I'm moving around like a dog, preparing from one bowl to another.
The system surely gets in the way, but thank God someone put a mute button on it.
At this age, people still mostly do labor jobs—especially shinobi.
That's why people seek food with a lot of calories, like ramen.
"That's delicious as always."
"Man, I'm full."
"Thank you for your patronage!"
Customers come and go quickly.
"Another Miso Ramen, Ken." Ayame says, scribbling down the note and pinning it to the wall.
"Right away!"
With this enhanced smell from the Inuzukas, I can better tell when the noodles are perfectly boiled and when to mix everything into a single bowl just right. This happens because it syncs with the muscle memory I have now.
The lunch rush finally ends. The number of customers wasn't as crazy as before. Ayame, my sister, sighs and wipes the sweat from her forehead with a towel.
"That's crazy as always, Ken. To think we made it without the old man."
I chuckle, "Yeah, I guess the time has finally come—he finally decided to retire."
Ayame laughs, "Well, he should have. Wait, that stubborn old man did it? When?" She looks at me, puzzled.
"This morning. He decided to leave everything to us."
"WHAT?! Then, what about me? I already said I'm going to the Land of Lightning to learn from the Cooking-nin for a year!"
She grabs her white hat and slams it to the floor.
She mentioned the Cooking-nin, who are famous for using chakra in cooking.
A couple of years ago, she was kidnapped by them to uncover the secret of our ramen recipe. But she was actually fine. When they released her, she'd gained a lot—probably from eating too much of their food.
After that, they apologized and offered her a chance to study there as a student.
"That's fine, Ayame. I could just hire someone, so go ahead. It's your dream to study there, right?"
"Huhu, it is. I'm tired of ramen and want to try something different this time. I guess it's thanks to you, little brother. If you hadn't been here, sacrificing yourself, I wouldn't have had the chance to go."
"You're really the worst. I mean, that study crap was just your excuse, right? You must've found a man back when you got kidnapped. Tsk, tsk."
Ayame blushes, "HAHA! What the hell are you talking about? I'm studying for the sake of my dream!"
Bingo. Well, she's in that age anyway.
"Right, how about talking to Dad now? He said he was fishing—probably at his usual spot."
"Thank you, Ken! I'll be back right away!"
Damn, now I need to find someone to replace her.
Put that aside, we managed to sell around 40 portions since we opened an hour ago, and we still have about 60 portions left until we close at 9.
Unfortunately, ever since Teuchi, I haven't had any customers higher than D-grade.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves though. At least I got an extra 400 achievement points.
If this keeps going, it'll be 600 points by the end of the day.
Achievement Points: 1400
Right, let's check the Inventory.
The virtual screen zooms in and out quickly.
Besides the new points, I also got these items from the Random Gift:
[Inventory]
Ichiraku Building Blueprint ×1
Kunai ×10
Shuriken ×15
UV Cream ×1
Uchiha Crest Black Shirt ×5
Energy Drink ×4
Spatula ×1
Wok Pan ×1
Cigarette Pack ×3
I check—wasn't expecting much from D-grade.
Truly random gifts.
Not being racist, but I'm hoping for an important character now.
---
When the sky already dark.
It's nearly time for me to close the shop.
Ayame didn't came back yet. It seems they have intense argument. Anyway, I sold 90 portion already. However, I don't get any special customer.
More importantly, I still have 10 portion left.
Ichiraku without doubt the best ramen in this world. But, the customer seems bored with the menu that never change.
But, the ramen it self already iconic so, changing it will might be a bad choice.
Maybe I should modify the side dish?
There's no customers around so I decide to do a little experiment with our Gyoza menu.
Another good things about Inuzuka enhance nose, I could recognize how the ingredients smell to the point I could tell if it's fresh or not. Also, I could sniff spices like sniffing those white stuff, without getting my self sneeze!
Now, say my name bitch.
Tring!
The sound bell ringing, as I glance and welcome the customers, "Welcome! How could I help yo—wait a minute..." There I saw the famous girls in Naruto, "Ah, if it weren't Ino, Sakura, and Hinata!"
The girl with blonde ponytail, she wear sleeveless that make her belly visible, sniffing around the air then she eagerly ask, "This is smell really good, Ken. You cooking something new?"
"Gulp!" an audible gulp coming from the girl with short pink hair next to her, "Stop bullshiting about obvious thing, Ino-pig."
As these two fight like a cat, a girl with long black hair and white eyes, shyly fidgeting her fingers, looking down then saying, "H-Hello, Ken Nii-san... How are you?"
As I lift the flat pan, I smile to her, "I'm good, Hinata." and glance to the side, "Quit make a scene like that and have a seat." I said, plating equal size Gyoza with the recipe I tweek.
As I put the plate on the table, they sat like good kids, their eyes follow it with mouth open, "If you don't mind. I want to know if this worth to put on the menu."
Snapping the chopstick together, they reach the Gyoza slowly, taste it, close their eyes tightly in delightful reaction.
"That's the most delicous Gyoza I've ever try, Ken!" Ino said, moving left and right happily.
"I've to say. When I first smell it, it stimulate my appetite like crazy. But, the taste met with my expectation." Sakura describe it quite detail.
Hinata nodded, "Yeah... I felt the same way. It didn't felt disappointed. A-Ah! I'm not saying that your cooking disappoint at all, Nii-san. The aroma was just pleasing as Sakura said."
I laugh, "Haha! That's okay, Hinata. So, that means, it pass right?"
The three of them nod convincingly. Ino smirk at me, "How about another free meal for us, Ken?"
"Hell no. I'm going to sell it right away. But, I'm going to give extra for the first customers."
Lucky me. With them here, the left portion will be no problem. Ino and Hinata come at to the shop at least once in a week. Especially, Hinata. She's not an average customer. She will not just have a bowl of ramen but five to seven bowl!
I place another bowl in front of Hinata.
"Hinata, that's amazing thing you have done there." When I put the Hinata's order again, Sakura bewildered with pile of empty bowl.
Hinata smille shyly, "I-I think I'm really hungry now, Sakura."
"Oi, wide forehead. Leave her alone!" Ino said then slurping noodle.
"Tch!" Sakura click her tongue, but then she pause, looking at Ino then Hinata, "Damn it! I want another Gyoza, please! Also, I want the Gyoza for takeout as well!" She said, stab the Gyoza in her plate like serial killer, then eat it in annoyed face.
Hinata rise her hand, "M-me too."
"Right away!"
Unlike these two, Sakura didn't came really often but now, I think she'll become a regular thanks to this Gyoza.
[Ken... have you eat your dinner yet?]
Hearing this voice, I smile inwardly. As I cooking the Gyoza, I could felt someone stare and small giggle at me. Ino just use her family technique to telepathy with me.
[Not yet...]
[Not yet? Hmm~ Then, should I turn back the favor? I will cook something good for you if you want...]
This time, I didn't hide my smile at all.
---
"I'm going this way. See you later, Ken."
We watch Ino waving then walking the opposite way of Sakura and Hinata.
Sakura sigh, "Hah... Then, we're going too, Ken. See you later!"
"See you later, Nii-san..." Hinata politely bow.
"Yeah, take care." I watch them a little then finally closed the shop.
It's already late, so I'm going to use the room on the second floor. As I walk up the stair, I check the system.
Ding!
(A) Hyuga Hinata has satisfied with the service.
(A) Haruno Sakura has satisfied with the service.
(B) Yamanaka Ino has satisfied with the service.
Ding!
You receive 2500 AP and three Random Gift.
So, system qualify Ino as weaker than both of them. If we're talking about strength alone, that might be true. Ino was sensory type to begin with.
When I was about to see the random gift. I arrive at the second floor.
I notice light shining through the window.
When I open the door, a woman voice greet me.
"Welcome back, Ken~"
A sly smile on her face make me chuckle. I enter my studio size room and walking to Ino in the kitchen, chopping down a spring onion with my apron.
"Wait, I saw you walking that way. How?"
Ino let out small giggle, "I'm ninja genius. Sneaking into your place is something easy for me."
"Thanks for remind me." I said as I stood behind her, "What if they notice you?"
"You mean Hinata and the wide forehead, Sakura? Hm..." She hum pause a little, "Maybe...? So what?"
I nodded, "That was based. Then, since you're a ninja, did you notice this?"
Ino flinch as I hug her soft belly. I'm 6'1" while she's 5'6". In term of height, she's lost to me so i could felt how small she was in my hug.
"Of course you dummy." She look up. As our eyes meet, I could see that she expecting it, so I drew my head closer to her, touching her tender soft lips. "Thanks for the dinner..."