Lunch time! Oh, Keith! Did you hear what's on
the lunch menu today? Hmm? No. It's deluxe beef stew! The cafeteria's head chef
has been stewing it for three days! Sounds amazing, right? Really, now?
Enjoy yourselves. "Ourselves?"
You're not gonna try some? No way... Do you hate beef stew or something? No, I quite enjoy it. Got a stomach ache or something? Fit as a fiddle. But unfortunately,
I have too many other things on my mind. Now if you'll excuse me. "Keith the Solitary Gourmet" THAT Keith?
Hard to believe, right? He's usually more
into food than anyone. Something's definitely up! I dunno, you're probably overthinking it. But we can't be sure. That beef stew at lunch, it was easily one of the top five
best foods I've had on Earth. I can't help but think
there must be a reason for a gourmet like him to skip it. Jane, you remember
our day off a while back? Huh? Oh, that? The two of us went out
for some duck, see? And when we did... Nice to eat at a place
like this every now and then!
- Well well.
- Hey! Here for the food? I'm hungry enough, but I don't have time for that, now. He seemed different than usual. Oh yeah! We saw him in town that same day. What's he up to? Not gonna let him get away! Wait! He's gone... That sounds sus to me. Now that you mention it... What? You saw him, too? A little while back... Has it been there all along? How could I not have noticed? I can't just leave this be. Keith. Something wrong? N-Nope... Just taking in the beautiful sky today. He's de
finitely hiding something! Wouldn't asking him
be the quickest way to find out? Yeah. As long as we're nice
and willing to help I'm sure he'll open up to us. What's most important... ...is to smile! You wanna hear my troubles? Yeah! Anything that's on your mind! Yup! Yup! Th-There's really nothing. Oh, come on. You gotta have something! N-No, I really don't... Really really? Really really really... Gah! I can't take it! We know!
We've seen you sneakin' off! We all started wondering why. Can you
tell us? No! I can't drag all of you into this! If I did, then... No, never mind.
It's nothing. Way to go, Lucy! Heh... Keith might be caught up
in something bigger than we think. What?! What are we gonna do? Well... He's in trouble? I doubt that. We didn't know he was up to anything, but why worry about him? He's definitely trying to hide something. Who knows what might happen
if we don't intervene? All of us have secrets we want to keep. He told you it's nothing, right? Then leave him be. That
's really cold of you all. Aren't you supposed to be friends? We are. That's why we aren't worried. Huh? Because we trust him. Yup. Even if he was caught up
in something like you say, he'd come to us if he really needed help. Hard to argue that. Guess they're just
looking out for their friend. I just know Keith found the hideout
of some huge crime syndicate in town! Yeah! And he's been
monitoring them for days! And finally has proof
of their wicked deeds! He's pretty good, huh? Maybe we should
t
alk with Master Genryusai. It might be best
to keep this under wraps for now. Okay then!
Let's do our usual thing! What thing? Oh... We'd stick out if we all went, so... This time we're gonna get to the truth! We're the best around
at tailing people! Wait you two! He stopped! Is that a restaurant? Now then.
This is it! Does that mean...? It's a secret base! What? It doesn't look like one. Well? What do we do? We should call for help! We don't have time! We can't let him fight alone! Let's go! Ke
ith!
We're here to help! Huh? What's all this, then? You just came here to eat lunch? I just happened
to spot this place, you see. But the food is so good
I was beside myself. I started coming regularly. So when Ron heard you say "I can't just leave this be," what you meant was you wanted
to try everything on the menu? And today is the day
you finally finish it? You had us worried. Why sneak away and
keep this secret from us, though? I didn't want anyone
getting in my way. I was enjoying my time
here alone enjoying each and every dish
with no one bothering me. Oh... The rich aroma of these spices... The perfect viscosity.. All cooked over a flame
for not a second too long. It is clear this chef
is a master of his art. That so... Incredible! The savory flavor
that fills each bite! The ever-so-slight spiciness
that suits it so well! A flavor this rich and deep cannot be made with
off-the-shelf seasoning. He must be using
homemade doubanjiang. And there's more than mere flavor. Take a loo
k around this place. Wallpaper colored by years
of devotion to the craft. Floors slick with years of oil. All the things left strewn about. A sad looking place
in a dingy part of town. Is it all not just perfect? And when you're left alone
with no need to put on airs, the food tastes even better. Was any of that a compliment? I'm kinda surprised. I always thought
you liked fancier places. Whether something is
fancy or not isn't important. There is a real grace to this. Don't mind us! Never thoug
ht I'd
see this place so packed. Huh? Are they here to eat? Doesn't look like it. So, old man.
You give it some thought? Ain't it about time you close up shop and let us take this lot off your hands? I gave you my answer. I'm not interested in selling it. Can't see why you wouldn't wanna. You're only hurting yourself
running this place for no one. I've got customers. Now get out. Hmph! We'll be back! Sheesh... Those thugs are after my land. They come by all the time. Like I said,
I don't plan on
closing shop. But despite the years
I've poured into this place, lately I don't get much business. Truth is, things aren't great. At this rate I'll be in the red soon and this place will go under. Sorry, Keith my boy. Right when you start dropping in. When did you two get so close...? I'd thought it nice
to enjoy a meal in peace and quiet, but there will be nothing to enjoy
if the shop itself goes under. Monsieur, I know this is assuming much, but if you wouldn't mind,
I'd love to help! Huh? He
lp with what? I'll see this place
brought back to its prime! Yeah? That sounds fun! We'll help out, too! Yeah! Bleeding money as it is, so... Maybe it's time
for some young, helping hands! Time to get to work! This is amazing! I can see why Keith keeps coming here. I see...
Starting to get a sense of the finances. Not a single penny wasted
on costs and expenses. So the problem really is
the fact there are no customers. Even though the food tastes this good... If people would just show up
this pl
ace would be hoppin'. It's not that easy. These days the taste
isn't all that matters. It's about the looks.
About how the place feels. About point cards.
About cost and time performance. Customers are connoisseurs these days! R-Right... I know how to get people to show up. I've long been posting on social media about the restaurants I've visited. I hadn't posted about this place because I wanted to keep it secret. But there we go. I'm getting responses already! Wow! That was fast! So hey, how m
any followers do you have? Four hundred? Four thousand? Wait, 40,000?! Four. What...? So...your classmates? Doesn't sound like
that'll be much help. Don't social media posts
spread far and wide all on their own? No! It's not that easy! The internet is a non-stop
stream of constant information. It's not easy to get
random people to stop and take a look! No...? Here's what we do. We hand out flyers
on the street instead of online. Then we come up with
a new menu item that'll look good! I'll go fir
st! Shark fin soup and roast duck! That'd catch attention. But that would be hard on the budget. Me next! Spicy tofu, veggie stir-fry,
and chili shrimp all-in-one! Might be a hit with a younger crowd. But this would push our budget, too... Then we gotta go with steak! Do you even know
what kind of restaurant this is? Pancakes topped with
loads of whipped cream! Like I said... All the spices and ingredients
from the menu combined in one of my— Yeah, no. Sheesh... All this would sure catch attenti
on, but... New additions to the menu... Honestly, none of this
conveys what is best here. I'll make 'em all. What?! Everything but the smoothie. For the future of this place. Rather than let this place go under, I might as well try what I can. Okay, that's the menu done. Now let's get this place looking new! Yeah! Now we just wait for people to show up. Yup! Sorry everyone, but I'm heading back. Keith? I bet he's just worn out. I need to do this... Roast duck, please! I'll take pancakes! Well-do
ne steak for me! Coming up. Look at this thing! Can you believe it? Looks like we pulled it off. This was all worth it. It was worth it... The crowds are back. My numbers are up.
The shop is safe now. But... Huh? You're closing already? I was excited about
that crazy menu, too... Let's go. There's a place with drinks
that'll make for good pics over on Third. Ugh... Why are you closing? You had so many customers! I have a favor to ask. Hello? That you, my boy? Monsieur? Sorry for calling you out.
It's fine. You shoulda seen this place at lunch. Might have had more
customers than ever before. Seemed like everyone was
having fun with it all, too. If I keep this up,
I won't have to worry 'bout a thing. But you know... I'm dropping this new menu as of today. What?! Sorry Keith my boy, I was wrong. I appreciate all the help. But I was so focused
on keeping this place open I forgot what was really important. What's that? Bringing in customers
ain't all that matters. What I want is to make the
food I like and put smiles on the faces
of those who come and try it. What I did here today wasn't that. More than anything,
I feel bad about you. I wiped that smile right off your face. Nothing could have made me happier than seeing you there enjoying my cooking
from the bottom of your heart. So I'm going back
to my old menu again. And if the customers stop coming in, well then I guess
that means it's time to close shop. There's grace in such conviction. But I don't want you
to give up that ea
sily. If this shop were to close,
it would not be just me. Countless smiles
would be stolen away. Well, listen to you, eh? Here! Finally found it! Listen, I'm not serving
pancakes and steak anymore. Pancakes? Steak? We saw posts by
some kid named Keith! He said the food here is incredible! Yeah, so we thought we'd check it out! Look at all these responses... I'll have the spicy tofu! Chili shrimp for me. What?! Wait... What the heck is goin' on? Maybe we oughta rough 'em up
so no one ever shows
up again! Ninja are meant... to work from the shadows
to better the world. Remember that. Looks like those two thugs were arrested. Sounds like evidence came to light on their dirty ways of buying up land. Aww, I wanted to beat 'em up. I'm pretty surprised though. How did Keith's post go viral? Gotta be thanks to Naomi, right? Does spreading on social media
really matter that much? Well, Naomi has
tens of thousands of followers. What?! Why so many? I tried asking her the same thing, but... Every
one has their secrets. Is all she'd say. We sure did meddle
in people's business again. But all's well that ends well! Is Keith back there again today? Yup. The way he says it, eating good food
all alone is great and all. But eating in a bustling restaurant might be even better! This is peak gastronomy! Délicieux! Transformee! Here's your task for today! A pan like this is called a wok. Tryee! Donee! Gumchi, that's just
fried rice MADE in a wok. Fried rice, coming upee! The restaurant and Keith
all lived happily ever after! How's Naomi so huge online, though?
Better follow her. Hey now, Burton!
How did you turn back into an adult?! Next time on Ninjala,
"Messenger From the Future" You can’t miss this one!
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