Snap!

That was when it happened. A strange sound reached my ears as I sat there bewildered.

Startled, I looked beside me and saw the regular proudly splitting his wooden stick into two.

I-I see…! So this was how “these” were meant to be used!

I had no idea what sort of religion this was, but perhaps splitting “this wooden stick” was some kind of ritual performed before a meal. Surely, after exchanging the stick, they would give me a fork?

Following the regular’s example, I pulled the stick apart with both hands.

Snap!

…Ah!

B-But… what a disaster…!
Instead of splitting neatly into two, the stick tragically snapped partway down, leaving one side pitifully shorter than the other!

To think I could not even split a single stick properly… Perhaps I was no longer worthy of eating “Ramen.”

Dejected, I rose from my seat and looked at the man in white. Still smiling cheerfully, he picked up a new wooden stick and pulled it apart.

Snap!

After splitting it neatly into two, he placed the pieces into my hand.

H-Hmm…? Did this mean… I had been forgiven…?

And yet there was still no sign of either a fork or spoon. As I sat there at a loss, I heard a loud slurping sound from beside me.

When I looked over, I was astonished to see the regular using the two separated sticks to lift the yellow strands from the soup and carry them to his mouth!

When our eyes met, he grinned. Then he manipulated the two sticks again and noisily slurped down another mouthful of strands.

Grrr… that smug look on his face!

“Good grief, you really don’t get it, do you…? Here, watch closely. This is how you use them, got it?”

I could practically hear his inner voice.

He was making such vulgar slurping noises, and yet he had the nerve to act so superior!?

My face grew hot with anger and embarrassment. But I quickly collected myself… I was a gourmet.

Right now, I had to think only of savoring the “gourmet delicacy” before me to the fullest!

Holding the two sticks in my hand, I peered into the deep bowl. Inside was a bizarre dish unlike anything I had ever seen or heard of before.

The first thing that caught my eye was the steaming-hot brown broth. Droplets of oil floated across its surface, glittering under the light.

Submerged within it were the long yellow strands I had seen boiling earlier… On top lay finely chopped plants, thin slices of stewed meat, something brown that had been simmered down in seasoning, and a round white object with serrated edges and a pink spiral running through its center.

Still smiling, the man in white made a lifting gesture with his hand, encouraging me to pick it up and eat. Beside me, the regular continued slurping down the strands as noisily as ever.

…All right! If slurping was the proper way to eat “Ramen,” then I would do the same!

Steeling myself, I used the two sticks to gather up some of the strands inside the bowl and brought them to my mouth!

Ahh… How could I possibly describe the magnificent encounter with flavor that followed!?

No matter how many words I used, I could never fully convey the emotion I felt!

His “Ramen” was astonishing in every respect—its flavor, its originality, and its sheer level of refinement!

If I had to compare it to something… yes, it was almost as though I were eating “food from an unknown world”!