In the heart of Kyoto lived a young girl named Keiko. Her father, a humble man, owned a small noodle shop known in the neighborhood for its rich broth and tender noodles. This little haven of warmth and flavor was called Marukawa, which in local folklore meant the circle of happiness that each bowl of noodles brought to its customer. However, as is often the case, hard times fell upon Keiko and her father. His devotion to the finest ingredients resulted in debts he could not repay, and ruthless creditors confiscated Marukawa, leaving Keiko and her father with nothing but recipes passed down through generations. Desperate to save her family's legacy, Keiko remembered her grandmother's old stories about a deity named Nudos, the good god of noodles. According to legend, Nudos' temple was decorated with ribbons of divine noodles that could grant wishes if approached with a pure heart and a bowl of sincerely cooked noodles. With nothing else to lose, Keiko spent her last coins on ingredients to create one perfect bowl of ramen. She then traveled to the temple at sunset. On the altar of Nudos, Keiko placed her sacrifice and whispered a prayer, not for wealth or revenge on her creditors, but for a simple chance to bring joy to the people again with her family's noodles. As soon as she finished her prayer, a light breeze swept through the temple. Keiko's eyes widened in surprise as the temple filled with ethereal light. The noodles hanging like festive garlands around the temple began to sway and dance. Nudos slowly approached Keiko, his feet lightly touching the stone floor of the temple, leaving a trail of glowing noodles behind him. When he reached the girl, his soft hands touched her shoulders. The touch was as warm as freshly brewed broth and radiated a promise of support and help ""Sweet girl, you have come to me with a sincere prayer. I am ready to help you, but before I fulfill your wish, you must pass the noodle test"