Dealing with a nobody like Kogure was effortless. Noriko's family no longer misunderstood Tetsuhiro, and Noriko made up with him as well.
All one could do was marvel at how fickle people were.
Kawada's family also let their guard down and no longer had to live in fear.
The noodle shop stayed open as usual. That was life for ordinary people: no matter what storms they weathered, they still had to keep going.
It came back to the same old truth: they had done nothing wrong, but when trouble landed on their heads, they were powerless to change it.
A few more days passed in those pleasant times.
The Shop Manager was discharged from the hospital. His right hand had fully recovered.
Kintaro seemed to have been waiting for this moment. He promptly told the Shop Manager he was leaving, and no amount of persuasion could sway him.
Even Big Mom and Noriko's earnest pleas were no use. He had made up his mind to leave.
Helpless, the Shop Manager and his family could only bid him a reluctant farewell.
Outside the noodle shop.
The Shop Manager's family smiled as they watched Kintaro leave...
Kintaro mounted the Mikazuki-go once again and set off on a new journey of learning, though this time his posture in the saddle looked rather awkward.
Perhaps he had landed on his backside in a fall.
"Bye, little Kin!"
"Come visit anytime! Have all the noodles you want, on the house!"
"Thanks for all your hard work and help lately! Arigatou gozaimasu!"
Watching him recede into the distance, Noriko grew distracted, caught between melancholy and uncertainty. She realized she was like the other woman-or perhaps the other, other woman?
How was she supposed to get along with Big Brother Li and those girls?
Was she supposed