Chapter 2 : The Cat, The Hitman and The Accident

The following day started off just like any other. The shop was quiet in the early afternoon, the only sounds the gentle hum of the soup simmering and the occasional *ding* of the doorbell as customers wandered in. Hana was behind the counter, wiping down the surfaces and checking her inventory. Kenta was trying (and failing) to organize the chopsticks while Mei, as usual, was keeping a sharp eye on everything from the register.

Hana was just about to check the ramen stock when the door chimed again, and in walked Ryo Kobayashi, right on schedule.

She greeted him with her usual smile. "Tonkotsu ramen, extra spicy?"

Ryo didn't even look up as he made his way to his usual seat. "Yes, please," he replied, voice as cool and impassive as ever.

Hana turned to start preparing his order, but as she glanced over her shoulder, she noticed something different. For the first time since he'd started coming to the shop, Ryo wasn't alone.

A man, tall and lanky with disheveled hair and a nervous expression, was standing awkwardly at the door. He had a large, unmarked suitcase in hand. His clothes were slightly mismatched, and there was something about his posture that screamed "clumsy assassin." Hana raised an eyebrow. Who was this guy?

Kenta, of course, was the first to notice. "Uh, Hana, you got a... new customer?" he asked, clearly confused by the man's odd appearance.

Hana glanced at the newcomer before turning back to the kitchen. "I guess so... Let me check on him."

The man nervously shuffled forward, eyeing the counter with uncertainty. "Uhm... can I... can I get the... the ramen? The spicy one?" he stammered, glancing at Ryo, who was already sitting at his usual spot.

Mei, overhearing the exchange from her register, muttered under her breath. "Doesn't look like the type who can handle spicy food."

Hana stifled a laugh and nodded. "Sure, one spicy tonkotsu coming up." She looked at the man curiously as she worked, wondering if this was one of Ryo's associates or just a random guy in need of a meal.

The man sat down nervously at a table across from Ryo, but Ryo didn't acknowledge him. Instead, he quietly sipped his water, his eyes scanning the room. Hana couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Kenta, ever the curious one, wandered over to the man. "Hey, I'm Kenta!" he introduced himself with his usual wide grin. "I'm the guy who usually drops the ramen bowls on the floor."

The man gave Kenta an awkward, half-hearted smile. "Uh, nice to meet you..."

Meanwhile, Mei was busy scrutinizing the situation, her sharp tongue at the ready. "I don't trust that guy," she muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear, nodding toward the newcomer. "He's giving off some weird vibes. And that suitcase... What's he hiding in there? It's too quiet."

Kenta looked over at her, confusion written all over his face. "What are you talking about? Maybe it's just his... um, luggage?"

Mei rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure. *Luggage*." She shot the newcomer another suspicious glance before turning to Hana. "You've gotta be careful with people like him."

Hana tried to keep her focus on the ramen, but the tension in the air was starting to get to her. She had to admit, Mei had a point. There was something odd about the whole situation.

As she finished preparing the ramen for both Ryo and the new customer, Hana walked over to the table where the man was sitting. She set down the bowl in front of him with a bright smile. "Here you go, one spicy tonkotsu."

The man smiled gratefully. "Thank you."

As Hana walked back toward the counter, she caught a glimpse of Ryo. His gaze was locked on the newcomer, his expression unreadable. Then, just as quickly, he looked away, returning to his quiet contemplation.

Taro, Hana's ever-vigilant cat, was perched on a high shelf, watching everything unfold with great interest. It was then that Taro, for reasons known only to himself, leapt from the shelf and landed with a soft *thud*—right on top of the suitcase the newcomer had placed on the floor.

The man yelped in surprise, nearly knocking over his bowl of ramen as he scrambled to shove the cat off the suitcase. Taro, unbothered by the chaos he'd caused, continued to glare at the man, refusing to move.

Hana couldn't help but giggle at the sight. "Taro, please, be nice," she said, stepping in to remove the cat from the poor man's lap.

Mei, watching the situation unfold, raised an eyebrow. "Well, looks like the cat's not a fan of *him*."

Kenta, trying to lighten the mood, piped up from behind the counter, "Maybe Taro just thinks he's stealing Ryo's spot."

That got a chuckle out of Hana. "You might be right, Kenta."

But Ryo, who had been silently watching the whole exchange, finally spoke. "Don't worry about the cat," he said in his low voice. "It's just being... territorial."

The newcomer, still flustered from the cat incident, nodded nervously. "Yeah, I—uh, I think I'm just... not used to cats."

Hana tried to brush off the awkwardness, but the tension in the shop remained palpable. Ryo's gaze lingered on the newcomer for a moment longer, and Hana could swear she saw a flicker of something dangerous in his eyes—something that sent a chill down her spine.