The bell rang, signaling the end of another long school day at Mizuhara International Academy. The students filtered out of their classrooms, some rushing to their next activities, while others wandered lazily to the dorms or off-campus. Among them was Htet Myat, who was trying his best to avoid eye contact with any of his classmates. His mind was preoccupied with one thing: the nightmare that had unfolded earlier that morning.

The infamous bento box incident. The bento that he made with full confidence after hours an hours of researches and following the cooking tutorials yet end up as a horrendous form of art.

He had been so sure of his skills in the kitchen when he prepared it the night before. How hard could it be to make a simple, homemade lunch for school? But what he had created was nothing short of a disaster—raw tuna that was somehow still squirming, rice that had set like cement, and vegetables that resembled poorly sculpted sculptures. It was a mess of epic proportions, and he had quickly realized the error of his ways when he attempted to eat it during the lunch break with everyone.

That's when the quick thinking Hana, took a picture of it as a blackmail material.

Now, hours later, Htet couldn’t escape the fact that Hana had caught him in the act of trying to dispose of the horrific bento, which had been neatly packed in a plastic bag and tucked inside his backpack. The sight had been enough to make anyone cringe. But Hana, being the astute observer she was, had decided to take full advantage of the situation.

She had cornered him in the hall after their final class.

“Htet~~~” she had said, her voice laced with mischief,

Hana (smirk): "I couldn’t help but notice something very interesting this morning. Something very… embarrassing.”

Htet had frozen, knowing exactly what she meant. She had the blackmail material—the damning photo of the monstrosity he had created. It was only a matter of time before she used it against him.

He had tried to plead with her, offering to buy her anything she wanted. He would have given her his entire lunch money for the rest of the semester if it meant she wouldn’t release the photo to the entire school. But Hana had been far too smart for that.

Hana (hummed, tapping her chin thoughtfully): “Hmm...i'll tell you what, Htet. If you treat me to a meal, I’ll erase the photo. But if you don’t… well, let’s just say your little bento disaster will be the talk of the school for the next month.”

Htet had been left with no choice. “Fine,” he had grumbled, defeated. “I’ll buy you a meal. But only if you delete the photo afterward.”

Hana had grinned, knowing she had him exactly where she wanted him. “Deal.”

And so, that’s how the two of them ended up walking down the street toward one of Hana’s favorite ramen shops after school. Htet had been dreading the inevitable, but at least he’d get some peace of mind once the whole thing was over.

It was a small, unassuming place, tucked away between two larger buildings. The sign hanging outside was simple, written in kanji, and the smell of sizzling meats and savory broths wafted out the door every time someone entered or exited.

Hana had practically skipped with excitement. “Oh, I can’t wait to show you this place! The ramen here is legendary,” she said, practically dragging Htet toward the entrance.

Htet could only nod, his stomach already churning with the thought of food. He hadn’t eaten much for lunch, his appetite having been ruined by the bento fiasco, but he was sure that whatever Hana was planning to feed him would make up for the morning’s embarrassment.

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As they entered the shop, Hana immediately went to the counter and greeted the owner, an elderly woman with kind eyes and a warm smile. She had a soft spot for Hana, who was a regular customer.

“Ah, Hana-chan! Welcome back!” the woman exclaimed, waving them over to a booth near the window.

Hana bowed slightly. “Hello, Oba-san! I brought a friend today,” she said, gesturing to Htet, who had awkwardly taken a seat next to her. “This is Htet. He’s in need of some serious food therapy.”

The elderly woman chuckled and nodded. “I see. I’m sure he’ll feel better after a good meal.”

Htet smiled weakly, still feeling self-conscious. He had never been one to enjoy attention, especially after the bento debacle, but at least he could take comfort in the fact that Hana seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself.

They sat down and began looking at the menu, which was a bit overwhelming with its variety of ramen options. Hana’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she scanned the options, clearly eager to share her favorite dishes with Htet.

“Alright, here’s the plan,” she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. “We’re going to order a ton of food. I’ll introduce you to all the different kinds of ramen and sides. Trust me, you won’t regret it.”

Before Htet could protest, Hana had already flagged down the waitress and started rattling off her orders. It was clear she knew exactly what she was doing. Within minutes, the table was filled with bowls of steaming ramen, plates of gyoza, karaage, and even a few side dishes he had never heard of.

“I’m starting you off with tonkotsu ramen,” Hana said, placing the bowl in front of him. “This is the king of ramen, the rich, creamy broth made from pork bones. You won’t find anything like it back home.”

Htet, who had never been a fan of ramen before, hesitated. He wasn’t sure what to expect. But as he took his first bite, his eyes widened in surprise. The broth was rich and savory, the noodles perfectly chewy, and the toppings.. slices of tender pork, green onions, and a soft-boiled egg added the perfect touch.

Hana beamed as she watched his reaction. “See? I knew you’d like it! It’s the best ramen in town.”

Htet nodded slowly, his face lighting up with appreciation. “It’s… amazing. I never thought ramen could taste like this.”

Hana grinned and leaned in closer. “Oh, we’re just getting started, my friend. Wait until you try the miso ramen.”

She passed him another bowl, this one filled with a darker, more robust broth. The miso gave it a hearty, savory flavor, and as Htet dug into it, he realized just how much he had been missing out on. The ramen here was something else entirely.

Just as Htet was starting to enjoy himself, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to find Liam standing behind him, a mischievous grin plastered across his face.

“I smell food,” Liam said with a grin that was impossible to ignore. “Mind if I join? No I demand to join the feast!!"

Hana groaned, rolling her eyes. “You followed us, didn’t you?”

“Of course I did! You guys smell like food. Can’t let you have all the fun, right?” Liam said, plopping down beside them with a grin. “So, what’s good?”

Before Hana could respond, there was a sudden clatter at the entrance. Htet turned around and saw Elena and Leila standing there, their eyes scanning the room. They had clearly just come from a shopping spree, each holding a couple of bags, but when they spotted the group, they both smiled and waved.

“Hana! Htet! Liam!” Elena called out, walking over to their table. “We didn’t know you were here!”

Leila, who had been more reserved, simply smiled and nodded. “Hi, Htet,” she greeted softly.

“Well, since we’re all here…” Liam said with a wide grin, already making room for the two girls. “Why not make it a party?”

Hana couldn’t help but laugh. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a full table.” She gestured toward the empty seats. “Come on, sit down. You’ve got to try the ramen.”

And so, the group of friends gathered around the table, each digging into their own bowls of ramen. Hana’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she took charge, explaining each dish in detail, from the tonkotsu to the miso ramen, and even the different toppings they could add to their bowls.

Htet sat back, watching the chaos unfold. It was a little overwhelming, sure, but there was something comforting about it. The laughter, the chatter, the food—it all felt right. Hana was in her element, guiding her friends through the wonders of Japanese cuisine with the enthusiasm of a tour guide.

“This one’s my favorite,” Hana said, holding up a bowl of gyoza. “You’ve got to try the gyoza. They’re crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. Perfect little bites.”

Liam, who had been slurping his ramen at record speed, grabbed a piece of gyoza and shoved it into his mouth. “Oh man, that’s good,” he said, his voice muffled as he chewed.

Elena, always the more composed one, took a bite and nodded in approval. “These are delicious,” she said with a satisfied smile.

Leila, who had been more hesitant, finally took a bite of the gyoza as well, her eyes widening in surprise. “Wow. I wasn’t expecting this to be so good.”

Htet, who had been more reserved, couldn’t help but smile. Despite the earlier chaos with the bento, he was starting to feel like he belonged here. With these friends, sharing a meal, it felt like the perfect way to end the day.

“So, what’s next?” Liam asked eagerly, already eyeing the next dish.

Hana looked around, making sure everyone was happy. “Well, I think we’ve only scratched the surface. Next up, we’ve got some karaage—Japanese fried chicken. Trust me, you’re going to love it.”

As the meal continued, Hana’s enthusiasm never wavered. She was determined to share the joys of Japanese cuisine with everyone at the table, savoring every moment of it. For Htet, it was a moment of connection....an afternoon spent with friends, sharing laughter, food, and memories.

It was funny how something as simple as a meal could bring people together. And for the first time in a long while, Htet realized he wasn’t just eating food, he was savoring friendship.

By the end of the meal, everyone was full, satisfied, and laughing together. And as they walked out of the ramen shop, Htet felt a weight lift off his shoulders....and a empty wallet. The blackmail was over, and in its place, he had something much better: a memory he’d never forget.

---(End of Extra Chapter 2)---