"Honey, something's off about you." Kyoko Tachibana looked puzzled.
"Uh... I'm just, um... having a stomachache."
"Then go to the bathroom."
"I'll be fine if I tough it out."
"Here." Big Mom came over and set the noodles in front of them with a thoroughly perfunctory attitude.
"What's with her attitude? Don't you two know each other? Doesn't she know you're..."
"That's why I brought you here-to smooth things over.
"Ugh... it's a long story. Anyway, they don't mean any harm."
"What exactly happened?"
"The Shop Manager got hurt... I suspected... Hiroshi Kogure... Noriko's family... Noriko agreed to become... Noriko turned against him... Kogure showed his true colors... as for Kintaro..."
"Huh? What?" This was far beyond anything Kyoko had imagined. Her gaze darted between Big Mom and the kitchen.
"Kintaro? You mean Kin is here?!" Kyoko put down her chopsticks and got up to head toward the kitchen.
"Kin..."
Kintaro had finally managed to get his emotions under control and throw himself into making ramen when that call suddenly snapped him out of it.
"That voice? My queen?" Kintaro instantly cast his sorrows aside and poked his head out happily.
"My queen-uh, President, what brings you here?"
"You left without saying goodbye again. Coach Tokugawa has been looking everywhere for you. He's so worried he's practically in tears."
"Hehe... well, with my personality, I just can't stay in one place." Kintaro scratched his head awkwardly.
"I know. I realized that when you quietly left the company without a word. Oh, right, after you left, an elderly couple came looking for you. They wanted to thank you in person. Why didn't you tell me you'd given them money?"
"Ah! The Shop Manager and his wife came to see you? Well, I just couldn't stand those lenders' attitude. As long as