Summer had settled over Konoha.
Even after sunset, the stones of the village still held the day’s warmth.
Lanterns gradually lit the streets as merchants packed away their stalls and shinobi returned from missions.
It was the busiest hour of the day, when the village finally slowed enough for people to breathe.
Kamui found himself standing in front of Ichiraku almost without thinking.
“…I really do come here too often.”
Pushing aside the curtain, he stepped inside.
Teuchi looked up from the broth simmering behind the counter.
“You’re late today.”
“The workshop won.”
“It usually does.”
Kamui smiled as he took an empty seat.
The smell of pork broth filled the little shop.
It had become strangely familiar over the last few weeks.
There was comfort in places where nobody expected anything from you except to enjoy your meal.
Teuchi placed a bowl in front of him.
“You looked tired when you walked in.”
“I was carrying timber all afternoon.”
“Then eat before you fall asleep.”
“I’ll try.”
Kamui had barely finished half his bowl when the curtain lifted again.
Naruto hurried inside, brushing dust from his clothes.
He looked around quickly before spotting the only empty seat.
“…Oh.”
Kamui raised an eyebrow.
“You look disappointed.”
“I just didn’t know you were here.”
“I live in the village now.”
“I know that.”
Naruto slid onto the stool anyway.
“I just keep running into you.”
Kamui looked thoughtfully at his own bowl.
“We should probably stop eating at the same ramen shop.”
Naruto frowned.
“…No.”
“Too late.”
A grin escaped Kamui.
“I was joking.”
Teuchi chuckled quietly as he prepared another bowl.
For several minutes, neither of them spoke.
Naruto ate like someone trying to beat the noodles before they escaped the bowl.
Kamui ate at the pace of someone who had already accepted that hot ramen always won.
“You know,” Kamui said eventually, “one day you’re going to choke.”
Naruto swallowed and pointed his chopsticks.
“I’ve never choked.”
“That isn’t proof.”
“It kind of is.”
“It really isn’t.”
Naruto ignored him and continued eating.
The curtain moved once more.
This time it was Iruka.
His Academy uniform was neat as always, though his shoulders carried the weariness of someone who had spent the entire day surrounded by energetic children.
His eyes immediately found Naruto.
“Still awake?”
Naruto straightened instinctively.
“Iruka-sensei.”
“So you do remember I’m your teacher.”
Naruto scratched the back of his head with an awkward laugh.
“…Sometimes.”
Iruka sighed in the long-suffering way only teachers could.
“I’ll count that as progress.”
There were no empty seats left.
Iruka glanced inside, then gave Teuchi a polite nod.
“I’ll come back another time.”
Before he could leave, Teuchi disappeared into the back of the shop and returned carrying a small wooden stool.
“I knew I’d need this eventually.”
Iruka smiled.
“Thank you.”
He sat at the far end of the counter, leaving Naruto and Kamui to themselves.
The three shared the same small ramen stand, but not the same conversation.
Iruka exchanged a few words with Teuchi about the Academy.
Naruto concentrated on finishing his dinner before the noodles became soggy.
Kamui quietly enjoyed listening to the ordinary sounds around him.
There was something peaceful about people simply existing together.
When Naruto finally emptied his bowl, he hopped off the stool.
“I should go.”
Iruka looked over.
“Homework.”
Naruto froze.
“…Right.”
“I’ll check it tomorrow.”
“I already did it.”
Iruka gave him a look.
Naruto looked away.
“…Mostly.”
“I thought so.”
Naruto groaned dramatically before pushing aside the curtain.
“I’m leaving!”
“Good.”
“And don’t stay up too late.”
“I won’t!”
The answer came from halfway down the street.
Iruka smiled despite himself.
“He says that every time.”
Teuchi laughed.
“So do half my customers.”
A little while later, Kamui finished eating.
He stood and placed a few coins on the counter.
“Thank you.”
Teuchi nodded.
“See you tomorrow?”
Kamui hesitated.
“…Probably.”
“I thought so.”
As Kamui stepped outside, he noticed Iruka leaving at almost the same time.
For a moment they walked in the same direction.
Neither seemed in a hurry.
“You work with Genzo’s workshop, don’t you?” Iruka asked.
Kamui nodded.
“That’s right.”
“I’ve seen some of your benches around the village.”
“I helped make them.”
“They’re well built.”
“Then most of the credit belongs to the old man.”
Iruka smiled faintly.
“People who do good work always seem to say that.”
Kamui shrugged.
“I’ve only been doing this for a few weeks.”
“Still.”
The conversation ended there.
Not awkwardly.
Simply because there was nothing else that needed saying.
At the next intersection, Iruka stopped.
“The Academy is this way.”
Kamui pointed toward the opposite street.
“And the workshop is that way.”
They exchanged a small nod.
“Good night.”
“Good night.”
Then each continued home beneath the lantern-lit streets of Konoha.
Somewhere ahead, Naruto was already sprinting across rooftops, trying to remember exactly how much homework he had forgotten.
He suspected the answer was…
Too much.