True Cooking Master Boy (真・中華一番!)

Cooking Master Boy

I'm hungry, Mao.

You're the only one riding the horse. Be patient.

I heard your stomach growl—

That hurts.

Sorry. Don't mind us.

Your stomach was—

Anyway, why'd Mao have to spend our last bit of money on that book?

It's like he loses stops caring about anything else whenever cooking's involved.

I'm starving!

Shirou, where are you?

Shirou!

I'm fine.

What are you doing?

Huh?

Isn't that a town?

A town? All right! They'll have food!

It's a town!

Chickens! They all look delicious!

There are chickens everywhere.

I see! This is the Chicken Town I've heard about.

That's right. This town is the land's greatest producer of chickens.

You're actually excited for once.

The town's famous chicken dish competition is nearby.

Chicken dish competition?

It's a contest of skill based around chicken dishes.

Winning is a huge honor.

Huh? What are you doing, Shirou?

I'm harvesting persimmons from this abandoned house.

You shouldn't steal from houses, even if they're empty!

I refuse to starve to death when there's food right in front of—

Ow!

Ow! Ow, ow, ow!

Help me, Mao!

Ow...

Can you not take things from my house without permission?

I thought it was a trashed, abandoned house.

Sorry my house isn't up to your standards.

In any case, we're sorry.

It's fine. Have one.

Here.

Thanks for the food!

Those are sour persimmons.

So you're broke after buying this cookbook, huh?

You're kind of naive.

Don't be ridiculous. Mao is—

Sounds like my own dumb brother.

Your brother?

My brother opened this chicken restaurant.

As you know, this town profits from shipping

its high-quality chicken to the rest of the country.

We've got a lot of rich people here.

Then why's this the only run-down shop?

Because we can't get customers, obviously.

Why not?

It's none of your business.

It's late. Why not stay here tonight?

You don't have any money, right?

What?

I'm Tiya. What are your names?

I'm Meili.

My name's Shirou.

I'm Mao.

Thank you for everything.

What's up, Mao?

I can't stop thinking about it.

This is the only shop that isn't flourishing.

It just means their food sucks.

But Tiya's brother doesn't seem to be here.

Who cares about that?

You're always interested in weird stuff, Mao.

What's that?

Black chickens?

Don't touch them.

Their misfortune will rub off on you.

What?

These are the chickens of misfortune that killed my brother.

It's been almost a month since my brother died.

After honing his skills at a big restaurant in Guangzhou,

three years ago, my brother opened his chicken restaurant,

Black Feather Tower

"Black Feather Tower," in this highly competitive place.

One day, my brother bought some pitch black chicks.

Tiya, these chicks could change this town's history.

But these chickens are awful.

They have hardly any vitality, and they only lay a few eggs.

Every time one died, my brother would buy another chick.

He ran all around town looking for higher quality feed.

And even the friends who were initially helpful,

Wuluo is obsessed with those birds.

moved by my brother's passion...

It's pointless to raise those black chickens.

His misfortune was all brought on by those black birds.

They're birds of misfortune.

Stay away. You'll be cursed.

They were labeled birds of misfortune and feared.

Tiya, I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you for so long.

But this year, my dream will become reality.

My brother held onto his naive dream until the end,

leaving behind his black chickens and debt.

I've tended to the chickens as my brother did,

but not a single shop bought a black chicken at the last competition.

Once the festival ends, the debt collectors will return.

I can't believe he risked his life for these things.

He was an idiot.

Tiya.

Tiya, could I participate in tomorrow's competition?

What? You're planning to use those unlucky birds?

They're not birds of misfortune.

Tomorrow, with my own hands,

I'll make your brother's dream come true.

What are you doing?

You will participate in a certain test in Guangzhou.

This trial may show you the path you should follow.

See how far your strength will take you.

I will, Zhou Yu!

He told us to go without him so he could pick out the best bird.

It's okay, Tiya. He'll come.

But...

Trust him. Mao always keeps his promises.

How can you trust him so much?

Didn't you trust your brother, too?

I'm not sure. That's what I got for trusting him.

But even after your brother died, you kept taking care of those chickens.

I didn't have a choice. I wasn't doing it because I wanted to.

It's because you believed in your brother.

I think your brother never gave up on those chickens, either.

If you stopped believing in them, it would've been like doubting your brother.

The chicken dish competition will now begin.

As in the past, judging will be done carefully and impartially

by chicken dish authority, Governor Tong, as well as the mayor and vice-mayor.

The winning restaurant will be awarded a statue of honor

and cash prize to further study chicken dishes.

Begin!

See? He's not coming.

It's okay. Wait a little longer.

What are those?

The black birds! The birds of misfortune!

Sorry I'm late.

Mao tried too hard to pick the right birds.

I'm covered in scratches.

"Black Feather Tower" is participating?

Isn't Wuluo dead?

That kid is taking Wuluo's place?

What is Tiya thinking?

They're actually going to use those birds.

Will he really be okay?

What if no one eats those chickens?

I don't know, but I can say one thing for certain.

Believe in Mao.

Believe?

Open this during your most critical moments.