Twenty minutes later, Ririko stood at the counter of a fast-food restaurant and turned to Clark:
"The 'best restaurant in all of Metropolis' you mentioned... is this place?"
It was an utterly ordinary fast-food joint, the kind that gave you a little toy with a kids' meal.
Clark had already ordered two Burgundy Beef Burgers with practiced ease, along with an ice cream parfait, fries, and a Coke each, and carried the tray to a table by the window.
Ririko watched Clark sit across from her, lift the top bun, and squeeze a lethal amount of ketchup inside until it overflowed.
He picked up the burger and took a huge bite, his eyes sparkling. "The food here is really good."
Ririko stirred her ice cream parfait with a fork. "How many restaurants in Metropolis have you actually eaten at?"
Chewing his beef, Clark thought for a moment. "Lots. Sandwich shops, convenience stores, kebab places, hot dog stands..."
Ririko put down her fork. "Those don't count as restaurants."
Clark smiled. "I still think Aunt Martha's beef stew tastes the best. You have to come to Kansas and try it."
Ririko looked down at the burger in front of her. The bright red ketchup suddenly reminded her of that idiot Jerome.
Clark finished the supersized beef burger in just a few bites, not even leaving the scraps of lettuce that had fallen onto the paper tray.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin, looking fresh and thoroughly satisfied.
"What are your plans next? Want to look around Metropolis? I can be your guide."
Ririko poked at the sickly sweet ice cream parfait with her spoon, remembering that Oswald had told her to accompany him to an event tomorrow.
"I have to attend some Environmental Summit Forum tomorrow."
Clark's eyes lit up:
"What