The ramen shop was small, with barely enough room for the counter and a row of narrow stools pressed tightly together. The air was heavy with the scent of pork broth, soy sauce, and grilled garlic. Steam rose in gentle waves from the pots behind the counter, where the old master stirred with quiet dedication. Outside, the faint patter of evening rain against the paper lanterns gave the shop a cozy, almost hidden warmth.
Rina sat across from Minato, leaning forward slightly over her bowl. Her cheeks were flushed, not only from the heat of the broth but also from the mug of beer she nursed between her hands. She slurped the last of her noodles with ease, wiped her lips with a napkin, and let out a satisfied sigh.
"The ramen was good," she said, raising the glass for another sip. The amber liquid caught the dim light, and she tilted her head back, swallowing slowly.
Minato gave a small nod, still chewing on the last bite of chashu. His shoulders slumped with contentment, and when he finally exhaled, it came out as a low burp that he didn't bother hiding.
"Yeah," he said, tapping his chopsticks lightly against the bowl.
For a moment, the sound of clinking dishes and the low hum of conversation from the other patrons filled the space between them. Then Rina set her glass down with a soft thud. Her expression shifted—no longer casual, but a little hesitant, as though she had been waiting for the right timing.
"By the way, Sato-san," she began, her voice quieter, almost serious now, "I have one thing to tell you."
Minato lifted his brows, half-distracted as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Hm? Hm?" he muttered, leaning slightly closer but still relaxed.
Rina traced the rim of her glass with her fingertip before finally meeting his eyes. "Since now I got divorced… I am thinking of moving into a new house. And… Kawagoe is in my mind."
The words lingered in the air. Minato blinked, surprised not so much by the statement itself, but by the way she said it—with a mixture of nervousness and determination. He tilted his head, letting out a small chuckle to ease the heaviness.
"Good," he replied after a pause. "It's a fantastic area."
The corners of Rina's lips curved upward in relief. She nodded, her eyes softening, and reached for her beer again.
"Yeah," she murmured, almost to herself, before taking another sip.
The two of them sat there quietly for a while longer, the warmth of ramen and beer filling the silence, as the rain outside continued to fall on the streets of Kawagoe.
The ramen bowls were nearly empty now, the broth reduced to a thin layer clinging to the bottom. Minato leaned back slightly on the narrow stool, his hand resting lazily on his beer. Rina, still thinking over her words from earlier, glanced at him with a faint smile.
"Don't worry, Kimura," Minato said, breaking the quiet between them. "Just meet Ayaka. One of her friends works in the housing market—she'll help you."
Rina's eyes widened a little, the tension in her shoulders easing. "Thanks, Sato-san." She hesitated for a beat before asking, "Should I… call her now?"
"Sure, why not?" Minato replied with a small grin, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
Rina nodded, pulling her phone from her bag. The shop's lantern light glowed faintly on her screen as she scrolled to Ayaka's number. After a moment, she pressed call and raised the phone to her ear.
The ringtone buzzed in the cramped little shop until, finally, Ayaka's warm voice came through.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Sato-san, it's Rina," she said quickly, her tone a mix of polite and familiar.
There was a pause, then Ayaka's voice softened with recognition. "Ah, Rina-chan! It's been a while. How are you?"
Rina smiled, the sound of Ayaka's voice bringing a touch of comfort. "I'm doing well. Just having ramen with your husband right now." She glanced at Minato teasingly as she said it.
Ayaka gave a light laugh on the other end. "Oh? That man always finds excuses to eat ramen."
Minato rolled his eyes good-naturedly and muttered, "She knows me too well."
Rina chuckled before continuing. "Actually, I wanted to ask… you mentioned once your friend works in housing. I'm thinking of moving, and Kawagoe has been on my mind."
"Ah, yes!" Ayaka replied, her voice bright. "My friend Miki. She knows the area well. I can introduce you—she's very reliable. You'll like her."
"That would be wonderful, thank you." Rina leaned her elbow on the counter, relaxing now. "It's a big step, you know? Moving on, finding a new place… I was nervous about it."
"You'll be fine," Ayaka said kindly. "A new house is a new beginning. And Kawagoe is such a nice town. I think it will suit you."
"Yeah," Rina murmured, a hint of hope creeping into her voice. "I think so too."
Ayaka's voice softened, carrying the warmth of quiet encouragement. "When you're free, let's meet for coffee. We can talk more, and I'll call Miki for you."
"I'd love that," Rina said, smiling now. "It's been too long since we met like that."
"Then it's a promise," Ayaka replied. "Take care tonight, and don't let Minato drink too much."
Rina laughed, glancing at Minato again. "I'll try, but no promises."
"Oi," Minato grumbled under his breath, though the corner of his lips curved in amusement.
With that, the call ended, leaving the soft glow of the phone screen between them. Rina set it down, her expression lighter than before.
"Your wife's as sweet as always," she said with a small smile.
Minato nodded, lifting his beer. "Yeah. She really is."
The rain outside continued to fall, but inside the shop, the three-way connection—between ramen, friends, and promises—lingered warmly.