Yuu
Incoming Call
Answer
Reject
Oh, it's Yuu.
Hello?
Yeah, what's up?
I thought you were going to your older cousin's place today.
Help me, Jun!
Huh? What's wrong?
You're scaring me.
Aren't you in Osaka to help her move?
Actually...
I'm in Nagoya right now, and...
I'm lost!
What?
Loves Ramen Noodles
Ms. Koizumi
Loves Ramen Noodles
Nagoya
Help me!
Yuu, I don't understand what you're talking about.
What's going on? What happened?
Nagoya? I thought you went to Osaka?
Yeah.
I was on the bullet train going home with my brother and cousin just a little while ago.
We will soon arrive at Nagoya.
After departing Nagoya, the next stop is Shin-Yokohama.
I saw someone from the window who kind of looked like Koizumi-san.
What is she doing here?!
Yuu?
Goin' to the bathroom?
I jumped off the train without thinking.
Both my cousin and my brother are asleep,
and they won't answer their phones.
Disgust.
Yuu, you're such a moron!
I bet that wasn't even her.
Koizumi-san was there.
I would never mistake anyone for her.
Don't suddenly sound all serious.
Just come back to Tokyo.
I don't have any money.
All I had in my pocket was a 500-yen coin.
Seriously?
You got off the train empty-handed?!
Jeez...
All right, I'll try calling Koizumi-san.
I doubt she's actually in Nagoya, but still...
And I'll try texting her.
I can give her your address, right, Yuu?
Huh? Why do they have her number, and I don't?
I'm gonna hang up for now, okay?
Oh... Right. Thanks.
Huh?
I'm the only one who doesn't know it?!
Koizumi-san? Where are you?
Koizumi-san?
Golden...
Koizumi-san, where are you?
That kishimen looks good.
Koizumi-san would definitely be in a ramen shop, though.
Silver...
Mitsuki Station Hotel
Hey, Koizumi-san!
Maybe she's over here.
Please come out now!
I'm so hungry.
But I only have 500 yen.
Is this...
a ramen shop?
Taiwanese Mazesoba
Welcome.
It looked like I could actually get something with my one coin here, so I came in.
Kind of looks like a fast-food place.
It is a ramen place, though, right?
Even at a time like this, I end up choosing ramen.
I've changed a lot, and we all know who's responsible.
Number two, your order is ready!
That's me!
One ramen with egg?
That's right.
Enjoy your meal.
I'm so hungry!
Time to eat.
I'll start with the soup.
It was cold outside.
What is this?
This... isn't a soup spoon.
What the heck is this?
Here you go!
They're eating their noodles with this!
But that guy is using chopsticks.
So we've got this weird spork, or chopsticks.
Which one should I use?
Which one is the right one?
Why don't you eat with whichever one you like best?
Ko—
Incidentally, I eat half of it with chopsticks,
and when it's time to pierce the egg, I switch to the ramen fork.
I feel like the updated design has made them even easier to use,
Old
since you can now eat the noodles and the soup with egg at the same time.
New
Spellbound
Your beauty is recognized worldwide.
Artifact from the New York Museum of Modern Art
Tremble Tremble
K-K-Koizumi-san!
You came to rescue me!
You were in Nagoya!
Huh?
What do you mean?
Oh, come on. Jun and Misa contacted you, and you came to pick me up, right?
Contacted?
Oh, yeah. Looks like I have a missed call and a text.
What? This was really a coincidence?
Then again, meeting randomly on a trip makes it seem even more like destiny!
I don't know if I'd call it destiny.
Coming to Nagoya and not getting ramen and soft serve here simply isn't an option.
Anyway, it's going to get cold.
You're right.
Time to eat.
And I'm going to use this!
It's like...
This makes me feel so relieved.
I feel so at ease.
It looks like we have another hour before the bullet train departs.
There's time for one more bowl to wrap up the day.
Huh? What are you saying?
Wait!
You don't have to come with me.
No, I can't get home without you!
Heya! I don't particularly need anything from you, but it seems like Yuu got off the bullet train empty-handed in Nagoya! lol!! Are you in Nagoya right now~? If you are, can you please get in touch with her? I'll attach her address.
You read Misa's text, right?
How come you're in Nagoya, anyway?
I thought you went back to Tokyo last night.
Well...
Yesterday, on the bullet train back to Tokyo,
the magazine I was reading had an article about Taiwanese mazesoba.
Oh, Nagoya...
Before I knew it, I was at the store in Nagoya that's the birthplace of Taiwanese ramen.
Phew
A perfect blend of spicy and tasty.
The ground meat and the leek are what make it special.
Wow, I didn't know you could get Taiwanese ramen in Nagoya.
You can't.
It's a local specialty of Nagoya that a Taiwanese chef created.
The dish doesn't exist in Taiwan itself.
Taiwan
By the way, I ordered my ramen in the not-so-spicy "American style."
I'm not super into spicy food.
Wait, but how do you make a Taiwanese dish American style?
Just like with Americano coffee, the "American" means it's not so strong.
Ramen
Right now, Taiwanese ramen is a major attraction in Nagoya.
This is a different restaurant, but naturally, this chain has it as well.
Welcome!
I get the feeling this ramen is trying to evoke "betocon ramen."
Beto...?
Betocon Ramen
It's South Vietnamese... no, it's a ramen that gives you a lot of energy
and puts you in your best condition.
It does look like it would give you a lot of stamina.
And it looks pretty spicy.
It's not as intensely spicy as Hokkyoku or Karakarauo,
so if you can handle those, you'd be fine with this.
I suppose it depends on your personal limits.
Right. I have no idea what you mean.
I'm going to order mine without any crushed garlic.
Really, I'd like to go triple, but...
...you're about to get on the bullet train.
Two servings of Taiwan ramen.
Thank you for waiting!
They gave us a spoon with holes.
So you can fish out the ground meat easier.
I see. Well, then...
Time to eat.
The leek smells so good.
It's so hot!
But that's what's good about it.
Thank you for the food.
It's almost time to get on the train.
I'll pay you back for the ramen and the bullet train ticket.
I'm really sorry.
Jumping off a train without concern for where you end up is very like you.
What were you even thinking?
I'm just...
I'm just obsessed with Koizumi-san, the girl who's obsessed with ramen!
I-I've never felt anything like that before.
Which is why I was hoping we could maybe become better friends.
The train is about to leave.
Let's sit next to each other!
We don't have reserved seats!
1 new message from koizumi@... Missed Calls
This address is...
I can give her your address, right, Yuu?
This can't be.
This can't be!
From: Subject: No.
My first text from Koizumi-san!
Ahhhhhh
Finally... Finally, we're texting each other!
Bro Bro Bro Bro Bro Bro Bro
My brother's called me a million times!
I completely forgot about him!
What were you doing?
I was eating ramen.
Do you know how worried I was?!
I'm really sorry.
I didn't even notice.
Stare
I haven't gotten a text from Koizumi-san since.
I wonder who she's writing to...
Oh, they sent me a coupon for a hard-boiled egg add-on.
Only uses LINE and texts for ramen shops
Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles
Reunion
One day in autumn...
Koizumi-san caught a cold.
K-Koizumi-san, are you okay?
I'm fine.
But you look miserable.
Don't you have a fever?
Are you really okay?
I know! I could take care of you!
I'll visit you at your house.
There's no need.
Please don't come.
She looked pretty sick.
It's not like her at all.
I thought she didn't even catch colds.
It did suddenly get cold yesterday.
She was probably standing in some line forever.
Koizumi-san...
In that sense, this is a literary classic
that has been read and loved by many, many people
over the course of many generations.
We're going to read it again with that in mind.
Koizumi-san didn't come to school today.
Or the next day...
Or the day after that.
Ma'am, you have to tell me Koizumi-san's address!
Please calm down, Ohsawa-san.
She might be really sick!
Koizumi-san is fine.
We got a call from her this morning.
But I really think it'd be better if I were there!
Yuu: Are you okay? Yuu: I'm worried about you Yuu: I'll come visit you! Yuu: I'll make ramen for you
Pull yourself together, Yuu.
She won't return my texts.
She has a cold. She's probably sleeping.
We need to let her get some rest, right?
What is she eating, though?
Is there anyone to look after her?
What if she collapses all alone?
The school got a call. She's fine.
Jun's right.
We're talking about Koizumi.
Why, Koizumi-san?!
You can lean on me more, you know!
But...
Koizumi-san didn't return to school for quite some time.
Then, today,
after a two-week absence, Koizumi-san came back to school.
See ya!
Huh?
Aren't you going home with Koizumi?
You haven't seen her in so long.
Is everything okay?
Today... it's fine.
Huh? Why? What's wrong?!
No, I thought about inviting her to walk with me,
until a little while ago.
But then...
Koizumi-san!
I'm so glad you're well again!
Let's walk home together!
No, thank you.
Oh, come on!
We could have ramen to celebrate your recovery!
Ramen...
She said she's barely eaten anything from when she got sick until this morning.
Which means that today...
will be the first time she's had ramen in two whole weeks.
Ogikubo Chinese Soba
Harukiya
Here you go.
Time to eat.
Welcome.
Thank you.
I'm so glad.
Koizumi-san is completely back on her feet!
She followed her after all...
I'm going to keep chasing Koizumi-san, the girl who loves ramen noodles!
Shiver
Am I getting sick again?
Koizumi-san!
Yuu, wait!
Hey, Koizumi-san.
You're going to another restaurant after this, right?
Can I go with you?
You did end up following her.
I kind of feel like having ramen now, too.
May I come?
I don't really like to eat with other people,
but if you really want to eat ramen, do as you please.
Yes!
We should eat out together every day, then!
I decline.
Aw...
We wish you a delicious ramen...
Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles
Thank you for the food!