Chapter 177: A New Sidekick Appears
“Hi! Ryuko!”
That familiar, overly cheerful voice echoed through the door just as I was wiping the counter. Natsuki stood there, grinning from ear to ear, his hands stuffed into the pockets of a too-large jacket.
I exhaled a tired laugh. “You sure you don’t get tired saying hi like that every single time?”
He shrugged, stepping inside like he owned the place. “Can’t help it! My goddess deserves enthusiasm.”
“Stop calling me that,” I muttered under my breath, then gestured him toward a stool. “Welcome, please have a seat.”
He plopped down, immediately swinging his legs like a kid.
“So! What’s the order today?” I asked.
“Set A, please,” he replied proudly, like ordering a ramen combo was a life accomplishment.
“Set A coming right up.” I grinned and turned toward the kitchen.
---
Ten minutes later, the air smelled of broth and soy sauce. Natsuki slurped up his noodles like he hadn’t eaten in days. “Mmm! Today’s meat’s softer!”
“Different supplier,” I said, wiping a glass clean. “Guess even cows have their good days.”
He snorted, almost choking on his food. “You’re funny, Ryuko. You should run a talk show.”
“Yeah, maybe I’ll start one right here — ‘Midnight Ramen with the Heartbroken.’”
“That’s perfect! I’ll be your first guest every week.”
“Exactly why that show would fail.”
He laughed again, wiping his mouth. “Today’s less busy, huh?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Want a beer?”
“Yesh please,” he said with his mouth still half full.
I cracked one open and set it down. “On the house.”
“Really?” His eyes widened.
“Yeah. Don’t make me regret it.”
Natsuki grinned and took a sip. “Man, this is heaven.”
---
After a few moments, he looked up, a bit more serious now. “So... you said you needed my help?”
I froze. I’d been thinking about this all day — whether asking him was smart or just plain stupid. It was risky. Dangerous, even. But desperate people make dumb decisions, right?
I had considered it: getting Natsuki to go to Riku’s bar, befriend him, maybe drink with him until his tongue got loose. The idea sounded reckless, but if Riku was cautious around me, maybe he’d drop his guard around someone else.
Still… this wasn’t some random bar drama. This guy had already threatened Keiko.
“Why are you silent, Ryuko?” Natsuki asked, blinking. “You look like you’re calculating world domination.”
“Huh? Oh. Sorry.” I forced a smile. “Maybe next time.”
“Eh? Why? I was ready! I even bought a new jacket!” he said, puffing out his chest proudly.
I chuckled. “What kind of mission needs a jacket?”
“Every mission does,” he said, dead serious. “It’s about presentation.”
I sighed. “...You know, I think we should get to know each other better first before I drag you into something weird.”
He froze for a second. Then his cheeks went bright red.
“H-huh? You mean... get closer first?”
Wait—crap, that sounded wrong.
“I mean— not like that!” I quickly waved my hands. “I meant, just... as friends!”
But it was too late. Natsuki had clasped his hands dramatically, sparkles practically glowing in his eyes.
“Of course… I would love to get closer to you, Ryuko!”
“Right…” I muttered, scratching my head. “This is getting out of hand.”
He chuckled nervously, still red-faced. “I’m serious, though. You’ve been helping me cheer up, and I kinda owe you one.”
“Well, thanks,” I said, chuckling a little. “And about helping me—maybe someday. Not now.”
He deflated a little, poking his ramen. “I was really hoping I could do something for you.”
“Don’t worry. You already did,” I said.
His eyes lit up again. “R-really?”
“Yeah. You made me realize I’m not the dumbest person alive.”
“Hey!”
I laughed as he sulked like a scolded cat. For someone who looked like a tired salaryman, Natsuki was weirdly expressive.
Then I remembered something. “Oh right — I promised I’d introduce you to my friend, didn’t I?”
He blinked. “Wait, now? Wasn’t it too early? I didn’t even help you yet.”
“You don’t want to?” I asked casually.
He scratched his head. “It’s just… I literally got rejected yesterday. My heart’s still bleeding.”
“Sorry about that.” I winced. “But hey, maybe you’ll heal faster this way.”
He perked up. “You mean… rebound therapy?”
“I mean friendship,” I said flatly. “Don’t make it weird.”
“Too late,” he said under his breath.
I sighed and pulled out my phone. “Anyway, here.” I swiped through my gallery and showed him a photo of Miko — smiling with her bright hairpin and confident grin.
“This is her. Her name’s Miko. She’s one of my friends. If you’re interested, I can—”
“C-CUTE!” he screamed, practically falling off his stool. “Who is this angel?! Does she come here often?”
“She’s not,” I said dryly.
“Is she single?! Wait, don’t tell me, I’ll faint!”
I looked at him, half-amused and half-concerned. “You okay there?”
“I’m better than okay! My life has a purpose again!” he said dramatically.
“Okay, okay, calm down, Romeo.” I lifted my phone again. “I’ll take a picture of you now and send it to her, just to see what she thinks, alright?”
He immediately straightened up, adjusting his hair in the reflection of his spoon. “Wait—wait! Lemme fix my face first! How do I look?”
“Like someone who hasn’t slept since 2020,” I said.
He ignored me and struck a ridiculous pose. “Okay! I’m ready! Take it now!”
I sighed and snapped the photo. “You look… uh… confident.”
“Confidence is everything,” he said proudly.
“Right, right.” I sigh, watching Natsuki pose like he was doing a photoshoot for a ramen commercial, flashing a grin so wide it could light up the whole bar.
Why did this guy remind me so much of Junpei? Same goofy charm, same energy, same chaos aura.
As I snapped the photo, he threw me a thumbs-up. “Make sure you tell her I’m a nice guy, okay? Reliable. Funny. Single!”
I rubbed my temple. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll tell her you’re… something.”
He beamed proudly, completely missing the sarcasm.
I typed a quick message to Miko, attaching the photo with a simple text: “Hey, my customer here wanted to say hi. His name’s Natsuki.”
Within thirty seconds, she replied: “LOL what’s this. He looks like someone who was allergic to sleep.”
I snorted, trying to hold back a laugh.
“What’d she say?!” he leaned closer eagerly.
“She… uh… said you look full of potential.”
He gasped. “Really?! She thinks I have potential?!”
“Yup,” I said, pocketing my phone before I burst out laughing. “You’re doing great, champ.”
He raised his fist like a hero in an anime. “I won’t let you down, Ryuko! I’ll make her fall for me!”
“Sure, sure.” I wiped down the counter, still chuckling. “Just don’t die trying.”
---
Later that night, after he left, I leaned back against the counter and sighed. The bar was quiet again. Empty stools, faint smell of beer and soy sauce still in the air.
I couldn’t help but smile a little.
He was loud, awkward, dramatic — but somehow, his energy made the place feel a bit more alive again.
Maybe… just maybe, this guy could actually be a help.