The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a soft twilight glow over the city. Kaede and Ash had spent the better part of the afternoon in the boutique, making final decisions on Kaede''s dress and sorting through accessories. The constant back-and-forth between Ash''s reluctant participation and Kaede''s keen attention to detail had worn them both down, leaving Ash with one clear thought: he was starving.


    Kaede looked over at Ash, who had been unusually quiet as they strolled down the street. His mind clearly wandered, his hands shoved into his pockets, a deep furrow on his brow as he stared ahead. It wasn''t that he was unhappy, but the constant tension of fitting into this unfamiliar world weighed on him.


    "Hey," Ash spoke up, breaking the silence, "You hungry? I''m starving."


    Kaede shot him a sideways glance, her eyebrow quirking up. "You? Hungry? After all that shopping? Should''ve figured you''d be the one to wear down first."


    Ash smirked but then shrugged. "It''s been a long day. You''re always on the move, Kaede. You should try taking it easy sometime."


    She rolled her eyes, but his suggestion was tempting. She hadn''t eaten much during the day either. "Alright, where do you want to go?"


    Ash paused, looking around for a moment, and then a glimmer of recognition passed across his face. He raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I know a place."


    Kaede raised both eyebrows this time. "A place? Like, a good place? Or one of your... places?"


    Ash''s lips curved into a grin as he nodded. "Trust me. You''ll like it."


    Kaede crossed her arms, skeptical but intrigued. "Alright then. Lead the way."


    Ash''s feet carried them through winding side streets, away from the hustle and bustle of the more upscale districts and into a quieter part of town. The scent of grilled meats, warm broth, and something spicy filled the air as they walked, and Kaede''s stomach growled, reminding her just how hungry she truly was.


    They stopped in front of a small, unassuming ramen shop tucked between two buildings, its sign a simple red-and-white affair with the characters "Yamato Ramen" etched across it. The place looked humble, the wooden door slightly worn from years of use, but there was something charming about it—an authenticity that Kaede couldn''t help but appreciate.


    Ash grinned as he stepped forward. "This is the place."


    Kaede hesitated for just a moment, eyeing the small eatery with a mix of curiosity and doubt. It wasn''t the kind of restaurant she was used to, but something about Ash''s confidence in leading her here piqued her interest.


    The door creaked open, and they were immediately greeted by a wave of warmth from the inside. The scent of freshly cooked ramen filled the air, and Kaede couldn''t help but feel her stomach react to it. The shop was cozy, with simple wooden tables and chairs lining the floor, and a long bar where customers could sit and watch the cook at work.


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    And the cook—an older man with a thick mustache, apron covered in splashes of broth, and a wide grin—looked up as they entered, his face lighting up when he saw Ash.


    "Well, well," the cook called out, his voice deep and friendly. "If it isn''t Ash, the heir-in-training."


    Ash chuckled and waved it off, clearly at ease here. "Hey, Jiro. You know me. Can''t resist your ramen."


    Kaede''s jaw dropped slightly at the familiarity between Ash and the cook. "You know him?" she asked, her voice laced with surprise.


    "Of course," Ash said, unbothered by her reaction. "I''ve been coming here for years. Jiro''s ramen is legendary around here. He''s the best in the city."


    Jiro laughed heartily, setting down a bowl of steaming ramen in front of Ash before quickly preparing one for Kaede as well. "You bring the lady here for dinner, Ash? I see how it is," Jiro teased, winking at Kaede as he slid a bowl her way.


    Ash rolled his eyes but didn''t respond to the joke. Instead, he slid into the seat beside Kaede, unceremoniously slurping his ramen with a practiced ease. Kaede, still surprised by the ease between Ash and Jiro, picked up her chopsticks and took a tentative bite of the ramen. The rich, savory broth hit her taste buds, the noodles perfectly cooked, and the toppings—crispy pork belly, boiled egg, and green onions—added a satisfying contrast to the flavor.


    She paused, looking at Ash, who was already halfway through his bowl, completely at ease in the cozy shop. "This... is really good," she admitted, her tone softening as she savored another bite. "I didn''t expect something like this from you."


    Ash shrugged, unconcerned. "I didn''t think you would. It''s not exactly the kind of place you''d normally come to. But this is real. You can''t beat the authenticity here."


    As they ate, the two fell into a comfortable silence, the simple act of eating bringing a welcome pause to the events of the day. Kaede found herself relaxing, the warmth of the ramen filling her stomach and easing some of the tension from her shoulders.


    "So, you''ve been coming here since you were a kid?" Kaede asked, her curiosity getting the better of her as she leaned back in her chair.


    Ash nodded, his eyes drifting toward the steam rising from his bowl. "Yeah. My father''s been missing for years, my mother... she died giving birth to me. My grandfather was sick before he died. So, I always came here. This is the only place I can go where people don''t bully me. At school, after school... it was different. They''d remind me of my father''s absence, my mother''s death, and my grandfather''s decline."


    Kaede''s heart softened at the weight of his words, and for the first time, she saw a vulnerability in Ash that he never showed to anyone. This wasn''t the cold, distant heir of the clan. This was a young man who had suffered loss, isolation, and ridicule in silence.


    "I didn''t know," she murmured, her voice quieter than usual.


    Ash glanced at her, the corners of his lips twitching up slightly, but his eyes were distant. "I don''t talk about it much. No one ever asks. And I prefer it that way."


    Kaede nodded, understanding more than she cared to admit. She wanted to say something comforting, but nothing seemed right. Instead, she just picked up her chopsticks and continued eating.


    The rest of their meal passed in comfortable silence, the only sound the occasional slurp of noodles and the hum of conversation from other patrons. Kaede finished her bowl first, setting it down with a satisfied sigh. She leaned back in her chair and looked at Ash. "So, you survived the shopping. You''re not too mad at me, are you?"


    Ash smirked, a playful glint returning to his eyes. "Not yet, but we''ll see how I feel after the party."


    "Fair enough," Kaede said with a grin, clearly enjoying the lighthearted teasing.


    As they paid for the meal and left the ramen shop, Kaede couldn''t help but feel a shift in the air. This wasn''t the Ash she was used to—the cold, distant heir who was always focused on his mission and obligations. This was a side of him that she rarely saw: the part of him that found comfort in simple things, in moments like these.


    Kaede felt an unexpected warmth in her chest as they walked side by side. Perhaps there was more to Ash than she had first thought—more layers, more complexity beneath the icy exterior. But for now, she would just enjoy the company, and let the future unfold as it would.