"Swish—" Momoko hurried and finally pulled open the curtain just in time for the young miss.
The owner, who was busy preparing food in the back kitchen, heard footsteps coming from the front and shouted, "Welcome to Ichiraku Ramen!"
This ramen shop was not large. Upon entering, there were only two small tables and chairs that could seat four people each. By the entrance of the kitchen was a row of high stools for single seating, from which one could see the busy owner working inside the kitchen. With a single stretch of Yuka's hand, without even needing to speak, Momoko bent down and scooped her up onto a high stool. Yuka sat up straight and proper, tilting her head back to look at the busy owner in the kitchen.
"Mister~ Is there anything you recommend?" Yuka smiled cheerfully, her voice soft and sweet.
"Little customer, everything on the menu board is today's signature ramen!" The kind-faced owner smiled back at Yuka while keeping his hands busy. "Every bowl of ramen we make is delicious, I guarantee you won't regret it after eating!"
Naruto climbed onto a chair by himself and, imitating Yuka, tilted his head back to look at the hanging food menu.
However, he didn't recognize as many kanji as Yuka did, and some uncommon characters he didn't know at all. But he recognized the prices listed: an ordinary bowl of ramen cost 80 ryo. He could eat the ordinary one, but he definitely had to let Yuka eat the more expensive one—she was his new friend after all! And Big Sister Momoko! Big Sister Momoko had to eat too!
The more expensive ramen was 120 ryo... So two bowls of expensive ramen and one bowl of ordinary ramen should do it! Naruto stealthily glanced at his little wallet, counted the bills inside, and checked his savings.
Hm! He could still afford three bills!
Having decided this, Naruto opened his mouth just as he was about to speak: "Mister..."
"Mister! I want three seafood family-sized ramen sets! Make them all large portions! The super deluxe version!"
Naruto stared blankly at the price of the seafood family-sized ramen. If he hadn't read it wrong, it was the most expensive set on the ramen shop's signboard. A single set cost a full 500 ryo, and three sets added together meant... Before Naruto could figure it out through mental or manual calculation, Momoko had already paid the bill.
"Ah!" he suddenly cried out, trying to stop Yuka's action: "Yuka, Big Sister Momoko, I was originally planning to..."
"What's wrong?" Having finished ordering, Yuka propped her chin on her hand and turned to look at Naruto. "I'm the one who asked you out to eat, so I should be the one treating. Don't worry, I have money; I can at least afford a few bowls of ramen. As for your meager pocket change, you'd better save it to buy instant noodles for yourself. You don't have family to give you money, but my dad makes a lot of money, and my brother is about to start making money soon, and Sa... little big brother gives me pocket money every day too. I have plenty of money."
She continued with a self-righteous tone: "Don't worry about money when you're hanging out with me! In any case, this is money I'm willing to spend on you. Big brother said that money willingly spent on others isn't money at all; it's called affection! My big brothers often give me gifts and spend money on me, and big brother also said that relationships need to be maintained. Since we are friends, our relationship needs to be maintained just the same!"
Speechless...
"No family" and "meager pocket change."
Naruto felt as if his chest had been pierced by several arrows. He opened his mouth to retort, but nothing came out.
Because what Yuka said was indeed the truth; it was just that the truth she spoke was not tactful at all, but direct and candid.
To be honest, if someone else had said those words, Naruto might have thought the other person was insulting him. But coming from Yuka... He looked at Yuka's sincere and earnest face. Her expression was very firm, and her gaze was very pure, unlike other people who always wore some... thought-provoking expressions when looking at him, or simply harbored genuine hatred for him.
Yuka didn't hate him; she was merely stating facts. But the facts she stated left one choking without arousing actual resentment.
Momoko watched from the side. The young miss's mouth... really was as deadly as ever without needing to pay for murder. Besides, Young Miss, when on earth did Master Itachi ever say such a thing to you? This was clearly something you figured out yourself from some book?!
Fortunately, Naruto was simple-minded. Once he decided that Yuka was his friend, he didn't care what she said. Without needing Yuka to offer any extra explanation, Naruto comforted himself.
At this moment, he smiled foolishly and rubbed the back of his head: "Yuka, you're right! Then I'll treat you to instant noodles next time! They're so delicious!"
"Okay!" Yuka clapped her hands. "I've never had instant noodles before! I really want to try them! When you treat me next time, remember to hide from my big brother. You know, the one... who's tall, with pale skin, and a cold expression—a cool guy. He loves managing me the most; he won't let me eat junk food. My big brother says instant noodles are junk food! He doesn't let me eat candy either!"
Momoko: "..." She was pondering whether to report these words faithfully to Master Itachi, who had sought her out just yesterday and told her to faithfully report whatever the young miss did every day when she went out.
Immersed in their respective conversations, the two children completely failed to notice the adult's expression of hesitation beside them.
"Eh?!!" Naruto made a shocked gesture. "Are instant noodles junk food?!! I think they're so delicious!!! Every flavor is so delicious! I like the seafood flavor!"
Yuka cheered and clapped, happy to have found the same flavor preference with her good friend: "Yay! I like seafood too! Seafood is so delicious!"
Momoko slapped her forehead: Young Miss, seafood flavor and actual seafood are two entirely different things—they are worlds apart!
"Here comes the noodles~~~~" The ramen shop owner's cry timely broke the brief tranquility.
Steaming bowls of large ramen were placed on a tray and served, with one bowl set before each of the three: Yuka, Naruto, and Momoko.
The rich, white bone broth base was topped with peeled shrimp meat and crab roe, with nori and fishcakes inserted on the far left, garnished on the other side with a few shreds of cucumber and carrot, and sprinkled with special seasoning. It smelled intensely appetizing, and just looking at it made one's mouth water. There were also remaining side dishes and appetizers on the tray: crisp, refreshing radishes that could cut through grease, and a cup of slightly bitter green tea that looked wonderful as well!
"Wow—!!!" Yuka and Naruto's attention was instantly drawn away by the bowls of ramen.
With delicious food before him, Naruto instantly forgot about being insulted by Yuka just moments ago. He impatiently picked up his chopsticks and pressed his hands together: "Then I'll start eating! Thank you for the treat, Yuka! Thank you, Yuka and Big Sister Momoko!"
"You're welcome!" Yuka made the same gesture, her expression very pious: "Eat up, Naruto-san!"
"Whoa!!!" Slurping up the scalding noodles in large mouthfuls, Naruto cried out in pain from the heat, but the noodles were simply too fragrant and delicious. The rich flavor left him with endless aftertastes, and even if it burned, he insisted on keeping eating: "Yu... Yuka, it's truly so delicious!!! Super delicious!! Invincibly delicious!!!!"
"Whoa!!!!" Yuka shouted an identical cry to Naruto's, her eyes sparkling with a bright, joyful glow: "It's so, so, so!! So delicious!!! Mmph mmph mmph, I want to eat here every day!! For the rest of my life!!!"
The busy owner in the back kitchen lifted the curtain, and seeing the two children eating happily, he couldn't help but smile. He additionally sent out a plate of fried chicken and replied with a beaming smile, "Little customers, be sure to come often from now on~"
The two children said in unison, "No problem!"