Source
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5612jg/25/
It was after 8:30 p.m., one week before the final exam, and I was concentrating on my studies.
Today, Hitomi san was on a trip with her friends and it was just me and Ayaka at home, but Ayaka seemed to finish her dinner after club activities and I had to finish mine alone.
“….I wanna eat ramen.”
I thought to myself.
Once I said that, all other options disappeared from my mind, so I went outside and rode my bicycle, still in my casual clothes.
There is a ramen shop a few minutes away that I have been visiting for a long time, so I pedaled my bicycle toward there a little earlier than usual.
When I’m almost there, I see a figure sitting on a bench in a small park.
It was dark and hard to see, but the lights outside the park made her golden hair shine.
Hananoi was sitting alone on the bench.
She was dressed in loungewear, and it was not safe for her to be alone at night.
As expected, I could not ignore her, so I spoke to her.
“What are you doing? At this time of night.”
Hananoi looked up at me and didn’t seem surprised, in fact, I thought she looked as if she had been waiting for me.
“Nothing. I just don’t wanna stay home.”
Hananoi said, looking somewhere far away.
I guessed a certain amount of the situation from those words.
It was probably something to do with her mother.
As if to prove it, Hananoi spoke.
“She’s at home right now. So…”
That’s why she’s killing time alone.
That’s about it.
If Hananoi’s mother is the reason, I can’t ignore her.
Besides Hananoi, me and my dad are the only two people who understand that monster.
I pondered what to do, but then I came up with the best idea.
“All right. Let’s go get some ramen.”
“Huh? Why?”
Hananoi tilted her head.
“I’m going out for ramen right now. You haven’t eaten anyway, have you? Besides, a good meal will take your mind off things.”
“…..Well, I’m hungry. So I don’t mind.”
Hananoi looked lost for a moment, but after consulting with her stomach, she agreed to the proposal.
It was a short walk from the park, so I walked along, pushing my bicycle.
We arrived at the ramen shop without much conversation.
“So this place after all.”
Hananoi said.
That’s no wonder.
Hananoi and I had been to this ramen shop before.
On days when there was no food, we always came here.
We would come here while fighting, and eat while fighting.
Then we would go home fighting.
It was a repetition.
“Come on, let’s go in.”
When I opened the door and went inside, I found an old man of about 50 years old standing there with a towel wrapped around his head and his arms folded.
He is the owner of this restaurant.
“I haven’t seen your face for a long time.”
The owner looked at Hananoi and said that.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Owner, the usual please. For Miyu as well. …..Ah”
I called her as if we were siblings.
I glanced at Hananoi and saw that she looked a little surprised.
“What is it? Sit down quickly. There are plenty of seats available.”
The owner urged Hananoi to sit down and she sat next to me.
The owner and I were surprised to see that.
“What?”
“No, I didn’t expect you to sit next to me.”
“Miyu chan’s always been separated from this idiot.”
No matter how crowded the seats were, she would never sit next to me.
When I said that, Hananoi did not have any particular reaction.
“Is that so? It doesn’t matter where I sit, does it?”
“Well, you’re right.”
If Hananoi is fine with it, then there is no problem, but something is off.
“Then, just wait a minute.”
With that, the owner began to cook the ramen.
We didn’t say a word as we waited for the ramen to be finished.
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