The Story of Waking up With My Beautiful Childhood Friend and Realizing We Had Spent the Night Together - Chapter 21.2

Side Story: Taking My Beautiful Childhood Friend to a Ramen Shop

——One night.

“…Ah.”

As usual, Mizuki was about to start preparing dinner when she suddenly let out a small sound.

“…Mizuki?”

“…Sorry. I forgot to buy ingredients for dinner.”

She murmured, staring into the fridge.

I looked too, and sure enough, it was practically empty.

“Ah… Then should we go buy some? The supermarket should still be open.”

“Mmm…”

I could just go alone, but… she’d probably want to come along.

Thinking that, I invited her. But—

“Not tonight.”

“Huh?”

Saying that, Mizuki took out the brand-name wallet I gave her for her birthday last year.

“Let’s eat out?”

She grabbed my arm, looking somewhat excited.

“—So, anything you want to eat?”

We were now in the shopping district near the station.

This was where we usually did our shopping and hung out.

Since our school was about an hour and a half away from home (well, we chose that kind of high school), there was almost no chance of running into anyone we knew.

Still, even so—

“Hmm…”

Couldn’t she have dressed a little less… provocatively?

A sleeveless black knit top with beige skinny jeans.

A strikingly revealing outfit that emphasized every curve.

Of all things, she actually changed just to go out for dinner.

Because of that, I had no choice but to dress somewhat decently too.

…Well, I just threw on a short-sleeved jacket over my cut-and-sewn shirt, but still.

“I don’t have anything in mind. Let’s just walk and decide.”

As if it were the most natural thing, she took my hand, and we walked through the busy streets.

But, as always—

(…The stares are unbearable.)

Men and women alike were sending intense glances—mostly at the person beside me.

Mizuki, however, remained unfazed, as if she was completely used to it.

“…Whoa, look at that beauty. Is she a celebrity?”

“She’s holding hands with someone… That guy’s her boyfriend? You gotta be kidding me.”

“There are better choices out there. You know, like, someone more manly.”

And so on.

God, this sucks. No matter how many times it happens, I never get used to it.

But if I were to let go of her hand—

“…Iori?”

She called my name in a puzzled tone.

Her eyebrows gradually furrowed with a hint of sadness.

“N-No, it’s nothing.”

Panicking, I quickly held her hand again.

…Interlocking our fingers this time, as a peace offering.

“…Mm.”

Her lips curled up slightly.

…And just like that, letting go was never an option for me.

So stop glaring at me, old men.

I can’t help it. It is what it is.

I made excuses to no one in particular as we continued walking through the streets.

“…Ah.”

A small sound came from beside me.

I turned to look at her.

Mizuki had stopped in front of a certain shop.

The sign was old and grimy.

It read—

“Tendou Ramen.”

“…”

Mizuki stood motionless, staring at the sign.

Wait, could it be—

“…Mizuki… do you want to eat ramen?”

“…Umm.”

When I asked, she hesitated, mumbling.

“I… I’ve never had ramen before.”

“…Huh?”

I was stunned by her words.

She’s never eaten ramen?

A high school student who’s never had ramen?

…Then, it hit me.

She usually cooked her own meals.

Even when eating out, she avoided junk food as much as possible.

…Which meant, it was entirely possible.

A high schooler who had never eaten ramen.

A rare specimen indeed.

“…Wanna give it a try?”

I asked, just in case.

But I quickly dismissed the idea myself.

Mizuki eating ramen?

That’s just too ridiculous.

But—

“…Yeah.”

“…Wait, seriously?”

She gave a small nod.

Wait, she actually wants to eat ramen?

Leaving me in shock, Mizuki, looking determined, headed toward the ramen shop.

And then—

…Creak.

Cautiously, she pushed open the door.

“—Hey! Welco—…”

A loud, energetic greeting was suddenly cut off.

It was the shop owner, probably.

The old man froze when he saw Mizuki walk in.

At the same time, Mizuki also froze upon seeing the old man, who had a towel wrapped around his head.

And on top of that, all the customers inside the shop also froze.

“…Iori.”

Her eyes asked me, “What do I do?”

“…Well, for now, let’s take a seat and order. Look, the menu’s right there.”

“O-Okay.”

Timidly, Mizuki sat at the counter.

I nearly burst out laughing at her unfamiliar behavior.

Normally, she was composed and unshaken by anything.

But there were times when she got oddly nervous about the strangest things.

Something that only I, her childhood friend, knew.

As Mizuki stared intensely at the menu, the shop owner swallowed hard.

“…Uh, um… Miss? Are you sure you’re in the right place…?”

He asked hesitantly, his voice filled with uncertainty.

It was as if he didn’t even see me standing next to her.

…But that was understandable.

If a stunning beauty, on par with an actress, suddenly walked into a dingy little shop like this, anyone would have the same reaction.

The older men around us nodded in agreement.

But Mizuki…

“…Um, I came here to eat ramen…”

She said, looking a little uncomfortable.

At that, the man stiffened as if struck by lightning.

Then, just as he started trembling—

“…H-Hey!! Of course!! Oi, you bastards! We’ve got a damn VIP in the house! Get it together!!”

“”Yes, sir!!””

In an instant, he rolled up his sleeves and started shouting orders at the staff.

Mizuki flinched. It was kind of amusing.

“…So, have you decided what to order?”

“…I can’t really tell the difference.”

Mizuki looked completely lost, and I had to fight the urge to laugh.

Well, something she could probably handle would be…

“Say, ‘Shoyu ramen. Extra vegetables, less oil.'”

“Huh? O-Okay.”

I could have ordered for her, but I figured the old guys would want to hear it from Mizuki herself.

So I whispered the order to her.

“Sh-Shoyu ramen… Extra vegetables, less oil…”

“…Got it!! Coming right up!!!”

His response came back with overwhelming enthusiasm.

…Wait, I haven’t even ordered yet. Are you even going to take my order? Hello?

—And so, after five minutes of waiting.

“…Here you go!!”

With a loud thud, the bowl was placed on the table, and Mizuki froze.

A towering mountain of vegetables.

A chunk of chashu that practically screamed, “I’M THE STAR HERE!”

The noodles were nowhere to be seen.

“…Iori.”

Hey, don’t look at me.

Mizuki looked at me as if pleading for help, but I simply urged her to eat.

A bowl of shoyu ramen with extra chashu was placed in front of me, and I clapped my hands together. “Itadakimasu.”

(…Yep. This place is as good as ever.)

This little ramen joint I found was a hidden gem.

The place was grimy, but the flavor was top-notch.

When I gestured for Mizuki to go ahead, she cautiously reached for her chopsticks.

And then…

“…!”

She pushed aside some vegetables and took a sip of the noodles.

Her whole body froze in shock.

An explosion of rich umami and oil.

Even with less oil, for Mizuki, it must have been overwhelming.

“…Iori…”

This time, she shot me a resentful glare.

Hey, you’re the one who wanted to come here.

And believe it or not, this is the mild version.

Watching me slurp up my ramen, Mizuki seemed to steel herself and picked up her chopsticks again.

And somehow, some way (with part of her portion transferred to me), she managed to finish it.

“—Thank you very much!!”

We received an excessively enthusiastic send-off.

Mizuki, looking pale, clung to my arm as we left the shop.

“…So, how was it? Tasty?”

I asked just to check.

Mizuki hesitated for a moment before answering.

“…It was good. But…”

“But?”

“Once is enough for me…”

Her distant gaze as she said that made me burst out laughing.

—After that, we stopped by an ice cream shop to cleanse our palates.

I got rum raisin. Mizuki chose mint.

She refused to let go of my arm, so I had no choice but to get a cone instead of a cup.

Walking through the busy streets, the two of us licked our ice creams.

“…It’s good.”

“Yeah…”

We didn’t say much.

By now, there was no awkwardness between us.

Just walking in silence was more than enough to make me feel content.

“…Hey, Iori.”

“Hm?”

“Are you happy right now?”

A sudden question.

“What’s with that?” I turned to look at her, but Mizuki stared at me seriously.

Her eyes seemed to say, “Answer me.”

I sighed and shrugged.

“…Of course, I’m happy.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah.”

It went without saying.

If I said I wasn’t happy, the whole world would probably kill me.

“I got together with the girl I love, and we live together…”

“…Yeah.”

“I have good friends like Renji and Asahi, too.”

Yeah, I was lucky to be surrounded by good people.

This childhood friend turned girlfriend, my other friends—

For someone as unremarkable as me, they were my greatest fortune.

“…Seriously, I’m happy.”

I sighed as I muttered those words.

Really, how did I end up so lucky?

A wry smile crossed my lips.

Mizuki silently watched me.

Then, after a moment, she let out a quiet, bittersweet smile.

“…I see.”

She whispered softly.