The neon signs of the Lower East Side flickered, casting long, jagged shadows against the brick of the Tonkato Club. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of roasted garlic and the steady hum of a synth-wave beat. Lizzie sat at the end of the mahogany bar, her fingers tracing the rim of a steaming bowl of Tonkatsu ramen. She wasn't just there for the food; she was there for the heat.
Full-scale cosplay props, structural blasters, display armor.
: Serve the Tonkatsu hot with shredded cabbage, steamed rice, and a side of Tonkatsu sauce. You can also add a slice of lemon.
By round three, the other three contestants had tapped out, their faces flushed deep red as they guzzled glasses of ice-cold milk. Only Silas and Lizzie remained.