She could hear a lot of insane jibber jabber coming from the town. Shouting, screaming, confusion were all common in the little town. She sighed. "What is it this time?"

She walked into town to see a man largely overdressed, shouting at the top of his lungs about a cooking contest.

"Come one, come all!!! Be witness to the most wonderful contest ever staged. The national league of cooking has decided that this wonderful town will be the next place for the National Cooking Bonanza!! Each qualified contestant receives a year's supply of food from the Fuschia Dragon, the best variety in town!"

"Huh? Free food!? Sugoi!!!"

The man picked her out of the crowd. "How about you? Hmm. Do you wanna enter the contest young lady?"

"Absolutely!!"

"Fine. This young lady will be the first to be interviewed." They walked into the Fuschia Dragon and they both sat down.

"Now young lady... ummm can I have your name?"

"Wakaba Syung Kyung"

"Alright Wakaba-chan, I will ask you to prepare one dish. I want you to prepare an appetizer. What will it be?"

"Uhh. How 'bout a salad?"

"That will be fine. Can you specify?"

"Yes. Uhh... A fresh Island Salad, made with crisp iceberg lettuce, tomato, pineapple and red wine vinagerette dressing."

"Sounds delicious. Go into the kitchen and begin on your masterpiece."

After about 15 minutes later, Wakaba came out with a delicious looking salad. The lettuce was crisp, the tomatoes diced, the pineapple had been roasted, and the vinagerette was in a bowl on the side so he could put as much as he wanted on it.

He sprinkled the vinagerette all over the salad. He took a fork and took a big bit her salad. He crunched it. Gobble... Snarf... Snap...

"Very good Wakaba-chan. You are an excellent salad maker. You are our first contestant. Congratulations."

"Yeah yeah. When do I get my free food?"

Wakaba walked home felling just a little bit proud of herself. But no food.

The day of the cooking contest arrived. It was an elimination tournament, so the winner had to keep winning. 8 people were in this tournament today.

Wakaba stepped up on a wooden stand in her best, cleanest gi. A bright white head band was wrapped around her forehead, and her leg guards were brightly polished.

She was followed by a young boy wearing a weird hat and a stalky older man.

"Conell honey!! Good luck from your mommy!!"

"Don't be such a disappointment this time Tony..."

The 8 contestants bowed to the applause from the crowd.

"The first contestant is Conell. Hailing from the Forest Village."

"The second is Tony. Also hails from the Forest Village."

"The third is a spunky young lass named Wakaba. The third and last from the Forest Village."

And the announcer kept babbling on about each of the others.

"Round 1. Wakaba vs Tira Misu."

A pretty, young judge stood up and said, "Contestants, let the cook off begin."

Wakaba dashed for the table. Nothing was going to stop her. They had one hour to prepare the food, and it looked like her opponent was already far ahead of her.

She began with her Island Salad again. The same formula.

"Next.. What should I make?"

She grabbed some noodles and some ground beef. She took the noodles and began to boil them. She took the ground beef, and in the meantime made hamburgers.

"Ack. The noodles are done!"

"Now dessert..."

The hour was up. Wakaba placed her meal in front of the judges. Each ate the salad and crunched happily.

She announced, "A fresh island salad with diced tomatoes, pineapple, crisp iceberg lettuce, and red wine vinagerette dressing."

"5."

"3."

"4."

"0."

"Huh? Zero?"

"Hmm. We have some impressive scores here. Huh? Zero?"

Tira smiled. She placed her appetizer in front of the judges.

"Rice mix. Curry, pilaf, white, fried, and wild all in one big bowl."

The judges began wincing as if they were in pain. The horrendous smell paired with the taste to make an absolute bomb.

"0."

"1."

"2."

"0."

"Hmm. Let me have a taste." The announcer took one mouthful and shouted. "Oh my God!! Never ever feed this to another living thing!!"

Tears were streaming down Tira's cheeks.

"Uhh. I am so very, very sorry!"

"Really? Ya mean it?"

"Yes."

"Kay!!"

Wakaba placed her next dish in front of the judges.

"A hamburger, open face, so you can decide what you want on it. And a light butter pasta with cheese, butter and olive oil. The olive oil is imported from the peaks of Harmonia."

Gobble... Snarf... Snap...

"3."

"2."

"0."

"1."

"Ooh. Not to good for Wakaba-chan."

Tira smiled and placed her food in front of the judges.

"A teryaki chicken, with steamed vegetables and a sweet bean bun on the side."

Gobble... Snarf... Snap...

"5."

"5."

"5."

"5."

"A perfect score ladies and gentlemen. The current situation is Wakaba-chan 18, Tira Misu 23."

Wakaba smiled and said, "My next dish is a strawberry shortcake with a light fudge topping. It is garnished with raspberries for color."

"5."

"4."

"5."

"3."

Tira smirked as if she knew she was going to win.

"A Crepe Suzette, smothered in brandy, and lit aflame. With a light, sugar free ice cream on the side."

"2."

"2."

"3."

"4."

"Hmm. Decent. And the final scores are..."

A large mat unfolded on Wakaba's side saying 35. Then, a large mat unfolded on Tira's side saying 34.

"The winner is Wakaba Syung Kyung!!"

The overdressed man walked over to Wakaba and said, "That was close. You sure you can win?"