Lonely Rock for the Blind

The blind stick tapped against the corner of the wall. Nekoyashiki Haru seemed to be familiar with this road. With the help of the blind stick, he turned several alleys and soon stopped in front of a Japanese-style store.

“…It’s so remote…”

Goto Ichiri next to him blinked and sighed.

"The owners here didn't open the shop to make money, they just opened it out of boredom."

Nekoyashiki Haru stepped forward and opened the door.

"But the ramen is really good...even I can taste it a little bit..."

"?"

Goto Ichiri was slightly stunned, then he saw Nekayashiki Haru smiling and raising his hand.

"good evening."

"Hmm? Ah, it's been a while, Xiaoqing."

Sitting at the counter at the door was a kind-looking old lady.

Goto Ichiri quickly lowered his head.

"Oh, you're not here alone today, but with a child?"

"Yes, we are friends."

Nekoyashiki Haru replied with a smile.

"Ah... hello..."

Goto Ichiri greeted with his eyes closed, but his voice was so soft that the boss couldn't hear it at all.

"Is that so? Are you still the same?"

The old lady looked at Nekayashiki Haru and asked.

"No, I don't want to eat. The main thing is that the child is hungry."

Nekoyashiki Haru sat down at the table and faced the door.

"come on."

"Ah! All right."

Goto Ichiri lowered his head and walked over to Nekayashiki Haru and sat down.

"Are there any taboos?"

"No...no..."

"What do you want to eat? Here's the menu."

"I...I don't know...that...is..."

"Oh, I see. I'll give you some."

Nekayashiki Haru nodded and said that, Goto Ichiri breathed a sigh of relief.

"Just my old self."

He raised his hand and said to the boss, and after receiving a response, Nekayashiki Haru put down his hand with a smile.

"How do you feel? It's quite warm in here, right?"

"Um…"

Goto Ichiri nodded slightly.

"There are hardly any people here. The ones who come here are regular customers. They basically have the place to themselves if they choose to stay at different times. It seems to suit you."

"And... and the old... boss..."

Goto Ichiri raised his eyes and said

"It's really troublesome to have such social anxiety like you."

Nekayashiki Haru shook his head helplessly, then continued.

"As for me, most things taste pretty bland."

"Ugh?"

"It's not the kind that can be solved by adding salt. Rather than saying it's bland, should I say it's bland?"

"... "

Goto Ichiri was silent.

"When I first came to Japan, I rarely ate out. It was only when I was out that I found this place. How should I put it... I always like the food here."

Nekoyashiki Haru took out the tissue and folded it gently.

"I'm not sure if you'll like it, but I'd like to recommend this store to you. It would be great if you like it."

"Thank you... thank you..."

Goto Ichiri thanked him softly, and the cat named Haru next to him smiled but said nothing.

It wasn't until a bowl of steaming hot tonkotsu ramen was placed in front of him that Goto Ichiri spoke again.

“I’m starting…”

Chapter 52 Dinner

“…So salty…”

Goto Ichiri, who was walking on the street with Nekayashiki Haru, couldn't help but say.

"Sorry... I always thought that what I usually eat is actually without added salt."

Nekayashiki Haru scratched his head embarrassedly, then seemed to doubt himself a little and said.

"So it turns out that I only feel the taste because I added too much salt..."

"I...I don't think it's exactly the same."

Goto Ichiri said as he took a sip of mineral water.

"Mr. Nekayashiki is just a little bit of both, right? And even though it's salty, it's delicious... Mmmm!"

Goto Ichiri nodded vigorously.

We must encourage our lost friends here!

Goto Ichiri, who had privately learned how to get along with friends, was convinced of this, although in reality he had never used those skills until just now.

Because there is no object to practice...

Goto Ichiri never had any friends... from kindergarten until he formed a band!

I keep saying I'm lonely...

"So... that's why... don't worry about it... gu... wuwu..."

"…How come you comforted me and ended up making yourself cry?"

Nekayashiki Haru sighed helplessly, then patted Goto Ichiri on the shoulder.

"Anyway, thank you for your comfort, Ichiri."

"Ah! No no no, you're welcome!"

Goto Ichiri quickly waved his hand and said.

"Don't refuse like that, it will make others think you hate him."

"I, I, I, I don't hate you!"

"I know."

Nekoyashiki Haru stopped in his tracks.

"Yili is a great friend and even comforts me."

"Ah... hehe..."

Goto Ichiri couldn't help but lower his head and smiled.

Nekayashiki Haru was silent for a moment, then spoke.

"We're almost at the station, hurry up."

"Ah! Okay!"

Goto Ichiri was startled, then bowed deeply to Nekoyashiki Haru.

"See you tomorrow!"

"Well, see you tomorrow under the stars."

"Good-night!"

"Speak in advance, okay, good night."

"Good morning!"

"It's already morning?!"

Goto Ichiri suddenly raised his head and took a deep breath.

"Bye...bye!"

"...how many times should I say goodbye...goodbye."

Goto Ichiri turned and ran towards the station, while Nekayashiki Haru stood there facing Goto Ichiri's back.

"It should run very fast."

Nekayashiki Haru said with a smile, then listened attentively.

After eliminating the chaotic sounds around, I found the footsteps of Goto Ichiri.

He just listened like that until the girl's voice completely disappeared.

"It has a little color."

Nekoyashiki Haru muttered to himself, then turned around and tapped the ground with his blind stick.

Let’s go back to Folt. We have a celebration party.

...

……

.........

"cheers!"

Eliza raised her glass and clinked it with Iwashita Shima's and Nekayashiki Haru's.

Snapped!

"I just found this place. Does it taste good?"

Shima Iwashita said with a smile.

"good."

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded.

"Ah, I need to add some salt for you."

Eliza moved closer to Nekoyashiki Haru, then picked up the salt shaker and started shaking it on the yakitori in front of Nekoyashiki Haru.

"…Ugh…"

Nekoyashiki Haru's expression was complicated.

He always thought that he was actually eating something deeper than just the taste...

Like emotions or something?

But now it seems like my own second-year fantasy...

Pick up the skewer and put it in your mouth.