22 Ramen

They managed to make their way into the ramen shop.

Inside was a middle aged man who was hard at work making ramen.

Nova walked into the restaurant, with Anastasia still holding Chestnut in her bosom.

『Oh? Rai and Nova! You brought your friends?』[Ramen chef]

Rai's depressed face cheered up instantly.

『Yeah! How are you doing?』[Rai]

『Without you two? I'm going out of business here! Sit down and eat!』[Ramen chef]

『...So, what to eat?』[Leo]

『Well, we eat ramen, what else?』[Nova]

『..What do I get?』[Anastasia]

『Let me order for you.』[Nova]

『Yo! Can I get 3 XL Miso with hard noodles?』[Andrew]

『Oh! You sure know what's good! I'll have the same!』[Rai]

『Damn! 3 ramen? You boys can sure eat now! Alright, coming right up!』[Ramen chef]

『Haha! We're mages now, old man! Gotta eat a lot!』[Rai]

『Mages?! You kids sure are moving up!』[Ramen chef]

『T-Then! Me too!』[Leo]

『Hahaha! Coming right up!』[Ramen chef]

It seemed that Rai got over his dilemma from earlier and was getting along with the other two.

『Can I get 3 XXL Tonkotsu ramens? 』[Nova]

『Oh? You're trying the challenge again?』[Ramen chef]

『Nah. Mages eat too much, I'd run you out of business. Just between me and Anastasia, we'll finish these bowls.』[Nova]

『Oh? Little girl, you sure can eat a lot then! Hahaha! Are you Nova's girlfriend?』[Ramen chef]

Her face went red, and she vigorously shook her head.

『Hey, old man! Stop teasing her! She's just my friend.』[Nova]

She blushed while playing with Chestnut's ears.

『...』[Anastasia]

『Haha! Alright. Don't go playing with too many hearts, Nova.』[Ramen chef]

『Come on, old man. Have I ever been popular with girls since elementary? Rai's always had the luck.』[Nova]

『Rai? He has a girlfriend?』[Ramen chef]

He made a motion as if he was searching the entire perimeter.

『Where? In his dreams?』[Ramen chef]

『Hey! I could have one if I wanted.』[Rai]

『Hahaha! You're always a kick, old man.』[Nova]

Everyone in the restaurant laughed.

『Hahahaha! It's not the same without you guys!』[Patron]

『Bahahaha! Here's your food!』[Ramen chef]

He got all of the food out at one go.

Andrew slurped up some noodles right away.

『Woah! This doesn't taste like its from this world! What's the secret?!』[Andrew]

『Hahaha! I used my seed to make it better! Not just you mages can use seeds you know!』[Ramen chef]

『Oh! That's awesome! You're awesome!』[Andrew]

『Hahaha! Eat up kid! I'll make your next bowls even better!』[Ramen chef]

『Yo! Andrew! I'll take you on. Whoever finishes their food first! Let's go!』[Rai]

『You're on!』[Andrew]

『Oh! Uh.. Me too!』[Leo]

All 3 of them ate the ramen extremely fast. Okay, nevermind. Just Rai and Andrew.

『...How do I use chopsticks?』[Anastasia]

She had put Chestnut on her lap, and fumbled around with the chopsticks.

『Have you never used chopsticks?』[Nova]

『I've only ever used forks, knives and spoons. How do you eat with chopsticks?』[Anastasia]

『Well.. You pinch them together like-』[Nova]

『Yo, Nova. You should just feed her!』[Ramen chef]

As he said this, everyone froze up. The 3 discontinued their eating competition in favor of seeing what would happen next.

「Oh? Nova? Are you going to?」[Reischneid]

「...I'm loyal.」[Nova]

「Yeah. No. Just do it.」[Reischneid]

「What are you encouraging?!」[Nova]

「Look. She's waiting for you.」[Reischneid]

Nova looked at Anastasia, who looked expectantly at him.

『..You won't?』[Anastasia]

『..I will.』[Nova]

He filled a spoon with noodles and some broth, then raised it to her mouth.

『Well! I also have a fork here too.』[Ramen chef]

『Oh? So I don't have to feed her?』[Nova]

As he began to pull the spoon back, she put her mouth around it.

『...』[Nova]

She slowly pulled the spoon out of her mouth.

『..It's delicious.』[Anastasia]

『...Thank you.』[Ramen Chef]

Nova stared at the chef, who had tears streaming down his face.

『I have a little girl your age, but she's living with her mother.』[Ramen chef]

『..I see.』[Anastasia]

『Well. Nova is the son of the shopping district, so you take good care of my son, alright?』[Ramen chef]

『Old man?!』[Nova]

Anastasia blushed.

『...Okay.』[Anastasia]

『..Anastasia?』[Nova]

『We're… friends.』[Anastasia]

She smiled at him.

『...Uhm?! Old man! About that fork?』[Nova]

『Oh. Uh..』[Ramen chef]

He looked at Anastasia, who quietly stared at him.

He nodded at her, which caused Nova to look at her.

In this brief moment of weakness, the chef snapped the fork in half.

『Oh. Looks like the fork broke! Welp, you better feed her!』[Ramen chef]

『What?! Why?!』[Nova]

『Can't be helped, young man. You know, I met my wife when I was your age!』[Ramen chef]

『..Uh..』[Nova]

He looked at Anastasia, who looked at him with shining eyes.

『...Haah. Alright.』[Nova]

He fed her two spoonfuls of ramen as the others watched.

『Hey! Mind your own business you three!』[Ramen chef]

They started their competition again.

After they were done eating, the three waited outside.

Nova continued to feed Anastasia until they finished the 3 bowls.

He paid for the ramen, then got up to leave.

『Thanks old man. I'll come back.』[Nova]

『Yeah, you better come back! This place is so quiet without you!』[Ramen chef]

『Haha. Alright. Bye everyone!』[Nova]

『Alright! We'll see you around, Nova!』[Patron]

As he got up, Anastasia pulled on his uniform.

『..I want to come here again.』[Anastasia]

She looked up at Nova, while holding Chestnut.

『Can we?』[Anastasia]

Nova gave her a soft smile, and nodded.

『Sure. Let's come again.』[Nova]

『...Thank you.』[Anastasia]

She walked and left with Nova.

『..Two lovebirds, huh?』[Patron]

『Well, looks like our Nova is finally growing up..』[Ramen chef]

『Though, maybe he won't bring his friends with him next time he brings his girlfriend.』[Patron]

『Hahaha! Yeah, seriously in bad taste.』[Ramen chef]