【Ueno, Chinchinken】 A girl talks about "Ramen Fried Rice" under the elevated railway tracks / Part 1/2 ( New Sensation Short Story)

Worst date of my life

'Oh, why did I say that?'
It's always a strong point.
It was the same way on their first date in the first year of high school.
She said, "I'm still a bento girl, and I make lunch for my little brother every day, so I'll make it for you next time, so that Dai-kun won't hate me.
Even though it's my mom who cooks for me every day.
Of course, I was planning to ask her to help me.
I didn't expect that on our first date, my mom would be sick in bed with a cold.
I searched for "omu-rice" on Cookpad for the first time.
Oomu-rice" was Oi-kun's favorite food.
In spite of my efforts, the omu-rice that I completed was miserable. The omelette was miserable.
It was too late!
There was no time to make it again or taste it.
I was afraid to open my bento, and I don't even remember what we talked about when we went shopping in Kichijoji in the morning.
A sunny bench in Inokashira Park.
Birds were chirping and it was a peaceful holiday.
It was such a perfect day for a date.
When Dai opened the lunch box I had made for him, the smile on his face disappeared.
It's not about looks, it's about taste," he said as he took a bite.
My omelette was closed on the spot without betraying my expectations of a bad visual.
This is the kind of face that makes me freeze.
His love for me flew away with a little bird into the sky.

After we parted awkwardly, I ate the leftover omu-rice at home.
The sticky red rice was dotted with burnt onions and tasted only of ketchup.
Along with tears, the stench of oxidized ketchup and fat rose up from my stomach to my chest, and I vomited on the spot.
I was foolish to believe that ketchup would make the rice taste better.
My love affair with Oh-kun disappeared naturally.

Several years have passed since that nightmare date.
I went to the gym twice a week and changed my physique to a thin, macho Aya-like figure in order to make my debut again at university.
She dyed her hair gold and changed her image from a neat and tidy girl to an active, carnivorous girl.
In order to overcome the trauma of the bento lunch incident, she actively participated in a party without being noticed.
Today was the first date of the fruitful relationship.
My partner was Taka-chan, a third-year student at M University and a regular member of the current rugby club.
He is 185 centimeters tall, and his pectoral and brachial muscles are extremely cool.
The gap between his short-cropped head and his dark eyes is also irresistible.
At my first party with our women's college, I played the role of a ramen-loving girl to appeal to his gluttonous nature.
I even told him that I thought that a set of fried rice and ramen was the best combination for me.
After digging my own grave, we decided to go to Taka-chan's favorite restaurant, Machuuka, for our first date.

Watch the video👆.

Love that Begins in the Afternoon at Ameyoko

Meeting at Ameyoko is not sexy at all.
But I can meet Taka-chan.
That alone was enough to make me feel happy.
His eyes were so loving as he smiled and said that he likes girls who eat a lot, that I declared that I would like to have a "rah-fry" (*1) with him.
1 "Rāfāi" is a combination of ramen and fried rice for one person.

So today, I decided to go to Machinuka with Taka, his best friend Yudai, and his girlfriend.
This is a double, but a date, right?
It's great that we don't have to make lunch, but I wonder if I'll be able to finish a bowl of ramen, since I'm already satisfied with just one bowl of ramen.
I'm a growing boy with a big appetite, a lager man of the University of M. I'm sure he'll eat.
Let it be!

Come here, come here!
Taka-chan raised her hand.
I waved my hand in the air, too.
My anxiety was gone like an autumn cloud, and I was filled with happiness.
Sorry, did you wait for me?
No, I just arrived. Have you ever been to Ameyoko, Sana?
Yes, when I was in junior high school, I accompanied my younger brother when he was buying military goods.
Oh, Nakata Shoten, right? It is famous among military guys, isn't it?
Yes, but it was too serious for the girls.
Taka-chan laughs at me.
Taka-chan laughed at me.
Yudai and his girlfriend appeared.
Sakina-san, she's Nanami.
Nanami opened her mouth as she stretched her slender white legs out from her flashy orange mini and touched her curly chestnut hair.
I'm Nanami. I'm Nanami, nice to meet you today.
Nanami, your skirt is beautiful. I'm Sakina.

She said, "Well, there will be a line at lunchtime. Let's hurry up.
I walked under the elevated Yamanote line and soon saw a red sign.

Ramen under the Ueno elevated railway tracks

"Chi, chinken?"
I can't hide my agitation at the rather open storefront.
Sakina-san, how did you manage to read it in one shot?"
"Umm, yes. "Umm, yes, because it is written in alphabet with ruby underneath.
Yudai's subtle praise made me feel annoyed, but I returned it with a smile.
Ruby? Nanami was puzzled because she did not understand the terminology used in the novel.
Sakina-chan, you are so smart.
Yudai said he couldn't get over how cute Nanami was, even though she looked like an idiot.
He was showing his affection for Nanami in a way that was so unbelievable.
The first thing to do is to get a good look at the picture. Auntie, can the four of us come in?
Yes, come in. This way please.
Yudai, I want to put my luggage down.
Auntie, can I put my luggage on this chair?
When it gets crowded, I'll give you a seat. Until then, you can use this chair.
Here, Nanami. Here, Nanami, put your luggage here.
I got it. Yudai, you're so sweet.
They had been dating for two months and were in the prime of their relationship, so they were showing off their love for each other.

I like Iekei ramen.
I go to ramen shops, but this was my first time to sit on such a natural terrace.
But as a ramen girl, I couldn't show such amateurishness.
For being so open and exposed, all the condiments were clean.
Yes, this will be fine.
Sakina-chan, the green onion chashu pork here is delicious. Let's make a toast together.
"Really, I'm looking forward to it.
I was so happy that Taka-chan cared about me.
First, two green onion chashu shoots and two beers.
Taka-chan is so cute that she starts flying at noon.

LOVE the pile of scallion roasted pork♡

This is only 300 yen. What a surprise!
It was funny to hear Taka and Yudai say it together, and the place finally relaxed.
I had to be friendly with Nanami and show her that I have girl power.
Yudai, I don't like beer. Can I have a lemon high?
I clucked my tongue at the timing of the toast. I clicked my tongue in my heart.
Soon after, the lemon high was served.
Then, here's to Taka and Sakina-san's first date.
Kanpai~ai!"
Taka-chan's embarrassment is getting even cuter and cuter.
In this happy moment, Kanpai.

The grilled pork cut into strips is sweet and fatty.
And it is fatty and worth eating.
It's very well done for an open-air Chinese restaurant.
I was worried that the green onions might smell bad, but I guess it's nothing to be afraid of if we eat it together.
This will make the beer go down a lot, won't it?
Taka-chan emptied his glass in one gulp.
I quickly tipped the bottle of beer into his hand.
Thank you, Sakina-chan. Are you happy with such a casual place?
No, Italian and French restaurants make me tense, so I'm glad it was a casual place.
I really want to go to an Italian or French restaurant just the two of us.
But I have to be patient and make the first date a success.
However, this green onion chashu pork is delicious without any price tag.
It's hearty and, after all, the spicy seasoning is exquisite.

What is a good Gyoza

Two plates of Gyozas, which I ordered additionally, were placed on the table.
I tried the first one without anything on it," Taka told me.
I put the dumplings in my mouth as Taka-chan said.
After feeling the presence of the roughly cut vegetables, the juices exploded in my mouth.
The flavor was so well seasoned that I thought it would be better to eat it as is.
Taka, it's so juicy, isn't it?
I know, right? I'll have some too.
Taka-chan also took a bite of the Gyoza.
I drank my beer, basking in the lingering flavor of the meat and sweetness of the vegetables.

In front of my eyes, Nanami keeps adding raayu (Chinese chili oil) to the vinegar and soy sauce, sloshing it in and out.
Did she not hear Taka's advice?
As if toying with our gyoza talk, she coats the Gyozas with a generous amount of spicy oil, which is delicious in its purest form.
Oh, no. You can't taste the Gyozas.
I exclaimed in my mind.
Taka-chan's eyes also turned into dots.
Ignoring Taka's and my eyes, Nanami ate the reddish dumplings.
I love raayu," she said. I love raayu.
I could only taste the raayu.
I was so excited that I could only taste the raayu.
You like spicy food, don't you?
Yudai was all smitten with Nanami.
For a moment, Nanami's eyes met mine.
I was so excited.
I felt a shiver in the core of my back.
I was a little worried because I could see Nanami's true nature.

Watch the video👆

What a plate of Gyozas empties out.
Four beers later, I finished the meal.

In the kitchen, which can be seen from the table, an older brother is silently shaking a wok.
It might be the fried rice that Taka ordered.
He has no expression on his face, but his eyes are serious.
The fried rice, served with a large ladle, looked even larger than the green onion chashu pork.
Would he eat that and a whole bowl of ramen?
No, I'll eat it as it is.
You'll have to play the role of the girl who loves ramen until the end, Sakina!
Today is the weekend, the Friday of the battle.
My battle is about to begin.

Continued in Part 2/2👆

Photography and Writing / Tiger (hhu)