Michelle and Matt returned just before the bell rang for all the club to finish and the students to head home. Daiichi had a hard time to get Suu off the laptop and get him to save his work on the server and told everyone to do the same. Then everyone was instructed to backup the server folder on their own laptops. Chihiro had just finished the setups on the new PC we rented and it is now installing updates. 12 hours we were told, so we left that PC running. I thought this is Japan, what happened to speed?

“Alright, the rules are clear, no working on the projects outside of club hours.” That was Alpha Prez’s final instruction for the day before he returned to his nice and calm shell.

“So its Wednesday, its dinner night right?” Michelle brought it up?

“Its Wednesday? And what is this dinner night?” I seem to lost track of the week.

“You know in Japanese companies would usually have drink meeting after work right?” Suu explained, “So instead of drink meeting we would have a dinner meeting instead.”

“Ooooooh.”It's like one of those team bonding things, I get it.

“Usually we would vote for the food we eat, but since Kelly is our new member, she gets to choose this time.”

“Agreed.”

“uhhhh, I can feel the pressure.” The plan was to eat ramen alone tonight in my favorite ramen restaurant around my apartment, but it seems like that’s not going to fly. But I really really wanted ramen. “I want ramen. But first I’ll drop by the supermarket to buy some ingredients.”

The walk Kelly club members said nothing, they simply followed me to the supermarket, it will be very uncomfortable if they simply followed me around, so I get them to fetch different ingredients for the cheesecake. And soon enough I lined up at the registers as the rest of the group waited outside.

“Ready for some Ramen?” I asked everyone

“yeah why not.” Chihiro doesn’t sound too enthused.

“Come on, you will love it, it is my favourite shop and they have the best ramen.”

“Kelly sounds like a different person when she talks about ramen.” Observed Shion.

“Of course, Ramen is love, ramen is life.”

“Sure it is.”

“You guys can just leave you know, all I need is ramen in my life.” I joked. Just thinking about the steaming bowl of ramen brings joy to life.

No one left the group, they simply followed me around the corner and there it is, at the back of a narrow road, there is that old Ramen shop. The best things never change in life.

I slide open the timber doors, the smell of tonkatsu greeted me. I am glad I made it before all the salaryman gets here. And it seems like there are enough open seats at the counter to fit us all. The shop is brightly lit, and there are red lanterns with the kanji for noodles written on them. Apart from that, it is just a normal ramen shop one will find across Tokyo.

I must have a huge grin on my face right now, this place really does make me happy. That’s when I noticed at the far corner of the shop someone in our school uniform. She looks familiar. Her shoulder-length wavy blond hair and slim frame look like someone I know.

Isn’t that Shiori?

It seems like she hasn’t noticed us yet. In front of her is a large bowl of tonkatsu ramen, with extra spring onions. Shiori took the spoon and had a mouth full of the thick broth, I can tell from this distance that her eyes sparkled as she helped herself with another spoon full. She then closed her eyes and breathed deeply, letting the warmth of the broth through her body. I can almost see the daisies around her as she happily snapped open her chopsticks.

All I could do is watch her, finally someone who appreciated ramen as much as I do. Especially someone as cute as Shiori. She scooped up some ramen with her chopsticks.

“Fuu, Fuu.” Blowing air onto it to cool it down, and then slurped it and chewed. I am sure this could be therapeutic, watching Shiori eating ramen. Her eyes sparkled after her first bite, and then she noticed us, her eyes went wide, and then even wider as she saw Daiichi behind me. Her face went bright red as she fumbled at the air with her hands.

“Shiori, be my Ramen Buddy~” I was already sitting next to her and grabbed both of her hands with mine before Shiori could compose herself.

“Eh?” Was all she could manage.

“Shiori, you like ramen?”

“nhn.” She nodded, still flustered

“Me too!” I beamed, “I finally found someone who can understand me.”

“Kelly, you are bothering her.” Suu scolded me as he sat next to me.

“No no, I’m fine, just a little confused,” Shiori said, defending me.

“See Suu, I found my ramen buddy, I don’t need you anymore.”

“I don’t think you needed me to begin with.”

“That’s right as long as I have Shiori and ramen I need nothing else.”

“I am not sure about that….” Shiori gave me a weak smile.

“What do you mean? We are ramen buddies, right?”

“I guess.”

YES! Shiori recruited!

The others already sat down on the counter tables and looking at the menu, Daiichi chooses a strategic position on the very far side of the counter away from Shiori.

I might be dense, and my girly senses are not as strong as Michelle’s or Suu’s, but I didn’t miss that exchange between Shiori and Daiichi for that fraction of a second. My Otome senses are tingling, in a very good way. I think Michelle misses the signal but there is no way of hiding anything from Suu, I swear he is more girly than me. And gosh, Shiori is just so cute.

One by one my dear club members order their ramen, when it was my turn, the owners simply asked if I want the usual. I am happy that he remembers me, but I have conflicting emotions about me not growing ever since middle school.

“uhmm, can you let go of hands please,” Shiori asked. “My ramen is getting cold.”

“I am so sorry Shiori chan,” I let go of her hand reluctantly, “I will never get in between someone and their ramen.”

Shiori went back to her ramen, more self-conscious on how she is eating it. But after a couple of bites, she seems to completely forget about our existence. She’s chewing happily on her ramen while swinging her feet back and forth on the tall stool. I peeked passed Suu at Daiichi, that gentleman has will-power of Steel. If I were him I would record every second of this in my head and replay it all day.

Before I knew it, I am following Shiori and swinging my body left to right waiting for my Ramen while watching the owner’s skillful moves. The way he cooks the ramen and the timers on the wall. How he chops the spring onion on the spot to preserve the freshness to the way he artfully set up the plate. Finally, he took the ramen from the pot and drained the water out of them on the floor the traditional way. Arranged them in bowels and poured broth over them. My ramen was served first, with extra firm men and plenty of garlic and spring onion. I waited for everyone else got their ramen. Suu had the shop standard ramen just like everyone else, it seems like they don’t have much experience with ramen.

“Itadakimasu.” Was the groups signal to start eating. Michelle is looking weirdly at the floating fat on top of the brooth. Chihiro and Tomo are poking at the chasuu on top of the noodles, Daiichi and Shion don’t seem to have too much problem with eating it. Matt started with the brooth, that one has potential. Suu started wolfing down the noodles, I doubt he tasted anything. Next, to me, Shiori is helping herself to some ground garlic, noticing me looking her way, she passed it to me. While chewing

“thank you.”

Shiori had to swallow hurriedly. “No problem, we are ramen buddies.”

I stretched out my arms and hugged her.

“wha.”

Her hair is so soft and smelt like sweet cucumbers. I hope Daiichi likes cucumbers.

“Uhm uhm.” Shiori stiffened a little. I mentally slapped myself, Kelly, self-control, you can’t just go scaring girls like that.

“I’m so sorry.” I managed to say before Suu pulled me on the collar, away from my prey.

“It’s fine, I am just startled.” Shiori waved her hand at me, “I get this a lot from the girls in the club.”

“It’s rare to see Kelly get this assertive.” Suu observed, “I’m sorry Shiori, our Kelly usually is a lot more passive.” Suu apologised on my behalf as if he is my legal guardian.

“It really is ok.” Shiori smiled at Suu and patted me on the head, “I am happy to get a ramen buddy too.”

Why am I getting patted? Eh? Eh?!

“I think all the ramen must be getting to my head.”

“But you haven’t had any yet,” Shiori stated

“It’s a figure of speech.”

“By the way, what is your relationship with Suu?” Shiori asked, looking past Suu towards the other end of the counter for a split second. This girl is a lot smarter than she looks that’s for sure.

“Lega……uuuugh.” Suu started, I finished it, with an elbow to his Chest

“League?” Shiori asked, with that accursedly cute head tilt.

“League players, you know that game?”

“I think I have heard of it.”

“We also just Childhood friends, my family knew the Suu family for a very long time, and I attended the same middle school as Suu. By the way, I leave around the corner, drop by sometime.” I offered as I scooped some garlic into my ramen bowl. Shiori is cute and all, but a girl can’t live on cuteness alone.

“If I remember correctly, Shiori lives close by too,” Suu informed me as I slurped some ramen.

“Stalker….” It was my reply. Mumbling with my mouth full of ramen

“Oh, from that time when you walked me home,” Shiori remembered, as she slurps on her ramen.

“Shiori, that’s dangerous, you can’t have boys walk you to your house,” I said as I took a spoon full of the broth. “Boys are like hungry wolfs who are looking to gobble up any girl.”

Suu kept wolfing down his ramen, almost done with the meal, it's really not healthy to eat that fast.

“Suu doesn’t feel like one of those boys though. Besides, it was getting really late that day so I was glad he offered.” Shiori smiled at me.

“Suu doesn’t feel like a boy at all,” even though he looks cool and all, “he reminds me more like a mum.”

Shiori giggles at the image, I am sure she would agree. Ok Suu, you are forgiven this time.

“Suu, what is your relationship with Shiori,” I demanded, it looks like he is just about done with food and has the capacity to hold a conversation.

“We worked on the short anime for the MP club last year. It was a fifty/fifty venture last year, most of the time either me or Matt would be at the art club.”

“The other times I would be at the MP club room helping with the animations,” Shiori added, her bowl is almost empty too.

“Owner, extra noodles please,” Shiori ordered. This shop provides free noodle service. The owner gave her a thumbs up and put some noodles to boil. Meanwhile, Suu looks at the bowl of broth and is contemplating to drink it or not. he really can’t eat that much.

“Cooperation,” I remember the lesson from yesterday.

“That’s right, The art club doesn’t have much of a way for a stable income. We rely on other clubs for art orders and some odd jobs.” It sounds hard for the art department.

“I did suggest a manga series at the last student council meeting.” Our student prez spook

“But not everyone in the club is interested in manga, some of us will not even call it an art form.” Shiori pointed out, soothing the pain with inclusive language, always use inclusive language.

“I was only trying to be nice, with the skills in that club we could’ve have made headlines with our new Otome series.” Suu didn’t seem to be hurt so much, “I had the whole plot and characters sorted.” And revealed his true intentions.

“I don’t think we can afford the royalties the MP club was charging.”

“I am sure if I talked to Daiichi he would’ve provided a better discount.”

“I think Daiichi-sans business decision was correct. I heard the manga business is dark.”

“Any business is dark if you don’t be careful. There is just too much greed in the industry, instead of supporting good artists, the companies are looking for the most profitable ones and keep all the money.” Suu complained. “By the way, do you know the three C’s of money-making.”

“No idea.” That was my answer. Too busy eating my ramen instead of joining this weird turn in the conversation. How does manga turned into money making?

“Crime, Chance and Commerce, right? The first thing they teach you in business school.” Shiori Answered, “I assume making money became too hard so the production companies are engaging in questionable investments.”

“What would you do if you want to make money from artworks Shiori?” Suu kept asking.

I eat my ramen in silence, I am forgetting Shiori is the prez of the art club who have a good head screwed on.

“Find new talents, package them, make them famous and take a good chunk of the commissions,” Shiori answered. The owner put a full portion of noodles in front of Shiori’s counter and went back to his preparations. The salaryman hungry for a dinner and needing a good drink to drown their stresses will be here soon. “Or I could start an online education package, write instructional books and videos.”

I watched as Shiori tipping the large portion of noodles into the leftover ramen broth as she explained her business idea to Suu. Is this some conversation I should be listening to?

“You ok Kelly? I see you stopped eating.” Shiori asked.

“no, I was just thinking about seconds.” To be honest, I am at my limit, I don’t know how Shiori fits all that ramen in her tiny body. “I was simply amazed at these high schoolers who sound like middle-aged entrepreneurs.” I am used to Suu not acting his age but hearing a proposal from Shiori is fascinating.

I picked at the rest of the noodles that are left in the bowl while the two resumed their conversation across me.

“I think you are on the right track, it always seems to me that education is going to be a huge market. Instead of alcohol and drugs, education is the next thing people look to for fulfillment in life.”

That’s dark Suu, real dark.

“Japan has a very successful adult industry, I think education would come after that.”

That’s dark Shiori, real dark.

“How could I miss that; eroge industry is huge!”

“I think we started exporting these stuff overseas.”

“Not a good image for the country, but who could complain if we are making money as a country, we can’t just keep printing money forever.”

“Kelly, I know you have a good grasp on economics, what do you make out of this.”

“I think exporting Eroge is a great way for wealth generation, the creative process doesn’t require anything other than human resources, economically we are literately using the ingenuity of people to create a product with no requirement for materials or waste and selling them to another country. Ruining their birth rates and collecting tax on top of it.” No seriously, I wish I am joking but it makes perfect economic sense.

“Does that mean I need to start drawing nudes?” Shiori asked

“NO! Shiori, stay pure, please. Don’t let Suu brainwash you.”

“You know as an artist, she had seen more nudity than you right?” Suu jabbed at me.

“I know, but please let me have my own delusions please.”

Shiori giggled at me and Suu’s comedy show and slurped happily at her ramen.

I lifted my bowl and started partaking in the leftover broth, I used to order some rice for the leftover broth in my younger days. But it seems my appetite disappeared with age. Next to me, Suu is doing the same, maybe he felt guilty for wasting food, but he is going to regret it later I am sure his stomach was full ages ago.

I caught a glimpse of Matt doing the same and Michelle is giving him that weird look again. Chihiro, Tomo, and Shion are already on their phones playing some games again. Daiichi is still eating, I can tell that he also ordered extra noodles by the empty plate in front of him. I hope you are not pushing yourself too hard prez, then I recalled his sizable lunch box yesterday during lunch, maybe the growing boy is just hungry and not trying to impress his ramen loving crush.

Finally, Shiori picked up her bowl next to me and Daiichi picked up his and drained the content. Shiori let out a long happy sigh afterward while Daiichi looks a little sick. Is it really worth it Prez? Is it?

“Ok Kelly, you are banned from taking this group out for ramen.” Since everyone finished, Suu began with his unreasonable demand.

“Why?”

“Well you see, most of us boys live by ourselves,” Chihiro started answering.

“And what do boys live alone have for food most of the time? That’s right cup ramen.” Followed by Matt.

“so you see, most of us are sick of seeing any form of noodles.” Finished off by Shion.

I don’t understand, I could eat ramen every day and not get sick of it, my all judging scale in my bathroom will start complaining though.

“But I could have ramen every day and be happy.” Shiori offered. I am sure she is the type of girl who can eat as much as she likes and still not gain any weight. Also, Daiichi, hang in there. “Kelly, if you want ramen you always got me.”

“Deal.” I am going to have ramen and Shiori… I mean….with... Shiori.

“That’s decided then, Ramen is now banned from our dinner meetings.” Matt brought down his final judgment.

Shiori pulled out her phone. “Lets exchange phone numbers Kelly.” Shiori smiled at me.

Shiori’s number get~~~~

“Say Shiori chan, does it feel weird to have a school that encourages money-making?”

“uhmmmm,’ Shiori thought about it for a bit, “Looking from the outside, it does feel strange, but because we are mostly brought up this way. It feels natural.”

I understand what she means, my mother had always taught me economics and commerce ever since a young age and the Suu family had always supported me and little Suu’s “Business ventures.” I think I am just used to a normal school with people much unlike us, and perhaps that is why I feel so comfortable in this school.

“Its like having being taught how to draw, and you go to an art major high school.” Shiori added, “In my case, my family decided to teach me commerce and send me to a business major high school and art is my Hobby.”

“Oooh.” That makes a lot of sense.

“Just like how Suu and Matt have a major in being an Otaku and a hobby in business.”

“I would call it multimedia production instead of being an Otaku, thank you very much.” Was Matt’s answer, overhearing our conversation. At least he doesn’t lie to himself.

“I am fine just being a degenerate.” Was Suu’s point of view. “As long as I don’t become a burden to society.”

That sounds too real.

“Alright then, I believe we all have things to attend to, let's call it a day,” Suu announced as the first batch of Salaryman entered the shop.

“You just want to go home and play galge.” Tomo corrected

“Exactly, I have waifus to attend to.”

“Well then, I have some unfinished family business.” Michelle got up, “You ok with getting home by yourself Kelly?”

“Of course~ this is my turf.”

“I am worried,” Matt said, “But I have some business to attend to as well.”

“You mean you have anime on your list that you need to finish.” Tomo correct.

“Exactly, I have waifus to attend to. Daiichi, you are the most responsible one and lives the closest, want to guide them home.”

I assume “them” was me and Shiori, I was going to argue that I am an aikido black belt that can take down Suu, but reserved my opinion.

“That would be nice.” I smiled at Suu. I am sure he gets the idea.

“Alright then, MP club plus 1, move out!” Suu declared.

“Yes, sir.”

…………..

Everyone left, the MP club is left with me and Daiichi and the plus one.

“Shiori Chan, don’t you usually go around with the people in the art club?” I started walking next to her, following her lead.

“Most of the families are very protective of the girls you see. They usually get picked up by someone right after school or instructed to return home right after club activities.”

That reminds me, I don’t see any males in the art club.

“Prez.’

“Yes?” Daiichi and Shiori answered at the same time, that’s right, they are both Prez. It seems like I’ve been dealing with too many prezs today.

“Sorry, Alpha Prez.” Shiori giggled at the name, “can we poach Shiori?”

“Believe me, I tried, do you know how much expense we can cut if we have her in our club?” Daiichi answered, “And what is with that naming sense.”

“It just came to me, kinda fitting when you are in your prez mode.” I choose to ignore the first question.

“Alpha prez, can I add Shiori to our club ‘lane’ group?”

“Why?’

“Because of reasons.”

Daiichi pretended to think long and hard for 30 seconds. “Granted. Only because our club will not exist next year.”

“Is that ok with you Shiori? You don’t have to reply to any messages or anything.”

Shiori is thinking long and hard for 30seconds.

“Why not, I had fun today, it feels like you guys never get bored.”

“That’s the spirit!” I quickly sent an invitation to Shiori, which she promptly accepted.

‘Shiori has joined the group’ showed up on the message board.

Daiichi had changed the group name from ‘The Multimedia Production club of Shinjuku international high school group’ to ‘The Multimedia Production club and plus one of Shinjuku international high school group’

“Nice one Kelly!” Michelle replied straight away.

I send an emoji of an air-headed anime character with her arm behind her head with “Ehehehe” in the speech bubble.

“Alright, I am here.” That was quick, she really does live close by, her apartment is only about 700 meters away from mine. “Thank you, Kelly, Alpha Prez. I really did have fun today.”

“You are welcome.” Daiichi and I waved goodbye as Shiori walked into the entrance and passed the security office. So did Daiichi.

I made sure Shiori disappeared from our sights before turning to Daiichi.

“You heard her, Alpha Prez.”

Daiichi let out a long sigh and relaxed his shoulders. “Kelly, you are something else, what am I going to do with you?”

“Now I am not saying I am on the same tier as Suu or Matt, but do you think you can do anything about those two?”

“No.”

“Then what made you think you can do something about me.”

“It was a figure of speech.”

“good.” I patted his shoulders sarcastically

“Anyway, Thank you, Shiori doesn’t have friends in class and all her club members are not very sociable.”

“Stalker…..” I stared at Daiichi.

“She’s in my class, of course, I would know.”

“Sure, as if I believe you…. WAIT SHES IN 3B????”

“yeah,” Daiichi said, sheepishly.

“She’s third year?”

“Isn’t that obvious.”

“Like hell! I thought she was the first year and you were a lolicon.”

“Don’t group me with Suu and Matt please.”

“Sorry.”

“Anyway, thank you, I think Shiori made a good friend today.”

“You really do care a lot don’t you?”

“Maybe too much.” I couldn’t read Daiichi’s expression when he said that. “You really are something you know that? Maybe not on the same tier as Suu and Matt.”

“Huehuehue, with enough ramen, I can rule the world! Suu and Matt are nothing to me!”