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It was a cold Sunday afternoon in Tokyo.
Ryuji was grumbling to himself as he vigorously rubbed his hands together, enduring the winter cold as he walked the streets of Ogikubo. This was just great. It was such a fine time to be going out without a pair of gloves or something, and Ryuji was really feeling the season right now.
“S-Shit, it’s cold!” he cursed, blowing on his hands in an effort to warm himself up.
Since this was looking to be a slow afternoon, and that he happened to be really hungry right now, Ryuji figured that he would treat himself to some ramen at the ramen shop. Ogikubo had some of the best ramen in Tokyo, and on top of being delicious, the ramen would be a surefire way to warm himself up. But there was a catch to this great idea: The line was going to be really long. Ryuji just knew that it was going to be a while before he could even get inside the shop. But he was already here, and he was already hungry for some ramen, so he wasn’t going to just turn back and leave. Ryuji dug his hands in his pockets in order to keep his hands from getting too cold, and he headed towards the ramen shop.
Once he got there, he found that his hunch was right. Or rather, he didn’t know how right he really was.
“Look at that line…! Is it even bigger than last time?!” he exclaimed, gawking at the sight leading to the shop. Honestly, he never knew whether or not there was a sale going on right now, or if everyone else wanted to get away from the cold too… or both. Possibly both.
“Aww, man… I’m gonna be outside in the cold all day at this rate!” he groaned.
Ryuji’s groaning was loud, but the growl that his stomach made was even louder. The enticing smell of the ramen inside the shop didn’t help him either. (Argh, why did the ramen always have to smell so damn good!?) With those two things coming at him at once, Ryuji knew that he only had one option here:
“Urgh… fine. Where does the line end?”
He walked alongside the sidewalk, seeing everyone bundled up as they waited in the large line. Ryuji walked until he saw an opening, assuming that was the end of the line. He let out a sigh of relief, happy that he was able to find it. As he walked over in order to get in line, he saw a familiar face at the end of it. And she was a face that Ryuji wasn't expecting to see.
"What the -- ?! Haru?"
At the sound of her name being called, Haru Okumura turned her head towards the direction she heard it from. Once she caught sight of Ryuji, she blinked a few times in surprise before she formed a polite smile.
"Oh, Ryuji-kun! I didn't expect to see you here." she said.
"That's my line! I didn't know that you were into ramen! Hell, I didn't even think it!" Ryuji sputtered.
"Oh, I've only started coming here recently. This is my second time, so I'm still considered a new patron, I guess," Haru explained. "What about you, Ryuji-kun? Do you come here often?"
"Do I? This is my go-to spot for ramen!" Ryuji exclaimed with a wide grin. “Trust me, this place? Best ramen joint in Tokyo! Hell, you could ask anyone in this line how good this shit is! Though uh, that’s why they’re all here in the first place. Hehe.”
"Hehehe… I suppose so." Haru giggled.
"But hey, since we’re both in line 'n all, wanna stick together?" Ryuji asked casually. "'S not often that I bump into a friend in line without bringin' them along myself."
"Of course! I would love your company." Haru agreed.
"Sweet! Thanks!" Ryuji hurriedly moved next to Haru with an eager step, rubbing his hands enthusiastically as he bounced in place.
"Oh my. Are you cold, Ryuji-kun?" Haru asked, with a hint of concern in her voice.
"Yeah, but I'll be alright. Nothin' I can't handle." Ryuji assured her, putting his hands deeper in his pockets.
And so the two of them waited their turn. Though the line was moving slow, it was steady, with more people leaving the restaurant to make room for those patiently waiting their turn. More people went inside the restaurant once there were seats available, and more people were joining the line behind them. The line could go fast or slow for someone depending on what they were doing, or how hungry they were for some ramen.
"So who told you about this place?" Ryuji asked Haru curiously, breaking the ice. "You said this was your second time comin' here, yeah?"
"Yes. Akira-kun brought me here on my last visit." Haru answered.
"Is that right?" Ryuji inquired, his grin growing wider at the mention of his best friend.
"Oh yes. From time to time, I mentioned to him that I wanted to visit places that I didn't visit often. Namely places that normal people go to," Haru explained fondly. "Akira-kun was gracious enough to bring me here one afternoon. I had a wonderful time eating here."
"Hah! He definitely had the right idea! You can see all kinds of people linin' up here!" Ryuji exclaimed enthusiastically. "And to think that I was the one who showed him this joint in the first place… he's totally a city boy through 'n through now!"
"You introduced Akira-kun to this place, Ryuji-kun?" Haru asked, blinking in surprise.
"Sure did!" Ryuji answered proudly. "I wasn’t thinking too hard about it at the time. Just wanted to hang out with him 'n shoot the breeze. But when he offered to take me over here to grab a bite to eat? That's when I knew I got 'im hooked on this stuff!"
Haru giggled at Ryuji's brief story, covering her mouth behind the back of her hand as she did. "Somehow, I'm not surprised to hear that about you and Akira-kun," she commented, bringing her hand down. "You two always seem so close."
"Hell yeah! That’s my best bud right there! No way we're not close after all the shit we've been through together!" Ryuji affirmed with glee. "Oh yeah, that reminds me! I gotta get Akira over here for some ramen at least once before he goes back home. Betcha the sweet smell of light soup and soft noodles would be a helluva lot better than juvie food any day."
"I'm sure Akira-kun would appreciate that." Haru assured.
"Hehe…" Ryuji’s grin remained wide and wide as he rubbed the back of his neck. It was no secret that he was already looking forward to that scenario. Spending time with your best friend before the both of you have to go your separate ways and take a step towards a new future… somehow that made it all the more special.
But Akira was far from the only one going away soon, Ryuji knew. He couldn't very well forget about the upperclassmen of the Phantom Thieves, could he?
"Come to think of it, Haru… you and Makoto are graduating next month, yeah?" Ryuji inquired, taking a few steps forward as the line moved. "We've gotta think up something to do for you guys too!"
"You're not the first to think so. Ann-chan also mentioned something along those lines, the last time I spoke with her." Haru mentioned, taking a few steps forward as well.
"Hah! For once, me and Ann are on the same page!" Ryuji exclaimed with a grin. Despite his exaggeration at her expense, he was glad to know that Ann had a similar idea that he did just now. "Chalk that up to another thing that we've gotta do before Akira leaves. He's gotta be here to celebrate with you guys too!"
"That’s sweet of you, Ryuji-kun," Haru mused. "But you don't have to go through all that trouble for my sake, or Mako-chan's."
"The hell we don't! You know how much deep shit we would be in if it wasn't for Makoto kicking ass and thinkin' up crap?" Ryuji exclaimed in disbelief, shaking his head as he gawked. "And you, Haru… despite how much shit was thrown your way, you stuck with us. You always wanted to do the right thing, even back when we first met. It's part of the reason we -- I needed to get my head outta my own ass."
"Ryuji-kun…" Haru trailed off, furrowing her brows. Upon looking at her face, Ryuji averted his gaze for a moment and rubbed the back of his neck a little nervously. He meant what he said, but he knew the way he can put things was… definitely less than eloquent.
"I know, I know. I didn’t make the best first impression," Ryuji continued, moving up the line as he spoke. "Me and Morgana were at each other's throats, and I was being a huge asshole about it. Not to mention that I totally lost sight of the reason why I wanted to fight in the first place. I just had fame on the brain."
He exhaled slowly, watching his breath turn into a puff of cold mist. Ryuji was over it, of course, but even so, it still made him cringe a little to remember that part of his Phantom Thief journey. He was just being so… ugh.
"But you know? Seeing you wanna join up with us despite that rough patch made me pretty happy," he then said, his grin returning as he switched his focus back to Haru. "And seeing ya fight so hard to stop your old man, and to keep on fighting despite what happened to 'im, not to mention fightin' all the other bullshit we've had to go through… I'd say you're part of the reason why we got back on track in the end, Haru. You helped remind us what we should really be."
"Ryuji-kun, that's… I had no idea you felt that way..." Haru gasped, her eyes wide with surprise as she covered her open mouth.
"So let us appreciate ya, already! Besides, we owe ya a problem free party!" Ryuji exclaimed. "You don't gotta worry about anyone huntin' us or something bad happening on live TV. You can just sit back and enjoy the graduation party with Makoto while the rest of us appreciate ya."
"Hehehe…" Haru giggled softly at his words, her gentle smile returning as she did. "My, when you put it that way, how can I refuse?"
"That’s the ticket!" Ryuji cheered, causing Haru to giggle at him more. As the line moved, he automatically took a few steps forward. It wasn't until he turned his head towards the building that he noticed how close they were to the entrance. Only a handful of people in line separated the two from the ramen shop. Upon that realization, Ryuji eagerly rubbed his hands in anticipation.
"Oh man, I can practically taste the ramen from here…" he sighed dreamily. Ryuji then took a big whiff of the aroma wafting from the ramen shop, and he hummed to himself in delight.
"It does smell heavenly…" Haru agreed, taking a moment to take in the aroma herself. "I remember that last time I could smell the food from outside as well. It was so stimulating! I couldn't help but feel hungry."
"That’s how they get ya!" Ryuji commented. "They tease you with a single whiff from outside, and you're hooked when you get inside! And you're gonna be wantin' more when you get back outside!"
"Such a hypnotizing cycle… I do still wonder if that's part of their marketing strategy," Haru mused to herself. "If so, it certainly works wonders."
"Hey, it definitely worked on me! My stomach was already in ramen mode when I got here, but the real kicker is when you're so hungry, you don't care about the long ass line! That's when you know it's good," Ryuji said, brushing off the tip of his nose with his thumb. "The food's always worth the wait. Every time. No matter how long you've been waiting."
"You certainly feel strongly about the food here, Ryuji-kun," Haru observed. "Though I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised. You did say that this was your go-to spot."
"What can I say? I'm a sucker for the stuff. I'll always have a soft spot for this place," Ryuji said, shrugging his shoulders. "I might not be too crazy about ramen to be buyin' merch or anything like that, but if I get the chance… I wanna try out some other ramen shops sometime. Maybe even some outside of Tokyo! Whaddya think?"
"I think that's a good idea! Having the chance to try out new things is always a wonderful experience." Haru expressed jovially.
"Right?" Ryuji agreed readily. "Don't got the money to move around like that on my own though. But someday it's gonna happen! Count on it!"
"Mm…!"
With that little promise he made to himself, Ryuji happily took a few steps forward as the line moved. Only a few people separated him and Haru from the restaurant and the delicious smell of ramen. He could feel his stomach growling and his mouth watering in anticipation. Eating a bowl after all of this waiting will definitely be worth it in the end.
"Ryuji-kun, may I ask you a question?" Haru asked politely.
"Sure. What's up?" Ryuji inquired.
"You asked me before about how I knew this place, but what about you?" Haru then asked. "How did you learn about this place?"
"Oh, that? That's easy. I used to come here with the track team after practice," Ryuji answered. "Back then, we used to come all the way over here after practice, and man, feeling the steam hitting the sweat running down our face, feeling the noodles slidin' down our throats… nothin' like it. Plus, the light soup really gets your body goin' after a good run, so coming all the way out here was always worth it!"
"Oh, how wonderful! No wonder you have such a strong attachment to this place." Haru commented fondly.
"Heh, I guess so…" Ryuji replied, rubbing the back of his neck again, albeit more sheepishly this time. "I dropped by here sometimes by myself, after Kamoshida effed up everything for everyone. The food still tasted awesome, but that was the only thing goin' good for me at the time."
"Oh…" Haru trailed off, her expression falling.
"I kept thinkin' that if one of the guys from the track team showed up, I had to go, even if I had to limp all the way out," Ryuji continued, lightly tapping his heel against the ground. "I kept sayin' to myself that it was all in the past, or that I didn't want to ruin anything else for 'em, but now I can admit that… I was beating myself up for what happened. I could snap back at that pervert any day of the week for being a piece of shit, but them…? I felt like I didn’t have a right to be around them, even in a place like this. It was pretty lonely for a while, so… I didn't drop by as often as I'd like."
"Ryuji-kun…" Haru began, her brows furrowing as she pursed her lips. She looked like she wanted to speak… probably to express her sympathies to his past troubles. While he appreciated the sentiment, Ryuji flashed a grin at her as he shook his head.
"Hey, don't look so worried. It's all good now," he said reassuringly. "Once Akira came into the picture, I started dropping by here again. Somehow the food tasted extra good with him around. Guess the ramen's better with company, huh?"
"...I can see that," Haru agreed, nodding at him. "Since I became friends with you all, one of the things I've learned was the joy of having company while trying out different things, food included. Simply trying out foods that I normally wouldn't try was novelty enough, but it made it all the more special when I was with friends. I can hardly imagine doing anything else."
"Yeah! See? You get it, Haru," Ryuji said enthusiastically. "Hangin' out with your buds just makes the little things like this all the more special."
"I wholeheartedly agree, Ryuji-kun, " Haru said, her gentle smile returning. "Another positive to having pleasant company around is that we get the chance to know each other better. I know that it was a surprise to see each other in line, but I'm grateful for the opportunity. I get to learn a little bit more about you, Ryuji-kun."
"E-Er, well…" Ryuji stammered, averting his gaze for a moment. He then sheepishly brushed the corner of his nose with his thumb. Somehow he didn't expect that fact to be pointed out so obviously. It took him off guard.
"I, uh… guess I did blab about myself a lot this time, huh?" he hurriedly said, chuckling nervously. "That’s a lil' embarrassing."
"Oh? There's nothing to be embarrassed about, Ryuji-kun, " Haru eased. "We're friends, aren't we? It's only natural that friends should want to learn a little more about each other."
"Hehe… true that." Ryuji replied.
“I know that there was much that I wasn’t present for at the time concerning the group, but I can tell that you’re so much stronger than anyone gives you credit for,” Haru continued. “So I’m happy for the opportunity to learn more about you.”
“U-Uh…” Ryuji stammered, completely stunned as he stared at Haru. He… didn’t expect to hear any of that. Especially when Haru sounded so… genuine about it. He knows they’re friends and teammates and all, but he didn’t expect for her to actually say that she was happy that she was getting to know him. He shook his head and patted his cheeks once, stifling an ‘ow!’ when he felt the impact. He could feel heat rising from his cheeks, but he didn’t quite know if it was from the single pat or from embarrassment. (God, he hoped it was from the pat…)
“Are you alright?” Haru asked, looking at Ryuji quizzically.
“Y-Yeah! Yeah, totally! Just had to warm my cheeks up ‘cuz it’s pretty cold, y’know?” Ryuji hurriedly said with a nervous chuckle. Man, that excuse was lame as hell. “B-But, uh… thanks. ‘S not everyday that a guy hears that, y’know.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble. It’s simply how I feel.” Haru said easily.
The line to the ramen shop shifted once more, and Ryuji took a few steps forward automatically. Once he returned his gaze to the front of the line, he noticed that he and Haru were standing in front of the entrance.
"Hey, we made it!" Ryuji exclaimed, pumping his fist. "Hell yeah! Sweet, sweet ramen, here we come!"
"Oh, wonderful! We got there in no time at all!" Haru cheered.
"Yeah we did! Even when the line was long as hell!" he said cheerfully. Despite knowing that from the start, Ryuji hardly noticed how long the wait was. Talking to Haru while they were in line probably helped in that regard. After all, there's no worrying about waiting when you're occupied with something else.
"Stick by me, Haru! I know where the good seats are. If they're empty, I'll know it for sure!" Ryuji then said.
"Then I'll follow your lead, Ryuji-kun." Haru replied, nodding at him.
Once a few people left the shop, Ryuji and Haru were finally allowed to enter. The enticing aroma of ramen that they were constantly smelling outside was strongest here, along with the chatter of the people inside and the clanging of ramen bowls either being stacked together or being placed against the counters. If the line outside wasn't enough to show how busy the shop was, the many people packed inside the shop definitely would.
With Haru trailing close behind him, Ryuji sought out the best two seats he could find, just as he promised. As the two of them took their seats at the bar counter, they placed their orders and watched the chef get to work from their seats.
All they had to do now was wait a little longer.
-----
"Mmm…! That’s the stuff! I'm definitely all warmed up now!"
Ryuji happily yelled that out as he put down his chopsticks next to his now empty bowl. When their orders came, Ryuji had the biggest grin on his face as he chowed down on the ramen with gusto. The expression he wore was pure bliss as he slurped the wet noodles and drank the broth that was eventually left over. He then wiped the corner of his mouth with his hands, completely satisfied with his meal.
"Man… ain't nothin' like this soy sauce flavor anywhere! Always worth the wait, every time!" Ryuji said joyfully. He then turned to Haru, who was eating her own bowl next to him. From the looks of it, she was into her own bowl as well. In fact, there was a last bit of food left in her bowl.
"Ain't this food the best, Haru?" he asked, eager to know if she was as satisfied as he was.
Sluuuurp.
Haru gave Ryuji a brief glance as she was in the middle of a bite. Her cheeks lightly flushed over the sound of her slurping, which was a little louder than she intended. Once she ate her mouthful, she straightened up from her seat and dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin. Ryuji grinned at the sight.
"If that ain't a satisfied customer slurp, I dunno what is!" he said with a laugh. "You picked that bowl clean!"
"Hehehe… it was delicious!" Haru replied, giggling. "I thought I would try the miso flavor this time, just to see how it tasted. It was quite satisfying to eat!"
"That’s what I like to hear!" Ryuji said cheerfully. "Though now I'm wonderin'... what flavor did you get last time?"
"I had salt. That flavor was delicious as well, especially for my first visit to a ramen shop," Haru answered. "Though now I wonder what the soy sauce flavor tastes like. You were really into eating your food."
"Well, uh, yeah! That’s the best flavor in the house! Hands down!" Ryuji exclaimed. But as soon as he yelled that out, Ryuji then chuckled nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck, a little embarrassed that he was louder than he intended.
"Then again… I'm kinda biased with the soy sauce flavor. I always get it whenever I drop by." he then said, a little quieter this time.
Haru giggled at him then, with her hand lightly covering her mouth as she did. "Then it's your favorite. I understand," she said. "It’s no wonder you were enjoying yourself so fully."
"Hehe, yeah… You got it," Ryuji replied, his grin returning despite his slight embarrassment. "Can't help what you like, after all."
"Oh! Ryuji-kun, you have a little food in the corner of your mouth." Haru then informed. She then lightly touched the corner of her own mouth with her fingers, to let Ryuji know which side it was.
"For real?" Ryuji asked. He then lightly licked the corner of his lips with the tip of his tongue, tasting the familiar taste of dried broth from his ramen. Automatically, he moved to wipe it away with his bare hands.
"Oh, allow me." Haru said, digging into her pocket for a moment. She quickly took out what she was looking for; a small packet of tissues. She carefully picked out a single tissue from the packet and offered it to Ryuji, who was still wiping his mouth with his hand.
"Thanks, Haru." Ryuji thanked, gladly taking the offered tissue from her. He wiped his mouth, finally taking that dried spot of broth away. Then he wiped his hands, which was a little wet from the light trail of saliva that came from his mouth. Ryuji winced at himself once he was done. Not his most flattering moment.
"Uh… sorry you had to see all of that," he apologized, crushing the used tissue within his fist. "I know I ain’t the cleanest person in the world."
"Nonsense. I'm just happy that I could help somehow," Haru assured, shaking her head. "Besides, this really isn't the type of place to be too mindful of manners, is it? After all, I was… slurping a little loud while eating my food before."
Ryuji laughed at that. "Sure isn't! Just eat however ya like! Can't help what you enjoy," he said heartily. "Huh. Never thought I'd ever hear you say somethin' like that."
“I would have never imagined it either!” Haru said with a giggle. “Of course, I still make sure to keep my basic show of manners intact, but such an environment isn’t as… stifling as the events I’ve been to in the past. Add that to the fact that I’m full, I feel so emotionally satisfied right now. This was such a fun trip!”
“Hell yeah! That I can get behind!” Ryuji exclaimed with a wide grin. Good food, good vibes, good company… Those were the main factors to having a good time. Ryuji already expected the food to be good, but bumping into Haru in line turned a quick bite to eat into a great bonding experience. Knowing that Haru enjoyed herself so much just sweetened the whole experience. It brought a smile to Ryuji’s face.
“Ooh, hey. We should hurry up and get out of here so that the next people in line can grab a bite to eat.” he then said.
“Good idea. I don’t want to keep other people from waiting!” Haru agreed.
Ryuji and Haru quickly got up from their seats and paid for their bowls, with Haru throwing in an extra tip to the chefs. As they left the ramen shop, the people in line quickly took their place as they walked inside. The line outside seemed as big as it was when they both got to the back of the line. It was… kinda amazing how this shop always stayed so busy no matter how much time passes.
“Ah, shit! Back in the cold!” Ryuji cursed, right as the winter breeze blew against his body. He hurriedly stuffed his hands back in his jacket in an effort to keep warm. “I’d better jog back home to keep myself from freezing. Keeping the body movin’ helps with this kind of thing!”
“Shall I find a shop that sells some gloves, Ryuji-kun? Perhaps it will help you keep warm.” Haru offered.
“Nah, I’ll be alright if I just keep moving. Appreciate the offer though, Haru.” Ryuji responded. Man, this girl was just so… nice. He didn’t want to have her go through the trouble or to owe her anything, but he appreciated her being so considerate. Haru really did have a kind heart.
“Mm, If you’re sure…” Haru relented, taking a few steps towards the direction opposite of Ryuji. “I’ll see you later then, Ryuji-kun. Thank you for keeping me company all this time. It was a wonderful meal.”
“No prob! Hey, hit me up whenever you feel like stopping by a ramen shop again! I’ll keep ya company!” Ryuji replied.
Haru giggled at that. “Food is better with company, right?” she commented.
“You know it!” Ryuji said enthusiastically. “And don’t forget about that graduation party for you and Makoto! I’m gonna hit up the gang about that later! It’s gonna knock your socks off!”
“Mm! I’ll look forward to it!” Haru replied happily, forming a beaming smile as she backed away. Haru then turned around and headed off towards the direction she was intending, leaving a waving Ryuji alone in the street. Once Haru was out of his sight, Ryuji put his hand down and stuck it back inside his jacket pockets, still trying to keep himself warm.
“Huh… not gonna lie. Haru makes for some great company when it’s one on one. Never woulda guessed.” Ryuji mused to himself. He then started to lift his legs up, running in place before he jogged towards the direction of the train station, intending to head home before his mom would start to worry about him.
As he jogged, Ryuji reflected on the last bits of the conversation between him and Haru. Saying to hit him up whenever she felt like getting ramen was a spur of the moment thing. But if he was to be perfectly honest with himself, it didn’t have to involve ramen at all. It could be anything, really! What it truly came down to is this:
He wouldn’t mind hanging out with Haru again.