It’s Too Early to be Having Newlywed Syndrome! ~Childhood Friends Who Rekindled their Love for Each Other ~ - 1 - 8 - A Side of Him Natsuki Doesn’t Know, but a Side of Him that She Knows

A Side of Him Natsuki Doesn’t Know, but a Side of Him that She Knows

“Thank you for waiting. Here’s your soy sauce ramen.”

Natsuki was confused when Naoto called her from behind the seat.

“That surprised me——–. I thought it will come from that conveyor-belt.”

Natsuki pointed at the sushi conveyor belt.

“It’s made with the soy sauce and condiments on the weak-side, so I brought it here to explain it to you. I might have blundered with the seasonings so just add soy sauce and pepper if it’s too bland.”

“Is this made by Morita-kun?”

“Even if you say I made it, I just put the noodles into the machine, when I did, the machine will automatically remove the noodles from the water, then I just put the soup, seasonings and toppings. I the people back there of your condition, so they might have had me make it for you.”

“Eh, that’s what happened? Didn’t it bother the people in the kitchen?”

“The manager is out today so it’s only nice people in there, they won’t bat an eye. I chose a time where the customers are fewest to take you here after all. It’s not that busy that the staff can actually have small talk with each other while working.”

When told that Natsuki looked around, she can only see three other customers inside the shop.

“Then, what do you recommend?”

“I like squid tempura udon the most, but wouldn’t it be too heavy to have after eating ramen?”

“I can handle it. I’ll have that.”

“Dear customer, if it’s alright, please use the touch panel once you’ve decided on your order.”

“Ah- of course, somehow I got it into my head that Morita-kun will be making it for me.”

Natsuki said while blushing.

“Why though? I can’t cook, you know.”

The two of them laughed.

Natsuki, whose looking happy while pondering which pard of the squid tempura she should eat first, she caught a glimpse of a female staff walking on the aisle on the edge of the store.

Is that the Onee-san he’s talking about? I couldn’t get a look at her face…….

“Yoisho”

Natsuki rose from her seat and stood on her tiptoes. It looks like she’s having a talk with Naoto but she couldn’t hear what they are talking about. Giving up, she went back to eating her udon.

Is Morita-kun kind to anyone he meets? It doesn’t really bother me though, its not like were going out or anything…… it really doesn’t bother me!

Natsuki shake put a little more shichimi to the tempura in reservation, then ate the entirety of the crispy squid tempura in the blink of an eye. While it is delicious, ‘If my condition worsens, It’s Morita-kuns fault, yes.’, she thought in resentment.

Just as Natsuki finished eating, Naoto came back with a clear broth soup soup with no citrus zest that he made.

“I thought it needs to be warmed up so I did it myself, but you don’t want it, you can just leave it there. If it’s too hot you can add some water.”

“Kay, thanks.”

Natsuki replied then looked at Naoto, noticing that he was blushing from ear to ear.

Naoto returned after talking to the Onee-san with his face blushing red. When Natsuki thought that, she felt that she should tease Naoto a bit.

“——Morita-kun, your face is kinda red.”

When she said that, Naoto smiled bashfully.

“Seeing how I was making the meal with a grin on my face, everyone in the kitchen thought that Oshida-san is my girlfriend, it’s a bit troubling. The misunderstanding was made worst because I requested a day-off on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. My male senpais surrounded me and began saying things like ‘You’ll be meeting with that girl on Christmas, aren’t you?’ ‘Looks like she doesn’t want to, though’ ‘Ain’t she yer girl?!’ ‘Maybe the girl is only doing it to thank him.’ ‘There’s no way that’s it. You won’t know till you ask the person herself.’ They aren’t even listening to what I’m saying.

They’re a bit of a noisy bunch, so they might ask Oshida-san the same question. In case they did trouble you with questions, I apologize in advance. It’s okay if you tell them you’re not interested in me at all.”

Even while apologizing, there is happiness written all over Naoto’s face.

This time, it was Natsuki’s face that turned red.

After finishing the soup, Natsuki looked around for Naoto, just as she does so, Naoto approached her seat.

“About the letter, she said it’s okay if you read it. The contents might make you lose your appetite, though. Is it okay if you do it afterwards?”

Naoto gave the letter to Natsuki.

“Should I read it afterwards?”

Natsuki was having thoughts, but since she was more interested in her surroundings right now than reading the letter, she put the letter in her pocket for the time being.

“Do you know when your shift will end?”

“No, when I asked, it seems like the manager won’t come tonight as well, so if it’s not very busy, I can get off according to schedule. Maybe seven at the earliest.”

“Sounds tough. Do your best. ……If I want my bill now, will Morita-kun make it?”

“Yup, should I? I have to enter the coupon as well.”

“Yes, please.”

“I suck at waiting and cooking, manning the register is the easiest work for me so this helps.”

Said Naoto before processing the bill on the register.

Natsuki, who also thought that Naoto is a person who doesn’t prefer waiting on customers asked,

“Why did you choose this place to do part-time work?”

“Through a friend’s acquaintance, we took an interview here, but during the interview, my friend received a scolding from the manager because he changed his hairstyle a bit, well other things also happened, but by the second day, my friend just up and quit.

But I find it hard to quit since this place looks like it really needs manpower. If you ask the manager, they really want to avoid hiring temp workers from agencies as much as possible.”

“Ah, I might have heard about that from mom. She said that ‘Your kind because you have a strong sense of responsibility.’”

“I just wasn’t able to quit. My senpais here are friendly as well.”

Natsuki agreed with her mother’s opinion. This man is kind by nature and gentle as well. When looking at her meal at the restaurant, in consideration of her condition, he lessen the amount of soy sauce in her ramen, he also didn’t put citrus zest on her soup, he was even considerate of the temperature and amount of the food he served her. Surely, while he’s reading on what a person with cystitis can’t eat, he’s also doing his best preparing her food.

“Thank you for today.  ——-It should be thank you as well for today, right?”

With a warm feeling on her chest, Natsuki expressed her gratitude to Naoto.

“No, I might have blundered it today. Sorry for that. If only I’m more experienced in tasting, I might have made your food tasty even when decreasing the amount of seasonings.”

Replied Naoto.

Knowing that Naoto was saying it not because he was being humble but it was his real outlook, Natsuki’s chest start beating fast as if its in pain.

“No, it really was delicious. Thank you.”

She expressed her feelings a second time unconsciously.

While walking home, Natsuki read the letter.

The letter was longer than she thought, but, as Naoto said, what was written has no hint of a close relationship between a man a woman written in it.

For example, about when an old couple customers praised him with ‘That kid was very kind to us’ on their way home.

About how Naoto is popular with the oba-sans in the staff.

About how Naoto, without knowing, changed the manager’s attitude towards part timers and temp workers.

About how he, also without knowing, changed the manager’s attitude towards female employees who are not young.

About how he once offered his company to a drunk customer, joked with him and listened to his grumblings earnestly.

About when Naoto, while giving change to an oji-san who is a regular, was given a 500-yen coin as pocket money, Naoto treasure it so much that he put it in a plastic bag before putting it in his wallet.

When the Onee-san told the regular oji-san what Naoto did, the oji-san was very happy.

Then what followed were words of gratitude for that day when she was not feeling well.

To put it simply, it looks like the Onee-chan only wrote the letter because she doesn’t know Naoto’s email address, there is nothing special on the contents of the letter, but for Natsuki, it is a charming letter.

When she imagined Naoto being troubled, she got worried and vented. After she read the last part, she returned to the beginning and slowly read the letter three more times.

The Naoto in the letter seems like a different person from the Naoto that Natsuki sees at school, it’s like the grade-schooler Naoto but in a high-schooler’s physique. He struggles a bit when talking to people and is a bit clumsy, but is good-natured person.

Even now, when Naoto was worrying about Natsuki’s health, his eyes have the same kindness it has in the past.

Though a short time has only past since they parted with each other, Natsuki can’t help but want to see Naoto. Forgetting to tell Naoto in advance that she will be coming to meet him, Natsuki went back to Naoto’s workplace to meet him once his shift’s over.