"Welcome!"
At a ramen shop that was still packed after 9 p.m., Toru brought several young ladies here to enjoy some late-night ramen.
The ramen shop was very lively. Many office workers who had just gotten off work were here to eat a bowl of ramen, have a drink, chat with colleagues, or fiddle with their phones, enjoying their rare personal time.
Office workers in their forties, in particular, had the most pressure. Besides work, they had to face their wives' nagging and their children's school performance when they got home.
Therefore, during this time that belonged only to them, the office workers would try their best to enjoy the rare leisure.
"Wow, this is great! I've always wanted to try ramen at an izakaya after nine o'clock. Boss, I'll have a bowl of your signature broth ramen, the largest bowl, with extra coriander and green onions!"
"Alright, Ms., please wait a moment. Would the other guests like to order anything?"
The owner of the ramen shop, along with two helpers, was busy behind the open-fire counter and had almost no free time. Even while answering Chika, his eyes never left the boiling pot in front of him.
A young girl in a work uniform came over with a smile and handed the menu to Toru and the others.
"What do you want to eat, Kaguya?"
Toru looked at Kaguya, who wanted to sit beside him.
Kaguya shook her head. She was just curiously looking at the lively scene.
The ramen shop was actually not very clean. Especially with so many people, it seemed even more crowded. The tables and chairs were already a little old.
For the young lady of the Shinomiya family, this was simply not a place she should be.
But at this moment, Kaguya was very excited, as if she was curious about everything.
This made Toru admire the Shinomiya family's education quite a bit. They were able to keep a girl living in modern times almost as if she were imprisoned in the past, with almost no contact with modern society.
"I haven't been to a place like this before, and I don't know what to order. Toru-kun, you guys can order."
As soon as Kaguya finished speaking, Chika shouted, "Of course you have to eat ramen here! I, Ramen Sage Fujiwara Chika, swear to eat all the ramen in Japan!"
Kaguya pretended to cough twice and said, "Then Chika, you have to work hard and definitely achieve your wish."
Chika chuckled. "When I go taste all the ramen in Japan, I will definitely take Kaguya with me."
Kaguya's heart warmed. Chika seemed unreliable and had a strange way of thinking, but in fact, she understood everything and was even smarter than many people.
The real meaning behind her words was actually to tell Kaguya that she wanted to take her to see the world, so that she would not be bound by the Shinomiya family and lose herself and her freedom.
"Kaguya-sama, with your appetite, I don't think you can finish ramen. How about ordering some grilled skewers instead?"
Hayasaka, sitting across from Kaguya with Toru between them, suggested.
"If Hayasaka says so, then I'll listen to you."
Kaguya had long been used to listening to Hayasaka's suggestions, so whenever Hayasaka proposed an idea, Kaguya would agree.
The only thing she had not agreed with Hayasaka on was the matter of feelings back then.
And this was also what Kaguya regretted the most.
If she had listened to Hayasaka's advice back then and boldly pursued her love, would the outcome have been different?
Kaguya did not know that future. She only knew that she was working hard to create a new future.
"Give me five skewers of chicken hearts, five skewers of chicken, and five skewers of this crispy cartilage."
Toru looked at the yakitori on the menu and ordered everything he wanted to eat. The waitress behind him quickly took notes.
"Brother, I want to eat oysters!"
Moeha shouted loudly, afraid that Toru would forget her.
"Okay, okay, then ten oysters."
"Brother, you should also eat more oysters. Otherwise, I'm afraid your body won't be able to handle it."
Moeha said seriously.
"You little brat, where did you learn these things?"
Toru cursed with a smile.
Kaguya did not know what oysters were for. Chika came over at this time and whispered in her ear, explaining the effects of oysters to her, which immediately made Kaguya blush deeply.
She decided that when she went back, she had to study sex education properly and not continue being a foolish young lady who knew nothing.
After eating and drinking to their fill, the group left the izakaya. Chika patted her little belly hard and let out a comfortable sigh. "I'm so full. The ramen here is really delicious."
Toru smiled when he heard this. In fact, the taste of this ramen was very ordinary. At least among all the ramen Toru had eaten, it ranked near the bottom in terms of taste.
The reason Chika said this ramen was delicious was because it was the first time she could wander the streets at night after 9 p.m. Just like Kaguya, Chika's life had actually changed.
"It's getting late. It's already half past ten. Chika, hurry home."
Chika's eyes rolled, and she immediately came up with a mischievous idea. She hugged Toru's arm and shouted, "Brother, why don't we go to karaoke? I've never sung karaoke at night before."
Toru glared at her. "No way. If you dare to be disobedient, then I won't take you out at night next time."
When Chika heard this, she could only reluctantly give up, muttering something under her breath.
A car was parked in the parking lot not far from the road, which was the Fujiwara family's car.
Toru waved at it, and a Mercedes immediately drove to the roadside and stopped.
"Go back, Chika. There will be a second time after the first time. We have plenty of time and opportunities to come out and play together in the future."
Chika smiled slyly. She had actually been waiting for Toru to say this, and she immediately beamed with joy. "Hehe, Brother, you can't forget what you promised. Moeha, let's go home."
Moeha also happily got into the car with her sister.
Toru smiled. This girl was really a little imp.
Rolling down the car window, Chika waved to Toru and Kaguya. "Kaguya, we're leaving first. I'll wait for you at school!"
"At that time, we'll run for election together. You'll be the Student Council President, and I'll be your secretary!"
She believed that her good friend Kaguya would definitely overcome the current difficulties and return to school to continue her happy high school life with her.
Kaguya also waved, nodding vigorously. "I will definitely go back!"
After the car drove away, Toru said to Hayasaka, "Hayasaka, you should also go home. Are you okay by yourself? I'm going to take Kaguya back in a moment."
Hayasaka still stood straight and handled herself meticulously. She nodded seriously. "You don't need to worry about me."
Toru was indeed not worried about Hayasaka. As a girl who had worked for the Shinomiya family since she was a child, she was already an experienced office worker.
Kaguya turned her head to look at her former maid and said seriously to Hayasaka, "Hayasaka, see you at school."
Hayasaka nodded gently. "Yes, Kaguya-sama, see you at school."
...
Toru's Porsche was driving on the road toward the Shinomiya family.
Kaguya, sitting in the passenger seat, lowered her head and said respectfully, "Toru-kun, please teach me what I should do now to seize the power of the Shinomiya family from my three brothers."
Kaguya had completely made up her mind. She wanted to become the head of the Shinomiya family, and she wanted to become the queen of the Shinomiya family!
As for her wish to be a photographer? Whoever wanted to be one could go be one!
(To be continued.)