The sun baked his belly until it felt hot.
Sen rolled over.
The lounge chair gave a muffled creak.
The fabric against his back was a little sticky with sweat.
He reached up and scratched his head.
A few unruly tufts of hair stuck up every which way.
Then, unexpectedly, his stomach started rumbling.
He was hungry.
"Lord Sen, these Three-Color Dango just came out of the pot. Want a skewer?"
Sen waved her off.
"No sweets. They make my teeth ache."
The auntie wasn't offended. Beaming, she shoved a skewer into his hand anyway.
"Take it! It's free!"
Sen looked at the sticky dango in his hand.
Syrup dripped steadily from them.
It got on his fingers.
So sticky. What a pain.
He promptly handed the dango to a passing child with a runny nose.
The child sniffled and ran off with a goofy grin.
The barbecue restaurant's exhaust fan blasted greasy cooking fumes into the street.
Sen sniffed.
Too greasy.
Eating barbecue at noon would leave him feeling overheated.
Noodles would hit the spot.
He headed downhill along the main street.
Konoha's construction projects over the past few years had at least left the roads nice and smooth.
The sunlight was just too glaring.
He pushed his sunglasses up his nose.
He ambled over to Ichiraku Ramen.
The yellowing fabric curtain over the entrance had started to pill.
The rich aroma of bone broth drifted out through the gaps.
Sen lifted the curtain and walked inside.
Steam filled the shop.
His lenses instantly fogged white.
"Welcome!"
Ayame was wiping water stains off the counter with a cloth.
She looked up and grinned.
"Well, well, Master Sen. You're here early today."
Sen took off his sunglasses and grabbed a napkin to wipe the lenses.
"Not early. My stomach's already