Mafuyu combed the messy hair, smoothed the wrinkles on the clothes, stood up and said: "Let's go."
The three of them left school together.
The address of the 'finance company' was known yesterday, and there was no delay on the way. After leaving school, they went straight to the train station to get on the train.
...
Half an hour later.
The three of them arrived outside a company.
Under the hot sun, the signboard 'Lending Company' was quite eye-catching.
At this point, Fujiwara hesitated again, his face turned slightly pale, she bit his lower lip, and whispered, "Kirisu sensei, or else..."
Mafuyu held his right hand and said decisively: "Come on in."
Naoki followed nonchalantly.
The moment he entered, he could see the elegant and simple decoration of the hall, and there was a beautiful OL at the front desk who was in charge of reception. This is a completely ordinary and serious company.
The next thing is very simple.
After Mafuyu explained his intentions, the receptionist quickly led the three of them into the living room, and served tea and snacks. Soon after, a manager stepped in and started to deal with related matters, with a warm attitude and thoughtful service——
Whether it's borrowing money or returning money, employees of lending companies are very enthusiastic.
Only when people can't pay back, these people will tear off the disguise and reveal their true face behind the mask.
There are no twists and turns, and it doesn't take long for the loan to be paid off.
Walking out of the 'financial company' in a trance, Fujiwara woke up when a cold wind blew and looked at the open sky, she turned to look at Mafuyu and said blankly:
"Sensei… is it done?"
"It doesn't matter." Mafuyu gently held the girl's hand, in a soft voice, "It's over."
Hearing this sentence, Fujiwara's eyes quickly filled with a hazy mist, she hugged Mafuyu's arm tightly, and sobbed for a long time.
People who weren't in the abyss couldn't understand how important this ray of light was. Fortunately, this senior is a girl. If not, Naoki believes she will have more rivals in love.
"Fujiwara-senpai, tissue."
Naoki took out some tissues and handed them over.
"Thank you..."
You're welcome, the main reason for giving you tissues is because I don't want you to shed tears and snot on Mafuyu's uniform!
After giving vent to his emotions, Fujiwara wiped his face with a tissue, and bowed ninety degrees to Mafuyu: "Kirisu sensei, thank you, I will return the money to you as soon as possible. "
"Don't worry about money." Mafuyu hugged his chest with his right hand, a cool breeze blew, his hair slightly fluttered, and he was quite heroic, "You take the National Examination first."
The actual tuition fee is not low, but Fujiwara can apply for a student loan, it will be repaid slowly after graduating from university. The interest rates are very low. Like these private "financial companies," late interest rates can be as high as a staggering 2%—nothing higher, and that would be over the limit set by law.
Mafuyu asked, "Is your mother still in the hospital?"
"Yes." Fujiwara nodded, "Mom's health has improved, and the doctor said that she will be discharged from the hospital in a few days. I will visit mother in the hospital and tell her the good news."
Mafuyu pondered for a moment, and quickly said, "I'm coming with you."
"Eh?"
"You probably won't be able to convince Mrs. Fujiwara if you go alone." Mafuyu looked sideways at Naoki "It's okay, you can go back."
Naoki nodded in agreement.
Fujiwara looked at Naoki curiously, but said nothing.
(Kirisu-sensei was with Kouhai last night... Could it be a date?)
(Whether it is or not, I'll keep it a secret.)
(Never mind it helps to stay still!)
The two parties split up at the train station, and watched the two of them board the train. Naoki took out his phone and checked the time. It was not yet 6pm, but the sky was already dark, completely descending.
Walking alone on an unfamiliar street, Naoki catches a glimpse of a very familiar figure out of the corner of his eye.
"Um?"
Naoki looked across the street.
The girl across the street is wearing black-rimmed glasses. She had taken off her school uniform and replaced it with a purple sweater. Her hair was tied up, and she looked much more capable, Naoki couldn't recognize her for a while, but she was quite familiar with this look.
It's you, Itsuki!
As the traffic light came on, Naoki crossed the crosswalk and followed Itsuki. Not long after, he saw Itsuki walking into a ramen restaurant.
"Eating ramen alone?"
Naoki walks in front of a ramen restaurant, only to realize that things are not simple.
At the entrance of the ramen restaurant, there is a signboard that says "Challenge of the Big Meal King, waiting for you to fight", and there are rules underneath. Those who eat all the noodles within the allotted time will not only get free, but can also get a generous bonus.
Naoki is very suspicious. Itsuki came all this way to eat ramen. Eating ramen is fake, but it's true for a bonus.
Stepping into the ramen restaurant, currently not the actual food, not many customers in the noodle restaurant, Naoki immediately saw Itsuki sitting in the corner with an expectant face.
"What ramen do you eat?"
Naoki walked over to Itsuki and sat down.
"Super large pork bone bowl… eh?" Itsuki turned his head and looked, eyes wide, "Why are you here?"
Naoki said seriously, "I'm counting my fingers, and I hope you come here for dinner."
"How could something like that happen." Itsuki complained, "You must have seen me on the street."
"You guessed it so quickly?" Naoki was surprised, "Itsuki is getting smarter."
"I am not stupid!"
The working girl at the ramen restaurant came over and said with a smile, "What would you like to eat?"
Naoki pointed at Itsuki: "I eat the same noodles as my girlfriend."
"Girlfriend..."
Itsuki's face blushed slightly, she looked away and didn't argue.
"The customer's girlfriend ate a large bowl of special tonkotsu noodles, the ramen designated by the restaurant for the Big Eater Challenge." The working girl was surprised, and reminded politely, "Does the customer really want to eat?"
Open the door and don't do a loss-making business.
If the customer succeeds in the challenge, the customer will not only be free of charge, but will also get a bonus. If customers could finish their meal easily, the ramen restaurant would lose money and close.
Itsuki challenged the big belly king, it was quite a shock, now that Naoki came to challenge again, the working girl had to remind a few words.
"It doesn't matter." Naoki nodded "Please give me a copy."
Seeing Naoki had made up his mind, the working girl quickly said, "Please wait a moment, you two."
Itsuki looked at Naoki, and whispered: "You can't finish eating, why did you order a bowl of super ramen?"
Naoki said: "I haven't started eating yet, how do you know I can't finish it?"
Itsuki countered: "Last time we participated in the challenge together, you weren't done eating."
As a foodie girl who loves food, one of Itsuki's hobbies is wandering around town alone after school on Fridays, looking for delicious food hidden in the streets and alleys. Later, every Friday, Naoki would act with Itsuki, going up to high-end restaurants, to small, unknown restaurants on the side of the road, the two of them ate in many places together, and also participated in the Big Eater Challenge, but that was a long time ago.
Naoki looked at Itsuki, "I can definitely finish today's meal."
"I do not believe."
"Then make a bet, if I can finish eating, promise me."
Itsuki: "...What request?"
"I have not think about it." Naoki said "I'll tell you when I think about it."
"No, I refuse." Itsuki raised his hand and crossed his arms over his chest, "That is definitely not a serious request."
Naoki sighed: "What about trust between people?"
"That kind of thing is long gone."
...
The two whispered for a while, and two large bowls of tonkotsu ramen were served.
"Ittadakimasu."
Itsuki's eyes brightened, his hands clasped together, she finished his pre-dinner statement, and then impatiently picked up his chopsticks.
Seeing Itsuki turning greedy, Naoki suddenly remembered.
No wonder Itsuki ate less than usual when eating in the cafeteria during the day, and he didn't even eat meat buns in the afternoon. So that's it for the evening preparations!
It doesn't seem like a temporary idea, but it can't be helped!
Naoki took his ramen and weighed the portion with his hand. The bowl was indeed very large, and it was fine to bury his face in it. A bowl of noodles weighs at least three or four pounds.
The ramen is steaming hot, apart from big chunks of char siu, it is also sprinkled with spring onions, half boiled eggs, shredded bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, cabbage, grated radish, and so on.
"It feels good." Itsuki turned around and gave a thumbs up "Hurry and eat."
"Um."
Naoki took the chopsticks, and started eating the noodles.
On a cold winter day, eating a bowl of steamed ramen is really a very happy thing.
Unfortunately, the happiness soon turned into problems.
Naoki felt full after eating half of it, he turned his head and looked at Itsuki eating happily.
As expected of a Glutton, if she was in ancient times, if she was an ordinary person, she wouldn't be able to marry at all!
In the middle of eating, a blonde haired girl suddenly came in, averted her eyes, and sat beside Naoki.
"Asakawa-san."
The girl's voice was cold and her expression calm.
"Koizumi." Naoki turned his head, "Long time no see, come to eat ramen?"
Koizumi whose name is still unknown, is a classmate in his first year of high school. She is reserved and indifferent. For some reason, Naoki runs into her every time he eats ramen.
"Um."
Koizumi's eyes fell on the super-large bowl of tonkotsu ramen in front of Naoki.
"This ramen restaurant's new challenge." Naoki explained, "Do you want to challenge it?"
"I can't finish it."
Koizumi covered his stomach with his right hand, but she was very self-conscious, and his voice was cold and indifferent, "It's a shame to waste, if I can't finish the leftovers, the God of Ramen will punish me at night."
Hey, elementary students don't believe in the existence of the God of Ramen!
There are so many people who throw ramen every day, and the gods punish them one by one will be exhausted!
Naoki suddenly felt someone lightly poking his arm, and couldn't help but turn his head to look at Itsuki, feeling great relief in his heart.
She was actually starting to get jealous, that was rare.
It's decided, I'll buy you a big bag of meat buns later!
"Water." Itsuki said "I'm out of water, pour me a glass."
Naoki was taken aback, and couldn't help but say, "You just asked me to pour water?"
"If not?" Itsuki winked with an innocent expression "The noodle soup is a bit salty, I want to drink a sip of water… eh?"
Itsuki opened his eyes wide in surprise, and said in a low voice, "The girl next to you seems familiar?"
Naoki poured a glass of ice water, "No more meat buns."
"Ehhh? Why?"
...
Eating continues.
20 minutes later,
"I'm done eating, thank you for the hospitality."
Satisfied, Itsuki put down the chopsticks, only a little soup remained in the bowl, and the other ingredients were gone.
Some of the guests nearby were looking at her with astonished eyes.
Amazing!
A girl can eat a big bowl of ramen which is more than 90% of boys!
"Congratulations to this guest." The chef from the ramen restaurant came to take a look, and after confirming that Itsuki had eaten everything, he easily announced a free order and gave out a bonus.
"I'm done eating too."
Naoki put down his chopsticks and spoke.
"Eh?" Itsuki turned his head in surprise, "Are you really done eating?"
"That's how it is." Naoki held his stomach "Besides, I can't embarrass you."
....
The two succeeded in the challenge, not only earning bonuses, but also carving their names into the ramen restaurant's "Hall of Fame," arguably the most famous name in history.
Naoki looks at Itsuki: "Are you interested in becoming an internet celebrity?"
"Eh?"
"Miku said that you work part-time, I don't know the specific content of the part-time job. By the way, you sneak." Naoki whispered, "It's too hard to get bonuses, so it's better to eat and broadcast."
"I'm not sneaking!" Itsuki's cheeks puffed out, and she couldn't help but reply, "Today I just want to eat ramen, not to win bonuses, broadcast meals or anything like that, I'm sure I'll get fat if I eat every day."
"It's someone else." Naoki said "I think you're fine."
"No, I've gained a lot of weight recently..."
In the middle of Itsuki's speech, she quickly raised his hand to cover his mouth.
Naoki muttered: "You gained five kilograms during the festive season?"
"How could it be." The embarrassed Itsuki couldn't help but smack him "I'm not that fat!"
"Don't hit." Naoki raised his hand to parry "I'll spit it out."
"Then don't eat too much." Itsuki was angry, "Let's hurry out, there are still guests waiting."
Naoki spread his arms: "I can't walk anymore."
Itsuki blushed slightly, and hugged Naoki's arm: "Hurry."