Y'know, what surprises me...
even more than the fact that a legendary hitman turned back into a kid...
is that you got hooked on studying!
Wait, totally got it!
It's so when you turn back,
you can broaden the kind of work you do on the job!
As if.
I'm studying because it's fun.
Studying is fun?
Literally no clue what you're talkin' about.
Why not?
Well, I guess that's just how it is when you're young.
Oga, mornin'.
Wait, are you talking to me?
Yep.
Mornin'.
Good morning...
Takada...
Baba.
Whoa!
Your smile is kinda creepy, Oga.
You can jump into the group talk more, you know.
Yeah.
The group?
Oh, the chat.
I'll do my best.
I really am bad with kids.
- I was a veteran hitman who could silence... - Morning!
- ...even a crying child... - Hey!
- ...and now I'm "Oga." - Morning!
So, that's Lenon?
Her name's Noren!
On your marks!
Ready...
Amazing!
So fast!
How can a person run that fast?
- Totally! - She's crazy fast!
You really can't judge a book by its cover.
She goes shopping at the bookstore.
She wants an English book for class.
She looks around the store.
A man comes to her, and she says...
"Please show me where the English books are."
He points to them, and she picks up a book.
She smiles, happy to find it.
Her name is Noren Mitsuoka.
If you can make contact with her,
you might be able to gain some useful information.
Huh?
Hold on a second!
She's just the daughter of the president of Mitsuoka Pharma, right?
It's not like she's gonna know...
I know that.
But right now, we'll take anything we can get, even the tiniest lead.
Anyway...
you're still rocking that loner life, huh?
Pipe down. Leave me alone.
There's more than a 20-year generation gap between us.
It would be more shocking if I fit right in.
Still, I do like schoolwork.
But this isn't really a place for an old guy like me.
The best thing would be to turn back to normal and get out of here.
Yeah, guess so.
Which means Eri was right after all.
Well, whatever.
I'm not expecting much...
but I'll try talking to her anyway.
Um, Mitsuoka...
Do you have a minute?
Huh? What? Creepy.
Unless this is some kind of announcement, could you disappear?
Oh, right.
Never mind.
See you.
Boss! Pull yourself together!
The saddest thing for an old guy to hear from a young girl...
"Creepy!"
And she said it with total disgust!
Undiluted, 100% pure disgust!
Boss!
B-B-Boss!
And then, like, last night, I was...
Ow!
Whoa, Oga?
- What're you doing? Creepy! - Again?
Oh, Noren?
She seriously hates guys.
Wait, you didn't know that till now?
Well, she's good at both studying and sports,
and her parents are rich.
And she's this super-tall, gorgeous girl, like a model.
You'd never believe she was an elementary schooler till just recently.
So, yeah, all kinds of guys ask her out,
and she brutally shoots them down with zero consideration.
So, well...
even the girls don't hang out with her.
Like, she's hard to approach.
Well...
What now, Boss?
This is a dead end.
No way in there.
No guy's gonna get anything from her.
Especially one who's an old guy on the inside.
Well, it was a long shot from the start.
Let's just give up.
Guess so.
Come to think of it, this is my first time around here.
Boss, no garlic!
Welcome!
Counter seat up front, please!
Thanks for waiting!
Here's your water.
Thanks.
What'll you have?
Uh...
Ramen with a seasoned egg.
One ramen with egg!
Comin' right up!
No, no, no!
What the hell is going on here?
Noren Mitsuoka?
Why is a pharmaceutical president's daughter working at a ramen shop?
Middle schoolers aren't even allowed to have part-time jobs, are they?
Though I was a hitman in middle school, so maybe I'm not one to talk!
No, wait, maybe it's a just girl who looks exactly like her!
Here you go! Thanks for waiting!
I have no idea what's going on,
but first things first.
So good!
At first glance, it looks like a pretty standard old-school shoyu ramen...
but the noodles, the toppings... the quality is on a whole different level!
More than anything, this broth!
This is it!
It's light, but the richness and depth of flavor are incredible!
And it pairs perfectly with the noodles!
This is...
sublime!
Excuse me, sir.
When the shop closes, could you meet me around back?
You're Ogami, right?
Why are you here, of all places?
Well, because I live around here.
It's far from the station and there aren't any hang-out spots,
so I was sure this was the last place anyone from school would show up!
- Dammit! - Thought you were safe, huh?
Please!
Just please keep this a secret at school!
Y-Yeah, sure. I can do that.
Do you always go home alone?
I do. Why?
Well, couldn't someone pick you up?
You're pretty rich, aren't you?
I hate that kind of thing.
Yeah?
NATSUKIYA RAMEN
Natsukiya, was it?
It's my uncle's shop.
I'm not getting paid or anything.
It's more like I'm just helping out a relative.
So, if it's not a part-time job, then why do it?
Good question.
Yeah, I guess you could say I'm rich.
Very rich, in fact.
I've got a Canadian mom, and I'm fully aware of how I look.
I know I've been blessed, believe me.
My parents even introduce me to guys...
they think would make a good future husband for me.
And I'm still just a middle schooler.
They've only just met me, they didn't know a thing about me,
and yet they'll be all nice.
- Even when I was still in elementary... - You're really lovely.
- ...school, I looked grown-up, so... - You really don't look like...
- ...they treated me like a woman. - ...an elementary schooler.
Wow, beautiful.
And all I could think was, "This is seriously disgusting."
And now that I'm in middle school,
the boys in my class have started looking at me the same way.
All thanks to these oh-so-blessed specs of mine.
Oh, yeah?
So, that's where that hardcore hatred of guys comes from.
That's why I want to own a ramen shop!
Really?
Wait, why?
I told you already.
I really hate my family's old-fashioned mindset,
the whole "women should get married and become housewives" thing!
I want to live on my own strength.
I want to carry on the flavor of my beloved uncle's ramen.
My uncle became a ramen chef...
because he hated the thought of only hanging around other rich people.
Whenever I was hurting,
he'd just make ramen for me without saying a word.
The ramen my uncle made for me...
was truly delicious!
You remind me of my uncle, Ogami.
I wonder why.
Thanks to that, I ended up talking a lot.
I'm an old guy, too.
Well, shouldn't you just do what you want to do?
Just because you're a kid...
doesn't mean you're obligated to live the way your parents want you to.
Anyway, that ramen really was good!
Especially the broth!
Really?
Right?
That broth is incredible!
And today's batch made me extra happy, because they let me...
help out a little with the prep!
The base is chicken stock,
but they blend in a special seafood broth, too!
And they're super particular about the aromatic vegetables...
Well, this is where I turn, so...
Oh, right.
This doesn't mean...
you can suddenly start acting all friendly with me at school tomorrow.
Right.
Back to her guy-hating mode.
What the hell?
Pulling up and statching her? What kind of crap is that?
Well, her parent is the head of a major corporation involved in some shady stuff.
There are any number of reasons someone might target her.
Boss!
I'm looking into it now!
HACHIOJI
It's a black minivan. Hachioji on the license plate.
There's no registration seal...
so there's a good chance the plate is fake.
What do you want to do?
Me...
I happen to think the most delicious food in the world is...
ramen.
Huh?
The bag has one of those transmitter rounds in it, right?
And the app to receive the signal, too?
Yeah, that's right.
Wait, you're going after them? It's too late!
They're going way too fast!
And that round's for a handgun, right?
There's no way you'll hit the car!
I know all that.
How many years do you think I've been doing this?
Aiming doesn't mean anything at this point!
How are you even—
Shh!
Well, call it a veteran's experience and instinct.
Got it.
I don't believe it!
Huh?
Must've been my imagination.
Get out and check.
Quit barking orders and drive!
I've...
still only had one bowl.
I'm going after the heir to that ramen!
Like hell I'm letting that be taken away!
You're almost there!
Yeah!
Relax, you'll be fine.
If you just stay quiet, we won't do anything that hurts.
Probably.
Man, she's cute up close!
Is she really even a middle schooler?
This is so easy.
Maybe I'll grab a little smooch.
Don't touch me, you creep!
Do your job properly.
Well, sorry about that idiot.
Don't worry. I'll kill him later.
In exchange, could you tell me one thing?
That top-secret new drug your father's company is developing...
You possess its secret, don't you?
Huh?
What's that supposed to mean? What are you talking about?
No, no.
That's what the client told us.
"We don't know what it is exactly, but there's no doubt that she has it."
I don't know! Really!
I've never heard anything about my dad's work!
Oh, really?
I'm telling you, I don't know!
I have no idea what you're talking about!
That ramen shop where you work...
That's your beloved uncle's place, right?
Actually...
I went there to eat yesterday.
The floor and counter were filthy...
And anyway, it tasted awful.
Can't even call crap like that "food."
A place like that oughta be wiped out...
Smashed to pieces!
Stop it!
My uncle has nothing to do with this!
Yeah, so...
If you tell me the secret, I think I might calm down.
I don't know!
What the hell is he going on about?
Huh?
How could you say that ramen tastes awful?
Maybe you have no taste at all.
Huh?
Oops, sorry about that.
Wait!
Can't let your identity get exposed, right?
Why? Who are you?
- Mr. Tajima! - What is this?
Who the hell are you, you little brat?
I'm older than you, moron.
Before I beat your ass, two pieces of advice from your elder.
First, never call food someone made for you "awful."
Second...
Shut up! You can figure out in hell that this ain't make-believe!
Hey. Don't make me give you more advice.
When someone's talking...
- ...listen all the way to the end. - Huh? What?
Oh, nonlethal rubber rounds?
I'm not killing anybody off the clock.
What was that sound?
It came from over there!
Sounds like there are still quite a few of 'em!
- Getting out of there... - Wait, what is even going on?
- ...with the girl is gonna be impossible! - Are you guys fighting each other?
Uh, what's happening?
Get this off of me!
We're going to take a little ride.
Here, hold on tight to this.
Hey, hey, what are you...
You're heavier than I expected.
Who the hell is that?
Freeze!
Pardon me!
What's happening?
Straight ahead to the stairs!
I-I'm getting sick!
Whew!
You managed to get out!
Screw the job!
I'm gonna crush you like a frog!
Bulletproof, huh?
Even 9mm might not do the trick.
If it were just the boss, that's one thing,
but with that girl with him...
My apologies!
Good thing I picked this up on the way.
Oh...
and to continue from what I was saying back in the classroom...
my second piece of advice.
It may be an old-fashioned way of thinking...
but regardless...
any man who can't treat a woman kindly is trash.
Whew, I'm beat.
Looks like that wraps it up, Boss!
Now then...
Huh?
Mind taking one whiff of this?
What is...
All right.
Oh...
What is it?
I left my study guide behind.
Huh?
What?
Was it all a dream?
Ow!
It wasn't a dream.
Then who...
Th-That voice...
Don't tell me...
Ogami!
Morning.
Last night, were you the one...
who saved me?
Saved you?
Did something happen?
Oh, you mean about working at the ramen shop?
No, that's not—Don't mention that!
I won't...
but if possible, there is one thing I'd like to ask in return.
Wh-What is it?
I want to start dropping by for that ramen once in a while...
but could you treat me to my next bowl?
That's two things.
But fine.
Can I add an egg?
No toppings!
Aw, come on!
NOREN MITSUOKA SATURDAY, APRIL 18th
"DO" ---> COMMAND VERB
BACKGROUND CHECK REPORT NOREN MITSUOKA
MOMOFUKU ANDO INVENTOR OF INSTANT RAMEN NOODLES
WE'VE GOT SCIENCE LAB NEXT!
MIDDLE SCHOOL FIRST GRADE SCIENCE
NATSUKIYA RAMEN
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES