Koizumi-san!
Misa, Jun, and I are going over to Wacky D's now.
Want to join us?
No, thank you.
Rejected again!
You don't give up, do you?
What's so great about her, anyway?
You're really asking that?
We're talking about Koizumi-san here! Koizumi-san!
She just gets to you.
You can't help but want to get close her!
I can't relate.
All she seems to care about is ramen, 24/7.
Now that you mention it, I've only ever talked to her about ramen, too.
And still...
Why?! Why you two?!
Why what?
I've tried so many times to invite her, only to be rejected!
So why do you two get to be the ones to eat ramen with her like best buddies?
W-Well, that was just...
...how things played out.
No fair! No fair! No fair! No fair!
No fair!
Well, maybe inviting her to Wacky D's wasn't the best idea.
That's right.
I mean, does she even eat anything other than ramen?
Y-You're right!
Loves Ramen Noodles
Ms. Koizumi
Loves Ramen Noodles
Saimin
Koizumi-san!
Hey, have you ever been to Wacky D's?
It might not be your kind of place,
but it's nice every now and then.
You know, while you hang out and talk.
I go there sometimes.
What?! You're kidding!
This was two months ago.
Excuse me.
I'd like one saimin, please.
Mm-hm. Would you like chopsticks or forks?
Chopsticks.
Okay. Anything else?
No.
Give us a second, please.
Thank you for waiting.
Not at all.
Wait a second!
Wacky D's doesn't sell ramen!
They do. But only in Hawaii.
They sell a noodle soup called "saimin."
For real?!
There are a lot of Japanese ramen shops in Hawaii.
I had no trouble finding ramen while I was there.
Ezogiku, Tenichi, and Santouka aren't the only places.
The flavor at this one place that opened recently really hit the spot for me.
It might not be an exaggeration to say that
after loco moco and macadamia nuts, Hawaii is famous for its ramen cuisine.
Wow...
Wait, no! I was trying to find out if you've ever eaten a hamburger!
I have.
I had one at Tenichi.
Uh, that's the ramen shop we went to that one time.
They didn't have hamburgers.
They do.
I don't know why, but it was an item limited to the Kireuriwari location in Osaka.
Seriously, why?!
And that's some name for a restaurant!
The taste was good, the portion size was good, and the price was good.
Of course, I enjoyed it as part of a combo with a ramen.
Wow...
Wait, no!
Er... What were we talking about?
Kireuriwari
K... K... Kireuriwari...
Ki re uri wari
No... Noeuchindai?
Noeuchindai
No e uchin dai
Kizurikamikita
Kizurikamikita?
Ki zuri kami kita
Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles
Flavor Concentration Counter
Koizumi-san!
Are you free Sunday?
Want to go somewhere together?
No.
Why not?!
I want to spend time alone.
Oh, the Kouenji location is out of soup.
Then I'll go to the Shinjuku location.
But you're friends with Misa and Jun!
I can't accept that I'm the only one you're so cold to!
I don't recall becoming anyone's friend.
Can't we just be more friendly?
We're human beings! We're all one family!
Noodles are my only family.
We can go anywhere you like! Just take me with you!
If you're okay with meeting, and parting, at the restaurant.
Really?
Yes! Thank you!
That's totally fine!
All I need is a foot in the door.
Once I'm in, we'll be close in no time.
Koizumi-san!
Why are you wearing your uniform?
I wanted to see you in your regular clothes!
I'm going in.
Open 24/7/365
Huh?
Where do we sit? And where are the employees?
I'll get kaedama today.
I know what kaedama is!
It's when you can get an extra portion of just noodles, right?
I saw it on TV.
I'm getting mine with kaedama, too.
Whee! My first kaedama!
Seats, hmm...
Looks like the two ends have openings.
A map of free seats?
What is this?
See you when we're done.
Uh, do we sit in the back?
A cubicle?
This is like a study booth or something!
Packed
Koizumi-san is so far away!
Here
Talk about being forced to sit alone.
Please mark all fields Flavor Intensity: Light, Medium, Strong Heaviness: None, Light, Medium, Heavy, Very Heavy Garlic: None, Little, Medium, More, Double Onion: None, White, Green Chashu Pork: Yes, No Secret Sauce: None, Half, x1, x2, x(_) Noodle Firmness: Very Firm, Firm, Regular, Soft, Very Soft
"Let us know your preferences"?
Might as well get the standard, since it's my first time.
All right. Done.
I wonder where the wait staff is.
I'm so bored.
Pardon me.
I've reviewed your order and it will be coming shortly.
Y-Yes, sir!
There was someone back there?!
I'll get my usual.
Noodle firmness...
Noodle Firmness: Very Firm, Firm, Regular, Soft, Very Soft
They don't do yugedoushi or konaotoshi here,
so I want to get the firmest one they offer.
But since I just had a bowl at the new place by the station,
Second bowl today
I'll order "soft" now. It's easier on the stomach.
Aw, man... What was even the point of coming here?
Thank you for waiting.
Pardon me.
I-It closed again...
This tonkotsu looks amazing.
Time to eat.
These thin noodles are so good!
Now... what about the extra noodles?
I guess I do this.
Kaedama
Set plate with ticket here
Order
Thank you for waiting. Here's your kaedama.
Wow!
It felt pretty sad at first, sitting here all alone,
but ramen is great even when you eat it by yourself!
Tennen Tonkotsu Ramen Ichiran
That was great.
Goodbye, then.
Yeah. See you at school!
We didn't talk at all.
The ramen was delicious, though.
By the way, those partitions can be moved.
Koizumi-san, next time we totally need to sit next to each other!
No, thank you.
Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles
Your Basket
Instant Noodles
My brother won't be home today.
Let's do something simple...
Ramen • Noodles
I'm thinking ramen.
I wonder if Koizumi-san has a favorite brand of instant ramen.
She's always eating it at school.
Someday, I want to make ramen for Koizumi-san and have her eat it.
I wonder if she likes to add her own touches.
Oh, I bet this would be good with it.
It's delicious
It's delicious.
Oh, my...
One day, I'll use my skills from home ec club and being on kitchen duty
at home to make something for Koizumi-san...
Thinking about Koizumi-san made me get all this.
Oh, well...
It'll get eaten.
Your Basket
Thank you.
I wonder what kind of ramen Koizumi-san is eating right now...
Koizumi-san?!
Should we call an ambulance?
Koizumi-san, what's wrong?
I can't believe I did this.
This place is always closed today.
Chinese Cuisine Ikomaken
Closed Today
You collapsed because you're starving?!
I don't really know what's going on, but I'll carry you to my house.
It's close!
Actually...
I think this is the first time I've ever touched her.
Now isn't the time for that!
Hang in there, Koizumi-san! It's not far!
Such passion.
Ohsawa
Where am I?
Oh, you're awake.
I was thinking I should probably wake you soon.
By the way, it's evening already.
Huh?
You collapsed by that ramen place nearby.
Do you remember?
I forgot which day they're closed.
I hadn't eaten anything since morning, so all my strength left me.
I'm sorry for all the trouble.
Hold on!
Why don't you eat before you go?
I was just making dinner.
You might not think it, but I'm actually good at cooking.
Both my parents work, so I've been doing it since I was a kid.
I'm even in the home ec club.
Not that I ever attend, but...
What's this?
My famous mock Italian ramen.
Salt
You can use any soup for the base.
You boil the instant noodles in tomato juice,
then you stir-fry garlic, leftover vegetables, and meat.
For meat, you can even use bacon or wieners.
Before serving, you season with fresh ground pepper and a sprinkle of cheese, and it's done.
If you put that much work into it, it can't really be called "instant" anymore.
But it's super easy!
It's totally instant!
I usually settle for something much simpler.
"Oroshi Soba Ramen"
Take soy sauce ramen, dump on tempura flakes,
grated daikon radish, and shaved bonito flakes.
"Pizza Chips Ramen"
Take miso ramen, dump on crumbled potato chips
and melted cheese, and season to taste with Tabasco sauce.
Tuna Rice Ball Ramen
Take salt ramen, and dump on canned tuna and dried nori.
Oroshi Soba Ramen
Pizza Chips Ramen
Tuna Rice Ball Ramen
Lately, there are many types of ramen that are loved for
their non-instant feel and compatibility with simple ingredients.
It's very helpful.
She only dumps stuff on!
But that aside, is it all right if I eat now?
Please go ahead!
Time to eat.
Ba-dump
Slurp Slurp Slurp
Glug Glug Glug
Exquisite.
Finished.
May I have some more?
I'm so glad!
You always eat at ramen shops,
so I was worried you might say, "This isn't ramen," or something.
The beauty of restaurant ramen and homemade ramen are completely different.
It's meaningless to argue over which is better.
You're absolutely right...
On that note, I'll make you some more.
What kind would you like?
I could do Chinese, Taiwanese, or Thai flavors.
If you'd like to switch it up,
mixing crushed noodles with rice to make chicken fried rice
or a soy milk risotto can be quite good, too.
Those things don't have much left to do with ramen, but they do sound good.
Anyway, I'll try all of those.
Okay, got it!
Just leave it to me.
This is so strange.
I'm here at home, and everything is like it always is, except Koizumi-san is here.
It's almost like we're...
I started with a soy sauce base, added egg and veggies, then thickened it with starch.
Hot and sour noodles!
If you like, go ahead and add vinegar!
Sweet and sour...
Next, a miso base, with an added can of mackerel and some curry roux!
It's mackerel miso curry ramen!
The uncanny alliance of miso and curry!
And there's still more!
Start with a tonkotsu base, add bacon, milk, and a poached egg for carbonara-style ramen!
The still-runny yolk mingles with the tonkotsu!
And on top of that!
To finish, a dish prepared cold!
Ochazuke-flavored ramen with ground chicken and pickled plum!
Strong green tea ties the dish together.
So how was it?
Are you full now?
I am very satisfied.
That's good to hear.
I will definitely make this up to you.
Oh, you don't have to...
Good morning.
Good morning!
Why are you grinning at this hour?
You look happy, but it's also... scary.
Oh, I just had a wonderful day yesterday.
What's all this?
Ramen coupons?
Where'd they come from?
No idea...
Oh, Koizumi-sa—
To thank you for yesterday.
She ran away!
Koizumi-san!
Does this mean you want to go eat with me?
It does not.
Please enjoy them by yourself.
Oh, come on!
You're coming with me, aren't you?
No, thank you.
I'm so excited!
Who knew there were this many coupons?
Lately, these things are mainly put up on social networks,
but there are still a lot of paper coupons out there.
Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles
Western Restaurant
Red or White
Convenience Store
So, Koizumi-san, you can actually speak English?
Enough to have a conversation.
How did you learn it?
Do you go to cram school, or one of those language schools by
the station, or do you have someone around you to practice with?
It's a secret.
Another secret, huh?
Thank you for the food!