Short Story: The Dispute Between Udon and Soba

Soba)
Hey, Udon.
Why are you called Udon?

Udon)
I don't know.
How about you, Soba?

Soba)
Well, I'm made from buckwheat flour...

Udon)
Oh, I looked it up and found out.
It roots back to a Chinese confection called "húntún," which is made by wrapping filling in wheat flour dough and boiling it.
That's why it's Udon.

Soba)
I see...

Fried tofu is Kitsune (fox), and tempura bits are Tanuki (raccoon dog).
Our toppings are versatile.

I'm not sure if it roots back to "húlíjīng" (fox spirit), but "xiānlí" seems to be a mountain cat yokai.

And a mountain cat is different from a regular cat.

This is getting confusing.

Udon)
They say animal spirits bewitch people, after all.
I guess it's a case of "the name reflects the substance."

...Maybe that's not quite right. Haha...

By the way, Kitsune is called that because fried tofu is a fox's favorite food.

Tanuki is called that because "tempura bits have no filling (tane-nuki)."

Regardless, a true connoisseur knows to eat us before we get soggy.

Soba)
That's true...
Shall we head to an Udon and Soba restaurant?

By the way, the origin of the word 'men' (noodle) comes from the color and appearance of wheat, right?

Udon)
Somen is the most stylish with its colorful look, isn't it? Hehe.

Soba)
Let's call the Ramen guy too. It's been a while since we all had a drinking party.