Editing Rapid Fire King:Volume1 Chapter 3 (section)

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Takamura sensed a deluge of noise as soon as he entered the ramen shop.

He first heard Iwata’s dad saying “welcome” from the back of the place. He also heard the guitar music on the speakers, the steam from the kitchen, and the creaking of the customers’ chairs.

He saw six customers in that small space of less than 10 square meters.

Past the concrete floor and wooden counter, he saw only Iwata’s dad and his wife working in the kitchen with their backs turned.

He walked between the old tables and stood in front of the counter. He placed his bag on a chair.

He looked up and felt the heat on his neck. He also smelled soy sauce.

“Old man,” he said while taking a seat. “Tell me why Ren took the day off.”

“Hm, is that Kou?”

The man replied in a low voice without looking back.

There were flames in the metal pot he was working with. Once he placed the lid on the pot, he turned around.

“Ren isn’t here right now.”

“You mean she isn’t sick or something?”

He grabbed a cup from the counter and walked to the water dispenser.

“Is she out on a delivery driving like a madwoman on the Super Cub again?”

“No, it’s not that.”

The man turned his back again and his wife Kazuyo turned to face Takamura instead.

“She had some business to take care of, Kou-kun.”

“I see,” he replied while pressing the cup into the water dispenser’s opening. The bit of cold water that got on his hand felt nice.

“Kou. Did a teacher at school say something to you?”

“No, no. We’re not in middle school anymore. And we’re not even in the same class.” He took a breath. “I was just curious.”

“Oh? So Kou’s finally aiming for our daughter, is he? Hee hee hee.”

“C’mon, it’s not like that.”

“That’s what everyone says at first.”

“Hold on, old man. I just-” The water overflowed from the cup. “Whoa.”

He quickly pulled the cup away from the dispenser and took a sip to lower the water level a bit.

The water helped cool his body.

He realized he had not had anything to drink since leaving school.

He took another sip. After returning to his seat, he took yet another sip.

“When will Ren be back?”

“Eh?”

…''You’re not even listening?

He frowned and wondered how long it had been since he called her Ren.

So he scratched his head and asked again.

“I was wondering when Ren-…”

“She should be back soon, I think.”

“Soon?”

“Yeah, she should be back for a time at 7. Want to eat some ramen until then?”

“Sure, if it’s on the house.”

“Ha ha ha. Not happening. Wanna try again later?”

Takamura thought about what it would mean if Iwata returned and found him waiting.

…''It would look like I’m prying into her business.

So he decided not to wait.

He stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder.

“I’ll come back some other day.”

“Sounds good. Ren will probably tell you about some things if she feels like it.”

He tilted his head at the man’s words.

…''Tell me about some things if she feels like it?

“What is she doing?”

Her father turned around and briefly glanced upwards to think about what to say.

“Kou.”

“Yeah?”

“Ren isn’t a kid anymore either. She has her own things to deal with.”

“Eh?”

He frowned and the man smiled bitterly for a moment.

“What a hopeless boy.”

“Eh?”

He was clearly confused, but the man only turned his back while still smiling bitterly.

He did not look Takamura’s way again, so Takamura remained confused.

…''Hopeless?

''About what?'' he wondered, but he knew he was not getting any more of an answer here.

Then a new customer arrived and he lost his chance to ask anything more.

He could only tilt his head as he walked out.

All while wondering what made him so hopeless.