I haven't been to a ramen shop alone for several years because ramen has too many carbs for me. However, during my son's stay last month, we went to this ramen shop together for the first time in a long time. We used to visit there quite frequently, almost every night, while we were rehearsing for dance recitals, since no other shops were open so late. The shop has no distinctive personality, good or bad. The ramen at the shop has no strong flavor, no fatty taste, and no impact, so it can't be called super-delicious, but we could eat the modest ramen every night without getting bored. I would give my extra noodles to my son.

Anyway, last month, after we finished our ramen and paid the bill, the master and his partner greeted us. Of course, they remembered us. We talked briefly, and I mentioned that my son was already living in Tokyo, and I'd be moving there as well. They didn't say they would miss us, and neither did we. We're not friends, after all. That was actually the first time we had spoken outside of ordering and paying bills. I felt lonely, though, which was strange.