A Warm Hearty Meal

Winters in Hokkaido are harsh, but the last week of January has been especially tough. In light of the snowfalls, temperatures had been hovering below zero, and the main roads had been blanketed in snow and ice. Among the many stores closing early, a ramen shop known as Ramen Ando remained open, serving hot noodles to paying customers and tourists alike.

For the last four years, this is where I've worked alongside my grandfather.

Ramen Ando was opened by my grandfather nearly forty years ago. And now, as its future owner, I was pretty much at the helm and knew the business inside out. I never sought to have big ambitions. In fact, all I wanted was to become a stable guy who could stay in one place for the rest of his life. Let me tell you one thing: I absolutely loved ramen. Not just because I grew up eating it all my life, but ramen is the ultimate comfort food! Everyone eats it, and everyone wants it. And I started thinking that if I was going to manage this place, I'd have to do what my grandfather did best: make people happy with a bowl of ramen.

On this particular day, the shop was unusually quiet. It was late evening, and the last customer had just left. Glancing at my phone, I confirmed that it was almost time to close up.

"Daichi! Can you handle the closing for tonight?" My grandfather called from upstairs. "I'm in the middle of an important phone call. And don't forget to take out the trash!"

"Okay!" I responded.

After wiping my hands on a towel from cleaning the dishes, I gathered the trash bags, put on my jacket and gloves, and opened the door, stepping out into the biting cold. The snowfall seemed heavier, and the wind cut through my clothes.

The dumpster was out at the edge of the lot, so I trudged over, dragging the trash bags behind me. I hurriedly tossed the bags in, wanting to get them over with so I could return to the warmth of the shop.

But as I turned around, I noticed her.

A girl stood in front of Ramen Ando's door, wrapped in a coat and a white scarf, her arms crossed over her chest. Her hair was haphazardly tied up in a bun, and she carried a bag on her shoulder. Motionless, she stared at the shop's sign, illuminated by the orange glow of a streetlight.

Isn't she cold like that? I thought. I'm wearing just as much as she is, and I'm already freezing my ass off.

Assuming she was either waiting for someone or seeking shelter from the cold, I casually approached her.

"Excuse me, would you like to come in?" I offered.

Startled by my presence, she seemed taken aback. "O-Oh, no… I was just..." Her voice was stiff. "I was just wondering where that smell was coming from and walked here without thinking. Sorry, I'll leave now."

"Are you sure? It's really cold out here. You can stay inside until the snow lights up."

"Um, well, alright. Thank you," she hesitantly accepted.

I ended up inviting her into the shop. As I stowed away my coat in the back room, I stole a glance at her sitting on one of the stools. She clutched the edge of the bench, her eyes closed in deep contemplation.

I wasn't sure how to proceed, but I remembered my grandfather's advice: treat every person who enters the shop like any other customer.

Offering her a glass of water and a menu, I asked, "Are you hungry? If so, just let me know, and I can prepare

She finally opened her eyes and met my gaze. "Um… I'm not quite sure what to order."

"We have three types of sauces—salt-based, soy sauce, and miso." I explained, guiding her through the menu. "We also serve udon, so if that's more to your liking, I can make that too."

She nodded and returned to reading the menu. Without realizing it, I found myself studying her. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her brown hair was unkempt as if she'd been wearing it for a while. She looked like someone who was down on her luck.

"I'll take a bowl of salt-based tonkotsu ramen with pork belly, please. And thin noodles," she finally decided.

"Ah, tonkotsu ramen coming right up!"

Motivated by the knowledge that she might be going through a difficult time, I poured my heart into the cooking process.

I took the noodles from the container, dumped them in a pot, and started to cook. While heating the tonkotsu broth on the stovetop, the scent of the soup filled the air as I prepared the ingredients on the side. Once the noodles were ready, I added the broth and seasoning into the bowl before assembling it with green onions, pork belly slices, mushrooms, and soft-boiled eggs. Lastly, I garnished it with sesame seeds before handing her the bowl at the counter.

"Enjoy!" I tried to act upbeat, but the girl simply returned a nod.

The silence was making me nervous. Did I say something wrong? Does the ramen look bad?

"Thanks for the meal." She took a moment to clasp her hands together before she began to eat. As she savored the first few bites, a subtle change came over her, and a spark seemed to light up in her eyes. "This... is delicious," she remarked.

Relief washed over me. "Really? I'm glad to hear that," I smiled. I left her to enjoy her meal as I busied myself with sweeping the floor.

After wiping her mouth with a napkin, she turned to me with a timid look. "Um... so, do you work here alone?" she asked.

"Nope. My grandfather owns this shop, and I'm just his helper. He's probably still cooped up in his room right now."

"I see. He must be quite busy," she mused. "Does he ever get a chance to take a break?"

I chuckled softly. "I'd say he manages to leave the shop at least twice a week, usually to buy supplies and then right back here. On good days, he enjoys going fishing. But with weather like this, it's hard to go anywhere." I shrugged, changing the topic. "By the way, what brings you all the way up here? Did you drive?"

She shook her head. "N-No, I don't drive. I recently moved here, and I was out to… um… it's hard to get used to a place like this,” she said, her voice trailing off.

Sensing her reticence, I decided to lighten the mood. "What's your name, if you don't mind me asking?"

"...Hinoka Sadamori."

"It's nice to meet you, Hinoka," I responded warmly. "Since you're new around here, don't hesitate to ask me anything! I know it might not be to your liking at the moment, but I promise you'll grow to love this area." I flashed her a reassuring smile.

For the first time since meeting her, Hinoka returned a smile, and her gaze softened. "Thank you… Daichi? I'll remember that." After settling the bill, she stood up from her seat. "I think the snow has stopped, so I should be on my way now."

"I should probably close before grandpa yells at me," I mumbled to myself, scratching the back of my head. I waved to her and added, "Stay safe out there, and thanks for coming!"

Before leaving, Hinoka turned back to look at me. Her delicate features were captured by the natural light from outside. "That ramen was what I needed to warm me up. I'll be sure to come back again," she said with a grateful smile. With that, the door closed behind her.

I stood there, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Seeing customers leave in a better mood always made me feel good. That was all I needed to make my day worthwhile.

As I turned toward the kitchen, a piece of paper on the counter caught my attention. I picked it up and realized it was her receipt copy. Written on it in pen were the words:

Thank you for the meal and for letting me stay. Here's a tip for your kindness. Don't think about it.

I turned the receipt over and saw 20,000 yen in cash tucked under it.

Wait, what?

My jaw dropped, and my heart skipped a beat. I couldn't believe my eyes. Was this even allowed? And why such a generous tip? It was more than anyone could expect.

Just who are you, Hinoka Sadamori?