Chapter 59: The Great Success of the Galaxy Noodle!

"Oh? What kind of unique dish are you talking about?"

Saori's curiosity was piqued as she quickly asked.

"Haha, well, it's something you've never seen before," Sui replied with confidence.

"Such mystery," Ruri muttered from the side.

She had striking black hair, a petite figure, fair skin, and a small teardrop mole at the corner of her eye that added to her unique beauty.

"I'm sorry, that's just the way she talks," Saori apologized.

"Haha, no worries," Sui waved it off with a smile. He had learned firsthand about Kuroneko's sharp tongue. "If it doesn't taste good, you don't have to pay."

"That won't be necessary. We'll pay whether it's good or not," Saori said hastily.

"Don't lump me into that," Ruri responded coldly. "I definitely won't pay if it tastes bad."

Sui then turned to Uncle Laat and asked, "Uncle, can I use the kitchen?"

"Of course! We have all the basic ingredients," Uncle Laat responded quickly.

Nodding, Sui muttered to himself, "I remember Galaxy Noodles are made with fern root starch and squid ink..."

Erina walked over, frowning slightly. "Are you sure about this new dish of yours? Serving something untested to guests might not be a good idea."

"It should be fine," Sui said after some thought. With his current skills, even if it was his first time making it, he was confident the flavor would be excellent.

"Alright," Erina nodded, having grown familiar with Sui after spending so much time together. She knew he wasn't one to boast carelessly. If he said it was fine, then it likely was.

Half an hour later, Sui emerged from the kitchen carrying several bowls of noodles and placed them in front of Ruri, Saori, and Kirino.

Not only were they curious, but even Erina and others came over, intrigued by what Sui had created.

The dish was unlike anything they'd seen before. A dark, inky broth filled the bowls, speckled with tiny, glowing white dots, resembling a shimmering galaxy.

"What a beautiful dish! I've never seen anything like it!" Saori exclaimed in surprise.

Even Ruri and Kirino couldn't help but show expressions of awe.

"What's this dish called?" Saori asked, adjusting her thick glasses.

"These are Galaxy Noodles," Sui replied with a slight smile.

"As expected! It really feels like I'm gazing at the Milky Way," Saori said with admiration. "How did you make it?"

Before Sui could answer, Erina chimed in, "The black coloring... that's squid ink, right?"

"Correct," Sui nodded. As expected of her refined palate—Erina had quite a broad knowledge base.

"But what are those shining specks?" Erina asked, still curious. Even she couldn't identify them.

"That's bone powder," Sui explained. "In the original version, pearl powder was used, but since that's expensive, I opted for bone powder, which achieves a similar effect."

"In that case, I'll dig in!" Saori declared, picking up her chopsticks. Ruri and Kirino, eager to taste it, also started eating.

The noodles were made from fern root starch, giving them an incredibly smooth, slippery texture. The cool broth carried a strong, refreshing seafood flavor.

As they ate, the three of them felt as though they were standing by the ocean at night, with a cool breeze blowing in and the soft sound of waves in the background. Above them, the Milky Way sparkled in all its glory.

"Wow! It's like I'm standing on the beach, feeling the sea breeze," Saori said, caressing her cheek with a blissful expression.

"It's truly delicious and so refreshing," Kirino agreed.

Ruri's face flushed as she silently slurped down the noodles, her red eyes glowing with excitement. She, too, had clearly been won over by the dish.

Meanwhile, Erina and the others were also trying the Galaxy Noodles, with Sui having prepared extra servings.

"This is incredible! Sui, this dish will definitely be a hit!" Uncle Laat exclaimed, full of excitement.

"It's an incredibly imaginative dish," Erina added, impressed. This was the first time she had encountered such a creative and visually striking meal.

Seeing his Galaxy Noodles earn the approval of even the notoriously picky Erina, Sui felt reassured. He knew this dish would be more than enough to outshine the competition across the street.

"How was it?" Sui asked, walking over after Ruri and the others had finished eating.

"It was amazing! I've never had anything like it—it's truly one of a kind!" Saori praised enthusiastically.

Sui then turned to Ruri, whose cheeks had reddened slightly. Remembering her earlier remarks, she averted her eyes and reluctantly said, "Yes, it was... quite good."

Just then, a few other customers who had witnessed everything couldn't help but speak up.

"Excuse me, what was that dish just now? Can I have a bowl too?"

"And me!" another customer chimed in.

"Of course," Sui smiled.

Everyone in the restaurant seemed energized by the success of the new dish.

"I feel like my fighting spirit has been reignited!" Uncle Laat said, his blood pumping with excitement.

—_—

"Hey, I heard that old restaurant just came out with a new dish, and it's supposed to be amazing!"

"A new dish? What's it called?"

"Galaxy Noodles, or something like that. I hear it looks beautiful and tastes incredible!"

"Really? We've got to check it out."

Before long, word of the Galaxy Noodles spread throughout the neighborhood, drawing more and more customers to Uncle Laat's restaurant.

Meanwhile, across the street, Soichi Suzuki was finishing his tenth bowl of ramen when he glanced toward Laat's restaurant, only to be shocked.

The once-crowded hall of his had noticeably fewer patrons.

"What's going on?" he wondered, his heart filled with doubt.