Chapter Text
“Its closing time...”
Hanzo sighed, cleaning off the last of the pots and pans and stored them in the drawers, again to be used for tomorrow.
Business had gone usual. The ramen shop they own makes yen, the family pays the bills, life is good, for Hanzo at least.
Ever since his mother and father had passed down the shop to him and his brother so that they can focus on its business aspect, he had really no time to get out except on days when the store is closed for holidays with the family. All he and his brother focused on was making the ramen serving the customers and making the money.
Recently, Hanzo had found himself cleaning up after himself more often than Genji was helping him. Sure, he knew how to make ramen himself but he was always making an excuse to leave the area to “pursue on opportunity the family could use.” Hanzo knew deep down this meant girls.
Speaking of Genji, this was the 4th time he was absent for most of the work day. He knew he would have to give Genji a piece of his mind right now.
After Hanzo cleaned up, he stepped outside and groaned at the first sight he saw.
It was Genji, in his worker’s uniform, rushing towards his brother with what did he know? Two girls not too far behind him.
As they approached Hanzo, he got a better look at the women.
One was a slim figured woman with golden hair like a sun, wrapped up in an upwards ponytail, like she was ready for some sort of operation, and judging from her looks, she might be of German descent.
The other woman was a bit more smaller to the first women, in fact, she was kinda small. Although this woman had a more...less slim figure than the German women, she was wearing glasses with a blue short sleeved shirt and her hair tied up to a bun with a red pin holding it in place. Judging from her, she looked to be of Chinese descent.
And not to mention, Genji.
“Hey!!!! Brother! I see that you’re closing and…”
As Genji approached, Hanzo grabbed him by the uniform hard. “This is the fourth time you had to leave for a “event,” Genji.” He snarled. “I had to do everything by myself! I had a bunch of impatient customers, and I had to skip dinner with Mother and Father to keep the shop running!” He progressed into yelling. “You will be working with me all day tomorrow, no exceptions!” At that point, Hanzo didn’t care if the two women were hearing them.
He gestured his hands wildly. “Hey, Hey! Brother! Fine! Fine! I’ll work tomorrow. Just help me with a favor here.”
“A favor?” Hanzo had to blink a few times. “Bold of you to assume I’m going to help you out with a favor Genji. Do it yourself.”
“No, brother! You wouldn’t close the store on some potential customers, would you?” Genji said.
“Yes,” The German woman spoke. “My friend and I here, we work long hours and don’t usually get out until around this late at night and we’re currently finding a place to eat! Luckily, Genji had told us of the shop he and you run and he says it was still open, so we were wondering if we could have a quick bite to eat?” She held out a yellow pouch that shaked with moving coins. Hanzo sighed. “You are paying extra for your meals. Genji, you are making them with me.” He grabbed Genji’s ear and pulled him into the shop, Genji making noises of pain.
A few minutes later, the bowls were finished and Hanzo was holding one bowl full of ramen, ready for consumption.
Genji, however had three bowls, all filled up as well. Hanzo raised a brow.
“What are you doing?” He asked.
“You’re hungry too, right? Let’s eat with them!” Genji excitedly exclaimed.
“We can eat at home, Genji.”
“And miss the opportunity for you to socialize? Come on, brother! Let’s go!” Genji said as he rushed out the door.
“You are still working all day tomorrow…” Hanzo sighed. He really had no choice but to get wrapped up with Genji’s shenanigans. As he exited the kitchen, Genji was already giving the bowls out.
“And this one's for you, Angela!”
“Ah, thank you Genji! I am starving!...Ah…” The German woman, Angela, said as she picked up the nearby chopsticks.
“Uh, Genji, where’s my bowl?...” The Chinese woman asked a bit quietly.
“Oh! Uh…” He stammered.
“I have it.” Hanzo said as he exited with a bowl in hand.
“Ah!” The woman cried out in excited relief.
As he set the bowl for the Chinese woman, she mumbled something in which Hanzo guessed was her language, perhaps relief? He paid no mind to it as he sit down across from her.
The German woman that was named Angela gave out a nervous laugh. “I apologize to all of you, but I cannot seem to use chopsticks very well....”
At the corner of his eye, Hanzo saw Genji move his chair next to Angela. “No, it’s ok! Here, how about I feed you the Ramen?” He smirked.
Angela blushed, and she looked at Hanzo. “You wouldn’t have any spoons or forks, would you?”
Hanzo looked, and shaked his head. Genji smiled.
“Oh...oh, alright. You can feed me the ramen, Genji.” Angela said, now staring at him.
“It will be my pleasure.” Genji bowed slightly, as he began scooping up ramen from Angela’s bowl.
As Hanzo looked back to his bowl, he saw from the other corner of his eye, another stare at him.
“You did that on purpose, did you?” The woman that sat across from him said, smiling.
“I have no idea what you are talking about.” Hanzo said as he picked up his chopsticks and began eating, the woman following after.
As they ate, Hanzo looked over at Genji to see him and Angela laughing from their...situation. He looked away. Genji had better be thankful.
“Hey, Hanzo, right?”
He look up to see the woman that sat across look at him. That prounciation was a bit off, something like "Banszho."
“This is so good. I’m thankful that you remained open, or else I would have starved.” She softly giggled.
Hanzo shrugged. “Just know that you and your friend are paying extra for your meals.”
“That sounds reasonable enough.” The woman said as she took more slurps of ramen and broth.
“I don’t think I’ve introduced myself to you,” She said as she swallowed her ramen. “I am Mei-Ling Zhou, and I’m currently visiting Japan with my colleague Angela whom your brother is currently sweet talking to, and I plan to become a climatologist at some point, but as of now, I am currently enjoying my time in Japan at the moment. How about you?”
Hanzo paused for a brief moment, then kept on eating his ramen. He really didn’t have a goal in his life, in fact, he might have already fulfilled it. Take over the ramen shop in terms of working and eventually learning how to run it in the business world. At the moment he needed only to just work, as his mother and father handled the business aspect of it.
But, there were some things he wanted to do. Without the blessing of his mother and father. He usually kept it to himself, but Genji had known him well to learn about some of the things he wants to do. He wouldn't mind telling it to her, would he? After all she was curious.
As he finished slurping the ramen, he answered, looking at her. “At the moment, I am only concerned about keeping this shop running for my mother and father. But eventually, I would like to travel around the world at some point. To see the world.”
Mei’s smile maintained. In fact, it widened. “You don’t go outside a lot, do you?”
“You are not the only one who says that. And besides, does it look like I have a choice?” Hanzo replied.
She audibly hummed, as if she wanted to say something. But she then ate more ramen. A wise choice, Hanzo thought.
As they ate, Hanzo occasionally looked over to see Genji feeding Angela her ramen and the two sharing laughter constantly. He looked back at his bowl and kept on eating.
But what really caught his attention was him noticing Mei glancing at him multiple times. She looked like an average woman: brown eyes, brown hair, the glasses and hairpin he noticed when he first saw her. Through further observation, the hairpin had a snowflake charm hanging on near the red bun of the hairpin. She was cute. He kept on eating.
As the group finished their ramen bowls, Hanzo took all of them back into the kitchen for cleaning later.
As he entered the kitchen he heard Mei yell out “Thank you for the meal, Hanzo!” He found himself smiling a bit.
As Genji and Angela were still talking, Hanzo made the announcement yet again that she and Mei were going to pay extra for their meals.
“I understand.” Angela sighed softly as she and Mei took out their pouches of yen.
After everything was paid, the group was outside of the shop.
“I really enjoyed that ramen! Thank you, Genji and Hanzo, for letting us in as you were closing.” She laughed.
“It was our pleasure, Angela.” Genji said with a bow.
“Just do not do that again. You have not earned any favors with us.” Hanzo brashly said.
Genji elbowed his brother. “Come on, brother! I noticed you were talking with Mei over here.” Hanzo scoffed.
Mei giggled. “I enjoyed talking with him, Genji.”
“Well, we best be on our way. Got another day of work tomorrow.” Angela said.
“Actually Angela, I have to ask you something.” Genji rushed over to her side.
As Hanzo looked over to Genji, he noticed Mei catching another glance at him. This time he turned to lock eyes at her.
"I hope we’ll meet again.”
“Perhaps you will when you come late for ramen again?” Hanzo said with a smug smirk.
“That won’t happen.” Mei flashed her own smug smirk.
“I will hold you to it, Mei-Ling.” Hanzo said. His prounciation was a little off, saying "Mei-Lin."
“Mei! We’re leaving!” Angela said as they saw Genji rushed back to Hanzo.
“I’m coming!” Mei said. “I’ll see you around, Hanzo?” That same mispronunciation again.
“Perhaps.” Hanzo replied.
Her smirk turned into a soft grin. “I’ll hold you to it.”
Hanzo found himself smiling again. That may have been poorly executed but at least she made him amused. He didn't mind her at all. In fact, he enjoy her company. The few conversations they had throughout the dinner. The slight mispronunciations of their names.
He wouldn’t mind doing that again with her.
“Brother, brother!” Genji called to him, sending him back to reality. “Look! I got Angela’s number!”
Hanzo felt like a hammer just struck him dead in the face. “You what?”