Teuchi

Ning Xue tied on an apron and began silently wiping down the tables and chairs. His movements were a little clumsy, but he was exceptionally focused, as if he were pouring all his thoughts into this simple task.

Before long...

Just as he lowered his head to clean a table, the noren was suddenly swept aside again, and a lively voice exploded like a cannonball.

"Uncle Teuchi! One extra-large bowl of miso chashu ramen! I'm going to eat it with tons of energy today, too!"

It was Uzumaki Naruto. He rushed in like a gust of wind and, as if he knew the place by heart, hopped onto a stool at the counter. Only then did he notice Ning Xue wiping a table nearby. Naruto blinked his bright blue eyes, his face full of surprise and curiosity.

"Huh...? Huh?! Ning Xue!? What are you doing here? And you're wearing... an apron?"

Naruto pointed at the two characters for "Ichiraku" on Ning Xue's apron, his voice full of disbelief.

In his mind, this classmate from the Hyuga Clan was always alone and so quiet he was practically invisible—the complete opposite of this lively ramen shop.

Ning Xue paused in his work. Without turning to look at him, he gave a faint reply.

"Yeah. I'm working."

"Working? That's so cool!" Naruto's thoughts were always simple and direct. The first thing he thought of was:

"Does that mean you can eat as much ramen as you want?"

Just then, Uncle Teuchi brought over his bowl with a smile.

"Here's your ramen, Naruto. Ning Xue's helping out here, but he isn't doing it for free food."

"I know!" Naruto grinned and grabbed his chopsticks, his attention immediately drawn to the steaming ramen in front of him. Even so, he couldn't help muttering, "But it really is cool..."

Ning Xue didn't respond. He simply carried on with his work in silence.

Still, Naruto's chattering made Ning Xue feel inexplicably irritated.

To be honest, he envied Naruto's outlook. Yet there was also a trace of irritation in him. Naruto was so carefree, so optimistic that it seemed nothing could ever break him.

Ning Xue was only six years old, but his body held the soul of a sixteen-year-old. He had already grown distant from the world, and felt a complicated tangle of emotions.

In his previous life, he had been taciturn because of his family. His father spent every day drinking and wasting his life away, and then got into some kind of investment scheme. Even after losing money, he wouldn't learn his lesson.

He was also away from home for much of the year. And when he did come home, he would fight with Ning Xue's mother.

His mother was no better.

That was why he had grown used to keeping quiet. Not talking back or arguing saved him a lot of trouble.

Now, after being transported to this world, he had felt the warmth of a family, but he didn't know how to express himself or show that he cared.

The tremendous pain and burden of losing his father had given rise to extreme thoughts and pushed him even deeper into darkness.

Back in the present, Ning Xue gathered the bowls and chopsticks left by the customers and was about to take them to the kitchen to wash.

Just then, the noren lifted, and another group of familiar faces came in.

"Hey, hey, I heard Ichiraku's got a new flavor?"

The noren swayed again as several familiar figures entered. They were Inuzuka Kiba, Akimichi Choji, and Nara Shikamaru, who ambled in behind them.

As soon as they came in, their eyes swept across the shop and instantly settled on Ning Xue, wearing an apron and clearing the bowls and chopsticks from the next table.

Kiba's eyes went wide, as if he'd seen something unbelievable. He pointed at Ning Xue, his voice full of undisguised surprise and even a hint of teasing.

"Whoa! Am I seeing things? Hyuga Ningxue? You're actually... working here?"

Choji stopped chewing his chips. His chubby face was full of curiosity as his gaze shifted between Ning Xue's apron and his expressionless face.

Shikamaru brought up the rear, looking as listless as ever. But his half-lidded eyes keenly caught the moment Ning Xue's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the cloth as he heard Kiba's voice. Ning Xue's expression didn't change at all.

"Ugh... what a drag," Shikamaru grumbled to himself.

"Running into a classmate in a place like this must be pretty awkward for someone who's always hiding himself."

Ning Xue did feel a little awkward. If they'd seen him before, it wouldn't have mattered much.

But there was still something embarrassing about being seen at his lowest point.

He didn't show it. He merely stopped wiping, turned his head slightly, and said, "Welcome," before heading into the kitchen to wash the dishes.

He paid no mind to the sarcasm in Kiba's words.

After the three of them finished eating and left, Ning Xue had nearly finished washing the dishes.

Uncle Teuchi had clearly realized that having another pair of hands around made things much easier. At least, with his daughter away, he no longer had to wash dishes and cook ramen at the same time.

Time passed, and wave after wave of customers came and went.

Then someone Ning Xue knew came in.

Just as he finished washing a batch of bowls and chopsticks, the noren was lifted again, and a familiar, gentle voice came from outside.

"Good evening, Mr. Teuchi. The usual, one bowl of tonkotsu ramen."

It was Iruka-sensei.

Iruka was clearly a regular here. He took a seat at the counter, casually glanced around the shop, and then fixed his eyes on Ning Xue, who had just come out of the kitchen with a dishcloth in hand.

Surprise and understanding flashed across Iruka's face.

Ning Xue had been absent for over a week, so Iruka surely knew the reason. Seeing him working here, he couldn't help feeling conflicted—both sympathetic and concerned for this taciturn student.

"Ning Xue?" Iruka's voice was gentler than usual, with a hint of caution.

"Are you... helping out here?"

Ning Xue stopped. He knew Iruka meant well, unlike Kiba, who was childish and mean.

When he came back to himself, he replied politely.

"Yes, sensei."

He answered, but he didn't stop working. He kept wiping tables and carrying bowls.

Iruka looked at him and sighed inwardly. He wanted to say something comforting, like, "If you're having any trouble, you can talk to me," or "Don't push yourself too hard." But seeing how unconcerned Ning Xue looked, the words caught in his throat.

The boy didn't seem like someone who was easily broken. But he was still so young, and already supporting himself. He was promising ninja material, yet there was something about the sight that made Iruka's heart ache.

"I see..." Iruka finally smiled and tried to keep his tone light. "That's good. Helping your family out is a wonderful thing.

"Mr. Teuchi is a good man. It must be nice working here, right?"

Ning Xue remained busy with his work and gave another soft reply.

"...Yeah."

The two of them didn't talk much after that, until it was time to say goodbye to Iruka.

When the last customer had left, it was time to close up. As Uncle Teuchi cleaned the stovetop, he spoke to Ning Xue, who was quietly wiping down the final table.

"Thanks for your hard work, Ning Xue. You did a great job today!" He handed Ning Xue a paper-wrapped parcel and a small pouch of coins.

"Here's your pay for today. And this is some extra chashu and dough we have left over. If you don't mind, take it home and share it with your family."

Ning Xue looked at the food and his pay. After a moment of silence, he reached out to take them and said quietly, "Thank you, Uncle Teuchi."

"Take care on your way home," Uncle Teuchi said with a kind smile.

Ning Xue left Ichiraku Ramen with the food Uncle Teuchi had given him. As he made his way home, he thought back over his brief stint at the shop, his feelings a jumble of fatigue, embarrassment, and surprise. He felt the weight of the coin pouch; there was clearly a little extra in it. It touched him, but also made his heart feel heavier.