679/Ramen And Couches

Ramen And Couches
Date of Scene:	30 October 2023
Location:	Dorms #2
Synopsis:	The smell of Ramen brings some of RHA's boys together. While Mamoru has to leave, Takashi, Koji, and Adrien remain to talk about ramen, and love lives.
Cast of Characters:	Mamoru Chiba, Takashi Agera, Koji Silvia, Adrien Agreste

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Mamoru Chiba has posed:
An hour ago, Darien came back from work perfectly clean and needing a shower and also to die. He hadn't wanted to talk about it. He had asked if there was anything he could pick up that they didn't have as ingredients for enough of the best ramen ever to eat for a week.

Then, after a quick shower and no death, he went out and got the ingredients. It wasn't instantaneous, so he probably even walked.

Ten minutes ago, he started being Koji's sous chef and left the door to their room open, confident that no RA would bother them, and equally confident that the smell of frying onion, if nothing else, would bring anyone passing by or even down the hall to their room for a visit.

They're almost always good for it, after all.

So here's Darien chopping up green onions silently until he says to Koji without preamble and without caring who might overhear, "Now she wants a damned prince. You don't know any princes do you?"

Takashi Agera has posed:
    "Who wants a prince?" Takashi asks, poking his head around the corner. Probably not the first person either of them expected to see, or hear respond to the question, but he happened to be in his room until recently, and the smell of Ramen made him realize he needed to eat, and he was walking by when Mamoru made the comment.

    "Also, what are you two making? Also, long time no see."

Koji Silvia has posed:
When you've got a roommate like Darien, it can make for some rather interesting changes for your lifestyle. Like that the top part of both their school armoires is taken up with cooking gadgetry.

...or at least it was until it all got deployed by Koji to help perk someone's spirits up.

Ramen water is coming to a boil in one small eletromagnetic pot, a second one has a half-dozen or so packets of shoyu ramen broth being boiled up, and a small rice cooker has some mixed veg being steamed up. The thick discs of ramen noodles that perfect fit their bath are ready to be put into a wire basket for boiling, and as Taka comes in, the first one is just going down.

Nearby to it all is a bottle just marked 'SAUCE'. A combo of korean gojuchang, tamari, rice vinegar, and a little more miso for body. It all creates a familiar and wonderful *SMELL*

Koji has even cheated as he has brought out a dozen soft-cooked egg halves to set out for it.

...and of course... CHOPSTICKS AND BOWLS...

"Sorry..." He adds, as he looks over his shoulder at seeing Takashi for the second time ever, and arching a brow, "The only princes I know about are european, old, and taken. Why does your boss want a prince anyways?"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
The smell of onions was indeed a lure. Adrien had been in his room getting some busy work done so far as studying went. He was supposed to be polishing up his piano skills since he didn't have an actual piano here, just one of those expensive roll-out keypads, but there was no one to overhear him NOT practicing for once. It was rather nice.

Still the scent of onions cooking reminds his stomach that it was quite awhile since he ate, and something savory sounded amazing. The textbook he was browsing through is set aside in favor of venturing out from his room to peek into the one beside it spotting Koji, and Mamoru cooking. As well as Takashi who was apparently equally curious.

The conversation he walks in on is a bit confusing though. "Are you all talking about Tadase-kun? The guy from the school council? Everyone calls him 'prince' for some reason." All he can do is shrug a little as he flashes a smile around trying not to look out of place in the ultra-cozy attire of jogger sweatpants, socks, and a t-shirt with no logo. It wasn't his usual attire but he was relaxing!

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"We're making enough for you too," Darien tells Takashi with a quick, lopsided little smile; he gestures at the closest thing to sit on that isn't either of their beds. "Ramen. So much ramen. My boss is looking for a prince and I don't know why. I told her the most princely person I know of is Adr--"

Adrien Agreste.

"Adriatic sea is lovely this time of year, isn't it? Hi, Agreste-kun. I had no idea there was a kid here everyone actually called a prince. Tadase what?"

Koji Silvia has posed:
Taking a bowl, Koji leans over towards Darien's desk, and sweeps the spring onion he's been cutting up into a bowl for use, and then settles it all in order. Looking towards the grop, he just exhales, "Okay, but Darien eats first." Answering the unasked question.

Waiting for the ramen to finish softening, he takes the SAUCE and lines the bottom of an empty bowl. Next he puts in two of those egg-halves, and then finally stops to ask, "Darien-san... do you want veg or not?"

Takashi Agera has posed:
    Takashi raises an eyebrow. "Your boss wants everything, including the moon and the sun. Not even remotely surprised by her. The ramen, though, is a pretty cool surprise. I was gonna go out and get myself some, though I can't say if that desire wasn't just brought on by the fact that you were cooking it." he says. "And if there wasn't enough for everyone I'd be really quite cross at you for cooking it with the door open and all."

    Adrien walks up and Takashi remembers quickly that neither Adrien nor Darien's Roommate are in on their day job - so it's interesting to hear Darien speak about his boss. Then again, creepy bosses could probably be mundane. "You mean that straight-laced kid with the blonde hair?" Takashi asks. "He's on Student Council but when he doesn't have a bit of paper in front of him to read from, I wouldn't trust him to lead a McWaffle's." he says. "I think the prince part is a dig, though, cause he used to be something called a King's Chair... I dunno, I don't care that much about school politics." he admits. "Kid's not royalty, not even a prince of highschool, just a royal pain and a runt, though."

    "Anyways. Ramen. Much better than princes anyways." Takashi says, chucking his uniform jacket back in his room before coming back. Otherwise he's dressed in the standard RHA uniform - he actually hadn't gone to the lab today.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste was used to people stumbling over their words around him. Or at least one person in particular, but he's very forgiving when it happens. He hadn't really heard all the conversation anyway so it wasn't as if he could really call out Darien on his 'slip up' there. Instead it's taken in stride with all the distraction of someone who was watching Koji at the apparent fully functional countertop kitchen they'd set up in their room.

"Oh, Tadase Hotori. I met him the other day when we were visiting to feed the deer." There's a little edge of bubbly excitement to Adrien's tone as he speaks about that. "They would actually bow before eating right out of your hand!"

He stops there realizing, well, he's gushing about cute deer while surrounded by a bunch of other guys.

Lightly he clears his throat. "Oh, ah, ramen? I heard that Japanese instant ramen is supposed to be really good. I've tried a few though and I don't really see what the big deal is." A pause comes as he remarks, "Though it seems you're both getting a bit more into it than just boiling water."

"What does your boss want exactly? Is it for some marketing project? I used to get the 'little prince' spots a lot when I was younger."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Yes please," Darien says a little piteously to Koji, and stops chopping things up, finally, when the spring onions get swept up. He plunks himself down on the edge of his (made) bed and nods woefully to Takashi. "Also, hi. And yeah. Last week she wanted me to retype literally all of the handwritten field notes looking for the origin of one typo of her name. A prince is almost a relief, except for the not knowing what she wants one for part. What if I find one? What if this prince kid is an actual prince? Answer: I don't bother him, that's rude. But still! What if you're *wrong*, Takashi-kun?"

He slumps back on his bed and waves a hand around, distressed. "Sorry, Agreste-kun, I told my boss you might be a prince. I mean, you're not, are you?" Now he actually looks dismayed. "Please say you're not. And please don't repeat the phrase 'instant ramen' in front of Koji-kun ever again. This is real ramen, it's so much better."

Koji Silvia has posed:
What Mamo gets is a combination of steamed carrot, daikon, and enoki mushrooms from the cooker, and then... the magic happens.

Koji pulls the Ramen using the pasta strainer and drops it into the bowl. Next... two scoops of shoyu sauce. Add chopsticks with a little stir, and both the other young men get to see it pass under their nose as it's put right into Darien's hands.

"Instant Ramen comes in cups and out of vending machines. This isn't even the best stuff. Local legend has it that there's an old man who walks his ramen cart in Juuban every evening for the last fifty years. If you're lucky enough to meet him, and he stops to make you a bowl, your next day will be blessed."

Another circle of the dried stuff is dropped in an he turns to look at Takashi, "Anything you don't like that I should know about?"

You could swear he sounds more like a counter-cook than a student...

To keep in the conversation as he grabs another bowl to begin prep, he adds to Adrien, "Is Chrono behaving himself? I know he can be a little weird..." An added mutter of, 'And that's saying something at this school...'

But he goes on, "...he can be a little weird, but he means well."

Takashi Agera has posed:
    Takashi's eyebrow perks at Koji's comment. "This is the second time someone's invited me for a meal but told me that Darien-kun eats first. Which isn't a lot, but it is annoying that it's happened twice." he notes. Mamoru asks Takashi what he does when he's *wrong* to which Takashi just keeps his eyebrow raised and turns to look at him. "I have no idea what I'd do if I were ever wrong, it's not a circumstance I've got any experience with." He delivers this with a sort of deadpan snark that makes it hard to tell if he is trolling or serious.

    "You told -her- that -he's- the thing she's looking for?" He asks, crossing his arms nonverbally giving Darien the 'well that was stupid' look. Then his phone pings with a noise that's different than any other time anybody's heard his phone ping and he goes for it with some rate of speed. Leans against a wall, fires off a text, smiles, and pockets the phone again. Takashi does not normally smile that way.

    "...Yeah, if it was Instant Ramen I wouldn't be here waiting for it." he says. "I'd have just kept on walking."

    At the mention of Chrono's name, Takashi visibly bristles, but he chases it off quickly. He thinks he did a better job ignoring it than he did.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"Ah. A prince?"

Adrien just pauses to drink all of this in with a sidelong glance cast toward the wall. One hand raises to run back through his short blonde hair grasping at what length was there to grip then release so his fingers just comb through it instead.

"Do you mean technically, or currently in line for the throne?"

Probably not the answer Darien wanted. It wasn't an answer at all. Instead he nods solemnly when given the advice to not mention instant ramen. "That would definitely explain why what I had wasn't living up to the hype, then," he reasons with a little laugh before clearing his throat to turn his gaze back on Darien.

"If you trace my ancestry back there are some royal ties but no, I don't think it equates to me being a prince. Father would really be the one to know all the details. It never really interested me much."

Koji's questions of Chrono earn a grin. "Oh he's fine. I've been teaching him how to play Mario Kart, and loaned him one of my old tuxedos for that ball the other week. He's been pretty calm now that he and Rashmi-chan are dating."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Mamoru takes the bowl from Koji reverently, and looks like he's having a religious experience as he starts to eat. He pauses and glances at Takashi, one eye open, mouth smirking around noodles. And then he has to stop and look aggrieved. After swallowing he says, "I was sure he wasn't a prince, so he'd ultimately be safe! Plus, look at him, he is handsome and charming and full of, of savoir faire, and he's... princely!"

Then he looks slightly alarmed at Adrien, and then he says, "Just make sure if someone asks you if you're a prince, you say no. Also, what?? Chrono is dating Rashmi???"

Takashi Agera has posed:
    "That's terrible advice. What if your boss wants to give him something go- actually no, let's go with Mamoru's idea, if someone asks you if you're a prince for the next couple months just say no. Trust us." Takashi says, as though he is a trustworthy individual.

    Takashi knows a little bit about Chrono and Rashmi - or well, Riventon does, but Takashi doesn't. He is mercifully saved from having to focus on the interaction of that boy and girl with some interaction of his own - another buzz in his pocket gives him an excuse to not talk about Chrono and Rashmi for a moment to text someone back. This time he doesn't even bother putting it back in his pocket.

    "I hope mine tastes half as good as it looks like yours tastes to you, though." Takashi says.

Koji Silvia has posed:
If it was physically possible to spontaneously generate the sound of a record-scratch a that declaration... it would have emitted also from Koji's spot.

Almost at the same moment as Darien, Koji says, "Chrono is dating Rashmi??!"

There's a little more poignant shock from him, and then he just sighs and starts to set up another bowl.

Sauce, spring onion, veg, all the steps into place before he goes for the noodles and broth. Once it's all ready, he serves up to Takashi, "Judge for yourself."

Turning to look at Adrien, he tilts his head in an almost cat-like fashion, and adds, "I would listen to them. With how strange some people can get here about royalty, it wouldn't just be Darien's boss who would give you issues about it."

Beginning prep on bowl #3 for Adrien, he says somehow in a manner that aims the question at Takashi, "So... are they pretty?"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
The litany of compliments that spill from Darien cause Adrien to redden noticably while he tugs again on his hair in an obviously nervous gesture. An awkward chuckle follows though at the rest. "I wouldn't say I'm any more handsome than you are, Darien-kun. But I'll be sure to say no from now on," he agrees. Since Takashi has already found a seat, and it seemed the conversation was going to continue while Darien enjoyed his ramen, Adrien takes a seat himself. Even if it's just sitting cross-legged on the floor using one of their beds as a backrest. He might have some 'princely' mannerisms but he was pretty down to Earth!

Just not an Earth Prince.

"Apparently they got together at the ball. Chrono told me the other day--" he begins when Takashi seconds the advice. Adrien looks over blinking a single time at him in confusion. The unfamiliar name is repeated a single time. "Mamoru?" It doesn't take long for connotation to kick in though, and he looks toward Darien with wide green eyes. There's really only one conclusion that he's come to as he looks suddenly stricken.

"Wait, did you tell me your name was 'Darien' because you were afraid I'd mispronounce your real name?" Is he a bit hurt by that? He really DID try his best to not mangle his Japanese but he worried about it at times since it wasn't his first or even his second language.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Second record-scratch in the same minute! Darien stares at Adrien for a second, and then emphatically shakes his head. "Your Japanese is wonderful," he says, chopsticks paused halfway up out of his bowl, "but using my real name is complicated. You can call me by it, if you want, but please not in public. Or in front of my boss, if everything goes wrong and you end up meeting her." He gestures. "Koji is my roommate, and Takashi and I grew up together."

He also shoots a Look at Takashi. "They better be really pretty, and also charming, and really fantastically distracting, and eat your ramen."

He takes his own advice and goes back to shoveling noodles and assorted delicious vegetables and broth and ~sauce~ into his mouth.

Takashi Agera has posed:
At Mamoru and Adrien talking to each other, Takashi offhandedly adds "Yes, boys, we're all very pretty." he mumbles, under his breath but not quite quietly to not be heard.

    And Takashi isn't sure which of the two issues to tackle first. Koji's question, or Adrien's shock at his using the wrong name. "No, Darien-kun used to go buy a different name." he says, plainly. "Sometimes I slip into it. I try not to - like he says, it's complicated. Just forget I said it, it's easier than keeping two names in your head."

    Then he sighs as he takes the ramen - and thus has to put his phone down. "And she's prettier than any of you." he adds, pointing chopsticks accusingly at the other boys after Darien chimes in. He did not say 'any of us'. Because he is still him, even a little distracted. "Also I don't want to hear it from you mister I'm too busy with my blonde girl to talk to my childhood friend." Oh, there is grump there. Grump followed by slurping of noodles. "And yeah, nobody here is royal anyways."

Koji Silvia has posed:
Slowly, Koji assembles Adrien his bowl of delicious salty umami goodness, and passes him a bowl with two eggs that are sitting atop the ramen, some of the spring onion floating there in a picture perfect (because the animator drew it that way... let's face it, animators LOVE drawing food!) moment. It settles into his hand and that soy-spicy-sweet aroma wafts up, even as the creator of this turns back to make his own.

"Hey... before you go at Darien that hard... the moment your phone buzzes again, you're immediately going to check it, and your lips are going to twitch up on the sides for that half-second before you put it away. I'm half-Brazilian, and according to my dad, it means we know these things. Japanese love is tame. Guys will get in fights over girls. Girls will fight guys to just get their attention. Apparently yelling and brutality is as good as flirting. Or so I'm told."

With his back to the pair, he side-eyes Adrien, and says, "If you want, there's a cooler under Darien's desk. We've got some sodas stashed there."

Exhaling, he rolls his neck and rubs at it once, "If it's a good thing, you two should double-date. With winter settling in, and the christmas stuff going up next month in Mitakihara, they'll be a lot to do. Sales, street vendors with roasted sweet potatoes, and ice skating. Sure-fire dating opportunities."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste watches Darien a moment waiting to hear the explanation for the different name. Takashi joining in with the explanation just draws a sheepish dip of his head along with a goofy smile at his incorrect assumption. "... I'm sorry for assuming. That's fine then. I'm all right with calling you 'Darien' if it's an issue outside of those close to you. Though," he adds thoughtfully, "Mamoru does roll off the tongue nicely." It's a French thing, appreciating 'smooth' words.

A quiet awkward chuckle starts as Takashi is also called out for whoever is blowing up his phone. He has nothing to say on the topic though. At least there's the distraction of Koji offering him a bowl of the ramen he'd prepared.

Reaching up he takes it carefully with both hands to draw in close inhaling deeply. "This smells *amazing* Koji-san. Thank you! I've been wanting to try some authentic ramen but just haven't really had the chance."

The chopsticks are taken up to carefully stir up the ingredients a bit letting the flavors mingle. "Those are some really great dating ideas. I'd love to take ... someone on a nice Winter walk to some of the temples and enjoy street food. It seems like a wonderful time." He has no name to fill in for who he would like to take, though. Maybe that was a good thing. He'd already been told numerous times to stop daydreaming about someone who wasn't interested in him.

A careful sip of the broth is taken before he opts to try the noodles.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Darien literally finishes his bowl that fast, and flashes his gives-the-finger at Takashi quickle, amiably, and says "You literally live down the hall from me, I don't want to hear that noise either. I'll be right back, you guys, and also thank you, Adrien."

Darien sets his bowl on the bed and wends his way between people to go out the door.

Takashi Agera has posed:
    Darien dashes out, and Takashi offers a half hearted "But I'm like... never home." he points out at the retreating Mamoru. "See, I show up and he leaves." he says, and shrugs helplessly.

    And then Takashi pauses because he's caught back up with something that, in the moment, is highly relevant. "Hey, this is pretty freakin' good." he says, tapping the side of his bowl. "The only problem is, I'll have to harass you the next time you're cooking. Or you could close the door I guess." he notes.

    Takashi tilts his head a bit. "Are you saying, Silvia-kun, that we wouldn't get in fights over girls here? 'Cause I would and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one." he says bluntly. "If it was the right girl, anyways." he adds. "So, who's the one you're thinking of taking then, Silvia-kun? Since you've got these romantic places all in the forefront of your mind." he asks. And then turns to Adrien. " Agreste-kun, you've got a specific someone in mind when you say that word too, don't you? You sound like Darien saying someone when he was early on in talkin' about his plate of spa- his crush." he corrects.

    No, he doesn't provide the name of his texting partner yet, intentionally. He's reorienting. He can't be shell-shocked if they're all equally embarassed.

Koji Silvia has posed:
The fourth bowl being made by Koji is set up Darien-style and he instead covers it with a second bowl so that it will still be nice and warm when Darien gets back. The second to last disc goes in to boil, the water and broth starting to get low, so both are topped off using bottled water, and he finally turns to look at Takashi with a considering gleam in his glasses, "Normally I cook with the window open but it's too cold. So you'll get to smell it more than once. And so long as you chip in for supplies, you can have your share."

The faint grin remains as he's confronted about his suggestions on dating locations, "Me? I don't have anyone. I get all my dating done by second hand. Besides... I'm pretty sure that no one's really that interested. I'm alright with that. But it doesn't mean I can't keep good ideas in mind for when he..."

Jerking his thumb to the hallways...

"...has that frazzled-hair panic attack when he realizes he promised to do something with a certain pigtailed blonde and then blanked on it because work rears her imperial visage."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste doesn't even try to deny that he might have someone in mind. His smile has gone slightly goofy, almost guilty grin with pinkened cheeks. Or maybe it was the heat of the ramen bowl he holds in front of him that was causing him to change colors just a tad.

"I'll certainly be willing to chip in for ingredients, Koji-san. This is probably the best thing I've eaten in weeks." Which was saying someting for all that he did end up eating, usually.

Ah but the talk was still on girls so he lets out a heavy sigh. "I do, but it's not really possible in my case. I've told her how I feel and she turned me down. A few times now," he adds with an awkward clearing of his throat. "Apparently there's someone she likes already. I just can't stop thinking about her, though. She's... Amazing." Ah, yes. By now these two were probably well aware how sappy someone in love could get. "She's brave, and smart, and clever, and her laugh is so cute..."

A forlorn sigh comes as he dips his head over his bowl of ramen to start scooping it up into his mouth to eat.

Takashi Agera has posed:
    Takashi nods. "No problem chipping in if you cook. Foolish to not at least put something up. I can cook but I never find the time to, and it's awkward to sit and have a full fancy meal alone anyways." he adds. "So you're like, what, relegating yourself to the role of eternal wingman? Doesn't his girl have friends she could try to set you up with? At least for a date?" He asks. And then pauses. "Don't mean to pry, it's fine if solo's your jam, it just seems like you'd put a lot of thought into it. I didn't know it was for his benefit, but that makes sense. He's a little pulled in too many directions right now and I think the only thing that's grounding him is this girl." he says.

    Takashi tilts his head to look at Adrien. "Have you ever considered that maybe the reason why you're not getting any interest is because you're sitting around like a lost puppy dog after she said no? If she said no once, and you don't make any drastic changes, I'm not sure why you'd expect the answer to change." he says. "And you don't want to get a reputation for being too clingy. I know this girl who's got another girl chasing after her and it's frankly getting a little weird. You don't want to be the guy on that side of somebody's thought process."

Koji Silvia has posed:
Turning back to prep his own bowl... one again... Koji replies to Takashi by saying, "Oh, I bet she does... and the moment Usagi thought I'd be good for one of her huge circle of friends, I'm sure that she'd try to set it up, Naru would talk her out of it, she'd get inspired and try to get me back for study group... and it'd be as funny as it would be... like that."

Once more he goes to set up the ~sauce~ and adds in his two eggs, and all the other trappings.

Turning back to look at Adrien, "Maybe... and this is an out of the box idea... try being her friend first. Let her see the guy that you are, don't bring all your feelings to the table. But be happy for her too. After all... if she really likes someone else, the best thing you can do is encourage her. Because if it works, you know it was for the best... and it may sound bittersweet... but it means you can still be there for her. And if it doesn't? Keep being her friend so that you don't make it a creepy rebound thing."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"I know," Adrien responds as he opts to try for one of the eggs in his ramen. While adept with chopsticks he wasn't quite skilled enough to easily grab it on the first go around so a second attempt is made. Then he just shrugs, and swaps the chopsticks for the spoon for the moment.

"I don't talk like this around her. I also don't let her know *every* time. I'd like to think we are friends at least, too, even if I might want more. I'm not completely hopeless." He hopes.

"I'm also thinking of trying to move on. There are other girls. Lots of them very nice as well." A pause occurs before he admits, "I think Usagi-chan has been trying to get Naru and I together."

Takashi Agera has posed:
    Takashi nods. "Well, either Silvia-kun's plan or my plan is good. But obviously don't do whatever you've been doing since it isn't giving you the results you want." he says. "All that's left is to try a new approach."

    Takashi nods. "There certainly are. None of them really clicked for me at first, but I do have two eyes and a functioning neural cortex, so I am quite aware that we are all but literally surrounded by 9s and 10s. The good news for the three of us is that we stand above the rest. Like, literally in mine and Silvia-kun's case - but also none of the three us are a hundred percent Japanese so we're easy to pick out for better or for worse." he notes. "There's plenty of girls that stand out so it should just kinda... work, eventually." he says, shrugging. And then tipping the bowl back to finish his ramen.

    "Anyways even if this mystery girl is your end goal, consider that having a relationship is the only way to prove you're capable of having a relationship. Naru's pretty cool, and she knows like... everybody" and Takashi says the word with such dramatic emphasis as though he's including everyone from the Emperor down "... So even if it doesn't like, work out, she can put in a good word for you with -everybody-; you should take that deal if you're offered it."

Koji Silvia has posed:
Without thought, even as his own stuff is ready to go in a moment, Koji reaches over to take Taka's finished bowl and puts it into a small container that has masking tape on the side and in pen says 'TO WASH'. Finally... he's able to set up his food.

Sighing, Koji stares down at his own ramen, and then claps his hands together, chopsticks caught firmly in his left hand as he mutters out, 'Itadakimasu'.

All thought of response or conversation is put on hold as he *SLUUUUUUUUUURPS* up the noodles and exhales a deep sigh of contentment from it.

Remembering there are guests, he taps his chopsticks on the edge of his bowl a few moments, and then adds, "No offense, Takashi-sama... but that's a bit of a cold way of looking at it. Naru shouldn't be used to test someone's ability to date or even... I don't know... proto-date? If you make her mad, or you hurt her feelings, I get the feeling it will get around faster than TV star gossip, and you'll end up being frozen out by anyone you'd like. Even this girl you're pining for. So if you do decide to go with someone else? Be friends first... make sure it's clear that you're... not sure where things are, but you'd like to try. Girls aren't going to like you if you're only dating to get someone to notice you."

The pause in wisdom is met with more ramen slurping, the chomp of an egg, and then some broth, "Chiyo and I are friends... even though she's probably my closest friend next to Darien thanks to the whole fake date thing... and I always feel like she was disappointed when she found out I wasn't... like that for her. You get it?"

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste finishes off his egg and more of the broth to wash it down. It was nice, warm and filling. The oils really did add a lot more flavor to it as well which was a trick he was going to have to remember for the future. The talk of girls, and 'proto-dating' just causes a stricken look to creep across his face with a quick shake of his head.

"Naru-chan and I are friends. I respect her. I wouldn't do that to her... Or to any other girl. If I date someone else, I want to honestly give it a shot. Not do it to try and make someone else jealous either."

"I know TV and movies make that out to be a way to do things but I'd rather not play those sort of games. I prefer honesty. Even if it means admitting I'm not entirely over someone." With that said he finishes off his bowl and rises to bring it to that container he saw Koji put Takashi's away in. "Thank you for the ramen, Koji-san. I should probably get back to finish up some work before class tomorrow."

Takashi Agera has posed:
    Takashi bows his head a bit when Koji takes his bowl, and sits to continue talking, and half-distracting. "It's not cold, I don't think - I'm not saying you lead her on or anything. It's NARU. I'm telling you to treat her respectfully because you like not upsetting everybody, yeah. It's not like I'm saying don't genuinely try to date her. I'm not saying you date other girls as like, stepping stones to the girl you're fixated on. I'm saying you genuinely try other things because you can't just wallow forever, you have to have like, choices 2 and on. There's got to be some other girl you like. Or guy, I'm not judgemental." Takashi says. Well, he's not judgemental about that.

    "Agreste-san, you're basically the couch on the side of the road that says FREE on it. And you wonder, what's wrong with that couch? Why are they getting rid of it, why hasn't anyone else picked up that couch?" he says. "You want to be the couch in the showroom. If someone else buys the couch that's good, too, and you're not gonna tell somebody who comes by 'sorry this couch is actually on display for someone else' but at least you're not side of the road couch for them or for the girl you're trying to get to look at you. Look the analogy isn't perfect but you get my point."

    Takashi tilts his head at Koji regarding Chiyo, and continues. "Well of course she was a little dissapointed. She could have been dating you - Darien's friend - and Darien is my friend, and that would have put her one degree closer to me, and thus made her more awesome." When Takashi talks like this with such conviction it can be hard to tell if he's taking himself seriously or not. It would probably be unwise to be a hundred percent sure in either direction.

    As Adrien starts to leave, Takashi adds "Just remember, don't be side of the road couch."

Koji Silvia has posed:
*SLUUUUUURP*

With a sigh, Koji arches a brow at the couch analogy being laid out with such efficiency, and then it's swap-time when Chiyo's degrees of awesomeness seems to be relevant to her positioning towards Takashi, "See you later Adrien. I'll text you some addresses for good small ramen places that are friendly to foreigners. One thing you need to look out for with restaurants here. Some places won't let you sit because you're not Japanese. It's nothing you did, just bad tourists caused the owners to not like then coming in."

Staring back at Takashi for a moment, he then writes down something on a pad and paper, and rips it free, "Here. This is our usual list of ramen-making materials for the room. Next time you see a bad mood on the horizon, or you hear his boss is being an iron high heel... get all this together, and bring it by for us. Consider it an in to hang out and talk with Darien. I can always leave out directions and head out to do something else so you guys can... do whatever."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste hesitates a moment as he heads out the door looking perplexed. "Right I won't be... a couch." Did he lose something in translation there? He's fairly certain he didn't, but that tangent was a bit out there. He got the gist of it to be 'put himself back on the market' at least.

"Good night Takashi-kun, good night Koji-san. Thank you again for the ramen. I'd love some recommendations for the future!"

Though for now he heads for his room. He had to make sure Fenix didn't try to eat Plagg. There were no explosions though so that was likely a good sign.

Takashi Agera has posed:
    Takashi takes the peice of paper and reads over it. "Alright, cool." He says. "Seriously, thank you for the food. I've eaten at a bunch of places around here and yours is better. Don't sell yourself short." he notes. "There's often more to things than the person who has it, creates it, can see. Goes for people too." he says. "And until he left to do who knows what, it was nice having a third person here. Keeps him from making the talk about work." Takashi, too. "My brother's such a mess I'm glad you're helping keep him in something resembling a functional state."

    He gets up. "Well, I'll have to catch up with you two again. Maybe play video games or something, if you all know how to relax." he says. "In the meantime, still hours left in the day and you can't make cool stuff happen by not doing things. Even if you're me." he says, turning around.

    His talk with Adrien was maybe the longest the phone's been out of his hands while he and his sweetheart were conscious, and he's already writing back to her as he heads out the door. "Whenever Darien gets back kick him for me." he calls back to Koji.