Synopsis
Ryō Kurokiba is a 92nd-generation Tōtsuki student, the devoted aide of Alice Nakiri, and, for a time, the 5th seat of the Elite Ten Council. He grew up working in a rough port-town pub in Denmark, where showing weakness meant being cast out, and became the pub's head chef through sheer tenacity before Alice discovered him and challenged him to the duel that would decide whether he became her assistant.
Ordinarily quiet, slow and gloomy, Ryō transforms once he ties on his signature bandana: this alter ego, which Alice calls his Berserk Mode, is aggressive, blunt and intimidating, a side of him honed by a childhood where every kitchen was effectively a battlefield. He considers close bonds between chefs a weakness and rarely finds an opponent whose intensity matches his own.
Ryō lost hundreds of duels to Alice before finally winning one after two years of relentless rematches, a defeat that earned Alice's respect and cemented his loyalty to her ever since. He shows grudging respect to a handful of rivals who prove themselves worthy, including Megumi Tadokoro during their quarterfinal match.
