“There are so many people during the lunch break in this square that I was afraid I wouldn’t find you in time.”

“Haha, we saw you come out of the building but you went in the opposite direction from us.”

“Did it go well for you this morning Rina-chan?”

“Yeah, it wasn’t too bad I guess. I managed to get to know my tablemate, although I kind of messed up my approach to her…”

“The most important thing is that you don’t keep to yourself, I’m proud of you Rina.”

“Hehe.”

She smiles proudly.

“So what are we doing for lunch? The cooking club offered me to eat with them they’re doing a lunch prep session but I think I won’t go. By the by, do you have any idea?”

“Anything will do. What about you, Sophie ?”

“Um… I thought I’d grab something quick to eat to make the most of this afternoon.”

“There must be some cool booths on campus, but I can’t get too full or I won’t be able to enjoy my cookies later properly.”

“Let’s look on the school map, there should be a list of all the outlets.”

They all take out their smartphones and check the Kumiai app.

“Um, sandwich, hamburger, yakitori, okonomiyaki, omurice, takoyaki,… So many choices, why do my belly and my wallet limit me!”

“It’s a good thing you’re limited, or there would be nothing left for us afterward.”

“Yakisoba? Aya-chan, Rina-chan, how about yakisoba?”

“It’s true that it’s been a while since I’ve eaten any. Sounds good Rina?”

“Sounds good, just need to find the-“

While she has not yet finished her sentence, Rina sees a stand with a sign in the distance…

“… Kochi Yakisoba.”

“Eh?” x2

Turning around, Aya and Sophie discover a modest mobile stall from which comes an intriguing yet delicious smell of yakisoba.

“We didn’t have to look very far, I guess.”

“Let’s go while there’s no one around.”

“Welcome, welcome, young ladies what can I serve you today?”

“Let’s see…”

“You have a fairly extensive menu despite the small size of your stall.”

“Hehe, of course. I must offer my customers unquestionable choice and quality.”

“I’d like a medium portion of Umi Yakisoba.”

“One portion of soba from the sea, one!”

“Have you chosen, Sophie?”

“Hmm… I’m thinking of having a small portion of Tori Yakisoba Special.”

“Very good choice miss, the best chicken native to the city of Nagoya on your plate.”

“Well, Rina-chan?”

“So many possibilities… You’re not making it easy for me chief.”

“I knew right away that you were an expert in this field when I saw you yesterday. Of course, I always offer a wide selection of the best street food recipes.”

Aya and Sophie look each other in the eyes.

“When I saw you yesterday?” x2

“Hehe, I’ve made up my mind chief, for me it will be a large portion of “Yakisoba A La Carte”.”

“Oh~ So you spotted this alternative on my menu.”

“I have an eye for this kind of thing.”

They both giggle as they share their mutual passion for good food.

“AND A LARGE PORTION A LA CARTE!”

The fires of the chef’s cooking plates ignite with vivacity and like a master in the field, he draws his three woks which he places on the incandescent flames.

*Intense flame bursts*

“ORA!”

The heat rises and the food jumps and dances around.

“ORA ORA!!! The furnace gods are with me!”

The vehemence of the chef is breathtaking.

“This…”

“… intense?”

Aya and Sophie are confused.

“It’s prodigious you mean. Despite my inexperience in the kitchen, I can feel all the emotion and zeal the chef puts into his preparation.”

“A serving of Umi Yakisoba Medium for the girl and a small serving of Tori Yakisoba Special for this other girl!”

“What about mine?”

“You chose the A La Carte version, didn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Then look closely…”

The chef takes a nice white bread and then takes the wok of Sophie’s preparation.

“ORA!!! The yakisobas are flying over the sky and coming in to sneak in this wonderful white bread!”

The stir-fried noodles jump straight from the wok into the bread with incredible precision.

“Then the power of the hot iron comes crashing down on this delicate bread to make it…”

*BAM!!!*

“… THE PERFECT YAKISOBA PANINI SPECIAL!!!”

“OH!” x3

“Here you are served, young lady.”

“It looks… incredibly good. I wanna cry”

“Hehe, only tears of joy, then.”

“Sure, I’m starving…”