Soy Sauce Ramen

"How do we solve it today? The canteen? Or the cafeteria?"

Yamaguchi asked casually.

"Hmm..." Takei folded his arms across his chest and pondered with a frown.

"Well..."

Yamaguchi patted him on the shoulder, giving him a look that was hard to read.

"Don't you get tired of eating ramen at least six days a week?"

"Eh? Why?" Takei looked puzzled and counted on his fingers, "Soy sauce ramen, miso ramen, salt ramen, pork bone ramen, seafood ramen, northern-style ramen—that's already six different types."

"And there's tsukemen and sauce noodles—so many possibilities... I'm really excited, haha!"

"Whoa!" A white puff of air came out of his nostrils as Takei clenched his fists excitedly. "Let's go eat ramen together!"

"No, please spare me!" Yamaguchi covered his mouth and waved his hands dismissively. "Thanks to you, I can't stop thinking about the smell of ramen... ugh! I won't eat it for at least a month."

"Eh—!? Why not?"

Takei asked blankly, then turned to Yusuke.

"What about you, Yusuke? Want to go to the cafeteria and have some ramen?"

"Sure." Yusuke nodded, closed his book with a snap, got up, and joined them. "Let's go."

"Eh...?"

"Awesome!"

Two very different responses were uttered simultaneously.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Yamaguchi stopped Takei, who was pumping his fists in celebration, and turned to Yusuke. "You just said to go to the cafeteria, Yusuke?"

"That's right." Yusuke frowned. "What's the issue?"

"What about the bento?"

"I didn't make one today."

"That's it?"

"What else?"

"Hmm..." Yamaguchi eyed Yusuke suspiciously and asked thoughtfully, "Could it be that you broke up with that bento girl?"

"Eh?! That's terrible! Is that true, Yusuke?!"

Takei exclaimed.

Yusuke gave them both a stern look, his mouth twitching slightly. "...When did I say I had a girlfriend?"

"Come on, spill it."

With a knowing smile, Yamaguchi walked over to Yusuke and nudged him in the chest. "It's about time you told us—who are you dating? Someone from our school?"

It turns out that this kind of gossip doesn't just affect women.

Thinking this, Yusuke sighed slightly and said disinterestedly, "If there's nothing, there's nothing. Believe what you want."

Then he walked out of the classroom alone.

...

Toyonozaki Academy, highly acclaimed in recent years, not only covers a vast area but also boasts a spacious cafeteria where students can enjoy a variety of affordable and delicious dishes.

Aside from the initial cost of 1.2 million yen for the admission fee and uniform, tuition is only 800,000 yen per year from the second year onward, not including accommodation.

Eating the soy sauce ramen prepared by the cafeteria lady, Yusuke couldn't help but miss Sayu's cooking.

The noodles were plain, with a broth made from dried fish and chicken bones, flavored with rich soy sauce. The side dishes, bamboo shoots, and spinach, provided a balanced and healthy meal.

"It's just a bit bland..."

Yusuke thought to himself.

The chopsticks in his hand paused momentarily, and then a self-deprecating smile crossed his face: "...When did I become so picky?"

It's easy to grow accustomed to luxury, but hard to return to simplicity.

Having gotten used to meals prepared by Sayu, Yusuke's expectations for food had subconsciously risen.

But this was to be expected. Even setting aside skill, the effort involved in each setting was fundamentally different.

The cafeteria aimed to please the general populace, and since Yusuke wasn't a priority, his specific tastes were overlooked.

Sayu, on the other hand, cooked with a different intent. Whether it was out of emotional attachment or another reason, her goal was singular.

She cooked solely to delight Yusuke.

With that thought, Yusuke's gaze grew complex, and a bright smile flashed through his mind.

"Smiling suits her better."

He murmured, his lips curving into a gentle smile, an expression he had never shown in front of Sayu.

"Speaking of which, she must be waking up about now. I turned off the alarm on my phone last night and memorized English vocabulary in the bathroom this morning. I wonder if she'll be startled when she sees the time..."

"But more importantly, the first thing she'll see is the sandwich I left, placed where she usually finds it. Though I'm not confident in its taste, as someone who's unwell, she shouldn't mind and should eat it..."

He paused, his eyes clouding over.

"...I shouldn't have let her walk home in the rain yesterday. After all, she's still recovering. Was it too much to expect her to manage that?"

Silence fell...

"Yusuke...?"

"Yusuke...?"

"Yusuke--!"

Yamaguchi called out loudly, waving his hand vigorously in front of Yusuke.

His eyes, which had glazed over in reflection, slowly refocused.

"What's up?"

Yusuke asked, giving Yamaguchi a puzzled look.

"Is it good?"

Yamaguchi asked with a smile.

"What do you mean?"

Yusuke frowned, slightly annoyed by the other's teasing tone.

"The ramen... is it tasty?"

Yamaguchi repeated, his expression gleeful as if he were holding back laughter.

"Why do you ask?"

"Ahahahahaha, I just can't help myself."

Hearing Yusuke's question, Yamaguchi burst into laughter, and even Takei covered his mouth, his shoulders shaking with mirth.

"I mean..."

After a moment, Yamaguchi looked up and pointed at the empty bowl in front of Yusuke.

"Are you eating air?"

In that moment, Yusuke seriously considered where he might bury Yamaguchi.

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