away, cackled.

“Boy, no question who’s gunna wear the pants when you’re married, Hana.” Ron teased.

All of the tension in Hanabi’s body evaporated, and she squirmed in place with a visible blush. “I’m not doing that anytime soon, Ron! More coffee?”

“Yes please.”

“Not doing any more of what? Wearing pants?” John asked with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

“In your dreams, sir~! More rice?”

“Yes’m!”

The door jingled as it opened, and Hanabi responded with a chipper, “Irasshaimase!”

Goro, eating his curry udon, slowed down as he saw who it was: a black haired man in a black suit, wearing sunglasses. He coughed, sputtering his meal back into his bowl, drawing a squeak of disgust from Ai Li, before wiping his mouth on his sleeve.

“Welcome to Goro’s Four Bowls of Fire, sir!” Hanabi smiled Rudolph’s way. “Take a seat anywhere, I’ll be—”

Goro suddenly piped up in a shrill yell: “Didn’t I tell you to not come around here, boy?!” He demanded, hopping off his seat with an aggravated look. “Get out!”

Hanabi blinked as Rudolph adjusted his tie, and despite Goro’s yelling, stepped deeper into the establishment, facing Hanabi with a pleased smile.

“I’m actually not here to eat, miss, I was hoping to—”

“You ain’t here for shit, boy!” Goro interrupted again, scuttling up to him with red-faced anger. “Leave my apprentice alone!”

“Excuse me?” Rudolph asked, annoyance rising in his tone. “You told me yesterday she didn’t even exist! I’m here on business, so if you’ll just—”

“Just nothin’! You ain’t putting your dirty hands on her, and I won’t stand to hear your perverse words trying to seduce her to your vile schemes!” Goro shook a fist up at Rudolph, whose eyebrows scrunched together.

“I don’t know where you’re getting these absurd ideas, but I am here to speak with miss Hanaya and I won’t—”

“You won’t be doing anything or I’ll—”

“Quit interrupting me you old codger or else I’ll—”

Hanabi swiftly set the dishes she’d been carrying aside and got between the two men, pushing them both back a step. “Whoa whoa whoa, now let’s not make a scene.” She ordered them, glancing around the restaurant. “We have customers after all.”

“Hanabi!” Goro tugged her sleeve, giving her a hard look. “I am ordering you to not speak to this man!”

Hanabi stared back, her eyes closing and a deep breathing escaping her as she cooled herself off. She whipped her sleeve out of his hand, making him gasp. “You’re my master, not my father. I’m old enough to decide who I want to talk to.”

“You…” Goro seethed for only a moment, before his expression suddenly twisted in worry. “Hanabi, you need to listen to me! He… he doesn’t have your best interests in mind!”

Hanabi’s mouth opened, utterly confused at the change to the old man’s countenance, but then Rudolph cleared his throat.

“If I may?” He asked gently, looking directly at Hanabi. After a moment of thought, she gave him a short nod.

“Hanabi!”

“Shh.” Hanabi hissed, closing her eyes. “I will hear what he has to say and that’s it. I’m not gunna make any fast decisions.”

Goro’s expression tightened in frustration, while Ai Li quietly slipped out of her seat to pad up to Hanabi.

“Should I go…?” She asked softly.

Hanabi squeezed the smaller girl’s shoulder. “You don’t gotta…”

“I promise I won’t take up too much of your time miss Hanaya.” Rudolph said in a calm voice, seeming pleased to have his opportunity. “And miss Li, I’d like to congratulate you on your recent victories. You’re growing quite the following in tournament watchers.”

“Wh-huh? Really?” Ai Li blinked.

Rudolph gave her a friendly grin. “Your fights with Bernard Bucci have gotten quite a bit of attention. Fighting off an ambush and a kidnapping is a big deal, especially to an audience that loves the underdog.”

Ai Li blinked, and with a blush, pulled out her phone to send a text to Jaquan for confirmation, and Rudolph turned back to Hanabi, tugging his already straightened tie.

“Do you mind if we sit?”

“Sure.” Hanabi turned and gestured towards the back room. “Let’s take this into the back.”

“WHAAAAAAAT?!” Goro almost shrieked. “Inviting this man into MY HOUSE?!”

“Our house, boss!” Hanabi reminded him, making the old man sputter and huff in rage, but ultimately watched as Hanabi led Rudolph and Ai Li through the curtain.

“Miss Hanaya, my name is Rudolph Reffe, thirty-eighth of my name, of the Romanian Reffe clan.”

Hanabi gave a small nod before bringing a steaming cup of tea to her lips, sipping as she watched the man from across the little sitting table take a business card from his coat pocket and slide it across for her to take.

“Master Muhammed Wangui has personally asked the Reffe clan to manage all aspects of the New World Tournament of Ultimate Enlightenment. That includes seeking prospective fighters to participate.”

“And, of course, I show up right when it’s happening, so I’m getting roped in?” Hanabi asked.

Rudolph pursed his lips at her question, and he gave a small, noncommittal shrug. “Nobody is going to force you to participate, miss Hanaya, but Lord Reffe is willing to cut quite the deal with you.”

“But why?” Hanabi’s brow scrunched together. “I mean, Ai Li never mentioned getting a deal or anything like that.”

“That is because miss Li willingly joined us before we got solid evidence of both her competence and favor with the audience.” Rudolph explained, opened his briefcase to take out a few papers to place in front of Hanabi. “To cut the legalese short, Lord Reffe has extraordinary faith in your ability to elevate the tournament to a new level.”

Hanabi tried to read the papers, but her head began to swim just trying to parse all the exacting language… “How long have you guys been watching me?”

Rudolph cleared his throat. “By chance, one of my clanmates happened to see your battle with Jorge Brutus.” Hanabi met the name with a mystified expression. “The… seven-and-a-half foot tall man who can kick cars aside?”

“Ooooooh! The asshole.”

“He is known for his abrasiveness, yes.”

“Okay, but that was just a chance battle, right?” Hanabi frowned. “I didn’t want to fight him, I had to; he was going to cause trouble otherwise.”

Rudolph gave her a sympathetic look. “I understand that, miss Hanaya, and you were successful, but there is no doubt that it was a spectacular fight. Lord Reffe was impressed that a seemingly unknown girl managed to take down such a high profile enlightened. Then, of course, your fight with miss Li got quite a bit of attention.”

“I mean, maybe from some guests…”

“Including myself.” Rudolph gave a lopsided smile. “I happened to be visiting at the time, and got to witness firsthand how incredible you were. It’s clear you have actual experience.”

“Not something I’m particularly proud of.”

“Either way, we want to formally invite you to join the tournament as a participant.”

Hanabi stared at the Reffe clan business card, reading both sides, then looking back at the papers on the table thoughtfully. With a long sigh, she shook her head and pushed them back.

“This isn’t why I came to America. I’m really flattered you guys think I’m something special, but I’m a chef first.” She explained as Rudolph’s expression fell. “I came to cook. I want to cook. I know it might sound silly to you guys, but fighting has never been a major priority for me, just something that happens, uh… to me.”

“W-well, miss Hanabi,” Rudolph tried to smile, “then you’ll be pleased to know that we are prepared to offer you deals should you join! We are prepared to partner with Food Network in order to—”

“Sir.”

“—provide you with a kitchen and a unique audience, co-participating with two brands to start a case for yourself for future dealings, it’ll look good—”

“Uh, dude?”

“—and lay a solid foundation for future dealings you want to make!” He gestured around the small bedroom. “This very restaurant could become the premier home of Hanabi Hanaya, fighter—”

“Dude.”

“—and chef extraordinaire! You’d get business, fame, money dealings, and—”

A hand slammed down on the table between then, fire spitting out from between Hanabi’s fingers, and Rudolph shut up in an instant as the girl slowly withdrew herself back to her seat.

“I don’t want to.” She said in a calm tone of voice. “I’m sorry, but please go look for someone else. Maybe offer some deals to Ai Li? She wants to prove herself, she’d be all about this sorta stuff.” She tried to smile.

Rudolph was silent for a moment, and breathed out slowly. “What would make you reconsider?” He asked, leaning over the table.

“Nothing.” Hanabi answered swiftly, her frown returning. “I’m not interested.”

“Miss Hanaya, please…”

“Don’t ‘please’ me, dude!” Hanabi snapped, her cheek tensing in frustration. “If you want to order something, feel free, but this conversation is over with.”

Rudolph worked his jaw, clearly unhappy with how the conversation had gone, but after a few moments of thought, he pushed his business card back over to her side and collected the papers.

“Very well.” He said with a sigh. “I would still like you to think this over in your own time. We have a great many boons to offer, and are willing to part with them should you join. But, as you said, this conversation is over with. I’ll take my leave, then.”

Hanabi nodded at him, watching him stand up, briefcase in hand. “Sorry man.”

“I appreciate the apology, and forgive you, but I would still like to hear from you later. Until then, miss Hanaya.”

He walked out the back room, and Hanabi hopped to her feet, carrying her cooled tea to watch him exit the restaurant. She glanced down at Goro as he toddled from the kitchen to watch after the guy, and he grunted.

“Who did the hitting? I heard that smack!”

“I hit the table. Might’a left a handprint… sorry boss.”

Goro huffed! “Might give it some character. You didn’t do what he asked, didja?”

“Nah.” Hanabi smiled. “I’m here to cook, and that’s that.”

“... Good.” Goro nodded slowly. “C’mon Hana-chan, lemme show you how to take that curry udon to the next level.”

She gasped in delight, and bobbed her head. “Yes! Ai Li!”

Ai Li glanced up front the counter where she’d been reviewing her fighter’s profile on her phone.

“You get to be my guinea pig!”

The little Chinese girl blinked slowly, then quickly went pale…