"It was delicious!"
Qingyu had sat there in silence for the entire evening. Now that Ichiraku Ramen was closing, he knew the person he was waiting for wasn't coming tonight.
"Then why didn't you eat it?" Teuchi's tone was tinged with annoyance. He took immense pride in his noodles; everyone who tasted them loved them. To have someone let the noodles turn into a soggy mess was practically an insult to his craft.
Not to mention, the large set meal had been on the house. This was beyond the pale! Teuchi's expression turned grim. If Qingyu didn't provide a reasonable explanation, he wasn't going to let this slide.
"I was too exhausted today. I needed to catch my breath before I could eat. Now that I've caught it... I'm ready! Itadakimasu!"
Qingyu pressed his palms together in a quick prayer-like gesture. Then, picking up his chopsticks, he began to shovel the clumped noodles into his mouth with surprising speed.
"So good!"
Qingyu's eyes lit up with practiced enthusiasm, looking as if he were tasting a divine delicacy. His expression perfectly conveyed the sensation of a flavor so good it lingered on the palate.
"Ah... well... as long as you liked it..."
Teuchi's lip twitched. He was completely thrown off by Qingyu's behavior. He didn't know whether to be angry or happy, but he made one firm decision: no more free meals for this kid.
After finishing, Qingyu walked home through the alleys, the dim yellow streetlights casting long shadows. Most people might find the late-night streets of Konoha eerie, but for someone who had spent six months in the dim, oppressive atmosphere of the Torture Force, this was practically a brightly lit boulevard.
Back at the dorms, he went straight to sleep. He wasn't exaggerating about being tired—half a day of shadow clone training was brutal.
Day 2 of his vacation.
Qingyu woke up early, headed to the forest, summoned his shadow clones, and engaged in more "strenuous multi-person exercise."
As dinner time approached, he returned to Ichiraku.
"I'll have a set meal."
His voice was flat as he took his seat in the far corner.
"Coming right— Oh, it's you again!" Teuchi paused his dough-kneading, focusing on Qingyu's face.
"Yes, it's me."
"Tired today?" Teuchi asked, pursing his lips.
"Tired," Qingyu confirmed.
"Need to catch your breath?" Teuchi asked tentatively.
"Yes."
"Alright then. I'll wait until you've caught your breath before I boil the noodles. Just let me know when you're ready." As a professional, Teuchi couldn't bear to serve ramen he knew would just sit there and get soggy.
"Thank you," Qingyu said briefly, then retreated into a cold silence that practically screamed 'Leave me alone.'
The dinner rush came and went. The shop was filled with steam and the scent of broth as people moved in and out. Eventually, it was closing time again. Teuchi stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the boy in the corner. He hesitated, then finally asked:
"You... still eating?"
Teuchi suspected the boy had another motive for being there, but without proof, it was just a suspicion.
"Yes," Qingyu replied, noticing there were no more customers. "I've caught my breath."
"Alright."
Teuchi quickly prepared the final bowl of the night. Qingyu performed his pre-meal ritual, finished the ramen at lightning speed, gave another glowing review, and left under Teuchi's bewildered gaze.
For the next four days, the pattern repeated.
Training in the woods by day, sitting in the corner of Ichiraku by night, waiting for closing time to eat. Teuchi gradually grew accustomed to the strange routine and stopped asking questions.
Day 7—The final day of Qingyu's vacation.
After a full day of training, Qingyu took his usual spot in the corner.
"One set meal."
"Got it," Teuchi replied. He didn't even start cooking; he mentally marked the order for closing time. By now, he knew the drill: the kid needed to "breathe."
The hours ticked by. The rush faded into a quiet night. It was almost closing time.
Looks like I'll have to go with Plan B, Qingyu thought. He was a cautious man who never put all his eggs in one basket; he always kept a backup plan.
However, just then, a voice rang out from outside the curtain.
"Big brother Teuchi! Two bowls of ramen, the usual!"
The voice arrived first, followed by the sound of rapid, light footsteps. Qingyu's eyes instantly snapped into focus.
"You got it!" Teuchi shouted back. He recognized the voice of a regular immediately and began prepping the dough with renewed vigor.
"I've caught my breath," Qingyu's low voice cut through the air, reaching Teuchi's ears clearly.
"Huh?" Teuchi couldn't believe his ears. After a week of 'breathing' until the lights went out, he's ready now?
"You can cook my noodles now," Qingyu said seriously.
"O-okay..." Teuchi was confused, but he didn't hesitate, beginning to prep three servings at once.
The curtain was pulled back. A blond-haired youth ran in first, followed by a girl with long, red hair cascading over her shoulders. The blond boy scanned the room, his eyes landing on the black-clad youth in the corner.
"Qingyu!"
The blond youth beamed, approaching Qingyu like he was seeing an old friend.
Qingyu slowly turned his head. His face was deathly pale, and his eyelids drooped with a look of profound, soul-deep exhaustion.
"Minato... it's you. What a coincidence!"
Qingyu's voice was weak and thin, sounding like he barely had the strength to speak.