Katsuragi Birthday

Katsuragi wanted to spend her birthday with her friends. All of her friends. So she invited two of her closest rivals out for lunch at her favourite Ramen restaurant. She was able to get Yozakura and Hikage to agree to a "truce" so they could all go out together without fighting and preferably return home with their clothes on.

 

The restaurant was tucked away in a quiet part of town. Katsuragi was such a regular that she even knew the names of the kitchen staff. There was a waft of spice and oil that permeated the entire eating area and the air was thick with grease.

 

'This place is the best!' Katsuragi boasted.

 

'The tables are slippery with oil.' Yozakura muttered under her breath.

 

'Something smells good.' Hikage mumbled 'I'm hungry.'

 

Not quite the reaction Katsuragi hoped for.

 

The staff at the front of the store shouted out a warm welcome to Katsuragi. She'd brought in a lot money to this little restaurant and always had attractive young women as her guests. The trio were quickly seated and served.

 

Hikage stared blankly at the menu and pointed her finger at a random dish. She wasn't a fussy eater. 'I guess I'll have this one?'

 

Yozakura carefully perused the menu 'I don't want anything too filling.'

 

'What's the matter with you guys?' As a true "connoisseur" Katsuragi was disgusted. She guided the waiter to the most filling dish on the menu. Katsuragi's favourite. 'Three of these!'

 

As they waited for their food they passed the time with cold drinks and chatter. Katsuragi and Yozakura got into a conversation about their training and a heated argument over kicks and punches. Hikage teased a straw in her mouth and daydreamed. She would have gotten involved but she assumed Kat and Yoza were having fun by themselves.

 

When the food arrived everything came to a standstill. Yozakura and Hikage marvelled at the bowls placed in front of them. There was enough there to feed an entire table and the aroma and presentation won them over.

 

Yozakura awed 'This actually looks really good.'

 

'Looks like food.' Hikage agreed. That was her way of giving a compliment.

 

Katsuragi grinned 'I told you guys this place was the best.'

 

They all gave thanks for their food and dug in.

 

'Last one to finish is a rotten egg!' Katsuragi shouted.

 

The challenge was laid down and Katsuragi was determined to win.

 

Katsuragi raced to shovel food down her mouth. She slurped up the noodles until her cheeks were stuffed and hurried to mash them into fine pieces she could gulp down. The heat of the food and steam that rose from the bowl turned Katsuragi's face, neck and cleavage bright pink. As she finally reached the broth sweat ran down her brow. She drank down the broth and slammed down the bowl.

 

'I win!' Katsuragi pumped her fist in the air. Her skin glistened with sweat and her hair was soggy.

 

'Congratulations?' Yozakura meekly cheered.

 

Hikage, with noodles still travelling to her lips, gave a weak applause.

 

Yozakura pointed out Katsuragi's frizzy hair 'I like your new hair.'

 

'Very funny!' Katsuragi grumbled.

 

Katsuragi was confused. It didn't look like either of them had join in on her competition. Their bowls were still full. 'Wait, you guys didn't race?'

 

Hikage was confused 'We were racing?'

 

'I was just going to enjoy my meal.' Yozakura nervously smiled.

 

Hikage nodded 'Yeah, seems like a waste to just rush through it.'

 

Katsuragi sat back and opened up buttons on her blouse and the brush of cool air delighted her. She fanned herself with her own blouse and slowly cooled down. It was a disappointing to her that no one else had joined in on her competition but a class-clown like Katsu wasn't going to start sulking. Yozakura and Hikage enjoyed their food and she had good company. As long as she had people to share her passion for food with that would be enough.

 

Katsuragi huffed 'Well. If you two are going to be such slow-pokes then that means I have time for seconds!'

 

Nothing was going to ruin her birthday.