Heir of the Forgotten Realm

The Aftermath of Greatness

"Did you see that?!" Ryo exclaimed, chest puffed out as he paced the alley. "I just defeated an actual villain with a dumpster. I'm basically a legend now."

Sakura leaned against the wall, arms crossed and eyebrow raised. "A legend of what? Trash warfare?"

"Call it what you want," Ryo said, grinning, "but history will remember me as the guy who weaponized a dumpster."

"History will remember you as the guy who tripped over his shoelace twice in one fight," she replied, deadpan.

Ryo's grin faltered. "Okay, low blow."

She sighed, pushing off the wall. "You've still got a long way to go, Dumpster King. Let's get back to training before you hurt yourself celebrating."

---

A Kitchen Catastrophe

The next day, Sakura decided to shift gears for their training. "Magic combat isn't just about brute force. You also need to think on your feet," she explained.

Ryo perked up. "Finally, something I might be good at!"

She led him to a nearby diner's back kitchen, where the owner, a kind but eccentric older man named Mr. Tanaka, greeted them warmly.

"You want to train here?" Ryo asked, looking around at the cluttered kitchen.

"Yes," Sakura said, pulling on an apron. "The chaos of a kitchen is perfect for reflexes and improvisation. Plus, I promised Mr. Tanaka we'd help him prep lunch orders."

Ryo blinked. "Wait, I didn't agree to free labor!"

"Too late." Sakura tossed an apron at him and shoved him toward the stove.

---

The Frying Pan Showdown

At first, things went surprisingly well. Ryo managed to chop vegetables without losing any fingers, and Sakura showed off her ability to toss dumplings into a pot from three feet away.

Then came the wok.

"Alright, Ryo," Sakura said, handing him a large wok filled with sizzling oil and stir-fried vegetables. "Time for your final test: the flip."

Ryo held the wok nervously. "You mean like... toss this into the air?"

"Exactly. Flip it high, catch it, and make sure nothing spills."

"Piece of cake," Ryo said, trying to muster confidence.

He bent his knees, gripped the wok handle, and gave it an enthusiastic toss.

Unfortunately, he underestimated the weight of the wok and overestimated his upper body strength.

The wok soared into the air, spinning gracefully before crashing down onto the counter with a clang, vegetables flying in every direction.

One particularly determined piece of broccoli hit Mr. Tanaka in the forehead.

The kitchen fell silent.

"Uh... sorry?" Ryo said, smiling sheepishly.

Mr. Tanaka stared at him, then burst out laughing. "You've got the spirit of a warrior, young man! Just... not the skills."

Sakura shook her head, muttering, "This is why we can't have nice things."

---

A Rivalry Rekindled

Just as they were cleaning up the vegetable carnage, the diner doorbell jingled, and a familiar voice echoed through the kitchen.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Chosen One."

Ryo groaned. "Oh no. Not you again."

Kazuki stepped into the kitchen, looking as smug as ever. His suit was pristine, and he carried an air of superiority that made Ryo want to throw another wok at him.

"What are you doing here?" Sakura demanded, stepping between Ryo and Kazuki.

"I was just in the neighborhood," Kazuki said, smirking. "Thought I'd see how our little hero is progressing."

Ryo grabbed a ladle from the counter, holding it like a sword. "If you're here for a rematch, let me warn you—I've mastered the art of culinary combat!"

Kazuki raised an eyebrow. "You're holding a ladle."

"Exactly," Ryo said, twirling the ladle dramatically. "Prepare to face the wrath of the Soup Samurai!"

Sakura facepalmed. "Please stop."

---

The Great Kitchen Brawl

Kazuki ignored Ryo's theatrics and flicked his wrist, summoning a small orb of dark energy. "Let's see if you've improved since last time."

Before Sakura could intervene, Ryo charged forward, wielding his ladle like a knight with a lance.

Kazuki dodged easily, looking almost bored. "Are you even trying?"

"I'm just warming up!" Ryo yelled, swinging the ladle wildly.

In his frenzy, he accidentally knocked over a pot of soup, sending hot broth cascading onto the floor.

Kazuki slipped, flailing as he landed on his back with a loud thud.

The kitchen erupted into chaos. Mr. Tanaka grabbed a rolling pin, shouting, "Not in my kitchen!" as he chased Kazuki around the room.

Sakura, caught between laughing and trying to restore order, ended up using her staff to block Kazuki's escape.

"Alright, that's enough," she said, pinning Kazuki against the counter. "Explain why you're really here."

Kazuki scowled, brushing soup off his sleeve. "Fine. I'm here to deliver a message: the Obsidian Order is watching you, Chosen One. You won't get lucky next time."

With that, he vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving behind a very angry Mr. Tanaka and a very confused Ryo.

---

Cleanup Duty

After the brawl, Sakura and Ryo were left to clean up the disaster they'd created.

"This was a disaster," Sakura said, scrubbing soup off the floor.

"Disaster? I call it a victory," Ryo said, holding up the ladle like a trophy.

"You slipped on your own soup and almost got Mr. Tanaka killed."

"Details," Ryo said with a shrug. "The important thing is that Kazuki knows I'm not to be messed with."

Sakura sighed. "The only thing he knows is that you're a walking health hazard."

"Health hazard or not," Ryo said, grinning, "I'm still standing. That's what matters, right?"

She stared at him for a moment, then chuckled despite herself. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Impossible but lovable," Ryo said, winking.