That morning, Kiyoharu lingered outside a little longer during his run. Passing by the field, he joined a pickup soccer game with some strangers, returning to Chihaya Estate only after working up a light sweat.
Breakfast today was simple. Ramen cooked quickly.
The ramen was authentic Japanese-style, except Kiyoharu had made the tonkotsu broth himself. He had prepared a large batch in advance and frozen it in the refrigerator. The noodles themselves were something special too, a local specialty from a certain prefecture in Hokkaido.
Uncle Tsuchiya had once asked Kiyoharu why he went out of his way to find noodles from obscure places with unusual textures. Kiyoharu had said he had no particular theory; it was simply a matter of combinations. Much of what people called gourmet food was just a successful combination.
As Kiyoharu cooked the noodles in the pot, stirring their springy strands with long chopsticks, the roiling water reminded him of a girlfriend from his previous life. Her hometown produced an especially delicious rice noodle, the kind that made beef bone broth noodles, beef noodles, hot-and-sour noodles, and snail rice noodles all smell incredibly good.
He could no longer clearly remember the girlfriend's face or figure, but the flavor of those rice noodles still lingered on his lips.
Perhaps all love was an illusion. Only good food and the first drop of morning dew should never be wasted.
"Mmm... good morning, Kiyoharu-kun..."
Airi suddenly appeared in the kitchen doorway. She was still wearing yesterday's short nightgown, which easily revealed the faint outline of her perfect curves, and she greeted Kiyoharu with a yawn.
Kiyoharu was a little dumbfounded. Huh??
Never mind that Airi had gotten up so early and even come to the kitchen to see him... in that slurred, half-awake state, she actually showed a